Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Jeff4272]

I decided to look at Thrilldata (that tracks G+ return times) for Friday November 26th (day after thanksgiving). Also to make it fair for those that think these things go at 7am on the dot, I will assume a 10 minute delay on each G+ selection from the ideal time to try to book one. Finally, I will not select a LL that looks like someone randomly canceled. I also included the Touring plans wait time to show what kind of line would have been skipped, I assumed each LL would take 15 mins IF the standby line was longer than that.

	Magic Kingdom (total time saved 230 minutes) [$0.07 per minute]	EPCOT (total time saved 40 minutes) [$0.38 per minute]	Hollywood Studios (Total Time Saved 75) [$0.20 per minute]	Animal Kingdom (Total Time saved 155 minutes) [$0.10 per minute]
LL1	7:10am Jungle Cruise @5pm (110)	7:10am Soarin @3:45 (55)	7:10am ToT@12:45pm (60)	7:10am Safari @2:05pm (60)
LL2	11:10am Peter Pan @2:30pm (90)	12:10pm Mission Space @4:15 (15)	11:10am TSMM@6:30pm (45)	10:10am Dinosaur @1:45pm (55)
LL3	1:20pm Splash Mountain @7pm (50)	2:20pm SSE @445pm (25)	1:20pm ST@4:30pm (10)	12:20pm NRJ @7:30pm (85)
LL4	3:30PM Pooh @6:45 (40)	4:30pm LwtL @5:15pm (5)	3:30PM Muppet @3:45	2:30pm Bug @6:30pm
LL5	5:40PM Buzz @ 8:30PM (5)	6:40pm Nemo @6:45pm (5)	3:55PM BatB @4:45pm
LL6	7:50PM Mermaid @8:50pm (5)	6:55pm Figment @6:55pm (5)	4:55pm Frozen @6:05pm

Sources:

https://www.thrill-data.com/waits/park/wdw/magic-kingdom/2021/11/26/2021/11/26

Wait Times on 11/26/2021 at EPCOT | Thrill Data

The wait time data and Genie Plus / Lightning Lane availability for EPCOT at Walt Disney World on 11/26/2021 at Thrill Data

www.thrill-data.com

Wait Times on 11/26/2021 at Hollywood Studios | Thrill Data

The wait time data and Genie Plus / Lightning Lane availability for Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on 11/26/2021 at Thrill Data

www.thrill-data.com

Wait Times at Animal Kingdom - Thrill-Data

Learn what to ride and when with wait times at Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Cedar Point, and more

www.thrill-data.com

Wow...this is a lot of work to get all that data.........Thanks

I agree that this sums up Genie+ perfectly......

Dont need it when its slow, not worth it when its busy (and that doesnt include the crappy parts of it like having to get up early, cant book in advance, cant pick return times, on phone all the time)

 

[Jeff4272]

Next person to talk about peeing or pooping is getting kicked out of here

Please stop this ridiculous discussion

 

[G00fyDad]

Next person to talk about peeing or pooping is getting kicked out of here

Please stop this ridiculous discussion

No problem Urine charge.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

No problem Urine charge.

come on don’t be talking crap like that

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

That backs up my hypothesis. It's almost always going to be worth it at the Magic Kingdom, but at DHS and EPCOT, you're probably only going to get one or two rides where it makes any real difference (essentially turning them into extra ILLs).

I can’t speak to the crowd size this Saturday, but I found genie to be totally worth it at Epcot. For 15 dollars every ride (excluding here for discussion purposes Rat) was a walk on using genie. Even if the standby lane was only a 15-20min wait, the cumulative effect of never having to wait in line was well worth the 15 bucks. And the lightening lane purchase for Rat was even more of a bargain. Getting to guarantee your pick, and choose your time, as opposed to luck of the draw winning the boarding group lottery with not option to select your ride time was a no brainer. It was equally useful at AK on Sunday. I will be honest I have aways enjoyed the parks as a park commando full speed ahead FP+ Pace. Genie this weekend was exact opposite, just going from genie time to genie time. Have 40min until my next genie selection, let’s go find a hidden seating area across from the tree of life and get a drink. 30min until Rat LL…:let’s go get a kahbab in Morroco and watch some of the Candlelight Processional. It was probably the most relaxing 2 days in a park I have ever experienced, and while given my choice I would go back to 60 full planning with FP, this was an eye opening weekend actually using the system.

 

[Thepuma]

I

And most people in the line wouldn’t know who had left the line previously.

In a 2 hour queue, if someone leaves for 5 minutes, I'd say 95% of those they passed first time will see them pass the 2nd on the way back...maybe just the end of the line.

