Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Sirwalterraleigh]

G+ is still really useful if staying offsite. You have the same shot as on site guests for your first one of the day at 7am .... Really, no difference for G+ for onsite vs off

The paid ILLs (so Rise, FoP, etc) you are disadvantaged as onsite can book at 7am and offsite has to wait until park opening

Obviously you also lose the early entry benefit so in some ways it makes G+ more important if staying offsite as rope drop isn't as valuable

I don’t think the $15 poppers book up into well into the afternoon…if at all?
That was my experience.

Why would they? It’s kinda a joke.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

After extensive use of Genie+ this month, I’ve come to the conclusion (based on the current configuration of the service):

If you know the drop times, Genie+ can get you on basically every single ride you want, every day. It is absolutely worth the money. However, it makes the stand-by queues absolutely miserable (far more than FP+). Most people will not have this positive experience as it requires significant knowledge of the system and technical ability.

Finally, the LL wait times are often longer than they were for FP+ for many attractions. They have clearly increased inventory over FP+.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

After extensive use of Genie+ this month, I’ve come to the conclusion (based on the current configuration of the service):

If you know the drop times, Genie+ can get you on basically every single ride you want, every day. It is absolutely worth the money. However, it makes the stand-by queues absolutely miserable (far more than FP+). Most people will not have this positive experience as it requires significant knowledge of the system and technical ability.

Finally, the LL wait times are often longer than they were for FP+ for many attractions. They have clearly increased inventory over FP+.

Fp+ was 85% on some rides as it died. It’s almost like you have the two terms backwards?

But I do agree in principle: you have to have it…which means everyone will make it “standard”…and they don’t have the numbers for it.

Different name…same problem.

 

[crazy4disney]

After extensive use of Genie+ this month, I’ve come to the conclusion (based on the current configuration of the service):

If you know the drop times, Genie+ can get you on basically every single ride you want, every day. It is absolutely worth the money. However, it makes the stand-by queues absolutely miserable (far more than FP+). Most people will not have this positive experience as it requires significant knowledge of the system and technical ability.

Finally, the LL wait times are often longer than they were for FP+ for many attractions. They have clearly increased inventory over FP+.

Could you be so kind to share when these drops are happening as ill be there in a few weeks … thanks in advance. Feel free to pm if you dont think its appropriate to publicly post

 

[GhostHost1000]

Genie+ can get you on basically every single ride you want, every day…unfortunately just usually not the times or location you want

Fixed it for ya

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Fixed it for ya

Honestly, with knowing the drop times (and with attentiveness in the morning and late morning) I rode everything exactly when I wanted to. It just takes way too much time. But I was able to get virtually every headliner throughout the day or late in the day (they are available 2-4 min after drops so you have to be fast).

 

[Jrb1979]

Fp+ was 85% on some rides as it died. It’s almost like you have the two terms backwards?

But I do agree in principle: you have to have it…which means everyone will make it “standard”…and they don’t have the numbers for it.

Different name…same problem.

Like I have said it is a major problem. Since they won't add enough capacity to fix the issues the only answer is to limit availability. Yet they refuse to do it.

 

[tnemgif]

Could you be so kind to share when these drops are happening as ill be there in a few weeks … thanks in advance. Feel free to pm if you dont think its appropriate to publicly post

I haven’t seen anyone pinpoint any times. But the first refills/drops reportedly tend to start around 7:15a. It sounds like it’s more of a “refresh your phone all day” sort of strategy.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Like I have said it is a major problem. Since they won't add enough capacity to fix the issues the only answer is to limit availability. Yet they refuse to do it.

It just doesn’t fit the Disney parks…they’re not “ride pounders” that will only sell to a few fanatics at $100 a pop.

They’re “big trips” for money that will try to overextend to ensure “happiness”, loyalists that enjoy their lords, and people who don’t care about the price because their “time is too valuable” (either real or imagined)…

Like I keep saying when you say it. Limiting sales It’s NOT the same jam/market there. Disney is the farthest from it that exists.

 

[Chi84]

Like I have said it is a major problem. Since they won't add enough capacity to fix the issues the only answer is to limit availability. Yet they refuse to do it.

Have you ever tried to think through why they refuse to do it?

 

[Jrb1979]

It just doesn’t fit the Disney parks…they’re not “ride pounders” that will only sell to a few fanatics at $100 a pop.

They’re “big trips” for money that will try to overextend to ensure “happiness”, loyalists that enjoy their lords, and people who don’t care about the price because their “time is too valuable” (either real or imagined)…

Like I keep saying when you say it. Limiting sales It’s NOT the same jam/market there. Disney is the farthest from it that exists.

Have you ever tried to think through why they refuse to do it?

I understand and know why they won't but as everyone keep saying there isn't enough capacity for it to work. The only option is to limit availability. By not limiting availability this is the situation you have. Most of the top rides are gone by 730. How else do you fix that?

