Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World could be complicated. There are three separate methods for line-skipping at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Genie+ is gone, as is free FastPass. This information provides a crash course with our greatest suggestions & tips that can prevent probably the most time (and cash) when utilizing Lightning Lane Multi-Go at WDW in 2025.
Let’s begin by straightening issues out. Lightning Lane Multi-Go (LLMP) is the first line-skipping choice at Walt Disney World. Moreover, there’s Lightning Lane Single Go (LLSP), which is the a la carte choice that was once known as Particular person Lightning Lanes. Lastly, there’s Lightning Lane Premier Go (LLPP), which is the highest tier of line-skipping meant for the highest 1-2% of company and priced accordingly. Received all of that? Good. If not, see our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World.
Lightning Lane Multi-Go is actually the core product. It’s just about paid FastPass+, however minus the marquee attraction in every park (or 2 in Magic Kingdom), which has line-skipping entry offered a la carte through LLSP. We’ll solely be specializing in LLMP right here as a result of it’s the one one which’s actually “hackable.” The others are extra easy, so whereas we may provide restricted suggestions & tips, they’re mainly a matter of purchase them or don’t.
It is a crash course supposed to make you a Lightning Lane professional, so we’re going to gloss over most fundamentals. It would take studying this a few instances for every thing to “click on,” nevertheless it ought to after this if you have already got a foundational understanding of how line-skipping works at Walt Disney World.
To that time, the primary tip is to realize some “free” firsthand expertise by enjoying round with the Lightning Lane Multi-Go characteristic in My Disney Expertise as soon as the window opens in your tickets. You possibly can undergo the motions of reserving your first 3 alternatives earlier than shopping for, which offers worthwhile hands-on experience for understanding the fundamentals. In case you’re a visible learner, spending ~half-hour within the app is the best solution to get a really feel for LLMP.
With that out of the way in which, let’s dig proper in with important recommendation and suggestions & tips for getting probably the most out of Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World…
These Are the Finest Parks for LLMP
Beneath the prior system, the most effective park for buying Lightning Lanes was Magic Kingdom. Our recommendation was to nearly at all times purchase there, and normally at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We really useful skipping it typically at EPCOT and more often than not at Animal Kingdom.
This kind of stays true, with the largest change that we’ve seen Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom flip-flop in our subject testing. We’ve had the most effective success and saved probably the most time with Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, making that our new #1 for LLMP.
Magic Kingdom is now #2. There are a number of causes for this. First, tiering at Magic Kingdom presents considerably extra friction, as in comparison with what was once the “best” park. Second, the unreliability of Tiana’s Bayou Journey (TBA) makes that unpredictable (extra on technique for this particular experience under). Even should you rating a LLMP for TBA, you might not be utilizing it. Lastly, rolling refurbishments of tier 1 sights–now with Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad closed by way of 2026–makes the highest tier sparse, and the second tier extra aggressive in consequence.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios hasn’t actually gotten higher or worse. It’s the park with the very best common wait instances, the #1 general Lightning Lane Multi-Go, and competitors for headliners. Nevertheless, it additionally has simpler availability for (objectively higher) tier two sights and experience reservation refills should you leverage the rolling 3 rule and put just a little elbow grease into your refresh sport. For these causes, we discover ourselves having the most effective expertise with Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and saving probably the most time.
Park Hopping Saves Cash
There isn’t any further cost for Park Hopping, and you do not want to pay for the Lightning Lane Multi-Go a second time. This implies you might pay the bottom value for Lightning Lane Multi-Go by beginning at Animal Kingdom, after which Park Hopping to Magic Kingdom (the costliest park). That’s a technique unto itself for saving cash!
It’s not one which I’d essentially suggest, as you’re on the mercy of same-day availability and the luck of experience reservation refills, nevertheless it’s not essentially a foul strategy. That’s doubly true should you mix the entire suggestions right here and get good at hacking LLMP.
Regardless, Park Hopping could be the difference-maker for whether or not Lightning Lane Multi-Go is “value it” at Animal Kingdom or EPCOT. In case you begin out at DAK early within the morning, use LLMP strategically for less than a few key sights earlier than beginning to make subsequent alternatives in one of many different three parks, that may be a game-changer. Though we’re not huge followers of shopping for LLMP at Animal Kingdom or EPCOT, we do like shopping for it at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT (that means a single day for each).
