Disney has raised the costs on Lightning Lane Premier Cross, the top-tier of paid FastPass, to a brand new document excessive at Disneyland and California Journey efficient later this month. Listed below are full particulars, when increased costs hit, and what this implies for different value will increase at Walt Disney World and DLR for the beginning of the brand new fiscal yr.
For starters, the Lightning Lane Premier Cross value improve is neither shocking nor sudden. Somewhat, it’s probably a number one indicator of different “changes” (Disney’s most well-liked time period) on the horizon. This all the time occurs in the beginning of the brand new fiscal yr, which is one thing we lined over the weekend in Act Quick to Beat Worth Will increase at Walt Disney World & Disneyland for 2025-2026.
In actual fact, that article particularly predicted that, “in all probability, each Walt Disney World and Disneyland will elevate charges on or round October 8, 2025.” That’s a really particular date, however it’s kind of when costs went up in every of the final three years.
It’s often across the first week in October, on both Tuesday or Wednesday. Each coasts will probably revert to the identical date this yr within the (presumptive) absence of a hurricane closure. This was a secure prediction as a result of increased costs happen yr out and in on a constant and predictable schedule.
It now additionally seems to be an correct prediction. Let’s check out the Lightning Lane Premier Cross pricing calendar for Disneyland:
As you’ll be able to see, Lightning Lane Premier Cross hits a brand new document excessive value of $449 on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. That’s not a vacation or something particular–however it is the date that we beforehand predicted value will increase would hit. That’s most likely not a coincidence.
The value of Lightning Lane Premier Cross varies by date and demand, however is usually priced between $299 and $399 per individual, per day. Up till October 8, 2025, it had not damaged the $399 barrier–not even on peak season vacation dates.
This means that $449 just isn’t essentially the brand new value ceiling; simply the very best value we now have visibility into, since October 8, 2025 is at present as far out because the calendar goes. If that’s the worth in midweek earlier than Fall Break season kicks into excessive gear, I wouldn’t be in the least stunned if LLPP hits $499 and even breaks the $500 barrier round Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve.
Notice that these value will increase don’t seem when perusing the Lightning Lane Premier Cross (and even Multi-Cross or Single Cross) calendars for Walt Disney World.
Nevertheless, I additionally wouldn’t count on that to be the case. Worth will increase on Lightning Lanes across the begin of the brand new fiscal yr are widespread at Disneyland. Though each coasts use dynamic pricing, Disneyland’s charges on Lightning Lanes fluctuate much less–there’s a tighter vary with solely a handful of widespread value factors. Not solely that, however Lightning Lane Multi-Cross might be bought preloaded with tickets. That’s not attainable at Walt Disney World.
It’s been widespread for every of the final 3-4 rounds of value will increase to see a rise on the height value of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross (or Genie+ earlier than it) at Disneyland. This has not been the case with Walt Disney World, which as an alternative often units new document excessive costs between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We’d count on this to be true as soon as once more in 2025, with record-high costs for Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, Single Cross, and Premier Cross at Walt Disney World nearer to Christmas versus someday in October. (It often occurs the weekend or Monday earlier than Christmas.)
Disney elevating the worth on Lightning Lane Premier Cross is certain to be met with fan backlash. I do know this as a result of each value improve prompts that response. So right here goes my unpopular opinion: I hope they elevate the worth on Lightning Lane Premier Cross much more, and in addition at Walt Disney World.
Hear me out. Lightning Lane Premier Cross is an upmarket product providing aimed toward a really small share of company. It has additionally grow to be one of many few new sources of income development for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and was even cited as such on no less than two earnings calls since its launch.
I’ve by no means and can by no means buy Lightning Lane Premier Cross. Nevertheless, I don’t begrudge anybody who does buy this or another paid FastPass choice; everybody ought to spend their cash as they see match. As mentioned later within the submit, I truly assume Lightning Lane Premier Cross could possibly be a worthwhile choice, particularly for these whose scarcest useful resource is their time versus their cash.
As somebody who just isn’t the audience for LLPP, I additionally see value will increase on it as a web optimistic in a few methods.
First, increased costs for Lightning Lane Premier Cross may imply extra company hitting their balking level.
