Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[GhostHost1000]

From a twisted point of view, they probably should be applauded. They’re ripping off the customers and the customers have seemingly just accepted it as the norm.

Correct

The reason they went this route is because offsite guests didn’t get much remaining availability when it come to FP+ so they were not likely to pay extra for it therefore they evened the playing field by offering this paid service anyone can book the morning of now.

It’s more about money and the bottom line than an enjoyable time in the parks with less stress

 

[GhostHost1000]

People didn’t like preplanning attractions so they remove it with this new system….yet we have to preplan our parks now in addition to dining so that reasoning makes no sense

Now people don’t like having all the morning of stress and so many unknown factors trying to get the most out of each park day living on a phone app and zig-zagging all over the parks and want some preplanning back

There is some common ground options here disney could do….but will they? I still say it’s not about guest experience anymore. It’s about what more they can get out of guests.

I have said all along whoever came up with Genie+, LL, and ILL never experienced FP+ or tried Genie+ like normal guests do and therefore we have what we have now because it sounded good in a conference room, looked nice on a PowerPoint slide, and the numbers looked good on an excel spreadsheet

 

[G00fyDad]

People didn’t like preplanning attractions so they remove it with this new system….yet we have to preplan our parks now in addition to dining so that reasoning makes no sense

Now people don’t like having all the morning of stress and so many unknown factors trying to get the most out of each park day living on a phone app and zig-zagging all over the parks and want some preplanning back

There is some common ground options here disney could do….but will they? I still say it’s not about guest experience anymore. It’s about what more they can get out of guests.

I have said all along whoever came up with Genie+, LL, and ILL never experienced FP+ or tried Genie+ like normal guests do and there we have what we have now because it sounded good in a conference room, looked nice on a PowerPoint slide, and the numbers looked good on an excel spreadsheet

Some people didn't....

 

[GhostHost1000]

Some people didn't....

Correct. Some. I dare say most did however because it was a level of excitement prior to our trips

 

[crazy4disney]

FP+ didn't work great for everyone. It worked for amazing for resort guests, good for off site guests but day of guests most of the time it sucked. Your average guest didn't like all the planning involved. As an earlier post said your average guest doesn't mind restaurant reservations as most are used to that for their vacations. No other park uses a virtual queue for a skip the line system. I would guess that most don't like having a schedule for their park days.

Can i ask a question bc i truly dk the answer and not sure you would either…

How many last minute day guests actually went to the park? And again whatever that number is why are we worrying about people that are making last minute plans. Again. If i decide right now i want to go see a broadway play or a top restaurant in the city chances are im either not getting in or im getting crappy seats. Or paying a stupid amount for good seats (not applicable to disney) unless you include private tours which from i hear are just as hard to book now as well.

So amazing for on site
Good for off site
Local AP my guess made some FP that made them “happy enough” and as a local a huge advantage over everyone else.

So if what you say is true and i believe it. Why did we overhaul an entire system instead of simply just charging for it… literally something that actually had value at Disney and people really couldnt complain as similar systems are paid for in every single park elsewhere…

Maybe im off but my guess is 75% of people entering parks are people on vacation who had plans to go. Maybe higher. Pure guess but based on where hotel occupancy has been at and how many others stay offsite i cant see the # being lower.

 

[homerdance]

after the initial 2 that i was able to pre book for each day (which basically replaced FP excluding the rides not included) the day of ones because wait times were long whether inflated or not any return time for DAS for anything worthwhile was well over 60-90 minutes so realistically not many were able to be used and in past years yes wait times were similar but as ive stated i had plenty of success same day w FP+ vs success with genie hence why DAS wasnt really used much by me as ive stated. Now with genie having longer gaps as well as DAS i spent way more time just wandering or doing nothing much waiting for next ride time to arrive to enjoy said attraction...

So your saying you bought G+ and had DAS? Not sure I get how DAS had no return times that you deemed suitable?

 

[Jrb1979]

People didn’t like preplanning attractions so they remove it with this new system….yet we have to preplan our parks now in addition to dining so that reasoning makes no sense

Now people don’t like having all the morning of stress and so many unknown factors trying to get the most out of each park day living on a phone app and zig-zagging all over the parks and want some preplanning back

There is some common ground options here disney could do….but will they? I still say it’s not about guest experience anymore. It’s about what more they can get out of guests.

I have said all along whoever came up with Genie+, LL, and ILL never experienced FP+ or tried Genie+ like normal guests do and therefore we have what we have now because it sounded good in a conference room, looked nice on a PowerPoint slide, and the numbers looked good on an excel spreadsheet

I don't think it's that. They saw how MaxPass worked at Disneyland and how guests at WDW were wanting it. Genie+ was there was of doing that.

I do agree there is a middle ground somewhere. One would be to raise the price to limit availability some. Resort guests can book 1 LL the day before.

 

[homerdance]

People didn’t like preplanning attractions so they remove it with this new system….yet we have to preplan our parks now in addition to dining so that reasoning makes no sense

Now people don’t like having all the morning of stress and so many unknown factors trying to get the most out of each park day living on a phone app and zig-zagging all over the parks and want some preplanning back

There is some common ground options here disney could do….but will they? I still say it’s not about guest experience anymore. It’s about what more they can get out of guests.

