In case you haven’t heard, there’s a NEW Lightning Lane option coming to Disney World.
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.
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
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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).
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.
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.
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What do you think of the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
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