Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Purduevian]

I have the data. Running around IAAPA so give me some time to pull together.

Had an idea floating around my head about "valuing" LLs, not just for the tier of ride you are getting, but factoring in:
-Time of the LLMP
-Proximity of your currently location/plans at that time
-odds that LL will get you a MEP (also what is the value of a MEP)
-Estimated wait time at the attraction during that window
-Estimating what kind of LLMP you will be able to get once you ride this selection

I'm assuming you aren't aware of anyone doing anything like that, but Touring plans would have been my first guess...

For instance, most people would agree that in general a Jungle cruise LLMP is more valuable than a Space Mountain LLMP...
However if the SM one is for right now and you are getting off the people mover and the JC one is for the last 30 mins of park open... I think the SM one actually has more "value".

 

[Chi84]

It was a complete ripoff…especially for those not using it

Yes. It was meant for those who used it.

 

[lentesta]

Had an idea floating around my head about "valuing" LLs, not just for the tier of ride you are getting, but factoring in:
-Time of the LLMP
-Proximity of your currently location/plans at that time
-odds that LL will get you a MEP (also what is the value of a MEP)
-Estimated wait time at the attraction during that window
-Estimating what kind of LLMP you will be able to get once you ride this selection

I'm assuming you aren't aware of anyone doing anything like that, but Touring plans would have been my first guess...

For instance, most people would agree that in general a Jungle cruise LLMP is more valuable than a Space Mountain LLMP...
However if the SM one is for right now and you are getting off the people mover and the JC one is for the last 30 mins of park open... I think the SM one actually has more "value".

To answer your previous question, here's a spreadsheet showing the % of time a WDW attraction was offline at park opening for 2023. (I'll get to 2024 and 2025 in January 2026.)

You can assume the data accurately matches the parks'.

It's possible to do the same calculation for park closing or a specific time period during the day. My brain is still somewhat in vacation mode, so I don't recall off the top of my head how long an attraction has to be down during a LL return-time window before a MEP is issued. I think it might be 15 minutes?

 

[Disstevefan1]

I dont see it as “Disney rationalization”. We make these decisions in life all the time. Why wouldnt one want their vacation of all things be better and get the most out of them? People use Ubers and pay surcharges. Uber Eats/Doordash/Seemless all these apps that are downright criminal and noone blinks an eye. Yet paying for something that actually serves a purpose and betters your experience is the hill we are dying on? Now if you wanna talk about dessert parties for a better view then we can talk but to be up in arms over paying for Genie where basically every park in the country charges for and blaming Disney to me is absurd

All I am saying is when I pay for LL and there is a 10 minute standby it bugs me, or when the attraction I want to ride has a return time 7 hours away, knowing I am leaving before then.

But that's just my experience with LL.

My experiences with Uber and Doordash has all been positive.

But again, that's just me.

 

[Purduevian]

To answer your previous question, here's a spreadsheet showing the % of time a WDW attraction was offline at park opening for 2023. (I'll get to 2024 and 2025 in January 2026.)

You can assume the data accurately matches the parks'.

It's possible to do the same calculation for park closing or a specific time period during the day. My brain is still somewhat in vacation mode, so I don't recall off the top of my head how long an attraction has to be down during a LL return-time window before a MEP is issued. I think it might be 15 minutes?

Just quickly looking at it... Some rides I might consider trying to book at opening hoping for a MEP.

SSE, RNRC (if you can't get slinky as tier 1), Everest, TOT, Pooh, LwtL, Nemo,

 

[Splash4eva]

It was a complete ripoff…especially for those not using it…and had tanked most for the restaurants quality


Or…I mean…it was so “magically great!!”

Th dining plan came down to simple math. It either made sense or it didnt. Anyone with half a brain could roughly figure it out. Now if you wanna debate quality of places tanked bc of it so be it. I will not argue or debate that. To say prices were inflated bc of it so be it bit honestly with all their price increases tough to blame the dining plan on it…

 

[Splash4eva]

All I am saying is when I pay for LL and there is a 10 minute standby it bugs me, or when the attraction I want to ride has a return time 7 hours away, knowing I am leaving before then.

But that's just my experience with LL.

My experiences with Uber and Doordash has all been positive.

But again, that's just me.

I get that but when there are a ton of people who use this. There will be different experiences without a doubt. If there is no wait then all you gotta do is switch out your ride and do standby so you have option to re ride but yes i agree it can be annoying to have a ride booked w no line. Also agree i wish there was a way they can better the return time length. We have all been there unfortunately when a time is only available when we cant make it.

 

[lentesta]

Just quickly looking at it... Some rides I might consider trying to book at opening hoping for a MEP.

