Lightning Lanes at Disney World Guide & FAQ (2024)

Lightning Lanes at Disney World Guide & FAQ (1)

This guide to Lightning Lane MultiPass and Single Pass at Walt Disney World offers answers to frequently asked questions, info & tips for using the paid FastPass+ and Genie replacement. It covers strategy for the new ride reservation and line-skipping services, off-site vs. on-site booking windows, and attraction tiers for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios–and much more! (Updated October 1, 2024.)

In the month since Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) and Single Pass (LLSP) launched, we’ve been extensively testing it out and sharing results in our posts about Lightning Lanes. There are some good recent reports for those wanting to understand how the new pre-arrival system has changed versus the Genie+ system that it replaced.

The purpose of this guide is to act as a primer explaining how Lightning Lanes works in practice, problems we have using ride reservations, and all of the latest updates to LLMP and LLSP.Unsurprisingly, there have still been alotof questions–even from seasoned Walt Disney World veterans.

The bad news is that the Lightning Lane system is convoluted and confusing, with a ton of differences from Genie. The good news is many of the changes have been positive, and Lightning Lane Multi Pass isverysimilar to the old FastPass+ system. In fact, so much so that this really is the realization of paid FastPass.

This is going to be a hot topic in the days, weeks, and months to come, and we want to be able to easily find and answer as many reader comments as possible. With that in mind, here’s our Guide to Lightning Lane MultiPass and Single Pass at Walt Disney World. This answers the most common reader questions and concerns, making you a ‘power user’ of the new system in the process!

Before we get going, I’d recommend that Walt Disney World fans who are angry or annoying by this change take a deep breath. Collectively, you’ve mastered and “beaten” every past iteration of line-skipping Walt Disney World has thrown at you. There’s absolutely no reason to believe Lightning Lane Multi-Pass is any different. Yes, there are winners and losers–but you are the high-knowledge fans positioned to always be in the “winners” camp. (Or you will be, by the time you’re done reading this!)

Trust me, as someone who has had some time to ‘marinate’ on the specifics of this new system…I’m pretty confident of that. Many of the same fans who are upset will become familiar with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass system and learn its ins and outs, and how to strategically exploit the system–just as they have with FastPass+ and Genie+ before it. The power users always find out a way to come out ahead, same as they ever have. So don’t sell yourself short!

With that out of the way, on with the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass FAQ…

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Why did Walt Disney World make this change?

This is another in Walt Disney World’s line of “we’re listening” changes. According to the company, Walt Disney World guests have told them that they would prefer to have the option to do more of their planning before their theme park day. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass accomplish this, while also providing more certainty and allowing guests to coordinate ride reservations with ADRs and other plans.

Unofficially, we’ve heard that the two biggest complaints Walt Disney World has received about Genie+ are the 7 a.m. wake-up call on vacation and too much screen time during the day. This effectively moves that early wake-up call, along with some of the stress and headaches associated with planning tobeforethe vacation. If there is an issue, confusion, or frustration–now it’s happening at home instead of setting a sour note to start the day while at Walt Disney World.

Shifting the purchase of Lightning Lanes prior to the trip also benefits Walt Disney World. Guests are more likely to purchase line-skipping before their trips due to FOMO or FUD. Guests haven’t started experiencing the parks, so they don’t know what wait times will be like, and might be more inclined to worry about ride reservations selling out. Fears of colossal crowds might also be front of mind. As a result, Walt Disney World is able to capture more advance sales and still benefit from same-day Lightning Lane purchases. On top of that, advance Lightning Lanes function as a substitute for the loss of park reservations, so Disney has a better forecast of attendance and can staff or allocate resources accordingly.

How does Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Day differ from Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes?

Lightning Lane Multi Pass has replaced Disney Genie+ service, and Lightning Lane Single Pass replaces individual “à la carte” Lightning Lane.

The key difference is that you can purchase Lightning Lane passes and make selections days in advance of your arrival—which gives you more time to plan your visit! The pre-arrival component is the biggest change, but as discussed deeper in this guide, there are numerous other changes. It’s not simply a rebranding at Walt Disney World–it’s a complete overhaul that arguably has more in common with FastPass+ than Genie+.

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How much do Lightning Lanes cost?

