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Is Lightning Lane Broken? Guest Shares Shocking Experience of Line Spanning Quarter Mile
In the ever-changing world of Disney theme parks, changes to guest experiences are a constant. As fans of the parks know, there’s no shortage of innovations, from new rides to revamped systems designed to enhance convenience. However, some of these changes have sparked frustration among guests who feel that the magic is getting lost along the way.
One of the most debated changes in recent years has been the introduction of the Lightning Lane system, which replaced the beloved FastPass system in 2021.
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What was originally a free and simple method to skip the regular lines (FastPass) has transformed into a paid feature—Lightning Lane Multi Pass —with its ups and downs. While Lightning Lane has its supporters, some Disney fans have shared experiences that raise serious questions about its value.
This is exactly what happened to one guest recently at Disneyland Resort, where a seemingly simple experience turned into a shocking ordeal.
A Redditor’s Eye-Opening Experience with Lightning Lane
The frustration began when a Reddit user, Urbanstix, visited Disneyland Resort and decided to pay for Lightning Lane to enjoy the Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure. Like many guests, they were hoping to avoid the long lines that typically build up at popular attractions. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
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According to Urbanstix’s post, the Lightning Lane for Incredicoaster stretched much further than expected. The original idea of a “shorter” line was completely upended by the overwhelming reality of an extended wait.
The photo shared in the Reddit post illustrated the sheer length of the Lightning Lane line, offering visual proof of the frustrations many guests feel about this paid system.
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
A Ripple Effect: Other Guests Share Similar Frustrations
As shocking as Urbanstix’s experience was, they were not alone. Other Disneyland visitors chimed in on the Reddit thread, sharing their own stories of frustration with the Lightning Lane system. In fact, many guests reported having similar experiences, with lines stretching far beyond what they were led to expect.
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.
When Multiple Rides Go Down, the Chaos Intensifies
But the issues didn’t stop with just one attraction. Several other rides were also experiencing downtime that affected Lightning Lane reservations. Among the attractions that UrbanStix had made reservations for were Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!, Grizzly River Run, and Radiator Springs Racers.
As the frustrated guest shared, these rides were “closed every time” they had reservations, which only added to the sense of disappointment.
The cascading effects of ride closures and extended Lightning Lane waits were amplified when other popular rides also sold out of Lightning Lane reservations quickly. The result? Guests became desperate to cash in on whatever Lightning Lane reservations were still available, which led to even more chaos as the day progressed.
The Heart of the Problem: Lightning Lane’s Overwhelming Demand
As Disney fans know, Disney’s official website states that “subject to limited availability and are not guaranteed” for Lightning Lane. However, many guests feel that these limitations are not adequately communicated, leaving them with a feeling of frustration. While Lightning Lane is intended to make park visits more efficient, the increasing costs of these passes only add to the complexity of the system.
At times, the value of the service is hard to justify, especially when wait times stretch as long as they have been reported.
This is where the debate gets tricky. On one hand, the Lightning Lane offers guests a more direct route to attractions, especially during peak periods. On the other hand, the increasing frustrations from guests who feel the system doesn’t live up to its promises suggest that it might need to be revamped.
Have you experienced similar frustrations with the Lightning Lane system? Do you think that Disney needs to make significant changes to the way Lightning Lane works, or do you believe the system is simply a growing pain of a more popular park experience? Please share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on social media.
