Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yeah, even if I rush everyone to get to the parks in time to take advantage of the early opening, that 30 minutes basically gets us on one ride, and maybe inline for the next one by the time the park opens.

Meanwhile at night you're already there and can gradually get more done as the park empties out

Yes.‘ from my limited experience…you’re also better off doing two lesser things that have the 45-60 minute type waits later in the day than trying to sprint to slinky or mine train

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't see how you need to be on your phone as much as people say. You can only book 1 every 2 hours or after you used 1. The only way I see you having to be on your phone constantly is if you are trying to find optimal times.

Not just for booking but also for checking trends looking at what return times for other rides are

Basically after you pick you next LL you start to strategize for the one after that, and the one after that. Add in park hopping and it multiplies as tracking return times across multiple parks to know when to switch from current park to stacking at next park - basically 3D chess

Basically all the planning and trend analysis one used to do prior to ones trip, now is done live and in real time.

 

[Jrb1979]

Not just for booking but also for checking trends looking at what return times for other rides are

Basically after you pick you next LL you start to strategize for the one after that, and the one after that. Add in park hopping and it multiplies as tracking return times across multiple parks to know when to switch from current park to stacking at next park - basically 3D chess

Basically all the planning and trend analysis one used to do prior to ones trip, now is done live and in real time.

All that goes back to as a PP said trying to make Genie+ work like FP+

 

[marni1971]

. FP should never have been free in the first place

You do know why it was invented?

 

[ChrisM]

Not just for booking but also for checking trends looking at what return times for other rides are

Basically after you pick you next LL you start to strategize for the one after that, and the one after that. Add in park hopping and it multiplies as tracking return times across multiple parks to know when to switch from current park to stacking at next park - basically 3D chess

Basically all the planning and trend analysis one used to do prior to ones trip, now is done live and in real time.

This is absolutely true.

Over spring break this year we spent a week in Orlando - primarily at Universal but carved out 2 days for Disney parks. It was a small group: just myself, my son (13), and one of my brothers. We were all on the same page in terms of interests and moving quickly to maximize our time, and as the "expert" of our group I was happy to wrangle the phone and do exactly as you described.

We had two incredibly fun and efficient days - doing more than I had even thought was possible. To them it was a miraculous event with their own personal tour guide, breezing from attraction to attraction with almost no wait and scoring great dining options as we moved through our days. To me it was a ton of planning on the fly. I had a great time but it was stressful and required a hell of a lot more real-time analysis and thinking ahead than I would prefer to do on vacation. That in itself was sort of fun as a one-time challenge, but trying to do that with a larger group with competing interests/age ranges/physical abilities would be a damn nightmare.

Once that was wrapped up we returned to Universal for the actual vacation part of our vacation.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

All that goes back to as a PP said trying to make Genie+ work like FP+

Maxpass…that’s what it works like. Plus was 3 logjammed prebooks and mostly scraps after…maxpass/genie is more fluid/adaptable. And I hate to “compliment” the concept but it is working better in a weird/warped way.

 

[Jrb1979]

You do know why it was invented?

Yes I do know why. Guests hated waiting in long lines. It was also a way to get around not adding capacity. The problem now they want to go to paid system like other parks. Problem is they really only work with limited availability.

 

[Jrb1979]

Maxpass…that’s what it works like. Plus was 3 logjammed prebooks a mostly scraps after…maxpass/genie is more fluid/adaptable. And I hate to “compliment” the concept but it is working better in a weird/warped way.

It is working better but it could be great if they would limit sales.

 

[nickys]

Hi. Question. Can I book my second genie + for a time that is earlier than my first? Example. At 7am I book Test Track for 3pm. At 11am I can get soarin but soarin is at 1pm. Am I able to do that or does my second ride have to be after my first ride if I haven’t ridden it yet?

Yes you can book your second G+ for an earlier time.

You could book a ride like Jungle Cruise or Slinky for 3pm or 4pm and then start picking up whatever is next available.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It is working better but it could be great if they would limit sales.

Sigh…

That may be ultimately what they’re doing. But it’s still a crowd management system. Which means it has to manage ALL crowds. Which means those that buy and those in the standby

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes I do know why. Guests hated waiting in long lines. It was also a way to get around not adding capacity. The problem now they want to go to paid system like other parks. Problem is they really only work with limited availability.

