Disney to Launch New Reservation-free Ride Pass for Up to $449 Per Person Per Day

Guests who purchase the Lightning Lane Premiere Pass will be able to join a Lightning Lane ride queue without a reservation.

By Carly Caramanna Carly Caramanna

Carly Caramanna is a theme park and travel journalist who has spent her professional career in New York City, Nashville, and Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Yahoo Lifestyle, Insider, The Points Guy, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on October 16, 2024

Close Tiana Bayou Adventure ride at Walt Disney World in Florida . Photo:

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will roll out a brand new system that will allow guests to join a Lightning Lane queue without a reservation — but it’ll cost you.

The Lightning Lane Premier Pass will use dynamic pricing based on demand and date of visit. Prices will also vary by theme park and are expected to range from $129 to $449 per person, per day — with the highest prices will occur during peak travel periods, like Christmas and New Year’s.  Those eligible can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to seven days before their date of check-in at 7:00 AM ET and for their entire length of stay, up to 14 days. The pass can be purchased in the My Disney Experience app.

In Orlando, the pass will roll out on Oct. 30 and will be available guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, Disney World Swan & Dolphin and Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green Resort. Hotels include Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.

While in Anaheim, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will roll out on Oct. 23 and will be available on a first come first serve basis to any park goer. Park hopping is included between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. At launch, Disneyland’s version will be priced at $400 per person, per day through Dec. 31, 2024. Come 2025, pricing will fluctuate based on date and demand between $300 and $400.

To use the pass, visitors simply arrive at the attraction’s lightning lane entrance at their leisure. A valid ticket, Key to the World card, Disney MagicMobile pass, MagicBand, or MagicBand+ can be used to tap in. The service includes popular in-demand attractions, like Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the recently opened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Valid theme park admission is required before purchasing and all guests must be registered on hotel reservation before time of purchase. Disney adds that during the pilot program there will be limited availability. When purchasing, guests will choose theme park, date, and travel party. Modifications to date and theme park are subject to availability and no park hopper version of the service will be available at time of launch.

Disney Parks will continue to offer Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lighting Lane Single Pass, which replaced the former Disney Genie+ system. These add-ons are not required as standby queues will continue to be available for most attractions, excluding those that require Virtual Queue. Guests using Lightning Lane Premier Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass also enjoy photo perks, like Disney PhotoPass Lenses and digital downloads of attraction photos and videos.

This announcement comes at a time when Disney is continuing to offer new and modify existing services based on guest feedback. Lightning Lane Premier Pass is similar to existing systems Disney Parks operate in international parks and the Express Pass program at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.