Walt Disney World has introduced the enlargement of Lightning Lane Premier Go, eradicating all resort restrictions on the top-tier line skipping service. This covers the eligibility adjustments for the upcharge possibility at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Plus, our commentary about how this can affect recognition, wait occasions, and so on.
For starters, we need to reiterate as soon as once more that Lightning Lane Premier Go is just not Walt Disney World’s core line-skipping product providing. That’s not altering at the moment–or in all probability ever. Fairly, Lightning Lane Premier Go (LLPP) is a 3rd tier of line-skipping along with Lightning Lane Multi-Go (LLMP) and Lightning Lane Single Go (LLSP).
There’s much more to the Lightning Lane Multi-Go and Single Go, all of which is past the scope of this submit. However in the event you don’t already learn about these line-skipping providers, we’d encourage you to learn our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World as a substitute of this submit. There’s a couple of 95% or increased likelihood that’s extra related in your planning functions than this one.
Earlier than you are worried in regards to the implications of Walt Disney World increasing Lightning Lane Premier Go repeatedly, the essential factor to know is that Lightning Lane Multi-Go and Single Go will live on all through 2025 and possibly past. LLPP provides a definite, different line-skipping product providing for visitors who don’t need to problem with LLMP or LLSP. Whereas Lightning Lane Premier Go options the identical journey rosters as the opposite Lightning Lane providers, it’s basically otherwise.
I’m (over)emphasizing this as a result of we’ve seen loads of fears from frequent Walt Disney World followers that the pilot program of Lightning Lane Premier Go is simply step one. They’re involved that the top result’s Lightning Lane Multi-Go being eradicated solely, and visitors being “pressured” to buy LLPP. These fears are understandably rekindled each time Lightning Lane Premier Go is expanded, as a result of a logical conclusion is that the eventual subsequent step is eliminating LLMP and LLSP in favor of LLPP.
Truthfully, I’d love for that to occur. Not as a result of I’m a high-roller who has cash to burn–I’ve by no means purchased LLPP and by no means will–however due to the cascading results on standby traces. That’s additionally exactly why Walt Disney World won’t ever do it–as a result of it might imply a income stream drying up. You can not power somebody with a $30 funds to spend $300. If that had been doable, Walt Disney World would additionally get rid of Worth and Reasonable Resorts and exchange them solely with Deluxe Resorts. However I digress.
Right here’s what Walt Disney World has formally introduced in regards to the enlargement to Lightning Lane Premier Go…
Starting January 21, 2025, Walt Disney World will develop the Lightning Lane Premier Go pilot to all visitors. Friends of Disney resort resorts and different choose third-party resorts (Swan & Dolphin and Shades of Inexperienced) will probably be eligible to buy as much as 7 days earlier than the primary day of their keep. Off-site visitors will probably be eligible to buy as much as 3 days upfront of their park go to.
The one change right here is the final sentence–that off-site visitors will now be eligible to buy LLPP. That is the second enlargement of this system. When it launched, the one eligible visitors had been these staying at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas/Disney Trip Membership properties. Then on November 22, Disney expanded the service to all on-site visitors (plus the aforementioned third social gathering resorts).
Now, it expands for a last time to all visitors as of January 21, with the identical on-site vs. off-site timeline as Lightning Lane Multi-Go and Single Go.
This implies among the most costly resorts in Central Florida are actually eligible for Lightning Lane Premier Go, together with however not restricted to the 4 Seasons Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Conrad Orlando, and extra.
These are actual world luxurious resorts the place many prosperous visitors elect to remain over Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World. Usually, a few of these luxurious resorts which are positioned on-site are eligible for Disney perks (e.g. Early Entry).
This in all probability will transfer the needle on Lightning Lane Premier Go gross sales to some extent. Whereas there is perhaps the temptation to suppose that visitors opting to remain off-site to save cash are much less seemingly to purchase LLPP, that’s not the total story. Friends staying on the 4 Seasons are statistically more likely to purchase LLPP than these staying at All Star Sports activities.
Level being, there’s a really wide selection of lodging off-site, not simply cheaper ones. There are additionally large mansions which are rented out as trip houses, and I’d assume the identical is true of these visitors being extra seemingly to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Go. (If something, this transfer may cannibalize VIP tour gross sales as a result of a few of these off-site visitors had been beforehand extra inclined to buy these.)
Even after the 2025 enlargement of Lightning Lane Premier Go, Walt Disney World’s official web site nonetheless emphasizes that they’re piloting the rollout of Lightning Lane Premier Go with “very restricted portions.” When the brand new tier of line-skipping first went reside, our greatest query was: simply how restricted could be very restricted?
Would Lightning Lane Premier Go be so restricted that it simply sells out each single day? Is that the rationale Walt Disney World began by proscribing it to solely Deluxe Resort and DVC Villas? Is that this going to significant affect Lightning Lane availability for many who need to buy Multi-Go or Single Go? Will this imply extra capability is allotted away from standby traces and to Lightning Lanes?
These questions will as soon as once more be front-of-mind for a lot of Walt Disney World followers seeing this large enlargement of Lightning Lane Premier Go. Whereas they’re honest to ask, we’re not apprehensive. The caps and demand for LLPP are fairly low–and that’s a good factor for everybody else!
