Do Disney fans really have to pay the new upcharges to have a good time when visiting Disneyland and Walt Disney World?
As part of its post-lockdown changes at the parks, Disney eliminated its free Fastpass line-skipping service in favor of new, paid Lightning Lanes. Park visitors can buy access to the Lightning Lanes individually for Disney’s popular attractions or for multiple attractions through the new Disney Genie+ product. The prices for Individual Lightning Lane and Disney Genie+ can vary by date.
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Any time a park offers a line-skipping option for its attractions, that increases wait times for other park guests who do not pay for the upcharge, as they now have to wait for the line-skippers who cut ahead. So fans have been howling that the only way to enjoy less-than-oppressive wait times for top Disney attractions is to give in and pay for the new Lightning Lane upcharges — costs can add more than $25 a day per person to already pricey Disneyland or Walt Disney World visits.
But is that true? On a recent Saturday, my daughter and I visited Disneyland and decided to do everything wrong. The weather was lovely, and the parks were slammed, but we rolled in late and chose not to purchase Genie+ or Lightning Lane. What would we be able to see on a busy weekend?
Plenty, it turned out. Even without the line skips, we managed to experience seven attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean and the longest line in the park — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — in less than six hours starting at noon. That’s the busiest time of day in the parks, but we saw shows, ate lunch and dinner, met characters and paddled canoes while enjoying several other attractions, waiting in the full standby queue for each. The only hellish experience we encountered was the finale of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. (If you know, you know.)
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On our day doing everything wrong, my daughter and I discovered what millions of Disneyland fans have learned — that it is possible to enjoy a day at the park without getting up early for rope drop, without following a detailed attack plan and without paying extra for Lightning Lane. Wait times are not unreasonable when they deliver a rewarding experience at their end. If they do not, the problem is not the wait time, it’s the inferior attraction.
Sure, other local theme parks charge less for admission. Maybe they’re a better deal for some fans, too. But Disneyland continues to deliver a wonderful experience even while charging more. That’s why the park continues to be filled with visitors despite the recent price increases.
Running ThemeParkInsider.com, I have written countless articles with advice on how fans can get the most from their days visiting Disney and other theme parks. While you can get more from your visit with early starts, attack plans and upcharges like Lightning Lane, my most important advice is that no visitor ever should feel pressured to use them.