Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[GhostHost1000]

Haven't kept up with this thread in about 50 pages or so, so excuse me if this has been covered before (and also remove this post if outside links aren't allowed), but does this rumor have any value to it? I personally like the idea, and hope it ends up coming to fruition.

RUMOR: Walt Disney World to Debut Universal Express-Style Skip-the-Line Offering

A new rumor that Walt Disney World will roll out its own Universal Express-style skip-the-line system called Lightning Lane Premier Pass

blogmickey.com

just another way it'll continually become more difficult for the middle class to enjoy disney world the way they once did and many will probably stop going if they haven't already

 

[Purduevian]

Haven't kept up with this thread in about 50 pages or so, so excuse me if this has been covered before (and also remove this post if outside links aren't allowed), but does this rumor have any value to it? I personally like the idea, and hope it ends up coming to fruition.

RUMOR: Walt Disney World to Debut Universal Express-Style Skip-the-Line Offering

A new rumor that Walt Disney World will roll out its own Universal Express-style skip-the-line system called Lightning Lane Premier Pass

blogmickey.com

I talked about it a little bit for DLR here:

Similar name to the DLP system https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-usd/attractions/disney-premier-access/

TLDR: Premier Access 1 is basically like LLSP except on a bunch of attractions. I think you can book a new one once you use one (each one is a separate cost)

Premier Access ultimate is basically like Universal express pass single use. Use it at all attractions once at any time.

My guess is they are going to sell the Premier access ultimate style at DLR (walk up any time for all LLs attractions, but only once). I'm thinking price will be ~125% the single day ticket for that day.

This is the first time I've heard that it might be coming to WDW as well.

I would assume for WDW there will be 10 options:
LL premier access (each park priced differently+ 1 park hopper option). Skip all LLMP rides once per day at any time
LL premier plus (each park priced differently+ 1 park hopper option). Skip all LLMP and LLSP rides once per day at any time

 

[SoFloMagic]

I talked about it a little bit for DLR here:

This is the first time I've heard that it might be coming to WDW as well.

I would assume for WDW there will be 10 options:
LL premier access (each park priced differently+ 1 park hopper option). Skip all LLMP rides once per day at any time
LL premier plus (each park priced differently+ 1 park hopper option). Skip all LLMP and LLSP rides once per day at any time

Sounds good, but they should call it Fastpass and Fastpass+

 

[lentesta]

I talked about it a little bit for DLR here:

This is the first time I've heard that it might be coming to WDW as well.

I would assume for WDW there will be 10 options:
LL premier access (each park priced differently+ 1 park hopper option). Skip all LLMP rides once per day at any time
LL premier plus (each park priced differently+ 1 park hopper option). Skip all LLMP and LLSP rides once per day at any time

I've done a few VIP tours. It's possible for a group of adults to see 15 or 16 attractions across a couple of parks in the 7 hours of a standard tour.

A standard tour can accommodate 10 people. Let's say the hourly rate averages $700 excluding gratuity, so the whole tour costs $4900.

That's $490 per person for LL access to 15 or 16 rides.

A Premier Pass that costs less than $490 per person seems like it would cannibalize VIP tours.

What am I missing here?

 

[GhostHost1000]

Sounds good, but they should call it Fastpass and Fastpass+

don't be silly... it'll probably be called:
Fast Magic Express Lightning Multi-Single Quick Queue Lane Pass+

ya know... so it doesn't get too confusing with the other ridiculous names

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I've done a few VIP tours. It's possible for a group of adults to see 15 or 16 attractions across a couple of parks in the 7 hours of a standard tour.

I can do 15 or 16 attractions in 7 hours across a couple of parks with two preschoolers and Multi-Pass. Friggin rookies.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I've done a few VIP tours. It's possible for a group of adults to see 15 or 16 attractions across a couple of parks in the 7 hours of a standard tour.

A standard tour can accommodate 10 people. Let's say the hourly rate averages $700 excluding gratuity, so the whole tour costs $4900.

That's $490 per person for LL access to 15 or 16 rides.

A Premier Pass that costs less than $490 per person seems like it would cannibalize VIP tours.

What am I missing here?

that's a good point... unless they think they can just make more money this way?

 

[GoofGoof]

I've done a few VIP tours. It's possible for a group of adults to see 15 or 16 attractions across a couple of parks in the 7 hours of a standard tour.

A standard tour can accommodate 10 people. Let's say the hourly rate averages $700 excluding gratuity, so the whole tour costs $4900.

That's $490 per person for LL access to 15 or 16 rides.

A Premier Pass that costs less than $490 per person seems like it would cannibalize VIP tours.

What am I missing here?

This is spot on. I guess they’d save the cost of hiring a tour guide but most of their compensation is probably from tips.

If Disney was to consider a product like this they would likely need to price it very high anyway to keep it from over selling and becoming much less useful.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

that's a good point... unless they think they can just make more money this way?

Yeah that's the math.

There would be more people upgrading from Multi-Pass to this than there would be downgrading from VIP tour to this.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah that's the math.

There would be more people upgrading from Multi-Pass to this than there would be downgrading from VIP tour to this.

The issue is pricing it high enough to not “over sell” unless they do dynamic pricing or set a hard cap and just let it sell out a lot. With Universal and DLR something like this may work because of the guest mix. Many more locals who visit frequently and won’t pay for the service every time. With WDW the mix is different so more demand. If you pay a huge premium and the Lightning Lanes end up with long waits at certain attractions that would be a bad result.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yeah that's the math.

