A third Lightning Lane option just debuted at Disneyland.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass is Disney’s newest option to pay to skip the line. It is different from Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. This new pass allows you to skip the line and enter through every single Lightning Lane at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure once without having to book a return time. We tried it out on its first day, and we have some thoughts.
You can purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass two days before your trip, and it costs $400. For the rest of the year, Premier Pass will be priced at “$400 per person, per day for park visits through December 31, 2024. Beginning in 2025, pricing will vary by date and demand within a $300 to $400 range.”
FULL LIST: Every Attraction Included in Disneyland’s New Lightning Lane Premier Pass
While this new Lightning Lane option is pricey, it does give you the added flexibility to walk up to any Lightning Lane once at both parks, including Single Pass rides, and be able to get in line.
We were able to snag the limited Lightning Lane Premier Pass on opening day, but a few things caught us off guard.
It’s incredibly simplified. Once you have purchased the service in the app, you get a barcode that you simply scan at the attraction you want to ride. You don’t need to select an attraction or make a reservation; you just present your barcode at the ride entrance to enter the Lightning Lane.
You can ride each attraction that is included once, but you can ride whenever you want. There is no more trying to secure an earlier time window or eagerly watching the clock so you can redeem your Lightning Lane. Whenever you are ready to ride the attraction, just walk up to the ride, scan in, and enjoy!
It’s no different than the other Lightning Lane options once you scan in. Once you scan in though, your experience will be exactly the same as someone who is paying the $35 or so for Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You will hear the same chime and wait in the same Lightning Lane line. You are just able to go to each attraction once whenever you want, as opposed to having to make a reservation from the available attractions.
There is a total lack of restrictions. It is such a weird feeling to not be restricted to the time slots that are available, or to be bound to a timeframe at all. With the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you are able to ride each included attraction one time, whenever you want (of course, as long as the ride is operating). You don’t have to worry about an hour window, or how early/late you can scan in. Whenever you are ready, just head to the attraction of your choosing!
We feel like you can really take advantage of your time at the parks, and you could easily ride all the rides that are included. Our reporter said they might even be able to get all the rides in by dinner with enough motivation. But, even without enough motivation, this new service will allow you to easily ride all the rides you want.
Just like any new offering, it is bound to have problems, and this is a trial run for Disney to see how the service works. Soon, we will try Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Disney World when it debuts on October 30th. For now, the service will only be offered to those staying at Deluxe Resorts.
Follow along with us as we try out the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass in Disneyland!
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I cannot afford to ever go to Disney, even with my autistic kid. It’s way too expensive for us, and NO way would I ever afford to pay extra to “skip” in line in front of all the other people who have been waiting to get on the ride. Does Disney cater to the poor people, like myself?? NEVER!
This is why they are Discriminating against the Disabled, so they can sell this crap. Corporate Greed at it’s finest.
I think you should be able to ride any ride more than once.
Isn’t this how it used to be, just enjoy a day at Disneyland?
Walt Disney built this Park where all Families could enjoy Disneyland. Now they are draining us for every thing. For a family of 4, you are talking about $1,600 for the day. Ridiculous! $$$$$ is all they care about.
No thank you. I will stick to Universal and the FREE unlimited express passes!
It sure is a rich man’s world.
Let’s see now $400 any time I want but only once per ride vs $35 only I need too make a reservation and show up at that time window, I’ll skip the 11.5 X ridiculous price for $35 Alex. I may be wrong but I think this is more expensive then the private guided tour multiple people option where you skip the line and have the Luxury of a knowledgeable guide.
I think it’s way too expensive for a low income families & ESPECIALLY ME ?!!
I’m a Disney nut but like new technology stuff as well not the 40 year old rides that just keep breaking down. Something Epic is coming to Orlando. Ticket prices are $140. 2025 see you then.
With all the attractions that have been down of late, I’m afraid the premier lightening lane will have some severe problems, beside the cost. I don’t even spend money on the lightening lane passes, so this will definitely be a “pass” for me.
$400 Per person per dsy for what?
Answer: to get a much shorter line for 8 or so rides that you could ride anyway with a little more planning/patience.
btw the regular fast pass is worth it but a family of 4 paying $200 or so extra per ride to do fastpass once on that ride is a crazy bad value
Did you have to pay or did Disney provide it to you to write an article about how easy it is to use?
