Which Lightning Lane Selections Matter Most?

Walt Disney World fans have started figuring out the new system.

One of the things we’ve learned is that sellouts have grown more frequent.

Even on middle-sized crowd days, some attractions will sell all their Lightning Lanes days ahead of time.

So, which Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections matter most?

About Lightning Lane Multi Pass

I’m probably overdue to write some sort of Multi Pass guide for 2025, but let’s quickly go over the basics.

The new Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) replaces the former Disney Genie+ system, which, in turn, replaced FastPass.

With LLMP, you can book up to a week ahead of time when you stay at an official Disney resort.

This option wasn’t available for virtually all of Disney Genie+’s existence, and it’s a game-changer.

I say this because LLMP can and does sell out, especially on the most popular attractions.

So, you’ll want to purchase and book in advance whenever possible. Otherwise, you’ll miss some of the top options.

As a reminder, the price of LLMP fluctuates depending on the date and the park.

Thus far, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been the cheapest, with EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the middle price tier.

Magic Kingdom is unquestionably the most expensive of the three, yet it’s also the most likely to sell out due to demand.

When you buy early, your next step should be to choose your Lightning Lane selections immediately.

Disney allows you to select up to three Lightning Lanes before your visit.

Then, you can book more during your park visit once you’ve used your first one.

The one trick to LLMP is that Disney has introduced a tiered system at every park but Animal Kingdom.

At the other three parks, you may book (up to) one Lightning Lane from the top tier and two (or three) from the lower tier.

You get the extra in the lower tier when you don’t book one from the upper tier…but that’s a huge mistake.

I’ll explain why in the section after next, but let’s start with an easier one.

Lightning Lane at Animal Kingdom

This park doesn’t use tiers, making it first come, first served in terms of booking.

Since Animal Kingdom is currently undergoing expansion via redesign of the former DinoLand USA, its demand is a bit lower.

I expect that trend will continue throughout 2025, particularly during the second half of the year when more stuff has closed.

As we speak, It’s Tough to Be a Bug! is in its final days before closing on March 17^th.

This seems like a good time to mention that It’s Tough to Be a Bug! is available via LLMP. But you shouldn’t do that.

Well, you can if you like. After all, you’ve spent your money on LLMP and should do the things that make you happy.

My point is more that you’ll find better value elsewhere.

At Animal Kingdom, only one attraction is likely to sell out before the date of your park visit.

That ride is Na’vi River Journey. So, it should always be your first choice for LLMP.

After that, the attraction that’s second-most likely to sell out is either Kilimanjaro Safaris or Expedition Everest.

Generally, I’d say it’s Kilimanjaro Safaris, although the gap between the two is fairly close.

Therefore, these are the three attractions you should always target when planning your LLMP itinerary for your visit.

Once you’re at the park, you can add other attractions like DINOSAUR, the various shows, or Kali River Rapids.

Lightning Lane at Hollywood Studios

Here’s where the conversation grows a bit more complicated as we introduce tiers.

At Hollywood Studios, the top tier consists of:

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

You can probably guess what I’m about to say, but I’ll do it anyway.

Slinky Dog Dash can and will sell out its Lightning Lane allotment on a medium-crowd day. Often, it’ll happen a few days early.

Since Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has a smaller number of Lightning Lanes and will end the Aerosmith version of the ride soon, it’s Plan B.

Again, should you favor one of the other attractions, pick that one instead. We’re simply discussing the sellout behaviors today.

Speaking of which, the second tier is pretty easy at Hollywood Studios, too.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania! both sell out early on some moderately crowded days.

So, that’s your trio of early bookings right there. Once you’re at the park on the day of your visit, you can book the others.

Generally speaking, Alien Swirling Saucers and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue! both maintain availability throughout the day.

That’s the “trick” to the entire process. You want to book the Lightning Lanes early before they sell out.

Once you’re at the park, the others, the ones I’m not suggesting, should have tons of booking options.

By adopting this approach, you maximize your Lightning Lane purchase.

Lightning Lane at EPCOT

Here’s a complex park to evaluate, as EPCOT offers a tiered system as well. The top tier includes:

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

And you don’t want Soarin’. Well, you do because it’s a spectacular ride. You just shouldn’t book it early.

Instead, you want either Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Frozen Ever After. Therein lies the question.

Both of them sometimes sell out on average park days, ones with average crowds.

I’d guess that most of you prefer Frozen Ever After to Ratatouille. If so, go spend some time with Anna & Elsa.

However, the better choice is Ratatouille, which usually sells out early.

With Frozen Ever After, you’ll sometimes find availability early in the morning on the date of your visit.

So, you can theoretically ride one of your other Lightning Lanes and then immediately try to book Frozen Ever After.

This can work. When it does, you’ll experience both the top targets at EPCOT.

I generally don’t link to planDisney advice, but a panelist there offered an excellent suggestion along these lines.

In the second tier at EPCOT, there’s really only one attraction that can sell out early, and it’s a divisive one.

Mission: SPACE often books before your visit. If that one matters to you, it’s a must.

The other attraction to target is more for the convenience of it.

While Spaceship Earth virtually never sells out, nothing else at EPCOT does, either.

Thus, you should pick the one you’re most likely to ride, which is the giant ball at the front of the park.

Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom

Believe it or not, Magic Kingdom is pretty straightforward as well.

Here’s the top tier at the world’s most popular theme park:

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

Three of those rides are closer to my age, while the other is closer to the age of your average Bluey toy holder.

That’s your first clue right there. In case the answer isn’t clear, though, I’m telling you to book Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

This ride often sells out two or three days early, making it the holy grail of Magic Kingdom Lightning Lanes.

None of the other three is even close. In case you’re curious, Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan’s Flight are nearly even.

Space Mountain sells out the least often of the four, making it the clearcut choice to avoid.

On an average day, you should still find availability here in the mid- to late-afternoon.

In the other tier, your personal preference matters most. I say this because the depth of Magic Kingdom works in your favor.

Few Lightning Lane attractions sell out before late in the park day, and the ones that do typically have tolerable standby queues.

For those who want to maximize your Lightning Lane, the surprising options for your other two are:

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Haunted Mansion
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Those three sell out the earliest on an average crowd day, with Haunted Mansion often going in the morning.

The other two tend to sell out between lunchtime and mid-afternoon. Pick the two you prefer, and you’re golden.

So, there you have it. Those are the Lightning Lane early booking selections that matter most. And yes, some of them are weird.

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