Guide to Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Disney World: Everything You Need to Know
This guide to Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Walt Disney World offers answers to frequently asked questions, info & tips for using the top tier line-skipping service. It covers price ranges for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom, eligible attractions, and much more.
For those keeping score at home, Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP) is now the third and most expensive option in this ‘generation’ of line-skipping products in the My Disney Experience app. There’s also Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP), which allows 3 advance ride reservations, requires selecting arrival windows, and includes multiple attractions across parks (subject to availability); as well as Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP), which provides access to the most popular individual headliner attractions in each park that are not part of Multi-Pass and also requires selecting return times.
There’s a lot more to the new Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass, all of which is beyond the scope of this post. We’d encourage you to read our Guide to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for all of the foundational need-to-know info of both LLMP and LLSP. This whole system is confusing and convoluted, so you might have a question or two-dozen. That answers all of the most common ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
The good news is that this guide is going to be much shorter than the ones for Lightning Lane Multi-Pass or Single Pass, because the whole point of Lightning Lane Premier Pass is streamline things. Unlike LLMP or LLSP, this is not convoluted or confusing–it’s all about removing the friction introduced by other line-skipping options.
In a way, it’s kinda brilliantly devious on Disney’s part. They started a (metaphorical) fire with the other Lightning Lane options, charged you a bit of money to use said fire to keep warm, and are now charging you even more (literal) money to put out the fire.
The bad news is that, as intimated above, Lightning Lane Premier Pass costs a lot of money. Pricing is discussed in full detail below, but it’s exponentially more than Lightning Lane Multi-Pass or Single Pass. We’re talking “if you have to ask, too much” territory. Putting out fires isn’t cheap!
Against that backdrop, here’s our Guide to Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Walt Disney World. This answers the most common reader questions and concerns, making you a ‘power user’ of the new system in the process!
Why did Walt Disney World make this change?
This is another in Walt Disney World’s line of “we’re listening” changes, crazy as that might sound. According to the company, Walt Disney World guests have told them that they would prefer to have a more convenient and stress-free option for ride reservations.
This might feel far-fetched given the backlash thus far to Lightning Lane Premier Pass, but prior to its launch, we heard from countless readers who (more or less) said they wanted Walt Disney World to copy Universal’s Express Pass. Some even said they didn’t care if it was expensive, just so long as it wasn’t a hassle. Looks like the Genie plus D’Amaro have granted your wish!
In our view, the reasons for the backlash in spite of this sentiment are mostly three-fold. First, the people who wanted Universal’s Express Pass actually wanted the “free with deluxe hotel stays” part, and not the “$100+ for bypassing technology” part. Second, they didn’t expect it to be this expensive. Finally, they figured that an Express Pass-like option would replace the other line-skipping services, not slot in alongside them.
Will Lightning Lane Premier Pass replace Multi-Pass or Single Pass?
No. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass will continue to exist. Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP) is distinct from both, and will be an alternative line-skipping product offering for guests who don’t want to hassle with LLMP or LLSP. While Lightning Lane Premier Pass will feature the same ride rosters as the other Lightning Lane services, it’ll function fundamentally differently.
There is some fan speculation that LLPP will replace LLMP and LLSP eventually. We highly doubt that. Walt Disney World’s goal is product segmentation, and Premier Pass is aimed at a largely different and distinct audience than Multi-Pass or Single Pass. Moreover, this top tier cannot scale like the lower ones.
How does Lightning Lane Premier Pass differ from Multi-Pass and Single Pass?
All 3 Lightning Lane passes enable you to skip the standby line and use the Lightning Lane entrance to join a shorter line for select theme park attractions and experiences. However, Lightning Lane Premier Pass differs from Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass in the following ways:
- More Flexible, No Screen Time: With Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you don’t have to choose arrival windows for Lightning Lane attractions. You’re not subject the rolling 3 rule, meaning that you are not booking new Lightning Lanes via the app after redeeming previous ones. You simply can enter Lightning Lane entrances for the experiences you want, when you want. With other Lightning Lane passes, you must choose an arrival window for each Lightning Lane experience, subject to availability–and there often is not availability.
