Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[MisterPenguin]

This I can work with. Even if its my first choice ride. I'd rather it be late in the day. But the super popular rides like Smugglers or Soarin who knows if youn dont grab the first available at 7am as your first choice and it's only for 9 am? And you choose to wait for later availabilityit's gone. .

The most popular (2 in each park) won't be available as a choice with DG+.

They'll only be a LL access by purchased a LL with IAS (Individual Attraction Selection, available apart from DG+).

 

[MisterPenguin]

Ok…please stop this IAS stuff now…people will wondering why you have to use small world to get on mine train

I've been using IA$, usually.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I've been using IA$, usually.

Acceptable

 

[Jrb1979]

Yes…but juggled that mostly in advance…not in the heat on the ground
This thing is supposed to “work it out” for you and people will expect that

You do understand I’ve been to wdw before, right?
I think I got the basic gist of how things worked

It's not that hard to do. Just don't pick a ride time that is at the same time as your ADR. For me personally I wouldn't book an ADR in the middle of the day any more.

 

[sndral]

A bunch of people have mentioned getting up early as an issue and I’m not sure why. There will be plenty of availability of LL passes if you get to the park mid morning just like there was with old paper FP. Will there be less availability? Of course. Will you get less done going later? Absolutely. But it’s really no different than the experience from the old paper FP days (pre FP+). If you survived and enjoyed the parks with using paper FP going to the machines and getting your return time, this should work too.

I survived and enjoyed the parks, but I enjoyed the parks more w/ my 3 FP+ already booked because the paper FP certainly did run out & for popular rides they ran out early & often. The other thing to remember is that back in the paper FP days attendance when I went - 10-11 days in early/mid Dec. was not the beast it has become. Plus MK park hours are much shorter now, it wasn’t unusual back then to be in MK late at night, then came the money grab charge twice for the same park aka parties shutting MK down early several nights, and now the era of we can cut payroll costs by cutting park hours and reducing ride throughput on ‘light’ attendance days making even less crowded days ‘feel’ crowded.

They did. We usually did Epcot as an evening park and we were never able to get them for Soarin'. Also, some of the return times in the first park were so late that we weren't able to use them because we wanted to take a break mid-day or go to another park in the evening.

We often hopped to have dinner at Epcot and I can’t remember ever getting a FP there for anything I actually wanted to ride, but to be fair, most of the Epcot rides except Soarin & TT usually didn’t have horribly long lines. FEA was Maelstrom in the paper FP era and I only recall one night of a long wait in that line.

Upon reflection, it’s the strawberry shortcake story - the Land used to have an awesome one w/ fresh strawberries and cream, then one year it was gone, replaced by an inedible cheap imitation. It’s all about the margins to the bean counters - fresh strawberries & cream cost more, so they replaced the fresh strawberries with strawberry jam, threw some sugar into some lard like substance instead of cream, and called it new and better because they threw a few pieces of cheap ‘edible‘ confetti on top…yuck.
This Genie thing is like that - the bean counters say we can save oodles of money by cutting hours, the problem to surmount is unhappy customers because the parks will become more crowded, the solution is we’ll encourage them to ride things that nobody rides now - let’s call it underutilized capacity - it’ll eat people & we’ll make them pay for it. Result - Genie says no, there’s no available slots for SM, TMR, POC, HM, JC, etc., but you can ride LM 5 times in a row, and Carousel of progress twice and check out that Swiss Family Tree house, have a magical day!

 

[DCLcruiser]

Thank you. I've only heard it called Lightning Lane.

As stated by others, they are different things.

Lightning Lane = old Fast Pace Entrance line

Lightning Lanes can by used in two ways:
1) Buy Genie+ (once per day) and you can select multiple rides to skip the line (like FP, but called LL)
2) Buy IAS (up to twice per day) and you can select a high-demand ride to skip the line

Ok…please stop this IAS stuff now…people will wondering why you have to use small world to get on mine train

IAS is the name. Disney has used it, so we use it. Then again they also shortened it lol. This is a very fluid situation.

IASW is different, but you know that.

 

[Waters Back Side]

The most popular (2 in each park) won't be available as a choice with DG+.

They'll only be a LL access by purchased a LL with IAS (Individual Attraction Selection, available apart from DG+).

Your not understanding my point. Forget about the IAS rides. At 7 am...you can make your first Genie + selection from a list of choices...Soarin. Peter Pan, kali River, Smugglers Run, whatever you and your party want to choose. IF you only have the option of picking the NEXT available time slot at 7am and that slot is at 9am which is too early for many guests, and they choose another ride more in line with when they want to arrive at the park like 1030 or 11, then the ride you might have wanted that was only available at 9 am might no longer be available.

