Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Jrb1979]

It's certainly not impossible, but it would be borderline corporate malfeasance. The howling from Wall Street, if they shut off such a successful revenue stream, would be deafening.

Not if they raised the price high enough to make up for everyone not having it.

 

[Jrb1979]

I know Disney is different than all other parks. IMO $35 is still cheaper than what most parks charge. Look at how much Universal charges.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Can’t is such a strong word.

The only information we seem to have suggests otherwise.

Edited to clarify: I’m referring to a paid-for FP+ model with ILLs on top.

But that’s not the same thing…which you realize

There’s no for fee “fastpass+”…there’s “genie in advance”

That’s not the same thing because fastpass+ was the stupidity that flooded the park with prebooks for things that would not be prebooked otherwise…that’s why it’s dead.

A paid system wouldn’t manifest that way.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I mean, I personally like the way G+ functions much better than FP+, but having to pay for it is obviously a massive hurdle in terms of genuinely preferring it. I am always up at 7am anyway, and I would rather make ride plans only slightly offset from real time rather than months before when I won’t know the weather conditions or which parks I’ll want to revisit late in my trip.

Regardless it’s a broken system but if they could combine the “good” things about G+ and FP+ together and remove the things people don’t like, it would be better received

Prebook 1 attraction 30 days in advance each day of your trip for onsite guests
No tiers
No 7am scrambles the day of

 

[nickys]

But that’s not the same thing…which you realize

There’s no for fee “fastpass+”…there’s genie in advance

That’s not the same thing because fastpass+ was the stupidity that flooded the park with prebooks for things that would not be prebooked otherwise…that’s why it’s dead.

A paid system wouldn’t manifest that way.

The only new system anyone seems to have info on is

Paid - like G+
Bookable in advance, whether 2 weeks, 1 week or whatever
Tiered attractions

And ILLs on top.

So the functionality is pretty much identical to how FP+ worked. But you pay for it.

I’m not getting into a debate over whether it worked before and why. I’m simply pointing out that the paid-for FP+ model is the only one that anyone with any sources at Disney have told us about.

 

[Jrb1979]

The only new system anyone seems to have info on is

Paid - like G+
Bookable in advance, whether 2 weeks, 1 week or whatever
Tiered attractions

And ILLs on top.

So the functionality is pretty much identical to how FP+ worked. But you pay for it.

I’m not getting into a debate over whether it worked before and why. I’m simply pointing out that the paid-for FP+ model is the only one that anyone with any sources at Disney have told us about.

It's going to have to same issues as before. Those who decide to buy day of will be lined up at the blue tents all day cause all that will be left is things like meet and greets and Mickey's Philharmagic.

I happy the spreadsheet planners got their system back.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The only new system anyone seems to have info on is

Paid - like G+
Bookable in advance, whether 2 weeks, 1 week or whatever
Tiered attractions

And ILLs on top.

So the functionality is pretty much identical to how FP+ worked. But you pay for it.

I’m not getting into a debate over whether it worked before and why. I’m simply pointing out that the paid-for FP+ model is the only one that anyone with any sources at Disney have told us about.

That’s the speculation…but the functionality isn’t really like fp+ at all.

Because you must pay a fee to access it.

Fp+ was “anyone going” and every website, chatboard, guidebook, and travel agent on earth told you to do it…

That’s how people ended up with a 10.15 for the barnstormer on a Tuesday…and “reservations” for things with no standbys

Any new rollout - one would think - would be designed for that NOT to happen

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It's going to have to same issues as before. Those who decide to buy day of will be lined up at the blue tents all day cause all that will be left is things like meet and greets and Mickey's Philharmagic.

I happy the spreadsheet planners got their system back.

And you are likely right

Because it’s a numbers problem and has been for going on decades. Prebooks just exposed the problem.

The idea of a “mandatory upcharge” will fail…and that’s where they’re heading

It’s why the “free” variant of it failed as well.

They need more capacity…until that penetrates some thick skulls…it’s moving deck chairs around

 

[Marionnette]

I know Disney is different than all other parks. IMO $35 is still cheaper than what most parks charge. Look at how much Universal charges.

