Prime 10 Greatest & Most Troublesome Lightning Lanes at Disney World

This listing ranks the hardest Lightning Lane Multi Passes at Walt Disney World to guide–the #1 LLMPs in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Plus, subjective technique for the pre-arrival trip reservation service past reserving the “greatest” trip reservations as a way to maximize your time saved and reduce encountering ‘bought out’ trip reservations.

We not too long ago checked out What’s Up with Lightning Lane Multi Cross Availability at Walt Disney World? Or reasonably, why there’s a lack of trip reservations, with attraction time slots filling up sooner than ever. The plain rationalization is that as a substitute of everybody reserving same-day, and thus it taking longer for points of interest to guide up, Lightning Lane choices can now be made as many as 21 days prematurely.

Relying upon whether or not staying off-site or on-site, company can now guide prematurely, with 3-day or 7-day (plus as much as 14 days–therefore as many as 21 days) home windows for making trip reservations. With that mentioned, Lightning Lane Multi Cross has additionally modified considerably because of variations within the attraction roster, removing of stacking guidelines, and introduction of tiers. The results of that is that many time slots are filling up sooner–together with for points of interest you wouldn’t essentially anticipate.

As earlier than, Magic Kingdom is much and away one of the best park for purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Cross at Walt Disney World. It isn’t actually even shut. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the second-best choice, nevertheless it has fewer LLMP points of interest. On the plus facet, we’ve been happy with availability at DHS and on-site company ought to be capable of do effectively in scoring a number of Lightning Lanes that’ll save a ton of time.

Lightning Lane Multi Cross at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom are extra combined luggage. The previous as a result of it may be difficult to attain a number of worthwhile trip reservations, particularly in reasonable crowds or above. The latter for nearly the other cause–as a result of Lightning Lanes aren’t all that essential except crowds are above-average. (The silver lining, no less than, is that even the “hardest” LLMPs are Animal Kingdom are comparatively simple.)

As earlier than, crowds are the largest consider each Lightning Lane Multi Cross issue and usefulness. On common, October by way of December will likely be busier than August and September. Identical goes for many of January by way of March 2025. (See our 2024-2025 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars.) Larger standby wait instances means Lightning Lanes provide a higher benefit, but in addition, that extra persons are buying Lightning Lane Multi Cross, which means extra “competitors” for essentially the most troublesome and greatest ones.

To that time, reserving Lightning Lane Multi Cross trip reservations isn’t just a matter of availability. Should you’re staying on-site and making choices 4 or extra days prematurely, you’re more likely to have choices at each trip on this listing however one or two. It’s additionally a matter of return instances. As I’ve been doing on-the-ground discipline testing of LLMP at Walt Disney World over the course of the final week, I’ve seen that return instances are sometimes extra vital than trip precedence.

Whereas you can also make attraction choices prematurely with Lightning Lane Multi Cross, you can even make subsequent choices on the day of your park go to. When you redeem a range, you should use the My Disney Expertise app to verify availability for an additional Lightning Lane Multi Cross expertise—and add to your plans.

Take into account this the “rolling 3 rule,” which is to say you can all the time have 3 Lightning Lane choices (topic to availability). With the rolling 3 rule of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, you can also make your subsequent trip reservation as quickly as you’ve used one. As might be apparent, which means it behooves you to make LLMP choices as early within the day as potential to present you extra runway for subsequent choices.

The most effective observe is making as early of arrival instances as potential (for no less than one attraction) as a way to “unlock” that 4th trip sooner. Actually, in the event you’re solely getting late morning or afternoon return instances, it is best to contemplate altering your Group B choices as a way to prioritize for a mix of return time and trip precedence. Don’t guide Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, for instance, if each have return instances within the afternoon. Go for the subsequent highest precedence with an early return to unlock that 4th choose.

