Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Doberge]

We had some pretty terrible LL waits recently, including 25 minutes at Big Thunder and 28 minutes at Jingle Cruise. Those both seemed worse than what I've been used to.

 

[Jrb1979]

Doesnt matter...my post was already removed!

We don't know how much is changing. My guess is you will get to book your first one each day in advance.

As far as Genie+ goes, first the price never bothered me as I'm used to paying for things like it. Second other than the 7am thing, Genie+ was a step in the right direction in getting rid of the amount of planning needed.

 

[Dranth]

I hate the advanced booking component and I hate the 7 AM fastest finger component. The best version of this system was Max Pass which required you to check in at the park before you could make a reservation. I don't understand why this is so hard for them to figure out.

If they insist on an advanced booking, it shouldn't be more than a single attraction and that single attraction shouldn't effect your day of actions. I would accept one advanced booking (say 2 weeks out, or 2 weeks out + 9 for resort guests) and then your day of bookings begin when you enter the park.

Having to check into the parks ruins it for people who don't get there early at WDW. Letting me stack and push till later in the day means I trade more choices for specific times. Seems like a fair trade to me. Besides, what is the point of having a giant resort like WDW if you are going to punish anyone who takes advantage of the non-park aspects?

All that aside, none of the WDW parks have enough ride capacity to pull off a Max Pass system.

 

[Jrb1979]

Having to check into the parks ruins it for people who don't get there early at WDW. Letting me stack and push till later in the day means I trade more choices for specific times. Seems like a fair trade to me. Besides, what is the point of having a giant resort like WDW if you are going to punish anyone who takes advantage of the non-park aspects?

All that aside, none of the WDW parks have enough ride capacity to pull off a Max Pass system.

That's not exactly true. If they limited like Universal does they could do it.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Maybe go back to the same system Fastpass+ and add ILL and charge for it

Nope…can’t do it.

They can't. They don't have enough capacity to do that. It's why FP+ went away. IMO they are only bringing pre booking back cause guests like their spreadsheet plans.

Yep…that’s why they can’t do it

And I agree about the spreadsheets…

 

[Dranth]

That's not exactly true. If they limited like Universal does they could do it.

They have an Express Pass like system for those with the money. They offer G+ for those who can't or don't want to spend that much but still don't want to sit in every line.

 

[Jrb1979]

Nope…can’t do it.

Yep…that’s why they can’t do it

And I agree about the spreadsheets…

When I first started going to Disney, the level of planning involved was similar to what Universal is now.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's not exactly true. If they limited like Universal does they could do it.

The expectations are different at a Disney park. Based on their history and marketing.

“Have nots” would do an incredible amount of damage to their draw

They’re trying to “thread the needle”…and it may not be possible

 

[Jrb1979]

The expectations are different at a Disney park. Based on their history and marketing.

“Have nots” would do an incredible amount of damage to their draw

They’re trying to “thread the needle”…and it may not be possible

It's not possible. It's why they run out most days. It's also why some attractions have LL when it's not needed. Mickey's Philharmonic, Meet and Greets.

 

[JD80]

I don't think I've seen anyone say they prefer G+ to FP+. I was probably one of the closest ones that said other than the price, G+ isn't that much worse than FP+ to me. I'll standby FP+>Genie+>Legacy FP>Nothing.

I don't like paying for it, but if we're basing this on what gets me on more rides, G+ is superior imo.

I went down last December and I bought my package when I could pre buy at $15. I'm going down in a few weeks and I don't plan on buying it any day except maybe my MK day. And it's still a maybe

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

We had some pretty terrible LL waits recently, including 25 minutes at Big Thunder and 28 minutes at Jingle Cruise. Those both seemed worse than what I've been used to.

I feel like at Jungle Cruise they’ve got a separate DAS line that gets priority over even the lightning lane? At least I’ve seen a lot of people come through what appears to be a third line, not sure what it is. Doesn’t appear to be VIP tours, so it’s not some kind of DAS, then I don’t know. I’ve seen it stop the lightning lane dead though

 

[Doberge]

I feel like at Jungle Cruise they’ve got a separate DAS line that gets priority over even the lightning lane? At least I’ve seen a lot of people come through what appears to be a third line, not sure what it is. Doesn’t appear to be VIP tours, so it’s not some kind of DAS, then I don’t know. I’ve seen it stop the lightning lane dead though

There's a disability line for wheelchairs / ECVs that need to wheel straight on to the boat. Only some boats are equipped so there's a separate line for those.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Maybe go back to the same system Fastpass+ and add ILL and charge for it

Fastpass+ and Genie+ needed to add value by adding Fastpass/Lightning Lane where it didn't belong. Pre-booking 3 reservations per park isn't viable until they literally add 5 D or E tickets to each of the non-Magic Kingdom parks.

They've killed goodwill. They've confused guests. They've exhausted billions making a system that destroys guest satisfaction.

 

[Splash4eva]

That 7am thing really stinks for a lot of people and they mentioned they were going to do something about it. My preference is the one week out, first selection only route so that it works basically the same as now but you can wake up when you want.

Down here now. Just got in from the Christmas party & dreading having to wake up this early to book Genie especially considering i been up since 4am for my 7am flight here but hey. This is what vacations are about lol .

 

[Crunchie9]

Looks like another $35 sell out day eh. All week? Does it breech on the weekend?

 

[Splash4eva]

Looks like another $35 sell out day eh. All week? Does it breech on the weekend?

Im preparing for a $39 day before i head home

 

[nickys]

Maybe go back to the same system Fastpass+ and add ILL and charge for it

They can't. They don't have enough capacity to do that. It's why FP+ went away. IMO they are only bringing pre booking back cause guests like their spreadsheet plans.

Nope…can’t do it.

Yep…that’s why they can’t do it

And I agree about the spreadsheets…

Can’t is such a strong word.

The only information we seem to have suggests otherwise.

Edited to clarify: I’m referring to a paid-for FP+ model with ILLs on top.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Still same prices today after two sell outs of MK at $35

 

[Dranth]

Can’t is such a strong word.

The only information we seem to have suggests otherwise.

It's certainly not impossible, but it would be borderline corporate malfeasance. The howling from Wall Street, if they shut off such a successful revenue stream, would be deafening.

 

[nickys]

It's certainly not impossible, but it would be borderline corporate malfeasance. The howling from Wall Street, if they shut off such a successful revenue stream, would be deafening.

To be clear, the FP+ model includes charging for it. With ILLs on top just like now.