Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[JIMMYEDDIE]

It's not that I loved it

I can definitely see that you loved this system and I'm sorry it changed on you.

That said, the way you describe it, it basically sounds like Universal's Express Pass, except for $30. There's just no way.

I think if you have a lot of factors in your favor, it probably worked pretty well for some people. Those being:

- Traveling solo or in a small group

- Visiting the parks during off seasons and off hours

- Able to wait around for drops or refresh, on the chance something comes up

- Almost total flexibility in what you ride next, i.e., a headliner opens, you go for it

Contrast that to the experience of many families, who are:

- Traveling in large multigenerational groups

- Visit during peak travel times

- Can only visit the parks for a few hours a day

- Are on a set schedule and can't wait around with the hope that something might open up

- Have very specific rides that they promise their children based on favorite movies, favorite rides, it's Little Billy's turn to pick because his sister picked the last ride, etc.

For us Genie+ was basically worth 2 rides, 3 at most, with the third usually being a throw-away that was a 20 minute wait even during peak spring break seas

It's not that I loved it (but yes I did love it).

It's that they changed to a vastly inferior system that hurts pretty much all of their guests.

 

[Saskdw]

I want to compare this logic and reasoning to those who would say i wanna buy the dining plan even if its more expensive so i dont have to worry when i go on vacation. People would rather 3 lesser rides and a worse system than what we had…. Dammmm Disney must love these customers they have lining up

Never paid for the dining plan. Did like "Free Dining" though, When it was the full dining plan not the QS chicken finger plan.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

It's not that I loved it


It's not that I loved it (but yes I did love it).

It's that they changed to a vastly inferior system that hurts pretty much all of their guests.

So you think it makes more sense that they would have blindly changed to a system that is to the detriment of “pretty much all their guests”, rather than this new system being more beneficial for a segment of guests they are most concerned about spending more/being happier?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Agree. But high guest satisfaction = more
Money.

It should work that way. I very much want to believe that.

Getting rid of Magical Express was about money (in this case, saving Disney costs) and that was absolutely against guest satisfaction.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not one person has said anything that proves the new system is better than what they should have done.

The answer of "sacrificing common sense for a false sense of comfort" is flat out ridiculous

Nobody ever asked which system is “better”

Starting with Disney. I think that’s why you’re getting all twisted in knots.

The goal is not…really never was…to get most people on the largest amount of rides.

It started closer to that end of the spectrum…now they’d laugh privately at the suggestion

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Agree. But high guest satisfaction = more
Money.

That’s a very idealistic view
…but not really accurate depiction of 2024

It should be that way. But the master gets served first

 

[Purduevian]

yes, its terrible

Can you provide your day of experience? We haven't had many reports, but what day did you use it and what attractions did you end up with?

to try and sell hotel rooms but it will 100% backfire because it actually PENALIZES resort guests who dont rope drop, which is 90% of resort guests.......

you will see...this wont last 3 months

Are we allowed to make financial bets on this forum? If so, I would like to bet you a $50 donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of central Florida (https://www.feedhopenow.org/site/SPageServer/) that the following will be in place on 10/31/2024 regarding LLMP.

1. Pre-booking will still be 7 days for resort guests and 3 days for offsite guests
2. 3 prebooks allowed with tiers remaining in all but AK (rides in the tiers might change, but there will still be tiers)

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

Can you provide your day of experience? We haven't had many reports, but what day did you use it and what attractions did you end up with?

Are we allowed to make financial bets on this forum? If so, I would like to bet you a $50 donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of central Florida (https://www.feedhopenow.org/site/SPageServer/) that the following will be in place on 10/31/2024 regarding LLMP.

1. Pre-booking will still be 7 days for resort guests and 3 days for offsite guests
2. 3 prebooks allowed with tiers remaining in all but AK (rides in the tiers might change, but there will still be tiers)

The biggest change I think we will see in the foreseeable future is the addition of the missing meet and greets. And maybe fireworks/parade viewing options like FP+ had if they’re really freaking out about capacity and availability over there.

In my own personal Fantasyland, they get rid of single pass and put everything under one system.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It's not that I loved it


It's not that I loved it (but yes I did love it).

It's that they changed to a vastly inferior system that hurts pretty much all of their guests.

If it truly hurts almost all of their guests, it will no doubt change back quickly. Disney execs can be bean counters, but they're not masochists. If it costs pretty much the same, that's a no-brainer - it will default to what guests prefer.

I think you're assuming that your experience is representative of all guests though. For families with children in particular, the ability to plan ahead can be quite important.

Don't get me wrong, there are benefits to spontaneity as well, but Genie+ didn't really offer those benefits to our group. If someone was headed for a Stage 5 meltdown unless they could ride Barnstormer right now, it was pretty much never available at that moment. If someone had been steeling up their courage all day and decided they could ride Big Thunder right now, (but the moment would pass in like, 10 minutes,) it was pretty much never available.

