Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Splash4eva]

That's fair. I actually the the % that do just buy a single day ticket is higher than we would expect, BUT of those that doing so I would think most are doing so at MK not AK so probably better to not use the regular 1-day price

So let's lower that - let's use the special 4-park ticket promotion they have which makes it $99 for each day.

That makes each hour cost $9, so you need to save 100 minutes to make up the cost of G+ at $15

just checked and current waits(again, per Touring Plans Lines App) are:
- Dinosaur: 35mins
- Kali River: 33mins
- Kilimanjaro Safaris: 31mins
- Navi River: 61mins

If we use it on those four rides it is a total of 160 mins. If we take 80% of that total to account for the post merge point waits you would still have, that is 128min, so still 28 minutes more than the break even point.

So still pretty easy to get "worth" out of G+ at AK at a $15 price point. Now, maybe 30ish minute waits aren't any big deal and so saving a few of those doesn't feel like any value to people, but for others I am sure it is worth it

(and playing it out further, it would take being down to about an $80 day ticket just to break even on when $15 for G+ would be worth it)

Ive said this before. Why wait on any lines if you dont have to… yes i get it comes at a cost but in the grand scheme of things the cost of Genie is a smalllllll percentage of the overall trip. Yes i know its feeding the beast but lets face it. Paid skip the line options are going nowhere ever so may as well just accept it and move on for those that are going. Others who have chosen to stop going bc of many factors this being one. God bless as well. But to me especially in this heat why not have the option to walk right on w Genie and then this allows for re rides on ones you want to do again

 

[Ayla]

That's fair. I actually the the % that do just buy a single day ticket is higher than we would expect, BUT of those that doing so I would think most are doing so at MK not AK so probably better to not use the regular 1-day price

So let's lower that - let's use the special 4-park ticket promotion they have which makes it $99 for each day.

That makes each hour cost $9, so you need to save 100 minutes to make up the cost of G+ at $15

just checked and current waits(again, per Touring Plans Lines App) are:
- Dinosaur: 35mins
- Kali River: 33mins
- Kilimanjaro Safaris: 31mins
- Navi River: 61mins

If we use it on those four rides it is a total of 160 mins. If we take 80% of that total to account for the post merge point waits you would still have, that is 128min, so still 28 minutes more than the break even point.

So still pretty easy to get "worth" out of G+ at AK at a $15 price point. Now, maybe 30ish minute waits aren't any big deal and so saving a few of those doesn't feel like any value to people, but for others I am sure it is worth it

(and playing it out further, it would take being down to about an $80 day ticket just to break even on when $15 for G+ would be worth it)

Who says WDW vacations aren't fun?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Who says WDW vacations aren't fun?

I mean, I am not even on vacation and just doing all this math for fun .... like I said I make spreadsheets for a trip to kitchen so I sort of "love" the problem solving a WDW trip is .... but for normal people / first timers it's got to be a bit overwhelming

 

[Ayla]

I mean, I am not even on vacation and just doing all this math for fun .... like I said I make spreadsheets for a trip to kitchen so I sort of "love" the problem solving a WDW trip is .... but for normal people / first timers it's got to be a bit overwhelming

It isn't overwhelming, it is stupid it even has to be done in the first place.

Vacation shouldn't be about problem solving.

(This isn't directed at you, it's directed at what a cluster $@%& WDW has become.)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It isn't overwhelming, it is stupid it even has to be done in the first place.

Vacation shouldn't be about problem solving.

(This isn't directed at you, it's directed at what a cluster $@%& WDW has become.)

I feel like Disney hasn't been a vacation for a long time ... I remember years ago in the days of paper fastpasses I was in the running of the bulls over to the machines by Toy Story Mania and in the mass of humanity heard one dad shout "wow, this is some vacation" and another responded "this isn't a vacation, it's a trip to Disney"

the craziness just changes form ... and now costs more

 

[drizgirl]

I feel like Disney hasn't been a vacation for a long time ... I remember years ago in the days of paper fastpasses I was in the running of the bulls over to the machines by Toy Story Mania and in the mass of humanity heard one dad shout "wow, this is some vacation" and another responded "this isn't a vacation, it's a trip to Disney"

the craziness just changes form ... and now costs more

No, it has definitely ramped up over time.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Is it tier 1 only once? I thought it was only one tier one reservation in advance but you could pull other tier one rides after you exhausted your three. If that’s so it’s worthless considering you couldn’t use G+ on things like SM and BTMRR.

