Explain lightning lane to me like I'm a 3 year old

[Minuet888]

Just to be clear about the LL Premier Pass--the pass is for one park for one day only. And you get to ride each ride only once. I'm mentioning this because only someone with truly unlimited funds would be purchasing LLPP for every day of a 2.5-week trip. And if you do have unlimited funds, consider doing a VIP tour or two instead.

OP, since you're going for 2.5 weeks, you'll do fine getting regular old LLMPs and LLSPs. The Disney site lists what's available at each park.

I agree with a PP--YouTube videos are helpful.

I'm not spenidng all 2.5 weeks at Disney World (I wouldn't bother buying lightning lane for that.
My trip in total is 2 1/2 weeks. 5 days at Disney World, 5 days at Universal Orlando and then a DIsney Cruise!
We just booked the DIsney Cruise (that's the only thing open for purchase in 2026 right now)

 

[Minuet888]

The thing I think is most appealing to me about the LL premiere pass it the fact you don't have to book times. You have to book times with the DAS and other passes. Sometimes that is difficult, we might be rushing at one time or lingering too long in another.
What if my son has an issue and we need to re-route? Not needing to book a time is VERY nice. I'm not sure I'd use it for AK because as someone pointed out there are only a couple of rides we would utilize it for (Flight of Passage and Safari)
This is all such great information. Now off to the Universal and Cruise threads!

 

[Minuet888]

I am looking at one of the links someone advised me to look at and it looks like MK LLpremiere has sold out already for the rest of the week? Is this usual?
https://www.thrill-data.com/premier-pass/wdw

 

[Minuet888]

Sorry another question, since it is per person and per park, what happens if you park hop?
Say for example I purchase LLpremiere for MK on a Monday but then I park hop in the afternoon to Epcot. Can I use it at Epcot?

How does that also work with LLMP and LLSP?

In another thread someone posted something with LLMP and there was a tier 1 and tier 2?? What are the tiers and why are they important? (I think I missed something there).

 

[elvispursley]

No—you can’t use PP and another park, only the park you bought it for.

Tier 1 rides are the “top” rides at every park. Tier 2 are all the other LL-eligible rides and attractions. When you book your LLMP, you are able to rebook 1-Tier 1 and 2-Tier 2 passes (or all 3 can be Tier 2). After you tap into your very first scheduled ride/attraction, you can book another tier 1 (even if you’ve not used your first tier 1 yet) and can book in a 2nd park if you plan to park hop.

 

[wendlle]

if you're staying at the contemporary if it was me I'd forget about the LLMP and just take advantage of the extra evening hours to do the bigger rides. Leave the daytime for shows, rides that don't use the LLMP or anything with a shorter wait time.

That is what I plan on doing when I visit in May.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Premier pass does NOT go with park hopping. If you book it for MK, you can only use it in MK. If you were to hop to Epcot later in the day, you have nothing (unless you also buy Multipass).

 

[Dave006]

I am looking at one of the links someone advised me to look at and it looks like MK LL premiere has sold out already for the rest of the week? Is this usual?
https://www.thrill-data.com/premier-pass/wdw

This has been a slow tapering off of the President's day week crowds. MK as had the most LLPP sellouts but even for the last couple of days MK has only sold out 2-4 days before day of visit. MK currently is only sold out through Friday and it only sold out on Sunday 2/23.

As always it depends on when you are going as I posted on page 1. Since LLMP launched last October only the really busy / popular days have been selling out.

Say for example I purchase LL premiere for MK on a Monday but then I park hop in the afternoon to Epcot. Can I use it at Epcot?

No LLPP is only good for 1 park. So I would not think you want to hop to Epcot but if you really wanted or needed to hop to Epcot you could purchase LLMP and/or LLSP (only GotG currently), and then return to MK to finish off your LLPP attractions.

How does that also work with LLMP and LLSP?

For LLMP once you tap in to your first LLMP attraction, you unlock Tiers and the ability to make additional LLMP selections at any park if you have a park hopper tickets. For LLSP it is for a specific attraction and can't be used on another attraction unless you modify it before you use it. You are also limited to 2 LLSP purchases per day and they can be at any park. Again no duplicate rides.

In another thread someone posted something with LLMP and there was a tier 1 and tier 2?? What are the tiers and why are they important? (I think I missed something there).

Tiers are only a thing when you are making your initial LLMP purchase and attraction selections. It is a way to help limit you from booking all 3 Tier 1 attractions. The LLMP rules allow you to pick (1) Tier 1, and ( 2) Tier 2 picks or 3 Tier 2 picks.

Again once you tap in to your first LLMP attraction, you unlock Tiers and the ability to make additional LLMP selections at any park.

Dave

 

[Minuet888]

No—you can’t use PP and another park, only the park you bought it for.

Tier 1 rides are the “top” rides at every park. Tier 2 are all the other LL-eligible rides and attractions. When you book your LLMP, you are able to rebook 1-Tier 1 and 2-Tier 2 passes (or all 3 can be Tier 2). After you tap into your very first scheduled ride/attraction, you can book another tier 1 (even if you’ve not used your first tier 1 yet) and can book in a 2nd park if you plan to park hop.

