Post last updated: June 27, 2024
Changes to Lightning Lane System
If your visit ends on or prior to July 23, 2024, please refer to the original Genie Thread. The new rules set out below will be implemented July 24, 2024. There will be no pre-booking of Lightning Lane passes until July 24th, even for trips beginning July 24th. On July 24th, you will be able to pre-book passes for trips beginning July 25th or later.
This post is intended to contain all key information on Lightning Lane attractions. If you find any errors, have suggestions for additional information to include, or make note of any changes to processes and procedures, reply in the thread below and I will update this lead post. Once youâve mastered the basics below, take a look at the pinned LLMP+ Strategy & Planning Thread in La Cava for a deeper dive.
My Disney Experience
Genie, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, dining reservations, and other functions are all performed within the My Disney Experience (MDE) smartphone application. If youâre not familiar with MDE, refer to this Touring Plans blog post.
Genie
Genie is a free plug-in to the MDE app that allows you to build an itinerary in advance and adjust your plans as you go. Genie offers suggestions for attractions or meals as your day progresses, which you can add to your itinerary or ignore. The âGenie+â moniker is no longer used to refer to Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane
Lightning Lane (LL) is a special entrance for those who have paid for / received the privilege (more on how below) that bypasses the standby queue and requires only a short wait to board the ride. Most Lightning Lane queues join the standby queue before any pre-shows; however, some elements of the queue may be bypassed.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP, formerly known as âGenie+â) costs a variable amount (expected to be in the range of $15-39) per person per day + 6.5% tax and allows each guest to make three advance reservations to use the Lightning Lane on select attractions, as well as additional selections on the day of use. LLMP is purchased for a particular park (i.e., Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Magic Kingdom). The pricing of MK is expected to be the highest, followed by HS, EP, and AK (this information will be updated when pricing data is obtained). Each purchase of LLMP comes with free downloads of attraction photos, as well as the use of augmented reality âlensesâ available in MDE.
Attraction Groups / Tiers
Attractions in each park are divided into two âgroupsâ (commonly referred to as âtiersâ). Guests may pre-book three attractions, including up to one attraction from Group 1 and the remaining attractions from Group 2. Group restrictions are only applicable for pre-booking â i.e., there are no Group restrictions when booking on the day of use.
Below is the list of eligible attractions for each park and their groups:
MK
Choose up to one experience from this group:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Panâs Flight
- Space Mountain
- Tianaâs Bayou Adventure
Choose your other 2 experiencesâor all 3âfrom this group:
- The Barnstormer
- Buzz Lightyearâs Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- âitâs a small worldâ
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickeyâs PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
HS
Choose up to one experience from this group:
- Mickey & Minnieâs Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ânâ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
Choose your other 2 experiencesâor all 3âfrom this group:
- 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 â The Adventures Continue
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Toy Story Mania!
EP
Choose up to one experience from this group:
- Frozen Ever After
- Remyâs Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarinâ Around the World
Choose your other 2 experiencesâor all 3âfrom this group:
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: SPACE
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Spaceship Earth
- Turtle Talk with Crush
AK
Note: There are no groups / tiers for Animal Kingdom. Guests may pre-book any three of the available attractions.
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest â Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue⊠and Beyond!
- Itâs Tough to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Naʻvi River Journey
Rules:
-
Timing of Purchase and Pre-booking Guests may purchase LLMP and make their initial three selections based on their resort status and ticket type as follows:
a) Disney resort guests:- Onsite resort guests may pre-book beginning at 7:00am 7 days before check-in day for their length of stay up to 14 days.
- Disney resort guests include cash and points guests of all Disney resorts and WDW DVC properties, as well as guests of the Dolphin, Swan, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green.
b) Offsite resort guests:
- Guests with date-based tickets may pre-book beginning at 7:00am 3 days before the first day of their ticket for the total number of valid admission days of their ticket.
