Disney’s newest premium offering, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, is creating waves—and raking in revenue—as the holiday season reaches its peak. Despite its steep price tag, the pass is officially a sell-out sensation across Walt Disney World Resort.
The Premier Pass, which debuted shortly after Disney phased out the Disney Genie+ system, is part of the newly revamped Lightning Lane lineup. Genie+ was rebranded into two options: the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and the Lightning Lane Single Pass. These new passes retain the core feature of their predecessor, allowing guests to pay a variable fee to bypass standby queues for faster Lightning Lane access.
The passes, however, add a significant perk—advanced booking privileges for certain attractions up to seven days in advance. However, this benefit comes with strings attached: offsite guests are restricted to booking just three days ahead, and international visitors can only make selections once they’re on U.S. soil.
While these updates are notable, it’s the Premier Pass that’s stealing the spotlight. Unlike other Lightning Lane options, this high-tier pass grants unlimited access to every eligible attraction in a single park without restrictions. The convenience, though, comes at a premium.
Prices range from just over $100 to an eye-watering $450 per person, depending on park and demand. Initially limited to Deluxe Resort Guests during its pilot phase, the Premier Pass has since been expanded to include all Disney Resort hotel guests due to its overwhelming success.
Unsurprisingly, the high cost has drawn criticism from Disney fans who argue that such pricing excludes many families. But regardless of the backlash, the numbers don’t lie—the Premier Pass is popular.
Over Thanksgiving, it sold out across all four parks—Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom—for the first time. And now, during Christmas week, history is repeating itself.
For Sunday, December 22, Magic Kingdom’s Premier Pass, priced at $429, sold out quickly. The trend continued, with dates including December 27, 28, 29, and 30 also selling out at $449 per guest. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has followed suit, with no availability on December 28 or 29, where the pass was priced at $349.
With thousands of guests shelling out these hefty fees, Disney is seeing massive returns on its investment in premium experiences. But the bigger question looms: with vacations already costing so much, how much more are guests willing to pay for added convenience?
As December 23 through New Year’s Day approaches, even more sell-outs are expected, with record crowds descending on the parks for Disney’s busiest time of the year. Orlando International Airport has confirmed nearly 3 million travelers will arrive in the Sunshine State for the holiday period, further underscoring the demand for Disney’s magical (and costly) experiences.
Have you tried the Lightning Lane Premier Pass? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
