Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Disney Dad 3000]

If you can afford a Disney deluxe, then $35 Genie+ should not be an issue.

The deluxe Uni hotels (with Express Pass) start at $400/night. Five nights there is $2,000.

A value hotel room at WDW is about $120/night. Add in Genie+ (at $35) for four is $140/night. Total is $260/night. Five nights is $1,300. A $700 savings.

I take issue with the idea that staying at Uni Deluxe hotels with free Express Pass is always 'cheaper' than staying at WDW and buying Genie+.

The only way that happens if you're going to stay at a deluxe at either park. And if can afford deluxe prices, the extras should be also affordable in comparison to the cost of the room.

For now.

Agreed. I always dislike the comparisons of G+ vs Express Pass. I do see the perceived benefit of getting Express Pass at those deluxe hotels at Uni, but when we travel (summer, early December, January, or sometimes October) I don't recall seeing $400 a night for those rooms so don't have the option of taking advantage. Express seems to have pushed 200/night during these peak times too.

We looked into a few nights at Uni in June after our DCL (and still may instead of WDW), but the cheapest Deluxe is Royal Pacific at $654 per night with Hard Rock and Portofino $730 plus. Over at WDW we can do WL/AKL/Yacht 400-450 per night, though even that's higher than I'd prefer. We are far better off if we do Uni staying at one of their really solid moderates and eschewing Express Pass, using the hour of early entry, etc.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I think this becomes $50 by next year. Unfortunately. I hope I’m wrong

It's going to outpace express pass at Universal sometime in the next few years.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The bargain way to use Uni Deluxe/Express...

1. Plan on one night stay at the cheapest Uni/Deluxe room you can find.​

​

2. Show up very early in the morning and have bell services hold your bags.​

​

3. Head to the Uni parks with early entry and make use of Express pass all day.​

​

4. At the end of the day, get your bags from bell services and go to your room and sleep.​

​

5. On day 2, get up early, check out, have bell services hold your bags.​

​

6. Head to the Uni parks with early entry and make use of Express pass all day.​

​

7. At the end of the day, get your bags from bell services and head out to your next destination.​

This way, you get two full days of Express Pass for your group at the cost of just one night at a deluxe.

 

[Disstevefan1]

It's going to outpace express pass at Universal sometime in the next few years.

Consider this, is it possible Genie+ will cost more express pass and we end with a worse product and paying more?

Probably not, if Genie+ goes that high, express pass will go higher.

Every time Disney increases prices this gives permission to all the other theme parks to raise their prices.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The bargain way to use Uni Deluxe/Express...

1. Plan on one night stay at the cheapest Uni/Deluxe room you can find.​

​

2. Show up very early in the morning and have bell services hold your bags.​

​

3. Head to the Uni parks with early entry and make use of Express pass all day.​

​

4. At the end of the day, get your bags from bell services and go to your room and sleep.​

​

5. On day 2, get up early, check out, have bell services hold your bags.​

​

6. Head to the Uni parks with early entry and make use of Express pass all day.​

​

7. At the end of the day, get your bags from bell services and head out to your next destination.​

This way, you get two full days of Express Pass for your group at the cost of just one night at a deluxe.

We did exactly that.
We stayed one night at Portofino and used express pass twice; on check in day and check out day.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

The highest level of Uni annual pass (which is only $754) also gives you free express pass after 4

 

[hopemax]

And don't forget that a Power Pass only costs $374.99+tax. The only blockout days for that pass, are the days you wouldn't want to be there anyway (Christmas, NY, Easter). For a sample dates, weekdays in mid-May, you can get a room at RPR which regular rate is $442, the AP rate is $289. Checking the price of the a 2 day, park to park ticket for the same date is about $330. So pay about $50 more for the pass to save $153/night.

 

[CAV]

Universal Orlando's Express Pass starts at $89.99, so I agree that's where Disney is headed. I'm sure there are tons of complaints flooding Guest Services right now from people who are upset they can't buy Genie+ for Disney to justify a further price increase to improve the "guest experience".

