Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Disstevefan1]

If it makes you feel better, a couple years ago there was a software update that temporarily rendered the soda fountains unable to read the chips, so the machines would fill anything you put under the dispenser. Rumor has it that the person writing this very post witnessed a child in their travel party try to order a soda at a resort pool bar only to be given a free water cup instead and told by the CM that since the chip readers were disabled and the CM can't see the drink dispenser from behind the bar that this CM would have no way to verify what drink was put in the cup. The situation has since been rectified, bit there was indeed a time when the chips in the cups were useless.

Not sure if this post changes my feelings in any way as I don't care either way, but if I want a soda, I want a soda and am willing to pay for it.

 

[nickys]

I'm curious how same day park hopping is going to work with the tiers and everything.

I'm planning to have a park hoping day later this year with an AK start and an EPCOT afternoon.

Assuming a 9am AK opening, ideally I would book 9:30am-10:30am Navi, 10:30am-11:30amSafari, and a 2pm-3pmFrozen... however the current system will not allow that on prebook.

I am wondering if day of LLs can be modified for instance if I book a 9:30am-10:30am Navi, 10:30am-11:30am Safari, and a 2-3 its tough to be a bug, can I modify the ITTBAB once the park opens to frozen? Or am I forced to use 3 LLs in my starting park if I want to keep all 3 paths open...

Also does a LL booking window open up if I let a pass "expire" without using it? Can LLs overlap like they can on G+ or will no overlap be allowed like FP+?
If so I could book a 9am-10am ITTBAB and at 10:01am maybe I can book a tier 1 anywhere else?

We won’t know for sure until the 24th, when it’s tested out.

We do know there can be a 15 minute overlap.

Also if one expires you won’t be able to rebook that later.

With FP+ in your scenario, you could have prebooked just 2 rides, and immediately you tapped into the first you could book another for any park.

A lot of these nuances will depend on whether the old FP+ code is used as a starting point. Because no way will all theses scenarios be specifically thought out, coded and tested.

 

[JAB]

I'm curious how same day park hopping is going to work with the tiers and everything.

I'm planning to have a park hoping day later this year with an AK start and an EPCOT afternoon.

Assuming a 9am AK opening, ideally I would book 9:30am-10:30am Navi, 10:30am-11:30amSafari, and a 2pm-3pmFrozen... however the current system will not allow that on prebook.

All 3 of your pre-booked LL must be at one park. However, once you use your first pre-booked LL, as long as you have park hopper tickets, you can book another at any park with no tier restrictions.

I am wondering if day of LLs can be modified for instance if I book a 9:30am-10:30am Navi, 10:30am-11:30am Safari, and a 2-3 its tough to be a bug, can I modify the ITTBAB once the park opens to frozen? Or am I forced to use 3 LLs in my starting park if I want to keep all 3 paths open...

It's possible, since there are no tier restrictions when getting LL day-of, but there are still questions on when that takes effect. 7 am? After you use your first pre-booked? We don't really know yet.

Also does a LL booking window open up if I let a pass "expire" without using it? Can LLs overlap like they can on G+ or will no overlap be allowed like FP+?
If so I could book a 9am-10am ITTBAB and at 10:01am maybe I can book a tier 1 anywhere else?

FP and G+ LL both expired at the end of the window as if you'd used it, so it seems like a safe bet that LL-MP will work the same way.

No official word on overlapping, but reliable sources are reporting a 15 minute overlap will be allowed.

 

[rk3668]

We are talking about WDW IT though. at exactly 7am on the 24th, you'll have everyone booking for that day, plus everyone who eligible for advance bookings.

Do we know it will start at 7 AM on the 24th? Could it be midnight or sometime in the middle of the night when app updates get pushed?

 

[nickys]

All 3 of your pre-booked LL must be at one park.

Yes, but if you don’t pre-book any, or only pre-book 1 or 2, you may be able to book at multiple parks at 7am.

All the permutations will be tested out fairly quickly on & after the 24th.

 

[nickys]

Do we know it will start at 7 AM on the 24th? Could it be midnight or sometime in the middle of the night when app updates get pushed?

All the official info said from 7am on the first day of your eligibility.

 

[rk3668]

All the official info said from 7am on the first day of your eligibility.

Thanks. The thing that made me uncertain is that if you arrive on the 24th, the first day of eligibility should be the 17th. We are there the 20th to the 27th-- I will probably stay up late the 23rd anyway.

 

[Purduevian]

We won’t know for sure until the 24th, when it’s tested out.

