At each Walt Disney World theme park, including Animal Kingdom, you can find three paid options to skip the lines: Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass (formerly known as Genie+ service), Disney Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly known as individual Lightning Lanes) and Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Unlike the other Disney World parks, Animal Kingdom's options are not tiered — meaning you can select any three rides or shows from the list below to start building your day. Safari across the savanna? Journey into the breathtaking floating islands of Avatar? Find Nemo? Face the fearsome yeti? The choice is yours!
Overview of Lightning Lanes at Disney's Animal Kingdom
One of the biggest changes from Genie+ to Lightning Lane is when you can choose your rides (and how many).
You'll still make selections through the My Disney Experience app, but you can now do so up to three days before your trip. If you are staying on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can make your Lightning Lane selections (both Multi Pass and Single Pass) up to seven days ahead of your trip, for the length of your stay (up to 14 days).
On the day of your visit, once you've scanned in for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can book another selection in the app, one at a time, until the park closes. If you have a Park Hopper, you can then select a ride or show in another park. You can only use one Lightning Lane entry per attraction, per day. And guests may only buy two Single Pass rides per day.
It's toadally optional to purchase Lightning Lanes, as traditional standby lines are still available at every attraction and experience. Occasionally, there may be a virtual queue in place (most commonly for brand-new attractions), and only then would a standby line be unavailable. Currently, there are no virtual lines in use at Animal Kingdom.
Multi Pass Experiences at Animal Kingdom
With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can choose up to three select Multi Pass experiences and your arrival windows days ahead of your visit. You'll also be able to receive digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos from your day, captured with Disney PhotoPass Service, and have access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses.
Choose up to three of the following Multi Pass experiences:
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na'vi River Journey
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
Upon purchase, you'll be prompted to choose your three Multi Pass experiences and arrival windows in the same theme park. Once you're in the park and you've enjoyed your first Multi Pass experience, you'll be able to make an additional Multi Pass selection — one at a time from either group — until regular park closing (subject to availability). At that time, if your park admission includes Park Hopper benefits, you can then choose a Multi Pass experience in a different theme park.
Single Pass Attraction at Animal Kingdom
This option is available to purchase à la carte, as it is not available with Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane Single Pass Attraction (for individual purchase):
Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy
With Animal Kingdom's limited options, we only opt for Lightning Lane Multi Pass when it's a busy season. Generally, we'd say skip Multi Pass and get a Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage.
Multi Pass
That said, if you want to take advantage of Multi Pass, we'd choose Expedition Everest, Na'vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris for our initial three picks.
Single Pass
Avatar Flight of Passage is the only Single Pass ride, so get ready to book as soon as your advance booking window opens, as it can sell out quickly, especially during busy times. If you're park hopping, you can purchase a second Single Pass at a different park.
Stay tuned, though! The former DinoLand U.S.A. land is transforming into Tropical Americas in 2027. The new land will introduce two major attractions themed after "Encanto" and "Indiana Jones," as well as a family-friendly carousel. It will certainly shake up the Lightning Lane offerings at that time!
Lightning Lane Premier Pass
This pass allows one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane experience without having to make reservations. Basically, you can ride the Lightning Lane attractions you want, when you want — and it doesn't matter whether they're normally Single Pass or Multi Pass attractions. It comes at a price, though! It's the most expensive option out of the three Lightning Lane passes.
There you have it! Which rides are on your must-do list from the Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: Not-to-Miss Rides, Experiences and More at Animal Kingdom
Keep hopping!
