Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[TheMaxRebo]

They do understand their theme parks but they constantly underestimate how much money people are willing to give them.

"Due to unexpected demand ...." Every. Time.

 

[Vacationeer]

With FP+, many people didn't try beyond their 3 picks which often only included one high demand pick. FP+ had this message, "Ride distribution has ended for the day". Even throughout 2019 many visitors thought that meant the whole system was done for the day, when the message really just meant for that ride and there still was the possibility drops or cancellations would offer inventory later. Complimentary definitely affected consumer mindset in many ways.

 

[natatomic]

Does anyone know what percentage of DAS users make up the LL queues? Back when I was an attraction CM, the GAC was horribly abused and definitely clogged up the FP lines, but I know the DAS has helped with that somewhat (no infinite back to back rerides, for instance).
And are DAS users allowed to use the LL for an attraction more than once?

 

[GhostHost1000]

It would fix a lot of the problems. Outside of the 7am part, the biggest complaint seems to be rides running out of availability quickly. That's due to the amount of guests using Genie+. Take away half the guests using it right now and a lot more availability will open up.

Take away half the guests using it there will be half the guests mad about not being able to

Fix the system and add new attractions

 

[crazy4disney]

With FP+, many people didn't try beyond their 3 picks which often only included one high demand pick. FP+ had this message, "Ride distribution has ended for the day". Even throughout 2019 many visitors thought that meant the whole system was done for the day, when the message really just meant for that ride and there still was the possibility drops or cancellations would offer inventory later. Complimentary definitely affected consumer mindset in many ways.

But according to disney disclaimers which has to mean something they are warning you that you may only get 3 anyway…

 

[crazy4disney]

Does anyone know what percentage of DAS users make up the LL queues? Back when I was an attraction CM, the GAC was horribly abused and definitely clogged up the FP lines, but I know the DAS has helped with that somewhat (no infinite back to back rerides, for instance).
And are DAS users allowed to use the LL for an attraction more than once?

Yes DAS can be used as often as you want on a single attraction.

 

[Jrb1979]

Take away half the guests using it there will be half the guests mad about not being able to

Fix the system and add new attractions

Adding new attractions isn't happening anytime soon. At least not enough to fix capacity.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

So you can use your comparison & i can use mine which covers more hotels & if you compare vs Value even more of a difference & we both can be correct. Sound like a plan? Now we can now move on from this. I agree withyou. You agreed with me. I dk what what week you are looking but the dates imgoing 8/26-9/5 using your hotels. I see a difference of $145 per night + tax from cheapest room at CB vs AKL…

Heh?
Disneyglimpses quote was about G+ inventory, not hotels.

Extra hours are just on Mondays and Wednesdays. So 2 nights = both the MK and Epcot extra hours for the week. Both arrival and check out days = access, but even if we extend our stay to 3 nights, at $145 we're talking $435. With 4 people per room, that breaks down to $54 per person per evening.

I looked at mid-August pricing. Yes, the price varies by season. I was also referencing a specific poster who said the difference between moderate hotels and Deluxe was 'thousands.'

Mid-August Art of Animation LM room = $261.66/night. CB only preferred is avail at $415/night. AKL st view = $500.33/night.

$500 minus $415 = $85/night for 3 nights or $255 total. With 4 people, that's $32 per person/night of extra hours.
If we go from AoA to AKL = $238.67/night or $716. More, but still under one thousand total. It still breaks down to paying only $89.50 per person if 4 ppl per room (2 adults+2 kids).

But that ignores the difference in room size and other pluses of ALK. AKL rooms are 344 square feet while AoA rooms are 277 square feet. For that $89.50 you'd be getting both the extra hours and a bigger hotel room. (CB's = 314 square feet is much closer to AKL's 344.)

 

[crazy4disney]

I've been thinking more about this idea of raising the price an absorbing ILL attractions as Tier 1 attractions.

If they charged $25 during the week and $35 on the weekends and capped purchases to 40,000, that would be $1.15 million in daily revenue (which is more than they are making on Genie+ and ILL combined).

In a 12 hour day, 7DMT and TRON capacity is roughly 40,000 combined. Park hours are often more than 12 hours. This would ensure that, in this example anyways, everyone who purchases it will be basically guaranteed access to either 7DMT or TRON at some point during the day. Caveat is downtime, which is far too common lately.

40,000 is significantly less than they are selling Genie+ right now and would ensure wonderful availability for Tier 2 attractions throughout the day.

And in a week long trip, assuming you bought it everyday, you'd be able to ride almost every Tier 1 attraction.

I also believe at this price point, 40,000 would not sell out very quickly. There are also a significant percentage of people that have no interest in Tier 1s, believe it or not (which leaves room for error).

I'd also allow resort guests to purchase it at 9PM the night before with the ability to reserve their first attraction with ability to book 2nd attraction 2 hours after park open and so on. I would also allow guests to pick any time they want.

And if they really wanted to generate another 1mm per day they could have just increased hotel prices parking fees park tickets etc at an appropriate # to get to this 1mm increase & kept FP “free”. Again they turned a system that generally worked and worked really well for resort guests & created this nightmare of a system.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

And if they really wanted to generate another 1mm per day they could have just increased hotel prices parking fees park tickets etc at an appropriate # to get to this 1mm increase & kept FP “free”. Again they turned a system that generally worked and worked really well for resort guests & created this nightmare of a system.

