Planning a Magic Kingdom day around Thanksgiving? The price of skipping the lines just came into sharp focus. Lightning Lane Premier Pass for Monday, November 23, priced at $479 per person, is officially gone. It’s the first date at that new top price to sell out, and Disney guests clearly aren’t letting the recent round of increases change their plans.
Here’s a look at what’s left, what’s covered, and how to time your purchase.
First, a Quick Refresher
Premier Pass is the most expensive line-skipping option Disney World offers. You get one Lightning Lane entry to each eligible attraction in a single park on a single day, and there are no return times to book. You just head to each ride’s Lightning Lane whenever it suits you.
Over its lifetime, the pass at Magic Kingdom has cost anywhere from $299 to $479. That $299 figure is fairly new, too, introduced earlier this year as a lower entry point.
At Magic Kingdom, the pass gets you onto Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run, as well as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Haunted Mansion, “it’s a small world,” Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid.
How the Calendar Looks Right Now
Next week is already filling up fast. Premier Pass has sold out for Monday, November 16 ($429), Wednesday, November 18 ($419), Saturday, November 21 ($429), and Sunday, November 22 ($449).
Tuesday, November 17, Thursday, November 19, and Friday, November 20 still have passes at the time of writing, all at $399. There’s a reason for that. Each is a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party night, when Magic Kingdom closes to regular day guests at 6 p.m. ahead of the separately ticketed event. With fewer hours and usually lighter crowds, the upgrade is harder to justify.
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, is the only other $479 date currently on the calendar, while the rest of the holiday week runs $429 to $449 per person.
Check Your Dates
According to the official Disney World website, guests at Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels can buy Lightning Lane passes starting seven days before the first day of their stay, covering up to 14 days. All other guests can purchase three days before their park day.
Sales open at 7 a.m. Eastern Time on your first eligible day. You can book multiple days at once and choose Multi Pass and Single Pass arrival windows before checking out. Since each new group of guests gains access in turn, the remaining Thanksgiving inventory is expected to sell out.
None of this comes as a huge shock. Magic Kingdom’s old $449 ceiling kept selling out during Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so a higher price was always on the horizon. At this rate, a pass topping $500 seems inevitable in the coming years.
For Thanksgiving Day, confirm your exact booking window and be ready at 7 a.m. Eastern Time. Visiting on a party night? Lightning Lane Multi Pass or a rope-drop start could be the smarter move for tackling the e-ticket rides before waits climb.
Will there be a $500+ Lightning Lane Premier Pass soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
