Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[DCLcruiser]

Except if you have a future G+ but notice a decent one suddenly appear, by the time you've faffed about cancelling your current G+ and then rechecking the tip board, that G+ has gone, along with the one you just cancelled.

That is bad. The old system at least held your current until you swapped.

What I meant was that the main benefit of staying on property are all gone. Most people dont pay 2x-3x-4x hotel rates and get zero perks or benefits.

I mean, the resorts have perks in the fact that they are on property. You can take the monorail or bus right to your hotel in a lot less time than driving off site. Plus, the resorts are cool in themselves. I'd rather be at the Contemporary than most other hotels.

Now, we have stayed off site a lot lately bc we have family with a time share in the area, but if I had to pay, I'd be on property. I don't even want EMH, etc. It's worth it just to stay on property.

 

[DCLcruiser]

I generally avoid Animal Kingdom (I don’t like zoos), but the one day I rode it, I was able to get a day-of FP for FoP by refreshing. I should note, however, that I knew when new FastPasses were going to be released and so had a distinct advantage over most guests.

We used to make DAK a half day park (morning only, as it gets very hot due to the foliage). Now, with Pandora and the night time show (is that cancelled?), it's a full day park. I have very little interest in the live animals. I can go to the Bronx Zoo any weekend. I wouldn't call it a Zoo, it's not really exhibits, etc., and you can pretty much spend a day without seeing any animals (besides birds). The Safari isn't that great, just do it once in the afternoon or AM, as they sleep all day.

 

[LittleBuford]

We used to make DAK a half day park (morning only, as it gets very hot due to the foliage). Now, with Pandora and the night time show (is that cancelled?), it's a full day park. I have very little interest in the live animals. I can go to the Bronx Zoo any weekend. I wouldn't call it a Zoo, it's not really exhibits, etc., and you can pretty much spend a day without seeing any animals (besides birds). The Safari isn't that great, just do it once in the afternoon or AM, as they sleep all day.

Oh, I love seeing animals; I just don't enjoy seeing them in captivity. People are often surprised to learn that the vast majority of creatures in zoos (including Animal Kingdom) are neither endangered nor rescued. I find it all very sad and unnecessary. But that's a different topic, and one I already made myself very unpopular with a few years ago in another thread.

 

[Jeff4272]

That is bad. The old system at least held your current until you swapped.

I mean, the resorts have perks in the fact that they are on property. You can take the monorail or bus right to your hotel in a lot less time than driving off site. Plus, the resorts are cool in themselves. I'd rather be at the Contemporary than most other hotels.

Now, we have stayed off site a lot lately bc we have family with a time share in the area, but if I had to pay, I'd be on property. I don't even want EMH, etc. It's worth it just to stay on property.

The contemporary for $1,000 a night or you can stay offsite in a nicer room w a full kitchen for $250. No free magic bands, have to pay for parking No magical express no advanced FP booking. The massive cost doesn’t justify it since they removed all the perks.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Well not really -- you have to be up at 7 AM, which is part of the reason it's not really equitable. It would be more equitable (although I still don't think it would be completely equitable for various reasons) if you could only book Genie+ during park operating hours.

No it’s equal and equitable as long as everyone has the same time to start booking. Just bc you don’t want to book at 7 doesn’t meant you don’t have an equal chance to. Any set time to start booking is going to be simply arbitrary. To use your argument some people will say they don’t want to get up at park opening so that time isn’t “fair”. As long as everyone who has tickets to the park can start booking at the same time, no matter what time that is, it’s fair.

 

[Thepuma]

The contemporary for $1,000 a night or you can stay offsite in a nicer room w a full kitchen for $250. No free magic bands, have to pay for parking No magical express no advanced FP booking. The massive cost doesn’t justify it since they removed all the perks.

If you're going to do Disney for its (very limited) perks, you're best staying at a cheaper one...as, most likely, you'll be spending a whole chunk of time at the parks and therefore (for us anyway) it's a waste paying for a top end hotel and we basically just sleep there...up at 6am..back at midnight...we would be paying just for an expensive bed..lol

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

What I meant was that the main benefit of staying on property are all gone. Most people dont pay 2x-3x-4x hotel rates and get zero perks or benefits.

No what you mean is that the perks you want might be gone. You did either forgot to mention or simply ignored all the reasons I mentions listed as an answer to your question. You can’t walk to MK from an off site hotel. I can and do from contemporary. You can’t watch castle and fireworks from offsite. I can from contemporary. You can get right onto the monorail and go to epcott, I can from the contemporary. I can walk to epcott or Hollywood studios from the yacht club or swan and dolphin. You can’t do that from off site. And considering hotels appear to continue to be booking up it sure seems like people are paying for them

 

[Jeff4272]

No it’s equal and equitable as long as everyone has the same time to start booking. Just bc you don’t want to book at 7 doesn’t meant you don’t have an equal chance to. Any set time to start booking is going to be simply arbitrary. To use your argument some people will say they don’t want to get up at park opening so that time isn’t “fair”. As long as everyone who has tickets to the park can start booking at the same time, no matter what time that is, it’s fair.

And this is why we won’t go again. Paying $1k+ a night for my family to stay at a deluxe and not knowing if we are going to get on the top rides without a 2 hour wait = bye bye Disney.

