Disneyland’s line-cutting perk has gone from the most affordable to the most expensive among California theme parks with the introduction of a pricey new front-of-the-line option aimed at VIP big spenders.
Disneyland’s new $400 Lightning Lane Premier Pass lets visitors skip the lines at 24 rides without making a return time reservation.
ALSO SEE: Disneyland rolls out $400 Lightning Lane Premier Pass — Here’s how it works
A new study by the Mickey Visit theme park blog compares line-cutting prices at major theme parks in the United States.
The eye-popping price tag of Disneyland’s new Premier Pass is $81 to $330 higher than similar premium line-cutting perks at Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California, according to Mickey Visit.
Disneyland’s $32 Lightning Lane Multi Pass that requires visitors to make return time reservations for 22 rides remains one of the best bargains compared to local rivals. Disneyland’s Multi Pass is $8 to $167 cheaper than basic line-cutting perks at other SoCal theme parks, according to Mickey Visit.
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How do line-skipping services compare at other Southern California theme parks? Let’s take a closer look.
All of the front-of-the-line passes at Southern California theme parks let visitors skip the standby line and jump on select attractions faster. But each pass comes with different rules, options and prices.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
The price tag of Disneyland’s new Lightning Lane Premier Pass will remain steady at $400 from Oct. 23 to Dec. 31 during the pilot rollout. Prices will range between $300 and $400 starting on Jan. 1.
The Premier Pass allows visitors a single ride on each available Lightning Lane attraction at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure – including Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers.
The big perk with the Premier Pass is that visitors can ride any Lightning Lane attraction at any time they want without scheduling a return time in the Disneyland app.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Express at Universal Studios Hollywood costs $199 to $319, according to Mickey Visit.
The big difference with Universal’s Express Pass is that it includes admission to the park rather than being an upcharge add-on.
Bundling in the cost of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass with a Disneyland ticket would bring the total price tag to $404 to $681 — depending on Disney’s variable pricing calendar.
Universal’s Express Pass also lets visitors skip the lines on unlimited rides — rather than just once per ride at Disneyland and DCA.
Knott’s Berry Farm
The Fast Lane pass at Knott’s Berry Farm costs $74 to $129, according to Mickey Visit.
The Knott’s Fast Lane wristband gives visitors unlimited rides on select attractions throughout the day.
Knott’s limits the number of Fast Lane wristbands sold daily and doesn’t sell them at all on select weekdays.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
The Flash Pass at Six Flags Magic Mountain costs $170 to $275, according to Mickey Visit.
Magic Mountain’s highest-priced Flash Pass Ultimate gives visitors immediate access to the priority boarding lane. Flash Pass Premium cuts the wait time in half.
The Flash Pass holds a virtual spot in line for visitors who can make one reservation at a time.
SeaWorld San Diego
Quick Queue Unlimited and Reserved Seating Plus at SeaWorld San Diego cost $40 to $70, according to Mickey Visit.
The SeaWorld perks get visitors reserved seating for shows and unlimited front-of-the-line access to five rides plus one-time line-skipping access to the Arctic Rescue attraction.
Legoland California
The Reserve & Ride Ultimate pass at Legoland California costs $100 to $135, according to Mickey Visit.
Visitors make reservations for attractions using the Reserve & Ride option in the Legoland app and wait in a virtual queue until it’s their turn to ride. Reservations must be used or canceled before making another one.
Legoland promises Reserve & Ride reduces wait times on 17 attractions by 25% to 90%.