Disney continues to take a conservative approach with sales of its Lightning Lane Premier Pass, a product that enables theme park guests to use the fast lane for every attraction once per day.
Disney introduced the Lightning Lane Premier Pass last October, initially for guests staying at select hotels. The pass can now be purchased by anyone, but guests of Disney hotels -- plus the Swan, Swan Reserve, Dolphin and Shades of Green -- get the first opportunity, with sales opening seven days before their hotel stay. Everyone else may buy the pass three days before their park visit, but since the pass is available in limited quantities, park guests staying in a non-Disney hotel run the risk of depleted inventory.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston fielded a question about Premier Pass sales during the company's fiscal Q1 earnings call Wednesday.
"Remember, it is a premium product," Johnston said. "It is a product that we are learning how to use, so we are marketing it very gently initially. It's very much in line with our expectations, but we are moving slowly with that product in order to make it a great experience both for the purchasers of Lightning Lane and for the rest of our guests in the park."
Depending on when the guest visits and which park is visited, pricing for the pass varies. In February at the Walt Disney World Resort, prices range from $119 to $399 per person plus tax. At the Disneyland Resort in California, pricing varies from $300 to $400 per person.
Disney sells other skip-the-line passes that can be applied to a single park attraction or three park attractions, but guests must choose an arrival window.
Disney Experiences revenue rises 3%
Fiscal Q1 revenue for Disney Experiences -- which includes the theme parks, hotels and Disney Cruise Line -- grew 3%, to $9.42 billion. Operating income was flat at $3.11 billion. Johnston called it "a great start" to Disney's fiscal 2025.
Results were impacted by hurricanes Milton and Helene, which cost the company an estimated $120 million. There also was a one-time cost of $75 million in preopening expenses for the Disney Treasure, which entered service in late December.
Domestic operating income declined 5%, while international operating income increased 28%.
This year marks the celebration of Disneyland's 70th anniversary in May as well as Hong Kong Disneyland's 20th later this year.
For the cruise line, two ships are slated to debut at the end of the year -- Disney Destiny in Fort Lauderdale in November, and Disney Adventure in Singapore in December.
Johnston said the Disney Treasure is "off to a spectacular start, certainly in terms of selling out the rooms." Disney expects the ship to be profitable in its first three months of operations.