People Keep Comparing Universal’s Express Pass to Disney’s NEW Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Here’s How They Actually Stack Up.

Settle in. You’re just in time for a SHOWDOWN. In one corner, we have the Express Pass veteran, Universal Orlando. In the other corner, we have the new kid on the block, Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Two similar services. How do they stack up?

Disney just announced a brand-new skip-the-line service. Think of it like the deluxe version of its existing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, with a much higher price tag. Do you need to upgrade to this service? How does it compare to the Universal Orlando version? Let’s talk about it!

Before we dive into Disney’s new Lightning Lane Premier Pass, we need to address its biggest competitor. Why? People have been quick to compare the two skip-the-line services, but there are some important differences.

Universal Orlando Express Pass

Universal Orlando offers two versions of its Express Pass. Both variations are variably priced based on the crowd level. First, there’s the Universal Express Pass, which allows you to skip the lines ONE time per participating ride — prices for the Universal Express Pass range from $89.99 to $289.99 per person.

Then, there’s the Universal Express Unlimited option, which ranges from $119.99 to $319.99 per person. This pricier version allows UNLIMITED skips of the line at participating rides. If you’re staying at one of Universal Orlando’s Premier tier resorts (the Hard Rock Hotel, the Royal Pacific Resort, and the Portofino Bay Hotel), you will be given complimentary use of the Express pass lines as part of your stay. That’s a BIG perk for a lot of Universal fans.

If you want to use your Express Pass at BOTH parks, expect those prices to increase. Prices for the two-park Universal Express Pass start at $104.99 and $134.99 for Universal Express Unlimited.

Here’s the full list of rides included at Universal Studios Florida:

• The Bourne Stuntacular
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• E.T. Adventure
• Fast & Furious – Supercharged
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
• Hogwarts Express
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
• Men In Black: Alien Attack
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Revenge of the Mummy
• The Simpsons Ride,
• Transformers: The Ride-3D

Here’s the full list of rides included at Islands of Adventure:

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Caro-Seuss-el
• The Cat in the Hat
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
• Hogwarts Express
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Storm Force Accelatron

You may notice that one popular attraction is NOT included in this list: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Unfortunately, there is no express line; you’ll have to wait in the standby line, use the Universal single-rider line, or purchase the Universal Orlando VIP Experience.

You can buy the Express Pass online ahead of time through the Universal website or while you’re at the parks.

Is the Universal Orlando Express Pass Worth It? Everything You Need to Know

Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass

Disney World has used its own version of a skip-the-line service for years. What started as a free FastPass+ system eventually turned into a paid system called Genie+, then eventually morphed into the current system, which is split into Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass (a pay-per-ride service).

Before we talk about the NEW service, we should explain the cheaper, existing skip-the-line option. The main things you need to know about Lightning Lane Multi Pass are 1.) You can now reserve rides up to seven days in advance 2.) You can make three selections in advance 3.) The price varies by date, and 4.) Some of the most popular rides are NOT included (they can be purchased separately via Lightning Lane Single Pass. Got it? Great. Now, on to the NEW service.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows you one-time access to each Lightning Lane entrance at attractions in a single theme park per day. The big advantage here is that you can use those Lightning Lanes ANY time you want — there’s no need to reserve a time slot in advance. Note there is no Park Hopper option for the Premier Pass at Disney World.

The OTHER big advantage is that ALL rides are included under the Premier Pass, meaning you can ride both Single Pass AND Multi Pass attractions with your Premier Pass.

CONFIRMED: Every Ride Included in Disney World’s NEW Lightning Lane Premier Pass

The Premier Pass will only be available to people staying at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas. Disney World Deluxe and Villas guests will be able to purchase Premier Passes up to seven days in advance of their stay. When this service first launches, expect “very limited quantities.”

Premier Pass will be park-specific and will have variable pricing based on the park and date. Here’s a peek at the prices for the Lightning Lane Premier Passes (per person, per day) at Disney World:

• Magic Kingdom: $329-$449 plus tax
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $129-$199 plus tax
• EPCOT: $169-$249 plus tax
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $269-$349 plus tax

The good news is that the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass are sticking around.

The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass is totally separate and is an alternative line-skipping option for those who prefer to skip the hassle of the existing options.

How Do They Compare?

Fans were quick to notice that Disney is NOT offering the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass as a complimentary option for Deluxe Resort guests, while Universal’s Express Pass is a long-held perk for certain visitors. One important distinction here is that Disney World has a LOT more Deluxe Resorts, which means a lot more rooms full of people. If Disney were to offer free Premier Passes to every single Deluxe Resort guest, the Lightning Lane could end up with just as long of a wait time as the standby line.

Disney’s Premier Pass does not exclude ANY attractions, while Universal’s Express Pass leaves one of the park’s most popular rides off the list.

Finally, Disney specified that you can only use the Premier Pass in ONE park per day; there is no way to use your Premier Pass in multiple parks on the same day. Over at Universal Orlando, you can upgrade your Express Pass if you’re interested in the two-park option. If that’s an important factor for you, it might be better to spend your money on Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which allows you to Park Hop.

Is the Premier Pass worth it for you and your family? That’s up to you! If you’re not interested in booking new ride reservations in Disney World throughout the day, you might want to upgrade to the Premier Pass. But let’s be honest. This service isn’t cheap! Think of it like a VIP service that is truly only meant to be a special splurge.

Plus, there’s always the good old standby line, which is 100% F R E E no matter which theme park you’re visiting. Use that free line to your advantage!

We hope this handy little guide shows you all the similarities and differences between the two skip-the-line services. Ultimately, Disney World is a bigger beast, so it makes sense that its Premier Pass needs to work a little differently than the Express Pass at Universal Orlando. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

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Would you splurge on a Premier Pass? Let us know in the comments!

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