Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[MrPromey]

Nothing official yet. I've heard AK and EP pricing might be lower as an incentive. I don't expect MK or HS pricing to drop much, if at all.

It's a negative for people that park hop and do between Epcot and AK on a day

Also a negative for people that do a lot of MK only days as those prices for G+ will be more than it has been when all were same price

And all of this of course, makes it easier for the inevitable price increases in G+ because as long as they have one park that is cheaper or equal to the current highest price for a day of Genie+ across all four, they can pretend like the price hasn't gone up because there is still one option on a handful of days of the year that is at or below the previous line for the system for the least popular park that previously covered all four parks.

Changing the system and how it all works is the easiest way to change the price with fewer people noticing.*

*I know you two notice.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And all of this of course, makes it easier for the inevitable price increases in G+ because as long as they have one park that is cheaper or equal to the current highest price for a day of Genie+, they can pretend like the price hasn't gone up because there is still one option on a handful of days that is at or below the previous line for the system that covered all four parks.

Oh yeah, I think a big aspect is that it has been underpriced at MK and then can get a lot more for it there but they can't raise it the same for the other parks

Like on crowded days they could raise it to $50 and people would pay it but no way do that for AK

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And all of this of course, makes it easier for the inevitable price increases in G+ because as long as they have one park that is cheaper or equal to the current highest price for a day of Genie+, they can pretend like the price hasn't gone up because there is still one option on a handful of days that is at or below the previous line for the system that covered all four parks.

Yep…the same scam as when they went to “single day pricing” on tickets


I’m too tired to debunk every myth - they’re always the same - but make no mistake:
This is a way to try to squeeze money out of an unpopular product that people don’t want/need

It appears they raised the “floor” of genie with this?

Like regifting an ugly vase you got as a wedding present

 

[Chi84]

It's a problem for an extraordinarily narrow subset of guests.

People who don't park hop will be fine.

People who plan to park hop will be fine.

People who don't buy Genie+ will be fine.

This is only a problem for people who 1) do buy Genie+, 2) don't plan to park hop but then 3) change their minds and decide to park hop on an impulse midday.

Isn’t it also a problem for people who plan to park hop but want to decide to which park based on how their day is going or getting a last minute dining reservation?

Your definition of “extraordinarily narrow subset” is getting closer and closer to “most people” with each limitation on flexibility.

 

[dreday3]

Isn’t it also a problem for people who plan to park hop but want to decide to which park based on how their day is going or getting a last minute dining reservation?

Your definition of “extraordinarily narrow subset” is getting closer and closer to “most people” with each limitation on flexibility.

I'm an average(ish) guest among those who hop, and if we often decide in the afternoon what park we want to hop to later that evening, then a lot of people do that. That's the beauty of having a park hopper!

 

[DisneyHead123]

I guess I'm quite literally the only person who likes this?

Before the change, I wouldn't have bought Genie+ at Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Now I will.

If they had announced this change with an announcement about improvements to Genie+, it would have been a “grumbles under breath and moves on” moment. As is, they are basically saying “Hey, we haven’t found time to improve Genie+ which is so universally hated that it may literally be driving down attendance, but we did have time to implement what will no doubt be an upcharge for MK and park hopper Genies. Yer welcome!!”

Is it actually that much more complicated? Probably not. But it’s one more thing that you might accidentally do wrong to screw up a vacation. On my last trip two family members couldn’t join us for lunch because they didn’t know about the 2 pm park hopping rule. Now you might buy an AK Genie only for MK to be sold out when you need it later. It’s not this one thing, it’s the cumulative effect of having many regulations in place that can cause many different potential problems (it also creates a “trip to the DMV” vibe, overall.)

 

[dreday3]

Oh yeah, I think a big aspect is that it has been underpriced at MK and then can get a lot more for it there but they can't raise it the same for the other parks

Like on crowded days they could raise it to $50 and people would pay it but no way do that for AK

And then if I'm hopping to Epcot from AK, I'd have to pay $50 for Genie + to both parks!

 

[MrPromey]

Most likely. Here's what Disney says on the Walt Disney World website.

"Beginning June 27, Guests at Walt Disney World Resort will now purchase Disney Genie+ service based on how they want to visit. Guests will be able to select either a single-park option or a multiple-parks option, subject to availability. With this update, prices may now be lower at some Walt Disney World theme parks compared to others."

See?! This is all about us, the guests!

How kind of them.

This is clearly designed to drive sales at parks (EPCOT and AK) where G+ isn’t selling and to try and get people out of MK.

I doubt it will do either.

It also gives them unlimited runway to raise the price of it at MK and for the "hopper" option which, you can bet your bottom dollar* will happen.

*maybe you can put it on red at the Seminole Hard Rock before Disney realizes you still have it and at least have a 47% chance of coming out ahead, there.