On the other hand, preplanning would at least guarantee that we can plan around meals (many parents plan around naps, although the children in my family never sleep,) combine rope drop with a LL pick without risking that the ride we need won't be available later, and so on.

 

[Disstevefan1]

In my own personal Fantasyland, they get rid of single pass and put everything under one system.

Here’s mine:
For free the app will tell you the shortest standby times at that moment.
Bring back FastPass+ with its same rules, Flat fee $10
Open ALL standby lines.
Offer LL single pass for a wider selection of attractions, limited the number of passes per day, flat fee $10 each
No virtual queues.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Here’s mine:
For free the app will tell you the shortest standby times at that moment.
Bring back FastPass+ with its same rules, Flat fee $10
Open ALL standby lines.
Offer LL single pass for a wider selection of attractions, limited the number of passes per day, flat fee $10 each
No virtual queues.

Mine is get rid of LLMP and expand LLSP a bit - maybe 10-12 rides across all 4 parks

Omnimover and other high capacity rides really don't need a LL. Let those lines just continuously move

And then people can pick and choice what LLSP are worth it to them to skip the longer, slower moving lines

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

Here’s mine:
For free the app will tell you the shortest standby times at that moment.
Bring back FastPass+ with its same rules, Flat fee $10
Open ALL standby lines.
Offer LL single pass for a wider selection of attractions, limited the number of passes per day, flat fee $10 each
No virtual queues.

That puts the Fantasy in Fantasyland . I like yours way better, can we blackmail someone at Disney to find a way to make it happen? They won’t even let you on a 10 year old rollercoaster one time for $10 today.

 

[LSLS]

Agree. But high guest satisfaction = more
Money.

Which is exactly why Genie is gone.

 

[Omnom]

I wish they had just kept Genie+ as is but made it free for resort guests. Added perk for staying onsite but doesn't penalize booking for everyone else.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

There's always standby.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I wish they had just kept Genie+ as is but made it free for resort guests. Added perk for staying onsite but doesn't penalize booking for everyone else.

…ummmm…no. Not gonna happen

 

[Purduevian]

Noonish check on 7/31 (first day people were able to book 7 days in advance!)

Ride	Normal return time	Best return time within the 5 refreshes
Big Thunder	Sold out
Buzz	4:35pm
HM	8:25pm
Jungle Cruise	Sold out
Pooh	8:35pm
Pirates	5:20pm	1:55pm
SM	6:20pm	5:30pm
Tiana	Sold out
Frozen	Sold out
MS	8:30pm
Remy	Sold out
MMRR	3:45pm
MFSR	2:45pm
RnRC	7:00pm	4:30pm
SDD	Sold out
TSMM	Sold out	2:40pm
ToT	Sold out	8:15pm
EE	1:40pm
Kali	4:50pm
Navi	4:55pm

3pm check for 7/31

Ride	Normal return time	Best return time within the 5 refreshes
Big Thunder	Sold out	4:50pm
Buzz	6:00pm	3:20pm
HM	Sold out	3:35pm
Jungle Cruise	Sold out
Pooh	Sold out
Pirates	8:20pm	3:30pm
SM	Sold out
Tiana	Sold out
Frozen	Sold out
MS	Sold out
Remy	Sold out
MMRR	6:30pm
MFSR	5:35pm
RnRC	Sold out	4:45pm
SDD	Sold out
TSMM	Sold out
ToT	Sold out
Kali	Sold out
Navi	Sold out	5:20pm

MK: Good options on refresh.
EPCOT: Hope you already got Frozen/Remy/MS (MS and 1 other should have been one of your prebooks)
DHS: Not bad considering ToT and TSMM could have been prebooked. Only SDD didn't appear
AK: Surprised Navi popped up, but everything but these 2 are readily available, so book these 2 first

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Mine is get rid of LLMP and expand LLSP a bit - maybe 10-12 rides across all 4 parks

Omnimover and other high capacity rides really don't need a LL. Let those lines just continuously move

And then people can pick and choice what LLSP are worth it to them to skip the longer, slower moving lines

Just so I have this right…you want more pay as you go only rides that you need a $150 gateway ticket that allows you to buy them?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree, it is worse. It is the worst system they have ever had for the way I like to vacation, but it is what they are offering currently. All of us can either make the best of it and use it, go and don't use it, or not go at all. Personally, I will go and try it and if it is great, wonderful, if not I will be politely letting them know how much worse it is and I hope everyone else who feels the same does as well. That is how things change.

As for changes, I doubt they will make too many outward changes by November as I am sure they want a good chunk of data to pore over before doing anything on that front. I do think we will see them play with overall capacity, when it is released, how much is reserved for day of, etc. Mainly backend updates.

Buying it is approval for the next move.

The consumer culture - particularly in Orlando - became self destructive quite a while ago

 

[Disstevefan1]

Buying it is approval for the next move.

Disney may see it as approval. But on my last visit, I held my nose and purchased it as it was better than nothing.

Disney talks about how the vast majority of guests approve of the system and purchase it.

I suspect many are holding their noses and purchasing it as its better than nothing.