Prioritize Early Return Instances
When you redeem your first Lightning Lane, you’ll be able to guide one other. Contemplate this the “rolling 3 rule,” which is to say that you would be able to at all times have 3 Lightning Lane alternatives (topic to availability). With the rolling 3 rule of Lightning Lane Multi-Go, you can also make your subsequent experience reservation as quickly as you’ve used one.
Furthermore, when you’ve tapped into your first Lightning Lane, tiers now not apply for subsequent alternatives. It thus behooves you to order a minimum of one Lightning Lane earlier within the day to faucet into that and unlock subsequent alternatives sooner–and get rid of the tiers for future and present alternatives.
In observe, this may imply reserving an unpopular Lightning Lane very first thing within the morning with a brief experience period (so that you’re not committing a lot time to it) should you can’t rating an early preliminary return time for a tier 1 attraction. We name these “burner” Lightning Lanes–rides just like the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Alien Swirling Saucers–or different spinners and flat rides. As quickly as you faucet into one in all these, you can also make one other Lightning Lane choice and modify your different tier 2 choose to improve to tier 1. Once more, all topic to availability.
This is the reason you don’t wish to merely prioritize the most effective rides–it’s good to optimize for top precedence but in addition earlier return instances. This isn’t to say each choice must be within the morning–that’s additionally a poor strategy as a result of it’ll prevent the least time. However you don’t need all 3 of your pre-booked Lightning Lanes to be within the afternoon. Steadiness is the secret!
Prioritize Common Rides
We rank the most effective Lightning Lane Multi-Go picks for every park primarily based upon time saved and the way shortly return instances replenish and run out. Listed here are complete lists of each main attraction in every park:
With that stated, it’s arguably overkill to fret about each Lightning Lane attraction in mild of the above ‘rule’ about optimizing for return instances.
The highest tier sights you need to completely guide prematurely in the event that they’re choices are Tiana’s Bayou Journey, Peter Pan’s Flight, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After, Slinky Canine Sprint, Na’vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris (no tiers at Animal Kingdom, however recommendation nonetheless stands).
It doesn’t matter should you can solely get a 6 pm return time for Slinky Canine Sprint–you need to completely take that as a result of scoring a refill is unlikely. Simply be sure you have a minimum of one different Lightning Lane choice earlier than 10 am (ideally) to unlock subsequent alternatives through the rolling 3 rule.
Keep On-Website
Visitors staying at an on-site Walt Disney World Resort resort and different choose accommodations are capable of buy Lightning Lane passes as much as 7 days prematurely, for his or her total keep (as much as 14 days). Off-site company can solely make experience reservations as much as 3 days prematurely.
The top results of this is usually a vital on-site benefit, as numerous the “finest” Lightning Lanes shall be devoured up earlier than off-site company may even guide. On the very least, optimum return instances shall be gone previous to off-site company having an opportunity to guide. Because of this, you actually ought to think about staying on-site.
This shouldn’t be the one cause, after all, however should you’re debating between off-site and on-site, you need to completely ascribe worth to this and different perks, together with however not restricted to Early Entry, WDW transportation, ADR home windows, and so on. From a price calculus, we now discover it tough to beat the Worth Resorts. Despite the fact that their base value is usually increased than the most cost effective off-site lodging, the worth of the perks and never having to pay for transportation or parking greater than closes the hole. See Off-Website vs. On-Website Accommodations at Walt Disney World for an goal rundown of professionals & cons.
E book Backwards
When pre-booking your Lightning Lanes alternatives, you accomplish that someday at a time beginning at 7 a.m. on the date that your window opens. You aren’t alone. You’ll be competing towards hundreds of different rabid (not actually…hopefully) planners doing the very same factor.
I’ve been advised that I’m “too intense,” however I believe it’s at all times useful to view touring Walt Disney World as a aggressive sport you’re enjoying towards your fellow company. Like Squid Video games, minus the violence. (Though it doesn’t harm to sharpen your elbows, as our outdated pal easyWDW used to say, earlier than doing the Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare shuffle!) Or maybe an issue to be solved, should you’re not the aggressive kind.
In any case, it makes probably the most sense to guide your most tough day first and backload the tough days on the finish of your journey with Disney’s Hollywood Studios furthest out, then Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. This issues much less if in case you have an extended journey and extra for a shorter one. It additionally issues much less should you’re visiting throughout low to reasonable crowds, and extra throughout peak weeks.
