Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Jrb1979]

It’s a really silly idea, isn’t it?

It predictably popped up 5 minutes after thjs was announced.
I get it - their guts tell Disney fans that these things are to overcharge/screw them. It’s a standard list of excuses that don’t apply.

But that is the rule, not the rule when it comes to this management. It’s got to go before they wreck it all and sell to meta out of desperation on the cheap…

Unfortunately I don't see getting better any time soon. They don't seem to be in a hurry to find Iger's replacement. It's crazy how quickly it went from CM's crying tears of joy that Iger was back to now many hating on him.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And that's the problem. If the low end is $15 there's no way MK will ever be the low end again if it's priced the same as a multi park genie. So for us who go end of Aug and only buy it at MK or HS it will probably be more expensive than it would have been if it stayed the same.

definitely what I am thinking as we have our trip last week of August

Currently plan was to only get G+ for DHS and actually sleep in that morning (after a later night) and use G+ to stack LL for a later arrive

BUT now I have to see how much DHS is compared to, say EPCOT. Do we switch our EPCOT and DHS days and do the sleep in, get G+ and stack for later arrival at EPCOT since it will be cheaper? (or, rather, less expensive)? ... and what is the price difference? If $2, no biggy, but if $10 or more, for our family of 5, $50 isn't nothing

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Another bizarre question now is, what if you only want Genie+ reservations at, say, Epcot, but you plan to spend the morning in AK. You don't want Genie+ at AK because you're just going to do shows and see the trails. (I did this exact thing because it was too hot to do the trails in the afternoon, but Epcot has lots of air conditioning.) Do you need to do the multi-park thing because you have a reservation at AK, or can you just buy the Epcot Genie+? Will the system even allow that?

See, this is what I mean. It seems like a simple change until you get into the details. Only people who never actually vacation at Disney would make these decisions.

In that scenario you buy Epcot…BUT we don’t know how the crappy app interface will be?

Can I go on at 9:30 and book Ratatouille for 5:30 pm? Or am I locked out until 2 pm based on the “hopping window”

SURPRISE!! More potential headaches and screw ups.

Have a magical day

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Unfortunately I don't see getting better any time soon. They don't seem to be in a hurry to find Iger's replacement. It's crazy how quickly it went from CM's crying tears of joy that Iger was back to now many hating on him.

Iger would be gone - right now - if he didn’t have a puppet Board.
That is a FACT.

He never intended to go anywhere…he’s trying to rebuild his paper mache ego.

You want to know what REALLY would have the Disneys spinning in their grave? This.
No hyperbole

It’s not the price, it’s a decline in quality coupled with them not listening to/exploiting their customers.
Recognize

 

[Splash4eva]

It’s a really silly idea, isn’t it?

It predictably popped up 5 minutes after this was announced.
I get it - their guts tell Disney fans that these things aren’t to overcharge/screw them. It’s a standard list of excuses that don’t apply.

But that is the rule, not the exception when it comes to this management. It’s got to go before they wreck it all and sell to meta out of desperation on the cheap…

And another note anyone who thinks this is a “discount” imo is sadly mistaken the increased price they will use for MK and HS will not off set the “discounted” price for AK & EC just my thoughts on the matter when it comes to pricing. Im going in November cant wait to see how much they will charge during Thanksgiving

 

[Jrb1979]

Judging by the timing of this and how quick they are implementing it tells me this quarter isn't looking great financially

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Judging by the timing of this and how quick they are implementing it tells me this quarter isn't looking great financially

probably also wanted to get this in for July 4th week so they can charge more for the days that are more crowded and have the special fireworks, etc

 

[Tha Realest]

Judging by the timing of this and how quick they are implementing it tells me this quarter isn't looking great financially

The suddenness, coming on the heels of discount after discount, and timing relative to a new fiscal quarter has every hallmark of being a “break glass in case of emergency” move.

 

[Jrb1979]

The suddenness, coming on the heels of discount after discount, and timing relative to a new fiscal quarter has every hallmark of being a “break glass in case of emergency” move.

Agreed. It feels like they are in a lot more trouble than many want to believe.

 

[lentesta]

I hear bits and pieces from way old co-workers and travel people. So I can’t speak with any authority.

I would ask @lentesta

Here's Fantasyland at 9:04 a.m. today, (so a few minutes after regular park opening):

And here's Main Street, USA at 9:15 a.m. today:

The thing that strikes me is the lack of crowds.

Another way of looking at this is with actual crowd levels from our crowd calendar. We use Disney's posted wait times between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., at key attractions, as a proxy for crowds (because wait times are transparent and objective). We convert those wait times to a 1-to-10 scale for easier understanding.

Here are the actual MK crowd levels for this year and past years, from June 1 to June 23:

2023: 5.1 out of 10
2022: 6.0
2021: 1.8
2020: -
2019: 5.7
2018: 7.6
2017: 6.8
2016: 8.9

Excluding the pandemic summer of 2021, this year has the lowest average posted waits at the MK since at least 2016.

