Disney World Makes Major Change to Lightning Lane Premier Pass
Magic Kingdom’s TRON Lightcycle Run | Image by Brian McGowan
Less than a month after its debut, Disney World is making significant changes to its premium Lightning Lane offering, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Originally introduced on October 30, 2024, this pass allows guests to bypass standby lines at most of Disney World’s attractions across all four parks, providing a more seamless and convenient park experience. However, starting November 22, 2024, Disney has announced a major update that expands eligibility for purchasing the Premier Pass.
EPCOT’s Guardian’s of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind | Image by Brian McGowan
What’s Changing?
When the Lightning Lane Premier Pass was first introduced, it was exclusively available to guests staying at Disney World’s Deluxe Hotels, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, or Shades of Green. This limited access had many visitors questioning the fairness of offering such a high-tier perk only to those staying in the most expensive Disney properties.
As of November 22, Disney has now made the Premier Pass available to guests staying at any Disney World hotel, including Moderate and Value Resorts. This means that visitors staying at a wider range of Disney properties, including some of the more budget-friendly options, can now purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass — a move that many fans are welcoming.
Image: Walt Disney World Dolphin
Where Can You Stay to Buy the Premier Pass?
The expansion of eligibility means that guests staying at a broader selection of hotels can now access the Premier Pass. Here’s a full list of hotels where guests can now purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass:
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Walt Disney World Dolphin
Walt Disney World Swan
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Shades of Green
With this change, Disney World has greatly expanded access to the Premier Pass, making it available to a wider range of guests. This change also ensures that people who want to enhance their park experience without the hassle of reserving Lightning Lanes throughout the day can do so, regardless of which hotel they choose to stay in.
Image: Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Twlight Zone’s Hollywood Tower of Terror
How to Purchase the Premier Pass
You can purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to 7 days before you plan to use it. However, it’s important to note that you must already have a hotel reservation and valid park admission to purchase the pass. Pricing for the pass can vary greatly depending on factors such as the day of the week, the time of year, and which park you plan to visit. Prices have ranged from $129 to $449 per person, per day, with the highest costs typically occurring during peak times like Thanksgiving weekend at Magic Kingdom.
Image: The Disney Monorail viewed in EPCOT
Important Limitations
While the Premier Pass offers flexibility by allowing you to skip lines at most attractions, there are some important restrictions to keep in mind:
Park-Specific Usage: The Premier Pass is only valid at the park you purchase it for. So, if you buy the pass for EPCOT, for example, and decide to park hop to Magic Kingdom later in the day, you won’t be able to use the Lightning Lane in Magic Kingdom.
Can only Use Once Per Attraction: Guest will get one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane experience in a park for one day—including the most in-demand attractions.
Cost and Value: While the Premier Pass offers convenience and a more relaxed experience in the parks, it is by far the most expensive option when it comes to skipping lines. It is important to weigh the cost against your vacation budget and whether the convenience of skipping the lines is worth the premium price.
Image: EPCOT’s Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure | Image by Brian McGowan
Other Skip-the-Line Options
The Premier Pass is just one of several ways to skip the lines at Disney World. For those who want a more budget-friendly option, Disney also offers the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass:
Lightning Lane Multi Pass: This pass allows you to make reservations for several attractions throughout the day and return at designated times to skip the lines. It’s a more affordable option compared to the Premier Pass but does require more planning and scheduling.
Lightning Lane Single Pass: This is a pay-per-ride option for guests who only want to skip the line for the most popular attractions on an individual basis.
With this change, Disney World has made the Lightning Lane Premier Pass more accessible to a wider audience, opening up the ability to bypass lines to guests staying in moderate and value resorts, as well as deluxe hotels. While it comes at a premium price, the Premier Pass provides unparalleled flexibility, making it a potentially great option for those looking to maximize their park experience without the hassle of making multiple reservations throughout the day.
As Disney World continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if other changes are made to the Lightning Lane system in the future, especially with the demand for premium park experiences growing.
Additional Perks
Enjoy photo perks, including digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos. Plus, unlock Disney PhotoPass Lenses. Receive digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos from your day, captured with Disney PhotoPass Service.Unlock Disney PhotoPass Lenses, which let you transform your photos with Disney-themed, augmented-reality effects.
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