- Guests with an Annual Pass or other non-date based ticket may purchase and pre-book beginning at 7:00am 3 days before the day of use.
c) International guests:
- Citing complications with international law, Disney has stated that guests may not purchase LLMP or pre-book LLs from outside the United States and Canada, meaning that international guests will have to wait until they have arrived in the country to purchase and book LLs, in addition to other timing restrictions above. It is unclear whether there will be any changes to this policy or any ways to circumvent it at this time.
-
Day-of Purchase If guests choose not to purchase LLMP at the earliest opportunity, it is expected that they will be able to purchase and book LLMP up to and including the day of their visit; however this will be confirmed when additional data is available.
-
Arrival Window When you make an LLMP selection, you will choose (subject to availability) an âarrival windowâ or return time during which you may report to the attraction on the day of your visit. It is expected that this window will be 1 hour (there will likely be a grace period as with prior systems; however this will be confirmed when data is available).
-
Single Transaction Guests may purchase LLMP, pre-book LL selections, and purchase LLSP(s) (see below) for a single day, all in one transaction. This means that guests will be able to see which attraction / arrival windows they are receiving prior to purchasing.
-
Additional LL Reservations A guest may apply for another LL as soon as they have used any of their pre-booked LLs, or any LL booked on the day of their visit. In other words, guests may always hold up to three LLs.
-
Limitation on Stacking Based on the information currently available, guests may not book an additional LL until a previously booked LL is used. As such, it may not be possible to hold more than three LLs (except in unusual circumstances, such as when an attraction is down and the guest is issued a âmultiple experience passâ).
-
Park Hopping If you are eligible to hop, you may make a LL selection at the other park(s) for any available return time as soon as you use your first pre-booked LL. You may not pre-book LLMP at two different parks â you must choose one park to pre-book all three advance LL selections. This may be the park you are starting at or a park you are hopping to. As such, only your 4th LL and beyond may be at a park other than your pre-booked park.
-
Attraction Repeats You may NOT receive a repeat LL reservation for any attraction within the same day. (There is no limitation on re-riding using the standby line.) If you cancel or modify a LL before using it, you may re-book that attraction.
-
No Show If you do not tap in for your LL reservation (no show), it is considered used once the return window closes [including 15-minute grace period? TBD] and you CANNOT get a repeat LL reservation for that attraction.
-
Modifying or Cancelling a Reservation You may modify or cancel a LL reservation obtained through LLMP (not the case with LLSP - see below) any time after booking or pre-booking (including the days leading up to your trip) up to the start of the arrival window [through the end window and/or 15-minute grace period? TBD]. Under Genie+, it was impossible to modify LL reservation to another park; if you wish to do so, you may need to cancel and rebook.
-
Limits per Day Other than the above, there is no hard limit on the number of LL reservations you can get in a single day, other than the constraints of time and subject to availability.
-
Grace Period This section will be updated when data is available; however, return times are expected to be similar to Genie+: 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after the 1-hour arrival window are generally ok (green light at taps); any time before or after the grace period is subject to CM approval. In practice, the grace period was often extended to 119 minutes after the end of the return window. The 15-minute grace period was always applicable for purposes of modifying and cancelling, however. Itâs worth trying to tap in if you are running late for reasons outside your control.
-
Attraction Closed If an attraction is temporarily closed during your window, the arrival window for your LL will generally be extended to the end of the day. A âMultiple Experience Passâ or âAnytime Passâ can generally be used at other attractions listed at the bottom of the LL (may need to click âMoreâŠâ).
-
Overlapping Reservations It is unknown whether guests will be allowed to make overlapping LL reservations; under the Fastpass Plus system (which the pre-booking system emulates in some ways), arrival windows could not overlap. This information will be updated when more data is available.
