💰 Is it worth it?
Disney & Universal's paid skip-the-line systems
Should you pay to skip the line?
Hello everyone! Thanks for chatting theme parks with me today.
Disney & Universal’s optional line-skipping tools can be confusing and expensive, so I want to give you a few quick points to aid your decision about whether to invest.
Check out my at-a-glance guides below. Then be sure to click the included links for more detailed explanations.
July 2024 Update
Beginning July 24, 2024, Disney is making some changes to its skip-the-line system. For one thing, the name is changing from “Genie+” to “Lightning Lane Multi Pass”.
I am updating the nomenclature here to reflect this change. For more details, check out this post.
Express Pass: Universal’s paid skip-the-line system
Cost
Orlando: $90-$260 per person per day
Hollywood: about $100 per person per day
What you get
Access to a separate queue for almost every attraction. Wait times should be significantly lower than the regular line, usually less than 20 minutes even on very busy days. There are no time restrictions or reservations necessary, just get in the Express line whenever you want.
Limitations
At Universal Orlando, there are two types of Express Pass. The regular EP allows you to use the Express queue once each day on each attraction. Unlimited EP allows you to access the Express queue as many times as you want on each attraction.
So if you have an Unlimited Express Pass you can ride the same attraction back-to-back-to-back through the Express line as much as you want.
At Universal Hollywood, only regular Express is available, so you get one skip-the-line at each attraction on any given day.
In all Universal parks, nearly every attraction has an Express line. Notable exceptions are the Velocicoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure in Islands of Adventure, and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at Universal Studios Hollywood.
How to get a free Unlimited Express Pass
At Universal Orlando, everyone staying in a “premier” hotel receives free Unlimited Express for the length of their stay. The premier hotels are the Hard Rock, Portofino Bay, and Royal Pacific. This is a huge deal and worth checking out if you think you’ll want Express for your vacation.
So, is it worth it?
Express Pass can definitely save you a ton of time in line, especially on a busy day. Keep in mind that the cost is variable, depending on predicted crowd levels, so you will pay more to save more time.
If you’ll only be at Universal for one day, you should consider Express. I also highly recommend the option of splurging on a night in one of those premier hotels. For the cost of one night’s stay you’ll get two day’s worth of Unlimited Express. There is a lot you can do with two days & unlimited access to the Express line.
More about Universal’s Express Pass
I’ve got several deep-dive posts on the GoInformed.net website if you want to learn more about how Express Pass works.
Universal Orlando hotel guide, including Express Pass details
How Express Pass compares at Universal Orlando vs Universal Hollywood
By the way, these posts are also all podcast episodes too! Check out the Go Informed podcast on your favorite app, including:
Lightning Lane: Disney’s paid skip-the-line system
Cost
Disney World: $20-$40 per person per day Disneyland: $25-$35 per person per day
What you get
Access to a separate, faster queue on many attractions. Wait times should be significantly shorter than the regular line.
This is Disney’s new version of the old FastPass system. The fast-lanes are now called Lightning Lanes.
Ride photos are included at Disney World. At Disneyland, Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes ride photos and pictures taken by the PhotoPass park photographers.
Limitations
Oh boy, where do I start? Here are a few things to know about Lightning Lane.
You can’t just get in the Lightning Lane whenever you want. You will reserve a one-hour time window using the Disney parks app.
You can only skip-the-line using Lightning Lane once per ride per day.
At Disneyland, the reservation system allows you to make a new reservation every two hours, or as soon as you use the last one, whichever comes first.
At Disney World, you can pre-schedule up to three Lightning Lanes per day. Once you use one, you can add another.
The most popular attractions are in a category called Lightning Lane Single Pass. You’ll have to pay an extra fee to skip the line on these rides. Examples include Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Rewind.
So, is it worth it?
Believe it or not, I actually do think Lightning Lane can be worth it. Even though it’s way too complicated, once you’ve used it for a few hours you should be able to hack your way past a lot of lines.
However, if you are not happy about spending a bunch of time dealing with an app on your phone, you may want to just wait in line the old-fashioned way.
More about Disney’s Lightning Lane system
Here’s my post about the summer 2024 Lightning Lane system updates. Be sure to check it out if you’re heading to Disney World. ⬇️
HUGE changes at Disney World
For more detailed up-to-the-minute Lightning Lane tips and advice, check out the websites I recommended in the last newsletter.
Yes you can beat the crowds without paying extra
One more thing, you don’t have to pay more to have a great time at Disney or Universal, even on the busiest day.
Here is some advice:
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading this long newsletter! Please be sure to ask questions and share your thoughts in the comments. And have a great vacation.
~ Sue
quick and to the point