You’re standing in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., the sun is beating down, and you’re staring at your phone wondering why on earth Space Mountain has a 90-minute wait while you’re holding a pass that was supposed to save you time. It’s frustrating. Disney changed the game recently, swapping out the old Genie+ system for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and honestly, the Disney Multi Pass tiers are where most people trip up. If you don't know the difference between a "Tier 1" and a "Tier 2" attraction, you’re basically paying Disney extra money to stand in shorter—but still long—lines.
It’s not just about buying the pass. It’s about the math.
The new system is a callback to the old FastPass+ days, which some veterans love and newbies find incredibly confusing. You can now book rides up to 7 days in advance if you're staying at a Disney resort, or 3 days if you aren't. But here is the kicker: you can’t just pick the three best rides in the park and call it a day. Disney has restricted your choices to prevent everyone from dog-piling onto Slinky Dog Dash at the exact same time.
The Magic Kingdom Hierarchy
At Magic Kingdom, the tiering feels a bit lopsided. You get to pick one "big" ride from Tier 1 and two others from Tier 2.
Tier 1 includes the heavy hitters like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, and Space Mountain.
Tier 2 is basically everything else—Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, "it’s a small world," and the various Under the Sea adventures.
Here is the strategy most people miss: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is currently the hardest "get." If you see it, take it. Don't hesitate. If you spend three minutes debating with your spouse about whether the kids are too short for Space Mountain, that Tiana's slot will vanish. I’ve seen it happen in seconds.
The interesting thing about Magic Kingdom is that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run are not part of the Multi Pass tiers. They are "Single Pass" attractions, meaning you have to pay for them individually. It’s a bit of a cash grab, sure, but it keeps the Multi Pass pools from becoming completely unusable.
EPCOT and the Frozen Problem
EPCOT is where the Disney Multi Pass tiers get really annoying. There are only three rides in Tier 1: Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Soarin' Around the World.
Most people want Frozen or Remy. If you pick Frozen, you are locked out of pre-booking Remy. This creates a massive bottleneck. You’ll have to wait until you tap into your first ride of the day before you can even try to grab the other one.
The Tier 2 list at EPCOT is much longer but significantly less "thrilling" for the average teenager. You’ve got Journey into Imagination with Figment, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Mission: SPACE. Honestly, most of these Tier 2 rides rarely have wait times over 30 minutes anyway, so you’re essentially using your Multi Pass on things that don't necessarily need it just to satisfy the "pick three" requirement.
Pro tip: Grab Soarin' if the big two are gone. It’s a classic, the line moves fast, and it keeps your morning efficient.
Hollywood Studios is a Different Beast
Hollywood Studios is the park where the tiers matter most because it has the highest concentration of "E-Ticket" attractions.
- Tier 1: Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
- Tier 2: Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Star Tours, and the shows.
Wait, did you notice that? Tower of Terror—arguably one of the best rides in the park—is a Tier 2. This is a massive win for you. You can book Slinky Dog (Tier 1) and Tower of Terror (Tier 2) at the same time. Most people waste their Tier 2 picks on shows like Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, which you don't really need a pass for if you show up 20 minutes early.
Don't be that person. Use your Tier 2 slots on Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania.
Interestingly, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance remains a Single Pass purchase. It is never included in the Multi Pass. If you want to see Rey and Kylo Ren without waiting two hours, you’re opening your wallet again.
Animal Kingdom: The Tier-Free Haven
Here is a bit of a relief. As of right now, Animal Kingdom doesn't actually use a tier system for Multi Pass. You can just pick any three rides.
Want Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur? Go for it.
The only catch is Avatar Flight of Passage. Like the other "big" rides in other parks, it’s an Individual Lightning Lane (Single Pass). You can’t use your Multi Pass for it. But since there are no tiers for the other rides, Animal Kingdom is the easiest park to manage. You can usually knock out all the major Lightning Lane attractions here by lunch if you’re smart about your return times.
Why the Timing Matters More Than the Tiers
The most important thing to understand about Disney Multi Pass tiers is the "rolling" nature of the credits. Once you use your first pass of the day—let's say it's for Haunted Mansion at 9:15 AM—you immediately get a "credit" back.
At that moment, the tiers disappear.
Once you have tapped that MagicBand at your first ride, you can look for any available ride in the park, regardless of what tier it was in. If a slot for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens up for 2:00 PM and you’ve already used one of your Tier 2 picks, you can grab it.
This is where the "refreshing" comes in. Experienced Disney goers will sit on the app while waiting in a short line, pulling down on the screen to refresh the availability. People cancel their plans all the time. A Slinky Dog Dash opening can pop up at 11:00 AM for an 11:15 AM slot.
You have to be fast.
The Logistics Most People Ignore
Prices for the Multi Pass fluctuate. It’s not a flat fee. If you’re going during Christmas week, expect to pay significantly more than if you’re visiting in the middle of a random Tuesday in September.
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Also, your 7-day or 3-day window opens at 7:00 AM EST. If you log in at 7:05 AM, the best slots for the most popular rides in the Disney Multi Pass tiers are likely gone. Set an alarm. Have your credit card already saved in the My Disney Experience app.
One nuance: if you have a Park Hopper ticket, you can only pre-book your initial three rides in one park. However, once you use that first ride, you can start booking your next ride for the second park you plan to visit. This is a huge strategy for people who want to do "four parks in one day" challenges.
Expert Strategies for Peak Efficiency
- The "Throwaway" First Pick: If you can't get a morning slot for a Tier 1 ride, book a very early morning slot (like 9:05 AM) for a Tier 2 ride you don't even care about. As soon as you tap in, you unlock the ability to book a Tier 1 ride for later in the day.
- Check the Height Requirements: Nothing kills a Disney mood faster than booking a Tier 1 for the whole family only to realize the toddler is two inches too short. Double-check the app before you commit your pre-booking slots.
- The Battery Factor: Using the Multi Pass system requires you to be on your phone. A lot. By 2:00 PM, your phone will be at 15%. Bring a portable charger. Disney sells "FuelRods" in the parks, but they are expensive and have a lower capacity than most third-party ones you can buy online.
- Modify, Don't Cancel: If you want to change a ride, use the "Modify" button in the app. If you cancel a reservation to try and find a new one, you might lose your window entirely if someone else snags a spot in that split second.
The tiers are designed to manage crowds, not necessarily to make your life easier. Once you accept that, you can play the system. It’s a game of speed and refreshing.
Immediate Next Steps for Your Trip
- Download the My Disney Experience app now and make sure your entire travel party is linked in your "Family & Friends" list. You cannot book for them if they aren't linked.
- Check your specific booking window calendar based on your hotel reservation. Mark the 7:00 AM EST time on your calendar for exactly 7 (or 3) days before your trip starts.
- Prioritize your "Must-Dos" vs "Nice-to-Dos." If Slinky Dog Dash is a non-negotiable for your kids, that must be your first Tier 1 click, even if the time isn't perfect. You can always try to modify the time later, but getting the "reservation" is the hardest part.
- Review the current Single Pass (Individual Lightning Lane) prices for the week you are visiting. Budget an extra $15–$25 per person, per ride, if you plan on doing TRON, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as these are never part of the Multi Pass tiers.