Walt Disney World has introduced the growth of Lightning Lane Premier Cross, eradicating all resort restrictions on the top-tier line skipping service. This covers the eligibility adjustments for the upcharge choice at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Plus, our commentary about how it will affect recognition, wait instances, and so forth.
For starters, we wish to reiterate as soon as once more that Lightning Lane Premier Cross will not be Walt Disney World’s core line-skipping product providing. That’s not altering at this time–or most likely ever. Slightly, Lightning Lane Premier Cross (LLPP) is a 3rd tier of line-skipping along with Lightning Lane Multi-Cross (LLMP) and Lightning Lane Single Cross (LLSP).
There’s much more to the Lightning Lane Multi-Cross and Single Cross, all of which is past the scope of this put up. However should you don’t already find out about these line-skipping companies, we’d encourage you to learn our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World as a substitute of this put up. There’s a few 95% or larger likelihood that’s extra related to your planning functions than this one.
Earlier than you are concerned concerning the implications of Walt Disney World increasing Lightning Lane Premier Cross repeatedly, the necessary factor to know is that Lightning Lane Multi-Cross and Single Cross will live on all through 2025 and doubtless past. LLPP affords a definite, various line-skipping product providing for company who don’t wish to problem with LLMP or LLSP. Whereas Lightning Lane Premier Cross options the identical journey rosters as the opposite Lightning Lane companies, it’s basically in another way.
I’m (over)emphasizing this as a result of we’ve seen lots of fears from frequent Walt Disney World followers that the pilot program of Lightning Lane Premier Cross is barely step one. They’re involved that the tip result’s Lightning Lane Multi-Cross being eradicated fully, and company being “compelled” to buy LLPP. These fears are understandably rekindled at any time when Lightning Lane Premier Cross is expanded, as a result of a logical conclusion is that the eventual subsequent step is eliminating LLMP and LLSP in favor of LLPP.
Truthfully, I’d love for that to occur. Not as a result of I’m a high-roller who has cash to burn–I’ve by no means purchased LLPP and by no means will–however due to the cascading results on standby strains. That’s additionally exactly why Walt Disney World won’t ever do it–as a result of it might imply a income stream drying up. You can not power somebody with a $30 funds to spend $300. If that had been doable, Walt Disney World would additionally remove Worth and Average Resorts and change them completely with Deluxe Resorts. However I digress.
Right here’s what Walt Disney World has formally introduced concerning the growth to Lightning Lane Premier Cross…
Starting January 21, 2025, Walt Disney World will broaden the Lightning Lane Premier Cross pilot to all company. Visitors of Disney resort resorts and different choose third-party resorts (Swan & Dolphin and Shades of Inexperienced) will probably be eligible to buy as much as 7 days earlier than the primary day of their keep. Off-site company will probably be eligible to buy as much as 3 days prematurely of their park go to.
The one change right here is the final sentence–that off-site company will now be eligible to buy LLPP. That is the second growth of this system. When it launched, the one eligible company had been these staying at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas/Disney Trip Membership properties. Then on November 22, Disney expanded the service to all on-site company (plus the aforementioned third occasion resorts).
Now, it expands for a ultimate time to all company as of January 21, with the identical on-site vs. off-site timeline as Lightning Lane Multi-Cross and Single Cross.
This implies among the costliest resorts in Central Florida are actually eligible for Lightning Lane Premier Cross, together with however not restricted to the 4 Seasons Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Conrad Orlando, and extra.
These are actual world luxurious resorts the place many prosperous company elect to remain over Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World. Usually, a few of these luxurious resorts which can be situated on-site are eligible for Disney perks (e.g. Early Entry).
This most likely will transfer the needle on Lightning Lane Premier Cross gross sales to some extent. Whereas there could be the temptation to suppose that company opting to remain off-site to economize are much less doubtless to purchase LLPP, that’s not the total story. Visitors staying on the 4 Seasons are statistically more likely to purchase LLPP than these staying at All Star Sports activities.
Level being, there’s a really big selection of lodging off-site, not simply cheaper ones. There are additionally large mansions which can be rented out as trip properties, and I’d assume the identical is true of these company being extra doubtless to purchase Lightning Lane Premier Cross. (If something, this transfer would possibly cannibalize VIP tour gross sales as a result of a few of these off-site company had been beforehand extra inclined to buy these.)
Even after the 2025 growth of Lightning Lane Premier Cross, Walt Disney World’s official web site nonetheless emphasizes that they’re piloting the rollout of Lightning Lane Premier Cross with “very restricted portions.” When the brand new tier of line-skipping first went dwell, our largest query was: simply how restricted may be very restricted?
Would Lightning Lane Premier Cross be so restricted that it simply sells out each single day? Is that the explanation Walt Disney World began by proscribing it to solely Deluxe Resort and DVC Villas? Is that this going to significant affect Lightning Lane availability for many who wish to buy Multi-Cross or Single Cross? Will this imply extra capability is allotted away from standby strains and to Lightning Lanes?
These questions will as soon as once more be front-of-mind for a lot of Walt Disney World followers seeing this large growth of Lightning Lane Premier Cross. Whereas they’re truthful to ask, we aren’t frightened. The caps and demand for LLPP are fairly low–and that’s a good factor for everybody else!
