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Guide to Using Lightning Lane Passes at Animal Kingdom (Priorities for 2024)

Guide to Using Lightning Lane Passes at Animal Kingdom (Priorities for 2024)

Ready to learn how to maximize Lightning Lane Passes at Animal Kingdom?

In this guide, we’ll cover all the rides at Animal Kingdom that use the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lanes. We’ll also discuss which rides should be prioritized for pre-selection with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and help you identify your same-day selection priorities when you’re in the park.

We’ll also cover Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage and explain how that works when touring with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass system.

Finally, we’ll wrap up with a brief primer on the Lightning Lane Multi Pass to make sure you’re all caught up on everything you need to know.

There’s a LOT to cover. Let’s get into it:

Lightning Lane Guides for the Other Parks

Looking for help maximizing Lightning Lane Multi Pass at the other Walt Disney World theme parks? Here’s where you can find our guides:

And if you are new to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, make sure you start with our Guide to Using Lightning Lanes at Disney World or skip down below where we go over some of the Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Pass basics.

Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Passes

Disney World has transitioned from the Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes systems to a new setup with new names and new features:

  • Lightning Lane Multi Pass (formerly Genie+)
  • Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly Individual Lightning Lane selections)

Aside from both the old Genie+ system and the new Lightning Lane Pass system using the same “Lightning Lanes” in the park, there are several important differences to understand, including what we think are the two most important features to know before your trip:

  1. Pre-Selections will be available.
    • Unlike the old Genie+ system, with Lightning Lane Multi Pass you’ll be able to pre-select up to 3 attractions before your arrival.
  1. Attractions will be divided up into groups for pre-selection.
    • At Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios, attractions will be divided into two groups or tiers.
    • For your pre-selections, you can choose one attraction from Group 1 and two attractions from Group 2. Alternatively, you can book all three from Group 2, though we typically don’t recommend this.

However, and this is important:

Once you’re in the park, as soon as you use one Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can book another immediately.

There is NO 2-hour delay like with the old Genie+ system. At that point, you can book any available attraction, regardless of the group or tier.

Get our Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Cheat Sheet

We are going to go into a lot of detail down below, but make sure you save our Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Cheat Sheet to your phone for easy reference during your trip.

Animal Kingdom Attraction Groups (Tiers)

While all 3 of the other parks have a grouping (or tiered) system for their attractions, Animal Kingdom is the only park that does not.

When booking your pre-selections for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Animal Kingdom, you may choose any 3 available attractions. You will want to use our recommended priorities below to help you maximize your park touring.

  • DINOSAUR
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
  • Feathered Friends in Flight!
  • Festival of the Lion King
  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
  • It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost*
  • Naʻvi River Journey

*Note: Characters may not be available OR may only be available same day

Our Recommended Booking Priorities for Animal Kingdom

While we definitely think Lightning Lane Multi Pass is great for the other 3 parks (especially Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios), it isn’t as necessary at Animal Kingdom. But, if it fits in your budget – get it because it WILL make touring this park a breeze.

Based on each attraction’s popularity and how quickly their Lightning Lane Multi Pass availability runs out, we’ve developed a priority list to help you get the most out of your visit.

These are our Recommended Booking Priorities, which we’ve broken down into three levels:

  • First Priority (Level 1):
    • The most popular attractions at Animal Kingdom. These will run out first.
  • Second Priority (Level 2):
    • Second Priority attractions tend to see their availability last a bit longer.
  • Third Priority (Level 3):
    • Least popular Multi Pass attractions. Save these options for the day of your visit.

Note: We used information from Thrill-Data.com to help put together the recommendations below.

expedition everest lightning lane entrance

First (Level 1) Lightning Lane Priorities

Level 1 priorities are what many people consider to be some of the best rides at Animal Kingdom, and they are the attractions that run out of Lightning Lane Multi Passes first.

Pre-Selection (At Home)

At Animal Kingdom, there are typically two attractions that see their Lightning Lane Multi Pass spots disappear fast: Kilimanjaro Safaris and Na’Vi River Journey.

Expedition Everest is also a popular choice, but if you are willing to use the Single Rider Line option here, you may want to skip using a Multi Pass here and instead grab one for one of the Second Level attractions.

Day of Use (In the Park)

On the day of use, if there are any Level 1 Priorities left after using your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass, we recommend checking to see if any of the remaining Level 1 Priorities are available and, if so, booking one of those.

Second (Level 2) Lightning Lane Priorities

Level 2 Priorities are slightly less popular than the Level 1 priorities.

Pre-selection (At Home)

Only pre-select from these if you have selected everything you want (or can) from our First Level Priorities above.

Day of Use (In the Park)

On the day of use, if there are NOT any Level 1 Priorities left after using your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass, we recommend checking to see if any of the Level 2 Priorities are available, and if so, booking one of those.

Third (Level 3) Lightning Lane Priorities

Level 3 Priorities are the attractions that are most likely to be available to book as additional Lightning Lane Passes when you are in the park.

Pre-selection (At Home)

Unless you have no other option, we do not recommend you pre-select any of these attractions.

Day of Use (In the Park)

On the day of use, follow these steps after using your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass:

  • Check for Level 1 Priorities: If any are available, book one of those.
  • If no Level 1 Priorities are available:
    • Check for Level 2 Priorities.
    • If any are available, book one of those.
  • If no Level 2 Priorities are available:
    • Book a Level 3 Priority.

Lightning Lane Passes at Animal Kingdom

Ok, now that we’ve gone over the priorities at Animal Kingdom, let’s backtrack a bit and go over the latest info you need to know about Lightning Lanes and Lightning Lane Passes at Animal Kingdom.