I think the latter part of your post is viewed as a problem, by them anyways. If you weren't a resort guest, FP+ really kinda stunk.

 

[Vacationeer]

But according to disney disclaimers which has to mean something they are warning you that you may only get 3 anyway…

Maybe only 2 even, lol.

Even with caveat "2-3 attractions daily IF first selection is made early in the day" guests are expecting a $15 better experience over FP+, so some are not satisfied with one Tier 1 and two Mid-tier G+ rides. Moreso for onsite guests who were used to getting decent pick on those times.

 

[crazy4disney]

Heh?
Disneyglimpses quote was about G+ inventory, not hotels.

Extra hours are just on Mondays and Wednesdays. So 2 nights = both the MK and Epcot extra hours for the week. Both arrival and check out days = access, but even if we extend our stay to 3 nights, at $145 we're talking $435. With 4 people per room, that breaks down to $54 per person per evening.

I looked at mid-August pricing. Yes, the price varies by season. I was also referencing a specific poster who said the difference between moderate hotels and Deluxe was 'thousands.'

Mid-August Art of Animation LM room = $261.66/night. CB only preferred is avail at $415/night. AKL st view = $500.33/night.

$500 minus $415 = $85/night for 3 nights or $255 total. With 4 people, that's $32 per person/night of extra hours.
If we go from AoA to AKL = $238.67/night or $716. More, but still under one thousand total. It still breaks down to paying only $89.50 per person if 4 ppl per room (2 adults+2 kids).

But that ignores the difference in room size and other pluses of ALK. AKL rooms are 344 square feet while AoA rooms are 277 square feet. For that $89.50 you'd be getting both the extra hours and a bigger hotel room. (CB's = 314 square feet is much closer to AKL's 344.)

I dont know about you but how many people do you truly know that go to Disney on a vacation from Mon-Wed? Lets be realistic. Now if you wanna say do a split stay and switch hotels so be it. We can go back & forth but deluxe hotels are ridiculously priced we know that & honestly if you are going for a week you are paying a couple thousand extra for majority of these deluxe resorts for 4 hours extra…. So yea i dont think the majority of deluxe guests are staying there because of that. Im not ignorant nor naive either to say others may do it but i cant see people sitting down saying this is what is making me spend all this extra $. Heck i dk what they are doing w crowds this year but the AH event past year every ride was literally a walk the night i went for Christmas “party”.

 

[crazy4disney]

I think the latter part of your post is viewed as a problem, by them anyways. If you weren't a resort guest, FP+ really kinda stunk.

Ive never stayed off property but people here have and stated they were able to get top tier FP at times. I know AP holders were as well. But its not like there was nothing available & again. If that is the case. Disney is saying we value nonresort guests more than resort guests?!? Can they be that dumb?

 

[natatomic]

Yes DAS can be used as often as you want on a single attraction.

Has there been an uptick in DAS usage since line skipping was monetized? Obviously here’s my disclaimer where I explain that I am well aware that not everyone who uses a DAS is an abuser (yes, some people actually need it, and I don’t begrudge them using DAS). But there is…some percentage of the population that is unscrupulous enough to lie, or exaggerate, to get the DAS which would allow them to 1) save money and 2) skip the line. I would imagine that with every new iteration of line skipping Disney attempts that either makes it more difficult to get (capping) or more expensive, there will be more people willing to cheat the system.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Adding new attractions isn't happening anytime soon. At least not enough to fix capacity.

Agreed, so they should fix the FP/LL/whatever they want to call it system to be more usable and not as stressful and frustrating (there are better ways without just limiting use, I expect more people used the free FP+ system and it worked way better)

 

[HauntedPirate]

They do understand their theme parks but they constantly underestimate how much money people are willing to give them.

The second part of that statement absolutely astounds me. I do wonder how much that discretionary spending will dry up in the next 6-18 months when the inevitable recession hits and how they will respond, aka. how deep will the discounts be.

This could be a healthy discussion - I disagree somewhat on the first part. I say that based on their penchant for building mostly E-tickets for the last decade (when they've actually built rides) and marketing the hell out of the D-tickets like they are E's. They need balance, not just headliners. The only C-ticket they've built is A.S.S. that I can think of. I have zero connections inside the walls of TDO/TDA, so I could just be talking out of my Alien Swirling Saucers as well.

 

[Jeff4272]

I'm not confidant that they care to improve their PR problem. It's not like profits are down or anything.

Stock price is almost back to pandemic levels and lowest levels since 2014 (only a few $ away from pandemic lows, it's 8 year low)

 

[Jeff4272]

Still more complex then it needs to be. Just make it simple. Change the price to $30 but cap sales so it's only available to 10% of guests each day.

And allow pre booking

 

[Jeff4272]

I debated that for August but i need 2 rooms & couldnt guarantee me then together etc. good to know they are included for future.

Rent a 2 br.......it sleeps 9

 

[Jrb1979]

Agreed, so they should fix the FP/LL/whatever they want to call it system to be more usable and not as stressful and frustrating (there are better ways without just limiting use, I expect more people used the free FP+ system and it worked way better)

FP+ worked much better for resort guests more then anyone else. In reality FP+ had limits on it too. Look at availability come day of. A lot the good time slots and some of the too rides were unavailable.

And allow pre booking

If they cap sales it would open availability all day.