If they charge and further restrict access it will not be seen well in my opinion.

The survey indicated that it would be only 1 tier 1 ride period.

 

[jpeden]

The survey indicated that it would be only 1 tier 1 ride period.

That is just going to make people irate and lines at guest relations will be out into the tapstiles if they do that. People will absolutely not understand they concept.

 

[SpectroMagician]

Been to WDW 21 times, we were planning on going in the fall of 2024 to use our DVC points but Disney has done nothing to get us to want to come over the past few years. Trash movies, uninspired/ IP forced in and built on the cheap new rides, removing all perks for staying on property, and nickel and diming you for things that used to be included.

It has nothing at all to do with the cost, we are just not that interested in going now. We are likely just going to book a week then sell it.

Tom Staggs needs to be brought back in. Iger/Chapek really messed things up.

 

[Thepuma]

So let's do the math ... a day ticket to AK for today is $134. The park is open, the park is open from 8am to 7pm, so 11 hours, meaning each park hour costs $12.18 ... so at $15 for Genie+ you would need to save 73.9 minutes of line time to "buy back" enough active park time to break even


Using the Touring Plans Lines App for more accurate wait times. The waits in Animal Kingdom are currently:

- Dinosaur: 22 mins
- Tough to be a bug: 8 mins
- Kali River Rapids: 13 mins
- Kilimanjaro Safaris: 31 mins
- Navi River: 61 mins
- TriceraTop Spin: 4 mins
- Adventure Outpost: 29mins

Everest is down

So if you used it on Navi, Safaris, and Dinosaur - that alone is 114minutes saved. Less the 73.9m needed to break even, you are already ahead 40.1m

There is probably some wait after the merge point for each of those - so lets say the true wait is only 80% of the reported wait times, still 91.2mins saved and you would be up 17.3mins. Add in a use at Everest once it is up and you are potentially getting "value"

NOW this assumes no strategy or effort in targeting lower wait times- including not making rope drop/early entry when you can probably bang out a few of these with very minimal waits

So to me, using G+ at AK and EP especially is mostly just paying to be able to sleep in on your vacation and avoid rope drop and all that. If you don't care about that then really no use for G+

That also assumes that Disneys (Almost always) stated wait times are correct.

I fail to believe Dinosaur is a 20 minute wait, and Navi River is often half the indicated wait time.

You can easily do AK without G+, but you need to ride drop FoP and the rest falls into place.

 

[Thepuma]

G+ allows you to be a casual easy-go-lucky park goer for EPCOT and AK.

I've only ever used G+ at AK when I'm park hopping. I would never pay for it just for that park. Which is why the new price structure sucks.

 

[nickys]

The survey indicated that it would be only 1 tier 1 ride period.

I just read the survey again.

I hadn’t picked up on it but you’re right, it specifically says you can book additional selections from Tier 2 subject to availability.

That’s

If they do that at other parks though there will be no point in buying it at all for AK and Epcot.

 

[Dranth]

I really hope they don't do this. G+ needs tweaking, not an overhaul to turn it into a bad version of paid FP+. Just my opinion but they need to change four things and then leave it alone.

1. Add the ability to select your ride time.
2. Figure out a way around making people get up early for their first selection without forcing people to book way in advance.
3. Put ALL rides into the G+ pool or at least all except the newest ride in each park if they MUST keep ILL.
4. Let people purchase G+ as an addon to their tickets if they want.

If they keep flipping back and forth or trying to please every group that brings up any complaint, they are just going to alienate everyone.

 

[GhostHost1000]

What about something like this?

