If you are planning Disney World Tripyou may have realized that things can get a little pricey.
With all the tickets, hotels, food, and those irresistible Disney World treats, it all adds up quickly. For those dreaming of skipping the line, Disney is offering a new pass worth $400 called ” Lightning Lane Premium Passwhich promises to take Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane One Way to the next level. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, the downside is that it has some serious issues that may make you never, ever want to buy it!
As we speak, Disney World has just begun offering a new feature called “ Lightning Lane Premium Pass This should require skipping the line to get to the next level.
It is similar to Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane One Waybut the big difference is that if you have a Premier Pass, you don’t need to book a specific time to visit Lightning Lane. On paper, this sounds amazing, but the reality is, there are some huge problems that need to be solved!
Why do you have to wake me up at 7am for this?
One of the biggest perks Disney is offering with the $400 Lightning Lane Premier Pass is that you don’t have to stare at your phone all the time My Disney Experience Appcarefully planning every ride. So why do people still need to wake up at 7am on the day they want to buy?
Yes, you read that right. If you try to buy before 7am, you’ll see the price and be able to proceed to the purchase screen, but you’ll get a warning that the date you’re looking for won’t be available until 7am.
You can purchase passes seven days before departure (7 a.m. ET), and Disney says supplies are very limited. So even though it’s expensive, you may still want to get up early and buy a pass – and use the apps you’re trying to avoid to do so! That doesn’t exactly sound like what one imagines as “VIP access.”
Maybe I’m wrong, but wouldn’t it make more sense to allow guests to add this pass to their reservation anytime before travel? Imagine how convenient it would be if a travel agent or even a Disney hotel concierge could set it up for you when you book your stay, but instead guests have to race against time (causing a lot of unnecessary stress) and it’s all about getting you travel more smoothly.
It’s strange that Disney can offer so much convenience with the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, yet they insist on using such an inconvenient system.
you can’t park
If you pay $400 to skip the line, it’s reasonable to assume you have the flexibility to enjoy as much Disney World as possible, right? Unfortunately, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is only good for one park per day. You can travel to other parks (if your ticket allows park hopping), but you won’t be able to use your Premier Pass to ride anywhere outside of the park you purchased it.
So, while you can use your Premium Pass to ride all the rides at Hollywood Studios and jump to Magic Kingdom before the Magic Kingdom closes, you won’t be able to get direct access to Lightning Alley like you can at Hollywood Studios.
If your family has different riding interests (like mine does), consider what that means. Suppose some family members are present Star Wars Want to experience Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios, while others are keen on the classic Magic Kingdom rides. If you don’t go to a park, you’ll either be separated from your family or miss out on experiences. Maybe for $400, guests should have more freedom.
Can I ride each attraction only once?
All that said, perhaps the most surprising limitation of the Lightning Lane Premium Pass is that it can only be used once per attraction. For many people, this limitation is an immediate deal-breaker. If you paid $400 for a VIP pass, wouldn’t you want to ride your favorite rides more often? But according to this rule, if you want to ride as many rides as possible on Space Mountain, you need to wait in line like everyone else after your first ride.
This limitation is also especially difficult if you’re traveling with kids, who absolutely love getting back on their favorite things. The same goes for adults who enjoy Disney’s thrilling rides.
Maybe I’m wrong, but it sounds like the Lightning Lane Premium Pass was designed to discourage repeat riding as a crowd control measure. But when you do this, many guests feel like their money isn’t getting their money’s worth. After all, isn’t the idea of VIP access all about creating a sense of endless possibility?
Is it worth it?
The Lightning Lane Premium Pass is promoted as the ultimate way to avoid the crowds, but with so many restrictions, it’s hard to see the value increasing. Now, if Disney changes some of these policies to allow for advance purchases, makes park hopping possible, and does away with the “one and done” rule for rides, this could truly become a dream pass. But for now, if you’re planning a trip to Disney World, it might be worth holding off on buying a skip-the-line pass and spending $400 on other experiences.
In the meantime, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney news!
Click here for all the Lightning Lane Premier Pass details!
Are you considering purchasing a Lightning Alley Premium Pass at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
