It appears that Disney has discontinued the free FastPass option, leaving guests with the choice between Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass, both of which require payment. However, Disney World is now introducing a new tier, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which offers an enhanced experience at a significantly higher cost. This new pass is exclusively available to guests staying at Disney's official hotels, making it inaccessible to all visitors. Additionally, it is part of a pilot program, meaning Disney may discontinue it if it doesn't meet expectations after a trial period. The Lightning Lane Premier Pass does offer improvements over the lower tiers by allowing guests to visit any ride at any time of their choosing, albeit only once per ride. While the ability to bypass reservation times is advantageous, there are some limitations. Firstly, the Premier Pass does not include a park hopper option, restricting its use to a single park per day. Furthermore, the pricing for the Premier Pass varies across Disney World's parks, with Magic Kingdom's prices reaching $450 during peak times. It's important to note that these prices are per person and do not include additional taxes. These options are quite expensive, with many even surpassing the cost of a regular park ticket. The Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass will still be available, but the introduction of the Premier Pass is another example of Disney maximizing revenue from its visitors. This trend was evident during Bob Chapek's tenure as Disney CEO, and it seems Bob Iger has continued this approach in his second stint as CEO, despite his comments about the need for more affordable Disney vacations. As reported by CNN, Disney park attendance has been declining, and the company has faced criticism for its price increases. The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass appears to be Disney's response to Universal Orlando's Express Pass, which ranges from $90 to $290 per person, with the Unlimited Universal Express Pass costing even more, between $120 and $320. While not as expensive as Disney's highest tiers, this could change when Universal's Epic Universe opens next year.