Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s New Lightning Lane Passes
Planning a Disney vacation is always exciting, but navigating the new Lightning Lane system can be a bit daunting. Let’s crack the code of the Lightning Lane together. Say goodbye to those “what’s next?” park moments and hello to a more magical and chill Disney experience. Here’s your comprehensive guide to mastering the Lightning Lane (previously known as Genie+) to make your family’s Disney trip magical and stress-free. Buckle up, folks, it’s time to make some magic!
What is Lightning Lane?
Say hello to Lightning Lane, your speedy ticket to fun at select attractions! It’s not like the old Genie+ system where you have to make a selection every two hours – here, you’re the captain of your ship, picking out where you want to jump the queue in advance. So, how do you get on this magic carpet ride? Let’s dive into it!
- Purchase Lightning Lane passes in advance for up to 3 attractions per day.
- One entry per attraction per day with Lightning Lane.
- Two types of passes are available: Multi Pass and Single Pass.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Ready to turn your day into an epic, unforgettable adventure? With the Multi Pass, you can pack multiple days of fun into just one. Choose three top-notch attractions each day, and after your first dose of excitement, you might even snag an extra selection (if they’ve got the space)! Here’s the lowdown on how it works:
- Plan in Advance: Choose up to 3 attractions per day before you arrive at the park.
- Make Additional Selections: Once you’ve used your first Multi Pass, you can select additional attractions one at a time (based on availability) until the park closes.
- Park Hopper Flexibility: If you have a park hopper ticket, you can make additional selections at a different park after using the first one.
- Pricing: Varies by date and theme park.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Your golden ticket to Disney’s most sought-after attractions that even a Multi Pass can’t touch. Wanna know the deets? Here’s what you need to know:
- Purchase Up to 2 Single Passes Per Day: Subject to availability.
- Exclusive Attractions: These passes cover high-demand rides that require separate purchase.
Attractions Available for Single Pass
Magic Kingdom:
- Seven Dwarves Mine Train
- TRON Lightcycle
Epcot:
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Hollywood Studios:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Animal Kingdom:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
When can you Purchase Lightning Lane Passes
- Disney Resort Hotel Guests and Select Hotels: Can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance of their stay and choose experiences for their entire stay (up to 14 days).
- Other Guests: Can purchase up to 3 days in advance of their park visit.
- Annual Passholders: Can purchase 3 days before their park visit (may need a reservation).
Note: The purchase window opens at 7 AM Eastern 7 days prior to check-in.
How to Purchase Lightning Lane
- Open the My Disney Experience App: Tap the Lightning Lane Passes section on the home screen.
- Select a Date and Theme Park: Choose a Lightning Lane Single Pass, Multi Pass, or both.
- Make Your Selections: If you choose a Multi Pass, select up to 3 experiences and arrival windows. For Single Pass, select an arrival window.
- Complete Your Purchase: Follow the prompts and receive a confirmation.
*No need to fret about your first Lightning Lane pick! You’ve got the power to switch things up until the moment you hop on that ride! Just peek at your selection and click to change.
Additional Tips
- Attraction Tiers: Disney categorizes attractions by popularity. You can select a certain number of attractions from each tier for the Multi Pass to ensure availability for all guests.
- View Selections Before Paying: Plan your entire trip and view all selections before making a purchase.
- Create a Wish List: Use the My Disney Experience app’s “My Day” feature to save your family’s top picks.
- Park Hopping: Book up to 3 return times for the first park and then make additional selections at another park after using the first one.
- Virtual Queues: These are still required for the newest rides, opening at 7 AM each day.
Lightning Lane Ride Tiers
Magic Kingdom:
- Tier 1 (Choose 1): Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Tier 2 (Choose 2 or 3): Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo, Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland Speedway, Journey of The Little Mermaid
Hollywood Studios:
- Tier 1 (Choose 1): Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roll Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash
- Tier 2 (Choose 2 or 3): Alien Swirling Saucers, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Disney Junior Play & Dance, A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, Star Tours- The Adventures Continue, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania
Epcot:
- Tier 1 (Choose 1): Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Soarin’ Around the World
- Tier 2 (Choose 2 or 3): 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
Animal Kingdom:
- Currently, there are no tiers for Animal Kingdom so you can pick 3 of any of the following:
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na’vi River Journey
Final Thoughts
Lightning Lane passes are your fast-track to fun, zipping you past the queues and straight to the magic. Need a hand with the ins and outs? I’m here to help you pull off a trip that’s practically perfect in every way. Got a question or need a pinch of planning help? Give me a shout! Ready to start planning your Disney adventure? Contact me today, and let’s make your Disney dreams come true!
For more details, check out Disney’s “How To” videos here.
