Huge Lightning Lane changes coming to Disney World TOMORROW!

We’ve answered your BIGGEST questions about the updates, including news that a new, tiered system would be introduced for attractions, but now we’re going over everything you need to know ahead of these major changes. What’s changed? What has stayed the same? We’ve got you covered here at DFB!

As of July 24th, Genie+ will be known as Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, and Individual Lightning Lanes will be called Lightning Lane Single Pass. In addition to these changes, Disney has announced that beginning July 24th, you can:

Disney World hotel guests (and guests of other select hotels) will be able to plan Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance for their entire stay (up to 14 days). All other guests can plan up to 3 days in advance. But, Disney has included the caveat that you must be in the United States to purchase Lightning Lane passes.

Let’s go over everything you need to know!

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an optional paid service available through the My Disney Experience app that allows guests access to Lightning Lanes at select attractions in the parks by paying a base price for multiple attractions. If you think this sounds a lot like Genie+, you’re right — the service is very similar with some minor differences.

Purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass gives you the ability to make up to 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections in ONE park in advance of your visit. Essentially, you get selectable times that can be chosen for up to three (3) Lighting Lane Multi Pass selections at a time.

Folks staying at a Disney World Resort hotel (and select other hotels) will be able to purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Passes up to seven (7) days in advance of their check-in day for their entire stay (up to 14 days), with all other guests being able to purchase and select their first three Lightning Lane Multi Passes three (3) days in advance.

Once you use a selection, you can make another one based on what is still available on the My Disney Experience app — which is how the current system works

Not only that, but there will be a tiered system for ride selections (a la the old days). Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will all feature two tiers where you’ll be able to choose one experience from a higher-tiered group and two experiences (or all three) from a lower-tiered group.

Keep in mind that Disney’s Animal Kingdom will NOT feature tiers. The tiers at the other three parks are as follows:

Magic Kingdom

Guests may choose ONE attraction from the following:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Jungle Cruise
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Space Mountain
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Guests may choose TWO attractions (or all three) from the following:

• The Barnstormer
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion
• “it’s a small world”
• Mad Tea Party
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

EPCOT

Guests may choose ONE attraction from the following:

• Frozen Ever After
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Soarin’ Around the World

Guests may choose TWO attractions (or all 3) from the following:

• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Living With the Land
• Mission: SPACE
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Spaceship Earth
• Turtle Talk with Crush

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Guests may choose ONE attraction from the following:

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Slinky Dog Dash

Guests may choose TWO attractions (or all 3) from the following:

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage
• Disney Junior Play and Dance!
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Star Tours
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Toy Story Mania!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Guests may choose THREE attractions from the following:

• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Feathered Friends in Flight!
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na’vi River Journey

Disney has yet to reveal a new pricing structure for these changes, but the current pricing structure under Genie+ is as follows:

• Genie+ starts at $15 per day, per ticket at Disney World
  
• Price varies by park in Disney World**  — Guests can either buy a single-park Genie+ option or a multi-park option (to accommodate Park Hopping)
• Genie+ starts at $30 per day, per ticket at the Disneyland Resort

Now, more about that Single Pass.

Lightning Lane Single Pass

Under the old system, guests can purchase Individual Attraction Lightning Lane Selections via Disney Genie. This pay-per-ride service requires a one-time fee for in-demand attractions. Lightning Lane Single Pass is essentially the same theme, with the major difference being that you can make your purchase before your trip. 

Similar to the Multi Pass, those staying at a Disney World Resort hotel (and select other hotels) will be able to purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Single Passes up to seven (7) days in advance of their check-in day for their entire stay (up to 14 days), and all other guests can purchase and select their first three Lightning Lane Single Passes three (3) days in advance.

The full list of attractions that are currently available for Individual Attraction Selection in Walt Disney World is as follows:

Magic Kingdom:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• TRON Lightcycle / Run

EPCOT:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Animal Kingdom:

• Avatar Flight of Passage

Hollywood Studios:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

At Disneyland, expect Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park to remain OFF the Multi Pass option for the time being — though we won’t know for sure just yet.

