Families at Walt Disney World and Disneyland are always trying to figure out how to get the most out of their day at the parks. For some that means hitting as many attractions as possible, whether that means purchasing Lightning Lanes for some attractions, booking VIP tours that include skip-the-line service on attractions, or just getting up early to hit the parks when they are least crowded. Well now families have another option for line skipping: Lightning Lane Premier Pass.
The new skip-the-line service debuts at Walt Disney World beginning October 30, 2024, for those staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts. Over at Disneyland guests can start using Lightning Lane Premier Pass on October 23, 2024. This is for all guests, regardless of where you’re staying or what type of park ticket you enter the theme parks with.
There’s a lot to unpack about Lighting Lane Premier Pass. I’m sharing my best tips for families considering the new service, answering the top questions, and answering questions to ensure you get the most out of the park add-on.
What is the cost of Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
The question on everyone’s mind is how much will the new Lightning Lane cost. Lightning Lane Premier Pass is expensive no matter what coast you’re buying it on. At Walt Disney World, the prices will vary by date and theme park. This means you won’t be able to buy the service as a bundle to visit multiple parks for one set price. The price breakdown per park, per day is below.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: prices range from $129-$199 plus tax per person
EPCOT: prices range from $169 to $249 plus tax per person
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: prices range from $269 to $349 plus tax per person
Magic Kingdom: prices range from $329 to $449 plus tax per person
Disneyland’s prices are a little more manageable since it’s good for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure in one day. This means you’ll be able to do nearly all the rides in both parks in a single day if you use your time wisely.
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In 2024, Lightning Lane Premier Pass costs $400 per person, per day. In 2025, the prices will be flexed based on date and demand. Prices will range from $300 to $400 per person, per day.
What type of Disney guest is Lightning Lane Premier Pass for?
I’m thinking of Lightning Lane Premier Pass as a stepping stone for families who want a luxury or seamless Disney vacation. Maybe the family wants to be able to get onto more attractions but wants a more accessible option compared to VIP tours that can fill up quickly and can be quite a bit more expensive than Lightning Lane Premier Pass.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass could also be for the family who is only going to visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland once and wants to be mindful of the time and get the most out of every minute of the day.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass versus VIP tours
So let’s think about the pricing of VIP tours at Walt Disney World and Disneyland to show how Lightning Lane Premier Pass is a stepping stone for families who want to experience a luxury Disney vacation. In our scenario, we have a family of four visiting both resorts, and you already have park tickets.
Walt Disney World
At Walt Disney World, VIP tours range from $450 to $900 an hour. You must book a minimum of seven hours and a maximum of 10 hours. The tours can accommodate up to 10 people and include pre-arrival planning, flexible start time, availability to visit multiple theme parks, skip-the-line service, and of course your VIP Guide shares insights and history of the parks along the way.
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So, your price for a VIP Tour is the median price of $675 per hour and you’ve booked the whole day, so 10 hours. That’s $6,750 for a one-day VIP tour, but it includes access to every attraction you want at all four parks, transportation, and more.
If you were to book Lightning Lane Premier Passes for Magic Kingdom on its most expensive day, you’d spend $1,796, plus tax, for your family to skip lines at certain attractions.
Disneyland
Disneyland’s VIP tours are also a minimum of seven hours and a maximum of 10 hours. You get the same service as Disney World’s VIP tours, but prices range from $500 to $800 per day for groups of up to 10 people. A family of four booking a VIP tour on an average day for 10 hours will spend $6,500 on the tour and get access to every attraction at both parks, transportation, and more.
The same family could buy Lightning Lane Premier Pass at the Disneyland Resort for $1,400 (based on a median price of $350 for the skip-the-line service).
When does it make sense to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
In my opinion, it makes sense to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass if you’re on a time crunch at Walt Disney World or Disneyland and want to get as much done during your trip as possible. You may only be buying a Lightning Lane Premier pass for one day (Disneyland) or one park per day (Walt Disney World), but you’ll definitely get onto a lot of attractions with your purchase, and you won’t be looking at your phone all day either.
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Another time it could make sense to purchase is on extremely busy days or seasons. This includes during Christmas week, Easter, and Spring Break when crowds are heavy and wait times are long.
What parks are worth buying Lightning Lane Premier Pass at?
If your family thinks Lightning Lane Premier Pass is worth it, I would only suggest buying it for Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. That’s the park with the most attractions with Lightning Lane entrances. Alternatively, it could be a good value at the Disneyland Resort since it includes both theme parks in the cost.