For instance, if visiting the parks November 24-27, 2025 (Thanksgiving week), guide within the following order:
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Slinky Canine Sprint): November 27
- Magic Kingdom (Tiana’s Bayou Journey): November 26
- EPCOT (Remy’s Ratatouille Journey): November 25
- Animal Kingdom (Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris & Expedition Everest): November 24
Hopefully Tiana’s Bayou Journey is extra dependable by then, wherein case Magic Kingdom would drop under EPCOT. Observe that this isn’t a tough and quick rule, particularly throughout Occasion Season. It’s best to optimize this with the Finest & Worst Days of the Week in Every Park at Walt Disney World. Selecting the unsuitable day to go to every park is method worse than not backloading your picks when your LLMP window opens.
Fish for MEP
A number of Expertise Passes (MEP) are what you obtain an attraction for which you have got an upcoming experience reservation is experiencing downtime. You’ll obtain a notification a few modification to your plans, together with a proof that the attraction is briefly unavailable or one thing like that.
MEPs can be utilized on the Lightning Lane entrance of your selection all through the day, with plenty of caveats. These floating experience reservations don’t have the restriction of solely being legitimate for every attraction as soon as per day–you need to use MEPs to expertise your favourite rides repeatedly.
You possibly can ‘fish’ for Multi-Expertise Passes by reserving Lightning Lane Multi-Go prematurely for sights which are statistically susceptible to delayed openings. Simpler and higher but, you’ll be able to typically make day-of alternatives for sights which are at present experiencing downtime. In the event that they’re nonetheless unavailable when your return window rolls round, the LLMP mechanically converts to a MEP. It’s mainly a bonus Lightning Lane! That is advanced-level technique, so for a extra thorough clarification, see: Methods to Beat Lightning Lane Multi-Go Guidelines & Re-Journey Points of interest.
Know When to Skip
One of many issues we stress on this web site is that you need to NOT at all times purchase Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Walt Disney World. On the contrary, most individuals ought to skip the line-skipping service a minimum of a few of the time, at a few of the parks. In Finest Time-Saving Methods for Walt Disney World, we cowl the best approaches to every park, and Lightning Lanes don’t win in a minimum of 2 of the 4 parks.
The pitfall some folks make is assuming Lightning Lane Multi-Go is a ‘golden ticket’ or straightforward solution to beat the crowds. However it actually isn’t! That may lull planners right into a false sense of safety, to the purpose that they really are worse off as a result of they over relied on LLMP, mistakenly pondering it could provide a stress and strategy-free day.
If you need that, you’re going to need to pay $129 to $449 per individual, per day for Lightning Lane Premier Go. What Lightning Lane Multi-Go provides stress free is simply 3-4 rides per day. Leveraging LLMP requires a little bit of homework and legwork, therefore the put up. And should you’re prepared to try this, possibly you’re higher off placing the hassle in direction of Early Entry, rope drop, environment friendly itineraries that reduce strolling, staying late, Prolonged Night Hours, and so on.
Don’t merely succumb to FOMO and purchase Lightning Lane Multi-Go every single day of your journey. In case you’re buying since you’re apprehensive it’s the one solution to assure a very good day within the parks, you’re doing it unsuitable. It’s completely potential you’ll find yourself wanting it every single day, which is okay! Everyone seems to be totally different! Simply don’t view LLMP because the default, and purchase out of worry of the unknown.
For our half, we seldom buy Lightning Lane Multi-Go for enjoyable. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom are the one exceptions (we by no means purchase at EPCOT or Animal Kingdom), and solely every now and then. It helps that crowds are trending down, and likewise that standby strains are shifting sooner and wait instances are down at Walt Disney World in consequence. That’s simply us, although, and our circumstances are distinctive in that we’re frequent guests.
It’s essential you assess your personal distinctive circumstances to find out when and the place Lightning Lane Multi-Go is best for you. Elements to think about are your finances, what number of days you have got within the parks, whether or not you’re staying on-site, should you’re an early riser or night time owl, whether or not you’ve been earlier than or it’s your first go to, tolerance for strains, and if there are must-do sights for you. For a deeper dive and extra complete recommendation, see When You Ought to Skip Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Walt Disney World.
Search for TBA Refills
Tiana’s Bayou Journey remains to be struggling reliability woes and downtime in consequence. Some days, it’s down for a number of hours; different days, none in any respect. It’s unpredictable. It’s additionally the latest attraction at Walt Disney World, and something new is in increased demand. Because of these two components, Tiana’s Bayou Journey is without doubt one of the most tough Lightning Lane Multi Passes, proper up there with Slinky Canine Sprint.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey is frequently working out of Lightning Lane Multi Go reservations earlier than the 7-day mark. (This varies primarily based on climate–it’s a lot simpler when each day excessive temperatures are 60 levels!) There have been instances after I’ve had bother reserving it over 10 days out, with restricted return instances that didn’t work for my schedule.