- Includes Each Available Lightning Lane Experience in One Park: Lightning Lane Premier Pass gives you one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane experience in one park for one day. This includes Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions in that park. With Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, this is subject to availability, which is dependent upon demand and crowds. You may be able to score 9 LLMPs, or only your original 3.
The bottom line is that Lightning Lane Premier Pass provides more certainty, peace of mind, and a less stressful day in the parks. You don’t need to be on your phone, playing the refresh game, and worrying about return times or whether you’ll be able to score ride reservations in the first place. A big part of the premium pricing is the elimination of FUD that accompanies Multi-Pass.
How do you buy Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
Via the My Disney Experience app, just like Multi-Pass or Single Pass.
Eligible on-site guests will see the option to buy LLPP in the MDX app up to 7 days before their stay. Availability is limited, and the pass can be purchased for the length of your stay (up to 14 days). So in other words, on-site guests could buy as many as 21 days in advance (7+14).
How much does Lightning Lane Premier Pass cost?
Prices for Lightning Lane Premier Passes vary by date and theme park. At launch, prices will range from $129 to $449 (per pass, plus tax), with the highest prices falling on a limited number of days over peak travel periods. Eligible guests will be able to view prices in the My Disney Experience (MDX) app for all dates of your visit prior to purchasing.
Here are each park’s price ranges as of Spring 2026:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $119 to $199 per person, plus tax
- EPCOT: $169 to $249 per person, plus tax
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $269 to $349 per person, plus tax
- Magic Kingdom: $329 to $449 per person, plus tax
That’s an incredibly wide range–$119 on the low end for Animal Kingdom versus $449 on the high end for Magic Kingdom. For the peak season price at Magic Kingdom, you could purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass 3.5 times on the cheapest day at Animal Kingdom!
One thing to note is that Lightning Lane Premier Pass prices have not increased since the service launched over a year ago. It was surprising to us that Lightning Lane Premier Pass did not increase in price alongside the other Lightning Lanes (or even Premier Pass at Disneyland) when the new fiscal year began last October. Maybe that’s still coming?
It seems to us that Magic Kingdom could hit $500, with DHS breaking $400, and EPCOT eclipsing $300 (Animal Kingdom probably won’t go any higher than it is given the reduced ride roster). Hard as it might be to believe given the already astronomical prices, Walt Disney World is leaving money on the table with its current “restrained” approach to LLPP.
Does Lightning Lane Premier Pass sell out?
Walt Disney World’s official website still emphasizes that Lightning Lane Premier Pass is only available in “limited quantities.” When it launched as a pilot program, it was available in “very limited quantities.”
When it was first released and limited to only on-site guests, Lightning Lane Premier Pass did not sell out. Since the expansion to off-site guests, sell outs have dramatically increased. Whereas Lightning Lane Multi-Pass seldom sells out, LLPP does during most peak weeks (e.g. Winter Break, Spring Break, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s).
In fact, Lightning Lane Premier Pass is current sold out at Magic Kingdom from now through March 16, 2026 (minus March 14th). It’s also sold out today at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With the second worst week of Spring Break 2026 at Walt Disney World starting on March 16, 2026, it’s likely that many more dates will sell out–and at more than just Magic Kingdom–as those dates draw nearer.
Don’t be surprised if Magic Kingdom sells out of LLPP every single day between now and April 5, 2026. Perhaps even through the week that follows. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are likely to sell out multiple days next week, and the week leading up to Easter.
Note that Lightning Lane Premier Pass also hits its peak prices starting next week. It’s not a surprise that LLPP is selling out more often despite being more expensive; that’s usually the case. Prices are higher because crowds and demand are higher, and the line-skipping service is more useful.
Why is Lightning Lane Premier Pass selling out more often as of 2026?
Expanding Lightning Lane Premier Pass to off-site hotels opened up the pool of potential purchasers pretty significantly. This means some of the most expensive hotels in Central Florida are now eligible for Lightning Lane Premier Pass, including but not limited to the Four Seasons Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Conrad Orlando, and more.