The audience for LLPP is exceedingly restricted. It’s my understanding that fewer than 1% of visitors have been buying Lightning Lane Premier Go on the overwhelming majority of days. That quantity is increased when crowds are increased, particularly at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but it surely’s nonetheless solely round 2% of all visitors (perhaps below).
There’s sure to be fan frustration that the corporate is getting grasping and easily desires to promote extra Premier Go. That’s in all probability true, however maybe not in the way in which you suppose. Now that Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve has handed, costs and demand for LLPP have undoubtedly dropped precipitously.
Lightning Lane Premier Go did promote out for probably the most dates between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a pair at EPCOT. Nevertheless, that’s the busiest week of the complete 12 months. The one really busy week on the horizon the place Lightning Lane promote outs are conceivable is Easter–perhaps a pair dates at Magic Kingdom round Winter Break and early Spring Break. Earlier than and after that, it’s unlikely.
This isn’t about rising Lightning Lane Premier Go on the expense of everybody else–it’s about opening LLPP to extra visitors and maintaining utilization at 1%. If demand had been robust and Walt Disney World wished to promote extra Lightning Lane Premier Go, they might merely…promote extra? In any case, they’re those who set the caps, so if it had been really a provide scarcity, they might create extra out of skinny air. It is a demand shortfall, therefore an try at remedying it by increasing the pilot program to all visitors.
For our half, we’ve noticed completely no affect in any way on Lightning Lane utilization on account of Premier Go. I did in depth testing of Multi-Go and standby traces in November and December, together with one of many busier vacation weekends of the 12 months. There was no downside in any way. Traces had been significantly better than final 12 months, regardless of Lightning Lane Premier Go having launched (after which expanded) throughout these timeframes.
Once more, we’ve defined this in Right here’s Why Standby Traces and Lightning Lanes Are Shifting Sooner at Walt Disney World and have mentioned it elsewhere. That’s actually value studying if you wish to perceive the rising disconnect between ‘seems like’ crowds and wait occasions. Suffice to say, Lightning Lane Premier Go has not prompted any issues in any way.
Clearly, Lightning Lane Premier Go isn’t the rationale traces are shifting quicker, both. There are a number of contributing elements, with the DAS adjustments and, to a lesser extent, swap from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi-Go having probably the most important affect. It ought to go with out saying that there are controversies, downsides, and unlucky realities to the above. However the enchancment to the movement of traces–standby and Lightning Lanes–in addition to decrease wait occasions can also be simple.
As for the affect of the enlargement of Lightning Lane Premier Go on traces, it ought to proceed to be nonexistent. For no matter it’s value, I’d preserve this place even when Walt Disney World tripled the availability of Lightning Lane Premier Go.
It is because, as soon as once more, it’s largely a requirement difficulty. Extra visitors staying on the 4 Seasons Orlando and the opposite aforementioned luxurious resorts will buy Premier Go, certain. However it nonetheless gained’t be a statistically-significant quantity–not sufficient to have an effect on standby line wait occasions or Lightning Lane utilization.
Even with out any caps, my guess is that Lightning Lane Premier Go wouldn’t actually transfer the needle on these issues. For one factor, it’s protected to imagine that almost all of LLPP visitors are already utilizing some type of line-skipping–that means that they’re both upgrading from Multi-Go or downgrading from VIP excursions. So this actually solely incrementally adjustments their frequency.
For an additional factor, natural demand is proscribed by the excessive worth of Lightning Lane Premier Go. Apart from a handful of the busiest days of the 12 months, Premier Go has not been promoting out as-is even when out there in “very restricted portions” to the visitors most inclined to buy it just because the value is just too excessive.
There are potential “fixes” to make LLPP extra engaging, resembling a vast model, providing numerous floating re-rides, introducing a Park Hopper possibility, or making it considerably cheaper. Nevertheless, all of them include downsides which have unintended penalties that would damage Disney’s backside line, resembling cannibalizing VIP tour gross sales, reducing income, making the service difficult and complicated, or decreasing common length-of-stay for high-rolling visitors.
Finally, if Lightning Lane Premier Go is usually not promoting out when made out there in “very restricted portions” then it clearly additionally gained’t promote out in very excessive portions. There may be not an enormous untapped pool of visitors who need to purchase this product providing however can’t.
That is additionally exactly why LLPP won’t ever exchange Lightning Lane Multi-Go or Single Go. Though it might not appear to be it at occasions, most visitors are cost-sensitive. That is exactly why the decrease tier resorts are extra in style than the upper tier ones, Cosmic Ray’s is busier than Monsieur Paul, and so on.
All the complaints about Disney solely wanting wealthy visitors–whereas feeling legitimate–ignore this sensible actuality and limitation. Walt Disney World can’t cater solely to the rich, as a result of there merely aren’t sufficient such visitors to even come near sustaining the parks and resorts. The recognition, or lack thereof, of Lightning Lane Premier Go ought to reinforce this conclusion.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you’ll want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Lightning Lane Premier Go? Ideas on Walt Disney World increasing the highest tier of paid FastPass to all visitors? Predictions as to how profitable this line-skipping service will probably be? Below what, if any, situations would you purchase Lightning Lane Premier Go? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or considerations? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
