Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Touchdown]

1000 per hour but Cedar point will let a four hour line ride after park close on TTD because they care about their guests. Wicked twister was a small footprint and nice to have availible.

Disney offers the same courtesy (soft close,) only two parks I know that do a hard close are Holiday World and Canobie Lake.

 

[wutisgood]

Disney offers the same courtesy (soft close,) only two parks I know that do a hard close are Holiday World and Canobie Lake.

I have seen disney close ride lines before park close. I never saw cedar point do this apart from the limited time they did this during covid and annoyed it before staffing got better.

 

[Jrb1979]

Umm, what exactly do you think TTD averages? Also I know it’s now gone but Wicked Twister never won capacity awards either.

Those are outliers cause for the most part the majority of the big rides they add are people eaters. Either way Cedar Point does have something that DHS, AK, and Epcot wish they did have. That is lot of attractions. Cedar Point has over 70 rides.

 

[wutisgood]

Those are outliers cause for the most part the majority of the big rides they add are people eaters. Either way Cedar Point does have something that DHS, AK, and Epcot wish they did have. That is lot of attractions. Cedar Point has over 70 rides.

There is no park in existence as far as I know with the sheer people eating capacity of cedar point.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I know this is a really difficult concept for people, but popularity does not equal quality. It's a childish argument.

The parks were designed to facilitate a certain kind of guest behavior. Every public area, from queues to restaurants to walkways to shops, were built to enable the parks to operate in a particular way. Line-skipping is directly counter to that particular way. For line-skipping to work, you would have to redesign the parks from the ground up, and completely alter how guests think and behave. To their credit, Universal realized this VERY QUICKLY and scrapped the half-baked virtual line system put in place for Fallon, Fast, and VB. Disney won't give up. When you use something in a manner for which it was not designed and in the process cause it to operate inefficiently or not at all, yes, you broke it.

If you can look at the parks right now and think things are hunky-dory, I seriously question your judgement.

The last decade has also seen a tourism boom. Little places in the middle of nowhere that haven’t changed in decades have become overrun with tourists. Some places are trying to discourage tourism because it has become too much.

But here’s another question, if current Disney really has their finger on the pulse of what people want why is the least contemporary park at Walt Disney World the most popular? Why isn’t the most recently expanded, with one of the biggest properties ever, not the park that people are considering their prime destination? Of course even if Disney’s Hollywood Studios was the park to visit and was filling up every day it would likely remain the least visited park at Walt Disney World.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The last decade has also seen a tourism boom. Little places in the middle of nowhere that haven’t changed in decades have become overrun with tourists. Some places are trying to discourage tourism because it has become too much.

But here’s another question, if current Disney really has their finger on the pulse of what people want why is the least contemporary park at Walt Disney World the most popular? Why isn’t the most recently expanded, with one of the biggest properties ever, not the park that people are considering their prime destination? Of course even if Disney’s Hollywood Studios was the park to visit and was filling up every day it would likely remain the least visited park at Walt Disney World.

When I went to Magic Kingdom in October I overhead a woman say "that's the best ride in the park!" after getting off Big Thunder.

What she loved most in that park was a 40+ year old roller coaster with no movie tie in whatsoever.

What people want is entertaining experiences, not just recognizable characters or call outs to the ever fickle popular culture. There's a reason why WDSP is the least visited Disney theme park despite being an all-IP park with 7 Pixar rides.

 

[Jrb1979]

When I went to Magic Kingdom in October I overhead a woman say "that's the best ride in the park!" after getting off Big Thunder.

What she loved most in that park was a 40+ year old roller coaster with no movie tie in whatsoever.

What people want is entertaining experiences, not just recognizable characters or call outs to the ever fickle popular culture. There's a reason why WDSP is the least visited Disney theme park despite being an all-IP park with 7 Pixar rides.

It's why I loved Epcot so much when I was a kid and why I remember that more the most.

 

[hopemax]

The last decade has also seen a tourism boom. Little places in the middle of nowhere that haven’t changed in decades have become overrun with tourists. Some places are trying to discourage tourism because it has become too much.

