Walt Disney World Resort continues to evolve its guest experience, and one of the most recent transformations is proving to be a major hit—with some guests planning their visits months in advance to secure premium access.
In 2024, Disney Experiences introduced an all-new structure for its line-skipping offerings by uniting them under a single umbrella: Lightning Lane. This refresh included the debut of the Lightning Lane Single Pass and the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, replacing the previous Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections.
With the Multi Pass, guests can now pre-book up to three attractions ahead of time (with options varying depending on accommodations) using a tiered selection system—a reimagining of the FastPass+ service many fans will recall. Meanwhile, the Single Pass gives guests the option to purchase one-time entry to top-tier attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.
Pricing for both passes is dynamic and depends on the season and expected crowd levels. But the most talked-about addition? That would be the Premier Pass, a bold move inspired by international Disney destinations such as Disneyland Paris. For a one-time fee, the Premier Pass offers access to all Lightning Lane attractions at a single park—an option that, despite its price, is being embraced by many visitors.
Despite its price tag, guests continue selling out the Premier Pass, with peak times like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and spring break have become completely unavailable in the past. Valentine’s Day weekend also had consecutive Premier Pass sell-outs, proving that guests are buying into it on off-season dates.
Pricing can vary significantly by park and date, with recent examples during the busy Easter season showing full sell-outs. According to tracking data from WDWMagic:
– At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Premier Pass is sold out April 17 and 18 at a peak price of $199
– At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the pass is sold out April 17, 18, and 19 at a peak price of $349
– At EPCOT, it’s sold out April 17 and 18 at $249
– And at Magic Kingdom Park, it’s sold out April 17, 18, and 19 at $449, April 20 at $429, and April 22 at $419
At the time of writing, Disney has not publicly shared how many Premier Passes are available each day, leaving many to speculate on the scope of their popularity. What’s more, Disney recently noted that they’re not completely sure about the Premier Pass and how best to use it across the resort.
As Walt Disney World enters what many are calling a transformational chapter—with several attractions temporarily closed or reimagined—some guests have noticed that pricing does not seem to reflect unavailable experiences. At Magic Kingdom, for instance, both Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Astro Orbiter are currently closed indefinitely, and over at EPCOT, Test Track is undergoing a significant refurbishment.
Looking ahead, Disney fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of several new lands and attractions themed to Cars, Encanto, Indiana Jones, Monsters, Inc., and Disney Villains. The question remains: how will the Lightning Lane offerings adapt as these major additions roll out across the next decade?
How do you feel about the Premier Pass continuing to sell out during peak seasons, and even quieter weekends? Let us know in the comments down below!
