Big changes are on the way to Walt Disney World!
EPCOT
In late June 2024, Disney shocked the theme park world when they announced that their Genie+ program – – which had only been introduced in 2021 – – was being radically transformed. The new skip the line system, broken down into Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass, is scheduled to debut on July 24th. So what’s the best way to use it? Let’s find out.
Before you can figure out the best way to use the new Lightning Lane system, it’s best to break down HOW the new system works.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
You will now be able to make three Lightning Lane selections in a theme park, in advance of your visit, and choose available times as you make your selections. From there, as you use the first selection on each day of your visit, you can use the My Disney Experience app for availability to make an additional selection.
Lightning Lane
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Lightning Lane Single Pass will remain similar to Individual Lightning Lanes, today in concept. You’ll still be able to “secure a time to ride one of (Disney’s) most highly demanded attractions” for an additional charge. However, you’ll now be able to make said purchase and plan in advance.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
There are three tiers of rides for booking at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. When it comes to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, each of these three parks has a group of attractions which you can only pick one of when booking your early Lightning Lanes:
- Magic Kingdom: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- EPCOT: Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Soarin’ Around the World.
- Hollywood Studios: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, and Slinky Dog Dash.
The next tier features groups of rides of which you can choose 2 (or all 3 if you’d prefer) to fill out your three Multi Pass Lightning Lanes.
- Magic Kingdom: The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Haunted Mansion, “it’s a small world”, Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
- EPCOT: Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey into Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, Mission: SPACE, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Spaceship Earth, and Turtle Talk with Crush.
- Hollywood Studios: Alien Swirling Saucers, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Disney Junior Play & Dance!, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania!
Each of these parks also have attractions that are ONLY available as Lightning Lane Single Passes, and can’t be selected as Lightning Lane Multi Passes: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle/Run for Magic Kingdom, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for EPCOT, and Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios.
Mine Train
Animal Kingdom is slightly different. The park only features one tier of rides for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, any three of which can be chosen for Animal Kingdom day: Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Feathered Friends in Flight!, Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!, It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Naʻvi River Journey. The park also features a Lighting Lane Single Pass-only ride, Avatar Flight of Passage.
One further wrinkle: If you’re staying at a Disney hotel (or other select hotels), you’ll be able to purchase and book both Multi Pass and Single Pass Lightning Lane passes beginning at 7:00AM ET, seven days in advance of your trip for your entire stay (up to 14 days). If you’re not staying at a Disney hotel, you can begin purchasing and booking Lightning Lanes three days in advance.
©Disney
So, all that being said, what’s the best way use the system?
Well, first of all, the value of staying at Disney hotel can’t be overstated. The extra four days to book Lightning Lanes is one of the biggest game-changing perks Disney hotel guests have ever gotten, to the point where we think it make staying on property worth it vs staying off property.
Art of Animation lobby
Whether you’re staying off property or not — and in-turn booking your Lightning Lanes seven days in advance or three — there are still some things we’d advise:
- Have your whole party loaded into the My Disney Experience App before 7:00AM on the day you’re eligible to start booking Lightning Lanes, so you can move through the process quickly.
- If you plan to purchases both Multi Pass and Single Pass for each day of your trip, do both for each day at the same time.
- Have a plan of action. Read up on the groupings above and know which rides you want to shoot for as far as Lightning Lane Multi Passes go, and especially which Lightning Lane Single Pass options you wish to purchase.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Once the new Lightning Lane system goes into operation at the end of July, we’ll likely find more tips as we explore the new system’s ins and outs. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage.
We Got Stuck On the Disney World Monorail With NO Power ? Here’s What Happened
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What are your initial thoughts on the new Lightning Lane system? Let us know in the comments below.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Are there any updates for guests coming from overseas, as rumor is you can’t use this service unless in the US
Hi Arthur! As of right now there have been no new updates.
So are virtual ques out?
I’m wondering the same kinda thing as Arthur but for Canadians, some say it will work and some say it won’t any news?
Hi, we have planned our trip from Canada in October. Have never used this app system at all – it’s been over 10 years since we have been. Question – does each member of the party have to download the app to book this new system way or can one person book for everyone in the party?
Has anyone heard what the cost is going to be? Are they keeping the price of the multi pass like Genie +m
What a wonderfully informative and helpful article, Brian. Thank you so much!
What about park hopping? If I purchase a multi pass, can I book 3 rides for one park and then book rides in a second park I hop to later in the day?
Once you use your first Tier One selection, can you select another Tier One? Perhaps timed after your Tier Twos?
Can you book a second Tier one lightning lane after you use the first one. Can you only book one Lightning lane single pass per day?
Greeeeeaat, now instead of 7am the day of, I get to get up at 5am where I live 7 days before. At least I’ll only have to do it once!
Hi Bob! You will be able to book a second Tier One Lightning Lane because the tiers are only in place for pre-booking and will disappear the day of your visit so you’re able to book anything available. You can book another Lightning Lane as soon as you use one and continue to do that throughout the day.
Hi Colleen! Yes, you will be able to do that. Once you scan into your first Multi Pass Lightning Lane you can book the next one at any of the parks if you wish.
Hi Deb! Yes, the tiers disappear once you use your first Lightning Lane so you’ll be able to grab anything that’s available, regardless of which tier it was in previously.
Hi Vanessa! We are still researching as we have been getting conflicting answers, but we’ll have more answers for you when the new system rolls out on July 24th.
Thanks Gigi! An update will be awesome! Thanks for always answering all our questions!
It sounds very much like this is similar to the way the DAS worked With the exception of being able to book 3 rides at a time instead of one, and now if you don’t qualify for DAS you’re paying money to access rides quickly.
How do we do this if our first day is the 24th this month?
Still no solution for international travellers.
We will just go elsewhere then.
Will DFB be making a print out on this new system? You all really saved me with the one you made for Genie plus!
We will do our best to help as much as we can, for sure!
Just finished a trip 7/29 – 8/3z overall we were happy with the new system. However I will say that if you visit during busy time you shouldn’t expect to anymore tier one selections especially in DHS. Maybe if you rope drop you’ll have more success