Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[nickys]

ie: if it is removed from pre-visit purchase and bundling, less people will know/book it on the day of their park visit? I could still see it easily selling out day of, but I assume this means a cap is going to be enforced which is a no brainer. I wonder though how greedy Disney will be with the cap.

Does anyone know if Universal caps the express passes sold?

Universal does limit the Express Pass.

I think too they might have dynamic pricing, at least that it’s cheaper if you book it in advance. But it could be that’s just the ticket prices.

 

[Jrb1979]

Universal does limit the Express Pass.

I think too they might have dynamic pricing, at least that it’s cheaper if you book it in advance. But it could be that’s just the ticket prices.

It's even dynamic depending on the day as well.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

As I've said before, Disney typically uses dynamic pricing to get people into the parks and resorts to maintain a consistent, baseline level of attendance. This is why dynamic pricing of Genie+ is unlikely (they don't do dynamic pricing outside of ticket prices, hotel rates). It also wouldn't make sense for ILL because ILL are all sold out anyways by the time dynamic pricing would have an opportunity to have any impact.

 

[nickys]

Better late than never. The three week delay isn't desired; it's how long it takes for their software engineering team to remove it from all ticketing platforms. No, something like this shouldn't take three weeks. This is a quick insight into how disorganized and poorly constructed their software is.

Funnily enough, it disappeared from the U.K. in about 24 hours. And people who called were told they couldn’t add it to their tickets.

A couple of days later it seems they changed the systems again so that it could be added to existing tickets. But those who’ve already booked for 2023 will lose G+ if they make any changes to their reservation.

 

[mikejs78]

Which route are you referring to? I mentioned three different possibilities in the one post.

Specifically the packages.

 

[Jrb1979]

As I've said before, Disney typically uses dynamic pricing to get people into the parks and resorts to maintain a consistent, baseline level of attendance. This is why dynamic pricing of Genie+ is unlikely (they don't do dynamic pricing outside of ticket prices, hotel rates). It also wouldn't make sense for ILL because ILL are all sold out anyways by the time dynamic pricing would have an opportunity to have any impact.

I know Disney is different then other parks out there. I know it's not intentional but why they insist on making things so complex?

 

[Tha Realest]

I know Disney is different then other parks out there. I know it's not intentional but why they insist on making things so complex?

Disparate stakeholder groups within and outside of the Parks division that have oppositional goals

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Materially changing the actual product now would mean they have to notify all who have pre-purchased it and offer a refund; this is not something they plan to do. From what I understand, they are adding the ability to cancel your pre-purchased Genie+ add-on though. And for Guests who complain after the fact, refunds are being issued. No one is being held out to dry here. It takes some work, but Disney is making it right each time.

I would consider all usages of Genie+ present through December to be a beta experience, so to speak. Come early next year, things will change significantly at WDW from both a Genie+ and Park Pass standpoint.

They will have a continuity issue as Genie+ at Disneyland appears to work quite well; unclear how they plan to offer two different versions of the same product that share the same name.

I'm still astounded that the people running the parks couldn't figure out why MaxPass (and the simlar G+) worked at Disneyland but can't work at WDW. Have they never walked around any of their parks to notice that DL has more capacity in a smaller footprint compared to MK (the only park at WDW with enough capacity for G+ to even have a snowball's chance of succeeding), combined with a higher percentage of locals compared to WDW? Rule #1 for any business should be "Know Your Customers." It seems that the execs who signed off on this one-size-fits-both-coasts approach failed Rule #1 and even failed at knowing their own products since they didn't understand the obvious differences between DL and WDW. They didn't anticipate high demand for a line-skip system at WDW when they have been targeting the "one in a lifetime" and "once every few years" guests over the frequent visitors for years? Nobody stopped to think, "Hey, we're targeting these infrequent visitors because they're likely to spend more money per visit than people who visit annually or multiple times per year or live locally. What's the likelihood that those guests would spend money on G+ so they can avoid spending their once in a lifetime trip in lines all day?" This was such an avoidable mistake that it calls into question the competence of those who developed and signed off on it.

 

[Patcheslee]

As I've said before, Disney typically uses dynamic pricing to get people into the parks and resorts to maintain a consistent, baseline level of attendance. This is why dynamic pricing of Genie+ is unlikely (they don't do dynamic pricing outside of ticket prices, hotel rates). It also wouldn't make sense for ILL because ILL are all sold out anyways by the time dynamic pricing would have an opportunity to have any impact.

If you are using dynamic pricing in that sense, there is dynamic pricing on ILL based on the day of the week. Sun-Thursday is a few dollars cheaper than Friday/Saturday.

 

[mysto]

I think they're trying to thread the needle here:

1. Don't give up the G+/ILL revenue at their current level
2. Figure out how to improve satisfaction

A couple of things seem fairly straighforward:

• Allow guests to sign up for G+ the day before using it, instead of staying up until midnight.
  
  
• Make the "time to obtain" for G+ and ILL different, so you don't have to do two things at 7 a.m. This is so blindingly obvious that I don't understand why it hasn't been done.
  
  
• Guarantee that the G+ return time you're offered is the one you get. No more of this "Show 10 a.m. availabilty" and then "Come back at 6 p.m." when you actually complete the purchase.
  