 

[Jrb1979]

Your not understanding my point. Forget about the IAS rides. At 7 am...you can make your first Genie + selection from a list of choices...Soarin. Peter Pan, kali River, Smugglers Run, whatever you and your party want to choose. IF you only have the option of picking the NEXT available time slot at 7am and that slot is at 9am which is too early for many guests, and they choose another ride more in line with when they want to arrive at the park like 1030 or 11, then the ride you might have wanted that was only available at 9 am might no longer be available.

That's a possibility but there is always standby.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It's not that hard to do. Just don't pick a ride time that is at the same time as your ADR. For me personally I wouldn't book an ADR in the middle of the day any more.

This is Gonna be s paid add on…not embedded fee

yinz are using the fastpass+ Thinking - which frankly still sucks - and assuming people want to do that all I’m saying is there is a small but important variable involved now

genie better grant the right wishes

 

[flynnibus]

Not sure what you mean. Are you asking if you don't like the time they give you can scroll down and find a better one?

im saying just because that was all you saw in the video or marketing text - do not assume that is the bible of what can or can not be done. You have lead use cases and concepts you look to establish with that kind of content. It is not intended to show variations and all the possible flows.

there will be more then what we have seen. Is picking another time ir editing going to there? I don’t know - i do know do not assume the video and launch marketing are all inclusive

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's a possibility but there is always standby.

Pssst…the standbys were overrun 10 years ago

 

[MisterPenguin]

Your not understanding my point. Forget about the IAS rides. At 7 am...you can make your first Genie + selection from a list of choices...Soarin. Peter Pan, kali River, Smugglers Run, whatever you and your party want to choose. IF you only have the option of picking the NEXT available time slot at 7am and that slot is at 9am which is too early for many guests, and they choose another ride more in line with when they want to arrive at the park like 1030 or 11, then the ride you might have wanted that was only available at 9 am might no longer be available.

Then you wait a while and try again.

The whole Maxpass system wasn't available until you entered the park to avoid the scenario you just mentioned. (And DL'S DG+ will only activate for them when they get to the parks, not at 7 AM.)

So, you can wait until you get to the park to look for your first LL.

 

[DCLcruiser]

Your not understanding my point. Forget about the IAS rides. At 7 am...you can make your first Genie + selection from a list of choices...Soarin. Peter Pan, kali River, Smugglers Run, whatever you and your party want to choose. IF you only have the option of picking the NEXT available time slot at 7am and that slot is at 9am which is too early for many guests, and they choose another ride more in line with when they want to arrive at the park like 1030 or 11, then the ride you might have wanted that was only available at 9 am might no longer be available.

Yes. This is how it how paper FP worked, and I believe MaxPass, IIRC. You are offered the next available time slot. You should always pick the next time slot so that you can get another FP immediately after.

FP+ allowed you to look at later times in the day, but that was bc you had to plan your whole day in advance (of course you would modify it).

 

[Waters Back Side]

im saying just because that was all you saw in the video or marketing text - do not assume that is the bible of what can or can not be done. You have lead use cases and concepts you look to establish with that kind of content. It is not intended to show variations and all the possible flows.

there will be more then what we have seen. Is picking another time ir editing going to there? I don’t know - i do know do not assume the video and launch marketing are all inclusive

This is certainly possible but we can only go bu what we know right now. Sure you might click on the time for next available and for all we knowntheh give you 3 times slots. If they do great! But from what we know..its the next available slot and you cannot choose a time.

 

[peter11435]

im saying just because that was all you saw in the video or marketing text - do not assume that is the bible of what can or can not be done. You have lead use cases and concepts you look to establish with that kind of content. It is not intended to show variations and all the possible flows.

there will be more then what we have seen. Is picking another time ir editing going to there? I don’t know - i do know do not assume the video and launch marketing are all inclusive

You will only be able to select the next available time slot for a given attraction. You will be able to cancel a selection if desired and then rebook another attraction for its next available time slot.

 

[Waters Back Side]

Then you wait a while and try again.

If you decide to wait for Frozen or MMRR or Big Thunder as your 2nd choice, when its busy you could lose your chance. So they are forcing you to pay $15 and show up early when they say. If it ends up not being the case then good.

 

[mysto]

Well it sounds like there will be a phone party just inside the tapstyles, but for off-site guests only, exclusive!