That’s theoretically good for the standby expertise, as it might imply much less attraction capability is allotted to Lightning Lanes. That is the extra easy upside to increased costs on LLPP being good for individuals who don’t purchase, however I believe it’s most likely exaggerated. For one, I’m skeptical it nets far fewer gross sales (if Disney had knowledge that it did, they wouldn’t be elevating costs). For one more, company aren’t going from LLPP to standby–they shift to LLMP or possibly VIP Excursions. So it’s actually rearranging deck chairs, at greatest.
Lastly, I don’t assume LLPP is what’s inflicting points with standby strains. Though Lightning Lane utilization has not dropped by almost the identical diploma at Disneyland because it has at Walt Disney World within the final yr–it’s very noticeable in Florida, whereas I see no discernible distinction in California–I additionally don’t assume Premier Cross has exacerbated the issue. It’s such a small pool of company; there are greater points with the strains.
Second and way more importantly, it’s patently apparent that Disney desires to attain income development for the parks phase and so they’ll will that into occurring, a method or one other.
There are exceedingly few paths in the direction of this aim as client spending tightens. Disney and different corporations have repeatedly mentioned how customers on the decrease finish of the spectrum have gotten extra cost-conscious. As Disney raises costs on park admission and different ‘important’ components of the park expertise, they shed company. I view this as a foul factor; it means extra folks being priced out.
Accordingly, the best choice for rising income is elevated reductions on increased quantity. That is one thing we’ve seen this summer time as Walt Disney World and Disneyland improved their resort occupancy quantity on flat attendance (a goldilocks situation because it did not imply increased crowds). I doubt anybody studying this is able to object to raised reductions with the one “draw back” being that extra resort rooms are crammed. It’s just about the optimum win-win proposition.
From my perspective (however maybe extra debatable), one other nice choice is creating new income streams out of skinny air (Lightning Lane Premier Cross final yr) or elevating costs on these which might be upmarket area of interest choices.
If October eighth rolls round and the one costs to go up are these on VIP Excursions, valet parking, fireworks cruises, dessert events, behind the scenes excursions–that form of factor–it’ll be an enormous win. To every their very own, however I’m nice with increased costs on something within the ‘Enchanting Extras’ assortment; these are enhancements and never integral to the core park expertise.
Actually, I’d be completely nice with value will increase on Magic Keys/Annual Passes if no different ticket sorts had their costs touched. Or, higher but, if Disney decreased some single-day costs to again beneath the $100 barrier. I’ve mentioned that earlier than, and as a lot as I do know it’s wishful pondering, I wish to double-down on it.
I point out this, particularly, as a result of I don’t need anybody to assume that is about disdain for the higher class. Worth will increase on Annual Passes impression me instantly, whereas I by no means purchase 1-day park tickets. And but, I’m conscious that limitless (with caveats) entry to Walt Disney World and Disneyland may be very a lot a luxurious, and I don’t thoughts that being priced accordingly.
Although visiting a theme park even as soon as (ever) can also be a luxurious many of the world’s inhabitants will sadly by no means take pleasure in, it’s much less of 1–and I’d wish to see as many People as attainable have that chance. If paying increased costs on APs to subsidize decrease costs on 1-day tickets is the means to that finish, I’m all for it. In fact, I notice that’s not how the mathematics or incentivizing totally different demographics truly works, but when it theoretically made sense, I’d be in favor.
Extra mother and father with the ability to afford to take their youngsters to Disneyland for a day is an efficient factor. Not only for the fandom, the parks, and the corporate–however as a societal web optimistic. I’d wish to imagine that is really what Walt Disney would’ve wished when he talked about center class accessibility, versus pretending he’d be upset about no matter private pet peeves I’ve with pricing.
I assume we will see what occurs on October 8, 2025–however in any case, this could function one other reminder to do what now you can to “defend” your self from the remainder of the potential value will increase coming down the pike!
Lightning Lane Premier Cross Fundamentals
For many who aren’t accustomed to it, Lightning Lane Premier Cross permits one-time entry to every out there Lightning Lane expertise in each of the Disneyland Resort theme parks to take pleasure in at your leisure that day (legitimate park admission required).
Lightning Lane Premier Cross contains one entry to every Lightning Lane entrance within the theme park company are visiting that day, which can be utilized anytime all through the day at their comfort – without having to e-book an arrival time prematurely. In a nutshell, Lightning Lane Premier Cross is Disney’s reply to Common’s Specific Cross.
