Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass

Lightning Lane Premier Pass

We have all seen those Disney photos and videos of celebrities waltzing through a Disney theme park, skipping all the lines and riding any ride they want. Now, you can be a celebrity with Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Think of it as the FastPass of the stars!

In October 2019, Disney got rid of the FastPass system and launched the ill-fated Genie + system (it was confusing, as they launched a free service called Genie the same day that had nothing to do with Genie +). In 2024, Disney revamped the entire system and scratched the Genie name and rebranded the paid service Lightning Lane. Currently, both Walt Disney World and Disneyland offer two different Lightning Lane passes, with a third (the Premier Pass) to come.

Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass most resembles the FastPass system of old, the one after Disney removed the free FastPass machines in the parks and when to app reservations only. With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, each person in your party that purchased the service will be able to book three multi pass experiences (with arrival windows) in a theme park. Once you have used your first lightning lane, you can make another reservation in the same or other parks. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass also includes in-park photos (digital downloads of select attraction photos) as well as a few other perks while in the parks that day. Currently, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass starts at $30 per person per day at Walt Disney World and $32 per person per day at Disneyland.

Disney’s Lightning Lane Single Pass

The downside of the Multi Pass is that the most popular rides are excluded. Let’s say you really wanted to ride Tron Lightcycle/Run or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and paid for the Multi Pass. Well, tough luck, as they are not included. You can wait in the standby line like a schmuck, or you can pay another fee to Disney to bypass the line, the Lightning Lane Single Pass. Pricing for Single Pass attractions varies, but is typically in the neighborhood of $20 per person. This pass gives guests one-time entry into the attraction, but there will be a specific arrival time set, so pay attention to that time.

Please note that Single Pass rides do sell out of Lightning Lane Single Pass tickets, so don’t assume you can just walk up to the ride at any time and ride it, you should make a reservation early in the morning and plan around that return time window you are given.

Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass

And now we get to the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass. This very limited and very premium offering combines the best of both the Multi and Single Passes, to give you access to all the Lightning Lane attractions, with no wait time, virtual queue or booking windows. There will be very limited availability of this new pass.

At Disneyland Resort, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting two days before your theme park reservation. This pass will be valid for use in both theme parks. The first day it will be offered is October 23, 2024.

At Walt Disney World, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will initially be available only to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts or Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. It can be purchased up to seven days before your stay and will be valid for access to a single park of your choice per day. The first date it will be available is October 30, 2024.

UPDATE: Starting November 21, 2024, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is now available for ALL Disney resort guests, it is no longer limited to just deluxe and deluxe villa resort. Guests at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin as well as Shades of Green can also now purchase the pass.

Once you have purchased your Lightning Lane Premier Pass and are in the theme park of your choice, just approach any available Lightning Lane entrance at the ride of your choice, scan your MagicBand, park ticket or cell phone, and enter the ride. Please note, with the Premier Pass, you will have access to each Lightning Lane ride once, though you can wait in line if you want a second pass.

Please note, as of now, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will not be made available at Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland or Shanghai Disneyland

Lightning Lane Premier Pass Pricing

Disneyland – Premier Pass will be priced at $400 per person per day through the end of 2024, and in 2025, will be priced between $300 and $400 per day depending on expected crowds, demand, etc. Price will be shown when purchasing the pass on the Disneyland App.

Walt Disney World – Premier Pass will be priced between $129 – $449 per person depending on date, theme par, expected crowds, etc. Price will be shown when purchasing the pass on the My Disney Experience App.

Please note that the Lightning Lane Premier Pass does not include park admission, theme park tickets must be purchased separately. Advance purchase is necessary.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass Rides

The following Lightning Lane Rides are available with the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass:

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

  • The Barnstormer
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mad Tea Party
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Epcot

  • Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
  • Journey into Imagination with Figment
  • Living with the Land
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Turtle Talk with Crush

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
  • Disney Junior Play & Dance!
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Toy Story Mania! The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

  • Avatar Flight of Passage
  • DINOSAUR
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
  • Feathered Friends in Flight!
  • Festival of the Lion King
  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
  • It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Naʻvi River Journey

Disneyland Park

  • Autopia
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Indiana Jones Adventure
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
  • Space Mountain
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Disney California Adventure Park

  • Goofy’s Sky School
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
  • Incredicoaster
  • The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
  • Radiator Springs Racers
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Toy Story Midway Mania!
  • WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

Is Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass Worth it?

For 99% of the people visiting the Disney theme parks, the answer is unequivocally no! This pass makes zero sense for almost everyone. For less than half of the cost of the pass, you can recreate it using the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, though with the Premier Pass, you are guaranteed to be able to ride everything, not so the other way. Are you in the parks for just a few days and HAVE to ride everything and are willing to pay for it? Then yes, the Premier Pass probably makes sense for you.

If you are considering purchasing Lightning Lane Premier Passes, remember there will be very limited quantities, so be aware of the date and time they go on sale and purchase them early.

Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass alternatives

Disney VIP Tour

One long time favorite of the Uber rich visiting the Disney theme parks is the VIP tour. This is a guided tour for up to 10 people, customized to your desires. You can cover one park or all of the parks, and on the majority of attracting, your VIP tour guide will have access to either no or limited lines. The VIP tours are available at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This is a step beyond the Premier Pass, as you will have an incredible guide with you to guide you through the parks, answer questions or even carry your Mickey Balloons.

At Disneyland, tours are a minimum of 7 hours and can go as long as 10. Pricing ranges between $500 and $800 per hour, and will be quoted at the time of booking. Gratuities are not included for the guide, so factor that in.

At Walt Disney World, tours are a minimum of 7 hours and can go as long as 10. Pricing ranges between $450 and $900 per hour, and will be quoted at the time of booking. Gratuities are not included for the guide, so factor that in.

If you have a bigger group, the VIP tour may be a bigger bang for your buck. Let’s say you have a group of 8 people in the parks one day. A VIP tour will run you about $3,150 to $6,300 for a 7-hour guide. Remember, the VIP tour can cover multiple parks, and the Premier Pass at Walt Disney World is good for only one park. For 8, buying a Premier Pass would run about $3,592 at the Magic Kingdom on a busy day, in the same neighborhood as a VIP tour. Something to consider.

Find out More!

If you want to find out more, reach out to us here at Mouseketrips for a Free Disney Quote, one of our great agents can help you start planning your next Disney vacation, including the incredible Lightning Lane Premium Pass (or not).

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