Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[easyrowrdw]

One way to look at this is instead of increasing ticket prices by $12 a ticket for everyone and making the service free like FP+ they instead raised prices $25-$30 per ticket for the 1/3 using the system and $0 for those not using. Guests have a choice now.

Before anyone says it, I acknowledge that they also raised regular ticket prices each year as well. I also acknowledge that paper FP and later FP+ were both free services. The point is Disney is going to get paid either way. Better to allow you to pick and choose vs a blanket increase in tickets. On a 7 day trip you can even pick and choose by day.

I would’ve thought that “stealth” price increases would’ve worked better. G+ seems to have turned off a lot of people from both groups. Some that use it are frustrated by paying for a formerly free product. Some that don’t are mad that Disney removed a free service.

 

[nickys]

Is that true? I know at one point you couldn’t book G+ for anything other than your first park until return times stretched past 2pm, but then I switched to an evening stacking strategy and haven’t paid attention. I hope you are right— we want to do the GOTG VQ in the AM but I don’t see much appeal in FEA or Remy and I refuse to accept that Soarin belongs in Tier 1 at all.

That 2pm restriction was only in force until they removed the park hopping restriction. You can tap in and go straight to your next park if you want to.

You can buy G+ for a single park that you plan to hop to and then stack as you say. Admittedly I don’t have an AP but I know lots of people who do and haven’t been restricted like that.

 

[GoofGoof]

I would’ve thought that “stealth” price increases would’ve worked better. G+ seems to have turned off a lot of people from both groups. Some that use it are frustrated by paying for a formerly free product. Some that don’t are mad that Disney removed a free service.

Most people are going to be upset at a price increase. Nobody wants to pay more for the same product or service. That hasn’t stopped Disney and just about every other company from jacking up prices.

The idea of paying for something that was once free or included with admission is definitely harder to take for most consumers. That’s part of why Disney changed the name. Just like Disneyland had maxpass instead of calling it paid fast pass. That will fade over time as new consumers come along and old regulars get adjusted to the new norm. Lightning Lane is now just another upsell for Disney like after hours parties, fireworks viewing packages and other optional additions. Your basic park admission is becoming more like basic economy airline tickets where you get in and have access to the primary good or service (a seat on the plane or in this case access to the parks) but many upsells exist to enhance your experience if you are willing to pay the price. For airlines it’s meals and drinks on the flight, premium seats near the front with more leg room or an earlier boarding group that guarantees room for your carry on in the overhead bin. For WDW it’s front of the line access to some rides, reserved areas for shows or special ticket events that limit how many people attend.

 

[lentesta]

Hi again, any word yet on whether AP LLMPs need to match the park that’s on their park reservation?

I don't yet know. I'm 90% sure that the stuff in the newest version of MDE just released is also dependent on back-end code that hasn't yet been put into production.

 

[Purduevian]

I now think it’s closer to 480/hour tops. And multiple drops per day.

Is this 480 vs 300 number due to the DAS changes or did it increase to 480 before that? Overall a 62% increase in LL availability is crazy and makes G+/LLMP much more beneficial to those buying it

 

[DCBaker]

Thrill Data has shared what the MDX app's API currently shows for upcoming Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing (with the caveat this could change before the new system goes live on July 24).

Here's a link the article:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Pricing

Below, find the current and future pricing for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World Resort. These are the current prices directly from the My Disney Experience app's API. It appears that the initial pricing for LLMP reflects the current Genie+ pricing scheme. However, the Park Hopper op...

talk.thrill-data.com

 

[wdwmagic]

Thrill Data has shared what the MDX app's API currently shows for upcoming Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing (with the caveat this could change before the new system goes live on July 24).

View attachment 802690

Here's a link the article:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Pricing

Below, find the current and future pricing for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World Resort. These are the current prices directly from the My Disney Experience app's API. It appears that the initial pricing for LLMP reflects the current Genie+ pricing scheme. However, the Park Hopper op...

talk.thrill-data.com

I'm not expecting much of a price change policy change from current Genie+

 

[Purduevian]

Thrill Data has shared what the MDX app's API currently shows for upcoming Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing (with the caveat this could change before the new system goes live on July 24).

View attachment 802690

Here's a link the article:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Pricing

Below, find the current and future pricing for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World Resort. These are the current prices directly from the My Disney Experience app's API. It appears that the initial pricing for LLMP reflects the current Genie+ pricing scheme. However, the Park Hopper op...

talk.thrill-data.com

What's interesting to me is that it looks like they removed the park hopper option... which means all of these basically turn into park hoppers.

I think this makes it less likely that all the prebook rules "unlock" at a certain time. Otherwise, someone could pay for the AK LLMP then at midnight or 7am or whatever try to book 3 MK tier 1s.

 

[easyrowrdw]

What's interesting to me is that it looks like they removed the park hopper option... which means all of these basically turn into park hoppers.

I think this makes it less likely that all the prebook rules "unlock" at a certain time. Otherwise, someone could pay for the AK LLMP then at midnight or 7am or whatever try to book 3 MK tier 1s.

If that's the case, this makes Epcot and AK more appealing booking options now.

 

[Purduevian]

If that's the case, this makes Epcot and AK more appealing booking options now.

What we still don't know if any of the rules on the prebooks ever "unlock" or if you have to use 1 tier 1 and 2 tier 2s in the same park (or just 3 LLs in AK).

There are a few schools of thought on this:
1) Restricts on the first LL on each "track" remain in place until used or expired
2) Restrictions on all LLs "unlock" at a certain time (midnight, 7am, or park open)
3) Restrictions on all the tracks "unlock" once any LL is used.

