On Wednesday, Disney introduced a new way to end lines in its parks: a ticket priced at $400 per person per day. Until recently, visitors had to book a specific time slot if they wanted to minimize waiting. However, the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows holders to skip any line at any time. The high cost sets it apart from other options in the parks, such as the Lightning Lane Single Pass, which lets users reserve a specific time for rides through the official app.
The price of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will vary based on demand and the number of visitors in the park at any given time. During its initial rollout, Disney mentioned that there may be days in 2025 when ticket prices could decrease, and this will also vary by park. Prices are expected to range from $129 to $449, excluding taxes. For now, the ticket will be available in very limited quantities on a trial basis and doesn’t include park admission. As such, visitors will need to pay for entrance separately.
This concept isn’t entirely new. Universal parks already offer a similar pass at a lower price, ranging from $119.99 to $319.99. Additionally, Universal’s pass includes multiple accesses to the same ride, whereas the Disney ticket allows skipping the line for each Lightning Lane ride only once a day.
The Huge Line Problem
One challenge at amusement parks is the lengthy wait times. Visitors can spend hours waiting to enjoy a ride that lasts only a few minutes. Some U.S. university programs are even dedicated to designing more appealing waiting line systems for these parks.
Disney’s solution to this issue was the FastPass, which has now been rebranded as the Lightning Lane Single Pass. As mentioned earlier, this ticket allows guests to pay for a reserved time slot to enter a ride.
However, the use of these kinds of passes has sparked considerable debate. Critics point out their classist implications, given that they create different tiers of visitors based on their financial capabilities. For instance, only those staying at Disney hotels had access to these perks during the FastPass era.
Additionally, some speculate that Disney may benefit from lines. In fact, the high cost of the newly introduced ticket might limit the system’s effectiveness in reducing wait times.
Disney invests resources into making the long waiting times more fun. The parks provide entertainment for guests, mini-shops, and extras related to the rides. Additionally, to give the impression that the park is full, customers must eagerly wait to get into the next ride, making lines essential for this perception.
However, Disney faces a contradiction. While lines are a necessary part of its business model, the company also wants to appear as if it’s working to reduce them, all while profiting significantly from the situation.
Image | Steven Beyer
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