Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[SingleRider]

Anyone want to take a guess on the price for Genie+ tomorrow at MK with Tiana opening?

 

[C33Mom]

Anyone want to take a guess on the price for Genie+ tomorrow at MK with Tiana opening?

I’ll play— it’s $29 today so I’m going to guess $36 tomorrow. I think they want to sell out but at a high enough price that it doesn’t go immediately.

 

[Splash4eva]

Can we please just have the system that universal has lol.

They do. The plaids are all over the parks each and every day

 

[C33Mom]

They do. The plaids are all over the parks each and every day

I don’t think that anybody who has experienced both top tier systems would describe them as the same or even very close. Their main similarities are less time in queues without pre-booking (for a lot more money than Genie+) but there are major differences (pros and cons) to each. We don’t visit Uni much but my understanding is that in addition to offering far more flexibility and privacy, their ultimate line skipping passes don’t sell out as often as VIP tours do.

 

[Tha Realest]

If the resorts were ever half empty, WDW would be auctioned off.

Hey @PREMiERdrum how close are we to testing this hypothesis

 

[Tha Realest]

I'll trade your health care system for being able to prebook a week out.

Canadians can pre-book their vital surgeries 16 months out - and not a day earlier.

 

[Splash4eva]

I don’t think that anybody who has experienced both top tier systems would describe them as the same or even very close. Their main similarities are less time in queues without pre-booking (for a lot more money than Genie+) but there are major differences (pros and cons) to each. We don’t visit Uni much but my understanding is that in addition to offering far more flexibility and privacy, their ultimate line skipping passes don’t sell out as often as VIP tours do.

They are ultimately the same. You can ride any attraction you want any time you want at a steep price. If you can max out the amount of people disney allows vs the price uni charges they are comparable

 

[GoofGoof]

Hey @PREMiERdrum how close are we to testing this hypothesis

Last 10Q they reported 90% domestic room occupancy. Now that includes DLR and DVC resorts so the cash hotel rooms at WDW should be somewhat lower but I doubt it approaches anywhere close to 50%.

 

[Dranth]

Canadians can pre-book their vital surgeries 16 months out - and not a day earlier.

The less than accurate depiction of the Canadian heath-care system aside, I wasn’t responding to a Canadian.

At least according to their profile.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Hey @PREMiERdrum how close are we to testing this hypothesis

Anything less than 90% and their model is off balance.

We're in the low 80s, even when adjusted for thousands of rooms being removed from inventory.

Not great, Bob.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Anything less than 90% and their model is off balance.

We're in the low 80s, even when adjusted for thousands of rooms being removed from inventory.

Not great, Bob.

These numbers get staggering quickly… if we assume 80% of total inventory using very basic guesstimates we get…

Value resorts, 10300 total rooms, 20% vacancy is 2060 rooms, at $200 a night = $412,000

Moderate resorts, 7000 total rooms, 20% vacancy is 1400 rooms, at $300 a night = $420,000

Deluxe resorts, 5000 total rooms, 20% vacancy is 1000 rooms, at $500 a night is $500,000

Losing $1.5 million a day from hotel rates alone is huge but even at 3 people per room those roughly 5000 empty rooms becomes 15000 lost ticket sales, food sales, drink sales, souvenir sales, etc a day, at $200 per person that’s another $3 million a day…

$5 million a day in overall loses, or $1.7 billion a year.

 

[SingleRider]

Wow. I thought it would be into the $30 range since Tiana’s is opening today.

 

[nickys]

For sure. It makes that benefit of staying at a Disney resort moot for international guests.

There’s no benefit at all.
Anyone with a ticket /AP can start 3 days before.
The only people with less advantage are guests who buy tickets on the day.

 

[nickys]

I'll trade your health care system for being able to prebook a week out.

You are kidding right? Waiting lists over 3 years, waiting to have urgent cancer diagnostic tests over 3 months, can’t make an appointment with a doctor without an 8am scramble every day - like a VQ.

 

[James J]

You are kidding right? Waiting lists over 3 years, waiting to have urgent cancer diagnostic tests over 3 months, can’t make an appointment with a doctor without an 8am scramble every day - like a VQ.

I don't know, I think I'd still stick with our NHS after my wife had a two night hospital stay in Orlando on our honeymoon. She came out with a $46,000 bill...

 

[Splash4eva]

These numbers get staggering quickly… if we assume 80% of total inventory using very basic guesstimates we get…

Value resorts, 10300 total rooms, 20% vacancy is 2060 rooms, at $200 a night = $412,000

Moderate resorts, 7000 total rooms, 20% vacancy is 1400 rooms, at $300 a night = $420,000

Deluxe resorts, 5000 total rooms, 20% vacancy is 1000 rooms, at $500 a night is $500,000

Losing $1.5 million a day from hotel rates alone is huge but even at 3 people per room those roughly 5000 empty rooms becomes 15000 lost ticket sales, food sales, drink sales, souvenir sales, etc a day, at $200 per person that’s another $3 million a day…

$5 million a day in overall loses, or $1.7 billion a year.

In a way with their park capacity issues this is a blessing in disguise

 

[bwr827]

I guess it depends on your vacation style.
To me Epic is a 4 day park on its own to really enjoy all it has to offer.

The park commandos who power through the rides and don't take time to enjoy the atmosphere wouldn't spend more than a week at WDW either.

We’re thinking 3 days for Epic in early 2026, especially with expectations of high crowd levels. Definitely want to have a chance to take our time experiencing the atmosphere.

 

[Cariad]

I sent an email to customer services about the international thing, and the reply came back:

"While we appreciate your concern, Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass features will be available to Guests from other countries, they will be able to begin their pre-arrival planning on the My Disney Experience Mobile App after they reach the United States"

Great. They expect international visitors to do their pre-arrival planning AFTER they have arrived. I'm going to order a TARDIS...

What difference does it actually make as to whether we are physically in the US or not? Another head scratcher from Disney who just seem to want to make everything more complicated than it should be.

 

[bwr827]

What difference does it actually make as to whether we are physically in the US or not? Another head scratcher from Disney who just seem to want to make everything more complicated than it should be.

I’m awaiting reports of VPN success/failure in the last week of July.

If necessary, I’m driving across the border at my 7-day mark in late November. Ridiculous.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I’m awaiting reports of VPN success/failure in the last week of July.

If necessary, I’m driving across the border at my 7-day mark in late November. Ridiculous.

You’ll enjoy that fresh, American air.