When you plan a trip to Walt Disney World, you’ll face a choice: Will you spend money to skip long lines or wait like everyone else?

Regardless of your choice, you’re ultimately paying, whether it’s in time or money.

To avoid long waits, visitors can purchase expedited queue passes, known as Lightning Lanes. There are three types of passes available: Single, Multi, and Premier. You’ll need to think about various factors when selecting the right one for your needs, or if you should choose one at all.

(Note that Disneyland in California also features Lightning Lane Passes, but they function a bit differently.)

Here’s a full overview of Lightning Lanes at Disney World.

How Does the Lightning Lane Function?

A Lightning Lane functions as an express queue. You will still have to wait your turn, but the waiting time is shorter and quicker compared to the standard lines that everyone uses.

At Disney World, many rides and certain shows offer a Lightning Lane option.

Different passes grant entry to various attractions’ Lightning Lanes. Only the Premier Pass gives access to every Lightning Lane in a park.

Single Passes and Multi Passes come with designated hour-long windows for guests to experience the attractions. In contrast, Premier Passes allow for on-demand visits to attractions any time throughout your pass day.

No matter which pass you buy, you can only use it once per attraction. If you wish to experience the ride again, you’ll need to queue in the regular line.

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass include digital downloads of select attraction photos as part of the package.

All Lightning Lane passes can be bought and managed through Disney World’s complimentary My Disney Experience app.

What Is a Lightning Lane Single Pass?

Lightning Lane Single Passes are specific, pay-per-ride passes for the most sought-after attractions at each park.

• Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle / Run
• EPCOT: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage

Visitors can buy up to two Lightning Lane Single Passes per person per day.

What Is a Lightning Lane Multi Pass?

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a reservation system for all other attractions featuring Lightning Lanes, excluding those requiring Single Passes. (It combines elements from Genie+, which Multi Pass replaced last summer, and the now-defunct Fast Pass system from before the pandemic.)

Pricing for these passes varies by park. Guests with Park Hopper tickets buy the Multi Pass for whichever park they plan to start their day in. You can hold three attraction reservations at once and can book your initial three before your visit.

At Animal Kingdom, guests can prebook any three Lightning Lane rides, excluding the Avatar Flight of Passage, as it falls under Single Passes.

At Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, two categories of attractions exist for pre-booking. Let’s label the first category Group A, which consists of the most sought-after rides in the park, apart from those covered by Single Passes. The other category is Group B, which includes additional popular rides, such as the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. You can reserve one Group A attraction and up to two Group B rides, or alternatively, select three Group B attractions without including Group A. However, you cannot book multiple Group A attractions before your park visit.

Whichever rides you choose, it’s best to make your first Lightning Lane reservation early in the day. After using it, you won’t need to keep track of the categories; you can also change your remaining reservations to book Group A attractions if desired, if they are available. Guests with Park Hopper tickets may also reserve attractions in additional parks once they have used their first Lightning Lane pass.

Each time you use a reservation, you can make a new one from what’s available. If the app shows no available times for a particular ride, try refreshing or checking back later. Availability can shift as other guests modify their plans.

What Sets Lightning Lane Multi Pass Apart from Lightning Lane Premier?

Several important distinctions exist between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Premier. The most significant differences are in cost and flexibility. Premier Passes are more expensive because they provide the ease of accessing any Lightning Lane in a park without pre-booking times. You can simply walk in. This also encompasses Single Pass attractions.

You are still limited to a one-time use for each attraction. Furthermore, the Premier Pass is restricted to the specific park for which you purchased it, unlike the Multi Pass, which allows usage across different parks when hopping, at least for the moment.

Currently, the Premier Pass is being trialed and is exclusively available to guests residing at Disney Resorts Collection hotels, Shades of Green Resort, and Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan, and Swan Reserve. In contrast, Multi Passes are accessible to everyone.

What Are the Costs of Lightning Lane Passes?

The pricing for Lightning Lane Passes varies significantly depending on the type and date. Also, Single Pass prices differ by attraction, while Multi Passes and Premier Passes vary by park. Pricing details can be viewed on the Disney World app several weeks in advance.

Through the end of January, Single Passes start at $13 for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which is generally the least expensive option. Multi Passes begin at $16 for Animal Kingdom, which has the lowest-priced Multi Pass and general admission.

Here are the initial prices for Premier Passes available until the end of January:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $119
• EPCOT: $169
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $269
• Magic Kingdom: $329

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When Can You Purchase Lightning Lane Passes?

Guests at Disney Resorts Collection hotels, Shades of Green Resort, and Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan, or Swan Reserve can buy Lightning Lane passes up to a week prior to their arrival. They can purchase passes collectively for each day of their stay, for up to 14 days.

All other guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes three days in advance of their park visit. Guests with date-based multi-day tickets can buy all passes at once, three days before their initial park day, as most tickets are date-based.

Are Lightning Lane Passes Worth the Cost?

Determining if they’re worth it is subjective. However, if you’re eager to ride a high-demand attraction and a Single Pass is affordable, it could be a worthwhile investment since wait times for these popular rides can often exceed an hour.

Furthermore, attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure utilize virtual queues instead of traditional standby lines. Relying solely on the free virtual queue may mean missing out on these rides if you don’t secure a spot.

Multi Passes can be beneficial, particularly during busy seasons at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, which is the world’s most visited theme park. They can also be advantageous at EPCOT when noteworthy rides like Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure are on your must-do list, as these lines can become significantly long. Test Track is another high-traffic ride, but it’s currently closed for reimagining until late summer. Wait times for Soarin’ Around the World are generally manageable for a Group-A attraction, although other ride lines at EPCOT usually move swiftly.

For Animal Kingdom, Multi Passes aren’t generally necessary if you arrive early—often referred to as “rope drop”—by being among the first guests in the park or if you stay until closing time after many families have left. However, the passes might save you time, which could make them a valuable option for you.

Lightning Lane Premier Passes are more of a luxury than a requirement. If you can easily afford them and it enhances your trip, they might be worth it, but you can absolutely enjoy a full park day with one of the other passes or none at all.

Tips for Saving Time at Disney World

Here are some strategies to save time in line without utilizing Lightning Lanes:

• Arrive early to be one of the first guests in the parks.
• Stay until park closing, after a lot of guests have left.
• If rides are your priority, visit during parades and nighttime shows.
• Utilize single-rider lines where they are available, just keep in mind that your group might be split up.
• Check wait times on Disney World’s app and plan accordingly.
• Take advantage of extended park hours if you’re staying on-site. Guests at Disney resorts receive 30 minutes of Early Theme Park Entry, and deluxe resort guests can access Extended Evening Hours at select parks on certain nights.
• Travel during traditionally less busy periods, such as most of September.
• Consider attending an after-hours event rather than a regular park day, as these events usually have significantly shorter wait times for rides, although rare character meet-and-greets can have lengthy lines.