There’s a rumor circulating {that a} new Lightning Lane line-skipping service is coming to Walt Disney World and/or Disneyland. Sure, one other one. This put up shares particulars of the app look, together with our intensive commentary about potentialities for what the following paid FastPass may provide, and why we predict Disney’s twist on Specific Go is the more than likely candidate (together with predicted pricing and eligibility).
Let’s begin with being very clear: that is purely a rumor based mostly on performance within the Disneyland app. It’s typically the case that options are examined–and are available to gentle in precisely this fashion–earlier than being absolutely rolled out for most people. It’s additionally typically the case that issues are toyed with that by no means see the sunshine of day.
Which means the approximate timeline for a Lightning Lane Premier Go announcement is as early as tomorrow or as late as by no means. We may know the entire specifics by August 23, or this might be a distant reminiscence that’s lengthy forgotten by 2025. Accordingly, when you solely need “official” information and never wild hypothesis, you may wish to skip this put up and wait a couple of days or perhaps weeks.
We are also fairly assured that this isn’t a substitute for Lightning Lane Multi Go (LLMP) or Single Go (SP). Though there was some backlash in the direction of these new techniques, that’s at all times the case with main modifications at Walt Disney World and Disneyland that create new classes of winners and losers.
It’s our understanding that Disney is happy with the brand new system and it appears to be going properly regardless of some hiccups. Even when that weren’t the case, one other main overhaul wouldn’t be doable so quickly. It wouldn’t occur till 2026 or later. Regardless, there’s completely no motive to consider that’s what that is.
As for the substance of the rumor, ThemeParkIQ is reporting on social media that they noticed performance that Disney just lately pushed in an replace to the Disneyland app to incorporate a brand new “Lightning Lane Premier Go.” Disney has eliminated this already.
ThemeParkIQ additionally shared this: “It appears to be like like it is possible for you to to pre-purchase Lightning Lane prematurely and e-book forward of time just like Walt Disney World. This will come at an added value.”
I don’t know what their foundation is for drawing this conclusion, nevertheless it’s value noting that this account is a superb useful resource and infrequently spots modifications within the Disneyland app earlier than they’re rolled out. I exploit their web site for perusing menu modifications at Disneyland earlier than they’re formally introduced–however I do know they’ve a bunch of different options.
Right here’s the graphic that ThemeParkIQ shared from the app:
One other factor that’s value noting earlier than we dig into the commentary is that ‘Premier’ is already utilized in branding for the entire worldwide parks. Curiously, what it means or affords differs in any respect of them.
Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris all have skip-the-line companies that which might be successfully bundles. Company should buy a set of sights–or all of them–for a set worth. These are costlier, on common, than what the home parks cost for Lightning Lane Multi Go. Accordingly, Premier Go might be a bundle just like a type of.
In the meantime, Tokyo Disney Resort makes use of the identify Premier Entry to refer to what’s often called Lightning Lane Single Go within the home parks. The Japan parks additionally nonetheless provide free FastPass, albeit by a unique identify–Precedence Go. Lastly, TDR now affords trip packages and ticket varieties that supply what’s primarily akin to Common’s Limitless Specific Go. (As a reminder, TDR just isn’t owned by Disney, so it kinda does its personal factor.)
To additional confuse issues, the Premier Go is a coast-to-coast Annual Go for Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It was as soon as bought to most people, however has solely been obtainable to Membership 33 members and Golden Oak residents (and maybe different VIPs?) since 2020. So who is aware of…perhaps it is a Lightning Lane for the turnstiles at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland?!
Turning to commentary, there are a few practical potentialities for what Lightning Lane Premier Go may provide. The best and most easy rationalization is that that is pre-arrival trip reservations coming to Disneyland. For individuals who aren’t conscious, when Genie+ was retired and changed by Lightning Lane Multi Go, it occurred in identify solely at Disneyland Resort.
That is to say that the system was completely overhauled at Walt Disney World, with the introduction of a brand new system that appears strikingly just like FastPass+, however paid. (I’d argue that LLMP has extra in frequent with FP+ than it does Genie+, minus the entire cash factor. Minor element.) Against this, it was a change in identify solely at Disneyland. It was accomplished for the sake of continuity between the coasts and since the Genie model had turn out to be so poisonous.
In any case, this has created a bigger product hole between Walt Disney World and Disneyland. You thus may be inclined to attract the affordable conclusion that Disney goes to fill that by providing pre-arrival Lightning Lanes at Disneyland. This makes a point of sense. Because of completely different demographics, it is sensible for Disneyland to stay (principally) to same-day bookings. However many planners desire advance picks, and this might be a product providing focused at these (on common) greater spenders. It is sensible!
