Lightning Lane Premier Pass

[MickeyLuv'r]

If you can't buy any more... it's sold out.

And you felt a need to post this because?

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I think it might be aimed at people who were hesitant to go to WDW because of all the walking/standing, but they went to WDW at some time in the past and bypassing lines is more important than cost.

Their total wealth aside, they are willing to splurge because the decision is emotion based.

It is a little like this week buying holiday foods. Partly I don't care how much cranberries cost. Cranberries are part of Thanksgiving, so I'm going to suck it up and buy them.

True, trying to place a monetary threshold on it is irrelevant, there’s really only 2 limitations… the means to buy it, and finding enough value to justify it.

There’s likely many millionaires who can’t justify the cost vs benefit while there’s likely simultaneously many poor people who have no problem adding it to their already staggering credit card balances.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the buyer demographics range from people on the verge of bankruptcy financing their whole trip to the mega rich.

 

[Jrb1979]

True, trying to place a monetary threshold on it is irrelevant, there’s really only 2 limitations… the means to buy it, and finding enough value to justify it.

There’s likely many millionaires who can’t justify the cost vs benefit while there’s likely simultaneously many poor people who have no problem adding it to their already staggering credit card balances.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the buyer demographics range from people on the verge of bankruptcy financing their whole trip to the mega rich.

I agree. It's no different then those who visit most other parks that have this type of pass. It's people from different levels of income that are buying this.

IMO why many struggle to understand why anyone would buy it is due to how the majority here are used to touring the parks. Most love setting up a timetable for each park day with ride times and ADRs.

Where as I would bet most of you average guest doesn't want that. They want a simple Disney vacation without having so much to schedule or figure out all the different rules.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I agree. It's no different then those who visit most other parks that have this type of pass. It's people from different levels of income that are buying this.

IMO why many struggle to understand why anyone would buy it is due to how the majority here are used to touring the parks. Most love setting up a timetable for each park day with ride times and ADRs.

Where as I would bet most of you average guest doesn't want that. They want a simple Disney vacation without having so much to schedule or figure out all the different rules.

I think this is a part of it. I also think another big disconnect is that there seems to be on this board larger number of people than in the average population of people who are DVC/AP or local multiple times per year attendees to the park. They don't seem to understand/value the idea that some people find the value in spending more to get in as much as possible not out of some FOMO issue, but because they might not be back to the park in 4/5 years, if ever. For someone who goes multiple times a year, waiting around doing nothing isn't as big a deal. If they miss out on riding something on this trip, they will just catch it the following week/month, ect.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Calling it sold out is arbitrary to drive up FOMO

Yeah, you're joking. But there's an egregious and head-banging frustration at the idiocy of calling something "sold out" as if it really wasn't. Because, if it really wasn't sold out, they'd be selling more. But since no one can buy any more... it's sold out.

This has got to be one of the dumbest conspiracy theories ever.

Next they'll be saying that WDW is closed for the month because that will drive up business.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think this is a part of it. I also think another big disconnect is that there seems to be on this board larger number of people than in the average population of people who are DVC/AP or local multiple times per year attendees to the park. They don't seem to understand/value the idea that some people find the value in spending more to get in as much as possible not out of some FOMO issue, but because they might not be back to the park in 4/5 years, if ever. For someone who goes multiple times a year, waiting around doing nothing isn't as big a deal. If they miss out on riding something on this trip, they will just catch it the following week/month, ect.

Agreed. One of biggest complaints a lot of average guests have is how complicated it is to visit the parks now. Having to pre book attractions, dining, worry about Boarding Groups its a lot for your average guest. By eliminating having to book attractions including boarding passes it makes a Disney vacation simpler.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I would love to know how many were sold for them to call it sold out.

This may also be a ploy to gain attention to it to make people think they may need to consider buying it on their future trip.

It’s interesting they removed the deluxe resorts only restriction right before they announced sell out dates. How many do we think are staying at the all stars that are buying this

 

[Disstevefan1]

Yeah, you're joking. But there's an egregious and head-banging frustration at the idiocy of calling something "sold out" as if it really wasn't. Because, if it really wasn't sold out, they'd be selling more. But since no one can buy any more... it's sold out.

