Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Disney Glimpses]

Lol...the ONLY thing Disney are "over thinkers" at is making money...dont fool yourself into thinking ANY changes in the last 3 years have been for anything other than to money grab from its guests."

There's no clever thinkers...no team of customer experience improves...its ALL 100% about getting more and more money through the tills....and all hidden behind a lie of a 'shine new product' that is worth $40 per person per day of your visit.

In the last 3 years Disney have changed in their ethos drastically...and now they don't even try to hide the fact they are simply trying to rip ypu off at any and every turn.

You're right about that one.

 

[Thepuma]

They used this also as cover to have you ordering and paying for meals in your phone and self check out in addition to the ride upcharges. It's a big reset into paying for convenience with your handheld device, since they have to pay developers to keep the apps updated over time. I think this product is more ambitious and dare I say successful than FP+, even though it's a huge pain in the ***. If they eventually figure out how to make it suck less, they'll get the pixie dust pass from fans and all will be forgiven. Don't forget that they gave us roughly the product we all asked for in these forums after complaining about the setup in Paris. Hopefully they've learned to stop listening to fans and design a better user experience rather than heed the newer calls for price gouging or time travel to resolve issues.

I dont think they listened to any 'fans'...they listened to their accountant who probably said "let's take FP+, make it worse, then pretend it's something else..I dunno..like a Genie...and charge them mugs for it $15 per person per day....them mugs will fall for it, they always do...I mean, if they can buy some silly ears for $30 that cost $1 to make, they will surely fall for this shower"

 

[Jrb1979]

Lol...the ONLY thing Disney are "over thinkers" at is making money...dont fool yourself into thinking ANY changes in the last 3 years have been for anything other than to money grab from its guests."

There's no clever thinkers...no team of customer experience improves...its ALL 100% about getting more and more money through the tills....and all hidden behind a lie of a 'shine new product' that is worth $40 per person per day of your visit.

In the last 3 years Disney have changed in their ethos drastically...and now they don't even try to hide the fact they are simply trying to rip ypu off at any and every turn.

I agree with a lot of what you said. I do think there are people in the company that care about the guest. The problem seems to be that the higher ups look at the bottom line.

I get this feeling since Covid that top executives are trying to find the quickest way to get the lost revenue back.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

i have stated already Disney could have easily charged for FP+ and gotten away with it and also stated i would gladly pay for the old system to be back even at a higher price point but the point is Genie+ is awful and an inferior product at a cost which as insiders have stated tweaks are being made.

The point is that they couldn't. You could not charge for FP+ under the old model to all guests, AND still keep the preference for selection by on property guests. No one is going to pay the same price for FP+ if other people are getting a chance to select 60 days out and you only get a chance to select 30 days out, or 10 days out if you booked last minute, or day of if you are making a day trip.

Also Genie plus is sold as a package, not as individual LL selections, which is closer to what FP+ was. Sure if I am picking at 60days out and I have the choice of everything available, I might pay for 3 FP to get lets say 7D, SP, and Splash. But if I am again picking after all the resort guests have already scooped up the prime FP's I am not going to pay for Dumbo, carpets, and Little Mermaid (ok i might for Little Mermaid as it is a family favorite of ours.)

The current system allows you to sell Genie plus to EVERYONE. Late bookers, on site, off site, day of guest, the $15 purchase of Genie plus is equally valuable, giving you the bigger market. And if the point is to generate revenue and NOT incentivize on property stays, that is what your looking for. The maximum number of people possible getting enough value that they feel the $15 is worth it (or required.) Not that it doesn't give some people as good a deal as FP+ did.

 

[crazy4disney]

I agree Genie+ is awful. I also thing FP+ was awful. I do agree that a skip the line system is needed but I prefer systems like Express Pass more. I hate return times.

Express pass imo probably sells out immediately but leaves out way too many guests from skipping lines and as ive said lines are not magically disappearing with the amount of people who go to Disney vs what the parks can physically hold capacity wise... Can i ask a genuine question? what didnt you like about FP+?

 

[pdude81]

I dont think they listened to any 'fans'...they listened to their accountant who probably said "let's take FP+, make it worse, then pretend it's something else..I dunno..like a Genie...and charge them mugs for it $15 per person per day....them mugs will fall for it, they always do...I mean, if they can buy some silly ears for $30 that cost $1 to make, they will surely fall for this shower"

Say what you want but I followed the info from insiders here and the forum groupthink on multiple threads, and they quite clearly tried to give us what we asked for at a cost, while also trying to rip off the planning tools from Touring Plans. They gave us what we asked for even though it was stupid, and they should have known that $15 a day in WDW is cheaper than most lunches. If they thought we'd buy in these numbers it would not have been sold at 15 bucks. You'd see it for $20 for resort guest and $30 off site or some other mechanism of further limitation. I believe disneyglimpses that they tried to do something we'd like. However they got drunk and the bed before they finished their homework.

