- Mar 13, 2024
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If you’re paying for Lightning Lane access in Disney World, you want to spend your money wisely!
Let’s talk Lightning Lanes
It’s common knowledge that some Lightning Lanes are more “worth” your money than others. It makes sense to book and prioritize the rides that have the longest wait times or are the most popular — you know, the ones that sell out completely early in the day. But there are some Lightning Lanes that hardly ever sell out, or if they do, they’re available nearly all day long. Wondering which those are?
Throughout 2025, we’ve been tracking the times that each Lightning Lane Multi Pass option “sells out” for the day (meaning, there are no more times available to book). Averaging those times year-to-date, we’ve been able to find which Lightning Lanes are more likely to last all day. So let’s take a look at the data by park!
NOTE: This data does not include Lightning Lanes for live entertainment shows, as those are typically only available for part of the day.
Starting out at Magic Kingdom, the ride that sells out the latest on average is Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin…but just barely! Its average “sell out” time is 8:31PM, while Dumbo the Flying Elephant comes in at 8:21PM. Right behind that is Mad Tea Party at 8:21PM and “it’s a small world” at 8:19PM.
Mad Tea Party
It’s important to note that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is currently closed to get some major updates to the ride vehicles, scoring system, and blasters. When it reopens with these changes, the Lightning Lane will likely be more popular…at least for a while. That means this list could shift slightly in 2026.
©Disney
There are a few other rides that have average Lightning Lane book-up times in the 7PM hour. Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid is the latest of those at 7:53PM, followed by Tomorrowland Speedway at 7:51PM, The Barnstormer at 7:44PM, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 7:42PM.
There she is!
Also in the 7 o’clock hour are Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Magic Carpets of Aladdin.
Since EPCOT most frequently closes at 9PM, the average “sell-out” times for Lightning Lanes are a little bit earlier. All the least popular options fall in the 7PM hour. The last one to book up for the day is Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, with an average time of 7:48PM.
Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
Several other attractions are close to that time, though. Living With the Land’s time is 7:41PM, Journey Into Imagination with Figment is 7:40PM, Spaceship Earth is 7:39PM, and Soarin’ Around the World is 7:38PM. Those are all VERY close!
Soarin’ Lightning Lane
In fact, only 3 rides in this park tend to book up completely before 5PM. That just goes to show that if you’re not visiting on a holiday or during a typically busy travel time, you can probably get by without using Lightning Lane Multi Pass in EPCOT.
Heading over to Hollywood Studios, Lightning Lane Multi Pass looks to be much more useful than it is at EPCOT. Even though the two parks have similar hours of operation, Hollywood Studios’ Lightning Lanes book up much quicker on average. The ONLY option that typically remains open until the 7 o’clock hour is Star Tours, which has an average “sell-out” time of 7:52PM.
Star Tours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is the next least popular with a time of 6:59PM, followed by Alien Swirling Saucers at 6:27PM. Besides that, all the other rides tend to book up completely before mid-afternoon. This park is also home to the ride that books up the fastest on average — Slinky Dog Dash, with a time of 8:23AM (that’s often before the park even opens!).
Finally, we’re finishing up at Animal Kingdom, which is more similar to EPCOT in that it’s not exactly a necessity to buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass here. This park closes the earliest of all four (usually 6 or 7PM), so its latest available Lightning Lane on average is Expedition Everest at 4:19PM.
Expedition Everest
DINOSAUR and Kilimanjaro Safaris are next, with times of 4:02PM and 4:01PM, respectively. We imagine DINOSAUR is going to increase in popularity a bit before its closure at the beginning of February, though.
Dinosaur
Keep this data in mind when booking your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections, but also remember that more than anything, you need to book what’s most important to YOUR group! If your favorite ride is one of the ones that stays available all day, so be it. Do what makes you happy on your vacation.
We’ll share any other Lightning Lane tips or news with you, so keep following Magical Guides for the latest — subscribe to our newsletter and our YouTube channel!
Which Lightning Lanes do you skip in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
Let’s talk Lightning Lanes
It’s common knowledge that some Lightning Lanes are more “worth” your money than others. It makes sense to book and prioritize the rides that have the longest wait times or are the most popular — you know, the ones that sell out completely early in the day. But there are some Lightning Lanes that hardly ever sell out, or if they do, they’re available nearly all day long. Wondering which those are?
NOTE: This data does not include Lightning Lanes for live entertainment shows, as those are typically only available for part of the day.
Magic Kingdom
Starting out at Magic Kingdom, the ride that sells out the latest on average is Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin…but just barely! Its average “sell out” time is 8:31PM, while Dumbo the Flying Elephant comes in at 8:21PM. Right behind that is Mad Tea Party at 8:21PM and “it’s a small world” at 8:19PM.
Mad Tea Party
It’s important to note that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is currently closed to get some major updates to the ride vehicles, scoring system, and blasters. When it reopens with these changes, the Lightning Lane will likely be more popular…at least for a while. That means this list could shift slightly in 2026.
©Disney
There are a few other rides that have average Lightning Lane book-up times in the 7PM hour. Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid is the latest of those at 7:53PM, followed by Tomorrowland Speedway at 7:51PM, The Barnstormer at 7:44PM, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 7:42PM.
There she is!
Also in the 7 o’clock hour are Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Magic Carpets of Aladdin.
EPCOT
Since EPCOT most frequently closes at 9PM, the average “sell-out” times for Lightning Lanes are a little bit earlier. All the least popular options fall in the 7PM hour. The last one to book up for the day is Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, with an average time of 7:48PM.
Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
Several other attractions are close to that time, though. Living With the Land’s time is 7:41PM, Journey Into Imagination with Figment is 7:40PM, Spaceship Earth is 7:39PM, and Soarin’ Around the World is 7:38PM. Those are all VERY close!
Soarin’ Lightning Lane
In fact, only 3 rides in this park tend to book up completely before 5PM. That just goes to show that if you’re not visiting on a holiday or during a typically busy travel time, you can probably get by without using Lightning Lane Multi Pass in EPCOT.
Hollywood Studios
Heading over to Hollywood Studios, Lightning Lane Multi Pass looks to be much more useful than it is at EPCOT. Even though the two parks have similar hours of operation, Hollywood Studios’ Lightning Lanes book up much quicker on average. The ONLY option that typically remains open until the 7 o’clock hour is Star Tours, which has an average “sell-out” time of 7:52PM.
Star Tours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is the next least popular with a time of 6:59PM, followed by Alien Swirling Saucers at 6:27PM. Besides that, all the other rides tend to book up completely before mid-afternoon. This park is also home to the ride that books up the fastest on average — Slinky Dog Dash, with a time of 8:23AM (that’s often before the park even opens!).
Animal Kingdom
Finally, we’re finishing up at Animal Kingdom, which is more similar to EPCOT in that it’s not exactly a necessity to buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass here. This park closes the earliest of all four (usually 6 or 7PM), so its latest available Lightning Lane on average is Expedition Everest at 4:19PM.
Expedition Everest
DINOSAUR and Kilimanjaro Safaris are next, with times of 4:02PM and 4:01PM, respectively. We imagine DINOSAUR is going to increase in popularity a bit before its closure at the beginning of February, though.
Dinosaur
Keep this data in mind when booking your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections, but also remember that more than anything, you need to book what’s most important to YOUR group! If your favorite ride is one of the ones that stays available all day, so be it. Do what makes you happy on your vacation.
We’ll share any other Lightning Lane tips or news with you, so keep following Magical Guides for the latest — subscribe to our newsletter and our YouTube channel!
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Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
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Which Lightning Lanes do you skip in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
