Walt Disney World feels like it’s in constant motion this season. Attractions are reopening after lengthy downtime, refurbishments are wrapping up, and new projects keep appearing on Disney’s calendar. Even the crowd flow patterns seem to shift from week to week, leaving longtime guests scratching their heads about what to expect on any given visit.
In the middle of all this change, Disney quietly released a surprising piece of guidance—one that immediately sparked conversation because it hints at an unexpected shift in what guests should prioritize.
This update isn’t tied to pricing, reservation systems, or blockout dates. Instead, it highlights something far more central to the modern theme park experience: Lightning Lane strategy. And while Disney didn’t label the message as a formal “warning,” the tone suggests guests may need to rethink how they approach their day.
How Lightning Lane Works Today
Before diving into the surprise twist, it’s helpful to understand how Lightning Lane functions now that Disney has fully transitioned away from Genie+. Lightning Lane Multipass allows guests to select several attractions before they even enter the park, and then continue adding options throughout the day. High-demand rides often fill up quickly, so planning is more critical than ever.
The shift from Genie+ to Multipass has made the system feel a bit more predictable. People can secure times earlier, make thoughtful layer selections, and avoid staring at their phones at rope drop. Still, with that predictability comes higher stakes. When one attraction suddenly becomes harder to ride than usual, everything about your strategy changes.
EPCOT Takes Center Stage
EPCOT wasn’t always the park where Lightning Lane choices felt make-or-break. Its attractions are spread out, and festivals and exhibits usually help balance the crowds. Lately, however, Disney has begun to shift its focus toward priorities that differ from those to which guests have been accustomed.
Updated messaging shows EPCOT’s wait-time patterns shifting in unexpected ways. Even though fan-favorite attractions still draw substantial crowds, something unusual has been happening—enough for Disney to alert guests to it ahead of time.
What You’d Normally Lock In First
When most visitors map out EPCOT, they assume the toughest Lightning Lane selections will come from the usual lineup. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind—now using both standby and a Lightning Lane Single Pass—remains one of the park’s biggest draws. Frozen Ever After remains busy from morning to night, thanks to its family-friendly appeal. Test Track has built a reputation for pulling massive lines the moment EPCOT officially opens.
Those attractions typically top guests’ planning lists. But that long-standing hierarchy has been shaken. According to Disney’s updated guidance, there’s another attraction demanding attention now: Soarin’ Around the World.
A Crowd Surge No One Saw Coming
Soarin’ has always been beloved, yet it usually wasn’t the first thing guests rushed toward. That pattern has changed quickly. Over the past several weeks, Soarin’ has experienced unexpectedly high wait times, surprising anyone who assumed it would remain an easy-to-ride option.
One moment in particular caught fans off guard—a jump to a 100-minute posted wait, surpassing Cosmic Rewind at that time. And it wasn’t an isolated occurrence. More spikes followed, pushing Disney to adjust its guidance and encourage guests to plan around these new crowd patterns.
Why Soarin’ Is Suddenly Packed
There’s no single explanation, but multiple theories have popped up. Some fans think the attraction’s renewed popularity is driving the spike. Others believe that closures at Test Track, festival congestion, or guests clustering in certain areas early in the day are creating unpredictable surges. EPCOT’s traffic has been harder to predict overall, and with Cosmic Rewind selling Lightning Lane Single Passes, many guests may be shifting to the next best option—Soarin’.
All these factors together paint a clear picture: the change is real, and Disney isn’t ignoring it.
Multipass Matters More Than Ever
Because wait times have climbed so dramatically, Soarin’ has officially moved into the “don’t-skip-this-one” category. If you’re heading to EPCOT soon, securing a return time for your Multipass early can make or break your day. Otherwise, you may find yourself stuck in an exceptionally long standby line or forced to skip the attraction altogether.
The Truth About Lightning Lane
Disney’s evolving advice reflects a simple truth: the parks never stay predictable for long. Crowd behavior shifts, attractions rise or fall in popularity, and plans that worked on a previous trip may not work today. EPCOT’s unexpected surge at Soarin’ is the latest example.
If you’re visiting soon, stay flexible and be aware of wait-time trends. The attraction leading the pack might not be the one you expect—and Disney wants to make sure you’re ready for it.
