Lightning Lane is a great system that lets you make your theme park visit easier and more fun. There are two different options for Guests to utilize – Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. The Lightning Lane service can be found in the My Disney Experience mobile app. Lightning Lane does have a cost. This service allows you the opportunity to use Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions and experiences at the Walt Disney World theme parks. (These are the former FastPass+ queues.)
With Lightning Lane, Guests are able to enjoy ride one attraction or see one show once per day. If you’d like to experience the attraction again within the same day, you’ll need to use the standby line.
Lightning Lane varies in pricing, based on the date the Guest is visiting, much like theme park tickets currently do. Pricing is lower on less busy days and it will cost you more to use the Lightning Lane service on busier, peak days.
Disney has also introduced individual park pricing for those looking to take advantage of Lightning Lane. Guests at Walt Disney World will now be able to purchase Lightning Lane based on how they want to visit. Guests who purchase Lightning Lane will be able to use this service at either a single park OR if you purchase the Park Hopper option, you can use it for that too. In addition some Walt Disney World theme parks may offer lower pricing for Lightning Lane than other parks.
Experiences may vary by date and are subject to change or closure. There’s limited availability for experiences. Also they may not be available at all on the date of visit. Or it is possible they are not available at the specific time you are looking for. Also, in order to be able to use Lightning Lane, Guests will need to have valid admission.
How Will Lightning Lane Work?
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you will have the ability to make up to 3 attraction selections in a theme park, in advance of your visit. You’ll also be able to choose available times as you make your selections.
On the day of your visit, once you use a selection, you’ll be able to check the My Disney Experience app for availability to make an additional attraction selections.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Guests will need to purchase access for Lightning Lane entrances individually for the most popular attractions. Guests may purchase and select an arrival window one at a time for up to 2 of these attractions a day. (If available.) This option is available for all Guests, no matter whether you’ve already purchased Lightning Lane Multi Pass or not. The pricing varies by attraction, and can even vary by day. Guests will find out the cost of the Lightning Lane Single Pass access in the My Disney Experience app.
How Can You Plan Ahead?
By having the opportunity to pre-plan your selections, it will allow Guests the chance to choose times that work best for your schedule, like working with dining reservations or any other plans that have been pre-planned.
Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels will be able to plan their attractions up to 7 days in advance beginning at 7:00 a.m., for their entire stay (up to 14 days). All other Guests will have the opportunity to plan up to 3 days in advance beginning at 7:00 a.m.
Magic Kingdom Disney Genie+ Tips and Strategies
Getting the most out of both Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Individual Pass first involves preparation. For Lightning Lane, you definitely want to have completed your purchase before you try to make your first booking. You need to buy through the My Disney Experience app starting at midnight.
At 7 a.m., Guests are able to start making their first Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations and their Lightning Lane Single Pass reservations at that time. You will want to start choosing your attractions as close to 7 a.m. as possible for the best selection.
To optimize the number of attractions you’ll be able to see, you’ll want to start booking your next Lightning Lane attraction as early as possible in the day and AS SOON AS you scan through that final touch point at the attraction.
How to Purchase
Available for existing ticket holders or Annual Passholders. Purchase via Lightning Lane service in the My Disney Experience mobile app.
Find our Lightning Lane Guide here!
Attractions
Currently, Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions are:
Currently, Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for the following Magic Kingdom rides, shows, and experiences:
Choose up to one experience from this group:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this group:
- The Barnstormer
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small word”
- 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
Lightning Lane Tips for Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom also has the most attractions of any park at Walt Disney World, so there are endless ways to organize your Disney Genie+ selections. Here are a few tips to help you decide which three experiences you will choose.
General Strategy
If you and your group are up for anything and just want to experience all that the park has to offer, the attractions for which Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Multi Pass will save you the most time are generally Peter Pan’s Flight, the mountains (Space and Big Thunder) or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Peter Pan has consistently long lines nearly all the time, so if you think your group would like to ride it, that might be the most valuable Lightning Lane selection for you, no matter the age group. The mountains and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are also always going to have lengthy lines, as well. As far as the Tier 2 attractions go, you’ll likely want to choose either Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, or The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh.
Groups with Small Children
When visiting the Magic Kingdom with small children, Peter Pan’s Flight should still be the first priority, as explained above. After that, the rides that will most likely save you the most time are Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Pirates of the Caribbean.
However, the Magic Kingdom offers several other attractions that might be beneficial for groups with small children. These include The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and it’s a small world. If your little one isn’t afraid of spooky stuff though, the Haunted Mansion should also be included in this list.
Thrill Seekers
For thrill seekers visiting the Magic Kingdom, get ready for some mountain exploration. Arguably, the three biggest thrills in the Magic Kingdom are Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. So, you’ll have to choose between those two or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure for the Tier 1 attraction. You’ll also want to purchase the Lightning Lane Single Pass option for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle/Run.
For Tier 2, again, you’ll likely want to choose Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, not for the thrill factor, but just because those will be two popular attractions overall.
Visit our Lightning Lane Guide for more details on Lightning Land, and great MouseForLess tips on how to use utilize this tool to its fullest. Visit our MyMagic+ to get information about using MagicBands during your park visit.
Tips and Tricks
- As an extra help, Guests are able to use the My Disney Experience app to check your My Day itinerary or Tip Board to see when you’re eligible to make another selection.
- For quicker access to select attractions and entertainment, when using Lightning Lane, you should choose the next available attraction arrival window.
- When booking those Lightning Lane reservations, you should “stack” reservations close to each other. This means that you can experience numerous attractions in quick succession. Be sure you give yourself enough time to experience the attractions and travel to the next. You’ll then want to start making your next reservation as soon as you use your first reservation.
- Guests are also able to book a Lightning Lane reservation for a park that they have not yet park hopped to. So if you are planning on hopping, you can make a reservation for an attraction in the park you’re planning to hop to before you begin your travel to save time upon arrival.