Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Disstevefan1]

Nice summary. We’re going in a few weeks and I hope Genie+ is up by then so I can try it out and report back.

I hate to condemn any system before I try it, but the waking up early, lack of flexibility due to park reservations and having to be on the phone all day don’t sound like very much fun. Disney may be getting an earful from me on October 29.

We are looking forward to your report if the system is in place during your stay.

The initial users of this system will have paid a lot of money to go on vacation to be beta testers of this new system.

That said, I am confident if there are problems Disney will be quick to make tweaks to the system.

 

[Waters Back Side]

Nice summary. We’re going in a few weeks and I hope Genie+ is up by then so I can try it out and report back.

I hate to condemn any system before I try it, but the waking up early, lack of flexibility due to park reservations and having to be on the phone all day don’t sound like very much fun. Disney may be getting an earful from me on October 29.

We do not know yet waking up at 7am for your first Genie + selection is necessary. You can make it at 7am, it does not mean you will necessarily have to. I plan to buy the Genie + for multiple park days. Other then waking up to book my IAS ride and choose a time, I will not be making my first Genie + choice until after 9am so it lines up with when I plan to arrive at the park with the expectation of booking for first choice in order of priority. Even if it's for later in the day knowing I can bank it and choose another ride 90 or 120 minutes later. If you have no interest in am IAS ride on a particular park day, there is no reason you should have to wake up at 7am and choose your first ride for next available being earlier park hours. That would make Genie + which is supposed to be more flexible, a genuine failure.

 

[Jeff4272]

We do not know yet waking up at 7am for your first Genie + selection is necessary. You can make it at 7am, it does not mean you will necessarily have to. I plan to buy the Genie + for multiple park days. Other then waking up to book my IAS ride and choose a time, I will not be making my first Genie + choice until after 9am so it lines up with when I plan to arrive at the park with the expectation of booking for first choice in order of priority. Even if it's for later in the day knowing I can bank it and choose another ride 90 or 120 minutes later. If you have no interest in am IAS ride on a particular park day, there is no reason you should have to wake up at 7am and choose your first ride for next available being earlier park hours. That would make Genie + which is supposed to be more flexible, a genuine failure.

I think to maximize Genie+ you will NEED to wake up at 7am. That way you book your first ride at 7am and then book your second ride at 9am and now you have 2 rides picked before the park is even open................Wouldnt you want to have 2 instead of one? especially if they "sell out" like old paper FP

 

[Waters Back Side]

I think to maximize Genie+ you will NEED to wake up at 7am. That way you book your first ride at 7am and then book your second ride at 9am and now you have 2 rides picked before the park is even open................Wouldnt you want to have 2 instead of one? especially if they "sell out" like old paper FP

Yes Ihis also could be the case. But there is also the possibility then at 7am that the next available will be too early instead. If I want Big Thunder first at MK and I check at 7am the next available might be when the park opens. I do not want to do that. I'd rather wait an hour or two and let the early slots fill up. Then at 9am look for a time frame of between 10 and noon. And in that case of the only time os much later, obviously I'd book it and wait a couple of hours for my next one knowing I got the ride I want most set up for later.

This is how it would cater to both early and late arriving park guests. And worst case scenario you get the rides you want just at later times. Best case you can line it up for park arrival. I'd like to arrive between 1030 and 1130 and hope to get in 4 or 5 rides in reason. If I can get all 5 on the left side of MK (Splash, Thunder, Mansion, Pirates and Jungle) same day starting at 10am, for me i got my money's worth with Genie +.

 

[pdude81]

Yes I would prefer this also. But there is also the possibility then at 7am that the next available will be too early instead. If I want Big Thunder first at MK and I check at 7am the next available might be when the park opens. I do not want to do that. I'd rather wait an hour or two and let the early slots fill up. Then at 9am look for a time frame of between 10 and noon. And in that case of the only time os much later, obviously I'd book it and wait a couple of hours for my next one knowing I got the ride I want most set up for later.

This is how it would cater to both early and late arriving park guests.

I think what he's saying is that if you wait til 9 to book your first one, by 11am you might not be able to get Peter Pan or whatever your next priority is. Or if you did it'll be later in the day and you get diminishing returns as time goes on. This will depend on how many passes there are and how many pay for G+

 

[Patcheslee]

Does anyone know how removing FP, MDE, and other perks have effected Disney TAs income? The few people I know used TAs to avoid dealing with FP bookings, MDE. Since this does away with a TA, there may be more people willing to plan themselves. And in turn less commission checks from Disney.

 

[Waters Back Side]

I think what he's saying is that if you wait til 9 to book your first one, by 11am you might not be able to get Peter Pan or whatever your next priority is. Or if you did it'll be later in the day and you get diminishing returns as time goes on. This will depend on how many passes there are and how many pay for G+

I do not care as much if its later in the day as long as I can choose more rides before hand and it's not slim pickings. That will depend on how they stagger availability. And if they want the Genie to do well and for people to buy it they will have to. Nobody will buy Genie ever again if they get their first choice at 4pm and only get to ride Dumbo until then. I know I will not. At the same time if I get the rides i want and can arrive when i want, I'll be satisfied. 7am should be the first choice allowed for those who want to arrive st the park at opening. It should not be to secure the ride you want so you do not lose out. They are charging for the service and advertising it as more fun amd flexibility.