The target market for LLPP is exceedingly restricted. It’s my understanding that fewer than 1% of company have been buying Lightning Lane Premier Cross on the overwhelming majority of days. That quantity is larger when crowds are larger, particularly at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but it surely’s nonetheless solely round 2% of all company (possibly beneath).
There’s certain to be fan frustration that the corporate is getting grasping and easily needs to promote extra Premier Cross. That’s most likely true, however maybe not in the best way you suppose. Now that Christmas and New Yr’s Eve has handed, costs and demand for LLPP have undoubtedly dropped precipitously.
Lightning Lane Premier Cross did promote out for essentially the most dates between Christmas and New Yr’s Eve at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a pair at EPCOT. Nevertheless, that’s the busiest week of all the yr. The one actually busy week on the horizon the place Lightning Lane promote outs are conceivable is Easter–possibly a pair dates at Magic Kingdom round Winter Break and early Spring Break. Earlier than and after that, it’s unlikely.
This isn’t about rising Lightning Lane Premier Cross on the expense of everybody else–it’s about opening LLPP to extra company and retaining utilization at 1%. If demand had been sturdy and Walt Disney World wished to promote extra Lightning Lane Premier Cross, they may merely…promote extra? In any case, they’re those who set the caps, so if it had been actually a provide scarcity, they may create extra out of skinny air. This can be a demand shortfall, therefore an try at remedying it by increasing the pilot program to all company.
For our half, we’ve noticed completely no affect in any way on Lightning Lane utilization because of Premier Cross. I did in depth testing of Multi-Cross and standby strains in November and December, together with one of many busier vacation weekends of the yr. There was no drawback in any way. Traces had been significantly better than final yr, regardless of Lightning Lane Premier Cross having launched (after which expanded) throughout these timeframes.
Once more, we’ve defined this in Right here’s Why Standby Traces and Lightning Lanes Are Transferring Sooner at Walt Disney World and have mentioned it elsewhere. That’s actually price studying if you wish to perceive the rising disconnect between ‘looks like’ crowds and wait instances. Suffice to say, Lightning Lane Premier Cross has not triggered any issues in any way.
Clearly, Lightning Lane Premier Cross isn’t the explanation strains are transferring sooner, both. There are a number of contributing components, with the DAS adjustments and, to a lesser extent, swap from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi-Cross having essentially the most important affect. It ought to go with out saying that there are controversies, downsides, and unlucky realities to the above. However the enchancment to the movement of strains–standby and Lightning Lanes–in addition to decrease wait instances can be plain.
As for the affect of the growth of Lightning Lane Premier Cross on strains, it ought to proceed to be nonexistent. For no matter it’s price, I’d preserve this place even when Walt Disney World tripled the availability of Lightning Lane Premier Cross.
It’s because, as soon as once more, it’s largely a requirement challenge. Extra company staying on the 4 Seasons Orlando and the opposite aforementioned luxurious resorts will buy Premier Cross, certain. However it nonetheless gained’t be a statistically-significant quantity–not sufficient to have an effect on standby line wait instances or Lightning Lane utilization.
Even with out any caps, my guess is that Lightning Lane Premier Cross wouldn’t actually transfer the needle on these issues. For one factor, it’s secure to imagine that almost all of LLPP company are already utilizing some type of line-skipping–which means that they’re both upgrading from Multi-Cross or downgrading from VIP excursions. So this actually solely incrementally adjustments their frequency.
For an additional factor, natural demand is restricted by the excessive value of Lightning Lane Premier Cross. Apart from a handful of the busiest days of the yr, Premier Cross has not been promoting out as-is even when accessible in “very restricted portions” to the company most inclined to buy it just because the worth is just too excessive.
There are potential “fixes” to make LLPP extra engaging, similar to a vast model, providing quite a few floating re-rides, introducing a Park Hopper choice, or making it considerably inexpensive. Nevertheless, all of them include downsides which have unintended penalties that might damage Disney’s backside line, similar to cannibalizing VIP tour gross sales, lowering income, making the service sophisticated and complicated, or decreasing common length-of-stay for high-rolling company.
Finally, if Lightning Lane Premier Cross is generally not promoting out when made accessible in “very restricted portions” then it clearly additionally gained’t promote out in very excessive portions. There’s not an enormous untapped pool of company who wish to purchase this product providing however can’t.
That is additionally exactly why LLPP won’t ever change Lightning Lane Multi-Cross or Single Cross. Though it might not look like it at instances, most company are cost-sensitive. That is exactly why the decrease tier resorts are extra well-liked than the upper tier ones, Cosmic Ray’s is busier than Monsieur Paul, and so forth.
The entire complaints about Disney solely wanting wealthy company–whereas feeling legitimate–ignore this sensible actuality and limitation. Walt Disney World can’t cater solely to the rich, as a result of there merely will not be sufficient such company to even come near sustaining the parks and resorts. The recognition, or lack thereof, of Lightning Lane Premier Cross ought to reinforce this conclusion.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you concentrate on Lightning Lane Premier Cross? Ideas on Walt Disney World increasing the highest tier of paid FastPass to all company? Predictions as to how profitable this line-skipping service will probably be? Below what, if any, eventualities would you purchase Lightning Lane Premier Cross? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