Prices for Lightning Lane Multi Passes vary by date and theme park, ranging from $16 to $39 per person. Prices for Lightning Lane Single Passes vary by date and attraction, ranging from $11 to $25 per ride. You’ll be able to view prices in the My Disney Experience (MDX) app for all dates of your visit prior to purchasing.

Starting in Fall 2024, we’re starting to see prices increase for both LLMP and LLSP, with new records set for the latter on two different dates in October. Multi Pass has not set new records yet, but prices are above-trend for October, suggesting it’ll eclipse $40 sooner rather than later. This is covered at length inLightning Lane Pass Prices Increase at Walt Disney World for October 2024.

This is unsurprising, as Lightning Lanes now serve as Walt Disney World’s way of indirectly increasing ticket prices, which normally happens around the start of the new fiscal year. If past trends are maintained, we’d expect prices to set new records again around Thanksgiving and Christmas–possibly breaking the $50 barrier.

How many pre-arrival attraction selections can be made with Lightning Lane MultiPass?

When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you may make up to3 Lightning Lane selections in a theme park, in advance of your visit. You’ll also be able to choose available times as you make your selections.

This is per person and per day, not for the duration of your visit. Meaning that if you buy one day of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you’ll make 3 selections. If you purchase the service for 4 days, you get 3 per day for 4 days (4×3=12). You get the idea, hopefully.

How many pre-arrival attraction selections can be made with Lightning Lane Single Pass?

You may purchase up to 2 Lightning Lane Single Pass selections per day. This makes for a total of up to 5 Lightning Lanes pre-booked each day (3 via MultiPass and 2 via Single Pass).

The most obvious way to buy 2 Single Passes is in Magic Kingdom, where there are two such attractions–TRON Lightcycle Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. But you could also purchase, for example, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in the same day.

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Which attractions are in each tier for Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Magic Kingdom?

Group A: Choose up to one experience from this tier:

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Space Mountain
  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Group B: Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this tier:

  • The Barnstormer
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • 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
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

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Which attractions are in each tier for Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at EPCOT?

Group A: Choose up to one experience from this tier:

  • Frozen Ever After
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Soarin’ Around the World

Group B: Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this tier:

  • 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

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Which attractions are in each tier for Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

Group A: Choose up to one experience from this tier:

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash

Group B: Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this tier:

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
  • Disney Junior Play & Dance!
  • For the First Time in Forever: 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!

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Which attractions are in each tier for Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Animal Kingdom?

Animal Kingdom doesn’t have the Group A/B dynamic, which is honestly sorta surprising given that not all attractions are of equal value in DAK, and there’s a clear good/bad use of Lightning Lanes dichotomy. Our assumption is that this is based on demand–or rather, a lack thereof–obviating the need for tiers. Regardless, here are the Lightning Lane MultiPass attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

  • 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
  • Naʻvi River Journey

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Which attractions are part of Lightning Lane Single Pass?

Lightning Lane Single Pass is really just a rebranding of the a la carte or Individual Lightning Lanes. The new name provides better continuity and makes it easy to distinguish between the two products. In any case, here’s the list:

Magic Kingdom Single Pass Attractions (Not Available with the Multi Pass):

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • TRON Lightcycle Run

EPCOT Single Pass Attractions (Not Available with the Multi Pass):

  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Hollywood Studios Single Pass Attractions (Not Available with the Multi Pass):

  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Animal Kingdom Single Pass Attractions (Not Available with the Multi Pass):

  • Avatar Flight of Passage

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What are the booking windows for Lightning Lane Passes?

Guests staying at an on-site Walt Disney World Resort hotel and other select hotels are able to purchase Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance, for their entire stay (up to 14 days). Off-site guests can plan up to 3 days in advance.

Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes for days they have valid theme park admission starting at 7:00 AM Eastern Time on their first day of eligibility. The end result of this on-site advantage is significant: a lot of the “best” Lightning Lanes will be gobbled up before off-site guests can even book.

This is a huge difference between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and the Genie+ service. That leveled the playing field completely, allowing everyone to make same-day ride reservations starting at 7 am. With Multi Pass and Single Pass,the most popular attractions often won’t even be available 3 days in advance. Meaning that off-site guests will have to bank on same-day ride reservation refills if they want a shot at those.

What are the booking windows for off-site Walt Disney World guests?