 

[Patcheslee]

Yes Ihis also could be the case. But there is also the possibility then at 7am that the next available will be too early instead. If I want Big Thunder first at MK and I check at 7am the next available might be when the park opens. I do not want to do that. I'd rather wait an hour or two and let the early slots fill up. Then at 9am look for a time frame of between 10 and noon. And in that case of the only time os much later, obviously I'd book it and wait a couple of hours for my next one knowing I got the ride I want most set up for later.

This is how it would cater to both early and late arriving park guests. And worst case scenario you get the rides you want just at later times. Best case you can line it up for park arrival. I'd like to arrive between 1030 and 1130 and hope to get in 4 or 5 rides in reason. If I can get all 5 on the left side of MK (Splash, Thunder, Mansion, Pirates and Jungle) same day starting at 10am, for me i got my money's worth with Genie +.

With the old FP I usually booked the "throw away" 3rd selection for the time I might not be in the park yet. It kept me from being worried we wouldn't make the top attraction FPs due to transportation etc. Sometimes we made it other time we didn't, no big deal. It still enabled us to being able to snag another tier 1 attraction.
One thing that isn't clear cause I haven't done DL: will the 2nd selection with Genie+ clock starts at selection time or park open. So say you book at 7am for an 11:30am Peter Pan ride with 9am park opening. Will people be able to get another after the 9am mark? Or will the minimum time elapse start 11am? Is it going to offer ride times for other attractions before Peter Pan? Or will the earliest be 11:31?

 

[Waters Back Side]

With the old FP I usually booked the "throw away" 3rd selection for the time I might not be in the park yet. It kept me from being worried we wouldn't make the top attraction FPs due to transportation etc. Sometimes we made it other time we didn't, no big deal. It still enabled us to being able to snag another tier 1 attraction.
One thing that isn't clear cause I haven't done DL: will the 2nd selection with Genie+ clock starts at selection time or park open. So say you book at 7am for an 11:30am Peter Pan ride with 9am park opening. Will people be able to get another after the 9am mark? Or will the minimum time elapse start 11am? Is it going to offer ride times for other attractions before Peter Pan? Or will the earliest be 11:31?

Someone has mentioned they spoke to a Genie + trained cast member and you will be able to stack or bank or book (whatever you want to refer to it as) rides if the only option is later availability...Meaning...like Max Pass if your first choice ride is not available until 4 PM and you choose it at 9 AM for the 4 PM slot, then (still not determined when) later on (likely 90 or 120 minutes later) you can choose another ride. MaxPass was 90 minutes. What I want to know is if you have to be in the park for the 2nd choice. at 9 AM I choose Splash.. Its not available until 12:30. at 10:30 if I have not arrived at the park yet can I choose my 2nd ride? That is my only hold up. I'm pretty confident you will be able to choose rides later if no other option and still use the Genie + for more rides before hand.

 

[pdude81]

Someone has mentioned they spoke to a Genie + trained cast member and you will be able to stack or bank or book (whatever you want to refer to it as) rides if the only option is later availability...Meaning...like Max Pass if your first choice ride is not available until 4 PM and you choose it at 9 AM for the 4 PM slot, then (still not determined when) later on (likely 90 or 120 minutes later) you can choose another ride. MaxPass was 90 minutes. What I want to know is if you have to be in the park for the 2nd choice. at 9 AM I choose Splash.. Its not available until 12:30. at 10:30 if I have not arrived at the park yet can I choose my 2nd ride? That is my only hold up. I'm pretty confident you will be able to choose rides later if no other option and still use the Genie + for more rides before hand.

For maxpass you had to be in the park for your first choice, so I'd assume at a minimum you'd need to be in the park for a #2 (pun intended). And for some reason I thought non-site guests had to be in the park for their first G+ even. The complete lack of an official guide makes this all confusing.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Someone has mentioned they spoke to a Genie + trained cast member and you will be able to stack or bank or book (whatever you want to refer to it as) rides if the only option is later availability...Meaning...like Max Pass if your first choice ride is not available until 4 PM and you choose it at 9 AM for the 4 PM slot, then (still not determined when) later on (likely 90 or 120 minutes later) you can choose another ride. MaxPass was 90 minutes. What I want to know is if you have to be in the park for the 2nd choice. at 9 AM I choose Splash.. Its not available until 12:30. at 10:30 if I have not arrived at the park yet can I choose my 2nd ride? That is my only hold up. I'm pretty confident you will be able to choose rides later if no other option and still use the Genie + for more rides before hand.

For maxpass you had to be in the park for your first choice, so I'd assume at a minimum you'd need to be in the park for a #2 (pun intended). And for some reason I thought non-site guests had to be in the park for their first G+ even. The complete lack of an official guide makes this all confusing.