-
Missed Reservation If you miss a LL / VQ return window due to a dining reservation, bring your receipt to show the Cast Member at the LL entrance and they will typically let you in. Admitting a guest outside of their LL reservationâs arrival window (including any grace period) for any other reason may not be possible and is at the Cast Memberâs discretion. That said, a CM at Guest Services may be able to assist if there are extenuating circumstances.
Tips
- Circumventing Groups (Tiers) Touring Plans users will be testing various strategies to circumvent Group restrictions, which will require answering the following open questions:
- Modifying to Group 1 on day of use Can users modify a pre-booked LL for an attraction in Group 2 to an attraction in Group 1 on the day of use? (Disney has only said that pre-booked LLs must follow group restrictions.)
- Only one pre-book Can a user pre-book only one LL selection (in Group 1), leaving their second and third pre-booking selections open, allowing them to make their other two selections on the day of use for Group 1 attractions?
- New booking upon expiration Does expiration of a pre-booked LL open up a spot for booking a new LL? Or must it be used? (This could allow a user to book âthrowawayâ LL reservations for the 2nd and 3rd pre-booked selections.)
- Modifying in grace period Can an expired LL be modified during the grace period? (This could potentially allow a user to hold more than three LL reservations.)
- Refresh Method MDE will often show you more availability if you continue to refresh the app while looking for availability for a specific attraction. There is no harm in booking what is available and modifying to an earlier time / different attraction if one becomes available.
- Drop Times It is expected that Disney will add additional LL availability at certain times during the day, similar to Fastpass Plus and Genie+. See the Advanced LLMP thread in La Cava for details, including observed drop times, once that data becomes available.
- Order of Priority If the patterns seen with Genie+ are any guide, the order of priority for booking LL attractions at each park will generally be as follows (based on TP availability data linked below):
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Tier 1: NRJ
Tier 2: KS, EE, KRR, DINO
EPCOT
Tier 1: Remy > FEA
Tier 2: everything else
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Tier 1: SDD
Tier 2: RNRC > MMRR, TOT, MFSR > TSM
MAGIC KINGDOM
Tier 1: JC > PPF > TBA??
Tier 2: HM, Space > BTMRR
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Separate from LLMP, LLSP selections can be purchased through MDE for a variable amount (plus tax) for the attractions listed below. Observed prices are included in parentheses â these are subject to change daily and are expected to increase with crowd levels. The minimum observed is $7 and $25 is currently the maximum, though this is subject to change with inflation or other adjustments.
MK
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ($10-12)
- Tron Lightcycle / Run ($20)
AK
- Avatar Flight of Passage ($13-16)
HS
- Rise of the Resistance ($20-25)
EP
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ($14-17)
Rules
- LLMP vs LLSP You DO NOT have to purchase LLMP to purchase LLSP selections (but you may use both services).
- Limits per Day Guests are limited to 2 LLSP purchases per day (across all parks).
- Duplicates Guests may NOT select the same attraction for both of their LLSP selections.
- No Minimum Guests may purchase only one LLSP in a day (not required to purchase two). You do NOT need to purchase an LLSP for all members of your party â you can select which individuals you purchase for independently for each attraction.
- Timing of Purchase The timing of purchase and booking for LLSPs is the same as LLMP (see Rule 1 under the LLMP section above).
- Arrival Window Guests may select the time of their LLSP (expected to be a 1-hour window) for any time during the operating day, subject to availability (similar to ADRs).
- Park Hopping If you are eligible to hop, you may purchase an LLSP at any park for any available return window, subject to the daily limit (2 LLSP purchases across all parks).
- Cancellations There are no cancellations, modifications, or refunds allowed with LLSP purchases per the official terms of service. However, if you have a legitimate reason (illness, injury, chicken-out, etc.) and ask Guest Services politely, they will often issue a refund as an exception. If you purchase an LLSP for an individual who is unable to ride (e.g., doesnât meet height requirement), Guest Services has typically granted a refund.
- Attraction Closed If the attraction is closed during your return window, your return time will generally be extended to the end of the day.
