Why Disney Adults Are Suddenly Changing Their Minds About Lightning Lanes

No matter what theme park you are visiting, most guests would agree that they don’t enjoy waiting in lines for attractions, but are the current offerings the best there is?

Lightning Lane at Toy Story Mania

Currently, both of the world’s premier theme park companies — Disney and Universal — provide skip-the-line services. However, each company handles the concept of skipping the line VERY differently, and our readers have thoughts on which is better!

Before we get into what our readers’ thoughts are, let’s do a quick refresh on how Disney and Universal currently handle skip-the-line offerings.

Magic Kingdom

Disney World’s Lightning Lane

Disney’s system has evolved multiple times over the years, including the original FastPass and Genie+ systems. Currently, the company uses the Lightning Lane system, which was introduced in 2024.

Currently, there are three levels of Lightning Lane available:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass: Guests can purchase up to 3 Multi Pass experiences and arrival windows in a single theme park per day prior to their arrival (7 days prior for Disney resort guests, and 3 days for non-resort guests). After using their first Multi Pass experience, guests can make an additional selection. If their park admission includes Park Hopper benefits, they can choose from Multi Pass experiences in other parks.
Lightning Lane Single Pass: Guests can purchase Lightning Lane Single Passes for in-demand attractions not available with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Guests can purchase up to 2 single passes per day, subject to availability.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass: This pass allows one-time entry to each Lightning Lane experience in a given theme park to enjoy at your leisure that day.

Slinky Dog Dash

Universal Orlando’s Express Pass

Universal Orlando uses a slightly more streamlined approach. Their regular Express Pass offering allows guests to skip the regular line at participating rides and attractions one time during their park day. There is also an Unlimited version (currently restricted to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure), which allows guests to skip the lines multiple times at participating rides and attractions.

Universal Express Pass

Price Comparison

Disney World uses a dynamic pricing model per park based on expected demand.

So far in June of 2025, Lightning Lane Multi Pass has cost between $17 and $27 per-person/per-day at Animal Kingdom, $24 and $29 per-person/per-day at Hollywood Studios, $19 and $32 per-person/per-day at EPCOT, and $27 and $35 per-person/per-day at Magic Kingdom.
During the same period, Lightning Lane Single Passes have cost between $11 and $13 for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, $19 and $21 for Tron Lightcycle/Run, $16 and $18 for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, $20 and $24 for Rise of the Resistance, and $15 and $17 for Flight of Passage.
Finally, during the same period, Lightning Lane Premier Passes have cost between $159 and $189 per-person/per day at Animal Kingdom, $289 and $339 per-person/per day at Hollywood Studios, $169 and $219 at EPCOT, and $379 and $419 at the Magic Kingdom.

Cosmic Rewind

Universal also uses a dynamic pricing system. Express Passes for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure range between $119 and $319 per-person/per-day, and Unlimited passes for those two parks go for between $149 and $349 per-person/per-day. Express Passes for Epic Universe, which opens to the public on May 22nd, currently cost between $129 and $329 per person/per day. Universal also offers 3-Park, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Day Express Passes for $105, $86.67, $73.75, and $61.00 per-person/per-day, respectively.

Universal also offers Universal Express Unlimited as a FREE benefit to guests staying at select Signature Collection hotels. Now that all those basics and prices are laid out, what do YOU, our readers, think of these skip-the-line offerings? We took to Facebook to ask, and our readers shared their thoughts.

Which Service YOU Said is Better

First, Chad Davis wrote, “The Express Pass system works a lot better. We didn’t have to worry about reserving times; the only thing we had to worry about was if we used it for a ride or not. It works more like Premier Pass at a fraction of the cost. I feel like this is one area that Universal does better than Disney.” Many other readers agreed, saying they love not having to stay on their phones when visiting Universal and using Express Pass.

Universal Orlando

Stacy Steve agreed and pointed out the benefit of staying at a premier hotel at Universal… “I think if you stay at a Universal Premier Hotel where Express Pass is included, it is 100 times better than Multi Pass or Single Pass. Disney needs to take a page from Universal’s book in this area.”

Finley Teal agreed, saying, “Express pass all day, every day, especially the deal between the three legacy premier hotels and two original parks.”

Another reader, Alex, summed it up by saying, “Comes down to the best for convenience and ease is Universal Express Pass…best for the budget is Disney’s Lightning Lane. For one person, the money might not be too bad, but for a family of 4, it can get really crazy expensive quickly. Find a good deal at one of the Universal Hotels that offers an express pass, and you are all set for a great day with good value.”

It seems that for convenience’s sake, readers appreciate the ease of using Universal’s Express Pass. However, for budgeting, Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass could save families. For more Disney news and tips, be sure to follow AllEars.net.

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Tell us between Disney World Lightning Lane and Universal Express Pass, which skip-the-line service you prefer and why. Put your answer in the comments below!