We do know there can be a 15 minute overlap.

Also if one expires you won’t be able to rebook that later.

With FP+ in your scenario, you could have prebooked just 2 rides, and immediately you tapped into the first you could book another for any park.

A lot of these nuances will depend on whether the old FP+ code is used as a starting point. Because no way will all theses scenarios be specifically thought out, coded and tested.

All 3 of your pre-booked LL must be at one park. However, once you use your first pre-booked LL, as long as you have park hopper tickets, you can book another at any park with no tier restrictions.


It's possible, since there are no tier restrictions when getting LL day-of, but there are still questions on when that takes effect. 7 am? After you use your first pre-booked? We don't really know yet.


FP and G+ LL both expired at the end of the window as if you'd used it, so it seems like a safe bet that LL-MP will work the same way.

No official word on overlapping, but reliable sources are reporting a 15 minute overlap will be allowed.

Thanks for the 15 mins. I think at this point I will probably book something like ITTBAB at opening (with no intention of using it). Navi like 15-30 mins after opening and Safari like 20 mins after Navi

Yes, but if you don’t pre-book any, or only pre-book 1 or 2, you may be able to book at multiple parks at 7am.

All the permutations will be tested out fairly quickly on & after the 24th.

I think the new system is going to force you to prebook all 3 before you can buy... you may be able to cancel though.

 

[nickys]

Thanks for the 15 mins. I think at this point I will probably book something like ITTBAB at opening (with no intention of using it). Navi like 15-30 mins after opening and Safari like 20 mins after Navi

I think the new system is going to force you to prebook all 3 before you can buy... you may be able to cancel though.

You’ll be able to do something like 9, 9:45 and 10:30 . So each be can overlap by 15 minutes.

Wording says you can buy “up to 3”. - just like FP+
I doubt they’ll force you to pick 3.

 

[JAB]

Yes, but if you don’t pre-book any, or only pre-book 1 or 2, you may be able to book at multiple parks at 7am.

IIRC, in the days of FP+ pre-booking fewer than 3 was definitely a valid strategy, since you had to use everything you pre-booked. With LL-MP only requiring you to use 1 and potentially allowing you to modify day-of, I will be interested to see if there is any difference strategy-wise between pre-booking fewer than 3 and pre-booking 3 regardless and just modifying day-of.

All the permutations will be tested out fairly quickly on & after the 24th.

That goes to my current dilemma. I have a compulsion to start adjusting my plans for LL-MP, but there's too many unknown variables, so I can't properly plan yet and my brain is stuck in stressed limbo. I mean, I've only got less than a year to optimize my park days and strategy.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think this is true......I think sales will slump because non resort guests at 3 days out will have little to no available rides to select from and they will not buy it where if it was Genie+ and it was day of they would buy it

If sales slump compared to Genie+ then there should be plenty of capacity available a lot of days of the year 3 days out. Generally speaking I only heard people complain about getting less than 3 reservations using Genie+ on very high crowd days. Whether the specific rides and times people want are available could ultimately impact purchase decisions too but my gut feeling is this new system will sell better than Genie+.

 

[GoofGoof]

Thanks for the clarification.

The RFID chipped drink cup money grab IS JUSTIFIED

In Disney‘s defense the RFID chip cups were not the money grab, they just forced people to actually pay for the soda they were taking. Charging over $4 for a fountain drink in the first place is the real money grab

 

[Disstevefan1]

In Disney‘s defense the RFID chip cups were not the money grab, they just forced people to actually pay for the soda they were taking. Charging over $4 for a fountain drink in the first place is the real money grab

100 percent agree, they charge too much for ALL BEVERAGES in WDW.

 

[doctornick]

If sales slump compared to Genie+ then there should be plenty of capacity available a lot of days of the year 3 days out. Generally speaking I only heard people complain about getting less than 3 reservations using Genie+ on very high crowd days. Whether the specific rides and times people want are available could ultimately impact purchase decisions too but my gut feeling is this new system will sell better than Genie+.

And I think getting 3 as a default will lead to the vast majority of guests being satisfied with the purchase (even if they don't book any more). Right at 3 is IMHO where ordinary guests feel like they get "value" from such a system whereas if they only get one or two rides, they are more likely to feel slighted and complain to Guest Services.

 

[Jrb1979]

And I think getting 3 as a default will lead to the vast majority of guests being satisfied with the purchase (even if they don't book any more). Right at 3 is IMHO where ordinary guests feel like they get "value" from such a system whereas if they only get one or two rides, they are more likely to feel slighted and complain to Guest Services.