You got 2 strikes…watch out for the slider out of the zone ️

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Yes I do know why. Guests hated waiting in long lines. It was also a way to get around not adding capacity. The problem now they want to go to paid system like other parks. Problem is they really only work with limited availability.

This is not the sole reason FP+ was created. It was mostly because Disney thought they could basically move crowds around into the less popular/crowded attractions in a way to curb the capacity problems the parks are facing due to the stagnation of new attractions in the early 2000s. Disney thought that FP+/MyMagic+ would prevent them from having to build new attractions.

 

[marni1971]

Yes I do know why. Guests hated waiting in long lines. It was also a way to get around not adding capacity. The problem now they want to go to paid system like other parks. Problem is they really only work with limited availability.

It was a method to get guests through attractions quicker for more time for shopping and dining. And so it “never being free” would have meant it by definition wouldn’t work. Nothing to do with capacity. That was Fastpass Plus.

 

[crazy4disney]

I bet the august/September crowds are the least likely to buy genie…just a hunch

i hope you are correct

 

[DisneyDebRob]

I bet the august/September crowds are the least likely to buy genie…just a hunch

Im not so sure about that. Maybe because crowds will be down slightly but i think the push in the apps and messaging from Disney is making people not in the know think they have to get it. Sort of like when people were reserving times for 3 attractions with the old system.. thinking they needed it for CoP or insert attraction that you never needed a time for here. People were excited they got a fast pass for Philharmagic and thats what Disney wanted. They are selling this G+ hard and we might not see such a decline as we think there should be.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Im not so sure about that. Maybe because crowds will be down slightly but i think the push in the apps and messaging from Disney is making people not in the know think they have to get it. Sort of like when people were reserving times for 3 attractions with the old system.. thinking they needed it for CoP or insert attraction that you never needed a time for here. People were excited they got a fast pass for Philharmagic and thats what Disney wanted. They are selling this G+ hard and we might not see such a decline as we think there should be.

Im just saying those are the “slower” months - relatively speaking - so it probably reduces the upcharge appeal…some.

Maybe after paying through the nose for ridiculous Halloweenie thing…the need for more bucks might be diminished as well. We shall see

 

[crazy4disney]

Im just saying those are the “slower” months - relatively speaking - so it probably reduces the upcharge appeal…some.

Maybe after paying through the nose for ridiculous Halloweenie thing…the need for more bucks might be diminished as well. We shall see

Im going 8/26-9/5. How much slower is it really gonna be. Im truly not expecting much of a diminished crowd in comparison to what was there during my November trip and anything “slower” to me is offset by all the rides/attractions/restaurants that are still closed.

 

[maleficentfan]

According to an update from Disney, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Frozen Ever After, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Space Mountain and Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain will remain in the general Genie+ lineup instead of returning back to à la carte purchases.

Well this new news stinks. I was hoping those rides would go back to ILL so I could be guaranteed to get on them. I’d rather pay the money then risk it with genie +.

Well, there goes my touring plan right out the window. Sigh. And Lou, I completely agree.

FWIW, Genie+ has actually been pretty good over the last 2-4 weeks. It's no where near the poor experience over the Spring. I still think more significant changes are coming but in my opinion it's absolutely worth the 15 bucks.

At this moment, it's after 1PM and nearly every attraction still has availability (including Slinky and Frozen).

Then there's hope?!

Im going 8/26-9/5. How much slower is it really gonna be. Im truly not expecting much of a diminished crowd in comparison to what was there during my November trip and anything “slower” to me is offset by all the rides/attractions/restaurants that are still closed.

I'll be there the same timeframe as you, 8/28-9/3! Historically, that week is supposed to be one of the "slower" weeks, so I have that exact same question.

 

[crazy4disney]

Well, there goes my touring plan right out the window. Sigh. And Lou, I completely agree.



Then there's hope?!



I'll be there the same timeframe as you, 8/28-9/3! Historically, that week is supposed to be one of the "slower" weeks, so I have that exact same question.

That was always the week i went up until about a decade or so ago & yes i would agree it was “slower” but Disney has changed since than and i think there is no such thing as slow times anymore. Even slower is a stretch imo especially for the reasons i mentioned above.

 

[mikejs78]

It was a method to get guests through attractions quicker for more time for shopping and dining. And so it “never being free” would have meant it by definition wouldn’t work. Nothing to do with capacity. That was Fastpass Plus.

That's FP+. Was that also the reason the paper FP system was created?