SSE, RNRC (if you can't get slinky as tier 1), Everest, TOT, Pooh, LwtL, Nemo,

Yeah, book a Tier 2 and hope it converts to Tier 1? That's not a bad strategy.

 

[Chi84]

Th dining plan came down to simple math. It either made sense or it didnt. Anyone with half a brain could roughly figure it out.

Right, but according to some posters people going to WDW can’t find their own butt with two hands and a flashlight.

 

[monothingie]

Yeah, book a Tier 2 and hope it converts to Tier 1? That's not a bad strategy.

Tianna's Breakdown Adventure has entered the chat.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I get that but when there are a ton of people who use this. There will be different experiences without a doubt. If there is no wait then all you gotta do is switch out your ride and do standby so you have option to re ride but yes i agree it can be annoying to have a ride booked w no line. Also agree i wish there was a way they can better the return time length. We have all been there unfortunately when a time is only available when we cant make it.

All the worst attributes of Free FastPass but now we pay for it.

 

[monothingie]

Th dining plan came down to simple math. It either made sense or it didnt. Anyone with half a brain could roughly figure it out. Now if you wanna debate quality of places tanked bc of it so be it. I will not argue or debate that. To say prices were inflated bc of it so be it bit honestly with all their price increases tough to blame the dining plan on it…

But price increases or cuts to selection and portions were a direct result of the dining plan. You can only squeeze the restaurants margins so much before something has to give.

 

[Purduevian]

Yeah, book a Tier 2 and hope it converts to Tier 1? That's not a bad strategy.

Do you have a Tier list of what rides are in the same MEP list? for instance I know if my Pixar short film fest turns into a MEP, its not getting me on Remy.

I used this at DCA during the G+ days... booked Soarin' 3 times at opening while it was down and got 3 MEPs to start the day. I think it worked on everything but RSR, GOTG, Webslingers, and TSMM.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Th dining plan came down to simple math. It either made sense or it didnt. Anyone with half a brain could roughly figure it out. Now if you wanna debate quality of places tanked bc of it so be it. I will not argue or debate that. To say prices were inflated bc of it so be it bit honestly with all their price increases tough to blame the dining plan on it…

Menu homogenization is a direct result of the dining plan. Many price increases to maintain margins are directly attributable to the dining plan. CM's and insiders have told tales of reimbursements from the dining plan being at the root of both.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But price increases or cuts to selection and portions were a direct result of the dining plan. You can only squeeze the restaurants margins so much before something has to give.

Quality cuts and price leaps were standard…it was a race to the bottom from day one…

So we all lost…

Those that wanted the better offerings prior…those that bought it and wasted half of it…those that booked three buffets a day and yet STILL it ended up in a septic system like ramen noodles a day later

We all lost

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Th dining plan came down to simple math. It either made sense or it didnt. Anyone with half a brain could roughly figure it out. Now if you wanna debate quality of places tanked bc of it so be it. I will not argue or debate that. To say prices were inflated bc of it so be it bit honestly with all their price increases tough to blame the dining plan on it…

It is actually very easily to blame for the prices. That data is out there…there was a ping pong game that went on without pause for about 7 years

Raise menus
Raise dining plan cost
Cut costs
Raise menus
Raise dining plan
Cut costs

Everything suffered. The a la carte ones the most…but even the vaunted buffets

Wonder why they were whacking the 10 people in the park $70 for crystal palace last Thursday? I just gave you the map to ground zero

 

[Splash4eva]

It is actually very easily to blame for the prices. That data is out there…there was a ping pong game that went on without pause for about 7 years

Raise menus
Raise dining plan cost
Cut costs
Raise menus
Raise dining plan
Cut costs

Everything suffered. The a la carte ones the most…but even the vaunted buffets

Wonder why they were whacking the 10 people in the park $70 for crystal palace last Thursday? I just gave you the map to ground zero

Im not saying it didnt play a part but its tough to solely put the blame on the dining plan with all this company has done…

 

[Splash4eva]

Menu homogenization is a direct result of the dining plan. Many price increases to maintain margins are directly attributable to the dining plan. CM's and insiders have told tales of reimbursements from the dining plan being at the root of both.

I can understand that but the character buffets do have some variety to them when you really look at them …

 

[Splash4eva]

But price increases or cuts to selection and portions were a direct result of the dining plan. You can only squeeze the restaurants margins so much before something has to give.

Im not sure when last time any of you have eaten at these buffets but they offer some solid options all things considered.

 

[Splash4eva]

All the worst attributes of Free FastPass but now we pay for it.

Noone has to pay for it if people feel it brings zero value… plenty feel it serves a great purpose. Others dont.