This has got to be one of the dumbest conspiracy theories ever.

Next they'll be saying that WDW is closed for the month because that will drive up business.

In this case its not a physical widget that the warehouse ran out of and and they are literally sold out.

Sold out in the case of LLs is a arbitrary number someone in Disney thinks up and the number will change as needed.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Next they'll be saying that WDW is closed for the month because that will drive up business.

Josh told us we weren't supposed to talk about that. No halibut for you!

 

[Purduevian]

Just looking at LLMP/SP at 2:45pm...
MK Sold out (closes at 6 today): Everything except PhilharMagic, Laugh Floor, Little Mermaid

EPCOT sold out (closes at 9): Frozen, GotG, MS, Remy.
Past 5pm Figment, Land, Soarin, SSE, Turtle Talk

DHS sold out (closes at 9): Alien, BATB, Indy, MMRR, MFSR, RNRC, SDD, RotR, TSM, TOT.
Past 5pm Star Tours, Frozen

AK sold out (closes at 7pm): FOP, DINO, EE, FotLK, Kali, Safari, Navi
Not saying LLPP is worth it, but DHS is basically bare bones LL available with over 6 hours of park time left.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Yeesh.

Of course LLPP was going to sell out during Thanksgiving week. I could have told you that was highly likely as soon as it was initially announced.

The real money maker is Christmas. Having the product sell out this week, drives demand for all of December.

I'm sure WDW does have a cap on sales, but I doubt they set the cap at 10% of potential sales. that would just be dumb. I'm confident the cap is much closer to the top range of how many they thought they could sell this week.

If anyone doesn't want to believe that selling out is good for WDW, okay.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I think this is a part of it. I also think another big disconnect is that there seems to be on this board larger number of people than in the average population of people who are DVC/AP or local multiple times per year attendees to the park. They don't seem to understand/value the idea that some people find the value in spending more to get in as much as possible not out of some FOMO issue, but because they might not be back to the park in 4/5 years, if ever. For someone who goes multiple times a year, waiting around doing nothing isn't as big a deal. If they miss out on riding something on this trip, they will just catch it the following week/month, ect.

What's curious to me, is that elsewhere it is some of the semi-frequent visitors expressing interest in LLPP.

They say they have used FP/G+/LL and now are willing to pay extra for easier park touring. They don't like having to re-learn WDW's new rules, and they don't like having to use passes in the 1-hour time window, and/or the uncertainty of not getting LL for every ride.

Whatever the price, they just want to tour mindlessly from one LL to the next, because they have already experienced WDW's other options.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

What's curious to me, is that elsewhere it is some of the semi-frequent visitors expressing interest in LLPP.

They say they have used FP/G+/LL and now are willing to pay extra for easier park touring. They don't like having to re-learn WDW's new rules, and they don't like having to use passes in the 1-hour time window, and/or the uncertainty of not getting LL for every ride.

Whatever the price, they just want to tour mindlessly from one LL to the next, because they have already experienced WDW's other options.

I will say our family falls into that group.

We aren't AP or DVC holders, but we generally go once a year, or at least once every 18 months.

I will just say we value our time such that we are not going to wait in line, and absent the line skip approaching VIP tour per day costs, we are going to buy and use it. I am personally even more of a curiosity most likely as I am not a thrill ride person. Which means i am not riding tron, SM, BTM, and will only begrudgingly do 7dMT. I am any of the thrill rides at the other parks either. But i am still going to use LLPP in December when we are going. I am just no going to waste any time in lines if i can avoid it.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The real money maker is Christmas. Having the product sell out this week, drives demand for all of December.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Next they'll be saying that WDW is closed for the month because that will drive up business.