Look at what you get with Universal's Express Pass. Unlimited and immediate access to the express line. No need to book a LL time or be limited to only riding an attraction once. Comparing the two by price alone is like saying that hamburger only costs $4 per pound at Acme and Shop Rite charges $26 per pound for filet mignon.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And tiers suck…for now 10 years…since the dawn of the blessed “prebooks from the bathroom”…tiers were evidence they don’t have enough capacity…

A return to it paid is a slap across the face with a wet fish after you take a knee to the groin…

Metaphorically speaking - of course

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Look at what you get with Universal's Express Pass. Unlimited and immediate access to the express line. No need to book a LL time or be limited to only riding an attraction once. Comparing the two by price alone is like saying that hamburger only costs $4 per pound at Acme and Shop Rite charges $26 per pound for filet mignon.

Woah…too much jersey name dropping going on in this one for this early in the morning ️

 

[Marionnette]

Woah…too much jersey name dropping going on in this one for this early in the morning ️

Philly name-dropping, if you please!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Philly name-dropping, if you please!

…have some self respect….go to Giant

 

[mattpeto]

…have some self respect….go to Giant

I'm surprised the success of the Philadelphia sports teams don't cheer you up a bit. They have been "in the mix" quite a bit the last few years; Disney really dragging you down huh?

Back on topic - just wait until you have tap into Muppets and Disney Jr. Dance Party to get your next Tier 1 attraction. Really hope they pivot from where it sounds like it's going. Hopefully they realize the value won't be there at all with that config.

In terms of getting on real attractions, Genie+ is way superior than FP+.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

And tiers suck…for now 10 years…since the dawn of the blessed “prebooks from the bathroom”…tiers were evidence they don’t have enough capacity…

A return to it paid is a slap across the face with a wet fish after you take a knee to the groin…

Metaphorically speaking - of course

I agree that tiers would be awful, especially if ILLs remain. To me, the best compromise between what was and what we have now would be 1 pre-book per day for the length of your stay (for resort guests) and the rest of your selections are done day-of. If they allow 3 pre-booked attractions per day with tiers then it limits the usefulness for users while also hindering day-of sales, so it would be a lose-lose situation. Any limit of how many "Tier 1" rides you can book is a regression. At least when that was in place with FP+, it was free. Charging for it - and effectively removing one of the only good things about G+ - is an inferior product to both FP+ and G+.

 

[Drdcm]

Maybe they’ll make everything ILL. Individually pay for each ride… I wouldn’t do it, but if the standby lines improved from the change that I guess it would be alright

 

[HauntedPirate]

I don't think I've seen anyone say they prefer G+ to FP+. I was probably one of the closest ones that said other than the price, G+ isn't that much worse than FP+ to me. I'll standby FP+>Genie+>Legacy FP>Nothing.

For me: FP > FP+ > Nothing > Genie-

But I'm also apparently old and not accepting of "the New Disney" (aka. Bob's Up-Charge Pricing Wonderland©).

Remember when some CFO-type told a certain sweater-wearing weasel that the parks were "mature" and didn't need investment, just a scheme to spread people out better? How's that worked out? The very existence of this system is irrefutable proof that there isn't enough capacity. And now it's a revenue stream that the money addict can't get rid of.

 

[Jrb1979]

Maybe they’ll make everything ILL. Individually pay for each ride… I wouldn’t do it, but if the standby lines improved from the change that I guess it would be alright

I personally would limit it to the top 2 attractions in each park and the rest be standby. Things like Meet and Greets, Mickey's Philharmagic, shows and omni-mover attractions shouldn't have if.

 

[Drdcm]

I personally would limit it to the top 2 attractions in each park and the rest be standby. Things like Meet and Greets, Mickey's Philharmagic, shows and omni-mover attractions shouldn't have if.

Oh I agree, but they would do it anyway to take advantage of the suckers who don’t know any better

 

[nickys]

Maybe they’ll make everything ILL. Individually pay for each ride… I wouldn’t do it, but if the standby lines improved from the change that I guess it would be alright

That’s the system they use at Disneyland Paris. You pay and get a time which is usually within 10 minutes, if my recent trip is typical. There is also a “package” that gets you one access for “each” ride.

* each meaning every ride that is part of Premier Access - basically any ride that would had FP in the past.