Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[RSoxNo1]

The attendance increases aren't enough to offset the increase in capacity, though (unless the new ride had absolutely abysmal capacity). If a new ride offers an hourly capacity of 1200 (which isn't very high), and the park is open for 10 hours (which is a low number of hours), that's still 12,000 riders over the course of a day. Attendance isn't rising by 12,000 a day.

It's not quite that simple for various reasons, but in the grand scheme, there still ends up being more availability for guests overall throughout the day.

Doesn't that fuel the argument that adding new attractions reduces wait times across the board? I don't see a problem with this, nor was a denying that this existed.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Thats assuming everyone that did legacy FP in the past will be paying up for g+. I don't think that will be true, not by a wide margin, but we'll see.

That’s what I am thinking.

And with this being a fully integrated system, Disney can realistically also hold back inventory to add more / spread it out, based on how many people have booked Genie+ for the day.

 

[G00fyDad]

What is IAS?

 

[UNCgolf]

Doesn't that fuel the argument that adding new attractions reduces wait times across the board? I don't see a problem with this, nor was a denying that this existed.

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying.

I edited after you quoted, though -- the use of boarding groups/VQs eliminates this benefit.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Am I the only one who likes this new system. Once Covid restrictions are dropped for the border I will book a trip to return to Disney. Being able to book my LL as I go is big deal for me.

It's going to be a great system for those who use it. It's FastPass, but with less users, so it will be more effective.

Of course, if everyone uses it then it will just be the same old FastPass but now costing money. We'll have to see how it plays out.

I think it will be better at Disneyland. FastPass works better when you have more attractions to choose from, improving availability. It's also more heavily visited by locals who may be less likely to shell out a daily fee.

How the rules and tiers work will factor into value. The last time I went to Disney Studios I could only get a Slinky FastPass late in the day. As a result, I never got more than my three FastPasses that day. With a paid system, if the primary pass I want is only available later in the day, I don't want to be restricted from getting other less popular ones throughout the day.

 

[DCLcruiser]

This is not entirely true. When there was FP+ there see 5 rides now with Genie + that were considered top tier headliners. Someone IF availability worked in theor favor could ride Frozen, Soarin and another lesser ride in the same Epcot day.

I ride basically every attraction at a park in the same day. I can do all 4 parks in 3-4 days. ...But I don't have kids or other slow people in my party. I did this with paper FP, FP+, MaxPass, whatever DLP had, and I will easily do it with Genie+ & IAS.

What is IAS?

Individual Attraction Selection - A paid offering to ride up to 2 high-demand rides. Examples are RotR, Rat, Space Mountain, FoP, etc.

 

[Jrb1979]

It's going to be a great system for those who use it. It's FastPass, but with less users, so it will be more effective.

Of course, if everyone uses it then it will just be the same old FastPass but now costing money. We'll have to see how it plays out.

I think it will be better at Disneyland. FastPass works better when you have more attractions to choose from, improving availability. It's also more heavily visited by locals who may be less likely to shell out a daily fee.

How the rules and tiers work will factor into value. The last time I went to Disney Studios I could only get a Slinky FastPass late in the day. As a result, I never got more than my three FastPasses that day. With a paid system, if the primary pass I want is only available later in the day, I don't want to be restricted from getting other less popular ones throughout the day.

I wonder if they will only release LL in set times. When you log into the app you will only see what's available for the next few hours and that's all you can book.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What is IAS?

…just what we need: more acronyms

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I wonder if they will only release LL in set times. When you log into the app you will only see what's available for the next few hours and that's all you can book.

It can’t be an open window…it would have to have some kind of slotting system

 

[flynnibus]

That's EXACTLY what I'm worried about. It sounds like that because that's the case. Its confirmed. We know it already. Genie + rides are always first/next available.

No - we just know that is what the genie trip planner is about… recommendations about what you can do next. We do not have anything to suggest you can ONLY take that next available slot.

 

[Waters Back Side]

It also seems to me that they are content with keeping the individual rides to purchase only 2 per park. If they were not they would have added extra to that more expensive group of rides. Seems to me the ones that consistently year round have the longest lines.

If this is the case I'd expect Space Mountain to eventually move to the Genie + tier when Tron opens. Epcot will be interesting..I do not see them moving Test track to the Genie + tier and Remy will still be too new when Guardians opens and we know that'll be a ride you pay separately for.

 

[Waters Back Side]

No - we just know that is what the genie trip planner is about… recommendations about what you can do next. We do not have anything to suggest you can ONLY take that next available slot.

The video mentioned it and also displayed it. Its next available for Genie + rides. What is unknown but I assume to be true if this mirrors MaxPass is if your choice or even 2nd choice is way later in the day you can still choose another ride 90 minutes (or whatever timeframes they make it) later.

 

[Jrb1979]

No - we just know that is what the genie trip planner is about… recommendations about what you can do next. We do not have anything to suggest you can ONLY take that next available slot.

That's not true. For. Genie+ you can only book for the time they show. It's not like FP+ where you will be given multiple options.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It also seems to me that were is content with keeping the individual rides to purchase only 2 per park. If they were not they would have added extra to that more expensive group of rides. Seems to me the ones that consistently year round have the longest lines.

If this is the case I'd expect Space Mountain to eventually move to the Genie + tier when Tron opens. Epcot will be interesting..I do not see them moving Test track to the Genie + tier and Remy will still be too new when Guardians opens and we know that'll be a ride younoay separately for.

They have to maintain the illusion of “exclusivity” of the pay as you go ride passes.
This comes back to the same thing: lack of capacity. So they’ll have to keep a lid on how many people can get the paid passes.

By the same token…can’t have the nutrolls hammering away and buying unfettered “lightning lane”….then we end up with 30 minute “fastpass lines” again

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's not true. For. Genie+ you can only book for the time they show. It's not like FP+ where you will be given multiple options.

I don’t think that works…

because if genie tells you the next window for buzz is 50 minutes later and you have a reservation in 45…people get a might bit ticked

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I wonder if they will only release LL in set times. When you log into the app you will only see what's available for the next few hours and that's all you can book.

Did MaxPass allow the selection of specific times or was it just next available, like the old paper FastPass?

I'm guessing it will be like old school FastPass which will simply give you the next available time. This should be fine for most people because if you're paying for the service, why would you want to choose a later return time? The sooner you use a pass the sooner you get another.

 

[Jrb1979]

I don’t think that works…

because if genie tells you the next window for buzz is 50 minutes later and you have a reservation in 45…people get a might bit ticked

But you can't book another LL til you use your first one. It's why I don't think something like that will happen.

 

[Waters Back Side]

I don’t think that works…

because if genie tells you the next window for buzz is 50 minutes later and you have a reservation in 45…people get a might bit ticked

It is the time they show..but the time they show is the next available. And it's one at a time.

 

[Jrb1979]

Did MaxPass allow the selection of specific times or was it just next available, like the old paper FastPass?

I'm guessing it will be like old school FastPass which will simply give you the next available time. This should be fine for most people because if you're paying for the service, why would you want to choose a later return time? The sooner you use a pass the sooner you get another.

It's why I don't think you will many book say Haunted Mansion for 7pm if that's what is left at 11am. Most will pick whatever is available to them.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It is the time they show..but the time they show is the next available. And it's one at a time.

Yeah…that’s not gonna work