Disney World Launches New Lightning Lane Premier Pass: Pricing Trends and Best Days to Buy

Oct 30, 2024 in "Disney Genie"

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Lightning Lane Premier Pass logo

Posted: Wednesday October 30, 2024 8:09am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Starting today, October 30, 2024, Walt Disney World is introducing a new service called the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, designed exclusively for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and select partner hotels.

This premium offering provides access to Lightning Lanes at popular attractions across Disney parks, allowing guests to bypass standby lines without scheduling specific times.

With the Premier Pass launching today, here's a look at pricing trends over the next three weeks across the four Disney parks, highlighting the minimum, maximum, and average prices you can expect.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass Pricing Trend for First 3 Weeks

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Current Price: $129
Range: $129 - $159
Number of Lightning Lane Attractions Included: 10

Trend Observations: Animal Kingdom's Lightning Lane Premier Pass pricing stays relatively stable, fluctuating between $129 and $159. The peaks occur primarily over weekends, with Fridays through Sundays typically priced higher than mid-week days.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Current Price: $269
Range: $269 - $329
Number of Lightning Lane Attractions Included: 14

Trend Observations: Hollywood Studios shows significant price variation of up to $60, with weekends and Mondays reaching $309 to $329. Prices drop on select midweek days to $269, reflecting a pricing approach that aligns with demand, especially for popular attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

EPCOT

Current Price: $169
Range: $169 - $209
Number of Lightning Lane Attractions Included: 11

Trend Observations: EPCOT's pricing tends to rise to $209 on weekends, while weekdays are more moderately priced at $169 to $189. The trend reflects an expectation of increased demand on weekends when EPCOT hosts popular seasonal festivals, such as the International Food & Wine Festival.

Magic Kingdom

Current Price: $329
Range: $329 - $399
Number of Lightning Lane Attractions Included: 20

Trend Observations: Magic Kingdom is the highest-priced pass across all parks, peaking at $399 on a Saturday and also shows the highest variation between low and high pricing. Prices stabilize at $369 or $379 midweek, suggesting Disney anticipates high demand for Magic Kingdom's premier attractions like TRON Lightcycle / Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, particularly on weekends.

Key Takeaways

Weekend Premiums: Most parks and weeks show higher prices on weekends, indicating Disney expects increased guest flow on Saturdays and Sundays.

Demand-Based Adjustments: Parks with more major attractions, such as Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, exhibit higher maximum prices, likely driven by demand for limited-capacity experiences.

Consistent Midweek Rates: Midweek days, particularly Tuesdays, usually offers slightly lower prices across most parks, which could present a value opportunity for guests with flexible schedules.

As this new system launches, it will be interesting to monitor if these prices remain consistent or adjust further based on demand patterns. For those planning trips, checking the Lightning Lane pricing calendar ahead of time may help in budgeting for these premium access options.

Everything You Need to Know About Disney's New Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Walt Disney World

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TheMaxRebo12 days ago

Generally included is a buffet - will have some hot food (eggs, breakfast meats, maybe potatoes), and a lot hav make your own Mickey Waffles, will have cereal, Yoghurts, pastries, etc Usually nothing amazing but enough options that everyone can find something and fill you up Definitely depends on your situation but a nice thing to have included especially if a bigger family

Splash4eva12 days ago

When i go to Disney honestly im barely in room or use pools if ever. Hence why i stay Value. Regarding transportation i actually rent a car always so i factor that into my trip cost etc because im sure others may stay off property and say hotel only cost me this then have to pay for other things bc of it. Again to each is their own. I was just wondering what savings others were seeing. Also the free breakfast is a nice perk not sure what they are offering tho

LSLS12 days ago

You are big on transportation costs, but I would bet the cost in transportation at a minimum is a wash with the cost of breakfast. I can personally say that we would choose offsite over values without thinking twice. For the same price you can get rooms 50% bigger with SIGNIFICANTLY better amenities. Things like indoor access, a microwave, a fridge, nice fitness center, and similar transportation. If we compare to moderates, it at least gets to be a better fight (though the fridge and AC thing is such a deal breaker to me at this point).

Splash4eva12 days ago

Thats a fair question. Listen i know nothing off site is going to have the theming and disney themed resort even as simple as a value resort i was asking in regards to the hotel itself like not a dive hotel. One that is nice clean not small and accommodating and relatively close. So if you can get that for $60 (all in) vs $160 yes thats a nice savings. Ive never looked tbh nor do i know anyone who has when going on a Disney trip. So $100 less whatever transportation cost. I guess if you are looking to save and cut corners this is not a bad option. Just not for me but thank you everyone for the insight to outside resorts and prices

JD8012 days ago

Yes. I thought that was obvious.

LSLS12 days ago

The problem is I'm not sure what your apples to apples is. Maybe the Maingate Lakeside Resort? Outdoor access to rooms, two pools, a restaurant, arcade, and free shuttle. But, it has a free breakfast, it has a gym, and the rooms are still about 10% bigger. That goes for under $60, so still would be a pretty large difference.

Disstevefan112 days ago

I am sure that was the intention of Disney because of both the inventory and price.

JD8012 days ago

I mean sure it's not meant to be something everyone gets.

Disstevefan112 days ago

Not only is LLPP a limited offering as Disney determines how many they want to sell, its WAY TOO EXPENSIVE especially for families.

JD8012 days ago

LLPP is a limited offering so by definition the average guest doesn't use this. I think everyone in the conversation has to reframe their perspective.

Purduevian12 days ago

Count me as part of the group that will come significantly less often if they eliminate LLMP (or anything similar). I have a 2 year old and as such I just won't wait in a line over 20 mins long (its just not worth it with a toddler). Add in the fact that leaving the park after ~7:30pm makes the next day awful, so I choose not to do that. Add those 2 things together and without LLMP, G+, or FP+ or whatever is next, a Disney World trip stops being worth it. As far as on site perks, don't forget about early entry, the LL 7 day window, proximity to the parks, theming of the resorts, and so on. I personally didn't find the value in staying onsite last trip... but it is more than just free transportation.

Splash4eva13 days ago

& even that perk is far from something great as the service at times is terrible and plenty simply just use uber/lyft as its not that expensive at all to & from parks

Chi8413 days ago

I was referring to Universal having the free perk with Express Pass. Of course they also don’t sell DVC. My point is that a large percentage of WDW guests stay in deluxe resorts or DVC and do so for a week or more with larger parties. Eliminating MP and SP would force these people to choose between (1) an amount few would be willing to pay in addition to an expensive resort stay with multiple people and (2) standing in lines. Disney has done some silly things in the last few years but I don’t see them doing something that would be detrimental to that demographic.

Jrb197913 days ago

While it is a small percentage of guests. I would counter your point in that there is no perks for staying on site, other than the free transportation. It would be interesting to know how many are buying the Premier Pass over MP and SP