Disney Expands Lightning Lane Premier Pass to All Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Guests

Nov 22, 2024 in "Disney Genie"

Gallery / 1 Photo
Lightning Lane Premier Pass logo

Posted: Friday November 22, 2024 7:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World has expanded the availability of its Lightning Lane Premier Pass, previously offered exclusively to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and select hotels. As of November 22, 2024, the pass is now available to guests staying at all Walt Disney World Resort hotels, including the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green Resort.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass logo

Expanded Access for More Guests

The Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows guests to skip standby lines and use Lightning Lane entrances for one-time access to each available Lightning Lane attraction in a single park on a given day. Previously limited to guests at Disney’s highest-tier resorts, this expansion now opens the option to all Disney Resort hotel guests, making the service more widely accessible.

Eligible guests include those staying at:

All Disney Resort Hotels
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Shades of Green Resort

How the Lightning Lane Premier Pass Works

The Lightning Lane Premier Pass differs from other Lightning Lane options, such as the Multi Pass and Single Pass, in its flexibility and scope:

No Arrival Windows: Unlike other Lightning Lane passes, Premier Pass holders don’t need to select arrival times for attractions. Guests can enter Lightning Lane entrances whenever they choose, subject to availability.
One-Park Access: The pass includes one-time access to every available Lightning Lane experience in a single park for one day.
Photo Perks Included: Guests also receive digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos through Disney PhotoPass, adding extra value to the pass.

Eligibility and How to Purchase

Guests staying at eligible hotels can purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to seven days before their stay using the My Disney Experience app. Pricing varies by date and park and is displayed in the app at the time of purchase. As this remains a limited-quantity offering, early booking is recommended for those interested.

Magic Kingdom: $329–$449
Hollywood Studios: $249–$349
EPCOT: $149–$249
Animal Kingdom: $119–$199

View current and upcoming Lighting Lane Premier Pass pricing.

What’s Next for Lightning Lane Premier?

With this expansion, Disney is testing how the Lightning Lane Premier Pass can cater to a wider audience. While it remains to be seen how this affects availability and guest satisfaction, the move signals Disney’s interest in providing more premium service options to a broader range of visitors.

Future updates to the Lighting Lane Premier Pass may include an option allowing for Lighting Lane access across all four Walt Disney World theme parks, although Disney is yet to announce any new additions to the service.

Guests are willing to pay a high price to secure easy entry to E-Ticket rides like TRON Lightcycle Run

Discuss on the Forums

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monothingie8 minutes ago

The relatively average standby lines don't seem to justify the high prices. It looks like whatever algorithm they have for pricing these things weeks in advance injected some pixie dust.

monothingie14 minutes ago

The discounts for the VIP Tours sort of gave that away.

tpoly8857 minutes ago

The price is getting steep for this but is it a matter of being able to ride what you want when you want? I’m not paying $900 for my wife and I for MK. But with LLMP gives you times and certain rides correct ? Or can you pick the rides and times to go? I usually use the single pass because I can pick a time I want.

nickys1 hour ago

By “sold out” it could mean 200 per day, 500 per day or 1000 per day. We have no idea how many they make available.

Splash4eva1 hour ago

I get all of that. But do you really think they made up being “sold out” 10 days in a row as a marketing ploy?!? Like i said i was there & LL lines have not been that long in yearsssss. Cant blame DAS anymore so.

JMcMahonEsq1 hour ago

It’s somehow surprising that the offering with lower numbers offered sells out but the mainstream offering with higher available slots doesn’t? I mean the statement that LLmp had to be made, 1) it drives sales, and 2) even if the number available is super high they don’t want to deal with complaints if/when a super busy day like Xmas or new years comes around and llmp does sell out and you have people complaining who didn’t book early enough

Jrb197912 hours ago

For Disney it definitely is a rip-off, just due to price and how limited it is. IMO it's well worth it at Universal.

Sirwalterraleigh12 hours ago

There is very little doubt it’s a ripoff. But people will fight you on that to the end Very little “common” about sense when it goes against vanity and consumer largesse

Sirwalterraleigh13 hours ago

You have absolutely no idea what “sold out” means? Nobody does…and they can manipulate that at will if they choose. Similar to after hours being “sold out” the day before all the time… No way that can be a sales tactic/PR, huh?

Jrb197913 hours ago

That's all due to not enough capacity for it too work. If they got rid of LLMP kept the Premier Pass availability low they could do re-rides. The only downside is the majority of guests would be upset that standby would be the option for most.

DisneyCane13 hours ago

All I know is that anybody paying $449 per person for this is getting ripped off. I'd rather buy their $20k dream experience thing and make my experience literally skipping to the front of every line (forget lighting lane). I wouldn't buy that either but to pay 2x the admission cost for line skipping is a terrible value IMO. A family of 4 is paying $900 just to shorten lines for one day. To even consider paying anywhere near that I'd have to be getting a completely different experience. If I pay to stay at the Grand Floridian, I'm getting a completely different tier of accommodations vs. All Star, for example. The LLPP is getting essentially the same experience as somebody who just pays admission. You can't even use it to do multiple re-rides and get a lot more out of the day, which you could do back in the "good 'ole days" of paper FP at no additional cost.

Jrb197914 hours ago

Yes it's a guess as they will never tell you the exact numbers. I don't think it's equal to the DAS users they cut. If it is that means it's likely one step closer to removing LLMP and advanced booking.

Splash4eva14 hours ago

That would mean the other 11 hours of operation is fine. Honestly Disney would love for the scenario to happen. Have a small hiccup for a short time. But again anyone who mentions any number is purely a guess and barely an educated one

Jrb197915 hours ago

Even 1% of guests buying would still be small amount buying it but it would still affect LL queues. That's still 500 to 1000 guests using it. It's sold out due them limiting to their set number. What's making the waits long is not being able to control when guests enter the queues. Example say 250 of the Premier Pass guests all entered Trons queue at one with everyone that had return times. That would make waits long.