I've been tracking what information we have.

The timer on DG+ is 120 minutes (and not 90) according to someone on the forum who asked a Genie-trained CM.

You don't have to be in the park to grab any LL at WDW. At DL, you do indeed have to be in the park.

From my Info/FAQ...

• All guests can schedule their first LL at 7a at WDW. At DL, they can schedule their first LL once in the park.
• You don't have to be in the park in which your next LL is scheduled (so, you can chose your LL at the resort, e.g., or at another park and then hop)
• When can you grab your next LL? Book another LL when your return window opens for your current 'open' LL, OR, after 2 hours since your last selection, whichever is sooner, which is the current DL practice of Maxpass.
  • This means that, e.g., if at 9 AM you pick up a Big Thunder Mountain LL scheduled for 4 PM, then, at 11 AM, you can choose a new DG+ LL pass.

 

[nickys]

IAS rides are 7am for first choice with choice of time of day to choose. Off site guests 9am is the time they can make their first choice.

Pretty sure on-site guests can schedule both their IAS rides at 7am, if they want to book two.

 

[dreday3]

I'm freaking out.

I just got my Touring Plans update for our late October trip... almost all my chosen park days have decreased to crowd level 1s!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My DHS days decreased to a 3!

Is this for real?

Stay in your lamp Genie, we don't need ya!

 

[pdude81]

I'm freaking out.

I just got my Touring Plans update for our late October trip... almost all my chosen park days have decreased to crowd level 1s!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My DHS days decreased to a 3!

Is this for real?

Stay in your lamp Genie, we don't need ya!

Decreasing is great new, but let me temper your expectations. There were days in recent months that TP said would be a 4 that felt like at least a 7. Checked after to see if they adjusted but generally showed as the same or slightly lower. This could be just my perception, but in covid time I take everything with a grain of salt. I can't imagine a predicted 1 to be anything more than a 5 though, so I'm encouraged by these numbers on your behalf

 

[dreday3]

Decreasing is great new, but let me temper your expectations. There were days in recent months that TP said would be a 4 that felt like at least a 7. Checked after to see if they adjusted but generally showed as the same or slightly lower. This could be just my perception, but in covid time I take everything with a grain of salt. I can't imagine a predicted 1 to be anything more than a 5 though, so I'm encouraged by these numbers on your behalf

I mean my crowd level from TP the last few trips during non-covid times all hovered around 5 to 7, so I'll take it.

I'm not expecting no lines, but I am thinking we may get some of the headliners for not more than 60 minutes, outside of very few. And 20 -30 minutes for other rides is nothing!

 

[Waters Back Side]

Pretty sure on-site guests can schedule both their IAS rides at 7am, if they want to book two.

This is true! Good point.

 

[Trauma]

I mean my crowd level from TP the last few trips during non-covid times all hovered around 5 to 7, so I'll take it.

I'm not expecting no lines, but I am thinking we may get some of the headliners for not more than 60 minutes, outside of very few. And 20 -30 minutes for other rides is nothing!

I was there in Sept. for a week of crowd level 1 days. The longest line I waited in was my boarding group for Rise.

Even FoP was a 20 minute wait. RnRc got up to 30 minutes I think but we just rode tower a few times and came back and it was a walk on.

Hope you have a similar experience.

Enjoy!

 

[dreday3]

I was there in Sept. for a week of crowd level 1 days. The longest line I waited in was my boarding group for Rise.

Even FoP was a 20 minute wait. RnRc got up to 30 minutes I think but we just rode tower a few times and came back and it was a walk on.

Hope you have a similar experience.

Enjoy!

Thank you!

It seems to good to be true so my plan is to treat it as such and maybe be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Jeff4272]

I've been tracking what information we have.

The timer on DG+ is 120 minutes (and not 90) according to someone on the forum who asked a Genie-trained CM.

You don't have to be in the park to grab any LL at WDW. At DL, you do indeed have to be in the park.

From my Info/FAQ...

• All guests can schedule their first LL at 7a at WDW. At DL, they can schedule their first LL once in the park.
• You don't have to be in the park in which your next LL is scheduled (so, you can chose your LL at the resort, e.g., or at another park and then hop)
• When can you grab your next LL? Book another LL when your return window opens for your current 'open' LL, OR, after 2 hours since your last selection, whichever is sooner, which is the current DL practice of Maxpass.
  • This means that, e.g., if at 9 AM you pick up a Big Thunder Mountain LL scheduled for 4 PM, then, at 11 AM, you can choose a new DG+ LL pass.

"All guests can schedule their first LL at 7a at WDW"

I dont think this is correct? I thought only on site hotel guests can book at 7am....non hotel guests cannot book until park opening?

 

[dreday3]

"All guests can schedule their first LL at 7a at WDW"

I dont think this is correct? I thought only on site hotel guests can book at 7am....non hotel guests cannot book until park opening?

No. Off-site can't book IAS at 7am like resort guests, but everyone can book their first Lightning Lane pass.