Paying hundreds of dollars for faster access to Walt Disney World attractions isn't stopping some guests.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass has started selling out again, and the timing could be important for anyone preparing to visit during Columbus Day weekend.
Several dates have already become unavailable at three of Disney World's four theme parks. Magic Kingdom has the most significant stretch, with Premier Pass completely sold out throughout the core holiday weekend.
It's the first time Disney World has seen Premier Pass sellouts since Easter.
A Four-Day Sellout Hits Magic Kingdom
Guests visiting Magic Kingdom from Friday, October 9, through Monday, October 12, can no longer purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass for those dates.
Additional Magic Kingdom sellouts are showing for Monday, October 5, and Wednesday, October 7.
The holiday weekend stretch stands out because of how much Disney is charging for the premium service.
Magic Kingdom Premier Pass typically costs between $379 and $429 during the next four weeks. Historically, prices have ranged from $299 to $449.
In other words, Disney isn't relying on bargain pricing to attract buyers.
Guests are purchasing Premier Pass at prices near the upper end of its historical range, and enough people are buying it to completely exhaust availability.
For a couple, that could mean spending around $800 just on Premier Pass. A larger family could easily spend well over $1,000.
Apparently, enough Disney World visitors believe the convenience is worth that price.
Hollywood Studios and EPCOT Join In
The sellouts extend beyond Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has no Premier Pass availability for Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11. Tuesday, October 13, is also sold out.
EPCOT has sold out for Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11.
So far, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has avoided the same situation. No Premier Pass dates were showing as sold out in the latest update.
The uneven availability gives guests with flexible vacation plans a little room to maneuver.
Someone who hasn't committed to a particular park could potentially plan around the sellouts. That's considerably harder for visitors who already purchased date-specific admission or built their itinerary around Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
What Makes Premier Pass Different?
Lightning Lane Premier Pass sits at the top of Disney World's paid line-skipping options.
Guests purchasing it receive one-time Lightning Lane access to each eligible attraction in their selected park.
That flexibility can remove some of the planning pressure from a Disney day, particularly compared to Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Guests don't have to spend as much time worrying about when they'll get access to another attraction. Instead, they can move through eligible experiences with more freedom.
During slower periods, some visitors may struggle to justify the enormous additional cost.
A crowded holiday weekend is different.
If standby wait times climb, every hour saved becomes more valuable. Someone visiting for only one or two days may decide they'd rather spend hundreds of dollars than lose a large chunk of their vacation standing in lines.
Judging by the Columbus Day sellouts, plenty of visitors have made that choice.
Holiday Demand Returns
Premier Pass hasn't experienced a sellout at Walt Disney World since Easter weekend in April.
Now, Columbus Day is bringing them back.
That's important because it shows how demand for the premium product can change around major travel periods. Higher prices haven't necessarily discouraged buyers when guests anticipate heavier crowds and longer waits.
Anyone who missed Premier Pass isn't completely out of options.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and other Lightning Lane purchases may still be available, depending on the park, attraction, and date. Guests can also use standby queues where offered.
But the latest sellouts send a clear message ahead of the holiday weekend.
Even when Lightning Lane Premier Pass costs hundreds of dollars per person, Disney can still find enough guests willing to pay for convenience to make it disappear.