 

[Jeff4272]

No what you mean is that the perks you want might be gone. You did either forgot to mention or simply ignored all the reasons I mentions listed as an answer to your question. You can’t walk to MK from an off site hotel. I can and do from contemporary. You can’t watch castle and fireworks from offsite. I can from contemporary. You can get right onto the monorail and go to epcott, I can from the contemporary. I can walk to epcott or Hollywood studios from the yacht club or swan and dolphin. You can’t do that from off site. And considering hotels appear to continue to be booking up it sure seems like people are paying for them

Got a little info for you, they won’t for much longer. Those so called benefits aren’t worth 4x the cost. Not for anyone with half a brain

 

[DCLcruiser]

Nothing about WDW is cheap, a deal, or financially smart. That being said, if you can afford a few nights at a Deluxe, it's worth it for the memory. I haven't stayed at a Deluxe in forever, but I wouldn't say someone shouldn't.

Next time we stay on property will be either AoA or POR bc we will have our dog, and they allow them in the room + dog walk areas.

That being said, from my childhood (90s), I can still remember our stays at the Contemporary.

 

[kalel8145]

Got a little info for you, they won’t for much longer. Those so called benefits aren’t worth 4x the cost. Not for anyone with half a brain

I like how you know what is worth it to other people and insult them if the costs are fine with them.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Got a little info for you, they won’t for much longer. Those so called benefits aren’t worth 4x the cost. Not for anyone with half a brain

We get it. Your poor and don’t want to spend the money. That’s fine, no one here cares, no one at Disney cares, and certainly I don’t care. Considering you still haven’t managed to refute any of the perks I have mentioned I will just take it that you can’t.

And as it pertains to predicting hotel sales between the Fortune 500 corporation with detailed insider information on hotel trends, sales, and market data, and the poor guy who can’t manage to wake up at 7am…I know who I am betting on.

 

[Jeff4272]

I like how you know what is worth it to other people and insult them if the costs are fine with them.

Thanks.

 

[kalel8145]

Thanks.

All kinds of class.

 

[Jeff4272]

We get it. Your poor and don’t want to spend the money. That’s fine, no one here cares, no one at Disney cares, and certainly I don’t care. Considering you still haven’t managed to refute any of the perks I have mentioned I will just take it that you can’t.

And as it pertains to predicting hotel sales between the Fortune 500 corporation with detailed insider information on hotel trends, sales, and market data, and the poor guy who can’t manage to wake up at 7am…I know who I am betting on.

Those aren’t perks. Perks are free parking. Free magic bands. Free magical express. 60 day FP booking. Those are perks.

I’m in the parks for fireworks so don’t need to watch them from a mile away in my hotel

I’ll save the $5k and go on another trip while you walk to MK. Real smart!

 

[Jeff4272]

We get it. Your poor and don’t want to spend the money. That’s fine, no one here cares, no one at Disney cares, and certainly I don’t care. Considering you still haven’t managed to refute any of the perks I have mentioned I will just take it that you can’t.

And as it pertains to predicting hotel sales between the Fortune 500 corporation with detailed insider information on hotel trends, sales, and market data, and the poor guy who can’t manage to wake up at 7am…I know who I am betting on.

I promise I’ll be the first one to say told you so when it happens.


Ever hear that statement that says “you’re better off being quiet and letting people think you are dumb instead of opening your mouth and proving it”


I think they wrote that for you.

 

[Jeff4272]

I promise I’ll be the first one to say told you so when it happens.


Ever hear that statement that says “you’re better off being quiet and letting people think you are dumb instead of opening your mouth and proving it”


I think they wrote that for you.

 

[mikejs78]

Got a little info for you, they won’t for much longer. Those so called benefits aren’t worth 4x the cost. Not for anyone with half a brain

Those aren’t perks. Perks are free parking. Free magic bands. Free magical express. 60 day FP booking. Those are perks.

I’m in the parks for fireworks so don’t need to watch them from a mile away in my hotel

I’ll save the $5k and go on another trip while you walk to MK. Real smart!

I mean, Disney's not exactly having a problem booking their hotels. Try to find something in the next couple months.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I mean, Disney's not exactly having a problem booking their hotels. Try to find something in the next couple months.

Exactly. People may not see the value in staying on property but clearly most people still do. As for me, I only see value in some Deluxe and Moderate resorts (due to proximity to parks and/or extended evening hours offered to deluxe).

 

[crazy4disney]

I dunno guys. 30 day window guest didn't have access to the #1 attractions on FP+. Now we all have the same chance, day of. I'd bet, most people going probably had no idea they could pick a FP that far in advance and would get shut out. They also won't know about the 7 AM window either. But we all get to benefit day of.

If you are rope dropping everyday, 7 AM isn't an issue. WDW is not for relaxation.

I didn't dislike FP+, I just don't see Genie+ as a horrible thing.

If it's true you can't swap LL w/o losing the initial, that does suck.

30 day window guests were NON resort guests so there should be no “sympathy” imo. It was one of the perks of staying on property so to me now you are “penalizing” resort guests in theory.
If you didnt realize you could book that far in advance you had to live under a rock. They would send emails. Let you know when you booked over phone & if you used a TA they should be either booking or informing you. & yes Genie+ is that bad. Whats even worse is. You still need to pay for it to make your trip a little more enjoyable. & this is from someone who has access to DAS. There truly is nothing Genie is better than FP was. I try & think but come up empty each & every time.