 

[Chi84]

I understand and know why they won't but as everyone keep saying there isn't enough capacity for it to work. The only option is to limit availability. By not limiting availability this is the situation you have. Most of the top rides are gone by 730. How else do you fix that?

If you understand and know why they won’t do it, why keep suggesting it? At least vary it up and suggest another fix that Disney won’t do because it won’t work for their business.

 

[Jrb1979]

If you understand and know why they won’t do it, why keep suggesting it? At least vary it up and suggest another fix that Disney won’t do because it won’t work for their business.

The only real solution is to add a bunch more capacity. We all know thats not happening. Outside of that this is what you get.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I understand and know why they won't but as everyone keep saying there isn't enough capacity for it to work. The only option is to limit availability. By not limiting availability this is the situation you have. Most of the top rides are gone by 730. How else do you fix that?

It’s just my theory…

But they’re trying to “thread the needle” and deal with attendance that has outpaced their expansion/investment while still trying to not have their whole customer base believe that they’re not going to be on unequal footing when you’re in the parks. It ruins a lot of the illusion/mystique if the parks become 100% upcharge at all times every day…people accept some people pay alot for their hotels…and some book the Star Wars cosplay thingie…etc, etc…but thats niche. If $150 ride skips are on the table and most of the people that spend a MINIMUM ton of time and money just to get there are shut out - unlike a regional amusement park - it would ugly very quickly.

 

[G00fyDad]

It’s just my theory…

But they’re trying to “thread the needle” and deal with attendance that has outpaced their expansion/investment while still trying to not have their whole customer base believe that they’re not going to be on unequal footing when you’re in the parks. It ruins a lot of the illusion/mystique if the parks become 100% upcharge at all times every day…people accept some people pay alot for their hotels…and some book the Star Wars cosplay thingie…etc, etc…but thats niche. If $150 ride skips are on the table and most of the people that spend a MINIMUM ton of time and money just to get there are shut out - unlike a regional amusement park - it would ugly very quickly.

You're right but at this point the situation is already growing a unibrow, getting a beer gut, and the hairline is starting to recede.

 

[Jrb1979]

It’s just my theory…

But they’re trying to “thread the needle” and deal with attendance that has outpaced their expansion/investment while still trying to not have their whole customer base believe that they’re not going to be on unequal footing when you’re in the parks. It ruins a lot of the illusion/mystique if the parks become 100% upcharge at all times every day…people accept some people pay alot for their hotels…and some book the Star Wars cosplay thingie…etc, etc…but thats niche. If $150 ride skips are on the table and most of the people that spend a MINIMUM ton of time and money just to get there are shut out - unlike a regional amusement park - it would ugly very quickly.

I agree with all of that and they have to be careful not to price people out from going at all. I'm not saying price it at $150.

Here is 2 things I know, one being that from what some have said Genie+ works at its best when it's limited to 10% of guests and that too many guests have it each day. The second being that out of all the complaints about Genie+ is that you aren't guaranteed to get any of the top attractions each day.

From reading all that there has to be a middle ground to get the number of guests using it lower each day. I'm not suggesting raising it to $150 but there has to be a sweet spot for price that eliminates some guests.

 

[crazy4disney]

I agree with all of that and they have to be careful not to price people out from going at all. I'm not saying price it at $150.

Here is 2 things I know, one being that from what some have said Genie+ works at its best when it's limited to 10% of guests and that too many guests have it each day. The second being that out of all the complaints about Genie+ is that you aren't guaranteed to get any of the top attractions each day.

From reading all that there has to be a middle ground to get the number of guests using it lower each day. I'm not suggesting raising it to $150 but there has to be a sweet spot for price that eliminates some guests.

Whats funny is those same people were the ones who complained and criticized FP+ and how it didnt work yet you were guaranteed at least one of them if not more and 3 upfront at the time of your choosing…

 

[lazyboy97o]

Whats funny is those same people were the ones who complained and criticized FP+ and how it didnt work yet you were guaranteed at least one of them if not more and 3 upfront at the time of your choosing…

You still keep equating criticizing FastPass+ with defending Genie+. That is not true. They’re not that different. It was always a shell game, you’ve just been moved into the out group.

 

[Chi84]

You still keep equating criticizing FastPass+ with defending Genie+. That is not true. They’re not that different. It was always a shell game, you’ve just been moved into the out group.

From what I've been reading here and on other Disney sites, everyone has been moved into the out group.

Also, another thing is that some people just complain. It doesn't really matter which system Disney puts in place. If they aren't walking up and getting on whatever ride they want whenever they want to ride it they'll complain.

 

[lazyboy97o]

From what I've been reading here and on other Disney sites, everyone has been moved into the out group.

And that was always going to happen with FastPass+. How each system impacts operations is very similar.

Also, another thing is that some people just complain. It doesn't really matter which system Disney puts in place. If they aren't walking up and getting on whatever ride they want whenever they want to ride it they'll complain.

Adequate capacity would effectively allow this to happen. Disney has chosen not to provide such capacity, even on low attendance days they modify operations to make crowding more similar to a busy day.