Critically, those hotels do not offer an on-site advantage with Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, so there’s a strong incentive for guests of the Four Seasons Orlando and these other hotels to upgrade to Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLMP/SP ride availability is limited when the off-site window opens, even if the product itself is not sold out).
It’s not just these hotels, either. There are many massive mansions around Walt Disney World that are rented out as vacation homes; that’s another big demographic that might be in the market for Lightning Lane Premier Pass.
Which attractions are part of Lightning Lane Single Pass?
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Premier Pass Attractions
- The Barnstormer
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Reopens in Spring 2026)
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Reopens in Spring 2026)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
EPCOT Lightning Lane Premier Pass Attractions
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Frozen Ever After
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: SPACE
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Soarin’
- Spaceship Earth
- Turtle Talk with Crush
Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Premier Pass Attractions
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets (Opens in Summer 2026)
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Toy Story Mania!
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Premier Pass Attractions
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Naʻvi River Journey
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether
Who is eligible to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
When it originally launched, Lightning Lane Premier Pass was only available in very limited quantities for guests staying at Deluxe Resorts, Disney Vacation Club or Deluxe Villa Resorts and other select hotels. That has since changed.
Walt Disney World expanded eligibility for LLPP to all guests, on-site and off-site, last January. There are no eligibility restrictions for Lightning Lane Premier Pass as of 2026. If you read elsewhere that there are, that info is outdated.
Do these hotels get Lightning Lane Premier Pass included with stays (for “free”) like Universal’s top tier hotels get Unlimited Express Pass?
No. There are no hotels that offer Lightning Lane Premier Pass included with stays.
How does Lightning Lane Premier Pass differ from Universal’s Express Pass?
In a lot of ways. Beyond the above that it’s not included with any hotel stays, LLPP generally costs more, and doesn’t have an unlimited option.
Which park is “best” for Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
That’s obviously subjective, but you’re going to get the most use out of LLPP at Magic Kingdom. Just look at the lists of attractions above–Magic Kingdom has the most! Case closed, right?
Eh, it’s a more complex and debatable than that. Premier Pass is a bit less expensive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and on peak season days (when LLPP will be most useful), DHS is typically the park where LLMP struggles the most. Lightning Lanes are more “competitive” because of the top-heavy ride roster at DHS.
Given all of that, if I were to buy Lightning Lane Premier Pass anywhere (and to be clear, I wouldn’t–it’s not for me), I’d buy it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. I’d stick with other strategy or LLMP at Magic Kingdom. That’s just me, though, and Magic Kingdom is where most people will want Premier Pass–hence the higher price.
Which park is “worst” for Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
This is still subjective, but barely. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but opinions can be bad.
In this case, the clear winner or loser depending upon your perspective is Animal Kingdom. There is very little need for line-skipping in the first place on ~340 days of the year at Animal Kingdom. On the other 25 days, Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass will easily get the job done.
The only people buying Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Animal Kingdom for its offseason price of $119 are those who hate money–because it’s a complete waste when the park is slow. At the others, it’s unnecessary, but it still arguably serves some value. Not the case at DAK during the slow season.
Can Lightning Lane Premier Pass be used at multiple parks?
No. Lightning Lane Premier Pass gives you one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane entrance in one park for one day. There is no Park Hopper option for LLPP at Walt Disney World. (Premier Pass does offer Park Hopping at Disneyland–but not Walt Disney World.)
If you’re wondering whether you can purchase Premier Pass twice in a single day and pay the combined cost for two different parks, the answer is also no.
Can guests purchase Multi-Pass and/or Single Pass in addition to Premier Pass?
Yes. If you want to double-dip on certain attractions for whatever rule, this is an option. Just keep in mind that LLMP and LLSP are subject to their normal booking rules.
Does Lightning Lane Premier Pass make standby lines longer?
We have seen no evidence of that. To the contrary, Here’s Why Standby Lines at Walt Disney World Are Moving Faster Than Before. That’s not due to the launch of LLPP, just to be clear, but it should underscore that things are getting better–not worse.
It’s our understanding that there’s an internal desire within Disney to strike more of a balance between standby guests and Lightning Lane users. Policies and systems that feel fairer to the majority of guests and don’t advantage or disadvantage anyone too much. Disney has been trying to thread the needle with all of the queueing and capacity changes over the last few months.
