In case you haven’t heard, there’s a NEW Lightning Lane option coming to Disney World.
Lightning Lane
Disney World JUST changed its system from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi Pass earlier this year. But now, they’re getting ready to test a new offering made specifically for the people who hate the booking process or being on their phones — Lightning Lane Premier Pass. However, even though Lightning Lane Premier Pass sounds like a good concept for those “go with the flow” folks, the pricetag has already been making headlines and shocking people on social media. So we reached out to our readers to hear their thoughts!
Before we dive into our reader responses, here’s the rundown on Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Beginning on October 30th, Disney World will roll out the pilot program for this new offering. The Premier Pass will allow parkgoers to skip the line at each Lightning Lane attraction in a single park once per day.
Winnie the Pooh Lightning Lane
In Disney World, Premier Pass will only be available to guests staying at Deluxe and DVC Resorts. You can purchase up to seven days in advance of your trip (except on the launch day, which will have no advance purchases). Premier Pass pricing will be park-specific and will vary depending on the day that you visit. Here are the current price ranges:
- Magic Kingdom: $329-$449 plus tax
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $129-$199 plus tax
- EPCOT: $169-$249 plus tax
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $269-$349 plus tax
Lightning Lane
So what do the people think about this pricing? We reached out to our followers on Facebook and asked them about it.
Now that Lightning Lane Premier Pass has been announced, we gotta know…how do you feel about that $400+ pricing being for just ONE PARK?!?!
Posted by DisneyFoodBlog on Wednesday, October 16, 2024
As you may have guessed, our readers had some SPICY things to say. Let’s dive in!
Disney World Is Pricing People Out
Perhaps the most popular comment type on our Facebook post is along the lines of “Disney World is pricing out the average parkgoer.” Many noted that the price of a Disney vacation with all its add-ons and upgrades is just too much for a middle-class family these days.
Riviera Resort
One of our followers said, “I’ve got to be honest — Disney is killing me with their prices for everything. We just went in September and tried to do a couple of days without lightning lanes and you just can’t get a lot done.” Another shared their thoughts, saying, “I think Disney is making it harder for the common person to go to their parks. It seems like they only want people with money now and that goes against everything Walt Disney was for. Disney used to be for everyone.”
Saratoga Springs
It seems that these prices are making many Disney fans realize just how much the cost of a vacation has gone up in the past few years. Is Disney World still affordable anymore?
This Is Fine if It’s Just an Option
A few of our readers seemed fine with the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass, as long as the regular Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass options stick around. They noted that they may not pay for it themselves, but that this would be a more “luxury” service that those who can afford to stay at Deluxe Resorts might choose.
Lightning Lane
One follower said, “It’s a self-led VIP experience type option. Not a requirement to enjoy the park…so, it’s something you can do if you can do it. Just like VIP experiences have always been.” Another noted, “I had a mild meltdown when I thought this was replacing the current system!! Totally fine if this is just an option for some.”
Lightning Lane at Haunted Mansion
Quite a few people compared it to a VIP tour, which offers similar perks. More of a luxury offering that some people can afford, but it probably isn’t intended for the average guest. We’ll be interested to see how many people actually buy it!
This Should Be a REAL Perk
Another common complaint is that Disney is marketing this like a “perk” for Deluxe Resort guests, when it’s still an offering you have to pay for on top of your hotel room and tickets. Quite a few people compared the Premier Pass to Universal Orlando’s Express Pass, which is included with stays at their Premier Resorts (their versions of Deluxe Resorts).
Disney’s Contemporary Hotel
One reader shared their thoughts, saying, “I think it’s disgusting, they say they are following Universal but they are not. Deluxe hotels at Universal have it included, so yes a good idea for those wanting to spend that much, but it should be there for all and free from a deluxe hotel.”
Universal Is Doing Better
Speaking along the lines of comparisons to Universal Orlando, many people noted that this kind of pricing was making Universal look MUCH better than Disney. A common argument we’ve seen today is that Universal Orlando’s Express Pass is comparable pricing, but it includes BOTH theme parks and you can purchase the Unlimited option, which offers access to the express queues as many times as you’d like. Disney’s Premier Pass is limited to one park per day and one Lightning Lane access per attraction.
Universal Orlando Express Pass
So ultimately, this seems to be a controversial decision on Disney’s part. We’ll be interested to see how this new offering works when it premieres soon, so stay tuned to DFB for all the updates.