- ability to purchase and book 1 LL and 1 ILL for each day for the length of your trip 30 days in advance (15 for offsite guests?)

- ability to select the time you want for each LL

- ability to book a second LL 1hr after your park “entrance” (and each 1 hour afterwards). App alert/notification when that opens

- can only stack/hold 2 LLs at a time

No tiers. I would also prefer they offer ILLs in G+ but they won’t.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That also assumes that Disneys (Almost always) stated wait times are correct.

I fail to believe Dinosaur is a 20 minute wait, and Navi River is often half the indicated wait time.

You can easily do AK without G+, but you need to ride drop FoP and the rest falls into place.

These aren't Disney posted wait times though. These are from the Touring Plans Lines app which is based off of reported actual waits

And agree, it can be done without G+ for sure. But "worth" could mes down to how you value things and if you want to sleep in on your vacation and not rope drop this may feel "worth" it to some

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I just read the survey again.

I hadn’t picked up on it but you’re right, it specifically says you can book additional selections from Tier 2 subject to availability.

That’s

If they do that at other parks though there will be no point in buying it at all for AK and Epcot.

Keep in mind this is just a survey and I suspect many various forms of the survey exits - they want to get reactions not that this is how it will be in reality.

IF it is how it will be that will be pretty crappy, agreed

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What about something like this?

- ability to purchase and book 1 LL and 1 ILL for each day for the length of your trip 30 days in advance (15 for offsite guests?)

- ability to select the time you want for each LL

- ability to book a second LL 1hr after your park “entrance” (and each 1 hour afterwards). App alert/notification when that opens

- can only stack/hold 2 LLs at a time

No tiers. I would also prefer they offer ILLs in G+ but they won’t.

I think that would be ok ...

I would just do that
- You can add G+ on at the time you book your package/tickets just like adding on park hoppers
- Can book the first one for your day 15 days out - onsite guests can book for their entire stay, off site only for that day and then keep doing it (so like how ADRs are)

I wouldn't add tiers and I wouldn't limit stacking - whether I am getting a LL and using it right away or holding it, it is the same usage of the system/taking the same amount of spaces. and I think stacking, especially combined with park hoping increases the value. I would leave it at 2 hours and be you can book your next one after using your first or 2 hours after park opening whether you have entered or not

 

[nickys]

Keep in mind this is just a survey and I suspect many various forms of the survey exits - they want to get reactions not that this is how it will be in reality.

IF it is how it will be that will be pretty crappy, agreed

Agreed on all points.

IF that is what they intend to do then I would rather they stick with G+ And that’s coming from someone who much prefers to have our key rides planned and booked in advance.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I think that would be ok ...

I would just do that
- You can add G+ on at the time you book your package/tickets just like adding on park hoppers
- Can book the first one for your day 15 days out - onsite guests can book for their entire stay, off site only for that day and then keep doing it (so like how ADRs are)

I wouldn't add tiers and I wouldn't limit stacking - whether I am getting a LL and using it right away or holding it, it is the same usage of the system/taking the same amount of spaces. and I think stacking, especially combined with park hoping increases the value. I would leave it at 2 hours and be you can book your next one after using your first or 2 hours after park opening whether you have entered or not

If they don’t limit stacking I agree you'd have to do every 2 hours instead of one.

 

[Thepuma]

The simplest answer is to have ALL the rides in the G+ Pool and increase the price to say $50 (or whatever) each. That would give more rides to spread the load AND put enough people off to lower the number of users.(obviously only allowing 1 ride of each attraction per day)....no pre book, no booking at 7am...no booking separate G+ and LL etc etc...just a simple $50 and you can choose what you like, subject to availability and times. You can start booking when the park opens but CANNOT have more than one reservation at a time.

Half the problem they have at the moment is the fact they are taking 2 rides away per park to coin it in with LK+ and so leaving fewer rides for G+ users. On top of that the Virtual Queue ride, which I do actually like that way, but again, it's another ride taken off G+.

I just don't understand why they keep making it more and more complicated.