Nevertheless, I’m skeptical of this risk. For one factor, I feel providing two substantively-identical merchandise however with completely different names would create client confusion. You might argue that this has already occurred by advantage of Lightning Lane Multi Go being completely different on the 2 coasts. However introducing yet one more product that does the identical factor would solely additional muddy the waters and complicate issues.
Then there’s the truth that that is within the Disneyland app. If this have been in My Disney Expertise (and solely MDX) my tackle it may be completely different. However every part I’ve heard through the years means that Disneyland was a “reluctant” participant in the entire Genie debacle, and it was an initiative pushed from on excessive for each coasts. That Disneyland needed to stay with MaxPass, nevertheless it wasn’t their name.
Even within the absence of such rumors, you’re most likely conscious that Disneyland is the extra laid again resort. Disneyland just isn’t almost as eager on pushing upcharges or making issues difficult for company. The California parks have gotten worse about this since 2021, however nonetheless nothing like Walt Disney World. So it’s troublesome for me to think about a Disneyland-exclusive initiative that makes trip reservations much more advanced than at Walt Disney World. It’s simply not taking place.
There’s additionally the matter of incentives. What profit is there to Disney in creating a brand new pre-arrival system for Disneyland after which, presumably, promoting it for the very same worth as Lightning Lane Multi Go? That’s presumably what would occur if this have been Walt Disney World’s model of LLMP by a unique identify.
So now immediately Disneyland has two techniques to juggle, priced at or about the identical quantity that trigger larger client confusion. And for what? Does anybody realistically consider that this is able to enhance gross sales to sufficient of a level for it to offset the added prices? It wouldn’t.
There may be not an enormous untapped market of company who’re on the sidelines, skipping Lightning Lane Multi Go at Disneyland as a result of it doesn’t have a pre-arrival element. (Past the entire above, the identical day system works a lot better at Disneyland.) The marketplace for this product merely doesn’t exist at scale enough to justify its prices. I’m fairly assured it isn’t taking place.
Which brings us to the second risk for Lightning Lane Premier Go: that it’s extra like Disney’s model of Common’s Specific Go.
For these unfamiliar with it, Common’s Specific Go is offered as a ticket add-on or with choose resort stays. You should purchase two styles of Specific Go, common or limitless. The common model means that you can skip the road as soon as per eligible attraction in both park. Common Specific Limitless affords line-skipping privileges, because the identify suggests, an infinite variety of instances per attraction.
In contrast to Lightning Lanes, company utilizing Specific Go at Common usually are not required to make trip reservations–that means there aren’t any set return instances. You merely go as much as the attraction, scan your move, and use your Specific Go entitlement. There’s nothing to order or trouble with in an app. It’s a completely “dumb” system–and I imply that in one of the best ways doable. Specific Go includes zero expertise and display time. It’s fully hassle-free.
Common’s Specific Go can be far more costly when not included with a resort keep. The out-of-pocket value of normal Specific Go begins at $89.99 per particular person plus tax and may prime out at $290, with the common being properly north of $100. Limitless Common Specific Go ranges from $120 to $320, with the common close to $200.
My guess is that if Disney is introducing yet one more line-skipping product, it’s primarily this–a “competitor” to Common’s Specific Go. There could be enough product differentiation between Lightning Lane Multi Go and this, and it will really be viable. It most likely additionally wouldn’t simply be at Disneyland.
Earlier than anybody even thinks about going there, Lightning Lane Premier Go wouldn’t be included in choose resort stays as its counterpart is at Common Orlando. C’mon! They don’t even give away Lightning Lane Multi Go to on-site company…why on earth would they provide away the upper finish product?!
With that mentioned, it will not shock me within the least if there is a resort element to this. By that, I imply that it’s solely obtainable for choose company to buy within the first place. This is able to really make lots of sense, as it will considerably restrict the visitor pool for a product that may in any other case be extremely popular–even at an especially excessive worth. It might additionally operate as a “perk” of types, incentivizing higher-end resort stays amongst “whales” who may in any other case keep in off-site luxurious lodging.
This isn’t a massively daring prediction. Walt Disney World already did this below the outdated FastPass+ system, permitting Membership Degree company to buy a ‘theme park additional’ bundle that primarily consisted of three additional FastPass+ picks for $50 per particular person, per day. That began in 2018 and ran via the closure of the parks in 2020. I assumed that was loopy on the time–an insane value for a system that would simply be ‘gamed’ with just a bit effort.
