Disney Introduces Lightning Lane Premier Pass

Lightning Lane MultiPass and SinglePass replaced Genie+ in the summer of 2024. Now, Disney is taking it a step further with the introduction of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, launching on October 30, 2024.

Lightning Lane was introduced as a replacement for the former FastPass system. FastPass was first launched in 1999 as a free service that allowed guests to reserve times for popular attractions, thereby avoiding the longer standby queues. In 2014, the system was upgraded to FastPass+, which included more digital features and the ability to reserve times in advance via the My Disney Experience app. In 2021, FastPass+ was replaced by Lightning Lane, a paid service integrated into Disney Genie+. This was then replaced by MultiPass and SinglePass for Lightning Lane in the summer of 2024.

The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass offers guests even more benefits, but at a considerable price. With the Premier Pass, guests can gain entry to every available Lightning Lane attraction in a park for one day. This provides flexibility that many will likely appreciate, as they do not need to choose specific arrival times for the attractions. Additionally, the Premier Pass includes unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass digital photos from the day, as well as access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses.

However, there is a significant caveat, and that is the price. The Premier Pass can be purchased via Disney’s app up to seven days before the park visit, with prices ranging from $129 to $449 per person per day, depending on the date and demand. To purchase the pass, everyone in the party must have a valid park ticket for the same date. This is intended to make it easy for guests to plan and maximize their time in the park.

It is important to note that the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will initially only be available to guests staying at select Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and some other selected hotels.

In addition to the Premier Pass, Disney also offers other Lightning Lane passes:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass
This pass allows guests to plan and reserve up to three Lightning Lane experiences in advance. Once they have used the first one, they can make a new reservation, depending on availability. The Multi Pass can be used in multiple parks if your ticket includes ParkHopper.

Lightning Lane Single Pass
This pass gives guests access to one Lightning Lane attraction and typically applies only to the most popular attractions. Guests can purchase up to two Single Passes per day, depending on availability.

The initial reactions to the Lightning Lane Premier Pass have been mixed. Some guests will likely appreciate the increased flexibility and additional benefits that the pass provides, especially for those who want to maximize their time in the park without having to plan every single stop. However, many will probably find the price too high, making it significantly less accessible for most visitors.