A new pass to skip the mammoth queues at Disney's parks is finally here - but is forking out for the pricey pass actually worth it?
When Disney announced the arrival of its new Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP) in October this year, parkgoers weren't best pleased with the eye-watering costs.
The fast-track pass permits attendees to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California, to join a line that has a shorter waiting time for its attractions.
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However, the pass comes at a cost to the tune of hundreds of dollars and varies in price depending on demand on the day and which of the four Disney World parks you're going to.
Magic Kingdom has one of the most expensive LLPP's, ranging from $329 to $449 plus tax, while Animal Kingdom in the cheapest, ranging from $129 to $199.
Meanwhile, Disneyland, covering both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, has a set cost of $400 per day, though the website says this will change in the new year.
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AJ Wolfe, who runs the popular Disney Food Blog, spoke to DailyMail.com about whether the Lightning Lane pass was worth it.
The blogger had members of her team investigate at every Disney World and Disneyland park, documenting their waiting times and how many rides they were able to get on.
AJ revealed: "Each cast member did successfully ride every one in the park, with the exception of rides that were down for refurbishment."
When it came to Disneyland, AJ's team purchased the pricey $400 pass and cleared the first park in around six hours.
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They then climbed aboard every ride in the second park in about four hours, clearing a total of 24 rides in one day. But whether or not the pass is worth the money really depends on the kind of experience you're looking for, AJ said.
The blogger explained: "It completely depends on your circumstances. If you've got a week-long trip in Disney World... then no - it's not worth it.
"You can absolutely pay less for [Disney's cheaper Lightning Lane service] and get on all of the rides with lower waits - or you can just stand in the regular lines for no extra cost - and ride everything over the course of those seven days.
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"But if you only have one day in Disney World and want to ride everything in one park... then, yeah, it could very well be worth it."
As for the pros, AJ said every ride is included, unlike Disney's Lightning Lane Multi Pass, a cheaper alternative which doesn't include popular favourites like TRON or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
As for cons, AJ said 'you can only book one park per day', which isn't ideal for park hoppers.
She concluded: "The pricey upgrade is definitely rubbing many Disney goers the wrong way, but it's important to remember that Disney has always offered luxury level options at a luxury level price point.
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"Just because the Grand Floridian exists, does not mean that everyone who visits Disney World is staying there, and that same mentality goes for Premier Pass.
"It's right for some and not right for others, but there are still plenty of options for different budgets and travel styles."
Topics: Disney, Travel, Money, Florida, California
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