Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[hsisthebest]

Question/Scenario: Can I (or any guest) see what is available for the LL (the $15 plan) before I purchase? Let's say I partied hard in Downtown Disney and the next day decide to sleep in, then waltz into MK at noon. Will I be able to see if SDMT or Splash have any time slots open before I spend the $15 to gain access for that day? (sry if this was already asked, I tried searching the 282 pgs. first)

 

[RSoxNo1]

A couple of things, first and foremost, everyone took the TouringPlans article as gospel and it wasn't. It was incorrect on 3 of the 4 parks. Second, I'm curious what they will do in DAK when Everest is down for refurb. Lastly, I'd be surprised if Slinky Dog Dash doesn't replace Runaway Railway within 6 months.

 

[DCBaker]

Question/Scenario: Can I (or any guest) see what is available for the LL (the $15 plan) before I purchase? Let's say I partied hard in Downtown Disney and the next day decide to sleep in, then waltz into MK at noon. Will I be able to see if SDMT or Splash have any time slots open before I spend the $15 to gain access for that day? (sry if this was already asked, I tried searching the 282 pgs. first)

According to Scott, yes - see this response on Twitter.

 

[mikejs78]

A couple of things, first and foremost, everyone took the TouringPlans article as gospel and it wasn't. It was incorrect on 3 of the 4 parks. Second, I'm curious what they will do in DAK when Everest is down for refurb. Lastly, I'd be surprised if Slinky Dog Dash doesn't replace Runaway Railway within 6 months.

I doubt they'll switch to Slinky... They would have gone with it already if they thought it made sense. In fact that's what initially most insiders (except @marni1971 ) were saying, and even @wdwmagic was saying Slinky a week ago. They must have changed last minute for some reason.

Actually, come to think of it, I think @marni1971 predicted every single attraction for ILL$.

 

[Casper Gutman]

A couple of things, first and foremost, everyone took the TouringPlans article as gospel and it wasn't. It was incorrect on 3 of the 4 parks. Second, I'm curious what they will do in DAK when Everest is down for refurb. Lastly, I'd be surprised if Slinky Dog Dash doesn't replace Runaway Railway within 6 months.

Evidence suggests this is much less an indictment of Touring Plans, which is great and reliable, and more an indication of how unsettled and changing Disney’s plans were, shifting right up to the last minute. Because Disney doesn’t seem to have the clearest idea of how this will work, which is exactly what you want when from a tourist destination imposing a massively impactful new system during your expensive vacation.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Last I checked, none of those things have anything to do with the other.

Of course they have something to do with each other. They are all things within Disney’s control that have a significant impact on the guest experience. But that’s from the consumer perspective. From the executives perspective, where often arbitrary divisions between departments and duties seem written in stone and the problems effecting each can seem wholly compartmentalized, maybe they don’t seem related.

 

[MisterPenguin]

WRT Scott...

As you all know, I keep track of insider rumors and info and Scott has been very reliable.

It seems clear that as a journalist, someone at Disney is taking his calls and clarifying marketing's ambiguous statements. That said, the usual caveats apply: As @wdwmagic has said, Disney changes things. Or, they didn't anticipate something and are only now making a decision about it.

 

[larryz]

What happens if a lot of people pay $15 a day and cant get LL for any rides they prefer or what happens if a ride breaks down especially if someone paid for it as an ILL

guest services may be busy

Ye have been warned before ye purchased, matey!

 

[MurphyJoe]

I think Disney would have done themselves a huge PR favor by sticking with Genie+. It's the IAS that are really giving everyone the nasty taste in their mouth.

I'm thinking it's twofold. First, Disney is continuing the trend of taking something free away and then charging for it (or its replacement). Second, Genie+ is only $15 which puts its pricing where everyone will potentially think about buying it. If Genie+ was $50/pp/day, I'd bet there'd still be grumbling, but less of it since people would emotionally feel most guests wouldn't pay it and thus most guests wouldn't have LL access. The guests without Genie+ wouldn't feel like they need to buy it for a decent experience. As things stand, people are feeling they either have to pay for Genie+, miss out on attractions, or wait all day in lines since the price point seems so affordable for one.

 

[pdude81]

A couple of things, first and foremost, everyone took the TouringPlans article as gospel and it wasn't. It was incorrect on 3 of the 4 parks. Second, I'm curious what they will do in DAK when Everest is down for refurb. Lastly, I'd be surprised if Slinky Dog Dash doesn't replace Runaway Railway within 6 months.