How does lowering the price of the parks who have somewhat limited capacity help ease with the problem? Imo only more people will now purchase it creating more demand and extremely longer lines

Oh you silly person - you're talking about what they would call a you problem. This solves a Disney problem.

None of any of this is really meant to help you (or me) at the end of the day.

If they keep the multipark pricing the same as it is now and then epcot and AK are lower how is this a bad thing? Now if they raise the multipark pricing then I can see why people would be upset.

Okay, I'm giving you my serious face, now:

What do you think the first price change after this change has gone live is going to do?


None of this is meant to come across as combative to any of you, btw - 100% of my sarcasm is directed at Disney.

Okay, about 20% of it is directed at CaptainAmerica and the other 80% is at Disney.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Really? What do you define as “fringe behaviour”? 10%, 20%, 30%?

I'd be shocked if it was higher than 5%.

On a given day, the vast majority of people know what park they're going to first, and where they're having dinner that night, at a minimum.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Isn’t it also a problem for people who plan to park hop but want to decide to which park based on how their day is going or getting a last minute dining reservation?

Your definition of “extraordinarily narrow subset” is getting closer and closer to “most people” with each limitation on flexibility.

Shouldn't be a problem for them as no matter what park you hop to/between you would need the Multipark G+ option

So even if you planned to go from MK to Epcot but wind up going to DHS instead of Epcot you would have selected the same G+ option

The issue is if you started at AK and got the AK G+ but then decide you want to do want to hop then you need to upgrade your G+ option (which involves a trip to guest relations)

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Isn’t it also a problem for people who plan to park hop but want to decide to which park based on how their day is going or getting a last minute dining reservation?

No, because those people will just buy the "Four Parks" option in the first place, regardless of what the second park ends up being.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And then if I'm hopping to Epcot from AK, I'd have to pay $50 for Genie + to both parks!

Yup

Definitely a negative if hoping and not involving MK

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Shouldn't be a problem for them as no matter what park you hop to/between you would need the Multipark G+ option

So even if you planned to go from MK to Epcot but wind up going to DHS instead of Epcot you would have selected the same G+ option

The issue is if you started at AK and got the AK G+ but then decide you want to do want to hop then you need to upgrade your G+ option (which involves a trip to guest relations)

It’s too complicated!!

Not to mention more of what the majority of their complaints are coming in as: too expensive and too difficult.


Blame me…or those like me…who figured out how to line up the headliners at the beginning and end of the days in two parks and killed two birds with one stone

Maxpass…in essence

They want to double charge AND make it more restrictive. They still don’t have any inventory

And what’s under construction?

Bob has got to go…and his little Josh too

 

[Jenny72]

It really does just add one more layer of complication. On this trip we did a split stay between two resorts, and when the second hotel gave us new tickets, they mixed up the names. My party had split up that day, so I ended up having to work with guest relations because my husband had a different reservation for a different park, and hadn't visited that park before coming to the current park, and....the whole thing just struck me as asinine for a theme park. The whole conversation about who went to what park and when just seemed so needlessly dumb. On the face of it, the park reservation/hopping system isn't that complex, but then one little thing goes wrong and it becomes a mess.

 

[nickys]

I'd be shocked if it was higher than 5%.

On a given day, the vast majority of people know what park they're going to first, and where they're having dinner that night, at a minimum.

Not everyone dines in a park. Lots dine at a resort or Disney Springs.

International guests account for more than 5% of guests AFAIK.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It's a problem for an extraordinarily narrow subset of guests.

People who don't park hop will be fine.

People who plan to park hop will be fine.

People who don't buy Genie+ will be fine.

This is only a problem for people who 1) do buy Genie+, 2) don't plan to park hop but then 3) change their minds and decide to park hop on an impulse midday.

The fundamental complicated nature of this is the core problem for people…across the board.

And price

This is salt in both wounds

Another day of pitiful management

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not everyone dines in a park. Lots dine at a resort or Disney Springs.

International guests account for more than 5% of guests AFAIK.

10-15% on average

Mostly Mericans…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No, because those people will just buy the "Four Parks" option in the first place, regardless of what the second park ends up being.

So you want people to overpay to “get around” Disney doubling charging for every part of their amusement parks?

…want to think that one over for a second?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Not everyone dines in a park. Lots dine at a resort or Disney Springs.

International guests account for more than 5% of guests AFAIK.

What do international guests have to do with anything?

"Not dining in a park" goes to my point further. We're only talking about people who park hop without planning to park hop. Someone who leaves a park to go eat at a resort would not fall into that category.

 

[dreday3]

What do international guests have to do with anything?

"Not dining in a park" goes to my point further. We're only talking about people who park hop without planning to park hop. Someone who leaves a park to go eat at a resort would not fall into that category.

Wha...???

Leaving a park, going to a resort to eat, then deciding what park to close out the night happens all the time (at least when parks are open later). Do you park hop? Because you're doing it wrong.