Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[UK Disney]

There is a way round for magic bands.

When it asks for your address, use the resort address. They then get sent to the front desk.

Good to know, although it doesn't sound like I'll be needing a magic band anytime soon.

 

[Saskdw]

I'm going to see how the VPN pans out, it seems to work for everything except the pre ordered magic bands. We're staying at Wilderness Lodge next year and won't hesitate to cancel it. So frustrating they are even annoying folk who are willing to pay for it.

The magic band thing has to do with resorts shipping out of the US. Nothing to do with the app or website.

 

[newf709]

I just don't understand why anyone outside the US would ever buy this now? I have a trip in September and am very annoyed with this change. The old Genie+ would have worked far better for me.

 

[nickys]

It already will not allow you to purchase Genie Plus due to geo-location before even asking for dates etc. And I’ve tried a number of VPNs and it won’t work with that either.

Surely that’s because you have to be logged in to buy it and have a valid ticket for the same day?

Unless you have an AP of course.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think most people are thinking ‘i got 3 LL reservations!’ And that’s winning in their mind. They aren’t looking past getting a reservation and ignoring what the rest of their experience will change to.

It’s literally chasing the shiny object Disney is dangling in front of you.

I can’t wait for about a month after this goes live and the grievances start.

People will complain no matter what they do.

I had plenty of very enjoyable trips while FP+ was the law of the land. I don’t see how this system will be in any way worse than FP+ so I’m not worried about ruining my experience.

 

[hopemax]

Under the system as laid out now how many non-resort guests people will buy in if the good attractions sell out 7 days in advance? Specifically for a park like AK where only a handful of rides get long lines.

It won’t be just potential LL purchases non-resort guests opt out of. Why buy a park ticket at all if you can see the rides you want will sell out for LL and the option is excruciating standby waits? This is why prioritizing resort guests too much is also bad business. People start opting out of certain parks, in favor of just the Magic Kingdom. So yes, Disney might capture some new money from resort bookings. But their ticket sales potentially can be negatively impacted instead.

 

[UK Disney]

The magic band thing has to do with resorts shipping out of the US. Nothing to do with the app or website.

That's true but they'd still ship them to the hotel if you left it until 10 days before the trip, something like that but that's now stopped.

 

[Saskdw]

No reason given, but I suspect there are numerous regulatory issues at play.

Regulations have changed since FP+?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But not everyone will buy the Multipass. So the number of guests trying to book them is much smaller.

But so few to not knock out the headliners?

 

[nickys]

That's true but they'd still ship them to the hotel if you left it until 10 days before the trip, something like that but that's now stopped.

Use the resort address as your personal address. It still works (as of May this year).

 

[donsullivan]

Regulations have changed since FP+?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since you could only purchase G+ on the day of your visit, you were already there, so there was no issue. This seems only to impact the issue of advance purchase, and as has been said multiple times, there is likely some new regulatory barrier that they have no control over.

 

[GoofGoof]

It won’t be just potential LL purchases non-resort guests opt out of. Why buy a park ticket at all if you can see the rides you want will sell out for LL and the option is excruciating standby waits? This is why prioritizing resort guests too much is also bad business. People start opting out of certain parks, in favor of just the Magic Kingdom. So yes, Disney might capture some new money from resort bookings. But their ticket sales potentially can be negatively impacted instead.

Plenty of people were buying park tickets and choosing to not buy genie+. Waiting in standby lines is still an option. Depending on time of year it may still be the best option.

 

[osian]

No reason given, but I suspect there are numerous regulatory issues at play.

What could possibly be "illegal" about it...it was no problem with booking FP+ via the web site, and Disney can already take payments for the whole package via the UK web site. Ah...it's about promoting use of the app isn't it? They don't want people to use the web site, or they just can't be bothered to develop it. But that's their choice. Nothing "regulatory" about it at all.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It already will not allow you to purchase Genie Plus due to geo-location before even asking for dates etc. And I’ve tried a number of VPNs and it won’t work with that either.

Wait what? How were you doing this?

 

[nickys]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since you could only purchase G+ on the day of your visit, you were already there, so there was no issue. This seems only to impact the issue of advance purchase, and as has been said multiple times, there is likely some new regulatory barrier that they have no control over.

Disney simply have to register with the customs / tax authorities to be able to accept payments from EU and the UK.

It’s not difficult. Other organisations manage it just fine. That’s what makes me so angry about it.

 

[Saskdw]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since you could only purchase G+ on the day of your visit, you were already there, so there was no issue. This seems only to impact the issue of advance purchase, and as has been said multiple times, there is likely some new regulatory barrier that they have no control over.

We stopped going to WDW because of G+.

There was no issues with FP+.

If they have no control over it that is too bad for them they won't get my business.

 

[UK Disney]

Disney simply have to register with the customs / tax authorities to be able to accept payments from EU and the UK.

It’s not difficult. Other organisations manage it just fine. That’s what makes me so angry about it.

I don't get it either, I paid in full for Rose and Crown using the app without a VPN the facility is already there.

 

[osian]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since you could only purchase G+ on the day of your visit, you were already there, so there was no issue. This seems only to impact the issue of advance purchase, and as has been said multiple times, there is likely some new regulatory barrier that they have no control over.

You mean that UK visitors will no longer be able to purchase hotel packages and tickets in advance either? I'm due to pay my balance for my forthcoming trip, how on earth can I do that if they can't accept international payments any more?

 

[donsullivan]

Disney simply have to register with the customs / tax authorities to be able to accept payments from EU and the UK.

It’s not difficult. Other organisations manage it just fine. That’s what makes me so angry about it.

I'm just guessing here, but to do that, the app would need to add all of the complexity of currency exchange, tax and consumer law from every single country they made it available to be purchased from. If you make the transaction in the US, they just use the local tax law and your credit card does the currency exchange on the back end. It doesn't mean they could not do it in the future, but adding that functionality introduces a lot more complexity to the transaction that would likely have delayed the rollout (just a guess).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Disney simply have to register with the customs / tax authorities to be able to accept payments from EU and the UK.

It’s not difficult. Other organisations manage it just fine. That’s what makes me so angry about it.

Doesn't Disney ALREADY do it for Cruise?