It's possible all the Maxpass style (not-IAS) selections for 7DMT will be gone for the day at 7:00:08 am. A lot depends on how this all works in practice. They may have to limit you to the next couple hours as someone just said, or drop additional passes throughout the day. I predict drops, and refresh refresh refresh.

Previous post in closed thread.

 

[dovetail65]

1. With the Pandora addition, attendance increase 15.27% and 10% in DAK from 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 respectively. From 2016-2017 DHS saw a 0.5% dip, MK was flat (up .3%) and EPCOT was up 4.17%. Going back to the Everest addition it boosted the attendance of the entire resort and then the 2008 recession happened.
2. MK has had largely steady attendance increases up to 2015 with the biggest jump being in 2012 when New Fantasyland opened. From 2015-2020 it has remained relatively flat going up and down each year.
3. There is no TEA data for Anaheim. They opened the land without Rise of the Resistance. A ride, which while problematic is a monumental achievement and absolutely a driver of attendance. Until we have meaningful attendance data on a Star Wars Land that includes that ride, the results are incomplete.

If you're taking a 100 question test and the teacher decides to grade the test after you answer the first 60 questions, you're going to fail.

I disagree. I don't see them going back to advanced booking or even booking your whole day out before parks open. I get it, it sucks for big families and those who never rope drop. I think the majority of people will pay for Genie+.


It's $15 for what used to FP and doesn't include the top tier rides. Those rides will have fluctuating prices depending on the day.

Not sure what you were disagreeing with. I said the system will need tweaking so maybe it is that, but I never said what I advanced reservation was that tweak, actually I was thinking exactly the opposite. Yes, I prefer reserving ahead personally, but realize Disney is not going there.

My tweaking comment was more them reevaluating the need for reservations at all for the 15bucks even day of. Rather than reserve morning of, then get off and reserve again why not just pay the 15 and go on two of our choice when we want. The rides with the longest wait people would still walk by anyhow and the very best attractions peole would not wlak by are paid for single now anyhow. Seeing how they don't seem to want advanced reservation something I 100% disagree with, then why have reservations for the moderate wait time rides same day at all anyhow? The convenience for them is not a convenience for us. I know why from a business stand point they do it, I think they are wrong and Ido not believe reserving one then the ohter day of it will do anything at all to line waits because those super long line attraction are paid separately. I hope they will soon see this and someday the 15 bucks will be more like Universal, walk to any express you want for the two rides and reserve day of and pay for the super attractions.

It seems Disney made this setup for no other reason than to be different, there is no need in my mind for us to mess with same day reservation for anything other than the best of the best attractions. I mean universal works great that way for us. And there is the rub, Disney thinks they can't be like Universal so it's different to be different. Different does not make it better in any way, it's actually is not better than Universal, Disney's old system I thought was. For me I would rather 25.00 for 3 FP and reserve ahead.

This is some weird hybrid that did not give anyone what they wanted, but just costs more. The advanced reservation for Fp to me is what Disney was, that's gone so oh well. I hope it works great everyone, but I definitely lost steam to run down and go and having a place minutes from Disney, that says a lot. I definitely won't stay at a Disney hotel any time soon, how could I? I need the money to go toward this system. Possibly that rings true with more people. They may stay off site to have the money for the paid Genie and one off ride fees, who knows. To me more than anytime in history a person would be better off staying off site especially if they are concerned with line waits verse value per dollar.

 

[MisterPenguin]

There's a thread now for Q&A about Genie (just info, no opinions)...

Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane Frequently Asked Questions for Walt Disney World

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/disney-genie/news/19aug2021-disney-genie-genieplus-and-lightning-lane-faq.htm

forums.wdwmagic.com

And WDWMagic's FAQ here:

Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane FAQ for Walt Disney World

Your most frequently asked questions about the new Disney Genie service coming to Walt Disney World.

www.wdwmagic.com

And my info summary, link in my sig below...

 

[DCLcruiser]

At 7 AM you pick your first LL. Forget IAS for a moment.

DAK day: Park opens at 8 AM.

1. You want Na'vi for 10 AM because you know you will be in standby for FoP, so you immediately select DINOSAUR for 10 AM to lock in any decent LL.
2. You rope drop FoP, which is already a 1.5 hour wait.
3. While you are in standby for FoP you keep revewing available LL.
4. All of a sudden you see a 10 AM Na'vi.
5. You cancel DINOSAUR and select Na'vi.
6. At 10 AM go to Lightning Lane Entrace for Na'vi.
7. At 10 AM you pick your next LL (ITTBAB or DINOSAUR, etc.)
8. Now, at 10:05 AM you have ridden both FoP and Na'vi and you are walking to your next LL...