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Individual Lightning Lanes are pay-per-ride entry at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood, and Animal Kingdom. Guests can purchase line-skipping privileges at the most well-liked attraction in every park. This information covers pricing, when journey reservations are promoting out and methods to e book ILLs. Plus, the greatest ones to purchase–and why we don’t suggest buying the others. (Updated March 2, 2023.)
The very first thing that you must know is that Individual Lightning Lane points of interest will not be included within the Genie+ service. Think of that as a paid “FastPass Minus,” which is to say that it’s like FastPass+, besides it prices $16 per particular person per day, and excludes the most well-liked journey per park which might be ILL. (That’s an unlucky acronym, however maybe it’s meant to evoke the way you’ll really feel after dropping ~$90 for your loved ones to not watch for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, solely to have the journey breakdown when you’re within the Lightning Lane.)
We’ve deal with the variations between Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes in quite a few posts, together with our Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ. We’re not going to rehash these foundational variations right here, so please seek advice from that if you happen to’re nonetheless confused. Instead, we’ll give attention to methods to purchase the pay-per-ride Individual Lightning Lanes, pricing, and the way ILL is promoting so far…
Before that, a fast housekeeping be aware. Walt Disney World has used a number of phrases to seek advice from this identical line-skipping possibility: a la carte Lightning Lanes, Individual Attraction Selections (IAS), and particular person Lightning Lanes–all interchangeably–when referring to this.
These all imply the identical factor. Typically, Disney now refers to this pay-per-ride possibility as Individual Lightning Lanes, however you might sound different phrases used right here and there. Essentially, these are the Lightning Lanes which might be not a part of Genie+. They’re those out there for the most well-liked attraction with the longest wait time in every park. (It nonetheless will be complicated, however hopefully that helps.)
If that wasn’t sophisticated sufficient already, Walt Disney World moved Individual Lightning Lane points of interest to Genie+. Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After at Epcot, and Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom are actually included within the flat-rate Disney Genie+ service and won’t be offered a la carte as Individual Lightning Lanes.
This was initially a short lived change, however Walt Disney World made it everlasting final fall. This is nice information for anybody wanting to purchase the Genie+ service, however probably dangerous information for anybody who solely cared about these specific rides. (For the overwhelming majority of friends, this variation is a optimistic.)
Next, let’s check out Individual Lightning Lane pricing. Walt Disney World beforehand introduced that costs will differ relying on the attraction and day of go to. Think of it like Express Lanes on highways—dynamic pricing that will increase with demand.
Last fall, Walt Disney World rolled out date-based pricing for the Genie+ service. That’s code for a worth enhance, because the previous on a regular basis worth is the brand new lowest potential worth. Under the date-based pricing, the typical worth of Genie+ has been $20 to $22 by March 2023. The highest worth Genie+ has reached so far has been $29, with the bottom worth being $15. (All numbers are pre-tax costs; after tax the vary is ~$16 to ~$31.)
Along with this, costs have additionally elevated for sure Individual Lightning Lane points of interest. Here’s a have a look at new/present weekday pricing:
Here’s a have a look at excessive and low worth factors we’ve seen thus far post-price enhance:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: excessive $12, low $10
- Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind: excessive $17, low $15
- Star Wars Rise of the Resistance: excessive $25, low $20
- Avatar Flight of Passage: excessive $16, low $14
Prices hit these highs final yr throughout the week of Thanksgiving and once more in 2023 throughout the week of Mardi Gras and Presidents’ Day. Our expectation is that the height of spring break sees comparable pricing–if not larger. (See our Spring Break 2023 Crowd Calendar at Walt Disney World for the dates which might be prone to be busiest, and thus, most costly for Lightning Lanes.)
With date-based pricing, Walt Disney World is extra prepared to regulate costs with regularity, particularly across the aforementioned holidays when demand is way larger. As we’ve seen over the course of the final yr, Individual Lightning Lanes promote out sooner–even at larger costs–when crowds and wait occasions are worse.
Which makes full sense: even when it prices extra, there’s extra worth in skipping an extended line. In different phrases, present demand already means that the costs may possible go up considerably. In different phrases, don’t be shocked if costs attain new information later in March and April 2023.
Speaking of which, the most recent Individual Lightning Lane attraction can be TRON Lightcycle Run, which opens on April 4, 2023. The pricing of this Individual Lightning Lane stays to be seen, however our expectation is that it’s on par with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and priced at $15-17.