It worked like a charm during the pandemic

 

[Jrb1979]

Just looking at LLMP/SP at 2:45pm...
MK Sold out (closes at 6 today): Everything except PhilharMagic, Laugh Floor, Little Mermaid

EPCOT sold out (closes at 9): Frozen, GotG, MS, Remy.
Past 5pm Figment, Land, Soarin, SSE, Turtle Talk

DHS sold out (closes at 9): Alien, BATB, Indy, MMRR, MFSR, RNRC, SDD, RotR, TSM, TOT.
Past 5pm Star Tours, Frozen

AK sold out (closes at 7pm): FOP, DINO, EE, FotLK, Kali, Safari, Navi
Not saying LLPP is worth it, but DHS is basically bare bones LL available with over 6 hours of park time left.

That makes sense as I would bet for every Premier pass they sell they take some availability from LLMP.

 

[MisterPenguin]

In this case its not a physical widget that the warehouse ran out of and and they are literally sold out.

Sold out in the case of LLs is a arbitrary number someone in Disney thinks up and the number will change as needed.

Yes, the cap can seem quite arbitrary. But a cap must be determined lest Disney sell so many Premiers that the Lightning Lane is clogged with Premies and the standby doesn't move.

They hit the target they set. And no more are being sold. Very basic levers of capitalism and not a gimmick.

 

[HoustonHorn]

Couple of points as I sit at MCO after a few park days:

1. The changes to LL are "working" from the standpoint of LL efficiency. I think the longest we waited from the time we hit the end of an LL line to the merge was maybe 5 minutes, and probably 95% of the time we walked straight to the merge. So I don't think they are overselling any.

2. To that last point, I overheard a lady behind me in line telling her companion that now that she knows about LLPP, she will be doing it her next trip. But to do so, she will not do the dining plan, not do the photo plan, and will make other cuts.

Now that's anecdotal, but it is consistent with reports of people using their WDW budget on LL access and cutting back TS restaurants and others. Disney loves it, because LL is almost pure profit.

 

[DisneyCane]

True, trying to place a monetary threshold on it is irrelevant, there’s really only 2 limitations… the means to buy it, and finding enough value to justify it.

There’s likely many millionaires who can’t justify the cost vs benefit while there’s likely simultaneously many poor people who have no problem adding it to their already staggering credit card balances.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the buyer demographics range from people on the verge of bankruptcy financing their whole trip to the mega rich.

I would guess that the breakdown skews to a lot more of the former than the latter. The people who can afford it without even blinking will either not purchase any line skip or be likely to do a VIP tour where they are treated like they are "important."

It's the same reason that many "whales" in Vegas are loyal and like to get comped and be served by hosts when they could easily afford to just pay for the room and meals. Is it really a big deal for somebody willing to lose six figures over a weekend to pay for a suite at $5k a night? It's the same mentality I'd expect from people in similar income levels at Disney when it comes to something the peons can buy like LLPP vs. an "exclusive" experience like a VIP tour.

I have cousins and friends who are in the verge of bankruptcy demographic. I also have friends in the wealthy and mega wealthy demographic. As illogical as it is, the ones on the verge of bankruptcy have the YOLO mentality while the wealthy and mega wealthy don't. I know that my circle isn't necessarily representative of the country but I think it generally holds true.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Couple of points as I sit at MCO after a few park days:

1. The changes to LL are "working" from the standpoint of LL efficiency. I think the longest we waited from the time we hit the end of an LL line to the merge was maybe 5 minutes, and probably 95% of the time we walked straight to the merge. So I don't think they are overselling any.

2. To that last point, I overheard a lady behind me in line telling her companion that now that she knows about LLPP, she will be doing it her next trip. But to do so, she will not do the dining plan, not do the photo plan, and will make other cuts.

Now that's anecdotal, but it is consistent with reports of people using their WDW budget on LL access and cutting back TS restaurants and others. Disney loves it, because LL is almost pure profit.

Thanks for the info,

My question is the times you waited 5 min to get to merge, what was the posted standby?
We know actual standby wait is about 30 percent shorter than posted time.

I totally believe folks will cut back on other things to purchase LLPP.
I suspect the other segments like dining and merch hate LLPP for taking money from them.