I Asked 5 Disney Experts Which Lightning Lane They Book First — They All Said the Same Thing

Since its introduction to Walt Disney World several years ago, the Lightning Lane system has been an incredibly popular – if somewhat controversial – addition to Walt Disney World’s offerings.

However, many guests struggle with choosing which ride to prioritize first when booking their Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Should they try for the most in-demand thrill ride? The family-friendly classic? The sentimental favorite from childhood? It can be a bit overwhelming. However, that’s where our experts come in!

Before we get started, a quick rundown of how the Lightning Lane Multi Pass system works: Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows guests to plan ahead of their visit and choose up to 3 Multi Pass experiences (1 Tier 1 attraction and 2 or 3 Tier 2 attractions) and arrival windows in a theme park (7 days in advance of their stay for Disney hotel guests and 3 days in advance for non-hotel guests).

So, with that out of the way, let’s get down to business and go park-by-park. We’ll begin in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World’s oldest theme park, with the overall resort’s highest ride count. Generally, the answers for the Magic Kingdom would be either The Jungle Cruise…

… or Peter Pan’s Flight.

Both of these opening attractions are classic must-dos for most Magic Kingdom guests – especially first timers – and both garner long queues thanks to slow loading times and comparatively small capacity. (Keep in mind that two of the park’s most popular modern E-Tickets – TRON Lightcycle Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – are not available as part of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass system, instead only being available as the separate Lightning Lane Single Pass).

That said, the summer of 2026 may feature a better option in the short term, as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is set to reopen after a LONG refurbishment, featuring a renovated track and new show elements, including a portion recreating the Disneyland Rainbow Caverns. With these changes, the “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” is sure to bring in large crowds when it reopens in May, and might be worth a Lightning Lane instead.

Moving on to EPCOT, our experts previously would have said Frozen Ever After – and to be fair, a case can still be made for using their first Tier 1 Lightning Lane for the Frozen attraction given the recent addition of new animatronics – but they now agree that the latest version of Test Track (known colloquially as Test Track 3.0 amongst fans) is the right choice.  (Of note, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is available as a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass).

For now, Hollywood Studios is the easiest choice in all of Walt Disney World, as Slinky Dog Dash might be the most in-demand Lightning Lane across all four of the parks, and will likely remain so until the Monsters, Inc. door coaster opens… unless the Muppet Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster blows away expectations. (Of note, Rise of the Resistance is available as a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass).

Finally, there’s Animal Kingdom. Currently, the park doesn’t use a tier system as all of its operating rides – except Flight of Passage, which is a Single Pass option – can be chosen on the same level. The best first choice option would probably be Na’vi River Journey, as the ride’s popularity, plus its slow-load time and capacity, lead to long lines for a relatively short experience.

If you’re struggling to decide which Lightning Lane Multi Pass to try and book first for each Walt Disney World park, our experts have you covered. Stay tuned to All Ears for more Disney World pro tips!

This Could Be a Lightning Lane Game-Changer in Disney World

What’s your go-to first Lightning Lane? Let us know in the comments below.

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