Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[DisneyfanMA]

maybe its me but if Disney offered a skip the line express type pass w no restriction on when you can ride it except 1x only its a nightmare waiting to happen with express lines....

Isn't that how the Universal Express add on works?

 

[crazy4disney]

comparing Universal to Disney to me is almost like Disney management thinking bc something worked is Cali it is going to work in Fla....

 

[Purduevian]

comparing Universal to Disney to me is almost like Disney management thinking bc something worked is Cali it is going to work in Fla....

Yeah something that works in USO, USH, All cedar fair parks, Dollywood, Sea World, ect couldn't possibly work at Disney.

I think Disney doesn't want to do it though because they want everyone to be able to feel special and skip a few lines. I do think G+ had good intentions, but it failed.

Edit: USO is much closer to Disney than it is to Michigan's adventure, but they both use the same line skip system

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah something that works in USO, USH, All cedar fair parks, Dollywood, Sea World, ect couldn't possibly work at Disney.

I think Disney doesn't want to do it though because they want everyone to be able to feel special and skip a few lines. I do think G+ had good intentions, but it failed.

It's backfired and it's due to too many people having it. It's unfortunate but they are learning the hard way the reason it works at those other parks is cause it has limited availability.

 

[DisneyfanMA]

comparing Universal to Disney to me is almost like Disney management thinking bc something worked is Cali it is going to work in Fla....

Yes I know it's not apples to apples. Uni has more rides and less visitors per park, no? That said there is something beautiful to the simplicity of their system over Disney's which requires a PhD in rocket science to unpack. Disney, build more attractions and simplify!!!

 

[Andrew25]

It's not rocket science.

Universal's express works because they limit the sales and have great capacity at their parks individually.
WDW is having issues because Animal Kingdom & DHS have poor capacity for the attendance levels they receive. Magic Kingdom is the only exception. Epcot has great capacity but most of it is wasted since guests really only want to experience 5 of the "major" rides.

Genie+ would be working if the parks had the capacity.

 

[dmw]

It's not rocket science.

Universal's express works because they limit the sales and have great capacity at their parks individually.
WDW is having issues because Animal Kingdom & DHS have poor capacity for the attendance levels they receive. Magic Kingdom is the only exception. Epcot has great capacity but most of it is wasted since guests really only want to experience 5 of the "major" rides.

Genie+ would be working if the parks had the capacity.

I wonder if Disney would consider offering G+ only at MK, and then day of visit purchase of ILL at the big rides in the other three parks, or just no line skipping at the other three parks?

 

[Chi84]

Yeah something that works in USO, USH, All cedar fair parks, Dollywood, Sea World, ect couldn't possibly work at Disney.

I think Disney doesn't want to do it though because they want everyone to be able to feel special and skip a few lines. I do think G+ had good intentions, but it failed.

Edit: USO is much closer to Disney than it is to Michigan's adventure, but they both use the same line skip system

A key component of Universal's Express pass is that it is free to guests staying in their deluxe resorts. Doesn't WDW have a lot more deluxe resorts than Universal? And many of those resorts are DVC, so the people staying in them are often staying on points rather than cash. Also, the WDW parks were built with several types of attractions other than rides (like the animal trails in AK and the shows in HS) and are geared more toward young children than Universal. They simply weren't designed to have as many rides as other theme parks. I think some people here are not being realistic in suggesting that Disney can just adopt Universal's system.

 

[Andrew25]

I wonder if Disney would consider offering G+ only at MK, and then day of visit purchase of ILL at the big rides in the other three parks, or just no line skipping at the other three parks?

Only realistic option I see other than just charging $200+ for a universal-style express pass.

I think Fastpass+/Genie has shown that guests consumers can't be tricked into getting passes for attractions like Tiki, Living with the Land, Tough to be a Bug, etc.

Nobody buys Universal Express for Caro-Seuss-El or Poseidon's Fury

 

[Purduevian]

A key component of Universal's Express pass is that it is free to guests staying in their deluxe resorts. Doesn't WDW have a lot more deluxe resorts than Universal? And many of those resorts are DVC, so the people staying in them are often staying on points rather than cash. Also, the WDW parks were built with several types of attractions other than rides (like the animal trails in AK and the shows in HS) and are geared more toward young children than Universal. They simply weren't designed to have as many rides as other theme parks. I think some people here are not being realistic in suggesting that Disney can just adopt Universal's system.

Oh Disney could never give theirs away for free with a resort stay. Universal still sells many many express passes each day on top of the deluxe hotels. Disney would have to be money only.

Universal also has quite a bit of street performers, non-rides, and kids stuff to do, just like Disney.
Shows: Bourne, Horror Make-up, Blues Brothers, Beedle the Bard, Animal Actors, Celestina, Poseidon, Frog Choir, Triwizard, Dr. Seuss

Kids attractions: Caro-Seuss-el, Flight of the Hippogriff, One Fish, Pteranodon, Storm Force, Cat in the Hat, Seuss Trolley, Hulk, Minions, ET, Kang & Kodos, Woody Woodpecker

Characters/Streetmosphere: Minion dance party, Raptor Encounter, Dreamworks dance party, Scooby Doo, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop, Woody Woodpecker, Simpsons, Beetlejuice, Spongebob, Spiderman, Popeye, Cat in the Hat, Shrek and Donkey, Avengers, Fantastic four, Transformers, Doc Brown, ect.

Disney is certainly more family oriented, but it's not like USO is just a bunch of rides and no experiences.
If you want to make the attendance argument, Universal Japan saw more guests in 2019 than AK, DHS, and EPCOT. As far as I can tell they don't sell an unlimited pass, but do sell a once per ride pass.