I have no problem with Disney trying to find a price point where only 30% of people buy it and no one is upset they didn't buy Genie+. However, there are three reasons this won't happen:

1. Most if not all of the "how to go to Disney" articles/blogs/videos/etc. are telling people they need to buy Genie+ to have a good experience, which creates artificial and inelastic demand
2. Lightning Lane is heavily preferenced over Standby when it comes to merging the queues. This further enhances the belief that Genie+ is required to have a good experience, further increasing demand
3. Disney has covered their collective butts by disclaiming the average guest receives 2-3 Lightning Lane passes per day, which allows them to wave away complaints from guests who had a poor experience with Genie+

A gallon of gas is $3.50. Chanel #5 is $160.00 for 3.5 ounces. Stop comparing the two because they are completely different products.

 

[Patcheslee]

And don't forget that a Power Pass only costs $374.99+tax. The only blockout days for that pass, are the days you wouldn't want to be there anyway (Christmas, NY, Easter). For a sample dates, weekdays in mid-May, you can get a room at RPR which regular rate is $442, the AP rate is $289. Checking the price of the a 2 day, park to park ticket for the same date is about $330. So pay about $50 more for the pass to save $153/nignight

We ended up with APs and had an AP discount at Hard Rock in June 2021. Even after the discount, Express Pass for the 3 of us purchased separately would have cost us more than a room itself. More important: we could buy EP early when cheaper months away, but if we need to cancel we're out money.
Genie+ still have 2 months before we get to try, but hopefully we can make it work.

 

[mattpeto]

As crazy as that sounds, I think realistically they could easily go to somewhere around $75, and peak to $99.

This is really a delicate balance.

Was the original FastPass created as a service to strictly benefit guests or to get them essentially in virtual queues so they can shop and buy food? I've always heard it was more than the latter (spend $), which if that's true they want Genie+ subscriber % to be at a certain threshold per day and they are playing strictly with supply/demand numbers.

We all know that if they priced out to the point where most guests didn't get it, it would help Standby queues substantially. But that's not likely the metrics Disney Park Ops is looking for...

This is somewhat in the same mindset of cutting Magical Express decision: Just one meal or visiting a non Disney attraction outside the Bubble makes cutting DME likely a costly mistake. Disney's gamble is "guests will stay in the Bubble anyway".

 

[Disstevefan1]

The highest level of Uni annual pass (which is only $754) also gives you free express pass after 4

AND NO park pass reservations!!

 

[SingleRider]

Genie+ is still priced at $35 for April 5.

 

[LittleBuford]

This is where I link to that glorious Fastpass 1 hour video and try to beat it into FP fans head that it actually was worse with FP.

A video can’t contradict the many positive experiences I personally had using the old system. Perhaps on some objective level it was worse for more people (though I remain to be convinced on that point), but for me, it was wonderful.

 

[GhostHost1000]

A video can’t contradict the many positive experiences I personally had using the old system. Perhaps on some objective level it was worse for more people (though I remain to be convinced on that point), but for me, it was wonderful.

The old fastpass+ system wasn’t able to be used much by off property guests because they couldn’t reserve 60 days in advance. Now they evened the playing field other than ILLs. Just another perk taken away from on property guests sadly.

As much as I don’t like Genie+ and spend way more time on my phone during the day than I would like, I have learned how to best use it to get the most out of it. The modify button is also your friend (iykyk)

 

[LittleBuford]

The old fastpass+ system wasn’t able to be used much by off property guests because they couldn’t reserve 60 days in advance.

I was always an off-property guest and made very efficient use of the system. I’m not trying to convince others that they should have liked FP+ if they didn’t, merely pointing out that some of us were true fans who did very well out of it.

