Screenshot from the My Disney Experience App on October 30, 2024Lightning Lane Premier Pass is now available at Walt Disney World. With it, guests can skip the Standby Line and head to the Lightning Lane Line without making a reservation. It works for both the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Individual Pass selections. Sounds too good to be true, right?
The first problem with the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass is the cost. The opening day prices were Magic Kingdom – $329, Epcot – $169, Disney’s Hollywood Studios – $269, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom – $129. Remember, that’s per guest, and does not include tax. It also does not include your theme park ticket, so add that when doing the math. These are first day prices, there will be some fluctuation. The highest I’ve seen so far is $399 for the Magic Kingdom.
A second issue is that you can use the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass on each ride only once. A lot of people have compared the new system to Express Pass at Universal Orlando Resort. The difference is that with the Universal Express Unlimited Pass, you can ride the same attraction over and over if you so choose. That isn’t the case with Lightning Lane Premier Pass. You’re one and done.
The third problem is that your purchase is good only for the park that you buy it for. There’s no multi park option, like with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You spend $269 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, hit everything, and then decide you want to Park Hop over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Try to scan in for a Lightning Lane line…too bad.
My daughter and I were at Disneyland right before Lightning Lane Premier Pass rolled out on the West Coast. Even though it wasn’t yet active, I am convinced that Disney cut back on the number of Lightning Lane Multi Pass options, trying to convince everyone that Premier Pass would be worth it. I’m sure it’s even worse now, because they’re trying to get everyone to think that an extra $400 per guest (the current Disneyland cost) is a good deal.
Right now, Lightning Lane Premier Pass is available only to guests staying in Deluxe Resorts. (You can see the full resort list here.) I guess that the thought is that people staying in a Deluxe Resort can afford it. You know very well that people will buy it. But not everyone who stays in a Deluxe Resort is rich. Some people will save for years because it’s their dream to watch fireworks from their balcony, or to wake up, look outside, and see a savanna. Others travel with a family, and want the convenience of more room, a washer/dryer, and a kitchen. Those folks aren’t going to want to add several hundred dollars each day to their tickets.
I know that no one is forcing anyone to buy anything. I also know that you can have a magical day at Walt Disney World without paying for the extras. But with Epic Universe opening on May 22 and Universal Orlando Resort marketing itself as a week long vacation destination, is this the right time for Walt Disney World to add such an expensive extra? Are they crazy???