In theory, LLPP purchasers would otherwise be LLMP purchasers, so really, it comes down to the difference between the two–how many more rides can someone with LLPP ride vs. LLMP? Our guess is “not that many” and the result will be fairly negligible. At least, during the pilot program when Lightning Lane Premier Pass is sold in “very limited quantities.”
One thing to keep in mind is that Disney does love money. So if LLPP is selling out regularly, we could see its availability being upped over time. However, there is an upper ceiling on demand for Premier Pass and it’s pretty low. The vast majority of guests (over 95%) simply will not be in the market to spend this much on line-skipping.
Are refunds or modifications available with Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
To view and/or modify your pass, open the My Disney Experience app and tap on the Lightning Lane Premier Pass section of the home screen. You’ll then be able to:
- View details about your Lightning Lane Premier Pass—including your selected theme park, date and travel party.
- Modify the date or theme park for your Lightning Lane Premier Pass, subject to availability.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass is nonrefundable according to Walt Disney World, but as with anything, that’s subject to the discretion of a Cast Member. If you have a good reason and don’t have a track record of making dubious refund requests, you might receive one.
Does Lightning Lane Premier Pass cannibalize VIP tour sales?
Probably not much. Prospective purchasers are most likely to be those upgrading from Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, as opposed to downgrading from VIP tours. The goal of Premier Pass is to slot between LLMP and VIP tours, with a product offering the bridges the colossal gap between the two.
For all but the largest parties, this is much more cost-effective than VIP tours. While line-skipping is a big part of it, VIP tours are a fundamentally different product. They offer personalized service and (as the name suggests) VIP treatment. They are customized and personal; guided by the best of the best Cast Members.
VIP tours also aren’t for everyone–as someone who is not outgoing, you’d have to pay me to do a VIP tour. I wouldn’t buy this, either, but if forced to choose between LLPP or a VIP tour (either being free), I’d choose LLPP in a heartbeat.
Just as FastPass and Genie evolved over time based on guest use and demand dynamics, so too can you expect Lightning Lane Premier Pass to change–meaning that everything above is subject to change. In other words, the “rules” and how Lightning Lanes work will continue to evolve and we will update our recommendations accordingly.
We’ll continue to keep you posted, as more changes are likely on the horizon. We’ll also continue updating this FAQ as we learn more and we receive more reader questions. For now, this should answer most of the questions that readers have been asking about Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World. There have been a lot of questions, so if we didn’t address yours, we apologize. Please post in the comments below and we’ll answer more as they’re asked!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have any questions we didn’t answer with the above FAQ? Still confused by how Lightning Lane Premier Pass works? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Other thoughts or concerns? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I am considering LLPP for our early June trip for our Magic Kingdom day. We are travelling with two of our grandkids (8 and 5) and will only have one day during the trip to try to fit everything in at Magic Kingdom. We have used LL before, which ends up meaning I am on my phone the entire time, which I really hate. It would be nice to be able to just do what we want without running back and forth across the park, running into people as I try to secure the next return time with my face in the phone the whole time.
Sharing – we decided to do LLPP for Epcot when we were there over Christmas. The trade off was skipping Hollywood Studios. We all agreed the freedom and luxury and lack of stress, and lack of me having to be obsessing about LL times made it well worth it. We are planning to do this park rotation approach going forward. Next year we will do Hollywood Studios LLPP and skip Epcot, etc. We did Mickeys Christmas Party for low waits at MK or I would have done LLPP for MK too.
We are in our 60’s – I would buy LLPP for MK and EPCOT – easier for us and I am in a wheelchair
We may stay at the Dolphin (Hubbys choice) OR BW (wife’s choice)
He was thinking of doing the private tour – nut LLPP is less expensive 🙂
Do I have to Purchase a lightning lane premier pass for a 2 yearold?
