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Despite our hopes that Disney would hear the upset of Walt Disney World and Disneyland fans, Lightning Lanes are on the way in. We previously shared the news that Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resorts will soon be introducing the Disney Genie. This mobile app is complimentary and is said to “maximize your Park time”. While we’re fine with exploring the new Disney Genie on our phones – we are disappointed that Disney has removed the former complimentary FastPass service which allowed Guests to skip the standby line at no extra cost. Instead of bringing the FastPass program back after the COVID 19 closures, Disney is introducing two upcharge services called the Disney Genie+ and the Lightning Lane. Now, lightning lane signage has extended from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT.
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What are “Lightning Lanes”? Lightning Lanes are basically the former FastPass lane. Disney has even slapped a “Lightning Lane” sticker on top of Magic Kingdom attraction’s former FastPass signage such as “it’s a small world” and Tomorrowland Speedway.
To access the Lightning Lane at each theme Park, you’ll need to purchase the Disney Genie+ which will cost each Disney Park Guest $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort. In addition to this service, Disney is introducing another upcharge Lightning Lane pass. This is where Guests can purchase one individual attraction selection at a time for the more popular attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Pricing for the individual attraction purchase with Lightning Lane will vary by date, attraction, and Park which Disney has yet to reveal. If it’s anything like Disneyland Paris’ charges for a similar service, we can expect Lightning Lane attractions to cost anywhere between $10 – $18 per attraction. Keep in mind that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be both Virtual Queue and Lightning Lane.
As of September 5, three attractions at Magic Kingdom now display Lightning Lane signs including “it’s a small world”, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Jungle Cruise.
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And now, Lightning Lane entrance signs have begun to arrive at EPCOT! Check out the two photos below of Lightning Lane signs at both Soarin’ and Living with the Land in EPCOT’s The Land Pavilion.
Would you be willing to pay to ride one of the attractions pictured above for Lightning Lane access? If so, which one? While Disney has yet to announce when they will begin the Lightning Lane program, we suspect with the rollout of signs, it will be sooner rather than later. We’ll be sure to share any information about this new Disney program as soon as Disney reveals details. RIP FastPass!
