The Secret Disney World Lightning Lane Hack You’re Probably Not Using, But Should Be

Let’s face it – Disney World’s Lightning Lane system can feel like a game of strategy that rivals a chess tournament.

You’ve got to know your moves, anticipate the competition, and strike at just the right moment. But what if I told you there’s a sneaky little hack that could turn the odds in your favor and get you more access to those coveted rides? Spoiler alert: it’s so simple, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner.

So, what’s this secret we’re talking about? It’s all about leveraging Tier 2 rides in the morning to unlock more Tier 1 opportunities later. Stick with me, and I’ll break down exactly how you can master this “under-the-radar” trick.

What’s the Deal with Tier 1 and Tier 2 Rides?

Before diving into the hack, let’s talk tiers. If you’re planning a Disney World trip with Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you’ve probably noticed that most of the rides are divided into Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories (Animal Kingdom has only 1 tier). Here’s the breakdown:

Magic Kingdom

Tier 1 Rides

• • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Peter Panʼs Flight
  • Space Mountain
  • Tianaʼs Bayou Adventure

Tier 2 Rides

• • The Barnstormer
  • Buzz Lightyearʼs Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “itʼs a small world”
  • Mad Tea Party
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s PhilarMagic
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

EPCOT

Tier 1 Rides

• • Frozen Ever After
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Soarin’ Around the World

Tier 2 Rides

• • 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

Hollywood Studios

Tier 1 Rides

• • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash

Tier 2 Rides

• • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
  • Disney Junior Play & Dance!
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sign-Along Celebration
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
  • Toy Story Mania!

Now, here’s the twist: Most guests book their Tier 1 ride first thing in the morning, and that sounds logical, right? Get the big one done early. But that’s not the best move. Here’s what you should do.

The Hack: Book a Tier 2 Ride Early

Instead of using one of your precious Lightning Lane slots on a Tier 1 ride first thing, start your day with a Tier 2 option. Here’s how this hack plays out:

• • Choose a Tier 2 ride with an early return time. For example, if you’re going to be at Magic Kingdom, grab a slot for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 9:00 AM.
  • Ride it – or let the window expire. This is key. Once you’ve either redeemed your pass or let the return window close, the system allows you to book your next Lightning Lane selection.
  • Unlock another Tier 1 ride. You’ve now freed up a slot to grab another Tier 1 ride, meaning you can potentially snag both Space Mountain and Jungle Cruise in the same morning.

And there in lies the beauty of this hack: the flexibility it creates. By clearing your Tier 2 ride early, you open up more booking opportunities for the rest of the day. Most guests are tied up waiting for their late-afternoon or evening Tier 1 reservations, but you’ll already be ahead of the game with your Tier 1 options.

Step-by-Step Guide to Maximize This Strategy

Here’s how you can pull this off like a pro:

• • Book Smart in Advance: If you’re a Disney Resort guest, you can book your Lightning Lane passes up to seven days before your visit. Take advantage of this window to grab a top-tier ride (like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 11:00 AM) and plan for a Tier 2 ride with a very early return time.
  • Start with a Tier 2 Ride: On the morning of your park day, hit up a Tier 2 attraction first. This could be something like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or Journey into Imagination with Figment. The point is to choose one with a window that opens as close to park opening as possible.
  • Don’t Sweat the Expired Window: If you’re running late or decide to rope-drop a big ride, no problem. Let your Lightning Lane window for the Tier 2 ride expire, and you’ll still be able to book your next pass once the time has passed.
  • Stack the Tier 1 Rides: As soon as your Tier 2 pass is used (or expires), grab another Tier 1 attraction. If you’re lucky, you might find an early time for Peter Pan’s Flight or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
  • Rinse and Repeat: Once you ride your Tier 1 attraction, keep an eye on the app for additional openings. You might be able to stack even more high-priority rides throughout the day.

Real-Life Example

Let’s say you’re spending a day at Magic Kingdom. Here’s an example of how this strategy might play out:

• • 7:00AM: Book Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Tier 1) for 11:30AM and The Barnstormer (Tier 2) for 9:15AM.
  • 9:00AM: Rope drop Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (standby) and then head to The Barnstormer for your Lightning Lane.
  • 9:20AM: After using your Barnstormer pass, snag a Lightning Lane for Jungle Cruise at 12:30PM.
  • 11:30AM: Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
  • 12:30PM: Use your Jungle Cruise pass, then grab a spot for Space Mountain. (Then rinse and repeat)

If you rock with this strategy, by midday, you’ll have already experienced multiple headliners and still have time to add more. And while you’re at it, make sure to keep these tips in mind too:

• • Stay Flexible: Availability can vary, so keep refreshing the app for new openings.
  • Park Hop Like a Boss: Once you’ve used your first three reservations at one park, you can start booking Lightning Lane attractions at other parks.
  • Monitor Expiration Times: Keep track of when your current passes expire so you can make new reservations ASAP.

So, the next time you’re planning your Disney day, remember: The key to conquering the parks might just be in that Tier 2 ride you’ve been overlooking.

In the meantime, make sure to keep following AllEars for all the latest Disney World tips and tricks!

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Will you be using Lightning Lane Multi Pass on your next trip to Disney World? Let us know down in the comments!

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