 

[Jrb1979]

Express pass imo probably sells out immediately but leaves out way too many guests from skipping lines and as ive said lines are not magically disappearing with the amount of people who go to Disney vs what the parks can physically hold capacity wise... Can i ask a genuine question? what didnt you like about FP+?

Your first part is why Express pass and skip the line systems work at every other park. Cause it's limited means those that do buy it get their moneys worth.

First thing I didn't like is return times. I hate being told when I can ride a ride. My second part is the way I visit Disney is similar to how many of you visit Universal. It's a day or 2 add on to my Universal/Orlando trip. Trying to get good rides day of with FP+ was difficult.

 

[crazy4disney]

The point is that they couldn't. You could not charge for FP+ under the old model to all guests, AND still keep the preference for selection by on property guests. No one is going to pay the same price for FP+ if other people are getting a chance to select 60 days out and you only get a chance to select 30 days out, or 10 days out if you booked last minute, or day of if you are making a day trip.

Also Genie plus is sold as a package, not as individual LL selections, which is closer to what FP+ was. Sure if I am picking at 60days out and I have the choice of everything available, I might pay for 3 FP to get lets say 7D, SP, and Splash. But if I am again picking after all the resort guests have already scooped up the prime FP's I am not going to pay for Dumbo, carpets, and Little Mermaid (ok i might for Little Mermaid as it is a family favorite of ours.)

The current system allows you to sell Genie plus to EVERYONE. Late bookers, on site, off site, day of guest, the $15 purchase of Genie plus is equally valuable, giving you the bigger market. And if the point is to generate revenue and NOT incentivize on property stays, that is what your looking for. The maximum number of people possible getting enough value that they feel the $15 is worth it (or required.) Not that it doesn't give some people as good a deal as FP+ did.

IMO you most certainly can for multiple reasons... ive gone at some of the busier times and again never ever had an issue getting a FP to any ride 60 days out.... now by charging you are eliminating some of those people and freeing up inventory.... people are literally paying $15 currently a day with ONLY a chance to get 1 top tier attraction and having to wake up prior to 7am to do it and even if you are lucky to get it God knows what time it will be.... So i will respectfully disagree that you couldnt charge for FP+ and get away with it and imo generate more money they are generating now.... as @disneyglimpses has said they didnt want to basically charge for something that was free

 

[Thepuma]

Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for the pitch...

Id love to give the designer of G+ a piece of my mind...and those on the board too, that met round a large table watching the pitch for this Genie+ idea and not one of them having the balls to say that blatantly ripping Disney customers off isn't on.

For me it's such a shame....I firstly came to America..and Orlando 5 years ago. I remember how amazing the Disney parks were, how brilliant the FP+ was and just being so happy, relaxed and entertained......roll on to my last 2 visits (last December and May this year) and my overriding experience has been one of frustration, money grabbing, feeling ripped off, queueing way more, being stressed (lol) about what Genies I could get or if I'd even be able to get on the rides i wanted...and overall just a poor experience all round.

Quite sad really..but after 5 years and 8 holidays to Orlando, we have decided this was our last holiday to Orlando....its just not the same fun anymore...the magic almost feels like its gone.

I do have great memories, which I look back fondly on...but enough is enough. Its too expensive a holiday to not enjoy it like we used to.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

For one, they are textbook over thinkers and planners when it comes to logistics. But mainly, it is because they are juggling 3 classes of people (resort guests, off site day ticket guests, local APs) and create rules to navigate that dynamic in ways that they feel would efficiently distribute supply/demand. And in light of that, they are increasingly willing to place the burden of their logistics onto the guest (Park Pass, Genie+ rules) rather than absorb it internally. This is the biggest mistake.

I have to wonder if the people making the choices have ever actually tried to use their own product.

 

[Jrb1979]

Id love to give the designer of G+ a piece of my mind...and those on the board too, that met round a large table watching the pitch for this Genie+ idea and not one of them having the balls to say that blatantly ripping Disney customers off isn't on.

For me it's such a shame....I firstly came to America..and Orlando 5 years ago. I remember how amazing the Disney parks were, how brilliant the FP+ was and just being so happy, relaxed and entertained......roll on to my last 2 visits (last December and May this year) and my overriding experience has been one of frustration, money grabbing, feeling ripped off, queueing way more, being stressed (lol) about what Genies I could get or if I'd even be able to get on the rides i wanted...and overall just a poor experience all round.