Disney can absolutely sell this type of pass, but I'm not sure they want to. I think they want to keep it in reach of the average family to buy at least 1 or 2 days of their trip.

 

[Chi84]

Oh Disney could never give theirs away for free with a resort stay. Universal still sells many many express passes each day on top of the deluxe hotels. Disney would have to be money only.

Universal also has quite a bit of street performers, non-rides, and kids stuff to do, just like Disney.
Shows: Bourne, Horror Make-up, Blues Brothers, Beedle the Bard, Animal Actors, Celestina, Poseidon, Frog Choir, Triwizard, Dr. Seuss

Kids attractions: Caro-Seuss-el, Flight of the Hippogriff, One Fish, Pteranodon, Storm Force, Cat in the Hat, Seuss Trolley, Hulk, Minions, ET, Kang & Kodos, Woody Woodpecker

Characters/Streetmosphere: Minion dance party, Raptor Encounter, Dreamworks dance party, Scooby Doo, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop, Woody Woodpecker, Simpsons, Beetlejuice, Spongebob, Spiderman, Popeye, Cat in the Hat, Shrek and Donkey, Avengers, Fantastic four, Transformers, Doc Brown, ect.

Disney is certainly more family oriented, but it's not like USO is just a bunch of rides and no experiences.
If you want to make the attendance argument, Universal Japan saw more guests in 2019 than AK, DHS, and EPCOT. As far as I can tell they don't sell an unlimited pass, but do sell a once per ride pass.

Disney can absolutely sell this type of pass, but I'm not sure they want to. I think they want to keep it in reach of the average family to buy at least 1 or 2 days of their trip.

The fact that Universal is giving the pass free to deluxe resort guests and that Disney can't or won't is the dealbreaker. I think people mean well with suggesting that Disney adopt Universal's system but it's just not going to happen. If we're suggesting things that won't happen, I'd like to bring back free FP+.

 

[Jrb1979]

The fact that Universal is giving the pass free to deluxe resort guests and that Disney can't or won't is the dealbreaker. I think people mean well with suggesting that Disney adopt Universal's system but it's just not going to happen. If we're suggesting things that won't happen, I'd like to bring back free FP+.

I don't think Universal likes giving it away for free. I believe it's part of the deal of Loews to run their hotels.

Getting 1-2 rides a day with Genie+ isn't the problem cause with FP+ the majority only used it for the 3 they got. The problem stems from guests not being able to plan out their perfect day like they are used to. One problem is not holding the time you selected which goes back to the amount of people using it.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

BTW - These ideas - send them to Disney. They will get forwarded to the appropriate team. If it catches the eye of a PM, it may have a direct impact

I know it feels like it is this sterile, black boxed environment where we have to just wait for the Gods to tell us what they've decided but in reality they are just people that are debating every angle and taking feedback from wherever they can get it.

 

[Disstevefan1]

When there is a 140 min wait for the jungle cruise when there are allegedly less people in the park due to park pass reservations, thats a problem.

Well, in two or three years when Tron and the WDW RR is back, maybe the jungle cruise won’t be as crowded.

By that time, who knows what will have replaced Genie +

 

[Jrb1979]

BTW - These ideas - send them to Disney. They will get forwarded to the appropriate team. If it catches the eye of a PM, it may have a direct impact

I know it feels like it is this sterile, black boxed environment where we have to just wait for the Gods to tell us what they've decided but in reality they are just people that are debating every angle and taking feedback from wherever they can get it.

Good idea. I might work on sending one tonight. My first line will be the infamous quote of "when every has FP nobody has FP"

 

[Disney Glimpses]

When there is a 140 min wait for the jungle cruise when there are allegedly less people in the park due to park pass reservations, thats a problem.

Well, in two or three years when Tron and the WDW RR is back, maybe the jungle cruise won’t be as crowded.

By that time, who knows what will have replaced Genie +

Jungle Cruise is an enigma. Always has been.

 

[Chi84]

Good idea. I might work on sending one tonight. My first line will be the infamous quote of "when every has FP nobody has FP"

Mine will be “when everybody has FP+ at least some people are happy.”

 

[crazy4disney]

Yes I know it's not apples to apples. Uni has more rides and less visitors per park, no? That said there is something beautiful to the simplicity of their system over Disney's which requires a PhD in rocket science to unpack. Disney, build more attractions and simplify!!!

yes i agree more attractions are needed and NOT just E tickets... but i will 100% disagree that FP+ was a rocket science system ill be 47 and far from a tech expert etc and the system is pretty simple and honestly they were very helpful over the phone for pre bookings and if you used a TA they would do it for you... the App to me was extremely simple as well and again thats just me but rocket science is a stretch

 

[Jrb1979]

yes i agree more attractions are needed and NOT just E tickets... but i will 100% disagree that FP+ was a rocket science system ill be 47 and far from a tech expert etc and the system is pretty simple and honestly they were very helpful over the phone for pre bookings and if you used a TA they would do it for you... the App to me was extremely simple as well and again thats just me but rocket science is a stretch

I agree it's not rocket science. For my family it's that on top of everything else makes it more complex than needed.

 

[Purduevian]

BTW - These ideas - send them to Disney. They will get forwarded to the appropriate team. If it catches the eye of a PM, it may have a direct impact

I know it feels like it is this sterile, black boxed environment where we have to just wait for the Gods to tell us what they've decided but in reality they are just people that are debating every angle and taking feedback from wherever they can get it.

Where would you send the ideas to?