Therefore a number of the non-headliners or secondary points of interest which have made this listing of essentially the most troublesome Lightning Lane Multi Passes at Walt Disney World. Right here’s what we suggest reserving to get essentially the most mileage out of Lightning Lane Multi Cross service…

10. Na’vi River Journey – That is the target #1 Lightning Lane Multi Cross choice at Animal Kingdom. On common, this can prevent essentially the most time, particularly on reasonable or excessive crowd days when it means skipping a triple-digit wait time for Na’vi River Journey.

Strategically, we’re additionally followers of getting the earliest potential return time for Na’vi River Journey and doing Avatar Flight of Passage by way of the standby line throughout Early Entry. By the point you’re executed, it is best to be capable of hit Na’vi River Journey by way of the Lightning Lane after which proceed on to different points of interest–most of which can nonetheless have quick waits.

Personally, I may be inclined to make this my solely Lightning Lane choice in Animal Kingdom (plus perhaps the subsequent entry relying upon crowds). After tapping into Na’vi River Journey, you may guide all subsequent choices in a distinct park after which use these in the course of the center of the day when standby traces are longer (assuming you wish to Park Hop).

9. Kilimanjaro Safaris – If this have been a purely data-driven listing, Kilimanjaro Safaris wouldn’t be on it. Nonetheless, I wished two choices from every park. Moreover, we haven’t but seen the group ranges that may stress-test the Lightning Lane Multi Cross system, and as soon as that occurs, I’m assured Kilimanjaro Safaris will make the lower.

Lastly, Kilimanjaro Safaris deserves recognition from a subjective perspective. It’s vital to get an excellent time slot for Kilimanjaro Safaris as a result of wildlife on the safari is most lively very first thing within the morning, making an earlier return time subjectively preferrable. Due to that, we like Kilimanjaro Safaris and N’avi River Journey within the earliest time slots.

It’s additionally true that the standby line for Kilimanjaro Safaris is often quick early within the morning, so utilizing the Lightning Lane then is commonly pointless. That isn’t true on 8/10 or above crowd stage days, although, there’s that. There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for knocking out a couple of Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom earlier than 10:30 am and beginning to make subsequent choices at a totally different park.

8. Peter Pan’s Flight – Not an enormous shock for many who booked FastPass+ or Genie+ reservations prior to now! What may be extra of a shock is that Peter Pan’s Flight barely makes this listing. Actually, the information reveals solely a slight benefit for it over Pirates of the Caribbean, which actually speaks to the ‘tier 2 troubles’ at Magic Kingdom (extra on this within the Haunted Mansion entry, which is subsequent up).

Nonetheless, we’re giving Peter Pan’s Flight the sting right here as a result of it’s a extremely shut name and that is the clearly higher Lightning Lane from a time-saving perspective. Peter Pan’s Flight is much and away the most well-liked of Magic Kingdom’s iconic Fantasyland darkish rides, with wait instances frequently exceeding 90 minutes.

Peter Pan’s Flight additionally makes the listing as a result of it’s going to be the default Group A range in Magic Kingdom for just about anybody staying off-site and even some on-site company. The excellent news is that there’s ample advance and same-day availability for Peter Pan’s Flight, so although it’s #1 choose at Magic Kingdom, you aren’t in poor form in the event you guide it #2.

7. Haunted Mansion – Since Hatbox Ghost debuted, Haunted Mansion now has one of many prime 5 common wait instances in Magic Kingdom. Nonetheless, you may not expect to see Haunted Mansion on this listing. In spite of everything, it beforehand had perpetual Lightning Lane availability–till park closing on most days–beneath the outdated Genie+ system.

Whereas headliners are the main target of this listing for apparent causes, there’s additionally restricted availability for a lot of Group B/Tier 2 points of interest. This has been occurring at each Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, and is very noticeable with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The pondering is that, since everybody can choose prematurely and these are the apparent tier 2 priorities, they’re merely filling up means sooner.

There’s in all probability extra to it than that, with throttling or decreased Lightning Lane stock being one other rationalization. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin even have points–actually, I’ve had extra issues with Pooh when discipline testing LLMP, however the information doesn’t corroborate my anecdotal on-the-ground experiences.