Then you can purchase Lightning Lane passes—and choose experiences and arrival windows—3 days in advance. This varies further based on admission type:

  • Guests with date-based theme park tickets(which require the Guest to choose a start date at the time of purchase) can purchase 3 days before the first day of their ticket, for the total number of valid admission days on their ticket.
  • Guests with other ticket typescan purchase 3 days before their park visit.
  • Annual Passholders can purchase 3 days before their park visit.

What about on-site guests who are Annual Passholders or are using ticket types that are not date-based?

The 7-day booking window still applies. Or at least, itshould.There’s always the possibility of issues when it comes to Disney IT and systems determining which “status” to prioritize, but the official policy is that staying on-site supersedes ticket type.

This means that all guests with their MDX profiles linked to an on-site resort reservation should be able to purchase and make Lightning Lane reservations pursuant to the 7-day on-site advantage booking window.

What about split stays?

Resort split stays that are continuous (back-to-back bookings with no gaps between hotels) may purchase and book Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass selections for the entire length of their visit up to a maximum of 14 days. That’s how it should work, and the system should automatically recognize a split stay.

In practice, this can be hit or miss and can require an override from Disney IT. That’s not completely surprising, as FastPass+ had similar issues from time to time. It’s something to be aware of if you’re doing a split stay.

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When can guests in Canada purchase Lightning Lanes?

Canadian guests may use the My Disney Experience app for pre-arrival purchasing and planning for Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, just as they do for Advance Dining Reservations and everything else.

This means that Canadian guests who are staying on-site at Walt Disney World are able to reserve Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance for their entire stay (up to 14 days). Off-site guests from Canada are able to plan up to 3 days in advance.

When can all other international guests purchase Lightning Lanes?

Officially, they can purchase Lightning Lane passes and make selections upon arrival into the United States.

Unofficially, there are fairly easy workarounds and loopholes that Walt Disney World has opted against closing. The big one is to turn off location services and change your location in the My Disney Experience app. For step-by-step info on how to do this, seeHere’s How International Guests Can Book Lightning Lanes Before Arriving at Walt Disney World.

This presumably works because Disney only cares about regulatory compliance–they couldn’t care less what guests do (to the contrary, they wantpeople spending as much money as possible), so long as Disney doesn’t draw undo legal scrutiny in international markets.

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What qualifies as an eligible hotel for the early on-site booking window at Walt Disney World?

This early-planning benefit is available to registered guests staying at the following resorts:

  • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
  • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
  • Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
  • Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort & Gran Destino Tower
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
  • Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

As well as the following third party hotels:

  • Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
  • Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
  • Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
  • Shades of Green Resort

This is identical to current eligibility for 7 am Individual Lightning Lanes, so we’re not expecting this list to change in the coming weeks or months.

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Can Lightning Lane Single and Multi-Pass both be purchased together?

Yes.

Not only can you buy both, but you can purchase all Lightning Lane passes for your travel party for the same day in a single transaction.

Can multiple days be purchased at the same time?

Not in the same transaction, but at the same time.

After you purchase Lightning Lane passes for your first day, you can purchase a Lightning Lane pass or passes for another eligible park day. This can help you enjoy streamlined vacation planning, since you can make Lightning Lane plans for multiple days—all in the same day, before you arrive.

Are you able to see available times and attractions before buying?

Yes. No longer will you have to make a ‘blind’ purchase as under the Genie+ service.

You’ll select your first three attractions and return times with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Single Pass selections before you pay. Once you make your selections, you’ll have a set amount of time during which your ‘cart’ is reserved in order to complete the transaction.

What about refunds and modifications?

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is nonrefundable according to Walt Disney World, but as with anything, that’s subject to the discretion of a Cast Member. If you have a good reason and don’t have a track record of making dubious refund requests, you might receive one.

With that said, you can make modifications after purchasing to your attractions or return times. You can even change the park or the day of your visit after you purchase. If your new park or date costs more, you’ll need to pay the difference in price. (If it costs less, you won’t receive a refund.)

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When can subsequent selections be made on the day of a theme park visit?

On the day of your park visit, once you redeem a Lightning Lane, you can use the My Disney Experience app to check availability for another Lightning Lane Multi Pass experience—and add that to your plans.

Consider this the “rolling 3 rule,” which is to say that you can alwayshave 3 Lightning Lane selections (subject to availability). With the rolling 3 rule of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you can make your next ride reservation as soon as you’ve used one. It thus behooves you to reserve Lightning Lanes earlier in the day to unlock subsequent selections sooner.