A number of the added perks of Lightning Lane Premier Cross embody:
- All points of interest from Lightning Lane Multi Cross and Single Cross.
- Friends can trip the points of interest that they need–when they need.
- Lightning Lane Premier Cross will embody PhotoPass picture and video downloads.
- Eligible for Park Hopping
Lightning Lane Premier Cross is accessible in very restricted portions and topic to promoting out–which does occur on busier dates.
Lightning Lane Premier Passes might be bought by way of the Disneyland app as much as 7 days prematurely of your park go to, beginning at 7:00 AM Pacific Time (topic to very restricted portions). It is a change as of earlier in 2025. Beforehand, Lightning Lane Premier Cross was out there 2 days prematurely.
As for logistics of shopping for Lightning Lane Premier Cross at Disneyland, earlier than you start, make it possible for everybody in your social gathering has legitimate theme park admission and park reservations for a similar date, linked to your MyDisney account. All of that is needed in an effort to buy Lightning Lane Premier Passes–in any other case, folks in your social gathering could not seem like eligible.
From there, open the Disneyland app and seek for “Lightning Lane Premier Cross.” It must also seem in a banner on the house display screen. Faucet “Buy” to get began. Comply with the prompts to finish your buy—and obtain a affirmation.
Friends who buy Lightning Lane Premier Cross can use the service for one-time entry to every out there Lightning Lane entrance at each Disneyland and Disney California Journey Park—for in the future, throughout common park hours.
Simply ensure your park admission contains the Park Hopper profit. In case you don’t have Park Hopping privileges, you’ll want to purchase two days of LLPP to make use of it at each parks, which is way extra expensive than simply upgrading to the Park Hopper choice for a single-day.
That is not like Walt Disney World, the place Lightning Lane Premier Cross provides company one-time entry to every out there Lightning Lane entrance in a single theme park for in the future. Walt Disney World has per-park pricing because of this, and provides no Park Hopper choice for LLPP.
The value vary can also be much more variable for Walt Disney World, beginning at $129 and maxing out at $449 (for now) plus tax throughout peak season. Since there’s no Park Hopper choice, you’d have so as to add the price of two parks collectively for an equal providing at Walt Disney World–making the precise most over $800 after tax.
So actually, when you get previous the sticker shock of $449 Lightning Lane Premier Cross at Disneyland versus the $129 base value at Walt Disney World, the latter truly finally ends up doubtlessly/theoretically costing way more when it’s most helpful or “needed.”
Setting apart the sticker shock, for this reason I believe Lightning Lane Premier Cross might be extra compelling at Disneyland Resort than Walt Disney World. Line-skipping can also be very helpful throughout peak weeks at Walt Disney World. However the distinction is that there are 4 parks (three the place you want it), making the price $1,047 (plus tax!) versus $449 (no tax!). And I’m betting even then, the 2 parks at Disneyland Resort nonetheless have extra worthwhile Lightning Lanes than the three at Walt Disney World.
Though Lightning Lane Premier Cross is aimed toward a really restricted viewers of prosperous company, that’s a shocking large pool of company. It contains these staying at any of the three on-site resorts of Disneyland Resort, plus the close by Westin and JW Marriott (together with the households of conference company staying elsewhere), and the numerous different luxurious resorts in Orange County.
It’s additionally true that the collective inhabitants of Los Angeles and Orange Counties is roughly 14 million. When you throw the Inland Empire, San Diego and different areas into the combination inside an affordable driving distance of Disneyland, you’ve gotten round 25 million potential company. These native numbers imply there’s an enormous visitor pool for Disneyland.
It’s most likely not going to shock anybody, however there’s an amazing quantity of wealth in Southern California, to say nothing of these different states. There’s most likely no scarcity of locals who aren’t fairly available in the market for VIP excursions however would purchase one thing like Lightning Lane Premier Cross for a whirlwind day at Disneyland. Some may even want the self-guided nature to a VIP tour.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Disneyland elevating costs on Lightning Lane Premier Cross? Hope they do the identical at LLPP? Would you be in favor of value will increase on “luxurious” theme park product choices if it meant flat pricing on the core components? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Different ideas or considerations? Any questions we will 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 beneath within the feedback!
