I Swore I'd Never Book a Lightning Lane for This Disney World Ride, But It Was Surprisingly Helpful

Disney Lightning Lane system – – the latest iteration of the company’s “skip-the-line” offering, which debuted in 2024 – – can be massively helpful to a guest’s day. However, it can also be a bit overwhelming.

Lightning Lane Pamphlet in EPCOT

Whether booking Lightning Lane Multi Passes or choosing individual Lightning Lane Single Passes, it can sometimes be hard to determine exactly which rides, shows, and attractions to choose. On top of that, sometimes the “obvious” choice isn’t always the best one.

For example, let’s look at the Festival of The Lion King. This long-running Animal Kingdom show, described by Disney as a “larger-than-life show filled with songs, pageantry and puppetry celebrating the classic movie The Lion King”, might not be the first attraction that comes to mind to use a Lightning Lane on. However, depending on the circumstance, it could make a lot of sense.

Festival of the Lion King

If you’re visiting Animal Kingdom during the resort’s busy season, especially with a toddler, there are several benefits to using a Lightning Lane for the child-friendly show, including expedited entry without waiting in line and prime seating options.

BONUS

Speaking of under-the-radar Lightning Lane choices, there’s another off-the-beaten-path use we’d recommend. If you’re going to the Magic Kingdom, choose Mad Tea Party as your first Lightning Lane, which allows you to bypass the first-tier booking restriction early during your day.