The justification for it being larger can be demand–it’s going to be the most well-liked journey in Walt Disney World’s hottest park. The justification for it being decrease is that the journey is quick–it’s solely a pair minutes from start-to-finish. This is in contrast to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which is prolonged and satisfying. Disney might not wish to danger poor visitor satisfaction and a “that’s it?” response from friends who pay to journey TRON Lightcycle Run.
Another unknown as of proper now could be whether or not Seven Dwarfs Mine Train can be ‘downgraded’ to Genie+ when TRON Lightcycle Run debuts on April 4, 2023. Currently, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the oldest attraction with ILL standing, and Magic Kingdom can be the one park with two ILL rides.
However, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train continues to be extremely well-liked and with a wholly totally different demographic than TRON Lightcycle Run. On prime of that, Magic Kingdom already has 23 Genie+ Lightning Lane points of interest, which is greater than some other park. So Disney would possibly keep its ILL standing so as to seize extra income. We may see it going both means.
That brings us to our subsequent subject: Individual Lightning Lane availability or lack thereof–what’s promoting out and what’s available. Note that that is primarily based on our experiences from so far in 2023. Going ahead, Individual Lightning Lanes will nearly definitely begin promoting out sooner from March 11 by April 16, 2023. Expect one other slowdown after that and thru the beginning of summer season season in June 2023.
During final yr’s spring break season, that’s precisely what occurred–even the final well-liked Individual Lightning Lanes offered out early within the day. We’ll be monitoring availability and can report again as to how day by day availability is wanting.
On busier days, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom sells out with regularity, however normally lasts for a couple of hours after park opening.
Over at Epcot, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has improved Individual Lightning Lane availability. With it now simpler to enter the digital queue for Cosmic Rewind, the Lightning Lane usually is just not promoting out till after boarding teams replenish. (See our How to Ride Guardians of Galaxy Cosmic Rewind & Virtual Queue Speed Strategy for enhancing your odds of success on the free digital queue.)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is residence to the best-seller: Star Wars Rise of the Resistance. This Individual Lightning Lane attraction generally sells out earlier than DHS even opens, which is when off-site friends are eligible to buy.
On much less busy days, it might have availability by mid-morning and even past if crowd ranges are actually low. The decrease the standby wait time for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the longer its Individual Lightning Lane availability lasts. When the posted wait time doesn’t crack triple digits, Rise of the Resistance can have ILL stock into the early afternoon.
To compound issues on busier days, DHS can also be residence to the unequivocally hottest Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction: Slinky Dog Dash. This presents a sensible downside–how do you e book each? There isn’t any great way for one particular person to perform each past making an attempt to do issues shortly and hoping for the very best. Realistically, you’ll wish to have two adults awake at 7 am, with one reserving Slinky Dog Dash and the opposite reserving Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. For the very best consequence, comply with our Speed Strategy for Genie+ Selections.
With all of that mentioned, if you happen to’re solely going to purchase one Individual Lightning Lane, make it Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This is the one massive exception to our advice that you just strategize round ILLs, and is for a couple of causes. First, we expect it’s the greatest attraction of all at Walt Disney World. Second, it sometimes is the longest wait time in all 4 parks.
Finally, and most significantly, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is essentially the most unreliable attraction, with breakdowns occurring day by day. If you soar right into a multi-hour standby line, there’s reasonable chance of downtime when you’re ready. That not solely means you’ll probably be caught in the identical spot for an hour or so, but in addition that when Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance returns from downtime, it’ll have a backlog of Individual Lightning Lane friends–who’re prioritized–to course of earlier than the standby line.
Speaking from expertise, it’s extremely irritating and an enormous waste of time if this occurs when you’re within the standby line. While we hate Individual Lightning Lanes as a matter of precept, we’re additionally realists and acknowledge that trip time is finite and has a per hour worth. There’s additionally the fact that enduring a journey breakdown of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance whereas within the standby line may actually put a damper in your day, and trip as a complete.
For this purpose alone, we suggest Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance throughout Early Entry, on the finish of the night time, or through the Individual Lightning Lane. The danger and potential for wasted time through standby throughout the center of the day is just too excessive. It’s not an overstatement or exaggeration to say {that a} adverse standby expertise with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance may wreck your day.
Another various is ready for a refill of the Individual Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. See Ride Reservation Refill Rules at Walt Disney World for timing on when these sometimes happen.