I think in DAK they can just have one IAS at refurb time. If Everest was in G+ and they shuttered it people would cry foul. If you just can't ride or pay for it anymore then no matter.

Also I assume that there is a lot more uptime on MMRR than Slinky, so they don't have to give refunds when there is a lightning strike or it's being finicky in the morning. G+ guarantees nothing.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I’ll tell you what I say here over and over…. With a bit of planning you can get your Disney fix at a place that still doesn’t break your bank. And see some culture too.

I can’t visit WDW without feeling abused. It sucks. It didn’t used to be that way.

all of this is bad for the brand we all love. The bubble WILL burst. Just don’t know when. And the problem is with the mandate to increase share price quarter over quarter (plus executive bonus structure), it’s possible it might be awfully late to turn the ship around.

"Abused". Thank you. I've been searching for the right word to describe the feeling I get with Disney wanting its hand deeper and deeper in your wallet at seemingly every turn these days. Yes, I know and realize it's never been free to be at the parks, but what they are doing these days is a new level. Or, "A Whole New World", if you will. Monetized FastPass. No more DME. Higher prices for merchandise. Ticket prices being held steady for the past 18 months with fewer offerings. AP's going up 25+%. You know regular ticket prices are getting hiked in February. I expect food and beverage prices to increase before Thanksgiving and they've already been ridiculous for at least the past 6 years. Room prices have spiraled to the point where a moderate is now over $250/night, and even Pop is approaching $200/night. There's a common thread to those things... see the last line below.

Planning that trip to Tokyo (and maybe even Shanghai and Hong Kong, since we'd already be half-way around the globe) is looking more and more enticing with every Friday afternoon announcement Disney puts out. Hell, maybe I'd even be able to convince my wife to return to DLP.

I'll say it bluntly - Bob Chapek may be the worst thing that's happened to Disney theme parks ever (Pressler may be his only rival for park inepititude). Bob "More trees" Iger is right there with him.

 

[Touchdown]

I don’t think as many people are going to purchase this as you expect, and with the one ride limit, the line will be minimal. Disney has incentive to make the G+ essentially a walk on, but also keep the other line moving so as not to cause dissatisfaction. They just need the big rides to keep their 45 (advertised as 60 min) waits so that enough people buy the upcharge.

 

[LittleBuford]

I think it's time to take a step back and (re)gain a sense of perspective if you really feel "abused" by Disney. When all is said and done, a trip to WDW is a frivolous luxury, not a human right or need.

 

[yensid1967]

I think that the Genie+ should be used for those MUST DO rides ONLY! And in the end, I think the lines will be minimal because most will be going in the Lightening lane! But I think Genie+ will go away after they see its not what they had hoped!

 

[yensid1967]

What happens if you do not purchase Genie+ for say, Haunted Mansion, do I walk to the regular line and wait as usual?

Also, has anyone else had the thought, "If I'm paying $15 more per tickets to ride those specific rides, shouldn't the ticket price be discounted by $15?" That would be another PERK to use the Genie+!

 

[Patcheslee]

How is parent swap for the ILL going to work now I wonder? Will kids be able to ride twice without parents paying a 2nd time for them?

 

[Disstevefan1]

I’ll tell you what I say here over and over…. With a bit of planning you can get your Disney fix at a place that still doesn’t break your bank. And see some culture too.

I can’t visit WDW without feeling abused. It sucks. It didn’t used to be that way.

all of this is bad for the brand we all love. The bubble WILL burst. Just don’t know when. And the problem is with the mandate to increase share price quarter over quarter (plus executive bonus structure), it’s possible it might be awfully late to turn the ship around.

I agree with you except for the bubble bursting. Not gonna happen. Folks on these boards have been saying this for many years. Fact is, TWDC and it’s theme parks are invincible. The pandemic proved this.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

I agree with you except for the bubble bursting. Not gonna happen. Folks on these boards have been saying this for many years. Fact is, TWDC and it’s theme parks are invincible. The pandemic proved this.

No, it didn't. If the parks were invincible, they would be packed right now.

 

[LittleBuford]

Fact is, TWDC and it’s theme parks are invincible.

Or, put differently, many people continue to enjoy and see value in the product that Disney is offering. I think it’s important to move away from the notion (which I know you don’t agree with) that Disney is an unstoppable force whose hapless victims will return to the parks no matter what. It’s insulting to those of us—and our numbers aren’t small—who still consider the experience worth our time and money.

 

[LittleBuford]

No, it didn't. If the parks were invincible, they would be packed right now.

They’re pretty busy considering we’re in the middle of a pandemic. Is Universal any more crowded? (Not a rhetorical question.)