Planning in Advance

Disney World hotel guests will be able to purchase Lightning Lane passes starting at 7AM seven (7) days IN ADVANCE of their check-in day while all other park guests can purchase theirs also at 7AM three (3) days in advance of their first park day.

Eligible Hotels for the 7-Day advance planning are:

• Disney World Resort Hotels 
• Shades of Green Resort
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels

It’s a good idea to have your whole party loaded into and linked on the My Disney Experience App before 7AM on the day you’re eligible to start booking Lightning Lanes, purchasing both Multi Pass and Single Pass for each day of your trip at the same time if this is an option you plan to pursue, and doing your research to know what you want to ride ahead of time.

To book your Lightning Lanes, all you need is the free My Disney Experience app to make your purchases! Be sure to connect/link everyone in your traveling party on your Family and Friends list in the app so the selections will count for everyone in your party. From the app, you’ll be able to select the pass type, preferred theme park, dates of the pass, rides, and time slot of the passes.

 

Still confused? Check out some Frequently Asked Questions we’ve received from readers below:

• Q: What Time Do Purchases and Reservations Open Up 7 Days Ahead of Time and 3 Days Ahead of Time Respectively?
  • A: 7AM ET on the first day of eligibility
• Q: Do You Purchase Multi Pass and Reserve a Lightning Lane at the Same Time?
  • A: Yes, you can.
• Q: Do Lightning Lane Single Pass Reservations Open at the Same Time?
  • A: Yes.
• Q: Do Lightning Lane Single Pass Selections Count Towards My Multi Pass Selections?
  • A: No.
• Q: Is There Still a 2-hour “Cooldown” Period? 
  • A: No, Disney World is voiding this rule and you can hold up to 3 Lightning Lanes at any given time.
• Q: If You Book 3 Lightning Lanes Ahead of Time in the Evening, Do You Have to Wait Until You Use Your First One Before You Can Book the 4th?
  • A: Yes, you will beallowed to book your next Lightning Lane pass once your earliest Lightning Lane pass has been used (or its arrival window has passed).
• Q: Am I Limited to Only 3 Multi Pass Lightning Lanes per Day?
  • A: No. You can make as many reservations as you like as long as you book them one at a time and for as long as availability allows.
• Q: Will the System Warn You if You Have Overlapping Plans Such as Advance Dining Reservations?
  • A: Yes, the system will recommend arrival windows based on your existing plans.
• Q: Is Park Hopping an Option?
  • A: According to Disney, “When you purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a theme park, you’ll be prompted to choose up to 3 multi pass experiences and arrival windows in the same theme park. Once you redeem a selection on the day of your park visit, you can use the My Disney Experience app to choose another multi pass experience in any Walt Disney World theme park (subject to availability), as long as you have a valid ticket with the Park Hopper option or an Annual Pass. The ability to visit another park is subject to the park’s capacity limitations.”
• Q: If I am traveling to Disney World from another country, does that affect my ability to plan in advance?
  • A: Yes, pre-arrival planning will begin on the My Disney Experience App after you reach the United States. Canadians are exempt from this rule.
• Q: Can Plans be Changed and Modified?
  • A: Yes, but modifications are subject to availability, and there may be price differences involved if switching days and/or parks. Single Pass Lightning Lanes times may not be modified.
• Q: Are Lightning Lane Single Pass Eligible Rides also Available for Multi Pass?
  • A: No.
• Q: What If July 24th Is In the Middle of My Trip?
  • A: You can plan in advance beginning on July 24th, so you won’t be able to plan ahead until then.

We’ll be in the parks when the changes go live to bring you everything you need to know about how this new Lightning Lane system will work in Disney World. Make sure you check back here at the Disney Food Blog for the latest updates and news about Lightning Lane and all your Disney needs!

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