Walt Disney World continues to tweak queue capability allocations, and that on prime of fixing crowd patterns and better costs has resulted in a distinct worth proposition for Lightning Lane Multi-Go. This seems at wait instances for standby traces, LLMP availability, plus our experiences and reader reviews to clarify how issues have modified in 2025 and allow you to decide whether or not Lightning Lanes are nonetheless “value it” or if sticking to free standby plus savvy technique is sweet sufficient.
It is a subject we first addressed final 12 months in Right here’s Why Standby Strains & Lightning Lanes Are Shifting Sooner at Walt Disney World. I don’t wish to merely rehash that put up and would additionally like this to be extra concise, so I’m going to construct on just a few of the conclusions there whereas additionally presupposing others.
Crowd ranges are usually down at Walt Disney World on a year-over-year foundation since final February. This does not imply that wait instances are low–it implies that they’re, on common, decrease than the identical timeframes as final 12 months. Which means Spring Break 2025 was nonetheless slammed, however not as slammed as final 12 months. Summer season is already heating up–you would possibly encounter a 75 minute anticipate Slinky Canine Sprint, whereas it’d’ve been 90 minutes final 12 months. Nonetheless a protracted wait, however not an insignificant distinction!
However as we frequently level out, crowd ranges as decided by wait instances (an imperfect measure, however the one worthwhile one) should not the identical as ‘seems like’ crowds or congestion. The latter is extra corresponding to attendance (nonetheless imperfect, however nearer). Mainly, wait instances don’t inform the total story.
For in regards to the final 12 months, there’s been much more of a divergence between wait instances and crowds or attendance, with the previous dropping greater than the latter. The truth is, wait instances have continued lowering in 2025 at the same time as executives have indicated that bookings are up at Walt Disney World year-over-year. Attendance is growing at the same time as wait instances are lowering. How can that be reconciled?
Our idea: decrease use of the Lightning Lanes is the first driver of decrease standby wait instances. Fewer company are skipping the road, and are as an alternative within the common line (or doing one thing else totally). This could clarify why the standby traces are transferring extra fluidly and why wait instances are decrease–as a result of fewer company are within the Lightning Lanes, being prioritized and pulled in entrance of standby traces.
Underneath Genie+ and FastPass, normal working process referred to as for a roughly 4:1 or 80:20 ratio of ‘quick lane’ to standby company on the the attraction’s merge level. This meant that for each 10 events boarding an attraction, 8 had been pulled from the Lightning Lane and a couple of had been pulled from standby.
This was the baseline–the ratio solely will get much less favorable for the standby line! When there was elevated demand, Solid Members had the discretion to regulate that merge to a 90:10 ratio. From there, the ratio might be adjusted up even additional, which solely occurs within the occasion of prolonged downtime and a backlog of Lightning Lane company.
That is accompanied by an arbitrarily excessive wait time being posted to discourage company from getting within the standby line. As a result of although these company would possibly see a brief line, it’s however a protracted wait. The entire purpose is to course of the backlog of Lightning Lane company. None of that is something new–these ratios have existed because the FastPass days.
That’s why standby traces can transfer at a snail’s tempo with FastPass/Lightning Lanes, as a result of these company are progressing by the road slower. It’s (nearly) all in regards to the ratio. There could possibly be 200 company within the Lightning Lane and 50 within the standby line, but when the pull ratio is 90:10, the 199th visitor within the Lightning Lane will nonetheless board earlier than the thirtieth visitor within the standby line.
As I shared in our earlier replace late final 12 months, my expertise within the standby traces over the course of the final 12 months has undoubtedly not been that 4 persons are being pulled from the Lightning Lane for each one visitor from the standby line.
So far in 2025, I’ve been doing intensive testing for overhauled itineraries and with the change to standby for Cosmic Rewind, Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and TRON Lightcycle Run. Anecdotally, this has roughly confirmed what I beforehand suspected: the ratio is now pretty near 1:1. That’s one social gathering from standby for each social gathering from the Lightning Lane.
For what it’s value, this could nonetheless skew in favor of the Lightning Lane. Walt Disney World operations nonetheless has a mandate to prioritize Lightning Lane company and guarantee their wait instances are saved to a minimal. So if there’s a backlog of company within the Cosmic Rewind Lightning Lane, for instance, as a result of downtime or at Peter Pan’s Flight post-parade, these company will nonetheless be processed first, tipping the scales again in favor of the Lightning Lane. However throughout regular instances, I’d ballpark it at 1:1.
