Premier Pass Is the Hottest Thing at Disney World
We’ve been dancing around this subject for a while now, but it’s time to get it out in the open.
Even though Disney executives have stated that Lightning Lane Premier Pass is in its early days, it’s not behaving that way.
Photo: Disney
Despite the fact that this upsell option is barely three months old, it’s booking at an astonishing rate.
Right now, Premier Pass is the hottest thing at Disney World. What is going on, and how did this happen?
About the Start of Premier Pass
Disney officials confirmed Lightning Lane Premier Pass in mid-October 2024, although it had been rumored before then.
At the time, I was skeptical about the value of the service, although I quickly realized my mistake after using it the first time.
Photo: Disney
While I’ve maintained all along that Disney fell victim to gatekeeping with the early requirements, I understood why.
During the early days of Premier Pass, park officials basically treated it like a live beta test.
Lightning Lane
Only guests staying in Deluxe Tier resorts, the most luxurious properties at Disney World, could even buy Premier Pass.
Later, Disney lessened the stringent requirements such that all guests staying at official Disney World resorts could buy it.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
With the benefit of hindsight, Disney did a huge favor to its hotel guests, as Premier Pass sold out repeatedly during the holidays.
We didn’t cover this story much at the time since our staff was enjoying the holidays with family and friends.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
However, I referenced it in MickeyBlog News last month.
The headline didn’t receive much oxygen, but Premier Pass was selling out. I don’t mean a little bit, either.
Lightning Lane
During the 12 Days of Christmas, I tracked a whopping 20 Premier Pass sellouts across the four theme parks.
Magic Kingdom was by far the most popular option, as it has remained since the program’s inception.
Lightning Lane
Premier Pass at this park sold out every day from Christmas through January 3rd. But that was just the holidays, right?
Premier Pass in January and February
As a reminder, Premier Pass is like the exotic version of the standard Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass.
When you purchase Premier Pass, you gain access to every Lightning Lane entrance at a theme park.
Photo: Disney
While Park Hopper isn’t an option (yet?), a Premier Pass buyer can do virtually everything at a Disney theme park in a day.
During the holiday season, you can understand why that possibility would appeal to guests.
Lightning Lane
The parks experience what qualifies as overcrowding at Disney, and sellouts occur at times.
Magic Kingdom is the park most likely to reach maximum occupancy during the holiday season.
Magic Kingdom Holiday Crowds
Guests who purchase Premier Pass can avoid the stress and simply enter the short Lightning Lane whenever they want.
So, while the sales of Premier Pass were undeniably strong over the holidays, nobody expected the hot streak to continue into 2025.
Lightning Lane
After all, January is the slow season. The sellouts during the first three days of the year signified holiday spillover.
What we’ve since learned is that Disney anticipated all this, as park strategists should.
Cinderella Castle
On January 20th, 2025, Disney expanded Premier Pass availability to all guests.
The results since then are nothing short of staggering. Disney sold out a random Friday at the end of January.
Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane
Then, a random Wednesday sold out a few days later. Then, we had this and this.
That’s seven sold-out Magic Kingdom dates already in February, plus another at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Lightning Lane
What is happening???
What Is Happening with Premier Pass
Disney World lists more sellouts already this month than it managed during the first six weeks of Premier Pass.
That’s not coincidental. The expansion to all Disney guests has changed the math here.
Lightning Lane
According to some comments Disney made while explaining Premier Pass, the belief is that it offers about 2,000 a day.
Just to be clear, that’s 2,000 Premier Passes availability across four Disney theme parks.
Photo: Disney
The split isn’t the same, though. Magic Kingdom apparently offers about 800 of the 2,000 since it can host more guests.
This seems like a good time to mention during the sellout period of February 13th-18th, Premier Pass costs an average of $380.67.
Adventureland in Magic Kingdom
Since the beginning, Magic Kingdom has charged more than the other parks, just as it’s sold out more often.
That’s a strong sign that Disney knows what it’s doing and has meticulously calculated the accurate spending levels for this service.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Realistically, Disney may know its customers better than we know ourselves.
If you’d asked me last summer whether I’d spend $200 or more for improved Lightning Lane, I’d have scoffed.
Lightning Lane
Then, I did precisely that in November. Apparently, when Disney says jump, I ask, “How high?” And I’m not the only one.
As proof, I just did some quick back-of-napkin math on Premier Pass.
Photo: Disney
Thus far in 2025, Disney has already earned nearly $3.5 million…just on the sold dates.
I’d be blindly speculating on the rest, but you get the point about how lucrative this service could potentially be for Disney.
Lightning Lane
Upon the announcement of Premier Pass, one analyst predicted the service could earn $220 million in 2025.
I’m starting to believe that’s low.
Premier Pass Is the Hottest Thing at Disney World
Then, we have this week’s stunning revelation. Premier Pass has already sold out from February 13th-18th.
Folks, that’s President’s Day Weekend and Valentine’s Day.
Crowds
Disney has proven that Premier Pass can sell out during slower parts of the year, such as random Wednesdays and Fridays.
However, the service will sell the best during the busiest times of the year.
Magic Kingdom
I’m working on an article right now that discusses Lightning Lane Multi Pass and which attractions are most likely to sell out.
What I can tell you is that Disney, like every other business, has the slow season, regular season, and busy season.
Lightning Lane
We’ve finished with the slow season for a while. March and April are busier, which is actually the explanation for this.
That pricing isn’t out of line with anything we witnessed during the final two months of 2024.
Hollywood Studios crowds
The cost appears higher because it’s been so slow during the first six weeks of 2025.
That’s about to change, though. The combination of rolling Spring Breaks across North America and Easter will increase tourism.
Magic Kingdom Entrance Gates
So, the question becomes whether Premier Pass keeps selling at this level with its higher price…and I feel confident it will.
We already witnessed this at the end of 2024. Now, the service is available to everyone, not just guests staying onsite.
Magic Kingdom Spring Break crowds
I reiterate something I said earlier. With the benefit of hindsight, Disney did a huge favor to its hotel guests by gatekeeping.
Now that this policy has changed, anyone can buy Premier Pass…and it appears that hundreds of guests will.
Photo: Disney
Premier Pass is legitimately the hottest thing at Disney World right now, and its next two months appear quite bright.
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