As a long time DVC member we just returned from 5 days at the riviera resort and not one day in WDW parks because WDW caters to the Florida resident that can go 100 times annually and wants daily parity with those of use that can only go 5-7 days every 2 years. My cost not including travel and resort are $1200 per day for 5 people for tickets food and snacks at Universal with the express unlimited. Until WDW matches the park hopping and unlimited of Universal I will plan on Universal 3 days and maybe 1 day at WDW on the next trip. I don’t want to spend that much money and have to compete for ride time with locals that can buy a season pass and go every week and eat their meals at home. WDWs money from food and beverage does not come from the locals.
This is purely hypothetical, but I’m curious. If you happen to go on a really stormy day, or just a bad day where there are multiple ride breakdowns, would you get alternate lightning lane passes for rides that are closed like you do with multi pass? I know it’s not quite the same thing, but if it’s storming most of the day at MK, that’s at least 6 rides that get shut down, and most of those are the headliners (Seven Dwarves, Tiana, Tron, etc.). I can’t imagine guests paying $300+ will be happy that guests paying $30 could ride Space Mountain or Haunted Mansion 2-3x as consolation for the cancelled lightning lanes whereas they just get what they get.
I could see LL Premier Pass increasing demand for events like the Christmas Party and the Halloween Party. I normally avoid those events because I don’t want to pay for them but if the goal is going on rides with short lines or no lines at all, the price tag for those special events suddenly looks a lot more reasonable when compared to LL Premier Pass.
As someone that has saved for years to take my family to Disney world, this feels like another “we don’t want your family here” reminder. A recent comment I saw best described it as another way for those with more money to bud in line ahead of those with less.
It would make the perceived benefit of this if they added character meets to it. That might make it more attractive to families with children.
Is Oct 30 the first day you can buy a LLPP? Or will you be able to purchase it 7 days ahead of that to actually use on Oct 30?
Tom,
I know this is a Disney-focused blog, but you should consider a visit to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. They do some nice things there. Great coasters. Nice perks at the park resorts. You could write a few posts about it. Thanks and keep up the strong work.
Another cash grab!!
If a family of four is heading down to Disney over Christmas and ponying up for a deluxe hotel, then paying an extra $3200 to cover MK and DHS wouldn’t necessarily be a non-starter. Arguably, just staying at the Swan or Dolphin instead would save that much over a one-week trip.
Tom, if the absolute only day available to go to MK was the Monday before Thanksgiving, would the standby lines actually be shorter than the LLs? Is there any strategy here or are we doomed to pay a ton of money for the LL and still wait an hour per ride?
I wonder if the effort to cut down DAS abuse has been effective? I’m not talking about legit usage, I mean abuse, as discussed in prior posts. If the adjustments have been effective, that would seemingly be a factor in opening the door for this new premium luxury product to be offered while keeping that “balance”. Disney is in a position to know, based on their internal data about the # of DAS guests per day, and their usage patterns.
The DAS changes have definitely dramatically cut down on overall DAS usage, that I can confirm.
What I cannot confirm is the breakdown between the drops in legit usage versus abuse. My best guess based on the discourse is that it’s been a mix of both.
I was very surprised when the Premier offering – and the pricing – was announced. Thank you for the explaination Tom. It put things in perspective. I would NEVER purchase the LLPP. I’ve been visiting WDW frequently over the past 20-plus years. At this point, I go mostly go for the atmosphere and the food. I’ll hit a few rides when it suits me and the lines aren’t too long. I’ll bet I’m not alone.
I can really see the LLPP being attractive for first-timers though, and those who have crossed oceans to have their WDW vacation. Being able to walk on to rides (which is why we first come; not why we come back) w/o looking down at ones phone will offer a greater bang for the overall expense.
Do you know if the lightning lane premiere pass will be working during the very Mickey Christmas type event?
I’ve been told that it will by Disney. But it’s not listed in any of their official documentation, so I’m hesitant to include it above. Just because they’ve told me something will work…doesn’t mean it actually will.