If you are a repeat guest, this new system is different from how Genie+ and FastPass+ worked. In fact, it is kind of mash up of the two systems, which you’ll be able to see below:

Lightning Lanes

Lightning Lanes are secondary entrances to attractions, and the Lightning Lanes ideally have a much shorter wait.

Basically, when you buy a Lightning Lane Pass, you purchase the option to reserve entry times into the Lightning Lanes.

In the olden days, Lightning Lanes used to be called “FastPass” or “FastPass+” lines.

Not every attraction has a Lightning Lane, but the majority of them do – especially the most popular attractions.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

All but one or two attractions with Lightning Lanes in each park will be included in a pay-to-use service called Lightning Lane Multi Pass. These are the attractions you’ll be pre-selecting from home. We’ve listed all of those up above in our priorities list.

Lightning Lane Single Pass

In addition to all the attractions that use Lightning Lane Multi Pass, there are one or two attractions in each park that have Lightning Lanes that are not a part of Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

For those select few attractions, you can only use the Lightning Lane if you purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass.

flight of passage

This is a separate purchase (and fee), but it can definitely be worth it if you’re trying to tour efficiently as possible.

If you decide not to purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass, there are other ways to ride.

In Animal Kingdom, there is one attraction that offers Lightning Lane Single Pass:

  • Avatar Flight of Passage (A Standby Line is available for guests who do not purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass)

Here’s what else you need to know about Lightning Lane Single Passes:

  • Advance Selections: When you purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass, you can make up to two Lightning Lane Single Pass selections per day in advance of your visit. You’ll also be able to choose available times as you make your selections. Note: You can only ride an attraction using a Single Pass one time (you can’t purchase 2 rides on the same attraction).
  • Different Parks: Your Lightning Lane Single Pass selections do NOT have to be in the same park, but you will need a ticket that has Park Hopping if you plan to purchase a Single Pass in two separate parks.
  • Separate Purchase: The Lightning lane Single Pass is a separate purchase from the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You do NOT have to purchase a Multi Pass to buy a Single Pass.

Advanced Selections

How far in advance you’ll be able to book your pre-selections will depend on where you are staying and what type of ticket you have.

Important Note: You MUST have a valid theme park ticket before you can purchase either a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass.

Onsite Guests – 7 Days in Advance

Guests of eligible resorts can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass and start pre-planning up to seven days before their check-in date, covering the length of their stay (up to 14 days).

Eligible resorts include:

  • Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
  • Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
  • Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
  • Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
  • Shades of Green Resort

Offsite Guests – 3 Days in Advance

Guests staying offsite at a non Disney Resort hotel with date-based Disney Theme Park tickets can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass and start pre-planning up to three days before their ticket’s start date, for the duration of their ticket.

Annual Passholders and Guests with Main Entrance Passes – 3 Days in Advance

Guests with other forms of admission (such as non-dated tickets, Annual Passes, and Main Entrance Passes) can purchase and begin pre-planning up to three days in advance of each day of their visit. Theme Park reservations are required.

If Annual Passholders have an onsite Disney Resort stay, that booking takes priority and falls under the same rules as all onsite guests.

How much do Lightning Lane Passes cost?

We expect the price to align with the current Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane prices. We don’t have confirmation of that, but we don’t think Disney can go much higher on these prices (and we have our fingers crossed they don’t prove us wrong).

Remember – the price will fluctuate depending on the time of year. Busier times of the year are more expensive, less busy times cost a little less. So, use our numbers below as an example from one point in time with the understanding that the price will vary depending on your trip dates.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Price

Sample price ranges. Busier times of the year may exceed the max below.

  • Magic Kingdom: $25-$29 per person
  • Hollywood Studios: $22-$26 per person
  • Epcot: $18-$21 per person
  • Animal Kingdom: $16-$18 per person

Lightning Lane Single Pass Price

Sample prices for Lightning Lane Single Passes. Keep in mind that busier times of the year will see prices that are higher than the ones listed below.

  • TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom – $20 per person
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom – $11 per person
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – $22 per person
  • AVATAR Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – $14 per person
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot – $22 per person

How many rides use Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Animal Kingdom?

With a total of 11, Animal Kingdom has the least Lightning Lane Multi Pass rides and attractions out of all the parks, which is why it isn’t as good of a value here.

Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Multi Pass rides and attractions

But, not all attractions with Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom are included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Rides at Animal Kingdom that do not use Lightning Lane Multi Pass

One attraction with a Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom (Avatar Flight of Passage) requires you to purchase a spot à la carte if you want to use the Lightning Lane. That ride is part of the Lightning Lane Single Pass system.

Plus, there is a list of other attractions that don’t have Lightning Lanes at all and only use Standby Lines.

Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Multi Pass FAQs

Does Lightning Lane Multi Pass let me skip the line?

While Lightning Lane Multi Pass can significantly cut down on your overall wait times, you will still have to stand in a line – it just won’t be as long as the regular Standby Line.

For example, if you want to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris during the middle of the day, the standby waits there are often over 60 minutes. With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, your wait will be closer to 20. That is a huge chunk of time saved.

Can I use Lightning Lanes during Early Entry or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours?

Lightning Lanes are not available during Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.

Can I Park Hop to or from Animal Kingdom and use Lightning Lanes?

Yes! You can. Lightning Lanes can be used when Park Hopping, just keep in mind that if your park ticket requires a Park Pass reservation, that you must first visit the park your reservation is for before hopping to a different park.