It plays the average guest who visits Disney. They aren't ride warriors and majority are happy with a handful of rides a day.

 

[GoofGoof]

And I think getting 3 as a default will lead to the vast majority of guests being satisfied with the purchase (even if they don't book any more). Right at 3 is IMHO where ordinary guests feel like they get "value" from such a system whereas if they only get one or two rides, they are more likely to feel slighted and complain to Guest Services.

I agree. Buying in at 7am and not knowing if I’d even get 3 reservations I could use or wanted is a lot less appealing than 3 guaranteed that I know up front and most importantly that I can pick the time. The down side is availability “day of“ for reservations 4 and 5 and so on will be more limited now, but getting a less desirable ride or time as my 4th reservation of the day is not going to upset as many people.

I agree on the perception of 3 rides feeling like “value” to a lot of people. Depending on crowd levels a large number of rides and attractions don’t need fast pass or lightning lanes at all. A guest using 3 pre booked lightning lanes for more popular rides is not likely just riding those 3 rides and then going home. They are likely watching parades or night shows, seeing minor shows or other entertainment with no real wait, riding less popular rides with 20 min or less waits, shopping, eating and meeting characters. I think more frequent visitors tend to skip some of that other stuff and focus on ride count but the average guest probably does not.

 

[Jrb1979]

I agree. Buying in at 7am and not knowing if I’d even get 3 reservations I could use or wanted is a lot less appealing than 3 guaranteed that I know up front and most importantly that I can pick the time. The down side is availability “day of“ for reservations 4 and 5 and so on will be more limited now, but getting a less desirable ride or time as my 4th reservation of the day is not going to upset as many people.

I agree on the perception of 3 rides feeling like “value” to a lot of people. Depending on crowd levels a large number of rides and attractions don’t need fast pass or lightning lanes at all. A guest using 3 pre booked lightning lanes for more popular rides is not likely just riding those 3 rides and then going home. They are likely watching parades or night shows, seeing minor shows or other entertainment with no real wait, riding less popular rides with 20 min or less waits, shopping, eating and meeting characters. I think more frequent visitors tend to skip some of that other stuff and focus on ride count but the average guest probably does not.

Agreed. I think it's more than just frequent visitors, it's the majority of guests. Look at how many guests go to parks do their 3 and go back to the resorts. Or those that stroll into the parks at the crack of 4pm and ride a few things a leave.

For my family it's not worth it as we go to the parks to ride attractions. We treat Disney the same as Dollywood or Cedar Point. If I'm paying that much for a ticket we want our moneys worth.

 

[GoofGoof]

Agreed. I think it's more than just frequent visitors, it's the majority of guests. Look at how many guests go to parks do their 3 and go back to the resorts. Or those that stroll into the parks at the crack of 4pm and ride a few things a leave.

For my family it's not worth it as we go to the parks to ride attractions. We treat Disney the same as Dollywood or Cedar Point. If I'm paying that much for a ticket we want our moneys worth.

Yeah, time at the resorts, time at the pool, time at Disney Springs, etc….all factor in. Most WDW guests are focused on more than just ride count. I think you are discounting the fact that the standby lines are still an option and can be used in conjunction with a front of the line option. You don’t have to just do 3 rides you reserved then go back to your room. Fast pass and now lightning lane are systems best used to avoid long waits for popular rides.

 

[James Alucobond]

Buying in at 7am and not knowing if I’d even get 3 reservations I could use or wanted is a lot less appealing than 3 guaranteed that I know up front and most importantly that I can pick the time.

Buying at 7 and getting only 3 is nearly impossible unless you're just not using Genie+ at all. And your 3 guaranteed selections with the new system are potentially a lot less valuable to begin with given tiering.

 

[Splash4eva]

IIRC, in the days of FP+ pre-booking fewer than 3 was definitely a valid strategy, since you had to use everything you pre-booked. With LL-MP only requiring you to use 1 and potentially allowing you to modify day-of, I will be interested to see if there is any difference strategy-wise between pre-booking fewer than 3 and pre-booking 3 regardless and just modifying day-of.


That goes to my current dilemma. I have a compulsion to start adjusting my plans for LL-MP, but there's too many unknown variables, so I can't properly plan yet and my brain is stuck in stressed limbo. I mean, I've only got less than a year to optimize my park days and strategy.

Can you imagine explaining this to 1st time visitors… college sports teams nay put less effort & game planning vs an opponent than whats needed for a Disney vacation