Disney’s New Lightning Lanes Are Here, and Fans Are Not Happy—Here’s Why
If you’ve ever dreamed of going to Walt Disney World or Disneyland and walking straight to the front of the line at any time of day, you’re in luck. Disney just introduced Lightning Lane Premier Pass, a brand-new way to skip the line at all of your favorite Disney attractions. While this news has some fans excited to book their next Disney vacation, others are less than thrilled.What gives? Read on to learn all about Disney’s new Lightning Lane Premier Pass, how much it costs and why some fans aren’t happy about the latest changes to the happiest places on Earth.What is Lightning Lane Premier Pass?Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass is the latest addition to its Lightning Lane pass lineup. Currently, Disney offers Lightning Lane Single and Multi passes, for a fee of $28 per person, that allow parkgoers to skip the standard line and join a shorter line at an attraction or experience by choosing a specified arrival time. It’s almost like a dinner reservation for a ride!It’s not hard to see why they’re so popularwho wants to spend half of their Disneyland or Disney World adventure waiting in line? Shorter wait times mean more time spent going on rides and enjoying park experiences.The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass is almost identical to the existing Single and Multi passes, but there is one key difference: Park guests will not have to choose a specific time to enjoy an attraction in order to skip the line. However, just like the Multi Pass, guests will still be able to use their Lightning Pass just once per attraction. Oh, and you’ll have to pay more for it too. Like, a lot more.How much does it cost?If you’re thinking about booking a trip to Disneyland or Disney World just to try out the new line-skipping Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you might want to consider the price first.At Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, located in Anaheim, California, a Lightning Lane Premier Pass costs $400 per person, per dayin addition to the cost of general admission. If a guest has purchased the additional Park Hopper benefit for access to both Disneyland parks, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass can be used at both parks.At Disney World in Orlando, Florida, only guests staying at the park’s deluxe resorts will have the option of purchasing a Lightning Lane Premier Pass. The price of a Premier Pass will vary based on the date and the theme park guests want to visit, though it’ll work at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Prices will fall between $129 and $449 per pass. It’s unclear if members of the Disney Vacation Club will have a separate option to purchase a Lightning Lane Premier Pass.Why are some fans unhappy about the Lightning Lane Premier Pass?For some Disney theme park enthusiasts, the additional Lightning Lane option adds to the overwhelm of booking a complex Disney vacation. “How can we possibly be introducing ANOTHER thing for people to learn about before their trip?” wrote theme park journalist and Disney expert Carlye Wisel on Instagram. “Multi Pass and Single Pass and Virtual Queue and Premier Pass and the benefits of them all and what’s ‘worth it’ and what to book and when to book and it’s a lot.”Then there’s the price tag. While a trip to Disney with kids and long lines can be tricky, adding on the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass makes for an expensive vacation. Really expensive.Just how much will it cost? We did the math for you. Here’s the price for one person:One-day ticket to a single Disney World park$119Nightly room at one of Disney World’s deluxe resorts+ $400+Lightning Lane Premier Pass+ $129 to $449Grand total= $648 to $968Of course, you’re not likely to go to Disney without your family, so multiply the price of a ticket and Lighting Lane Premier Pass by four, and you’re looking at $1,400 to $2,700 total for a family of four for just one day!While Disney was once considered a classic family vacation, a trip to the legendary theme parks is becoming increasingly less accessible to everyday parkgoers. And while it’s certainly an option to visit the park without buying the pricey Premier Pass, the fact that people who do purchase it can skip the line will only make wait times longer.Ready to book your trip with extras? Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be available in Disneyland beginning Oct. 23 and Disney World beginning Oct. 30.Why trust usAt Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.What to Know About Hidden MickeysDisney World Is Closing This Attraction The Best Disney World FoodThe post Disney’s New Lightning Lanes Are Here, and Fans Are Not Happy—Here’s Why appeared first on Reader's Digest.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings