Disney Finds New Way To Bleed Park Guests Dry: Introducing* LIGHTING LANE PREMIERE PASS
*Guests to Disneyland Paris (there are dozens of them! dozens!) have already had Lightning Lane Premiere Pass prior to this announcement for the US (Domestic) Parks.
Disney Parks once again find themselves shuffling up their "skip the line" privilege pass. Whereas they formerly had the free and perfectly functional, if a little exhausting, fastpass system that worked for over a decade, the Mouse House moved to Disney Genie+, a paid upgrade cost that could help mitigate some of the waiting for rides or parades. Disney Genie+ was then retooled to the Lightning Lane system, with some minor modifications to the Genie+ system. Lightning Lanes have been the norm for a bit.
Well, starting soon, guests to Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in the land that common sense forgot... I mean, Florida, will have the possibility of purchasing a special pass, the Lightning Lane Premiere Pass!
Here are the shared ways that it works for both coasts:
- Guests will be able to access the Lightning Lane for any ride that has it one time per day, without the need to schedule a time using the Lightning Lane app. They just show up and get in the line and move on.
- The availability of the pass is going to be very limited at first. Reports state that Disneyland Paris gave out 200 passes a day initially, followed by 500, and then increased, yet again, to a higher number.
- The Premiere Pass does not allow access to rides that do not have lightning lane access (so, like, a railroad), nor does it allow access to rides that require the separate purchase to ride (Rise of the Resistance, Radiator Springs Racers, Cosmic Rewind, etc.).
Here is how it is unique to Disneyland Resort:
- Guests with the pass can use the pass to access the Lightning Lane attractions at both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.
- Guests have the opportunity to purchase the pass 2 days prior to the first day of their visit.
- The passes are available starting October 23rd.
Here is how it is unique to Walt Disney World:
- Guests can only use the pass to access Lightning Lane attractions in a single park. So if you're hopping around the resorts and you only got a Premiere Pass for Magic Kingdom? Enjoy waiting in line at EPCOT.
- The Premiere Pass will only be available to purchase on the day that the Premiere Pass is intended to be used.
- The passes are available starting October 30th.
- The passes are only available for purchase by guests staying at Deluxe Resorts, Shades of Green or the Walt Disney World Swan/Dolphin Hotels.
Now, how much more money is the Mouse going to wrangle out of his loyal subjects as part of the continued fealty? Well... that's a bit complicated...
- At Disneyland, from the day of the pass becoming available until the end of 2024, each pass will cost a flat 400 dollars per guest using the pass. Starting in 2025, the pass will cost between 300 and 400 dollars per guest, with the flux pricing being determined by the time of the year the pass is being purchased. "Off Season" purchases would lean closer to the 300, with the 400 being your busier times of year, such as holidays, summer in general and probably weekends in general.
- At Walt Disney World, pricing seems to vary out the gate, ranging between 129 and 449 dollars. Pricing varies based on the park that you purchase it for, with the lower price likely being assigned to Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the higher price almost assuredly going to Magic Kingdom. Like Disneyland, "Off Season" and "Peak Season" dates will influence pricing. Oh, and all prices, across both coasts? They don't include sales taxes.
It is unclear, as in the research conducted didn't reveal it and I don't care enough to look, if having the Premiere Pass locks you out of having the regular Lightning Lane via the app for the day to basically double up on possibly being able to use the lightning lanes for an additional ride on some of the rides yet again. The program was described as a "more affordable and more limited plaid tour." A plaid tour is when guests pay for a guide, usually wearing a plaid vest. Unlike Premiere Pass, plaid tours allow for line skipping of every attraction, including those that lack lightning lanes.
Disneyland Detail Source
WDW Detail Source
Disney Parks once again find themselves shuffling up their "skip the line" privilege pass. Whereas they formerly had the free and perfectly functional, if a little exhausting, fastpass system that worked for over a decade, the Mouse House moved to Disney Genie+, a paid upgrade cost that could help mitigate some of the waiting for rides or parades. Disney Genie+ was then retooled to the Lightning Lane system, with some minor modifications to the Genie+ system. Lightning Lanes have been the norm for a bit.
Well, starting soon, guests to Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in the land that common sense forgot... I mean, Florida, will have the possibility of purchasing a special pass, the Lightning Lane Premiere Pass!
Here are the shared ways that it works for both coasts:
- Guests will be able to access the Lightning Lane for any ride that has it one time per day, without the need to schedule a time using the Lightning Lane app. They just show up and get in the line and move on.
- The availability of the pass is going to be very limited at first. Reports state that Disneyland Paris gave out 200 passes a day initially, followed by 500, and then increased, yet again, to a higher number.
- The Premiere Pass does not allow access to rides that do not have lightning lane access (so, like, a railroad), nor does it allow access to rides that require the separate purchase to ride (Rise of the Resistance, Radiator Springs Racers, Cosmic Rewind, etc.).
Here is how it is unique to Disneyland Resort:
- Guests with the pass can use the pass to access the Lightning Lane attractions at both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.
- Guests have the opportunity to purchase the pass 2 days prior to the first day of their visit.
- The passes are available starting October 23rd.
Here is how it is unique to Walt Disney World:
- Guests can only use the pass to access Lightning Lane attractions in a single park. So if you're hopping around the resorts and you only got a Premiere Pass for Magic Kingdom? Enjoy waiting in line at EPCOT.
- The Premiere Pass will only be available to purchase on the day that the Premiere Pass is intended to be used.
- The passes are available starting October 30th.
- The passes are only available for purchase by guests staying at Deluxe Resorts, Shades of Green or the Walt Disney World Swan/Dolphin Hotels.
Now, how much more money is the Mouse going to wrangle out of his loyal subjects as part of the continued fealty? Well... that's a bit complicated...
- At Disneyland, from the day of the pass becoming available until the end of 2024, each pass will cost a flat 400 dollars per guest using the pass. Starting in 2025, the pass will cost between 300 and 400 dollars per guest, with the flux pricing being determined by the time of the year the pass is being purchased. "Off Season" purchases would lean closer to the 300, with the 400 being your busier times of year, such as holidays, summer in general and probably weekends in general.
- At Walt Disney World, pricing seems to vary out the gate, ranging between 129 and 449 dollars. Pricing varies based on the park that you purchase it for, with the lower price likely being assigned to Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the higher price almost assuredly going to Magic Kingdom. Like Disneyland, "Off Season" and "Peak Season" dates will influence pricing. Oh, and all prices, across both coasts? They don't include sales taxes.
It is unclear, as in the research conducted didn't reveal it and I don't care enough to look, if having the Premiere Pass locks you out of having the regular Lightning Lane via the app for the day to basically double up on possibly being able to use the lightning lanes for an additional ride on some of the rides yet again. The program was described as a "more affordable and more limited plaid tour." A plaid tour is when guests pay for a guide, usually wearing a plaid vest. Unlike Premiere Pass, plaid tours allow for line skipping of every attraction, including those that lack lightning lanes.
Disneyland Detail Source
WDW Detail Source