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If you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you already know that Disney vacations aren't cheap. But if you're going to splurge, one of the best ways to maximize your time (and money) is by reducing the hours you spend waiting in lines.
Disney's line-skipping system — which is now called Lightning Lane — replaces the former FastPass and Genie+ systems. Unlike the old FastPass, Lightning Lane is not free; it comes at an additional cost on top of your park tickets.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Lightning Lane, including its pricing, how it works, key differences between Disneyland and Disney World, and some strategies to use it effectively.
Page Contents
- What Is Lightning Lane?
- How Much Is A Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
- When Can You Purchase Lightning Lane?
- Lightning Lane Single Pass vs. Multi Pass vs. Premier Pass
- Virtual Queues
- How Many Lightning Lanes Can You Hold at a Time?
- Lightning Lane Assistance in the Parks
- Using Points To Pay for Lightning Lanes
- Free Ways To Skip Lines at Disney Parks
- Disney Line Skipping Programs at Overseas Disney Parks
- Final Thoughts
What Is Lightning Lane?
Lightning Lane is a paid digital reservation system that allows guests to skip the standby line for select attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It works similarly to the old FastPass but comes with a cost.
If you visited between 2021 and 2024, you may remember Genie+, which was replaced by Lightning Lane in 2024.
With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can reserve time slots for certain rides each day, which allows you to bypass the regular queue. Each ride can be booked once per day, and all reservations are managed through Disney's mobile app, so it's paramount that you keep your phone charged throughout the day. But it's worth noting that even with a Lightning Lane reservation, there is still a wait, but it is much shorter than the standby line.
To purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you must have a valid theme park admission and a reservation for that day, if your ticket requires a reservation. A Lightning Lane purchase also includes:
- PhotoPass options (this differs between Florida and California parks, discussed below)
- Augmented reality lenses available throughout the park
How Much Is A Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
Lightning Lane prices fluctuate based on expected crowd levels. At Disney World, the price varies by the park you're visiting and whether you're park hopping, ranging between $15 and $39 per person per day. At Disneyland, Lightning Lane starts at $32 per person per day.
When Can You Purchase Lightning Lane?
One of the biggest changes when Disney switched to Lightning Lane in 2024 was the return of pre-bookable rides at Walt Disney World before you arrive in the parks. If staying at a Disney hotel, you can now book up to three rides starting seven days before your trip. If staying off-property or using a date-based ticket, you can select three rides up to three days in advance.
At Disneyland, this feature is unavailable. You can buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass bundled with your ticket or on the day of your visit when you scan into the park.
At the parks, attractions are separated into tiers. You can select one attraction from Tier 1 and two attractions from Tier 2, or three attractions from Tier 2 when pre-booking. Once you arrive at the park and use your first Lightning Lane reservation, you can modify your pre-booked Tier 2 attractions to Tier 1s.
Here are the tiers and available attractions in each park:
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane attractions
Tier 1
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tier 2
- The Barnstormer
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
Single Pass Attractions
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
Epcot
Tier 1
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
Tier 2
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: SPACE
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Spaceship Earth
- Turtle Talk with Crush
Single Pass Attractions
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Tier 1
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
Tier 2
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Play & Dance!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
- Toy Story Mania!
Single Pass Attractions
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Disney's Animal Kingdom
This park does not have tiers, so all attractions are bookable during the pre-booking window.
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Naʻvi River Journey
Single Pass Attractions
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Lightning Lane Single Pass vs. Multi Pass vs. Premier Pass
Disney offers three different types of Lightning Lane access: Single Pass, Multi Pass, and Premier Pass.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
In addition to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Disney sells Single Pass Lightning Lanes for high-demand rides. They cost between $10 and $25 per person per ride. Lightning Lane Single Pass functions independently from Multi Pass and is purchased completely separately.
You don't need to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass to purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and vice-versa. You can purchase up to two Lightning Lane Single Passes per day, across all parks on both coasts.
Just like Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass can sell out, so you might want to think about buying early. You can make these selections on the same schedule as Multi Pass, depending on where you're staying on property. At Disneyland, you'll book these the day of your visit after you scan into the park.
Related: How To Book the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels With Points
Lightning Lane Premier Pass
Lightning Lane Premier Pass was introduced in 2024. It is the most expensive option and offers instant, reservation-free Lightning Lane access to all eligible rides in a single park per day.
If all that's been discussed above is too confusing for you, you can simply purchase a Premier Pass for the park you're visiting that day at Walt Disney World, or for both parks at Disneyland, and enjoy reservation-free instant access to the Lightning Lane queues at each attraction that offers it.
One drawback is that the pass currently doesn't offer park-hopping at Walt Disney World, meaning you'll have to choose which park to purchase the Premier Pass for each day. This is available to Disney hotel guests 7 days before their visit, and 3 days prior for everyone else.
