What Has Changed with Lightning Lane?
A few days ago, Walt Disney World officials dropped a bombshell.
The world’s most popular paid tourist destination will overhaul the former Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane systems.
Moving forward, these two virtual queuing services will share similar names.
The old Disney Genie+ system becomes Lightning Lane Multi Pass, while the former Lightning Lane will be known as Lightning Lane Single Pass
We’ve discussed Multi Pass quite a bit and will continue to do so since it’s such a dramatic change.
However, we know that many of you are wondering about Single Pass as well.
So, let’s discuss what has changed with Lightning Lane.
About the New Single Pass System
Photo: Disney
Don’t let the new name fool you! Lightning Lane was working as Disney intended.
The primary reason park officials have changed the name is to provide clarity. There is another impactful change, though.
Under the current system, infrequent guests asked about the difference between Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane.
That question wasn’t simple to answer in that they’re basically two sides of the same coin.
Photo: Park Savers
When purchasing Disney Genie+, you gain access to some of Disney’s prized attractions.
Under the upcoming Multi Pass system, the same thing is true. You can reserve up to three reservations before your trip.
With the original Lightning Lane, you would pay for a specific attraction, which was one of the best at Disney World.
At 7 A.M. on the day of your visit, you’d access My Disney Experience and try to buy a Lightning Lane reservation.
Lightning Lane
On some attractions, you were likely to get your wish. Others were more of a grab bag due to their newness and popularity.
As of July 24th, we’ll have Lightning Lane Single Pass instead. And the rules are still primarily the same.
Photo: Disney
You’ll pay $10-$25 for a single ride on one of Disney World’s hottest attractions. Your options include:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Tron Lightcycle / Run
Photo: Disney
Disney allows you to book up to two Lightning Lanes per day.
That aspect will remain with the new Single Pass as well, but some changes are in store.
The significant one is that you can purchase in advance.
Purchasing Single Pass in Advance
Photo: Disney
Under the most recent system, guests have complained that they have too much to do at 7 A.M.
Until July 23rd, park visitors must purchase and book Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane reservations at 7 A.M.
Photo: Disney
Given the massive demand for these products, sellouts occur frequently, leaving some people shut out.
Similarly, guests don’t have much control over their Lightning Lane reservations.
Disney utilizes something called a Boarding Group to herd guests to its most popular attractions.
When the system calls your Boarding Group, you must drop what you’re doing and head that way.
Otherwise, you’ve purchased something you may not use.
Typically, Disney gives you roughly an hour to enter the attraction, which is plenty of time.
Photo: Facebook/Imagineer Podcast
However, you still may feel stressed, especially if you’re currently eating at a sit-down restaurant or are on the other side of the park.
So, the new Single Pass system addresses that problem, at least somewhat.
Photo: Disney
You can now purchase up to seven days in advance, three at a minimum.
You’ll gain a seven-day window when you stay at an official Disney resort, which you should do anyway. They’re better.
Photo: Disney
Under the Multi Pass/Single Pass system, staying onsite matters more than ever because you gain those extra four days.
You gain a competitive advantage over other park guests as long as you’re ready to make plans a week in advance.
Photo: Disney
The ones who aren’t staying onsite must wait until 72 hours prior to their visit.
Those extra four days represent the difference between getting what you want versus being shut out.
Conveniently, Disney will allow you to reserve up to two Lightning Lanes ahead of time for the date of your visit.
So, let’s discuss your best strategies for Single Pass.
About Lightning Lane Prices and Plans
Photo: DVC
About six weeks ago, I posted data about the first year of Lightning Lane.
I’d planned to do the same after a year of Disney Genie+, which would have been…last week. So, those plans got annihilated.
Photo: Computer Hope
Under the new Lightning Lane Single Pass system, a few changes matter the most.
The first is that some Lightning Lanes are more likely to sell out than others.
Photo: Disney
For example, Tron Lightcycle / Run sells out frequently. Its virtual queue also books in minutes or sometimes seconds.
So, when you want to guarantee a ride on Disney’s newest roller coaster, you SHOULD buy a Single Pass for it.
The new seven-day booking window effectively guarantees that you can purchase a reservation, as long as you book at the seven-day window.
Presuming you want Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, you should prioritize them.
Photo:seoclerk.com
These two Lightning Lanes can and do sell out. Between them, Rise of the Resistance does it much more often, though.
Avatar Flight of Passage sometimes sells out as well, but it’s rarer than the other two.
Flight of Passage
Meanwhile, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train pretty much never sells out.
Which Lightning Lanes Should You Purchase?
Lightning Lane
In my last guide, I stated that you don’t need to buy a Lightning Lane for Avatar Flight of Passage.
I still feel that few Animal Kingdom attractions require an extended wait. So, you should be able to do everything at this park.
Alas, my Cosmic Rewind advice no longer works. I’d previously suggested that you should try for a virtual queue reservation first.
Should that tactic fail, the Lightning Lane becomes a viable option.
Now that you’re deciding seven days ahead of time, it’s up to you.
Are you willing to pay about $15-$16 to guarantee yourself a ride on the excellent EPCOT roller coaster? I do, but it’s a personal choice.
Image: Disney
At Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, I still see no need to purchase a Lightning Lane, even though it’s the cheapest one.
If you don’t mind spending about $11.50 for a ride, you can definitely save yourself an hour standing in line.
Image Credit: Disney
Unless Single Pass purchasing behavior proves significantly different, you probably don’t need to make this decision early, though.
You can wait until the date of your visit and then choose whether to buy it.
Conversely, Rise of the Resistance and Tron are slam dunks.
You HAVE to buy them, and it’s safest to buy them at first opportunity.
Photo: Disney
Otherwise, you’ll either be standing in line for 80 minutes at Rise of the Resistance or hoping for a break with Tron’s virtual queue.
Personally, I wouldn’t risk fate with either one. Until Disney allows advanced booking on virtual queues, just buy the Single Passes.
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Feature Photo: Disney
