If you’ve been looking for a way to skip those long queues at Disney World, you’ve got your options – mainly Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass.
Lightning Lane
But if you’re down to shell out for the ultimate skip the line option, then Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP) might be what you want to choose. Speaking of the Premier Pass, there’s been a HUGE rule change that Disney implemented and it’s definitely been causing waves in Disney World. So let’s talk about it!
What’s New with the Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
When LLPP launched in late October 2024, it was exclusive to guests staying at Deluxe Hotels, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green. This exclusivity made sense given the hefty price tag (ranging from $129 to a jaw-dropping $449 per day, per person).
©Disney
But on November 22nd, Disney announced a game-changing update: LLPP is now available to guests staying at any Disney World hotel including Moderate and Value Resorts. Yup, so even if you’re staying at Disney’s Pop Century or All-Star Movies Resort, you can snag this premium pass. Sounds great, right? Well, this shift is creating some unexpected consequences.
Sell-Outs Are Here
The floodgates have opened, and as a result, LLPP is selling out in record time, especially during the busiest time of the year.
Here’s what we’ve seen so far during this holiday season:
- Magic Kingdom: Sold out December 21, 25-31, and January 1-3
- EPCOT: Sold out December 21 and 31
- Hollywood Studios: Sold out December 27-31
Magic Kingdom, in particular, is a hot commodity, with almost two full weeks of sell-outs, and with these dates spanning both Christmas and New Year’s, it’s clear that demand is at an all-time high.
©Disney
Why This Change Is a Big Deal
When LLPP was limited to Deluxe Resort guests, availability was naturally more constrained to a smaller group. Now, with Moderate and Value Resort guests in the mix, competition for these premium passes has skyrocketed.
Lightning Lane
For many Disney-goers, this creates a bit of a dilemma. If you’ve already budgeted for the pass (remember, prices are dynamic and can go up to $449 per person), the fear of missing out on those sell-out dates is real. Also, if you’re someone who likes to book your plans far in advance, this adds another layer of stress to your Disney planning.
A Quick Refresher on LLPP
In case you’re not familiar with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, here’s the deal:
- Skip the lines: LLPP lets you use the Lightning Lane at most attractions in a single park without making reservations or scheduling time slots. Just scan and go!
- Single park only: The pass is tied to the park you purchase it for, so if you’re hopping to another park, your LLPP won’t work there.
- Book in advance: You can buy LLPP up to seven days before your park visit, as long as you have a valid hotel reservation and park admission.
©Disney
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re heading to Disney World and planning to use LLPP, here’s our advice:
- Act fast: With sell-outs becoming common, don’t wait to purchase your LLPP. As soon as your 7-day window opens, secure your pass for the park you want.
- Plan strategically: If LLPP for your park of choice is sold out, you might need to rethink your strategy. Consider alternatives like the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass, though these require reservations and don’t offer the same flexibility.
- Budget accordingly: LLPP is a splurge, and with holiday pricing, it’s critical to weigh whether the cost is worth the convenience for your group.
At the end of the day, Disney’s decision to open up LLPP to Moderate and Value Resort guests has leveled the playing field for those staying at more affordable hotels, but it also adds pressure to an already competitive system. LLPP sell-outs are a reminder of just how popular this option has become, and how quickly you need to act if it’s part of your Disney game plan.
Lightning Lane
In the meantime, we’ll keep you updated on any new developments so keep checking back with us at DFB for all the latest Disney news!
January Prices CONFIRMED for Disney World’s Lightning Lane System
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Despite the folks that say they will never purchase any Lightening product, someone or a lot of someones are buying it up.
All of this hyper-planning before and during our Disney vacations is getting a bit ridiculous. I love the Parks, but none of the other theme parks have this much to worry about. Disney needs to figure out how to control attendance better if they are trying for more systematic crowd control. Maybe jacking up the regular base ticket prices would lower attendance. But all this stress isn’t worth the fun. The guests are so stressed out in the Parks, I have seen people break out into physical fights online. Definitely NOT a magical experience!
The pre-planning has become very stressful and has taken the fun out of visiting Disney World! We have been Vacation Club Members since 2003 and we visit every 1-2 years and have a trip planned for my family of 7 in March 2025. I struggle with paying for a park pass, then paying the additional fees for the more popular attractions, and this changes and gets more expensive every time we visit. During COVID, my daughter and I spent a week in WDW when there were no Fast Lane, Genie or other types of pre-planned passes – we just waited in line and it was definitely one of our best visits! And, what happened to Vacation Club Member perks???
When it was said they appealed to those who were staying at higher end resorts because of the price tag on the pass it didn’t sit well with me. Just because someone may stay at a value or moderate resort doesn’t mean they are without means to purchase the pass. I know a lot of folks who have lots of $$ who stay value. They do this because they are smart with their money and since they aren’t planning on spending time other than to sleep and shower at the resort it makes sense. I love Disney but it has gotten a little bit crazy with pricing considering so much is down due to new additions and such!
More dismal Disney they just keep lowering all the fun to nothing
No way, the more people pay for this now the likely hood you won’t be able to ride on any rides without paying.
Reading this article makes me want to avoid Disney Parks even more. Being at Disney feels less and less like a vacation. Too much to stress over.
Is the premier pass still restricted to US residents only?
My husband and I utilized the Premier LL Pas for one day for each of the four parks we visited. AK on the 22, HS on the 23, Epcot on the 24 and MK on the 25 of December ( the other days we went during our vacation we used multi pass. It is expensive however what it allowed me personally (I’m the planner) four glorious days out of my WDW phone app other than checking show times. We could go see the shows and then fill in with rides. It allowed us to easily see all the shows and still get on all the rides we wanted. There was only one hiccup; Thunder Mountain went down on the 25th of December however the Cast Member at the Guest Experience Blue Umbrella gave us a anytime return LL for the ride and moved it to the last day of our stay which was very nice. Another change they did for me was I found out on our Premier LL Pass day at Epcot that I get motion sickness on Ratatouille so a Cast Member traded out a future multi pass reservation I had on the ride for a LL anytime reservation for Frozen instead. Guest Experience Cast Members were so helpful and we really appreciated it. If we wanted to ride something twice those were the rides we rope dropped or later did the stand by line.
Nothing like shutting out more guests by not offering it to people who don’t stay on property. Disney is horrible anymore with their nonsense. Go to Universal Studios. So much better!
I wouldn’t buy this premier pass in a bazillion years. I agree with Ralph….who ARE the people lining up to spend a thousand dollars more EACH day for a family of four? I don’t know anyone who has this kind of money to spend on one day of their vacation.
I purchased it in Disneyland for Thanksgiving. We had a short day and a half at the parks and it was worth every penny on our Disneyland day for our small family. Close your eyes and hit purchase if you can do it. Time is money after all…
We purchased and used Lightning lane under the previous system and it was good. Of course it was great when it was free but we adapted and only purchased for MK and HS. I loved the idea of being able to book in advance and am glad they brought this back but don’t see us using this premier pass. It’s a ludicrous amount of money. Allin all. I’m glad we decided to skip WDW in 2025 for other destinations.
Hi MJ! No, you do not have to live in the US to buy the Incredi-Pass, however you may have to wait until you are in the US to purchase it.