But here’s another question, if current Disney really has their finger on the pulse of what people want why is the least contemporary park at Walt Disney World the most popular? Why isn’t the most recently expanded, with one of the biggest properties ever, not the park that people are considering their prime destination? Of course even if Disney’s Hollywood Studios was the park to visit and was filling up every day it would likely remain the least visited park at Walt Disney World.

This is the power of what the old guard built. I have wondered what would happen when things like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise didn't exist anymore. And unfortunately, I think we're closer to that day than we think. Not because of Disney, but because of people. The changes to Pirates and Jungle Cruise were due to the presentation being considered "no longer appropriate." We have seen people wonder about the body in the Stretching Elevator. One day these changes may not even be enough for parents to think that the presentation is inappropriate and demand the removal of these attractions completely.

It's important for new rides to be as beloved as the old stuff, and for me they just aren't. The lack of whimsy and charm, lack of music, too much reliance on screen technology, it ages them all in a way that practical scenery hasn't. It's not because the IP isn't strong enough, it's the execution. Too many attractions feel like they are just "theme park rides" and not attempts at transporting people to someplace different. I think movies and television suffer the same problem. The ones built with scenery, costumes, cinematography that wins Oscars vs green screens and digital effects that are entertaining at the time, but then show their age as the world moves on. Real places are simply more real. It's hard to quantify, but I believe people feel it.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

This is the power of what the old guard built. I have wondered what would happen when things like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise didn't exist anymore.

Well the parks would suffer for a number of reasons, but if these particular rides were replaced with shorter, lower capacity ones the park would be even more unbearable.

The changes to Pirates and Jungle Cruise were due to the presentation being considered "no longer appropriate." We have seen people wonder about the body in the Stretching Elevator. One day these changes may not even be enough for parents to think that the presentation is inappropriate and demand the removal of these attractions completely.

Given how many decades these rides have lasted, I think this is an unfounded fear. I don't believe many guests really care that much about how problematic any of these rides may seem to some. The continued lines for Splash Mountain are a strong indicator that such analysis of these attractions is found mainly in hyper-focused online discussions, often by people who don't visit the parks.

Disney may continue to make tweaks here and there to satisfy their own ego, but a wholesale removal of these key rides which continue to inspire merch and media is unlikely. If for no other reason than the cost of total repeal and replace would be prohibitive.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Real places are simply more real. It's hard to quantify, but I believe people feel it.

Disney theme parks used to be based on real places and real history. You weren't going on a "ride", you were travelling to a place. The atmosphere of the Jungle Cruise's indoor temple scene is palpable and so much more "real" than any 3D screen next to a track.

 

[UNCgolf]

Disney theme parks used to be based on real places and real history. You weren't going on a "ride", you were travelling to a place. The atmosphere of the Jungle Cruise's indoor temple scene is palpable and so much more "real" than any 3D screen next to a track.

This is exactly why I like Na'vi River Journey so much more than other people seem to.

It feels like you've travelled to a rain forest on an alien planet. Of course the ride has flaws, but it nails what I consider the most fundamental part of a ride (or at least of that type of ride) -- that sense of travelling to a place. I think it's better than most (not all) of the other rides Disney has built this century solely because of that.

 

[jpinkc]

This is exactly why I like Na'vi River Journey so much more than other people seem to.

It feels like you've travelled to a rain forest on an alien planet. Of course the ride has flaws, but it nails what I consider the most fundamental part of a ride (or at least of that type of ride) -- that sense of travelling to a place. I think it's better than most (not all) of the other rides Disney has built this century solely because of that.

I like Navi but I wish they had not shortened it so much from the original plan for it, as it seems a bit rushed in the experience to me. I find myself just getting into it and its over, LOL

 

[RSoxNo1]

I’ve figured that out, maybe this is what @RSoxNo1 is having troubles with. You have to set up ‘your day’ first. Where you tell it your preferences You can’t click the little link to buy Genie Plus from the get go. After you do that I found that link worked.

No idea how I put that together between 6:55-7am in bed, but there you go.

Edit - albeit I’m on just a regular ticket and not an annual pass, but for whatever reason I’m also having that error. My ticket was rebooked from 1.5 years ago.

I’m on an old premium AP. That’s very likely the issue. There are multiple ticketing systems and I doubt the computers can handle it.

 

[BrianLo]

Here’s the dirty secret… IP is sort of irrelevant unless they hit a merchandise nerve.