Great post. It’s interesting you mention that you would prefer this to a VIP tour as someone who isn’t outgoing. I was chatting with my husband about LLPP and my thought that anyone with enough cash to spend on this would just spend more for the VIP experience, but he had the same view as you – he is an introvert and would much prefer being able to get the line skipping benefit without having to make small talk with a cast member or perhaps others in the group. I still think unless LLPP evolves to allow for park hopping of some kind (maybe you can bonus hop to DAK or EPCOT where LLPP will really be a big waste of money so maybe people won’t buy it) or maybe a second ride on certain tiers or something along those lines, this still doesn’t really compare to VIP, but we’ll see how it goes.
As someone probably more in their target audience for LLPP, I actually think charging more but allowing for hopping would be more palatable (at least you could say, I’ll do it one day to hit all the big rides everywhere). Maybe they’ll consider that if DAK and/or EPCOT LLPP don’t sell well.
I suspect the concern about allowing Park Hopping is that it’ll reduce length-of-stay. Disney already has more difficulty filling some of the Deluxe Resorts (than lower tiers), so I could see them not wanting to exacerbate that problem.
With that said, I still do think LLPP will evolve over time. Maybe Park Hopping will be added; maybe re-rides will be reduced; maybe they’ll give you a set number of rides rather than one per attraction (this is how Club 33 works FWIW). There’s a reason they’re emphasizing that this is a pilot program–things will change between now and 2026.
Thanks Tom – that makes sense (and frankly is how we used express pass at Universal). The economics need in me is excited to see how this plays out.
Meant economics nerd ♀️
Great read again Tom. Thanks. I guess people got what they asked for (I think?)? My question is, why couldn’t they just simplify LLMP and LLSP , the affordable options?
I am very curious to know who is going to purchase this. Would love to read some feedback on who finds value in this product vs the current options.
Big picture to me is, Disney continues to get it wrong. This new system is only months old and they already had to change their offering because of guest satisfaction numbers are poor. Genie is now a distant memory. This new iteration will not last either. The commentary is very poor and this has only been 2 days. Why can’t Disney get it right? Who’s on these committees implementing these changes? How can they be so disconnected from their diehard fans?
FWIW, this is not a change because guest satisfaction is poor on LLMP/SP (my understanding is that the exact opposite is true–it’s already outperforming Genie). This was always intended as a third option, its launch was just delayed.
Look back to the crackdown on third party tour guides a full year ago. That was laying the groundwork for this–our commentary even hinted at it. This product offering has been a long time coming, and is not something that they scrambled to develop in the last few months (Disney cannot move that quickly, ha).
Someone hoping to purchase the LLPP here for our upcoming trip – the reason is that we are a ride all of the rides family and the amount of time we expect to save plus the massive stress relief of not having to worry all day about coordinating LL call back times with dining reservations and not having to get up early to make coveted LL reservations and spending way too much of my time face in phone managing multiple deadlines per day on vacation – is worth it. We have a school aged child so the inability to visit during low crowd weeks is a major factor. If we could visit in September every year LLPP would probably not be worth it.
I should also add, I would much prefer if Disney made these options tied to something other than just money. A lottery system, or a one MK LLPP free for any DWD hotel booking, or $25 a person for one LLPP day that you can reserve 18 months in advance – anything other than just making it about a price tag would be better.
My adult son is severely autistic (cognitively age 3) and should continue to qualify for DAS but they have been denying individuals like my son. We are taking him to WDW for his birthday in December because for some reason he loves WDW and have already paid $8600 our 4 night stay, 4 park day vacation at the Contemporary on Club level. If we do not get approved for DAS for our son we will have no choice but to buy the LLPP because he would not be able to manage standby queue wait times. We would have attempted to try just using LLMP and LLSP but I have read many people are finding there are no available selections on busy days after the initial 3 booked prior to trip. For us we will buy it (if denied das) because we feel we have no other doable option. It will add $5000 to our 4 day trip.
I thought I’d reply to your question as to who finds LLPP appealing. We have a neurodiverse child and long wait times are a significant challenge. Zig zagging across the park to meet arrival times is also a huge challenge. Although we legitimately qualify for DAS, this pass is a game changer for us. We are able to leisurely enjoy the park and take quiet breaks at the time they are needed without sacrificing a return time because of the disruption. We understand we are fortunate to be able to splurge on this expense and are grateful for the opportunity.