The usual caveats apply: Posted wait times aren't especially accurate, capacity has changed over time, etc.

 

[Jrb1979]

Here's Fantasyland at 9:04 a.m. today, (so a few minutes after regular park opening):
View attachment 726211


And here's Main Street, USA at 9:15 a.m. today:
View attachment 726209

The thing that strikes me is the lack of crowds.

Another way of looking at this is with actual crowd levels from our crowd calendar. We use Disney's posted wait times between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., at key attractions, as a proxy for crowds (because wait times are transparent and objective). We convert those wait times to a 1-to-10 scale for easier understanding.

Here are the actual MK crowd levels for this year and past years, from June 1 to June 23:

2023: 5.1 out of 10
2022: 6.0
2021: 1.8
2020: -
2019: 5.7
2018: 7.6
2017: 6.8
2016: 8.9

Excluding the pandemic summer of 2021, this year has the lowest average posted waits at the MK since at least 2016.

The usual caveats apply: Posted wait times aren't especially accurate, capacity has changed over time, etc.

That's crazy. It's a Saturday so the parks should be packed.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Here's Fantasyland at 9:04 a.m. today, (so a few minutes after regular park opening):
View attachment 726211


And here's Main Street, USA at 9:15 a.m. today:
View attachment 726209

The thing that strikes me is the lack of crowds.

Another way of looking at this is with actual crowd levels from our crowd calendar. We use Disney's posted wait times between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., at key attractions, as a proxy for crowds (because wait times are transparent and objective). We convert those wait times to a 1-to-10 scale for easier understanding.

Here are the actual MK crowd levels for this year and past years, from June 1 to June 23:

2023: 5.1 out of 10
2022: 6.0
2021: 1.8
2020: -
2019: 5.7
2018: 7.6
2017: 6.8
2016: 8.9

Excluding the pandemic summer of 2021, this year has the lowest average posted waits at the MK since at least 2016.

The usual caveats apply: Posted wait times aren't especially accurate, capacity has changed over time, etc.

…I knew you’d come though

That bobbiddi schmobbity is telling

 

[GhostHost1000]

probably also wanted to get this in for July 4th week so they can charge more for the days that are more crowded and have the special fireworks, etc

Those were my thoughts too

 

[Figgy1]

That's crazy. It's a Saturday so the parks should be packed.

Here's Fantasyland at 9:04 a.m. today, (so a few minutes after regular park opening):
View attachment 726211


And here's Main Street, USA at 9:15 a.m. today:
View attachment 726209

The thing that strikes me is the lack of crowds.

Another way of looking at this is with actual crowd levels from our crowd calendar. We use Disney's posted wait times between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., at key attractions, as a proxy for crowds (because wait times are transparent and objective). We convert those wait times to a 1-to-10 scale for easier understanding.

Here are the actual MK crowd levels for this year and past years, from June 1 to June 23:

2023: 5.1 out of 10
2022: 6.0
2021: 1.8
2020: -
2019: 5.7
2018: 7.6
2017: 6.8
2016: 8.9

Excluding the pandemic summer of 2021, this year has the lowest average posted waits at the MK since at least 2016.

The usual caveats apply: Posted wait times aren't especially accurate, capacity has changed over time, etc.

This is surprising seeing most NY/NJ are now out for summer.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

probably also wanted to get this in for July 4th week so they can charge more for the days that are more crowded and have the special fireworks, etc

Those were my thoughts too

There are very few “coincidences” in price decisions

July 4th Is gonna be empty too…however

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is surprising seeing most NY/NJ are now out for summer.

As the Lt. Governor of New Jersey, I can definitely tell you that the people here aren’t happy with Disney EITHER!!

it’s not the normal malaise of warm and fuzzies that it’s been for 30 years.

If that doesn’t scare the bejesus out of the management offices at Disney vacation club…they all should be fired too

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is surprising seeing most NY/NJ are now out for summer.

At least for us last day of school was just yesterday and still end of year parties going on ... But still, Saturday in June should be fairly busy

 

[dreday3]

Not that this means anything, yes attendance is down, but hasn't the summer - since before Covid even - been seeing less crowds and the fall has been picking up? I've been reading that mantra since 2015 when we were planning a fall trip. Everyone talking about how October is now the crowded time and summer is low.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not that this means anything, yes attendance is down, but hasn't the summer - since before Covid even - been seeing less crowds and the fall has been picking up? I've been reading that mantra since 2015 when we were planning a fall trip. Everyone talking about how October is now the crowded time and summer is low.

The travel calendar has shifted for decades…accelerated with weather changes in the last 10-20…

But that…doesn’t cover these pictures or accounts

It’s the prices and they know it.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

At least for us last day of school was just yesterday and still end of year parties going on ... But still, Saturday in June should be fairly busy

Congratulations on sharing the worlds DUMBEST school calendar with my children