For many guests, there’s only one question that matters at Disney World: “How can I skip this line?”

For decades, Disney has been coming up with ways to satisfy guests who don’t want to wait in line. From the original version of FastPass to interactive game queues to virtual waiting areas and everything in between, the company has seemingly tried it all. And yet, in my 6+ years of writing about Disney theme parks, the #1 topic many potential guests want to know about is how they can avoid waiting. Currently, there are a few ways to do so at Walt Disney World.

So, let’s begin with the resort’s primary paid skip-the-line system, Lightning Lane. Currently, there are three tiers of Lightning Lanes available.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Lightning Lane Multi Pass gives you the ability to make 3 Lightning Lane selections (either one Tier One attraction and two Tier Two attractions or 3 Tier Two attractions) in a given theme park each day in advance of your visit (7 days for Disney Hotel guests, 3 days for others). From there, as you use each selection on the day of your visit, you can use the My Disney Experience app for availability to make additional selections.

Lightning Lane Single Pass

Lightning Lane Single Pass allows you to “secure a time to ride one of (Disney’s) most highly demanded attractions” for an additional charge. You can purchase 2 Lightning Lane Single Passes a day.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass

Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows a one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane experience that they can use AT YOUR LEISURE, meaning if you have it, you WON’T need to choose a specific arrival time to ride the attraction. Like other Lightning Lanes, the Premier Pass is available to purchase 7 days beforehand for Disney Hotel guests, 3 days beforehand for others.

Beyond Lightning Lanes, there are a few other ways guests can “skip” the line, in a manner of speaking.

Rider Switch

With Rider Switch, members of the same party can take turns experiencing an attraction. One member waits outside the queue while the remainder of their party waits in the queue. Once the first party returns from riding, the waiting member of the party may board the attraction without having to wait in the standard queue.

According to Disney, the Rider Switch is “appropriate” in the following situations:

• A Guest in the party either does not meet the boarding requirements or does not plan to ride but cannot wait outside the queue alone.
• A Guest has a service animal that cannot board the attraction, or they do not wish to use a provided kennel.
• A Guest is unable to experience the queue based on the nature or condition of the queue at a particular attraction in light of the circumstances and the Guest’s specific needs.

Rider Switch is available at most attractions throughout Walt Disney World Resort. To use Rider Switch, let a Cast Member know you are interested in the Rider Switch option at an attraction’s entrance.

Single Rider

Finally, there’s the classic Single Rider Line. These are specialty-designated queues that see individual riders used to fill remaining seats in a ride vehicle that aren’t occupied by Guests utilizing standby lines or Lightning Lane entrances.

Currently, there are 5 Walt Disney World attractions that utilize Single Rider Lines:

• Expedition Everest
• Rise of the Resistance
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Test Track
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

A quick reminder about Single Rider Lines: If multiple members of a party join the line, they WILL be split up. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that a single rider’s wait will be any shorter than a standard queue.

If you’re looking to “skip the line” on your next trip to Walt Disney World, there are several options. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney tips.

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What are your best (legal) skip-the-line tips for Disney World? Let us know in the comments below.