Earlier this year, Disney World and Disneyland did away with the Genie+ skip-the-line system and introduced Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, which worked much like the Genie+ system.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Lightning Lane
We’ve had a chance to use both Multi Pass and Single Pass by now, and just when we thought we had gotten the hang of it, Disney goes and introduces a whole NEW Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Here’s what we know.
Disney has introduced a NEW Lightning Lane Premier Pass to go along with the current Multi Pass and Single Pass.
©Disney
Just as the current passes allow you to skip the line, Premier Pass will do the same — but it won’t be available to everyone. Beginning October 30th, Disney World will begin rolling out this new pilot program. With Lightning Lane Premier Pass, parkgoers will be able to use the pass to skip the line at each participating attraction once per day.
Lightning Lane
At Disney World, Lightning Lane Premier Pass will only be available to folks staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villas hotels. Guests at these hotels will be able to purchase Premier Passes up to seven days in advance of their stay, except for on the launch date which will have no advance purchases.
Lightning Lane
Like Multi Pass, Premier Pass will be park-specific and will have different pricing depending on the park and date that are chosen. As of now, no Park Hopper option has been revealed.
Here’s a look at the Lightning Lane Premier Passes per person, per day for Disney World:
- 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
As a reminder, these are the hotels eligible for Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Disney World:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (eligibility applies to Disney Vacation Club Cabins only)
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other eligible hotels:
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green Resort
At Disneyland, the pilot program is rolling out in just one week — October 23rd. Here, you’ll be able to purchase the pass up to two days ahead of a park reservation with no advance booking on the start date. But, Disneyland’s version of the Premier Pass will be available to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis with limited availability.
Disneyland’s Premier Pass will also include Lightning Lanes in both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure for the same day.
Lightning Lane at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Throughout 2024, the Disneyland Lightning Lane Premier Pass will cost $400 per person, per day for adults and children. Next year, prices are showing from $300 to $400 per person, per day depending on the date.
Lightning Lanes
As of now, no changes have been announced for Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass at the parks, but we’ll let you know if that changes. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news!
EVERYTHING You Need To Know About Lightning Lanes at Disney World
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Disney is making a huge mistake. Universal already includes express passes at their deluxe resorts. And it includes everyone staying in the room!!! And it’s unlimited!! You go on all the rides as many times as you want for the duration of your stay, including check in and check out day. I’m not sure what Disney is trying to do here, but I know what it is not, it is not about the customer / consumer. EPIC Universe is already going to knock Disney down a peg so they need to rethink this whole fiasco. SMH.
This is exactly like every other amusement/theme park chain on earth. Your line skipping option ranges from about 110-250% of the admission cost depending on the day.
So if I’m understanding this correctly, it’s basically what universal offers with their express pass that you get FOR FREE if you stay at their deluxe resorts. Absolutely ridiculous!
Understand something. The infrastructure to implement this change is already in place and being used. As it will cost Disney nothing more to accommodate those who buy it, they don’t have to have many users. However many use it, what they pay is almost pure profit.
There used to not be a class system in the parks, everyone was on an even field. Now there most definitely is and it’s ruined the magic. No wonder you hear more and more about fights at Disney parks. People spend thousands, go into debt to take their family on a magical vacation just to watch the rich walk right past them and have a better time than them. I can do that anywhere, why do I need to pay Disney thousands to feel like a second class citizen?
Hi Gigi, I see that each park has a PRICE RANGE. What does this PRICE RANGE mean for the Premier? Thanks
Absolutely insane
Just another idea to alienate the average family.
This is just another thing that after 32yrs we will stop going.
It’s ridiculous! Disney has lost it for sure! No way on God’s green earth will I ever pay for their Premier Pass! I can’t afford it. Heck, I won’t pay for either of the current Lightning Lanes. Who came up with this plan? They should be fired.
I feel sorry for my other half; they will have to work some overtime…
I’m staying at the Polynesian in next year, I will absolutely NOT be investing in this, that’s crazy money! The average family from the UK stay for 2 weeks. Imagine paying that price PP each day for 14 days. Would cost more than the whole trip
I’ve followed your content for years and never once commented, but this article has made me so upset. (Not your faults!). I echo the disappointment that everyone else commenting has expressed. This is disgusting of Disney. To me it seems like a ploy to get more people to buy LL multi pass and single pass. What is a bad option because it used to be FREE(included with your stay), is now a good option in comparison to this monstrosity, or so they hope people will think. But still even multipass and single pass is a money grab. I also feel like this should be insulting to not only the average park goer but even those wealthy enough to afford this. “let’s milk them for all they got and still barely give them anything in return” I doubt many will buy this. But again I think that’s their plan, make multipass and single pass look better. This is in line with the ridiculous star wars hotel and we all saw how spectacularly that failed. I remember only a few short years ago how fun Disney was, free fast pass, gift cards if you didn’t want room service, extended hours for ALL hotel guests, better food options at hotel food courts, etc etc. This is just so sad… We just had our first kid and I don’t know if we’ll end up ever taking her at this rate …
Maybe this is a way for Disney to show people that the current system (which people moan about) is actually great value for money.
Many of the people who have posted here already say they won’t come back to Disney. I will because I don’t think many people can afford this so it will make little difference to the current queues.
I think this will appeal most to those who pay to have a guide with them all day.
I will not buy it, nor do I buy the current passes. I do every thing I want to without spending the extra.
I have been in love with Disney since 1985. But year after year now they are working to push people out that do not stay on property. They are no longer for the everyday family. These prices on top of insane resort prices for what usually amounts to a regular sized hotel room is lunacy. Original Fast Pass was easy, free and wonderful. But it was free and that just wasn’t good enough. I am so disappointed in what Disney has become. Almost $200 for the Halloween and Christmas party? I go every year but I fear that won’t be possible much longer as I’m disabled now and I just can’t afford more than a day at the park.
Very well put!
I’m ready to just go back to winging it and if it doesn’t work out, try somewhere else!
Why can’t Disney just leave it alone – the Lightning Lane was just fine – even though it could be expensive !!
Just open my bank account anytime you (Disney) need more money from me to come for our vacations !! It’s overkill now for the middle class family to enjoy Disney as a family outing which is what Walt wanted for all families .
Tired of being taken advantage of …….!
Then I hear swan and dolphin are included, is Iger serious !! He’s put a neighbour hood hotel above value and mid property’s that are actually in WDW, that’s the kind of thing that makes me mad, he has blown his on legacy . From hero to zero in 2 years 😡
I agree that the price for the Premier Pass is crazy, and there’s no way that I’d pay for it. What I don’t get is people who are so absolutely offended by it. It’s not required. Disney is not forcing anyone to buy it, so if it’s not for you, then you can just move on. It’s not all that different from other travel expenses. I can choose to buy the basic ticket for flying, or I can pay extra for more legroom or to be upgraded to business or first class. I choose not to. I still get to fly, just without the extra perks. With this, you still get to go to Disney, just without the extra perks.
And just a reminder for those saying that Universal offers it for free- Universal has 4, soon to be 5, Signature resorts that get the Express pass. Disney has 20+ Deluxe resorts/villas. It just doesn’t seem feasible or realistic that it would be free to that quantity of guests.
This definitely prices me out!!
Now I understand why Disney dumped all us older people who have physical difficulties from the DAS program.
When swan and dolphin is ahead of the moderates , there’s something g definitely wrong with the currant leadership .
MARK, you are SO RIGHT. I have or had DAS also. Disney even takes away from the DISABLED to pad their pockets. DISGUSTING
Pure greed! Walt Disney would not approve!