Disneyland and Walt Disney World are constantly evolving in an effort to offer guests the best possible experience. Over the years, one of the most significant changes has been the introduction of the Lightning Lane system, which replaced the beloved FastPass.
While the intention behind Lightning Lane was to streamline the process of skipping lines and maximizing park time, many guests have found themselves disappointed by the realities of paying for faster access to rides.
Related: The Struggle of Stand-By Lines: How Lightning Lane Changes the Disney Experience
The system’s rollout has sparked various opinions from guests, some positive and some decidedly less so.
Recently, one Disneyland guest shared an experience that shocked many in the Disney fan community. What was supposed to be a time-saving perk turned into a long, frustrating wait that had some questioning the value of the entire Lightning Lane system.
Reddit User’s Shocking Encounter with Lightning Lane
The shocking experience began when Reddit user Urbanstix visited Disneyland Resort and decided to try Lightning Lane at Disney California Adventure. In the hope of skipping the long standby lines, Urbanstix shelled out the money for the service. But what they encountered was far from the “shortcut” they had expected.
Related: Don’t Miss Out on Disney’s Best Ticket Deal Yet — Lightning Lane Included!
The problem started with the Lightning Lane for the Incredicoaster, which is located in Pixar Pier. Instead of the line being the quick, convenient option that it was supposed to be, the queue stretched far beyond the expected bounds.
Urbanstix shared a photo of the line that clearly showed how far it extended, capturing the shocking reality of what they had paid for.
This visual proof of the stretched-out queue left many wondering: How could a paid service lead to such a long wait?
Terrible day at DCA. This is where the back of the lightning lane was for Incredicoaster. Also closed every time I had a genie: monsters inc, grizzly, Incredicoaster, cars, Ariel.
byu/UrbanStix inDisneyland
Ride Downtime Compounds the Problem
As if the extended line wasn’t enough, things got worse. The Incredicoaster was down for hours during Urbanstix’s visit, making the already long Lightning Lane wait even longer.
“I was there as well,” one Reddit user commented in response to Urbanstix’s post.
I was there as well. The problem was incredicoaster was down for several hours (at least 1030am to 2pm) but they were still issuing LLs for it. Soarin and Guardians sold out of LL quick. So people were desperate to cash in LLs and all showed up when incredicoaster reopened.We saw similarly crazy LL lines for Soarin. Even Cars had a big LL backup when we were in the single rider line.They really need to boost capacity or sell less LLMP. DCA can become a mess real quick particularly when people shift over in the afternoon to start drinking.
Related: Guests Make Statement About Lightning Lane Premier Pass Once Again
Multiple Rides, Multiple Problems
But it wasn’t just Incredicoaster that caused headaches for Lightning Lane users that day. Other popular rides were also experiencing downtime, including Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!, Grizzly River Run, and Radiator Springs Racers. These attractions were also unavailable during the time when guests had reservations.
But the situation didn’t end there. Guests noted that the demand for Lightning Lane reservations was so high that many attractions sold out quickly, leaving fewer opportunities for those who had already paid for the service.
The result? A chaotic scene where multiple guests were vying for limited Lightning Lane spots, leaving other rides congested and the overall park experience less enjoyable for everyone.
Guests Speak Out: Is Lightning Lane Worth It?
As Disneyland guests voiced their frustrations on social media and other platforms, it became clear that Lightning Lane was not living up to its promise of convenience. A number of park-goers felt that the system, while intended to streamline the experience, actually added to the confusion.
While the official Disneyland website makes it clear that Lightning Lane availability is limited and not guaranteed, many guests feel that the system is not transparent enough about the challenges that can arise. As more guests purchase Lightning Lane, the potential for overcrowding and increased waiting times continues to grow.
Given the growing concerns, many are now questioning whether the Lightning Lane system is truly serving its intended purpose. While the service was meant to enhance the park experience by reducing wait times, the extended lines, frequent ride closures, and overbooked reservations suggest that it may not be fulfilling its promise.
What do you think about Disney’s Lightning Lane system? Have you had a similar experience during your visits to Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Do you think Disney should stick with the current system, or is it time for a major overhaul? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and join the conversation on social media to share your experiences.
For the Anaheim park, I agree the system does need work, and I’ve run into situations where the lightning lane is longer than the standby, though usually it does move pretty quickly. However, I bought the premier pass for the Florida parks last month, and let me say, if you have the funds for it, its an absolute godsend. Never waited more than 5 minutes for any ride (even ones where the standby was over 2 hours), and was even able to book some single lightning passes in addition to using the premier, so was able to do rides like Kilimanjaro and Guardians rides twice on lightning passes.