Whereas I reported my suspicions of this months in the past, my latest testing has additional bolstered that that is occurring. And I’m not the one one which’s been watching this. TouringPlans just lately launched their very own area testing outcomes, providing corroboration. They arrive on the similar 1:1 conclusion, with a sliding scale of two:1 and three:1–nonetheless decrease than the outdated mannequin underneath FastPass. In addition they recommend that much less park capability has been put aside for Lightning Lane company.
There are a few ways in which our conclusions differ. The primary is that they recommend this can be a latest growth as of 2025. Whereas I might agree that the apply has turn out to be extra pronounced this 12 months, I noticed (and wrote about) this sample final 12 months. It felt noticeable throughout above-average vacation dates between Veterans Day and Christmas.
They conclude that the modifications are nice for company in standby traces, leading to shorter waits. I strongly agree with this–it’s fairly inarguable–and assume it’s value underscoring just a few instances. Standby traces are transferring sooner and the wait instances are decrease–that was actually our earlier headline. An enormous win for company sick of upcharges.
Nevertheless, their flipside conclusion is that company utilizing Lightning Lanes may have “marginally longer” waits. I may see how this inference is likely to be drawn from the information, however my on-the-ground observations don’t actually assist this. From what I’ve seen, the reverse is true. On its face, that won’t make sense. Trip capability is what it’s, so positive factors for standby come on the expense of Lightning Lanes–and vice-versa, proper?
A method we are able to decide Lightning Lanes is by merely taking a look at them. There are a number of different sights that used to often use overflow queues for the Lightning Lanes. There have been instances when Peter Pan’s Flight would again up previous PhilharMagic, Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare would have a number of switchbacks (by way of tape on the bottom), House Mountain had a line out to the TTA monitor, and so forth.
This will nonetheless occur from time-to-time, particularly on peak days or after rides return from extreme downtime. However it was beforehand occurring with regularity, even on low season days. I haven’t seen Lightning Lanes that persistently backed up within the final ~11 months. It’s a night-and-day distinction.
This helps an alternate speculation: what if as an alternative of the ratio being modified to favor standby and enhance waits for Lightning Lanes, that fewer Lightning Lanes are being issued within the first place? That it’s not the tail wagging the canine–the ratio isn’t what modified first, however is an oblique byproduct of decrease utilization of line-skipping? (In different phrases, it’s provide facet–fewer Lightning Lanes are being distributed.)
In combing by the information and listening to Disney’s earnings calls, the reason for that is not Lightning Lane Multi-Go or Single Go having decrease demand than their predecessors. On the contrary, Lightning Lane Single Go is promoting out far more typically than Particular person Lightning Lanes did, even in low to reasonable crowd ranges.
We’ve noticed greater demand and extra restricted stock for Lightning Lane Multi-Go and Single Go. A number of totally different Lightning Lanes totally guide up upfront and have restricted same-day availability, together with some that by no means had been tough with the Genie+ system. As for the ‘why’ of this, our greatest clarification is heightened FOMO and FUD.
Since company are not shopping for Lightning Lanes same-day, it’s harder to evaluate the necessity for them and alter accordingly throughout your trip. As such, there’s seemingly a bent to “over-purchase” Lightning Lanes as in comparison with underneath the outdated system. (One other topic that’s past the scope of this put up, but it surely’s value studying our latest put up: When You Ought to Skip Lightning Lane Multi-Go.)
I’ve seen this with regularity when area testing Lightning Lane Multi-Go. Not simply that point slots are filling up upfront and a few rides are ‘promoting out’ of Lightning Lane stock a number of days upfront, but in addition that same-day drops are much less widespread. (They nonetheless happen, you simply need to work extra for them.)
All of this and extra is mentioned in our new High 10 Suggestions & Methods for Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World in 2025, with recent suggestions for adapting to the entire main modifications from Genie+ to Multi-Go that we’ve skilled in apply. (Not simply theoretical or coverage/rule modifications.) One massive change is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has turn out to be the #1 park for LLMP, dethroning Magic Kingdom, which was once the perfect park due to its trip roster.
That modified largely as a result of harder same-day availability and trip reservation refills at Magic Kingdom. You’ll be able to nonetheless leverage the rolling 3 rule if you happen to put somewhat elbow grease into your refresh sport, but it surely’s harder at Magic Kingdom than it was once. I might hazard a guess that the common visitor (not you) is acquiring fewer worthwhile Lightning Lanes per day than earlier than on reasonable crowd degree days at MK. We’ve additionally heard this from readers, a lot of whom are high-knowledge company who’ve accomplished “worse” with Lightning Lane Multi-Go.