I have said all along whoever came up with Genie+, LL, and ILL never experienced FP+ or tried Genie+ like normal guests do and therefore we have what we have now because it sounded good in a conference room, looked nice on a PowerPoint slide, and the numbers looked good on an excel spreadsheet

All they did is moved the pre planning from 60 days (ridiculously early when most of the time park hours were not even set in Stone yet) to 7 am day of. Which is so much worse. Absolutely no expectations can be set based on the current model. It is just so freaking bad.

 

[crazy4disney]

So your saying you bought G+ and had DAS? Not sure I get how DAS had no return times that you deemed suitable?

Yes i bought Genie+ and have DAS just did the same for my August trip….

What im saying is in the past even tho i have DAS … FP had more available rides and my DAS were few and far between believe it or not. With Genie it was not possible bc of limited availability and the fact return times were far out. DAS with long wait times means i say get a return time for a ride with 100 minute wait. Now what do i do? Cant use DAS and Genie was kinda pointless. So there were plenty of times we were just wandering waiting or sitting looking at clock to enter our next ride. Never had that issue w FP believe it or not. If that makes any sense.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yes i bought Genie+ and have DAS just did the same for my August trip….

What im saying is in the past even tho i have DAS … FP had more available rides and my DAS were few and far between believe it or not. With Genie it was not possible bc of limited availability and the fact return times were far out. DAS with long wait times means i say get a return time for a ride with 100 minute wait. Now what do i do? Cant use DAS and Genie was kinda pointless. So there were plenty of times we were just wandering waiting or sitting looking at clock to enter our next ride. Never had that issue w FP believe it or not. If that makes any sense.

Wait in a standby line in between rides.

 

[GhostHost1000]

All they did is moved the pre planning from 60 days (ridiculously early when most of the time park hours were not even set in Stone yet) to 7 am day of. Which is so much worse. Absolutely no expectations can be set based on the current model. It is just so freaking bad.

and you can’t plan anything ahead of time really. Park path upon entering, what you’ll be around meal times etc.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Wait in a standby line in between rides.

Typically the reason someone gets a DAS is they have a disability that impacts their ability to wait in standby lines.

 

[crazy4disney]

Wait in a standby line in between rides.

If i or my mom could tolerate long lines i wouldnt be using DAS now would i? Not many standby lines that were short in November. Trust me we took advantage of whatever there was but again. Few and far between.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Correct

The reason they went this route is because offsite guests didn’t get much remaining availability when it come to FP+ so they were not likely to pay extra for it therefore they evened the playing field by offering this paid service anyone can book the morning of now.

It’s more about money and the bottom line than an enjoyable time in the parks with less stress

The problem isn’t when people make their selections. It’s just not. Changing the time or doing it in advance isn’t going to make things better because it doesn’t address the actual issue. FastPass+ returning exactly as it was right now would also be a disaster.

 

[GhostHost1000]

The problem isn’t when people make their selections. It’s just not. Changing the time or doing it in advance isn’t going to make things better because it doesn’t address the actual issue. FastPass+ returning exactly as it was right now would also be a disaster.

No it wouldn’t. It worked better than this fiasco we have now does. Speaking from a very recent 10 day experience using it at all parks multiple times.

Being able to select times, modify times, and especially plan ahead was way better than the lotto game they have that begins at the 7am crap table (genie app) today

 

[crazy4disney]

No it wouldn’t. It worked better than this fiasco we have now does. Speaking from a very recent 10 day experience using it at all parks multiple times.

Being able to select times, modify times, and especially plan ahead was way better than the lotto game they have that begins at the 7am crap table (genie app) today

So i should limit any expectations for my trip that is 3 weeks away…

 

[lazyboy97o]

No it wouldn’t. It worked better than this fiasco we have now does. Speaking from a very recent 10 day experience using it at all parks multiple times.

Being able to select times, modify times, and especially plan ahead was way better than the lotto game they have that begins at the 7am crap table (genie app) today

Being able to make selections and change all requires capacity in the system and significant capacity outside the system. Those don’t exist. That’s the problem. FastPass+ offered today would suck because tall of those problems would still exist, it would just be weeks in advance.

 

[homerdance]

Being able to make selections and change all requires capacity in the system and significant capacity outside the system. Those don’t exist. That’s the problem. FastPass+ offered today would suck because tall of those problems would still exist, it would just be weeks in advance.

One thing (and I disliked it) FP+ did was tier the rides and all the rides were included, so all those ILL spots.

 

[GhostHost1000]

So i should limit any expectations for my trip that is 3 weeks away…

Yes. Crowds may be a little lower in 3 weeks with many kids back in school however

 

[GhostHost1000]

Being able to make selections and change all requires capacity in the system and significant capacity outside the system. Those don’t exist. That’s the problem. FastPass+ offered today would suck because tall of those problems would still exist, it would just be weeks in advance.

Agreed they have MAJOR capacity problems, but they’ve made it worse with genie+ removing some inventory for ILL and the mad dash at 7am