Is the Lightning Lane Premier at Walt Disney World Worth the Price? Let’s talk about it!
Written by Stephanie Haynes
As a travel agent, one of the most common questions I get from my clients is whether I think something is “worth it” or not.
With so many options and varying price points, it can be overwhelming to decide which add-ons to purchase!
Recently, I had the opportunity to experience Lightning Lane Premier firsthand at Disney's Hollywood Studios during one of the busiest days of the year—December 27th. Here are some thoughts based on my experience!
What is Lightning Lane Premier?
As a quick introduction, Lightning Lane Premier is an upgraded access pass that lets you bypass regular standby lines for some of the most popular attractions at Disney World. It is a more premium version of Disney’s standard Lightning Lane offering, which gives priority access to certain rides and experiences for an additional fee but has limitations to the number of rides that can be booked and what times guests can access those rides. Lightning Lane Premier is designed to help guests maximize their time in the parks, especially during peak seasons when wait times can soar into the 90-minute range or more. Unlike the standard Lightning Lane option, Premier allows guests to access all eligible rides one time per day at any time of their choosing (assuming the ride is operating).
Using Lightning Lane Premier at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is a must-see park for many visitors, thanks to its mix of thrilling rides, iconic attractions, and a star-studded lineup of experiences. However, visiting this park on December 27th—right after Christmas—was intense. The crowds were massive, and standby lines for rides like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway were long enough to make you second-guess whether it was worth the wait.
Due to some personal reasons, my family got a late start to the day. We hadn’t purchased Lightning Lane Premier prior to arriving in Hollywood Studios, but were happy to see that it was still available given that the park was incredibly busy. Although Lightning Lane Premier is pricey, we ultimately decided to take the plunge and give Lightning Lane Premier a shot.
What It Was Like Using Lightning Lane Premier
From the moment we first scanned in to Rock’n’Roller Coaster (our first ride of the day), I realized just how much time we were saving. As soon as we walked up to the attraction, we saw that the wait time was almost 2 hours. With Lightning Lane Premier, we were able to bypass the regular standby lines, which were packed, and instead walked right into shorter, quicker lines.
I have plenty of experience with the standard Lightning Lane offering, so I appreciated the flexibility that something like Lightning Lane Premier offers. When using the regular Lightning Lanes, you often end up walking back and forth across the park as different Lightning Lanes open up throughout the day. It can be difficult to plan your day because you never know where you might be in a few hours. You might be able to grab a last minute Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog Dash and have to hoof it across the park from where you were having dinner at 50’s Prime Time, for example.
Because Lightning Lane Premier allows guests to enter the Lightning Lanes at any time, we were able to naturally make our way across the park without having to zig-zag and backtrack. We were able to pop from ride to ride as we made our way around the park, meaning that there were fewer sore feet by the end of the day!
We were able to enjoy more of what Hollywood Studios had to offer, like Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Tower of Terror, all with minimal wait times.
The Price Tag: Is It Worth It?
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: cost. The Lightning Lane Premier isn't cheap. But here's the thing—whether something is “worth it” is subjective. Some guests are okay with waiting in long lines, while others are looking to squeeze as many experiences as possible into a single day. For me, considering the massive crowds, I found the Premier option to be well worth the price.
The cost varies from day to day, so if you’re planning on visiting during a less busy time, you may find that the parks are busy enough to justify the (slightly) lower cost on your particular visit.
Ultimately, whether or not this sort of premium add-on is worth the cost is very personal and is worth taking some time to consider prior to arriving in the parks!
Is It Worth It? My Verdict
While whether or not something is “worth it” is highly personal and depends on your priorities, I can confidently say that for a busy day like December 27th, I felt that the Lightning Lane Premier was absolutely worth the cost. The ability to avoid incredibly long lines made our day feel more relaxed and enjoyable. For my family, it was worth the investment to have more time experiencing the magic and less time standing in line.
Final Thoughts
When advising clients about whether to use the Lightning Lane Premier, I always ask what kind of experience they want. If avoiding long waits and maximizing time in the parks is a priority, especially during busy times like the holidays, then the Premier option can be a game-changer. On the other hand, if your goal is to take things slow and enjoy a more leisurely pace, you may not feel the need to upgrade. It’s all about what fits your personal preferences.
I would definitely recommend considering the Lightning Lane Premier if you’re planning to visit Walt Disney World during peak seasons. It can make a huge difference in your overall experience, especially at crowded parks like Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom.
Stephanie grew up in an avid Disney household, spending her childhood watching Disney channel original movies and reading Uncle Scrooge comic books. Having grown up in the Southwestern US she was able to visit Disneyland in her youth before eventually making it to visit Walt Disney World in Florida. She now goes to Walt Disney World as much as possible!
Over the years she’s been on several different cruises and had the opportunity to travel to England, Scotland, China, Japan and visit various all-inclusive resorts. She loves all kinds of travel and can’t wait to share that passion for exploration and magic with others!
If you want to work with Haleigh to plan your next great adventure to a Disney Park, on a cruise or beyond you can fill out a quote form here!