Regardless, Haunted Mansion makes the listing–together with the massive caveat that you just want no less than one Group B attraction in Magic Kingdom with a return time earlier than 10 am to take full benefit of the ‘rolling 3’ rule. So contemplate not reserving Haunted Mansion in the event you can’t get a decently early slot.

6. Toy Story Mania – Each of the subsequent two picks make this listing for a similar cause as Haunted Mansion–they’re the “apparent” Group B/Tier 2 choices at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. What’s inquisitive about Toy Story Mania is that it had an abundance of availability for Lightning Lanes all through the day beneath the Genie+ service.

Underneath Lightning Lane Multi Cross, Toy Story Mania is proscribed between 3-days and 7-days with regularity. To make sure, there’s nonetheless availability more often than not, nevertheless it’s usually with time slots after 11 am. This can be a drawback for a similar cause as defined with Haunted Mansion–since you need an earlier time to make the most of the ‘rolling 3’ rule.

Nonetheless, it’s an excellent larger concern at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a result of Slinky Canine Sprint routinely has return instances within the second half of the day. On prime of that, Toy Story Mania isn’t even essentially the most troublesome Tier 2 LLMP. Which means that you just might need hassle getting any trip reservations at DHS with a return time earlier than 10 am, which might actually restrict your availability to leverage the ‘rolling 3’ rule.

5. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – The simple #1 choose from Tier/Group B. Like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, that is an attraction that may proceed to function even when there’s downtime/protein spills in a part of the attraction, reasonably than closing utterly. That’s good for company–nevertheless it additionally causes wait instances to skyrocket and Lightning Lane availability to be decreased.

Suffice to say, when Tower of Terror has one elevator shaft down, it’s a prime 3 wait time in all of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (This additionally makes same-day Lightning Lane availability/refills far much less seemingly.) When working at full-capacity, its rating drops–nevertheless it’s nonetheless prime 5 and firmly the #1 number of the Group B Lightning Lane Multi-Passes.

For all of those causes, we suggest reserving Tower of Terror along with your pre-arrival Lightning Lane Multi Cross choices. Even when the return time isn’t best, it’s simply too dangerous for our tastes to depend on a same-day trip reservation refill. You’ll have significantly better luck with that at Toy Story Mania.

4. Frozen Ever After – The clear #2 Lightning Lane at EPCOT. Relating to common wait instances, there really isn’t that a lot distinction between Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Journey. The hole is way bigger with regards to Lightning Lane availability.

Because of the hole between #1-2 and Soarin’ Across the World at #3, there’s additionally an inexpensive probability that Lightning Lane Multi-Passes for Frozen Ever After will additionally be totally booked at and even earlier than the 7-day mark. It actually depends upon crowd ranges and pricing. (Technically, Frozen Ever After is definitely “simpler” to guide than Spaceship Earth or Mission House from Tier 2, however since we’re mixing information with subjective sensibility, we’re not together with these on this listing. Getting these with early morning returns will price you extra time than it saves!)

Truthfully, I wouldn’t purchase LLMP at EPCOT if I couldn’t Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratatouille Journey. Simply one in every of many circumstances that will make me inclined to cross on the paid FastPass service. EPCOT’s headliners are additionally very unfold out throughout the park, so losing time backtracking is one other concern.

3. Remy’s Ratatouille Journey – With Take a look at Monitor closed till 2025, that is no longer simply the #1 Lightning Lane Multi-Cross at EPCOT–it’s additionally the #3 choice in all of Walt Disney World. That is the most recent trip in EPCOT by way of LLMP, it has the very best common wait time, and essentially the most demand for line-skipping.

Given all of that, there’s an excellent probability that pre-arrival availability for Remy’s Ratatouille Journey will likely be gone at and even earlier than the 3-day mark. It’ll positively be restricted when it comes to return instances. This can solely worsen throughout peak season, particularly till the Take a look at Monitor refurbishment is completed, as that headliner helps ‘cut up’ demand.

