Walt Disney Co. will launch a new pass for visitors to get on attractions faster at its theme parks in the United States, but the cost will likely be out of reach for some people.
Disney announced on Wednesday that the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be available in limited quantities, debuting at its Disneyland park in Anaheim, California on October 23, and at Disney World in Orlando, Florida on the 30th of the same month. The pass is for a single visit to each of the attractions included in the quick line experience at the theme parks, and visitors will still need to purchase an entry ticket to access the parks.
The pass is similar to the Lightning Lane Single Pass and the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which allows visitors to skip the regular line and use the fast lane entrance to join a queue that is usually shorter. Many visitors like to use this type of pass to try to save time so they can ride more attractions and participate in many more park experiences, such as shows and meeting their favorite characters. The new pass, which is similar to some offered in rival theme parks, is aimed at providing a convenience that some visitors have been requesting.
One of the benefits for visitors who purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is that they won't have to choose a specific arrival time for an attraction, which sets it apart from the other two Disney passes that require visitors to select a specific time to arrive at the attractions.
At Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will cost $400 per person per day to visit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure until the end of the year, as long as the visitor also has a valid ticket to visit both parks. Starting next year, prices will vary based on the date and demand, ranging between $300 and $400, according to the company. Visitors will be able to check prices on the Disneyland app up to two days before their park visit.
At Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be available to visitors staying at luxury hotels and villas, as well as some park hotels. Prices will vary depending on the date and which park you intend to visit (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios). Disney stated that prices will range from $129 to $449 per person at launch, with higher prices occurring on a limited number of days during peak periods.