When doesn’t it make sense to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
There are many scenarios where purchasing Lightning Lane Premier Pass doesn’t make sense. The first is if you don’t care how many attractions you get on during the day, like annual pass and Magic Key holders who visit the parks frequently.
If you’re visiting during the slower seasons at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you may find shorter wait times and you can get to many attractions without an issue.
The third time it may not make sense to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass is if you’re visiting a Walt Disney World theme park with fewer attractions. Think parks like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which have 10 and 14 attractions that have a Lightning Lane entrance, respectively.
Questions we know you have about Lightning Lane Premier Pass
What does Lightning Lane Premier Pass include?
The biggest perk to Lightning Lane Premier Pass is that it provides more flexibility during your park day. You don’t have to choose arrival windows as you do with Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass. You can just enter the Lightning Lane entry when you please. Lightning Lane Premier Pass gives you a one-time entry into each available Lightning Lane experience in one park for one day. This also includes attractions that are part of the Lightning Lane Single Pass list.
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What about photo downloads?
At Walt Disney World, you’ll get digital downloads of your on-ride photos and videos from your My Disney Experience app. You can also use Disney PhotoPass Lenses, which put augmented-reality effects on your photos.
At Disneyland, you can download all your photos from your park day, including attraction photos and those taken by in-park photographers. Disney PhotoPass Lenses are also available to use here.
Is Premier Pass replacing Lightning Lane Multi and Single Pass?
No, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is not replacing the more affordable Lightning Lane Multi and Single Pass. Guests will still be able to purchase both of those options at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
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Are standby lines still available?
Yes, you can still wait in standby lines if you don’t want to pay extra money to get onto attractions.
Can I use Lightning Lane Premier Pass at more than one park?
At Disneyland, Lightning Lane Premier Pass is good for both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. At Walt Disney World, the service is only good for one park per purchase. You pick your park during the check-out process.
One Disney travel agent’s take on Lightning Lane Premier Pass
FamilyVacationist reached out to Heather Peggs, an authorized Disney Vacation Planner with Castle Bound Travel Company to get a travel agent’s insight into Disney’s newest Lightning Lane offering.
According to Peggs, “The Lightning Lane Premier Pass is really designed for guests who place a premium on maximizing their time in the park. These are often people who want to experience as much as possible without spending hours in line. They’re not necessarily concerned with the price tag—they’re more focused on enjoying their vacation to the fullest by skipping long wait times and ensuring they get to the most popular attractions.” She also states that it’s perfect for those who think their time is the most valuable part of their Disney experience, say over meeting characters or where they plan to dine.
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She’s also seeing an increase in guests who want a more luxurious Disney vacation, but don’t want to spend too much money on Disney’s highest-end experiences. Her job is to show families they can still have a luxury Disney vacation, tailored to their budget. “It’s becoming more common for travelers to want a high-end Disney vacation without breaking the bank, and that’s where I come in. As a Disney travel agent, I love helping my clients find that perfect balance—enjoying deluxe accommodations, signature dining, and even VIP tours without overspending,” she says.
For Peggs, part of the fun is sharing her expertise about Disney, especially all of the Lightning Lane options. “Booking Lightning Lanes can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Working with a travel agent is a smart choice because it doesn’t cost you anything extra, and you get personalized guidance on how to navigate the system,” she explains. For her clients, she shares the best times to book, what attractions to prioritize, and insider tips to make the most of your time in the parks.
“I also recommend following official Disney social media accounts to stay updated on the latest news and tips, ensuring you’re always in the loop,” she says.
Our theme park editor’s take
I’m not the target market for Lightning Lane Premier Pass, but I can see how it would benefit those who have some extra money to spend and don’t want to constantly refresh a Disney park app the entire day. As an annual pass holder at Walt Disney World and visitor to Disneyland a few times a year, I’m completely fine with whatever I get to do at both resorts because I know that I will likely be able to return.
That’s not the case for most people who visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland. The resorts are often one-time experiences for families. Budgets have to be thought of when planning a Disney vacation.
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Disney has been a place where nearly anyone can go and spend as much or as little as they want. How people can experience a Disney vacation based on a set budget is only getting larger. This is thanks to an ample number of hotels near or on Disney property that provide accommodation at nearly any budget, tickets that can be bundled with hotel stays or dining plans, and even extra add-ons like VIP tours or Lightning Lanes.
While you never have to purchase any add-ons to have a great time at Disney, it does make it easier to experience the parks most fully. It’s really just up to you what add-ons are worth the cost for your family, including paying $400 at Disneyland or Walt Disney World to skip lines for a day.
