Is Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass Worth It?

Nothing kills the magic of Disney like waiting in long lines at attractions. Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an add-on to a Disneyland or Disney World ticket that can help cut down on some of those waits.

The Multi Pass is similar to Disney’s version of a fast pass at other theme parks. With this add-on, ticket holders can get access to Lightning Lanes, which are separate (and usually shorter) lines than the typical standby lines. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes dozens of rides at Disneyland and Disney World, but it doesn’t include some of the parks’ most popular attractions.

And like almost everything in travel these days, Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing is dynamic, which makes the decision to buy it a bit more complicated. Here’s what to know about this feature and how to decide if getting Multi Pass Lightning Lane at Disney is worth it for you.

Lightning Lanes are not as simple as buying the add-on and standing in a different line. Theme park goers with a Lightning Lane Multi Pass have to reserve a time slot to use a Lightning Lane at a certain attraction.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass holders can select up to three time slots before their arrival. Park Hoppers can even select experiences across multiple theme parks. This feature is a major improvement on the old Genie+ fast pass system, where guests could only reserve one time slot at a time and their schedule was largely dictated by the availability of Lightning Lane time slots.

After checking into the Lightning Lane for the first selected experience of the day, guests can make another multi-pass experience through the app, based on availability. With the new Disney LIghtning Lane Multi Pass, you can potentially have up to three Lightning Lane selections at any given time throughout the day.

In addition to skipping high-traffic standby lines, other Lightning Lane Multi Pass benefits include some photo perks, including unlimited PhotoPass downloads and Disney PhotoPass lenses that add overlays to your photos.

Keep in mind that some of the most popular Disneyland and Disney World Resort attractions aren’t included under the Lightning Lane Multi Pass program. Ineligible attractions include:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

If you want to fast track your way through any of the attractions above, you’ll need to purchase a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass. Single Pass pricing varies by attraction and the date of your visit.

One Lightning Lane Multi Pass starts at $32 per person per day, but pricing is dynamic and depends on various factors, like the time of year and demand. Each person in your party who wants front-of-the-line access must purchase their own Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass add-on.

Disneyland visitors can purchase their Multi Pass add-on when buying their park admission on the Disneyland website or other authorized travel provider. The pass can also be purchased on the day of your visit upon entering the park through the Disneyland app if availabile.

At Disney World, visitors who aren’t staying at an eligible resort hotel can purchase a Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass up to three days ahead of their visit. This also applies to annual Passholders and non-date-based ticket holders. Disney Resort hotel guests can buy a Lightning Lane Multi Pass even earlier — up to seven days in advance.

Since Lightning Lane passes are an extra expense for each person in your group, the added cost could have you second-guessing whether the Multi Pass is worth it. To help you answer this question, here are a few scenarios that might make the Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass worth it:

If your goal is to maximize the number of attractions you ride on, purchasing a Multi Pass might be worth it. Even though it won’t help you save time on the busiest rides, it will shave off time for at least three other attractions (and possibly more). The total time saved with the add-on pass could be significant.

Guests who are visiting a Disney park with a significant number of attractions might benefit from a Lightning Lane Multi Pass. For instance, it might be worth it at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom since the park offers a sizable 18 eligible attractions.

Nerd Tip: Make sure to check the list of eligible Multi Pass rides. If you don’t generally ride the included attractions or you find most of the wait times for these rides reasonable, you might want to save your money for a Single Lane Lightning Pass instead.

Furthermore, if you have a reservation for a park that might not have a lot of attractions, but the ones there are high-traffic rides, a Lightning Lane Multi Pass can be worth it.

A perk of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass is that you get to choose your preferred Lightning Lane time window. If you had a character breakfast at Plaza Inn, a lightsaber build at Savi’s Workshop and a dinner reservation at Blue Bayou, for example, you might not have enough time before dinner to wait in line for Space Mountain.

Getting a Lightning Lane Multi Pass helps you maximize your time, so you can plan for attractions and timeframes that best fit around your other reserved experiences.

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the middle-tier option of Disney fast passes. The Lightning Lane Single Pass is cheaper than the Multi Pass, but you can only use it one time at the one ride you selected.

The Lightning Lane Premier Pass is the most expensive option and it lets you use Lightning Lanes at any ride with the special access lines, but the privilege will cost you at least $137 per person at Disney World and at least $300 per person at Disneyland. If your budget for line-skipping is less than $100 per person, the Multi Pass price is the best value.

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a major upgrade from the previous Disney Genie+ service, but the biggest drawbacks remain: The most highly coveted attractions — like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and TRON Lightcyle/Run — aren’t included. It also can be cost-prohibitive for large groups since you’ll pay at least $32 extra per person if everyone in your party wants to enjoy pass benefits.

However, every guest has their own unique idea of what a perfect day at the parks looks like. If the chance to plan ahead and ride more attractions is a top priority — and your budget allows it — getting a Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass might be worth it for your next visit.

(Top photo courtesy of Walt Disney World)