There would be more people upgrading from Multi-Pass to this than there would be downgrading from VIP tour to this.

You also don't have to pay a Plaid to escort the super-duper-whatever-pass group around the park. Fully loaded, that's probably pushing $30/hr or more. Not a huge thing in the context of a 10-person group, but still.

 

[IanDLBZF]

With Universal and DLR something like this may work because of the guest mix.

Both get out of state & international traffic FYI

 

[Purduevian]

I've done a few VIP tours. It's possible for a group of adults to see 15 or 16 attractions across a couple of parks in the 7 hours of a standard tour.

A standard tour can accommodate 10 people. Let's say the hourly rate averages $700 excluding gratuity, so the whole tour costs $4900.

That's $490 per person for LL access to 15 or 16 rides.

A Premier Pass that costs less than $490 per person seems like it would cannibalize VIP tours.

What am I missing here?

A VIP tour is still a valuable Luxury item and is more than just to pound rides. The VIP tour guide will literally guide you through the park (not as valuable to those on this forum, but many people go in basically blind), drive you park to park backstage, get your Starbucks, provide snacks, ect. Overall its kind of status symbol to have your private theme park butler.

From Disney's standpoint.

• VIP tours frequently sell out, so there is untapped potential for a premium experience.
• The math gets much worse if you don't have a group of 10, so smaller parties that wouldn't get VIP might bite on the premiere access.
• This is basically "free" for them. The physical infrastructure doesn't change, and I don't think the digital end would be super complex.

I'm sure if it does significantly start eating into VIP profits they would stop/adjust it, but even Universal has found 4 levels of skip the line.

• Express
• Express unlimited
• Non-private VIP tour
• Private VIP tour

I'm sure Disney parks could handle 4 as well:

• LLMP
• LLMP and LLSP
• LL Premiere access (I'm coining LLPA right now)
• VIP tour

 

[Doberge]

If it's a product that fills a gap and volume more than makes up the difference then it's worth cannibalizing some VIP tours. There are still benefits like an actual tour guide and transportation. And Disney can still shape VIP tours to differentiate the product more with new or exclusive offerings/benefits. Maybe it's allowing multiple rides on new attractions currently limited to one ride, pausing the clock for up to X minutes for certain things that are wasted times now like ride evacuation, meals, etc., or even, God forbid, increasing the tour length by one hour to lower the cost per hour to make the upsell a smaller jump. I don't think they'd do any of that, but they could if VIP sales fell off the cliff.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

just another way it'll continually become more difficult for the middle class to enjoy disney world the way they once did and many will probably stop going if they haven't already

Ever look at Universal's pricing...

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

I am wondering if it can only be added with your package, for all days. Like if you have 5 days of park tickets, you have to add it for all 5 days at the premium price. Sort of like the dining plan. All or nothing.

 

[GoofGoof]

Both get out of state & international traffic FYI

Sure they do, but the percent of local visitors is much higher than WDW.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Skip the lines should always be in the $90-$120 range to me. There’s a reason Universal’s Express system doesn’t irritate people the way LLSP and LLMP does.

It’s more expensive but it has true promised value. You WILL get on that ride, it’s not an if. You will also get on it whenever you want to. If you buy Unlimited, as many times as you want to, But the price point also means less people are using it vs. almost everyone trying to use LLMP and SP.

Skip the line passes should not be something obtainable by everyone in the park. That defeats the whole purpose of skip the line. Every other theme park in the world has it priced accordingly and has a small pool of people using it and it works perfectly. There is no reason Disney shouldn’t and can’t do the same other than they won’t because of money.

I know its a controversial stance but yeah skipping the line ought to be expensive. Price out all but those really willing to pay for it.

Because guess what happens then? Small lines in the fastpass queue and quicker moving standby. If they’re bringing that to WDW, then good.

Unfortunately, it will probably be in tandem with LL as it is currently which will once more defeat the purpose and create the same cluster of issues. Just drop LL and implement that higher priced true skip the line.

 

[IanDLBZF]

Skip the lines should always be in the $90-$120 range to me. There’s a reason Universal’s Express system doesn’t irritate people the way LLSP and LLMP does.

It’s more expensive but it has true promised value. You WILL get on that ride, it’s not an if. You will also get on it whenever you want to. If you buy Unlimited, as many times as you want to, But the price point also means less people are using it vs. almost everyone trying to use LLMP and SP.

Skip the line passes should not be something obtainable by everyone in the park. That defeats the whole purpose of skip the line. Every other theme park in the world has it priced accordingly and has a small pool of people using it and it works perfectly. There is no reason Disney shouldn’t and can’t do the same other than they won’t because of money.

I know its a controversial stance but yeah skipping the line ought to be expensive. Price out all but those really willing to pay for it.

Because guess what happens then? Small lines in the fastpass queue and quicker moving standby.

However, I feel that higher tier APs should have this available as a benefit, and at no extra cost.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

However, I feel that higher tier APs should have this available as a benefit, and at no extra cost.

I would be on board with that! They might have to put some sort of control on it like you can do it once per ride per visit instead of unlimited (I think that’s how most parks who allow a pass to act as a skip the line do it) but as an AP, that would still be a sweet deal imo