Click Here to Learn All About the Premier Pass!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think of the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
I would like to offer a counterpoint to this story. The price does seem outrageous, but it can make sense for Disney and visiting families. With this pass you can pretty much ride everything a park has to offer. That means you can do all 4 parks in 4 days. Most families probably go for a week and still don’t get in everything. When you compare the price of the skip the line option to the 3 days that you don’t need anymore it can make sense. That’s 3 days of hotels, tickets, food and skip the line passes you don’t need. Not only that but Disney can turn over customers quicker. Some will say “but I want to be at Disney for 7 days.” That’s fine, you can stick to the old way. For the families that don’t have a full 7 days, or prefer to get in as much as possible as quickly as possible then they can pick the new way.
As someone with 5 children and 9 grandchildren we go about every 2 years. I am starting to think it maybe time for a few Universal years. First this seems to me to be discriminatory that only those in the high end hotels can access and second the price is outrageous on top of the admission tickets. Very sad to see the House of Mouse turn into Cash and Grab!
We’re both in our 70’s, so a day in a park is really only a half day as we go back to the room after lunch for a nap. Therefore, the multi-pass gets us the 2-3 attractions that fill our day. The price for entry into every attraction is way overpriced for our needs.
I think you made a great point with Disney’s dubious claim of parity with Universal’s line skip pass…the Universal deluxe hotels include it, Disney’s will not. Just another reminder that Disney has completely lost sight of Walt’s vision. It feels like Disney’s all-in on a short-term cash grab business model vs long-term investment…in anything these days. And, yes, I know it’s a for-profit business, but there are lots of businesses that have figured out how to treat customers right… and still make money.
For all those kicking, screaming and complaining, there are a couple of points to make. Firstly, this is a PILOT. It doesn’t mean this will be the long-term plan. Perhaps it might get included for deluxe resorts. Secondly, this is OPTIONAL. For those saying they are being priced out, there isn’t anything mandatory about purchasing this upgrade. You can still go to WDW and enjoy the parks.
I wish I could say that I am surprised by the new pass offered and its outrageous cost but since 2022 it seems to be Disney’s Business Plan: raise prices and keep raising them until you create an uprising among fans that results in lower attendance. While I have always stayed in WDW’s Deluxe Resorts and could afford the new pass, this new wrinkle sickens me when I think of all the children who’d love a trip to Disney World and deserve to go, but will never be able to enjoy the parks because it is cost prohibitive. It is simply greed.
Just one more reason I will not be going back to Disney. I am from Minnesota who has made many trip to WDW over the years(50+) and I stopped going when they started charging for on-site hotel parking( glad they went back to free) but all these add ons are crazy. I have gone to universal studios orlando and have enjoyed that park . . .planning on going this winter!
Hard to get an invite to the party only to find when you get there you don’t get the same amenities as everyone else. Yup….. Money buys privilege but the level of exclusion and limitations based on $$$$ seems to have increased. True Disneyphiles “remember when” and it’s hard to swallow feeling like you can’t afford the best experience out there. It WAS your happy place. Now, it can be your most frustrating place.
Sooooo, Disney essentially eliminated a multitude of legitimate DAS passes to open up the lines in order to sell the Multi-Lane pass, individual LL passes and now the Premier pass … eeekkkkk. And even someone like me is denied a DAS with a valid neurodivergent issue so they have even more room for selling passes. UKGH!!!
I don’t really care either way. We don’t stay at deluxe resorts, so it’s not an option for us anyway. Even if we did, I don’t think I’d purchase these passes. It’s not affordable for us and that’s ok.
I see people throw around words like “discriminatory”. That is not what this is. This is a luxury perk. Just like going to Disney is a luxury perk for a lot of people. Disney isn’t discriminating against anyone. It’s offering a service that you can choose to buy or choose not to buy. It’s like saying BMW is discriminating against you because you can’t afford to buy their product. I can’t afford a BMW and that’s ok.
Disney offering this luxury service doesn’t effect my vacation what so ever. Just like staying in a value resort while some stay in moderate or deluxe doesn’t effect my vacation at all.
If you want to stop going to Disney because of it, by all means, please do. That will be one less person in the standby line that I’ll have to wait behind lol!
As with most people, this is a total money grab. $400.00 wouldn’t be so bad if it was for all 4 parks, not just one each. I wonder how long this will last at this price point?