It neither guarantees a good nor bad experience. An all IP park could be better than Magic Kingdom, or it could be worse. Right now Magic Kingdom simply has by far the most stuff. A park like WDSP doesn’t suck because it has too much IP, it sucks because it is badly made.

Pandora and Galaxies Edge though in their ways are also very well done and popular.

 

[DisneyCane]

Here’s the dirty secret… IP is sort of irrelevant unless they hit a merchandise nerve.

It neither guarantees a good nor bad experience. An all IP park could be better than Magic Kingdom, or it could be worse. Right now Magic Kingdom simply has by far the most stuff. A park like WDSP doesn’t suck because it has too much IP, it sucks because it is badly made.

Pandora and Galaxies Edge though in their ways are also very well done and popular.

Good point. Islands of Adventure is 100% IP based (even though much of the IP isn't owned by them) and it is a very enjoyable park, not themed exposed coaster track notwithstanding.

 

[Jrb1979]

Good point. Islands of Adventure is 100% IP based (even though much of the IP isn't owned by them) and it is a very enjoyable park, not themed exposed coaster track notwithstanding.

I only made the angry face cause of "exposed coaster track" comment. Personally I think it makes Universal different then Disney. I love coasters and it's mainly due to the physical side of them.

At Disney their rides mainly don't have that physical side to things except for Tower of Terror. They are great at telling a story but I need more than that. It's a big reason I find the majority of Disney rides one and done.

 

[G00fyDad]

Here’s the dirty secret… IP is sort of irrelevant unless they hit a merchandise nerve.

It neither guarantees a good nor bad experience. An all IP park could be better than Magic Kingdom, or it could be worse. Right now Magic Kingdom simply has by far the most stuff. A park like WDSP doesn’t suck because it has too much IP, it sucks because it is badly made.

Pandora and Galaxies Edge though in their ways are also very well done and popular.

WDSP?

 

[Jrb1979]

WDSP?

It's the studios park in Paris

 

[pdude81]

Here’s the dirty secret… IP is sort of irrelevant unless they hit a merchandise nerve.

It neither guarantees a good nor bad experience. An all IP park could be better than Magic Kingdom, or it could be worse. Right now Magic Kingdom simply has by far the most stuff. A park like WDSP doesn’t suck because it has too much IP, it sucks because it is badly made.

Pandora and Galaxies Edge though in their ways are also very well done and popular.

IP in the parks is important to keep franchises relevant and popular. The movies sell the parks and the parks sell the movies, which is the way it's always been. However, the foundation has to be good storytelling on both ends. Otherwise you end up with a sandwich.

 

[Disstevefan1]

After experiencing Disney Parks 3 days in a row, I can categorically state I will NEVER visit a Disney park in Orlando ever again

This Genie LL plus garbage has totally ruined the experience, ruined the park, ****ed us off totally, got us fed up and totally taken away ANY enjoyment of the parks.

We are 4 days into our Orlando 2 week trip and decided to stick to Universals,sea world and busch gardens.

1) panicking at 7am as to what Genie Plus we can get

2) not knowing what to rope dropped as you don't know if/when you might get a LL+

3) trying to get into the park through security and scan your band in, at the EXACT time individual lighting lanes come available at park open.

4)stampede of people at park open with many with heads in their phones like zombies bumbing into everyone

5)individual lightning lanes selling out BEFORE non park guests get a chance to look

6)rides going down for prolonged periods randomly after queueing a long time

And the list goes on and on.

I would much prefer a totally wait in line for EVERYONE or if they are that desperate for money, make the fast pass system $300 or something

The whole thing is confusing, the maps on the app are diabolical, the operating system is seriously flawed...we went to pay for LL+ and at the end it kicked us out....then none were available.

A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE experience...never again

Another thing..how come there are so many children in the parks? I thought in the US thanksgiving was last week?

Anyway..sorry for the rant...im an experienced Disney Parker and this whole thing is a nightmare for me, so God knows how Newcomers get on...

Total disaster.

Thank god I'm here for 2 weeks and I can spend time now in other parks.

I hear ya.
And the good thing is, both Universal and SeaWorld are great, especially around the holidays.
And before we know it, Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe will be open too.