- Refunds If the attraction remains closed throughout the day, you may receive an automatic refund, or be able to obtain a refund or gift card with value equivalent to your purchase from Guest Services. Any other refund requests are subject to approval by Guest Services.
- Grace Period Return times are expected to be similar to Genie+: 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after the 1-hour arrival window are generally ok (green light at taps); any time before or after the grace period is subject to CM approval. While there have been reports of extended grace periods under Genie+, it is not recommended to intentionally make use of them for paid LLSPs. However, itâs worth trying to tap in if you are running late for reasons outside your control.
Tips
- High Demand LLSP Disney employs LLSP for the most popular rides in each park, so on high-crowd days, itâs not uncommon for them to sell out quickly. However, keep an eye out for additional reservation times that often pop up at random times throughout the day. While guests are able to purchase LLSPs in advance, it may be advantageous to wait until you are certain you want / need the LLSP.
- New Attractions Keep an eye on the news when a new attraction is opening. Disney will often shuffle which attractions are used for both Virtual Queue and LLSP when a new attraction debuts.
- Drops Times See note on drop times for LLMP above.
Virtual Queue
Virtual Queue (boarding groups) is currently used for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Tron: Lightcycle Run, and Tianaâs Bayou Adventure (opening June 28, 2024) and is expected to be used for other new attractions during their debut. For more information on joining a virtual queue, see this thread.
Tips
- VQ + LLSP When both VQ and LLSP are available for a specific attraction, you CAN get both. (Note that with LLSP, you skip the ~30-minute wait that those using the Virtual Queue typically wait in, but miss some pre-ride elements.)
- VQ Wait Times The wait time for Virtual Queue is typically shortest in the ~30 minutes after the first boarding group is called, which is usually 15 minutes after Early Entry begins (i.e., 8:45am for a 9:00am general opening). The line builds to 30-50 minutes thereafter and remains longer until the last ~30 minutes of park operations. On days where there are Extended Evening Hours, the wait time for the Virtual Queue may remain long through regular operating hours and well into EEH.
Rider Swap (RS)
Rider Swap LLMP, LLSP, and Virtual Queue can be used with Rider Swap (which is also available for Standby riders - continue reading below). To skip the Standby line, all riders must have a LL reservation (or Boarding Group, if applicable). Non-riders (i.e., children under the height requirement) do not need a LL reservation.
After reporting to the LL, a CM will scan all LL reservations and assign a RS pass to Group 2 riders (1 adult waiting with non-riding child(ren) plus one repeat rider). Group 1 riders will enter the LL immediately. Group 2 will return to the LL after Group 1 rides. One rider is able to ride twice (once in the first group, once with the waiting adult). The RS pass does not need to be redeemed immediately, but each guest can only have one RS pass at a time (two adults and respective repeat riders in a party CAN have a RS pass for separate attractions but the RS holders may not overlap).
Using Rider Swap without a LL reservation / Boarding Group works the same way, except Group 1 must wait in the Standby line rather than using the LL. Group 2 returns to the LL entrance. No one needs a LL reservation if Group 1 intends to wait Standby. Instead, everyone reports to the ride entrance and a CM will assign a RS pass to the Group 2 riders, at which point Group 1 can enter the standby queue. In many cases, you can send runners up to the CM checkpoint to get MagicBands / admission scanned while the rest of the party waits in line to save time.
Disability Access Service (DAS)
DAS is compatible with LLMP, LLSP, and VQ. Guests may use all four systems together or separately. See this Touring Plans Blog post for further information.
Relevant links
Disney Parks blog post about the Lightning Lane changes, including a video demonstration:
Detailed Lightning Lane information page on the WDW website:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/lightning-lane-passes/
Touring Plans Blog post about the new Lightning Lane system:
Forum thread with discussion about the news (this information will get stale very quickly as it was started when the story first broke):
Not sure if we want both pinned at the same time âŠ