I used to be improper. (Properly, not solely–it was loopy to purchase one thing you could possibly get totally free with a modicum of effort.) Membership Degree company cherished it–the bonus FastPass+ have been insanely fashionable. Simply ask a journey agent. Many had purchasers who in any other case wouldn’t have booked Membership Degree within the first place achieve this simply to have entry to the bonus FastPass+ picks. Which means that their precise value wasn’t $50 per particular person, per day–it was that plus the nightly improve to Membership Degree over cheaper lodging they might’ve booked within the different!
If we’ve realized something since ~2018-2020, it’s that there’s an insatiable marketplace for unique Disney choices. If such a “perk” on prime of a freebie was $50 then, it may simply be triple or extra that worth now. No matter you assume is the “value it” worth for such a line-skipping product, the precise value will nearly definitely be increased. Such a service would simply have a 8x multiplier on the price of Lightning Lane Multi Go. Possibly even 10x or extra.
The underside line is that there’s a much bigger marketplace for a ‘trouble free’ Specific Go-esque different to Lightning Lane Multi Go and the company prepared to buy it will most likely pay greater than you assume it’s value. Should you already scoff at paying for FastPasses that was once free, you aren’t the audience. And that’s not a worth judgment–I’m not, both!
Nevertheless, there’s additionally an inside want to strike extra of a stability between standby company and Lightning Lane customers. Insurance policies and techniques that really feel fairer to nearly all of company and don’t benefit or drawback anybody an excessive amount of. From what we’ve heard, Disney has been making an attempt to string the needle with the entire queueing and capability modifications over the previous few months. It’s an unenviable job and no-win proposition that’s resulted in a very good quantity of backlash, however that’s the intent.
If my guesses about Lightning Lane Premier Go are right, this doable system could appear at odds with that. In spite of everything, that is pay to play taken to the intense, aimed on the most prosperous of company. However that is exactly why I believe this product providing might be restricted to Membership Degree company (or perhaps Deluxe/Villa company if ahead occupancy projections actually are as tough as I’ve heard). I’d be completely shocked if somebody staying on the All Stars or off-site is ready to buy this.
That may additionally clarify why it’s showing within the Disneyland app first. Provided that there are solely three lodges there and so they’re all pretty costly, it may be simpler to check Lightning Lane Premier Go at Disneyland first earlier than rolling it out at Walt Disney World.
Or, it’s doable that it’ll be rolled out concurrently and it simply wasn’t noticed in MDX. I can’t think about Disneyland needs to be the check floor for this–and it additionally may be higher to tear the band assist off abruptly as an alternative of letting a brand new system that can revive “Disney solely cares concerning the wealthy!” headlines have two information cycles.
Finally, that’s a rundown of what has been rumored to this point, potentialities as to what it might be, and what I feel Lightning Lane Premier Go really is. A few extra shot-in-the-dark guesses I’d provide are that it’ll have beginning costs over double these of Specific Go at Common (I’d be stunned to see this value lower than $200 per particular person) and that there won’t be an ‘limitless’ possibility (that means it’ll be one line-skipping entitlement per attraction). Once more, full guesses on all of this–I’ve zero inside info.
I additionally suspect Disney received’t wish to disturb that ‘delicate stability’ in queue capability allocation by providing Lightning Lane Premier Go at an infinite stage (even when they might simply promote it for $1,000 per particular person, per day). Maybe extra importantly, they received’t wish to cannibalize VIP tour gross sales. The aim will to be slot this in between current product choices, not compete with them.
Lastly, I may additionally see this not coming to fruition in any respect. That Disney is toying with the thought however will get chilly toes, fearing a destructive PR cycle and backlash. There have been rumors of such a system for years, and so they’ve by no means fairly occurred because of this or that. I may see this falling via but once more, particularly given the entire latest destructive headlines and a spotlight Disney has garnered. It would make sense to kick the can down the street but once more, wanting for a extra opportune time. Or perhaps they assume that point is now, and the vibe is constructive post-D23? I don’t actually know…however I’d by no means guess in opposition to Disney’s urge for food for extra income!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you concentrate on the rumored Lightning Lane Premier Go? Will this really come to fruition, or is it one other check that’ll result in nothing? Predictions as to what LLPP will entail? Will it merely be Disneyland’s model of pre-booking or will it’s Disney’s model of Specific Go? Guesses as to what it’ll value or who might be eligible to buy? Underneath what, if any, eventualities would you purchase Lightning Lane Premier Go? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