Quite sad really..but after 5 years and 8 holidays to Orlando, we have decided this was our last holiday to Orlando....its just not the same fun anymore...the magic almost feels like its gone.

I do have great memories, which I look back fondly on...but enough is enough. Its too expensive a holiday to not enjoy it like we used to.

Have you ever gave any of the parks in Orlando a try?

 

[crazy4disney]

Your first part is why Express pass and skip the line systems work at every other park. Cause it's limited means those that do buy it get their moneys worth.

First thing I didn't like is return times. I hate being told when I can ride a ride. My second part is the way I visit Disney is similar to how many of you visit Universal. It's a day or 2 add on to my Universal/Orlando trip. Trying to get good rides day of with FP+ was difficult.

Fair enough but with FP+ again if staying on property you kinda had a choice of what times you wanted. I can see the issue only coming for a couple days bc you are at universal not Disney but this gets back to my original point why should Disney change a system and cater to people staying off property and spending their disposable money elsewhere and not with Disney to maybe satisfy a select few? it makes No business sense at all. They offer the VIP tours as a solution to that which obviously is expensive and cost more than say an Express pass but they do allow up to 10 people so you do have an option.

 

[Thepuma]

It really isn't that much of a perk. I've used it a few times since it started last Fall and you *maybe* get one ride in before the park is opened up to day guests.

Really?

So, you head into the parks in the busy summer months and see FOP at 3 hours wait.....and you don't see rope dropping it 30 minutes before general admission and waiting just 10 minutes for the same ride...and you don't see that as a perk?......really?

 

[Thepuma]

Have you ever gave any of the parks in Orlando a try?

Done them all countless times...Universal, IOA, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Fun spot America(s).

 

[Ayla]

Really?

So, you head into the parks in the busy summer months and see FOP at 3 hours wait.....and you don't see rope dropping it 30 minutes before general admission and waiting just 10 minutes for the same ride...and you don't see that as a perk?......really?

You are severely underestimating the amount of resort guests that are able to get in early.

 

[Thepuma]

You are severely underestimating the amount of resort guests that are able to get in early.

When I say 'rope drop' I don't mean getting to the rope the minute the park opens.....I mean getting to the gate about 45mins before the Disney Guests opening time...literally being on, or very close to the rope...and then heading straight to the main attraction...In the past rope dropping every huge ride at Disney, I've never waited more than 10 minutes by rope dropping.

Hence Why I think the 30 minutes early entry for every park for resort guests is a HUGE benefit...its like a free $15 ILL per person every day for FOP, ROTR, 7D etc

 

[Patcheslee]

Remove it. Copy Universal's Express Pass and charge $200+ a per person, per day. One ride per day.

Sell enough to make money, but not too much where the system can't handle the capacity for it. Reduce wait times overall.

I've been visiting the parks lately the last few hours of operations and I can't understand how people willingly buy individual lightning lanes.

I waited 15 minutes for Rise by entering the line 1 minute prior to close.
Waited 35 minutes for FOP by entering 1 minute prior to close.

"Rope Lift/Up" is the new Rope Drop

Everyone's napping from being up before 7am

 

[Jrb1979]

Fair enough but with FP+ again if staying on property you kinda had a choice of what times you wanted. I can see the issue only coming for a couple days bc you are at universal not Disney but this gets back to my original point why should Disney change a system and cater to people staying off property and spending their disposable money elsewhere and not with Disney to maybe satisfy a select few? it makes No business sense at all. They offer the VIP tours as a solution to that which obviously is expensive and cost more than say an Express pass but they do allow up to 10 people so you do have an option.

From the business side of things it makes sense and I do understand it. I get why they aren't big on AP holders. From a personal view Disney once was a place for everyone to enjoy. It bothers me to see those at Burbank care more about those who pay the most over everyone else.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I have to wonder if the people making the choices have ever actually tried to use their own product.

The problem is, as I mentioned above, is that the products are typically a mash up of the original idea and whatever nonsense executive leadership jammed into it or took out of it. Thus a compromised/inferior product is born.

 

[Ayla]

When I say 'rope drop' I don't mean getting to the rope the minute the park opens.....I mean getting to the gate about 45mins before the Disney Guests opening time...literally being on, or very close to the rope...and then heading straight to the main attraction...In the past rope dropping every huge ride at Disney, I've never waited more than 10 minutes by rope dropping.

Hence Why I think the 30 minutes early entry for every park for resort guests is a HUGE benefit...its like a free $15 ILL per person every day for FOP, ROTR, 7D etc

Except...you are waiting close to an hour to ride.