 

[Purduevian]

Yes and no. In theory, EP is way better because you get to use it on basically all of the rides, whereas with G+ you may only get to use it on a handful of rides. That said, unlike with G+ and the Lightning Lane, the waits with EP can still be relatively long, even approaching 30-45 minutes. Add to that, as you said, I have seen the EP cost as much as around $150, obviously significantly more expensive that G+.

Unlimited express pass for park to park is $349.99 this Friday.

The potential wait time is the only issue with EP, but the one time I had it every ride was less than a 10 minute wait and most were walk-ons.

Even with the potential for a wait the benefits still dramatically outweigh anything Genie+ offers, though -- no scheduling a time in advance and only being able to use it for a handful of rides. Plus, Genie+ sometimes has 15-20 minute waits too.

It really depends on luck/time of year since USO has no control over how many people jump into the Express Lane at a given time. The official stance is that EP should be half the wait of Standby or less. Crazily enough last time I used EP the worst offender was the High in the Sky Suess trolley. Standby 45 minute posted wait. I waited 25 minutes in express. On the other side, Forbidden journey was a posted 60, but was a walk on.

 

[Touchdown]

Here’s another great feature of Express Pass at Universal, ready?

If you get in the Express line and notice it’s uncharacteristically long you can, wait for it, leave that line and come back later when it’s shorter.

Most of the time, another ride will have a shorter wait and most long express lines are only temporary.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Here’s another great feature of Express Pass at Universal, ready?

If you get in the Express line and notice it’s uncharacteristically long you can, wait for it, leave that line and come back later when it’s shorter.

Most of the time, another ride will have a shorter wait and most long express lines are only temporary.

In my opinion this is the best thing about express pass; there is no planning, no app, no getting up at 7AM and hoping you can get something. Just freedom.

You walk up to any express pass line at any time you wish. It’s magical

 

[MrPromey]

Yes, not 100% a fair comparison as my USO day included a late start (stupid hotel check in), 2 hour Hagrids wait, an hour at Mythos, probably an hourish+ exploring the HP lands.

Still even at 30 rides for $250 (you said re-rides) is ~$8 per ride. If G+ is $30, only 4 rides puts you at a better "value" of $ per ride.

Both parks are super expensive, but to me G+ still gives the better "value" over express pass. However, I can totally see how someone has a different opinion than me. I will probably never visit Disney without G+ or USO without staying at a deluxe resort (no way I am forking over $700+ straight up for express for my family of 3).

Unless you're staying in a Universal deluxe resort (priced about like a Disney moderate) in which case, the cost per ride works out to be... carry the three... add the seven... umm... never was good at math... umm... $0.

That's who this system is really for. They'll sell it to you at that price you paid but they're strategy is really about using it to create "value" for the people paying a little more for their better resorts. So imagine it's $200 a person for a family of four but you stay at a deluxe resort and suddenly that's an $800 a day value for "free".

It works because I know people who have likened it to getting the room for free plus saved extra on top as if they would have otherwise plunked down the $2,400 they think they saved to get that feature for all three days of their stay. (not even factoring in the extra check-in/chek-out day trick.)

They wouldn't have, of course, but that's how it worked out in their minds which is what Universal is after.

Either way, between re-rides and no schedule of any kind required, it's definitely miles ahead of Genie+.

They also limit the sales so as not to hurt the perceived value for resort guests which is why it's not usually much of a line, if any on that side.

 

[MrPromey]

During Easter Week, I can understand the Resort rate being higher as demand allows for it. Disney Resorts always had seasons.

But food prices, Genie +, park tickets, etc should remain the same price throughout the year. These surges really stink!

Especially since the parks are an overcrowded mess.

Being expected to pay more to get into a park when crowds are awful and wait times are at their worst never made any sort of sense to me.

Disney's already making bank on those days vs. operational costs compared to a "normal" day on guest volume, alone and they're making people pay even more because they know they've got families over a barrel when it comes to when they're able to actually take their vacations.

And of course they'll pay more for Genie+ because how the he!! are you going to get anything done in the parks when they're like that after having spent so much money to be there?