Should you’re staying off-site, you’ll seemingly be reliant upon trip reservation refills or cancellations. With that mentioned, in the event you’re staying at a Crescent Lake or Skyliner Resort, you may as a substitute go for doing this throughout Early Entry. Comparatively talking, it’s simpler.

2. Slinky Canine Sprint – For the final a number of years, Slinky Canine Sprint was the #1 Lightning Lane beneath the Genie system. Not simply in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however all of Walt Disney World. Underneath the identical day system, it will be gone inside seconds or minutes of seven am. Should you didn’t have quick fingers, you may find yourself with a return time late within the day even when reserving at 7:00:00 am. Now with Lightning Lane Multi Cross, it’s one of many only a few rides that generally has no availability exterior of the 3-day window.

This is smart. By way of common wait instances, Slinky Canine Sprint is arguably the LLMP most “deserving” of being a Lightning Lane Single Cross. It’s newer and extra fashionable than Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, and is the Multi Cross attraction that outperforms the remaining. Actually, it comes fairly near Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance many days/weeks/months when it comes to common wait time.

In contrast to a number of the different points of interest on this listing, take no matter return time you may get with Slinky Canine Sprint–even when it’s later within the day. You need to use your Group B choices at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the ‘rolling 3’ rule. It’s too troublesome and dangerous to attain trip reservation refills for Slinky Canine Sprint, so we’d advise in opposition to playing on that.

1. Tiana’s Bayou Journey – That is the reimagined trip that replaces Splash Mountain, which was often a prime 3 Lightning Lane in Magic Kingdom, however by no means the #1 precedence. The variations are two-fold. The primary being that Tiana’s Bayou Journey is the most recent trip at Walt Disney World, and something new or redone is fashionable. The brand new trip odor will ultimately put on off, however in all probability not till someday in 2025 (or on a brief foundation when it will get chilly).

Second, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is struggling main reliability woes and in depth day by day downtime consequently. That is for sure the larger concern, and exacerbates the aforementioned elevated reputation with decreased day by day capability. On account of these two components, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is much and away the #1 most troublesome Lightning Lane Multi Cross, simply surpassing Slinky Canine Sprint.

Tiana’s Bayou Journey is frequently working out of Lightning Lane Multi Cross reservations earlier than the 7-day mark. Actually, I not too long ago had hassle reserving it 11 days out, with restricted return instances that didn’t work for my schedule. It’s the solely attraction in all of Walt Disney World that routinely has zero LL stock past 7-days. It rating #1 isn’t even a remotely shut name.

With that mentioned, same-day trip reservation refills for Tiana’s Bayou Journey is usually a totally different story. As a consequence of its unpredictability and issues, Disney is clearly setting apart most Lightning Lanes for Tiana’s Bayou Journey and releasing them day-of based mostly on uptime and downtime. Which means that there are Lightning Lane “drops” for Tiana’s Bayou Journey which are occurring with almost-immediate return instances.

Due to this, I’ve really opted in opposition to reserving Tiana’s Bayou Journey prematurely, as a substitute choosing an early morning window for Peter Pan’s Flight and rolling the cube on TBA. It’s a big gamble, however a threat that would repay large time. Thus far, that has not been the case with my in-park discipline testing. I’ve had horrible outcomes with Tiana’s, to the purpose that it’s nearly derailed my day on two totally different events. However that’s one other story for an additional submit.

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YOUR THOUGHTS

How would you rank your trip priorities with Lightning Lane Multi Cross at Walt Disney World? Stunned to see Tiana’s Bayou Journey at #1? Anticipate Slinky Canine Sprint to reclaim the throne within the coming months? Do you agree with our evaluation that getting earlier return instances issues loads for the ‘rolling 3’ rule? Are you planning on shopping for LLMP or skipping it? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!