Hi Tony! We paid ourselves.
I’m so sorry to sound rude, but why would you pay this? $400 a day on top of the expense to go regularly? This is the problem. People handing over an OBSCENE amount of money, extra, in addition to the high cost of already is. It won’t stop until this foolishness stops. When I go with my family, I just use strategy, and if a ride is over 50 minutes or so and we can’t catch it shorter than that, we just don’t go on it. And it sucks, but it’s fine. I’d rather have a good time without griping over missed rides and forking over additional money. I’m aware I have no right to give a stranger advice…but here I go…be rational with how you spend. You can have a good time at Disney without bleeding so much extra money.
One time ride for 400 bucks! I mean at least give people 2 rides and a meal or a couple snacks.
A few years ago my son and I were at Disneyland and were randomly each given a lanyard that essentially allowed us to bypass any ride/line one time….not to sound ungrateful but while it sounds awesome it was quite exhausting going from ride to ride with no wait at all. I certainly wouldn’t pay $300-$400 for that “privilege”
As much as I love Disneyland I can barely afford one day anymore. No, thank you our family will not be able to try the $400 pass.
This is innovative? Sounds like any other fast pass type program at any part in America, only more expensive
This is the exact thing that Universal Studios has…and cheaper. With the option to do everything repeatedly for $40 more
Disneyland is now off my list. Walt would be rolling over in his grave if he saw what was happening there. I grew up down the street from Disneyland.
I agree about Walt, he made the park so that families could go to a place that everyone should be able to afford…this is not true today though. I’ve been an AP for about 10 years now I think and used to go to the park at least 8x a year 3-4 days at a time and now only go for about a total of 4 days since that’s all I can afford now. Got the Lightening Lane last time and was only able to get on 1 ride. Parks are way to busy now all year long.
This sounds maybe cheapskate but for 400 I would think you should be able to use it more than once for each ride.are they doing this in lue of this falls increase on ticket prices?
Ridiculous!
Disney isn’t a family vacation anymore, it’s a giant ripoff. I’m sorry, but as special and unique their parks are, it’s no longer priced reasonably. I would rather go on a cruise or an all-inclusive or visit Europe all for the same cost of a day at Disney. Corporate greed!
The more money you have the more fun you have. Disney is definitely not for the average family.
So, Disney finally discovered the Express pass that Universal has had for years? Fabulous. Now, we wait for them to discover the Express Unlimited pass which, for just an extra $50) allows you to go on any ride as many times as you want (rather than once with the Express pass).
It’s so very expensive, only for the wealthier and no kids
What happens when you scan in and then the ride breaks down before you can ride it?
You lose your one and only slot for that ride?
Breakdowns seem to be more frequent these days.
Hi radarwz! If a ride goes down like that and you’ve been in the line for a while and it doesn’t look like it’s going to come back up soon they’ll usually give you an Experience Pass to come back and ride later or choose a different ride.
It didn’t bother you spending all that money and still having to stand in the regular lightning lane line with folks who have Pais way less?
I could understand unlimited but not once per ride.
$400 is fair if it is unlimited and not just one ride per attraction. The more important number is the total costs per day which is $650 or so per day. No question Disney has a great product but at some point they will push people to other significantly less costly parks like Universal.
Staying at a deluxe resort will set travelers back around $700 per night, per room. Who are the people who can afford this?
I know! A family of four will be spending nearly $2000 a day before food and souvenirs! I don’t know these people, either (I wish I did so they could pay my way!), but we know they exist because these passes are being sold and wouldn’t be offered if Disney didn’t think there would be a market for them!
50% or more can’t. Trust me it’s going on a credit card.
It sounds like I’d be paying $500 or so for one day at Disney. I’ll skip it, thank you
This sounds awesome! Love the freedom to ride what we want when we want. Also love the price point as a barrier to entry. That ensures the experience is a good one.
$200 for the entrance. $50 for parking. $400 for Lightning Lane. And that is just to get you through the door.
It used to be such a fun place to go. Now its just too expensive for anyone normal. We were able to go for $6 a day when it opened.