It’s additionally supported by thrill-data, which tracks Lightning Lane availability. It has decreased markedly within the Lightning Lane Multi-Go/Single Go period. All of this helps a conclusion that Walt Disney World has throttled Lightning Lane provide.
This isn’t occurring in isolation. It’s additionally been occurring alongside the overhaul of Incapacity Entry Service to scale back abuse and misuse. It’s our understanding that that is what’s having the largest affect on each wait instances and decreased utilization of Lightning Lanes.
It’s all however sure that the DAS overhaul is among the main causes for shorter standby traces and fewer Lightning Lane utilization. This was one of many driving forces behind the crackdown, so it is smart. Even previous to the overhaul announcement, we had heard that DAS utilization had exploded and DAS utilization outpaced paid gross sales of Lightning Lanes.
Disney has been sued over lodging for disabled company up to now, and these stats have come out throughout discovery and testimony. A take a look at examine throughout that exposed that DAS customers skilled, on common, 45% extra sights than these with out DAS. And that examine was underneath the outdated system that was tougher to make use of and had much less abuse.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out right here that this DAS crackdown got here on the expense of disabled company who want DAS as a way to get pleasure from Walt Disney World. Whereas it’s good to see the abusers being denied, there was collateral harm. Many company who’re truly disabled have been swept up within the crackdown–it’s unlucky there’s no approach to narrowly goal the abusers. I received’t fake to know what the “good” resolution is–however a few of the tales to return out of the established order are heartbreaking.
Nevertheless, that is about shorter standby traces and decrease Lightning Lane utilization regardless of demand. Given the entire above, it’s not possible to reconcile all of that with out attributing it to the DAS overhaul. There are different contributing components, however a main driver is undoubtedly DAS.
DAS isn’t the one driver, although. As talked about above, the supply we’re seeing in our area testing and information strongly suggests much less stock for paid Lightning Lanes, too. That is fascinating, as a result of the DAS crackdown may theoretically yield the other–extra stock. And but, that has not been our expertise. It’s as if two massive dials are being adjusted without delay, and each in the identical course.
That is additional bolstered by Lightning Lane Multi-Go not promoting out through the vacation season or spring break, which used to occur with regularity underneath Genie+. In all probability, it’s because Disney is managing stock for the Lightning Lanes, allocating fewer to every visitor who’s using the system.
That form of begs the query: if much less stock is being utilized by DAS and by paid Lightning Lanes, the place is it going? Who’s the winner underneath this method? As already mentioned above, company within the standby traces–that is exactly why common wait instances are shorter (and in addition, not longer for company in Lightning Lanes). They’re not the one ones, although.
One other winner is company who buy Lightning Lane Premier Go. This isn’t to say that they had been actually losers earlier than, as that product providing has remained static since its launch. Nevertheless, the marginal worth for LLPP has arguably elevated since its launch. That is very true while you examine product choices. If the common visitor who buys Multi-Go is just getting 4-5 “good” Lightning Lanes as an alternative of all or most of them, the worth of LLPP isn’t just in comfort, lack of display screen time, and so forth. It additionally provides extra utility than the choice.
In idea, it is smart that Walt Disney World would wish to differentiate its product choices, throttling Lightning Lane Multi-Go to some extent to enhance the worth proposition of Lightning Lane Premier Go by comparability. In fact, I ponder if this was the first motivation. Lighting Lane Premier Go is a moderately area of interest product with an exceedingly restricted target market.
Making Multi-Go much less helpful is much less more likely to push individuals in direction of LLPP than it’s to push them in direction of nothing in any respect–free standby traces. The price disparity is the true hurdle for the overwhelming majority of company, not product differentiation. Volkswagen throttling the pace of the Beetle wouldn’t be a savvy technique for pushing individuals to buy the Porsche 911. That’s not the way it works.
Consequently, this as soon as once more brings us again to company in standby traces as the largest winners. The final ~5 years have made quite a lot of Walt Disney World followers extra cynical in direction of the corporate, me included. And for good motive! Even earlier than I hit publish, I can hear you doubting this conclusion (that’s proper, the skepticism is so sturdy that I can already hear it by way of a while warp kinda deal). When you’re accomplished laughing at the opportunity of Disney enhancing the “free” visitor expertise on the expense of the paid upcharge, hear me out.
