Here’s How Disney’s New Line-Skipping Service Compares to Other Theme Park’s Similar Offerings, New Study

Disney just introduced Lightning Lane Premier Pass, a new type of pass that will enable visitors to skip lines throughout the day without needing to make a return time reservation in advance.

Offerings like the Lightning Lane Premier Pass have been available at many different competing theme parks like Universal, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags, and more. We have gathered some information about what each of these includes and their pricing to compare to the new Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass.

Keep reading for more details on the premier skip-the-line service pricing across different theme parks!

Premier Line Skipping Services Prices

At Disney World, prices for the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will vary by date and theme park, and prices will range from $129 to $449 per pass at launch. At Disneyland, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will range in price from $300-$400 per person, with prices varying depending on the date and demand. Click here to read the news on how this new Disney Premier Pass will work at Disneyland and Disney World.

With the expense of Lightning Lane Premier Pass, many are likely wondering how this compares to premier line-skipping services at other theme parks. We have gathered this information below from theme parks including Universal, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags, SeaWorld, and Legoland.

You can see a demonstration of the premier line-skipping services at competing theme parks in the table below.

The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass compares most directly with the Express Pass offered at Universal. There are a couple of key differences to note, however. One major difference is that Express Pass at Universal Studios Hollywood ($199-$319) includes 1 day general admission.

Universal Orlando's Universal Express Unlimited gets closer in pricing to Disney's pricing for Lightning Lane Premier Pass ($120-$320), but note that Universal Express Unlimited includes the ability to skip the regular lines an unlimited number of times rather than just once. That said the Universal passes do not include the ability to ride Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure which is regarded as the best ride at Universal Islands of Adventure.

Knott's Berry Farm's Fast Lane ($74-$129) gives you priority boarding on select rides all day, an unlimited number of times with a Fast Lane wristband.

The highest-tier line-skipping option at Six Flags Magic Mountain, “THE FLASH Pass Ultimate,” gives immediate access to the priority boarding lane. The pricing for this, $170-$275, is in a similar vein as the pricing for the Premier Pass for EPCOT, which is currently $169 to $249.

SeaWorld has some different tiers of line-skipping options available. “Quick Queue Unlimited + Reserved Seating PLUS” at SeaWorld San Diego is priced at $39.99-$69.99 and includes the ability to “bypass lines at SeaWorld’s most popular rides and get reserved seating at participating shows and presentations,” as well as enjoy one-time priority access to Arctic Rescue.

This option under the same name at SeaWorld Orlando, “Reserved Seating + Quick Queue Unlimited PLUS,” for $39.99-$159.99 allows guests to “enjoy reserved seats at our shows and presentations, plus unlimited front-of-the-line access to our most popular rides, and 1-time priority access to ALL-NEW Penguin Trek and Pipeline roller coasters.”

Legoland's skip-the-line services differ by coast. Legoland San Diego operates on a “Reserve & Ride” system more comparable to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, where you'll make reservations through your phone one at a time, and reservations must be used or cancelled before you can make another one. When the virtual wait is over, you'll go to the Reserve & Ride entrance. The highest tier of this is the “Reserve & Ride Ultimate,” ranging in price from $100-$135, which will “reduce your virtual wait by 90%.”

Legoland Florida's skip-the-line service is more like the Premier Pass. With FasTrack Unlimited (which costs $69.99 – $124.99), you'll be able to enjoy faster access all day to participating attractions with a FasTrack Unlimited Band, going to the FasTrack Unlimited Access Line at the exit of the rides.

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