Animal Kingdom is the place you’ll discover one in all Walt Disney World’s hottest points of interest: Avatar Flight of Passage. This has offered fairly properly, usually being gone earlier than afternoon whereas posting hour-plus and even triple digit standby wait occasions.
However, it’s additionally comparatively straightforward to expertise Avatar Flight of Passage with no prolonged wait. Either arrive for Early Entry and do it first, or present up late and do it over the last hour of the night. We’ve executed each approaches many occasions, and infrequently have an precise wait time of underneath half-hour, whatever the posted wait time.
Next, right here’s methods to e book Individual Lightning Lanes…
There are a couple of other ways to make an preliminary buy of Individual Lightning Lanes.
It’s totally potential you’ll be prompted whereas searching My Disney Experience or organising the free Genie service, through which case you’d see one thing just like the above.
You may navigate to the Tip Board through the + button on the center backside of My Disney Experience or the hamburger button on the underside proper.
From there, you’ll see one thing just like the above display screen. Click the Individual Lightning Lane field for the attraction to which you’d like to purchase line-skipping entry.
From there, you’ll both see the display screen above or one to pick out your celebration. This is fairly self-explanatory; you choose the beginning time of accessible one-hour return home windows.
Be certain to verify your present plans (faucet the arrow subsequent to “Plans During This Time” for a dropdown) to keep away from vital overlap between Advance Dining Reservations, Genie+ alternatives, and different plans. My Disney Experience won’t forestall you from reserving conflicting plans–it’s as much as you to ensure you’re not double-booked.
It’s additionally potential you’ll first be directed to this display screen, the place you may choose which members of your celebration for whom you’d prefer to buy Individual Lightning Lane entry. This implies that you do not must buy ILL for anybody who the journey would possibly make bodily in poor health, youngsters who’re too quick to journey, and many others.
If you don’t see the above display screen first, you may get up to now by tapping the “Edit” button to the suitable of your celebration on the time slot choice display screen.
After confirming your celebration and choosing a time, you’re despatched to a display screen to evaluate the small print earlier than finishing the acquisition.
If something is inaccurate otherwise you’d like to vary it, faucet the again arrow on the highest left nook of the display screen.
Otherwise, it’s on to enter or verify your contact particulars, cost data, and comply with Disney’s phrases & circumstances earlier than tapping buy. Notably, Individual Lightning Lane costs don’t embody tax–identical to the Genie+ service–which seems like nickel & diming on prime of nickel & diming.
On a extra humorous be aware, there’s a caveat above the phrases & circumstances that this Individual Lightning Lane can solely be redeemed at Walt Disney World–close to Orlando, Florida. If somebody can’t distinguish between Disneyland in Anaheim, California and Walt Disney World, they’re critically going to be misplaced with regards to the convoluted Genie system!
From there, you’ll obtain a receipt with a prolonged affirmation quantity and order particulars that ought to look just like the above. I say “should” as a result of I’ve by no means really purchased Individual Lightning Lane entry and don’t have any intentions of doing so.
No offense to those that plan on shopping for these–to every their very own–however it’s merely a line we’re not prepared to cross, so to talk. While we’re already followers of Genie+, that’s bundled entry for a number of points of interest that makes the entire day simpler. This is totally different, because it means placing a worth on a single attraction–all of which we have now executed many, many occasions over time.
Beyond that, us shopping for Individual Lightning Lane entry is just not needed “for the sake of research,” whereas testing and utilizing Genie+ very a lot is. Since there’s at the moment just one ILL journey per park, it’s fairly straightforward to rope drop one and do the opposite proper earlier than park closing and bypass the strains that means.
If something, considering up, making an attempt, and testing different savvy technique to bypass lengthy waits at Individual Lightning Lane points of interest can be a “fun” problem. That’s extra vital to us than attending to skip the strains ourselves! We suggest an identical strategy to most trip planners who’re on a tighter finances, with the one potential exception being Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. For the explanations outlined above, it may be a superb use of cash that minimizes complications and saves a ton of time–however even then, doing it throughout Early Entry or on the finish of the night time is a viable various.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for the whole lot that you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the pay-per-ride Individual Lightning Lane journey reservations? Planning on utilizing this to skip standby strains, or do you favor to not pay much more for an already costly Walt Disney World trip? Are you extra prone to buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes–or neither? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation and evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
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