Visitor satisfaction and intent to return or suggest metrics took a beating after the honeymoon interval post-reopening as a result of numerous cuts, whereas additionally implementing insurance policies that many followers hated. We’ve mentioned all of this at size, explaining that enhancing these metrics has been the driving issue behind making different guest-friendly modifications within the final couple of years.
It is a subject that once more reared its ugly head in Walt Disney World is Nervous About Its Excessive Costs, which lined how alarms are being sounded inside the corporate. Some executives worry that value will increase, nickel & diming, and so forth. are alienating followers, souring sentiment, and pricing out the center class. A couple of month after that leaked, Walt Disney World went on an all-out discounting and advertising blitz, with a flurry of offers that make this summer time the least expensive time to go to Walt Disney World since (not less than) 2019. The entire low cost facet of the “Cool Child Summer season” marketing campaign ought to’ve vindicated the reviews of these inner alarms and worries.
Again when the DAS modifications had been introduced final 12 months, we indicated that the meant beneficiary was company within the standby traces. That it wasn’t merely about liberating up capability to promote extra Lightning Lanes, however putting a greater stability. That queueing is a zero-sum sport, and internally, the view was {that a} small share of energy customers had been reaping disproportionate rewards on the expense of the overwhelming majority. The purpose was to normalize wait instances throughout the board. It now appears that this was true by adjusting each free and paid line-skipping.
Actually, it nonetheless comes as one thing of a shock to me that Walt Disney World would do something on the expense of paid Lightning Lane customers since that dangers decrease satisfaction amongst greater spending company, to not point out future gross sales. Not fairly certain tips on how to totally clarify this. Maybe management has been so happy with the general visitor satisfaction positive factors that it’s one thing they’re prepared to tolerate.
Perhaps they’ve managed to string the needle, discovering that the ‘candy spot’ for prime Lightning Lane purchaser visitor satisfaction is 4.12 traces skipped on common or 93 minutes saved ready in line, versus 4.47 traces and 108 minutes (all utterly made-up numbers), as would possibly’ve been the case underneath the Genie+ system. It’s additionally doable that the understanding of pre-booking alone will increase visitor satisfaction amongst patrons, even when they’re securing barely fewer experiences on common (and once more, averages aren’t the identical as maximums–it’s nonetheless doable for prime energy customers to outperform!). I actually don’t have any clue–simply spitballing potential explanations.
In the end, that’s our idea to why standby traces are shorter and sooner transferring on the similar time that Lightning Lane utilization has decreased, even with demand for Multi-Go and Single Go showing pretty sturdy. This strikes us as the one believable conclusion that reconciles Disney’s quarterly outcomes reporting greater bookings, decrease common wait instances information, decreased Lightning Lane availability, and our intensive experiences when testing.
Evidently Walt Disney World has achieved that desired higher stability between pursuits of company utilizing standby traces and Lightning Lanes. As for the titular query about whether or not Lightning Lanes are nonetheless “value it?,” our new rule of thumb is that it’s best to in all probability make the acquisition (or not) based mostly on the trip reservations you’re in a position to make on the level of buy, with the idea that you just’ll rating one extra worthwhile Lightning Lane at DHS and two at Magic Kingdom with minimal effort, and maybe just a few extra if in case you have a robust refresh sport.
Actually, the vital factor is that you just make an knowledgeable determination on the query as as to if Lightning Lanes are nonetheless definitely worth the cash to you, personally. The important thing right here is to grasp that standby traces are shorter and sooner transferring, with posted and precise wait instances which can be decrease because of the ratio of Lightning Lanes to the standby line altering fairly dramatically.
As needs to be demonstrated by the forgoing, it’s the “why” of this that basically issues. Whether or not Lightning Lanes are nonetheless value it’s going to be subjective–various based mostly in your price range, tolerance for ready in traces, and different technique. It additionally presupposes that line-skipping ever was value it within the first place, which I don’t assume was the case.
Personally, I’d nonetheless purchase Lightning Lane Multi-Go nearly the entire time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, more often than not at Magic Kingdom, lower than half of the time at EPCOT, and nearly by no means at Animal Kingdom (exception: December 22, 2025 to January 5, 2026). So there’s your reply if you happen to’re actually craving one, versus an in depth clarification.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What’s been your expertise with standby traces, Lightning Lanes, and the movement of each at Walt Disney World within the final 12 months or so? Have you ever been in a position to rating extra, fewer, or about the identical variety of Lightning Lanes underneath Multi-Go vs. Genie? Have you ever seen any discernible variations? Would you suggest LLMP or simply advise sticking to standby given these traits? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!