 

[G00fyDad]

I can’t speak to the crowd size this Saturday, but I found genie to be totally worth it at Epcot. For 15 dollars every ride (excluding here for discussion purposes Rat) was a walk on using genie. Even if the standby lane was only a 15-20min wait, the cumulative effect of never having to wait in line was well worth the 15 bucks. And the lightening lane purchase for Rat was even more of a bargain. Getting to guarantee your pick, and choose your time, as opposed to luck of the draw winning the boarding group lottery with not option to select your ride time was a no brainer. It was equally useful at AK on Sunday. I will be honest I have aways enjoyed the parks as a park commando full speed ahead FP+ Pace. Genie this weekend was exact opposite, just going from genie time to genie time. Have 40min until my next genie selection, let’s go find a hidden seating area across from the tree of life and get a drink. 30min until Rat LL…:let’s go get a kahbab in Morroco and what some of the Candlelight Processional. It was probably the most relaxing 2 days in a park I have ever experienced, and while given my choice I would go back to 60 full planning with FP, this was an eye opening weekend actually using the system.

That is what I am hoping or when we go next October. Lower crowds and using G$ to completely skip the lines. Of course reality will set in and it will not be as simple as that for us.

 

[Patcheslee]

No wonder all the deploys for my work are failing. Thought I screwed up some config settings

Should’ve just looked at the deploy logs and low and behold a bunch of error 500’s lol

We can't buy food at work. It all went cashless and app based.

 

[Patcheslee]

I

In a 2 hour queue, if someone leaves for 5 minutes, I'd say 95% of those they passed first time will see them pass the 2nd on the way back...maybe just the end of the line.

Didn't FoP have a restroom pass card at some point? I could have sworn someone mention it before.

 

[G00fyDad]

No wonder all the deploys for my work are failing. Thought I screwed up some config settings

Should’ve just looked at the deploy logs and low and behold a bunch of error 500’s lol

I have been seeing a lot of 500's today.

 

[Thepuma]

I can’t speak to the crowd size this Saturday, but I found genie to be totally worth it at Epcot. For 15 dollars every ride (excluding here for discussion purposes Rat) was a walk on using genie. Even if the standby lane was only a 15-20min wait, the cumulative effect of never having to wait in line was well worth the 15 bucks. And the lightening lane purchase for Rat was even more of a bargain. Getting to guarantee your pick, and choose your time, as opposed to luck of the draw winning the boarding group lottery with not option to select your ride time was a no brainer. It was equally useful at AK on Sunday. I will be honest I have aways enjoyed the parks as a park commando full speed ahead FP+ Pace. Genie this weekend was exact opposite, just going from genie time to genie time. Have 40min until my next genie selection, let’s go find a hidden seating area across from the tree of life and get a drink. 30min until Rat LL…:let’s go get a kahbab in Morroco and watch some of the Candlelight Processional. It was probably the most relaxing 2 days in a park I have ever experienced, and while given my choice I would go back to 60 full planning with FP, this was an eye opening weekend actually using the system.

It's quite interesting different people's view and experiences...for us it was a total waste of time G+ at AK....the 2 rides worth going on (EE and FOP) are paid attractions not covered by Genie+....so you need to really pay for them. Then that leaves rope dropping the safari (almost walk on first thing) - Lion King Show (walk on)...over to Dinosaur (15 mins max at 10am)...tough to be a bug walk on....then once you've done your 2 paid LL you're pretty much done in that park.

 

[Jeff4272]

I can’t speak to the crowd size this Saturday, but I found genie to be totally worth it at Epcot. For 15 dollars every ride (excluding here for discussion purposes Rat) was a walk on using genie. Even if the standby lane was only a 15-20min wait, the cumulative effect of never having to wait in line was well worth the 15 bucks. And the lightening lane purchase for Rat was even more of a bargain. Getting to guarantee your pick, and choose your time, as opposed to luck of the draw winning the boarding group lottery with not option to select your ride time was a no brainer. It was equally useful at AK on Sunday. I will be honest I have aways enjoyed the parks as a park commando full speed ahead FP+ Pace. Genie this weekend was exact opposite, just going from genie time to genie time. Have 40min until my next genie selection, let’s go find a hidden seating area across from the tree of life and get a drink. 30min until Rat LL…:let’s go get a kahbab in Morroco and watch some of the Candlelight Processional. It was probably the most relaxing 2 days in a park I have ever experienced, and while given my choice I would go back to 60 full planning with FP, this was an eye opening weekend actually using the system.