This is unlike FastPass+, which required you to redeem all 3 prebooked ride reservations before making additional selections.

Can Lightning Lanes still be modified?

Yes. To view and/or modify your ride reservations, open MDX and tap on the Lightning Lane Passes section of the home screen. Then, you’ll be able to:

  • View your Lightning Lane passes and selections—as well as other plans, such as dining reservations
  • Modify your Lightning Lane selections, subject to availability

This works very similarly to Genie+ or FastPass+ and is advantageous for those who don’t get their ideal ride reservation times to start, or find themselves with a scheduling conflict.

Is refreshing and rebooking ride reservations possible with Lightning Lane Multi-Pass like it was with FastPass+ or Genie+?

Yes, and it’s easy thanks to the modify button. As before, you can play the ‘refresh game’ and get better or more convenient return times, and also search for availability at other attractions without losing your existing Lightning lane ride reservation.

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Which Lightning Lane selections are the “best” ones from each tier?

We rank the best Lightning Lane Multi-Pass picks for each park based upon time saved and how quickly return times fill up and run out. This is incredibly helpful for choosing the order to book your ride reservations:

Note: those are “aggressive” with how many Lightning Lanes you’ll be able to book per day. In order to score that many LLMPs, you’ll probably need an aggressive refresh game and success with ride reservation refills (see below).

What are the “best” Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World?

Obviously, that’s subjective and comes down to your preferences and priorities.

Beyond the park-by-park list, here’s theTop 10 Toughest Lightning Lanes at Disney World. Those are the most difficult to book Lightning Lane Multi-Passes, which not-so-coincidentally will save you the most time. In other words, the objective best-of list.

Is more availability added to Lightning Lane Multi-Pass throughout the day?

Yes. This is no surprise whatsoever, as both FastPass+ and Genie+ had ride reservation refills, drops, or whatever you want to call them that occurred at consistent times. (See Ride Reservation Refill Rules at Walt Disney World.)

Rather than waiting for a ride reservation refill (that may not happen) before booking a Lightning Lane, we recommend choosing the best available option and then modifying to something better. It’s a good way to hedge your bets. Just be warned: it becomes addictive–just like a video game. Also like a game, it can mean losing a ton of ‘real world’ time as your face is glued to a screen.

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Should I book the default return times that Lightning Lane Multi-Pass spits back after selecting my rides?

Yes, most of the time.The Lightning Lane Multi-Pass system is “smart” and will book the first available return time for each attraction, with a sufficient buffer between them so that you’re not double-booked. This is the ‘best practice’ because you typicallyshould be making as early of arrival times as possible (for at least one attraction) in order to “unlock” that 4th ride faster.

In fact, you should consider changing your Group B selections in order to prioritize for a mixture of return time and ride priority. Don’t book Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, for example, if both have return times in the afternoon. Opt for the next highest priority with an early return to unlock that 4th pick.

What’s the best order of parks for making advance Lightning Lane Multi-Pass reservations?

From what we’re seeing in terms of availability (or lack thereof), you should book parks in the following priority:

  1. Magic Kingdom (Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
  2. Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Slinky Dog Dash)
  3. EPCOT (Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure)
  4. Animal Kingdom (Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids or Expedition Everest)

For the best attraction and return time options, you’ll want to backload your bookings with Magic Kingdom furthest out, then DHS, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. This matters less if you have a longer trip and more for a shorter one.

For example, if visiting the parks December 22-25, book in the following order:

  1. Magic Kingdom: December 25
  2. DHS: December 24
  3. EPCOT: December 23
  4. DAK: December 22

This should change once Tiana’s Bayou Adventure becomes more reliable. Its capacity will improve and thus so too will its Lightning Lane availability. Failing that, TBA’s popularity should drop slightly once winter arrives and there’s less demand for water rides in cold weather.In the long term, it’s unlikely that Slinky Dog Dash will dethroned from its #1 spot.

Is it possible to see available attractions and return times before buying?

Yes. In fact, this is the only way to do it.

You select your first three attractions and return times with Lightning Lane Multi Pass before you pay–that’s the last step of the process. Once you make your selections, you’ll have a set amount of time during which your ‘cart’ is reserved in order to complete the transaction.

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How much time do you have to check out with your Lightning Lane selections?

