Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Chi84]

The inevitable retort to that will be “But Disney inflates its wait times!” Anything to question others’ judgement or intelligence.

People who fell in love with Walt's vision of the parks absolutely hate what the current management has done to them. I respect that and agree to some extent. They are definitely losing young families who can't afford to visit and the grandparents who are currently paying will eventually go to that great Disneyland in the sky.

DIsney has priced itself out of reach for many who used to be able to visit the parks. Adding upscale events and premium experiences has arguably made WDW worse for the people who choose not to purchase them.

Disney has chosen this course and will eventually correct or suffer the consequences. It's all on them. It's unreasonable to expect a family to make purchasing choices based on what will benefit other visitors or for the good of the parks. This is not a social justice issue; it involves discretionary spending at a ridiculously expensive vacation venue.

Where I have a problem is being told that I should feel stupid or guilty for buying whatever I need to have a good time at a place I still enjoy. Unless someone here is able to mount an effective boycott of the place (unlikely since they themselves are still attending), we just have to wait to see how people choose to respond to Disney's decisions.

I'm willing to have this discussion as long as it's respectful and not reliant on outright name-calling or passive-aggressive statements suggesting that people lack intelligence. I'm also not a fan of lies about empty parks and falsified attendance reports.

 

[LittleBuford]

DIsney has priced itself out of reach for many who used to be able to visit the parks. Adding upscale events and premium experiences has arguably made WDW worse for the people who choose not to purchase them.

What irks me is that the people critical of those of us who purchase Lightning Lane passes are often (usually?) not the ones who've been priced out. On the contrary, based on what they themselves choose to reveal about their trips, they are giving Disney much, much more money than I am.

Where I have a problem is being told that I should feel stupid or guilty for buying whatever I need to have a good time at a place I still enjoy. Unless someone here is able to mount an effective boycott of the place (unlikely since they themselves are still attending), we just have to wait to see how people choose to respond to Disney's decisions.

I'm willing to have this discussion as long as it's respectful and not reliant on outright name-calling or passive-aggressive statements suggesting that people lack intelligence. I'm also not a fan of lies about empty parks and falsified attendance reports.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

The new DL locals offer now includes free MP LL, looks like free LL is going to be the next lever they pull to drive sales, looks like free FP (in limited supply) is their answer to reduced attendance in part because they got rid of free FP.

 

[LittleBuford]

The new DL locals offer now includes free MP LL, looks like free LL is going to be the next lever they pull to drive sales, looks like free FP (in limited supply) is their answer to reduced attendance in part because they got rid of free FP.

If I recall correctly, Disneyland was already charging for its FP equivalent (MaxPass) long before WDW started doing so.

ETA: I was recalling incorrectly, it seems. Apparently, you could still get free FastPasses from kiosks outside the rides even after the introduction of MaxPass.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

A wait doesn’t have to be particularly long for someone to want to skip it. If my Lightning Lane passes saved me “only” 20 minutes per ride, I would still consider them money well spent.

I don’t think amusement parks are for you…to be honest

Let alone what it does to those who will be there in the future and will actually need to maximize their time because they get one shot

There are no “individuals” in a Disney park…there never have been…there never will be

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If I recall correctly, Disneyland was already charging for its FP equivalent (MaxPass) long before WDW started doing so.

ETA: I was recalling incorrectly, it seems. Apparently, you could still get free FastPasses from kiosks outside the rides even after the introduction of MaxPass.

No that period is Disneyland was FAR superior than anything in wdw since 2010…so they killed it…of course

 

[LittleBuford]

I don’t think amusement parks are for you…to be honest

I don't think you're in any position to tell me what I do and don't enjoy.

Seriously, the stuff some of you come out with . . .

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

If I recall correctly, Disneyland was already charging for its FP equivalent (MaxPass) long before WDW started doing so.

ETA: I was recalling incorrectly, it seems. Apparently, you could still get free FastPasses from kiosks outside the rides even after the introduction of MaxPass.

We loved MaxPass, even with the added cost, it was exactly what add ons should be. It didn’t replace something free that already existed, you paid extra for something extra that didn’t exist before, we found a ton of value in it.

Unfortunately instead of adding more value for an extra price they simply decided to take something that was formerly free and start charging for it, textbook example of nickel and diming your guests.

We spent 20-30 days a year to DL (on average) for almost 15 years, it’s now been 10 months since our last trip and we can honestly say we have not had FOMO once under the current conditions. 99% chance WDW see us again before DL.

 

[LittleBuford]

We loved MaxPass, even with the added cost, it was exactly what add ons should be. It didn’t replace something free that already existed, you paid extra for something extra that didn’t exist before, we found a ton of value in it.

Unfortunately instead of adding more value for an extra price they simply decided to take something that was formerly free and start charging for it, textbook example of nickel and diming your guests.

