I've Been on a V.I.P. Tour AND Paid for Lightning Lane Premier Pass - And I'd Only Do ONE Again

Skipping the lines in Disney World is something I’ve done countless times at this point.

Skipping lines is something I’ve done many times

Thanks to all the different challenges we do on the AllEars YouTube channel, I’ve gotten to experience what it’s like to attempt to ride everything in each park both while skipping the lines, and without, all in the name of science to help you decide what’s best for you on your vacation. For years, the most expensive way to skip ALL the lines in Disney World in one day was to book a private VIP Tour, which STARTS at $450 to $900 per HOUR, but now there’s a new option on the block — Lightning Lane Premier Pass debuted in Disney World at the end of October and it certainly makes skipping the lines in one park much easier. Now that I’ve gotten to try out both of these services, I’ve gotta tell you which one I prefer, because it may not be the one you’re thinking.

Before we get into my comparison, let me quickly go over each of Disney World’s skip the line offerings.

Lightning Lane Single Pass: This is a purchase that will allow you to skip the line at ONE of Disney World’s most popular attractions. There’s one in each park, save for Magic Kingdom which has two. These attractions are not included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You’ll select the time you’d like to arrive at the attraction to skip it when you go to book.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass: This skip the line offering is park-specific and allows you to skip the majority of the attractions in whichever park you choose, plus you can continue to book Multi Pass offerings if you park hop as well without needing to pay again. You’re able to choose 3 attractions ahead of your trip (7 days in advance for hotel guests, 3 days for all other guests), and you’ll need to select what time you’ll return to the attraction to skip the line.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass: This newer offering allows you to skip nearly every attraction in a Disney World park ONCE without needing to book return times. You just walk up to each attraction whenever you’d like and can join the Lightning Lane line.
VIP Tours: VIP Tour guests get a dedicated Cast Member to take them around to whatever Disney World park(s) they’d like and will be brought to the Lightning Lane queues at whatever attractions they’d like to ride. You’ll let Disney know what the itinerary you’d like to experience is, and they’ll do everything they can to accommodate. No need to worry about purchasing Lightning Lanes or arriving at a specific time to skip the lines.

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a VIP Tour, which again, start at $450 to $900 per hour with a minimum of 7 hours for up to 10 people. That’s certainly not cheap, not by a long shot, but it can be manageable if you’re going with a group of 10 and are all paying closer to the $450 range. While the service was impeccable and it was fantastic to get to be brought basically to the front of every ride and have private transportation to and from each park that would take us in and out of backstage entrances to maximize our time, I have to admit — I actually prefer Lightning Lane Premier Pass.

Now, hear me out — there are some major perks to the VIP Tour, and while Lightning Lane Premier Pass certainly isn’t cheap, Lightning Lane Premier Pass is certainly the more affordable option if someone is traveling by themself or with a smaller group. Lightning Lane Premier Pass ranges from $129 to $449 per person, plus tax depending on what park you’re buying it for and how busy the park is expected to be.

And since I’m not commonly experiencing Disney World with a large group, I’m usually by myself or with a few members of the team, a VIP Tour just doesn’t make sense to drop money on. Again, as I said, the private transportation is amazing, but sometimes it’s nice to not have the stress of someone right next to you the whole day, putting pressure on you to accomplish everything you possibly again. Not that the Cast Members I’ve ever gotten to work with have made me feel that way, but you know how it is when you almost feel like someone’s looking over your shoulder? It’s kinda like that — you’re being reminded every minute just HOW much money you paid for this incredible Cast Member to be with you nearly every second for 7+ hours, and that can be a lot.

However, with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, I chose to buy it in Magic Kingdom during a massive “ride everything in Disney World in one day” challenge, using Multi Pass for the remaining parks, and it was a BREEZE getting through everything, especially in Magic Kingdom. I didn’t feel I had anyone looking over my shoulder, and since my goal for the challenge was to ride everything, as long as I did that (spoiler alert: I did successfully ride everything in Magic Kingdom), I felt like I got my money’s worth.

To me, both options are great for families and groups coming to the parks and want to skip the lines with the lowest amount of stress — no staring at your phone all day and trying to refresh to get the best times, and if you’re new to Disney World and are easily overwhelmed, having a VIP guide could be very helpful. Or maybe you’re like us and are challenging yourself to do as much as you can in one day, whether that’s due to a short trip or a self-imposed challenge.

We here at AllEars are always keeping up with the latest Disney World news to keep you informed and prepared for your next vacation, so be sure to stay tuned to our blog and YouTube Channel!