Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Disney Glimpses]

We already hit on that there is only 2 ways to drive the demand down.
1 - Artificial cap. Just stop selling it once it's reached whatever capacity it can handle.
2 - Raise the price high enough that people stop buying it before it's beyond capacity.

The first seems to be what most people would prefer, at least if they're able to get it then. Since, the second will price many out of it. Unless getting the capacity low enough also makes standby much better, or they do a lot to improve stand by.

Either way, at a low enough capacity to work well, there's going to be lots of people not using it, so the standby experience needs to get better.


And, here we see that it's option 2.

They'll probably need to raise the VIP tour guide price too.

Which is "fine", just price enough people out that it's not something people think is "required" for a trip. I've never seen anyone say getting a VIP Tour was required.

I think you hit the nail on the head.

 

[mightynine]

So, does Disney make a BIG increase in the cost of G+ all at once? How much is too much for sticker shock? Or just bite the bullet?

 

[allgiggles]

No G+ available for DHS at 7am?

Only things showing return times are shows

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Pretty sure it was a glitch. I noticed it right at 7:00 am and immediately logged out of the app and logged back in and everything was showing correctly then (at 7:01 a.m.).

 

[Jeff4272]

If you're an AP or an off-site guest, there's some reason to prefer Genie+ over FP+, even in it's current horrible form. With Genie+ you have a significantly higher chance of securing FP+ for popular attractions. Especially large groups. FP+ was a ridiculously huge resort perk. The biggest one that many took for granted because it was so normalized.

I don't know why they are catering to AP holders over resort guests......seems bass ackwards to me

 

[Disney Glimpses]

So, does Disney make a BIG increase in the cost of G+ all at once? How much is too much for sticker shock? Or just bite the bullet?

Not without significant changes. It really depends on what they decide to do come 2023. If they decide they can iterate on existing product, it will likely increase by $5-10. If they decide to revamp and offer much more flexibility, the price could easily double or more. I do think the product needs to be renamed yet again if they go the latter route though.

 

[Jrb1979]

I don't know why they are catering top AP holders over resort guests......seems bass ackwards to me

I do think that will eventually change once the lawsuit at Disneyland is figured out.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I do think that will eventually change once the lawsuit at Disneyland is figured out.

More than you want to know

 

[Chi84]

I don't think everyone is ever going to agree on what works best for who because we all have such vastly different planning styles.

Do I like Genie +? Not particularly. I don't know the answer, but if I could pay individually and be assured a ride and a time I want, I'd be okay with that!

But anyways, for families and larger groups, I think Genie and the park reservation system is MUCH harder on them than it is on us - a couple with no kids.
We go for 9 nights with hoppers, are pretty flexible on rides (been enough, know we'll come back) and are those "weirdos" who actually enjoy just being in the park, soaking up the ambience. I'm up early, every day, so 7 am isn't a big thing for me. Our hopping usually winds up being Epcot or DHS since we stay in Epcot resort area so the after 2 thing is fine. For us, it's all not too bad. Ideal? No, but we can roll with it.

The idea that if we want to switch to a park morning of that's sold out is annoying, but if you have the hopper, there's a work around. We can book Epcot (always available), walk over, check in and then hop to the park we really wanted. After 2 of course.

I do agree, it's more restrictive in the sense there's extra steps now (like what I described just above)

That workaround wouldn't work for us because we had ADRs every night. Not to mention the hassle of getting to and checking in at a park we weren't interested in going to.

 

[mmascari]

So, does Disney make a BIG increase in the cost of G+ all at once? How much is too much for sticker shock? Or just bite the bullet?

Sounds like 2023, and a lot.

Assume these numbers are correct.

The issue is excess demand though. If 10% of guests were purchasing it as opposed to the current 33%, the Genie+ experience would be even better than the OG MaxPass experience. You'd be able to reserve attractions all day long.