With that stated, same-day experience reservation refills for Tiana’s Bayou Journey is usually a totally different story. As a result of its unpredictability and issues, Disney is clearly setting apart most Lightning Lanes for Tiana’s Bayou Journey and releasing them day-of primarily based on uptime and downtime.
That means that on days when the attraction is working effectively and doesn’t have downtime, there are Lightning Lane drops for Tiana’s Bayou Journey which are occurring with almost-immediate return instances. A few of these situations when there was nothing on the 7-day mark, I’ve been capable of rating same-day availability for return instances ~half-hour into the longer term.
The issue is that that is dependent upon Tiana’s Bayou Journey not breaking down. If it’s having a tough day, there may not be any experience reservation refills for TBA. Suffice to say, there’s numerous luck concerned, however should you’re visiting on the suitable day, you need to actually preserve a detailed eye out for near-instant return instances for Tiana’s Bayou Journey. It’s probably the most hit and miss excessive profile attraction for Lightning Lanes.
Have a Robust Refresh Sport
As you’ve most likely gathered from the entire above, extra attraction availability is added to Lightning Lane Multi-Go all through the day. That is no shock in any respect, as each FastPass+ and Genie+ had experience reservation refills, drops, pop-up availability or no matter you wish to name it. This happens each pursuant to a reasonably constant schedule, and likewise at random. (See Journey Reservation Refill Guidelines at Walt Disney World.)
Taking part in the refresh sport is much and away the #1 tip & trick for Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Walt Disney World. In case you’re merely settling for no matter you see instantly, you’re doing it unsuitable. That’s a recipe for disappointment and solely getting 3-4 “good” Lightning Lanes per day.
Past this being the #1 tip, enjoying the refresh sport additionally combines a number of of the above methods. It’s why you wish to steadiness the most effective Lightning Lanes with earlier return instances, as meaning extra time to play the refresh sport, thereby bettering your odds of success.
Combining this with the rolling 3 rule, what you need to do is instantly select the most effective obtainable choice after you’ve tapped into Lightning Lane to unlock your subsequent choice. At all times guide one thing–don’t refresh and watch for the “excellent” Lightning Lane. Reserving one other experience reservation is actually a hedge. The fowl in hand, and so forth.
From there, play the refresh sport by modifying to one thing higher. Commerce up, so to talk. It’s a great way to hedge your bets. Simply be warned: it turns into addictive–identical to a online game. Additionally like a sport, it could imply dropping a ton of ‘actual world’ time as your face is glued to a display screen.
My tried and true Lightning Lane refresh technique is tapping in, reserving the most effective obtainable choice, and modifying. There are a number of approaches for refreshing from right here, however I favor toggling the “shut” dropdown on the modify display screen to refresh instances. Examine the left and proper, the latter of which exhibits pop-up availability for 4:25 pm that wasn’t there 2 minutes earlier. In my expertise, toggling this “shut” dropdown is probably the most environment friendly solution to play the refresh sport. YMMV.
Once more, this will develop into addictive and you’ll waste numerous time enjoying the refresh sport–therefore so many Walt Disney World followers complaining about Lightning Lanes “requiring” you to have your face glued to the cellphone. My tough “rule” for enjoying the refresh sport is limiting it to my time within the Lightning Lane return line after tapping in. This implies I’ve wherever from 2 minutes to 10 minutes–all of it is determined by whether or not there are two faucet factors, the place merge happens, and so on. Identical goes for any time I’m ready–to select up a Cell Order, for espresso, the remainder of my social gathering to get out of the restroom, and so on.
Frankly, you’ll be stunned at simply how a lot buying and selling up is feasible with only a few minutes right here and there spent refreshing. Even should you don’t get the most effective alternatives when pre-booking, you’ll be able to normally overcome that by enjoying the Lightning Lane refresh sport for a couple of minutes right here and there. With that and the remainder of the following tips, you actually ought to have the ability to get probably the most mileage out of Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your finest suggestions & tips for leveraging LLMP at WDW? Do you steadiness return instances with experience priorities when making Lightning Lane Multi Go alternatives? Any guidelines of thumb when enjoying the Lightning Lane refresh sport? Do you agree with our evaluation that getting earlier return instances issues loads for the ‘rolling 3’ rule? The place/when do you purchase LLMP or skip it? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