The only problem is, your trip is the exception and not the rule.......

 

[pixargal]

I can’t speak to the crowd size this Saturday, but I found genie to be totally worth it at Epcot. For 15 dollars every ride (excluding here for discussion purposes Rat) was a walk on using genie. Even if the standby lane was only a 15-20min wait, the cumulative effect of never having to wait in line was well worth the 15 bucks. And the lightening lane purchase for Rat was even more of a bargain. Getting to guarantee your pick, and choose your time, as opposed to luck of the draw winning the boarding group lottery with not option to select your ride time was a no brainer. It was equally useful at AK on Sunday. I will be honest I have aways enjoyed the parks as a park commando full speed ahead FP+ Pace. Genie this weekend was exact opposite, just going from genie time to genie time. Have 40min until my next genie selection, let’s go find a hidden seating area across from the tree of life and get a drink. 30min until Rat LL…:let’s go get a kahbab in Morroco and watch some of the Candlelight Processional. It was probably the most relaxing 2 days in a park I have ever experienced, and while given my choice I would go back to 60 full planning with FP, this was an eye opening weekend actually using the system.

I have been wondering if the people who are finding success with this system are solo travelers. Are you bringing anyone along with you? I can see how this can work for finding availability for one, but can get increasingly difficult the more people you add. That is my biggest concern because we travel with multiple families.

 

[Jeff4272]

I have been wondering if the people who are finding success with this system are solo travelers. Are you bringing anyone along with you? I can see how this can work for finding availability for one, but can get increasingly difficult the more people you add. That is my biggest concern because we travel with multiple families.

It doesn’t matter. You still have to get up before 7am Every day, can’t pre book, can’t choose return times, etc

 

[bdearl41]

I refuse to let people like that past me. If they cannot be bothered to stay with their crew then that is on them. Go to the bathroom first. I'd consider the "bathroom" excuse if the person had a small child in tow because kids are kids. Short of that, they are not getting past me.

I do agree their are exceptions. Kids bathroom situations. Or…emergency adult ones. Hey we’ve all been there. But if the majority of the group stays and the person is back in a couple min. I’m cool with that.

 

[bdearl41]

Do we think with all these complaints it will be adjusted. It almost feels like it isn’t worth the trouble.

 

[Chi84]

Do we think with all these complaints it will be adjusted. It almost feels like it isn’t worth the trouble.

Genie+ or going to the bathroom?

 

[bdearl41]

Genie+ or going to the bathroom?

Ha both!

 

[RoadiJeff]

Today we have park reservations at Epcot. Got up at 6:30 to get ready to get into the virtual cue for Remy. 6:59 I hit “refresh” and it said to wait until 7. My phone clicked 7:00, I hit refresh, it said Join virtual cue, clicked that and it said “no times available. Try again after 1:00!” How is this possible that ALL times are gone within seconds?? Unless they are purposely manipulating the numbers to force you to pay for LL. Yesterday was our first day in the parks. We rope dropped Rise and it was already an hour wait when we got in line. BUT the ride broke down TWICE while we were in line, making our total wait time over 2 1/2 hours! By the time we got out, all other rides had posted wait times of well over an hour except for Muppets. So far on this trip, NOT happy.

You have to be faster than that. I learned some of the quick techniques from when I used to have to compete with 10,000 other people for boarding passes for RotR that were gone within the first 8 seconds of the hour.

1. If you're relying on the time that's showing on your phone it is probably at least several seconds slow. You need a watch or some other timepiece that is synced to within a few milliseconds of the atomic clock time signal. The Disney network clock is very precise.

2. About 15-20 seconds before the EXACT start of the magic hour pull down on the screen to refresh it but do not remove your finger off the screen.

3. 0.25 seconds before your atomic clock synced timepiece changes to the start of the new hour release your finger off the screen. The Join box will go live and then tap-tap-tap as fast as you can. You should have already checked the boxes for everyone in your party who you want to get a virtual que prior to all this. You can do that several minutes before the hour when milliseconds are not important.

4. Having ridden Remy back in October, I personally wouldn't be interested in riding it again unless I was passing by the area and it was practically a walk-on. It was a huge disappointment to me compared to what I was expecting.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

It doesn’t matter. You still have to get up before 7am Every day, can’t pre book, can’t choose return times, etc

I booked my epcott day at 10am, while driving down to florida. I booked my animal kingdom day at 9am at park opening as I was staying at the JW Marriot at Bonnet Creek which doesn’t count as a Disney property, so no you don’t need to wake up at 9, and even if you do….so what, it’s 7 am, not 3 in the morning.