  I think this one is more difficult because of the way they implemented G+ purchases. Using a shopping cart model instead of the old FP+ system (or, you know, what every concert ticket vendor does) is just baffling. It's such bad user expereince that I don't know how it got through QA.

I would add in the ability to trade up (swap) a reservation without first cancelling. I know that depends on them holding/guaranteeing a displayed option for you, and may be considered a sub-case, but many here want this. I think it too would improve satisfaction without abandoning g+.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I'm still astounded that the people running the parks couldn't figure out why MaxPass (and the simlar G+) worked at Disneyland but can't work at WDW.

FWIW, Genie+ works moderately well at MK. It's simply not conducive for the other experienced based parks which lack in the number of overall attractions. That's likely the disconnect.

 

[crazy4disney]

FWIW, Genie+ works moderately well at MK. It's simply not conducive for the other experienced based parks which lack in the number of overall attractions. That's likely the disconnect.

Thanks for all the replies.... if they do cap sales should i be concerned my mom AP holder with her own resort reservation but not allowed to purchase Genie in advance be shut out as I already purchased for me and my daughter? side note i dont get why they will not allow an AP with an 11 day/10night trip booked pre purchase

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Thanks for all the replies.... if they do cap sales should i be concerned my mom AP holder with her own resort reservation but not allowed to purchase Genie in advance be shut out as I already purchased for me and my daughter? side note i dont get why they will not allow an AP with an 11 day/10night trip booked pre purchase

I don't think this is something you have to worry about. It's unclear to me right now if they plan to limit aggressively or only in worst case scenarios; either way, you shouldn't have an issue purchasing it when the window opens. I'd imagine that it would be mid to late morning that may have issues.

The issue really lies with people walking into MK at 2PM, purchasing Genie+ after learning about what this Lightning Lane thing is and then finding no availability.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Here at the parks using genie+ now. Had FP+ down to a science but this new system is HORRIBLE. Mad scramble the day of is bad, zig zagging throughout the parks is bad and inefficient, no way to plan where to be and when you take whatever it gives you which is bad, I could go on but I’m tired and will vent more another day but as a long time dvc member, annual pass holder, and frequent visitor, the Disney parks experience is not as good as is used to be. In fact it’s more frustrating than enjoyable at times. If they want to charge for something extra whatever, but make it a decent system and quit trying to make things more difficult than the time before. I guarantee the inventor of this has never had to use it with their family.

Day 4 if using genie. At Epcot today. Soarin LL was over a 30min wait. Well done Disney. Well done.

I am hearing a lot of frustrated people in lines this week

 

[crazy4disney]

I don't think this is something you have to worry about. It's unclear to me right now if they plan to limit aggressively or only in worst case scenarios; either way, you shouldn't have an issue purchasing it when the window opens. I'd imagine that it would be mid to late morning that may have issues.

The issue really lies with people walking into MK at 2PM, purchasing Genie+ after learning about what this Lightning Lane thing is and then finding no availability.

good to know thank you

 

[Thepuma]

It works at Disneyland not just cause of the amount of attractions but also a lot of people don't buy it. Capping sales should go a long way to making it work. My only hope out of all of this is Disney realizes that no matter the system it can't be accessible to everyone.

Myself (and a few Orlando regulars I know) would simply go elsewhere if we thought there's a chance we wouldn't be able to get any G+.

I mean, you have to reserve the park weeks in advance, but will only know at 7am of the park day if you've been lucky enough to get G+ for that day?

A huge no for me...I wouldn't pay to get into Disney if I thought there was a chance I'd be forced into stand by lanes all day.

And we can't be the only ones

 

[FullSailDan]

It's such bad user expereince that I don't know how it got through QA.

This is probably more a failure of the business/operations in terms of requirements documentation. QA probably had very simple acceptance criteria for "a user can checkout and receive a fastpass" and didn't have a requirement that the time displayed is the time given. There would have been user acceptance testing by the business and as usual, they didn't really test and just did a quick gloss over and said fine. Fast forward to go live and the client starts yelling about "i didn't know it would X" and the project manager is stuck trying to reconcile a product built with a client who failed to clearly identify their needs and expected behaviors.

Not that I'd know a thing or two about that....

 

[FullSailDan]

Myself (and a few Orlando regulars I know) would simply go elsewhere if we thought there's a chance we wouldn't be able to get any G+.

I mean, you have to reserve the park weeks in advance, but will only know at 7am of the park day if you've been lucky enough to get G+ for that day?

A huge no for me...I wouldn't pay to get into Disney if I thought there was a chance I'd be forced into stand by lanes all day.

And we can't be the only ones

So glad I left Orlando when I did. The experience for local passholders is so abysmal now. Hope it improves soon for you guys!

 

[DisneyfanMA]

Capping it is clearly a must imo......I know this is a way over simplification, but if you allow 51% or greater of guests to buy Genie + , then for top attractions, the standby lane becomes more valuable in some ironic way, no?

 

[DisneyfanMA]

Individual LL purchases (excempt from Genie + unless noted by *)

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain*
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Frozen Ever After*
• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway*
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain*

*not considered individual LL between Feb 25-Aug 7 2022


Do you guys expect them to extend the inclusion of SM, Frozen, MM Railway, and EE in with regular Genie+ to the fall/rest of 2022? Hoping this continues for my early Nov visit.