So if I can just keep rebooking rides, wouldn't LLMP be better then? Or do the passes sell out? I thought with LLMP you were limited to 3 a day.

 

[lanejudy]

So if I can just keep rebooking rides, wouldn't LLMP be better then? Or do the passes sell out? I thought with LLMP you were limited to 3 a day.

LLMP limits 3 "pre-booked" attractions. You can do that 7 days in advance of your arrival if staying at a WDW onsite resort (3 days if offsite). Then each day you are in the park you can book more, pending availability. Tier 1 attractions may or may not be available for day-off booking after you use a pre-booked LL.

LLPP allows access to all LL attractions within a single park on a single day, no need to book times.

 

[elvispursley]

So if I can just keep rebooking rides, wouldn't LLMP be better then? Or do the passes sell out? I thought with LLMP you were limited to 3 a day.

No, you can only have 3 pre booked prior to 7 days from resort arrival (3 days if you’re offsite). After you tap in, you can book for other LLs as they are available. MDE will give you available times for whatever you’re looking for. You can always have 3 booked, it just rolls—tap in, book another. It’s very similar to how FP+ worked on the app back in the day.

The benefit (if you want to spend the $$$) for premier is that you don’t have to book anything. You can enter any attraction with a LL queue and not worry if they will run out of times. Depending on how busy it is when you go, LLPP can sell out and LP may not have any times left to book for the attraction you want. I’ve always been successful in modifying/refreshing to get what I want, but we also go during low crowds (eg September).

 

[spm2323]

Are UK people still restricted that they cannot make a booking until they arrive in the country?

 

[Dave006]

Are UK people still restricted that they cannot make a booking until they arrive in the country?

No that restriction was removed last October. You have the same 7 before resort arrival window and every other on-site guest.

Dave

 

[leebee]

I'm new to all this; I gave up on pre-booking after FP+ as (a) I don't have a phone, and (b) after 30+ trips to Disney, I know that if i don't get on something this time, I'll ride it next time! However, we are doing the family trip and it's the Little Guy's first trip to Disney. We are considering LLMP for Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, May 7th. Anyone want to venture a guess as to what the per person price might be? Is there any way to know in advance, before the 7 day booking window, how much it'll cost? I've searched the Disney site and seem to wind up in an endless loop- no surprises, hahaha!

 

[Tom_E_D]

I'm new to all this; I gave up on pre-booking after FP+ as (a) I don't have a phone, and (b) after 30+ trips to Disney, I know that if i don't get on something this time, I'll ride it next time! However, we are doing the family trip and it's the Little Guy's first trip to Disney. We are considering LLMP for Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, May 7th. Anyone want to venture a guess as to what the per person price might be? Is there any way to know in advance, before the 7 day booking window, how much it'll cost? I've searched the Disney site and seem to wind up in an endless loop- no surprises, hahaha!

LLMP did not exist last May. On Wednesday May 8, 2024, the Genie+ price for Magic Kingdom was $25. LLMP prices since it started can be found here: https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane-prices

Disney lists LLMP prices in the MDE app for 21 days in advance. The webpage cited above shows the prices for the next 21 days and will presumably update them, so you will be able to see the price 21 days in advance of your park day. I don't know of any way to discover the price earlier than that.

 

[rlk]

If I purchase LLPP for one park, can I also purchase LLMP for a different park on the same day? And, does it matter which park I enter first that day? For example, can I purchase LLMP for AK, our first park of the day, and LLPP for HS, the park we will hop to later that day?

 

[Dave006]

If I purchase LLPP for one park, can I also purchase LLMP for a different park on the same day?

Yes no restrictions on that. The LLPP has not connections or dependence on LLMP and/or LLSP.

And, does it matter which park I enter first that day?

No but your LLPP and or LLMP are only valid for the park you purchased them for with a an explanation required for LLMP usage. You can't unlock the Tiers or Multi Park functions until you actually enter the park you purchased it for and tap in to your first LLMP attraction.

For example, can I purchase LLMP for AK, our first park of the day, and LLPP for HS, the park we will hop to later that day?

Yes not issues.

Dave

 

[rlk]

Thank you!
One more question. If I decide to purchase LLMP and LLPP for the same park, how do I make sure the LLMP is used for our first ride?

 

[Dave006]

Thank you!
One more question. If I decide to purchase LLMP and LLPP for the same park, how do I make sure the LLMP is used for our first ride?

Great question. Your LLPP will have a higher priority unless you are entering a LLMP attraction during a LLMP return window that you have booked or added by usage.

Does that make sense?

Dave

 

[rlk]

Great question. Your LLPP will have a higher priority unless you are entering a LLMP attraction during a LLMP return window that you have booked or added by usage.

Does that make sense?

Dave

Makes sense, thanks. If I decide to do this, I will be very mindful of our first LLMP time.