While you may think this is the way to go, it comes at a price. The most expensive park, Magic Kingdom, can cost up to $449 on peak days. Pricing will vary based on the date of the park visit and the park you're visiting.
Standby lines vs. Lightning Lanes
Some Disney rides only have standby lines, while other rides have both a standby line and a Lightning Lane. Anyone can wait in the standby line, while only guests who purchase access can use Lightning Lanes. For instance, Disneyland's Haunted Mansion has both a standby line and a Lightning Lane.
Lightning Lane Single Pass vs. Lightning Lane Multi Pass
When a ride offers a Lightning Lane, that line is bookable either through Multi Pass or Single Pass. Disney's mobile app will always indicate which type of Lightning Lane an attraction offers. Again, these two services are sold separately. You can choose to purchase either, neither, or both options when visiting the parks.
In summary, if an attraction has a Lightning Lane, it can be accessed by purchasing a Multi Pass or a Single Pass. The app will indicate which type of Lightning Lane is valid for each attraction.
Virtual Queues
Some high-demand attractions use Virtual Queues, which are free but require guests to join at specific times through the app. Virtual Queues do not guarantee access and require quick reflexes once reservations open.
At Disney World, Virtual Queues are currently available for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Epcot) and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom). At Disneyland, the only attraction currently using a Virtual Queue is World of Color: ONE, which grants preferred viewing areas for the nighttime show.
Virtual Queues open at 7 a.m. and again at 1 p.m., and they fill up quickly.
Tips for virtual queues
- Ensure your group is linked in the Disneyland or Disney World app.
- Use a clock with a second hand to watch the countdown time closely.
- Disney suggests only one person from each party try for a virtual queue, but your experience may vary.
- At exactly 7 a.m., noon, or 1 p.m., refresh your screen, hit “join,” and tap a boarding group if offered.
You can only have one Virtual Queue boarding group booked at a time and can only join the Virtual Queue for each ride or experience once per day.
How Many Lightning Lanes Can You Hold at a Time?
In short, with Multi Pass you can hold three Lightning Lanes at a time. You'll be able to book your first three when you pre-book your rides on the timeline outlined earlier, and then you can elect to purchase up to two Single Pass attractions during your day in the parks. You're also able to hold one Virtual Queue at a time.
Once you scan into your first Lightning Lane attraction for the day, you can select another Multi Pass Lightning Lane in the app.
Lightning Lane Assistance in the Parks
For questions during your visit, use the chat feature in the Disneyland or My Disney Experience app. Alternatively, find a guest experience cast member at one of the blue tents located in every U.S. Disney park.
Using Points To Pay for Lightning Lanes
If purchasing Lightning Lanes for your trip to either U.S. Disney destination, the expense will show up on your credit card in the entertainment category. Cards like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Citi Custom Cash® Card will be ideal for extra cashback here.
However, if you want to pay with points, it's worth checking various banks' travel portals for Disneyland tickets that include Lightning Lanes. From time to time, the Chase Travel Portal, the Bilt Travel Portal, and the Citi Travel Portal carry Disneyland tickets. The portal tickets are not always competitively priced, so definitely shop around.
Also, if you purchase discounted Disneyland tickets, including Lightning Lane, through a third party, the expense should be coded as “travel” on your statement. Numerous credit cards earn bonus points on travel expenses, and you may be able to redeem your points to offset this charge after the fact. I recommend Undercover Tourist for a small discount on park tickets.
Related: Use Chase Ultimate Rewards To Book Disney Trips
Free Ways To Skip Lines at Disney Parks
In lieu of — or in addition to — Lightning Lane, use the following to skip lines for free at U.S. Disney parks, including:
- Rope-dropping, or showing up at a park open when crowds and lines are low.
- Using Single Rider Lines, as select attractions fill seats by queueing single riders separately.
- The aforementioned Virtual Queues are free for all guests.
- Riding during parades when standby lines can be shorter.
- Rider switch: Take turns riding an attraction through the Lightning Lane while another adult in your party waits with non-riders.
- Stay late at the parks, as lines can get shorter.
Disney Line Skipping Programs at Overseas Disney Parks
While they don't call them Lightning Lanes, all the overseas parks offer some sort of line-skipping program. Disneyland Paris offers two tiers of its Premier Access: Ultimate and One. Tokyo Disneyland currently offers a free service called 40th Anniversary Priority Pass, plus a Single Lane-like service called Premier Access. Both Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland offer versions of Premier Access as well.
Related: How I Used Points and Miles To Join the Disney Six Castle Club
Final Thoughts
The latest Disney line-skipping options may be the secret to enjoying your next Disney vacation. If the crowds in the U.S. parks are high, at least you'll know how to skip the lines on certain rides. Some of the best strategies are free, while others have a cost. A combination of the two tends to work best.
Related: Tips for Saving Money at Disney World with Points and Miles
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