We spent 20-30 days a year to DL (on average) for almost 15 years, it’s now been 10 months since our last trip and we can honestly say we have not had FOMO once under the current conditions. 99% chance WDW see us again before DL.

I really liked MaxPass too, and I was a big fan of FP+ over at WDW. I agree that what we have now is inferior as well as pricier, even if it's still worth it to me personally.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't think you're in any position to tell me what I do and don't enjoy.

Seriously, the stuff some of you come out with . . .

Not finding lines of any length “acceptable” is incompatible with going to a Disney park

You need a “luxury” park for your exquisite tastes and demands. The churros will be better there too.

G’Day, Mate

 

[Chi84]

Not finding lines of any length “acceptable” is incompatible with going to a Disney park

You need a “luxury” park for your exquisite tastes and demands. The churros will be better there too.

G’Day, Mate

That’s the thing though. Most amusement parks are fun but also crowded with long lines.

Disney has a lot more to offer and also sells premium products that make the entire experience more enjoyable if you choose to buy them.

I think it’s the height of arrogance to tell someone that amusement parks are not for them.

 

[LittleBuford]

Not finding lines of any length “acceptable”

Never said that. If I had to wait in line, I would, but I don't, so I choose not to.

I'm not sure how I can make this any clearer. I really, really enjoy Disney. Yes, it's expensive, but for me, personally, the value is still very much there, and I remain fundamentally happy with the product I'm paying for. You, on the other hand, seem to have major issues with the product yet continue to spend a good deal of money on it. A lot more money than I do. That's certainly your prerogative, but by not putting your money where your mouth is, you have forfeited any right to call others out for their discretionary Disney spending. Your approach in these threads is as surreal as it is hypocritical. Just leave others be, for goodness' sake.

 

[LittleBuford]

That’s the thing though. Most amusement parks are fun but also crowded with long lines.

Disney has a lot more to offer and also sells premium products that make the entire experience more enjoyable if you choose to buy them.

I think it’s the height of arrogance to tell someone that amusement parks are not for them.

I'm actually not an amusement or theme park person as such (the only theme parks I visit are Disney ones), so I wouldn't know firsthand, but as I understand it, most of them offer line-skipping services, including Six Flags. It's bizarre, then, that Disney's LL is being treated by some here as some aberration designed only for self-obsessed luxury-seekers.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm actually not an amusement or theme park person as such (the only theme parks I visit are Disney ones), so I wouldn't know firsthand, but as I understand it, most of them offer line-skipping services, including Six Flags. It's bizarre, then, that Disney's LL is being treated by some here as some aberration designed only for self-obsessed luxury-seekers.

Their attendance is in decline due entirely to excessive pricing and bad management for years to solidify the parks…
Buying these on lightly attended days (which is about all the time these days)…provides them cover to continue said bad tactics and intensify them…

You can believe what ever you want…but that’s the actual story.

All things are tired together…whether we want to admit it or not

 

[LittleBuford]

Their attendance is in decline due entirely to excessive pricing and bad management for years to solidify the parks…
Buying these on lightly attended days (which is about all the time these days)…provides them cover to continue said bad tactics and intensify them…

You can believe what ever you want…but that’s the actual story.

All things are tired together…whether we want to admit it or not

I honestly don't care.

Come back to me when you can demonstrate how your Disney spending is motivated by some noble desire to make things better for all.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I honestly don't care.

And that’s a common and understandable stance.

 

[Jrb1979]

I'm actually not an amusement or theme park person as such (the only theme parks I visit are Disney ones), so I wouldn't know firsthand, but as I understand it, most of them offer line-skipping services, including Six Flags. It's bizarre, then, that Disney's LL is being treated by some here as some aberration designed only for self-obsessed luxury-seekers.

Just about all parks do offer a line skipping service. The difference is most only offer a limited amount of passes per day at a high price.
I've said it for awhile, Disney should follow suite and onto offer premier pass. While it wouldn't make standby shorter, it would make standby not crawl as much as it does now.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I honestly don't care.

Come back to me when you can demonstrate how your Disney spending is motivated by some noble desire to make things better for all.

Not buying lighting lane is my “good start”

…i’m working on the rest…like a 12 step program. I said “No” to zootopia 2…and every other Disney release this year except for stitch…does that count?

 

[LittleBuford]

I've said it for awhile, Disney should follow suite and onto offer premier pass. While it wouldn't make standby shorter, it would make standby not crawl as much as it does now.

For selfish reasons (there I go again, thinking only about myself!), I would hate for Disney to go that route. As for the standby lines, my understanding is that they’re moving at a pretty decent clip these days.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

For selfish reasons (there I go again, thinking only about myself!), I would hate for Disney to go that route.

That’s rhetorical

As for the standby lines, my understanding is that they’re moving at a pretty decent clip these days.

Wanna know why? Hint: they’re not reinventing time and space