Meaning today a third of guests are using G+ and that to work well it should only be 10% of guests using G+. That means they need to reduce the quantity sold by two thirds. They need to raise the price high enough to convince 66% of people currently buying G+ to no longer purchase it.

Just tripling the price so that the total dollars sold is exactly the same, but only needs a third the sales to get there isn't likely to be enough to drive the demand down to only a third of current.

It needs to be so high that the perception changes that it's not a "must have".

Or, we're back to just capping sales once it hits capacity where it still works. That's how VIP tours work and why they're "sold out" for dates.

It also means to work, 90% of guests need to not use it and be in stand by. So, the stand by experience better get a little better too. Lots and lots and LOTS of people posting in this thread need to be priced out for it to work for those still getting it.

 

[Jrb1979]

I’m not talking about bugs. I’m talking about the design. It’s bad. I just used it the last 11 days in a row

7am mad dash booking is stupid
Not able to select times is stupid
Not able to modify times is stupid
Etc etc

I could go on but I’m at the airport getting away from the magic mess a vacation at WDW has become

I agree that the 7am mad dash is stupid. Change it to whenever the first park opens for the day.

The other 2 would work much better if less people are using it.

 

[crazy4disney]

I do think that will eventually change once the lawsuit at Disneyland is figured out.

probably for another thread but quickly what lawsuit is that? apologies in advance

 

[GhostHost1000]

Not without significant changes. It really depends on what they decide to do come 2023. If they decide they can iterate on existing product, it will likely increase by $5-10. If they decide to revamp and offer much more flexibility, the price could easily double or more. I do think the product needs to be renamed yet again if they go the latter route though.

The names are dumb too. Why call it LL and ILL. Fastpass was fine. They didn’t change the name when adding the +. They had to make all new signs as well which cost money.

I don’t care if they call it Harry Potter Mario Minions Magic as long as it’s designed right, and with the actual users in mind for and enjoyable park experience without stress and frustration

 

[GhostHost1000]

I agree that the 7am mad dash is stupid. Change it to whenever the first park opens for the day.

The other 2 would work much better if less people are using it.

That’s a really bad idea too and even dangerous. Everyone is running to their first attraction on their phones now I can’t imagine then.

 

[Jeff4272]

I do think that will eventually change once the lawsuit at Disneyland is figured out.

But what I mean is, they felt like they need to change FP+ because AP and daily guests didn't like the planning associated with FP+ but the resort guests did

Why would they change it then?

 

[GhostHost1000]

I think you hit the nail on the head.

The answer to all problems at Disney is now raising the price.

They are literally digging their own grave with a blindfold on and are too focused on other things

 

[JTH781]

The issue is excess demand though. If 10% of guests were purchasing it as opposed to the current 33%, the Genie+ experience would be even better than the OG MaxPass experience. You'd be able to reserve attractions all day long.

I don't think it excess demand well it could be but with Fastpass plus that never seemed to be a issue and it was free.

 

[Jeff4272]

probably for another thread but quickly what lawsuit is that? apologies in advance

AP holders in CA sued DL because their AP's were not supposed to have any blackout dates........Park Pass is essentially "blackout dates".........Disney tried to get lawsuit dismissed and the judge said there was enough evidence to deny motion to dismiss

 

[crazy4disney]

AP holders in CA sued DL because their AP's were not supposed to have any blackout dates........Park Pass is essentially "blackout dates".........Disney tried to get lawsuit dismissed and the judge said there was enough evidence to deny motion to dismiss

thank you

 

[GhostHost1000]

I don't think it excess demand well it could be but with Fastpass plus that never seemed to be a issue and it was free.

Yeah I would think more people used FP+ and it was a much better experience

 

[Disney Glimpses]

AP holders in CA sued DL because their AP's were not supposed to have any blackout dates........Park Pass is essentially "blackout dates".........Disney tried to get lawsuit dismissed and the judge said there was enough evidence to deny motion to dismiss

And as I said in another thread, this is why APs at WDW have priority and will always take the last available reservations.