We have noticed an increase in the number of VIP tours we see around the parks in recent trips. If people will pay the incredibly high cost for those, Disney may see this as a way to give a watered down, less personal, similar experience to guests who have the cash to burn. And Disney doesn’t have to pay an employee to walk around with them all day. Another way Disney is giving less for more money.
I think it high time that Disney look inwards and reassess the fees they are charging for their parks. Every time I turn around prices keep going up. How much can you gouge the public without something hitting the wall?
Our family used to go to Disney World every year or every 2 years. It is unfortunate that we can’t go with our family as frequently as we did in the past. We now have grandchildren and it would be nice for us to take them to Disney, however with the costs continuing to rise, that is only a ‘pipe dream’
As long as the lines at Disney are endless with visitors to all the parks they can charge whatever they want. This bubble will break when the lines are empty like they were in 2005. As the prices go up the lines will get shorter . When you can’t get on more than 2 or 3 rides in a day because of long lines it doesn’t add up to pay that much for a ticket for a day.
Disgusting! Congratulations you just found another way to steal the magic for the average visitor, all to please the stockholders! As if Disney is going broke! Enough is enough! I am a Florida resident, I moved here to be closer to Disney, we have annual passes, Thankfully! We go every chance we get and pick one or two things we want to accomplish each time and fill in with just enjoying the sites, that takes us 5 or 6 hours. The lines are already LONG for those who don’t pay EXTRA to skip the line! This will make it worse!! We save by eating before the park and sometimes after depending on departure time. We pack snacks and water. We are the average middle class with grown children and this is how we save. These younger families are being screwed and that is the major market for the MK! Thank you to the Board of Directors for flipping the bird and stealing the Magic to those Children! I am glad I got to take my kids there before you did that to them! Angry you are doing so to my Grandchildren!!!!
Yes, this is an option, but it’s still pricing middle-class families like mine, out. We have to save for a couple of years to just go and afford to stay at a resort plus tickets. This trip we are staying at Shades of Green because I am a veteran. It’s hundreds of dollars cheaper and yet is a deluxe resort so same perks as the other deluxe resorts (extended hours, etc). But now Disney is offering a more expensive way to skip the lines. That’s great for those who can afford it, who feel that they should not have to wait in line so they can go and enjoy more stuff while those who can’t afford it wait in line or have to pay for the lightning lane/fast pass (whatever it’s called now). I understand not wanting to wait in lines, we don’t, but when Disney charges more to skip lines, per person, they are telling people that only certain families should be able to enjoy the parks. Yes, it’s optional but at the same time, those of us who would LOVE to skip lines can’t afford the option so we lose park time.
Loads of great insight in these comments from all sides of the coin.BUT…….let’s talk branding. BMW ( referenced in one of the comments) never professed to be an average price mark for car buyers. I always knew it might be out of my price range. But Disney….!!!!!! I have said before and will continue to say, this ain’t Walt’s Disney! The average family was supposed to have access to the magic without the caveat of what’s in your bank account.
Sorry, but if you’re ok with this and it works for you because you can swallow the economic restrictions Disney continues to impose, God bless you! It isn’t about just which resort you are ok to stay in. Its the unfair policy that keeps rearing its ugly head drawing a money line in the sand at a place that was supposed to accessible for all. To all of us who “remember when”, keep letting this mega corporation know how you feel. It hurts those who have been loyal all these years. It hurts those up and coming generations who won’t have the opportunity to enjoy the magic as it was intended to be. Economic discrimination was never in their ads and commercials. They professed the joy it was intended to bring not the debt.
People continue to complain for no reason. The solution is simple—-just don’t buy the premier pass. If nobody bought them Disney would either lower the cost or get rid of them. Of course this will never happen and that is why Disney is ruining the park experience for so many people.
People have been complaining about Disney prices since it opened. Some people don’t seem to understand the difference between marketing and reality. Walt Disney claiming that parks were for “everyone” is just marketing. What would you have expected him to say? Yet from the very beginning, not “everyone” was able to afford it. Here’s the thing: vacations to fun places are optional. They are not a constitutional right. Not everyone is able to afford to go on vacation, whether it’s to WDW or to New York or to Paris. Disney parks have nearly 50 MILLION visitors per year. You don’t want to go? 49,999,999 people do not care. The parks manage to be full everyday without you.
Next up for Disney perks: all guests will be charged $150/day to breath at the parks.
BTW, if you stay at one of the premier hotels at Universal, the express passes come with the room.