I think #2 just became unlikely due to the different price in each park and #1 is probably the most likely.

If it is #1, I think it will be common to book 1 "burner" LL at EPCOT(Figment/Pixar) and AK(ITTBAB) right at park open and either tap in or let it expire so you get an unlocked LL earlier.

 

[lentesta]

Is this 480 vs 300 number due to the DAS changes or did it increase to 480 before that? Overall a 62% increase in LL availability is crazy and makes G+/LLMP much more beneficial to those buying it

Some information that was not previously known, has lately become known.

 

[lentesta]

Thrill Data has shared what the MDX app's API currently shows for upcoming Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing (with the caveat this could change before the new system goes live on July 24).



Here's a link the article:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Pricing

Below, find the current and future pricing for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World Resort. These are the current prices directly from the My Disney Experience app's API. It appears that the initial pricing for LLMP reflects the current Genie+ pricing scheme. However, the Park Hopper op...

talk.thrill-data.com

I'd emphasize that while the MDE code seems ready, there's likely back-end code and data not yet in place.

 

[JIMMYEDDIE]

i do not think people will find any value in the new Genie+ or whatever it is now being called......You can buy 2 ILL's and get a VQ for the top rides....why would you then buy Genie+ on top of that for 1 more Tier 1 ride? doenst make sense to me but what do I know

 

[Purduevian]

i do not think people will find any value in the new Genie+ or whatever it is now being called......You can buy 2 ILL's and get a VQ for the top rides....why would you then buy Genie+ on top of that for 1 more Tier 1 ride? doenst make sense to me but what do I know

Time is money. Any time you can save at a theme park can be valuable.
Here are the wait times you could skip right now if you used LLMP on the highest wait time attractions right now:
MK $29: Space (55), HM (40), small world (35) assume 10 min for each LL =$0.29 per min saved
EPCOT $21: Soarin (75), MS (35), Nemo (15) = $0.22 per min saved
DHS $26: RNRC (70), ToT (60), TSMM (45) = $0.18 per min saved
AK $18: Kali (70), Navi (55), EE (35)=$0.14 per min saved

This also assumes you don't pick up any additional LLs after your first 3. MK at the very least will definitely have valuable ones after you tap into your first one.

 

[JIMMYEDDIE]

Time is money. Any time you can save at a theme park can be valuable.
Here are the wait times you could skip right now if you used LLMP on the highest wait time attractions right now:
MK $29: Space (55), HM (40), small world (35) assume 10 min for each LL =$0.29 per min saved
EPCOT $21: Soarin (75), MS (35), Nemo (15) = $0.22 per min saved
DHS $26: RNRC (70), ToT (60), TSMM (45) = $0.18 per min saved
AK $18: Kali (70), Navi (55), EE (35)=$0.14 per min saved

This also assumes you don't pick up any additional LLs after your first 3. MK at the very least will definitely have valuable ones after you tap into your first one.

SO if i buy Tron, Seven Dwarfs and Genie+ i could be looking at $75pp? $75x6 of us is another $450 for the day to skip the rides......seems like a very steep price to pay for me, especially if thats 5 park days........

 

[JD80]

SO if i buy Tron, Seven Dwarfs and Genie+ i could be looking at $75pp? $75x6 of us is another $450 for the day to skip the rides......seems like a very steep price to pay for me, especially if thats 5 park days........

What's the argument here? You don't have to, and honestly only MK is worth the cost.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

SO if i buy Tron, Seven Dwarfs and Genie+ i could be looking at $75pp? $75x6 of us is another $450 for the day to skip the rides......seems like a very steep price to pay for me, especially if thats 5 park days........

To be fair, this is unchanged from the system they’ve had in place today and previously. The only real difference with Genie+ and the new system coming tomorrow is the addition of the tiering that’s applicable to prebooking. The paid system has always removed the (arguably) most in demand attraction(s) and gave it its own charge. I agree it’s steep, but not new. They know enough people do value it.

 

[Purduevian]

SO if i buy Tron, Seven Dwarfs and Genie+ i could be looking at $75pp? $75x6 of us is another $450 for the day to skip the rides......seems like a very steep price to pay for me, especially if thats 5 park days........

Also look at it this way (I'll use 2 months out as a good benchmark).

Since you said 6 people and 5 "park days" I'm going to try to build a trip as cheap as possible.
4 nights at the cheapest onsite hotel= 2 rooms at the all star sports for $1616.12
5 day non-park hopper tickets for 6 people =$3616.56
5 park days of food/drink for 6 people is probably a minimum of $35 per day per person (and this is extremely cheap) = $1050

Total before travel expenses, snacks, nicer hotel, snacks, souvenirs, ect = $6,282.68 or $209.42 per person per day

Assuming you are able to be in the park 12 hours a day= $17 per person per hour per day or ~$0.29 per min to be in the park.

Personally, I feel like any time waiting in a line is "wasted" time. So anything that can save you that ~$0.30 a minute is a good value to me.

Again time is money. If you are already spending $209 per day just to be there and not die of starvation... an extra ~$25 feels worth it to skip hour's worth of lines.
My last trip for 2 adults and one "free" infant cost me $3,491.60 not including airfare for 2 park days. ~$100 of that was G+ which got me probably on an extra ~30% of attractions I wouldn't do otherwise.

 

[DCBaker]

Disney has pushed these new pop ups in My Disney Experience to remind guests of the upcoming change from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi Pass / Single Pass:

 

[Ayla]

I didn't think it was possible, but they've made it even more complicated.