You have 5 minutes from the time you place Lightning Lanes in your cart to complete checkout.

This can mean there’s still a shifting of times right at the 7:00:00 am mad dash, but once you make the selections, they’re locked into place. This is a massive improvement from Genie+ when times were ‘blind’ for the first 30 minutes due to the massive shifting possible.

This also means you probably want to keep playing the ‘refresh game’ until around 7:30 am when booking your Lightning Lanes via Multi-Pass, as carts will expire and other guests will keep swapping around Lightning Lanes and “trading up” times as availability allows.

Do tiers apply same-day?

If you’re just booking ‘cold’ or for the first time, the Grouping A and B distinctions do apply with your first same-day Lightning Lane Multi-Pass selections.

Once you’ve entered a park and tapped into your first Lightning Lane, tiers no longer apply for subsequent selections.

What about tiers to modifications?

Tiers do not apply to modifications so long as you’ve already redeemed a Lightning Lane. Meaning that you could redeem a Lightning Lane for Pirates of the Caribbean at 9:05 am, and then modify pre-booked Lightning Lane from Haunted Mansion to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad while still also holding a Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Lightning Lane.

This is another reason why it’s advantageous to book a return time for (at least) your first Lightning Lane selection that’s as early as possible–because it unlocks your 4th pick (and so on).

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Can Lightning Lane ride reservations overlap with one another?

Not completely. In the screenshot above, you can see that we have a Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Lightning Lane for 11:45 am to 12:45 pm and Haunted Mansion from 12:35 to 1:35 pm–an overlap of 10 minutes.

By default, it seems like there isn’t overlapping. It also appears that if you modify to create an overlap, the system will attempt to shift your other existing selections to reduce or eliminate the overlap. But you can still modify to create greater overlaps–at least, in some scenarios, and at certain attractions.

This is unlike the Genie+ system, which was “dumb” and thus didn’t check for conflicts with existing reservations. It is similar to the FastPass+ system, which prevented overlap.

Can Lightning Lane ride reservations overlap with Advance Dining Reservations?

Again, not completely. Meaning that if you have an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) at Cinderella’s Royal Table starting at 2:05 pm, you cannot have a Lightning Lane also starting at 2:05 pm. This is also unlike Genie+.

Weirdly, it does seem that you can have a Lightning Lane starting at 1:55 pm even if you have an ADR at 2:05 pm. It’s unclear how much buffer is necessary or if this is a glitch and will change–but it’s what we’re seeing so far.

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What does this do for a “stacking sleep-in strategy”?

As you might’ve guessed, it kinda obliterates it.

While you can still make 3 selections for the afternoon–or literally whenever–the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass system incentives planners to schedule selections earlier in the day in order to start making subsequent ride reservations. Obviously, it’s still early and strategy will emerge in the weeks and months to come–as will a ‘sweet spot’ for scheduling Lightning Lanes, but the stacking and late arrival approach is now–without a doubt–suboptimal.

What about the 120 minute rule?

It’s gone, too.

For all intents and purposes, the rolling 3 rule replaces the “stacking system” of Genie+.

Are re-rides be possible?

Just as with Genie+, you cannot book the same Lightning Lane Multi Pass more than once per day.

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Can you make Lightning Lane Multi-Pass selections when planning to Park Hop?

Yes. When you purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a theme park, you’ll be prompted to choose up to 3 multi pass experiences and arrival windows in the same theme park.

Once you redeem a selection on the day of your park visit, you can use theMy Disney Experience appto choose another multi pass experience in any Walt Disney World theme park (subject to availability), as long as you have a valid ticket with thePark Hopper optionor an Annual Pass.

Is there an upgrade cost for Park Hopping with Lightning Lane Multi-Pass?

No. There is no additional charge for Park Hopping, and you do not need to pay for the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass a second time.

Upfront prices do differ, meaning that guests purchasing for Magic Kingdom will, for all intents and purposes, still be paying the multi-park or Park Hopping price. But those starting in Animal Kingdom, for whatever reason, will receive “free” Park Hopping.

However, you must use your first Lightning Lane before making subsequent selections in different parks.If you try to modify Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections from one park to another before using any of them, you will have to pay the difference.

What happens to Lightning Lane selections if you cancel a resort reservation?

If you cancel or modify your Resort hotel reservation after you’ve already purchased a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, then your selected attractions and arrival windows are subject to cancellation based on eligibility rules. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is nonrefundable.

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Do all rides at Walt Disney World have Lightning Lanes.

No.

However, allmajorattractions offer Lightning Lanes. Basically, if it’s an attraction with a lengthy line that you might want to skip, it has a Lightning Lane. Even some attractions that are usually walk-ons have (unnecessary) Lightning Lanes. We call these the “consolation prize rides” because 3 of the 4 parks don’t have enough Lightning Lane capacity without the filler.

Were Lightning Lanes removed from any attractions?

Yes.

Character meet & greets no longer offer Lightning Lanes, nor do parades and other entertainment.

Could the tiers change?

As always, all of the attractions on the above lists are subject to change as dictated by demand and whatever other parameters Walt Disney World uses. I would bet that Soarin’ is relegated to Group B once Test Track returns and reclaims its rightful spot in Group A.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if some character meet & greets are re-added in 2025 if Walt Disney World realizes there’s insufficient capacity at present. That’s exactly what happened in the months after Genie+ launched.

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What’s Lightning Lane availability looking like so far?

In a word:limited.

Things are already starting to change for the better, but what we’re seeing is diminished availability under Lightning Lane Multi Passand Single Passas compared to Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes, even in comparable crowds. This is already going to be a long one, so for theories as to the “why” of that and how it could change in the months to come, seeWhat’s Up with Lightning Lane Multi Pass Availability at Walt Disney World? andLightning Lane Single Pass is Selling Out Faster.

On the one hand, it’s likely that Walt Disney World has been throttling Lightning Lane availability because it’s brand new and they themselves aren’t sure of what to expect. On the other hand, crowds are also going to be worse for much of October through December, so there’s that, too.

The bottom line is that I’d caution anyone against extrapolating trends based on the first month of LLMP and LLSP. As we saw firsthand with Genie, things changed frequently and repeatedly in the first 18 months after launch. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass already appears more stable (it’s certainly not as half-baked), but it’ll still evolve over time.

This is all too complicated. Does Walt Disney World have a simple option like Universal’s Express Pass?

Not yet, but it’s almost certainly coming very soon. Lightning Lane Premier Pass will likely be Walt Disney World’s answer to Universal’s Express Pass.

Just be careful what you wish for. We are not expecting there to be an unlimited option, it likely won’t be available for off-site guests to purchase, and certainly won’t be “free” with Deluxe Resort stays. To the contrary, you can expect Lightning Lane Premier Pass to start at over $200 per person per day.

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What happens to virtual queues?

They still exist, but only Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure offer virtual queues.

Lightning Lanes are separate and distinct from virtual queues, meaning that you can join the free virtual queue and also pay for a Lightning Lane. The former is an alternative to a standby line whereas the latter skips the line. Even though it’s “virtual,” you’ll still have a longer wait for the ride upon returning to the virtual queue than you will with the Lightning Lane.

What has changed with standby lines?

Nothing.

Regular ole walk-up standby lines are still available on all attractions except the aforementioned rides with virtual queues.

How can we provide feedback to Walt Disney World about Lightning Lanes?

We recommend respectfully expressing your opinions as to how Lightning Lane will impact your vacations or business with Walt Disney World by email [emailprotected].

This is far superior to complaining in comments, social media, forums, etc. (Although Disney sees all of that, too.) Rather than starting petitions, which are largely ineffectual, share feedback in guest satisfaction surveys, bring it up if you speak with managers or others in park leadership, or even contact Guest Relations.

Just as FastPass and Genie evolved over time based on guest use and demand dynamics, so too can you expect Lightning Lane MultiPass and Single Pass to change throughout the rest of this year and into 2025–meaning that everything above is subject to change. In other words, the “rules” and how Lightning Lanes work will continue to evolve and we will update our recommendations accordingly.

We’ll continue to keep you posted, as more changes are likely on the horizon. We’ll also continue updating this FAQ as we learn more and we receive more reader questions. For now, this should answer most of the questions that readers have been asking about Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World. There have been a lot of questions, so if we didn’t address yours, we apologize. Please post in the comments below and we’ll answer more as they’re asked!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have any questions we didn’t answer with the above FAQ? Still confused by how Lightning Lane MultiPass or Single Pass work? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Other thoughts or concerns? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Lightning Lanes at Disney World Guide & FAQ (2024)
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