Lightning Lane Premier Pass

[JD80]

This would be worth it if you could use it more than once per ride. ONly once per ride per day? NOT worth it.

This is a product of convience not a value prop.

 

[Stevie Amsterdam]

And then you have three of the big first world problems:
1. Airfare
2. Language barriers (I heard this is not as big as a problem at Hong Kong & Paris, as opposed to Shanghai & Tokyo)
3. The visa issue (which of course is a problem with Shanghai and Hong Kong)

Dude what? The costs of airfare are not as substantial as you think they are, considering LL Premiere Pass can cost up to 450 dollars per person.

The language barrier is just your assumption based on your anxiety. I have experienced no language barriers in any park and I'm not even a native English speaker.

US citizens don't need a visa for Hong Kong. Why do you say this?

Also, you're on a message board for one of the most expensive holiday destinations on the planet. Don't lecture me on first world problems mate. And get your facts straight.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But it does impact people. Capacity is (basically) fixed on every attraction. To give a seat to a LLPP user, it must either be taken away from a LLMP user (by making less slots available), or a standby user (by pushing the wait time higher). I personally think there will be few enough of these sold that it won't really be noticeable, but the capacity has to come from somewhere.

And some of that capacity came from the changes to DAS. Not interested in rehashing all the ins and outs of that - but they couldn't sell this with how LL was with the prior version of DAS. Changing DAS opened LL capacity, which is helping to open capacity for this.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Uni yesterday - "our brand new theme park opens in May!"

Disney today - "here's a new way to give us money if you want a guaranteed ride on Peter Pan"

 

[Purduevian]

And some of that capacity came from the changes to DAS. Not interested in rehashing all the ins and outs of that - but they couldn't sell this with how LL was with the prior version of DAS. Changing DAS opened LL capacity, which is helping to open capacity for this.

100% agree, I guess I'm comparing this to the post DAS change world that we are living in for the next 16 days.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

View attachment 820865
Price Comparison.

I expanded it based on my post of all the pricing sans Special events.

Notes
Overall
ALL Pricing has the 6.5% Sales Tax.

SeaWorld:
Nothing

Aquatica: Pricing isn't fully accurate as I can't get the highest pricing as it's not available.

Universal Orlando Resort:
Volcano Bay Pricing is extrapolated for the Higher end as I can't get the highest pricing outside of the Max from the Universal Website.
Hagrid's Magical Motorbike Adventure is NOT Included in the Express Pass Program.
Hotel Pricing has 6% Lodging/Occupancy Tax factored in with the Sales Tax and for 3 and 4 Adult pricing includes $55 per extra adult in the room
Due to it being on a sperate contract, the Universal Grand Helios Hotel will not have express pass and Loews Royal Pacific, Hard Rock and Portofino Bay will not have express at Epic Universe.

Disney:
Lighting Lane Premiere Pass Includes Memory Maker (Photo Pass and Attractions Photo/Video)

This Pricing is extrapolated when not included with single day Memory Maker that retails at $75 per day.

 

[Nottamus]

I am “$600.00 personal cabana tent at a park” old….

Also “direct buses from park to park” skipping entrance old——

So maybe - just maybe - this doesn’t work.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I am fascinated by the spend more in order to be eligible to spend more mentality they have. All you at the all star resorts must wait in the normal line, you don’t get the opportunity to give us an extra $350

Be quiet, walking money-spewing meat sack, and just hand over your credit card to Bob and Josh.

Willing to bet this pulls more from MP/SP pool than VIP pool by a decent margin.

I'd say a huge margin, personally.

My $.05 prediction? This gets expanded to include Moderate resorts as a "perk" in the not-too-distant future after it's officially released to Deluxe/DVC/the Crescent Lake trio resorts.

 

[mysto]

I don't think they can replace LLMP/LLSP with this because it's unscheduled. They would run the risk of a 2 hour LL line for 7DMT at noon on Saturday.

My only real issue is that I am not guaranteed to be able to buy it. If I'm planning on using this I need to book my entire trip fully refundable and be prepared to cancel it all at 7 days if LLPP is sold out.

I think it's too late to cancel a Disney room without penalty at 7 days which is intentional on their part. Google says 8 days for free cancellation depending on booking type, definitely intentional.

 

[nickys]

But it does impact people. Capacity is (basically) fixed on every attraction. To give a seat to a LLPP user, it must either be taken away from a LLMP user (by making less slots available), or a standby user (by pushing the wait time higher). I personally think there will be few enough of these sold that it won't really be noticeable, but the capacity has to come from somewhere.

I agree about it having a negligible impact atm.

But as to capacity, presumably the LLPP user is now no longer using LLMP, and therefore there would be no effect on capacity.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Dude what? The costs of airfare are not as substantial as you think they are, considering LL Premiere Pass can cost up to 450 dollars per person.

The language barrier is just your assumption based on your anxiety. I have experienced no language barriers in any park and I'm not even a native English speaker.

US citizens don't need a visa for Hong Kong. Why do you say this?

Also, you're on a message board for one of the most expensive holiday destinations on the planet. Don't lecture me on first world problems mate. And get your facts straight.

Thank you for this. I saw that original post and just shook my head... And I've only been to Paris once (but have rough, tentative plans to visit again in 3 years, plus Tokyo the year after that).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I won’t go on and on…but know this: this is shoving more people into capacity they don’t have…and the attendance decline will continue and accelerate

Such bad management. They are destroying the Walt Disney company.

 

[nickys]

I don't think they can replace LLMP/LLSP with this because it's unscheduled. They would run the risk of a 2 hour LL line for 7DMT at noon on Saturday.

My only real issue is that I am not guaranteed to be able to buy it. If I'm planning on using this I need to book my entire trip fully refundable and be prepared to cancel it all at 7 days if LLPP is sold out.

I think it's too late to cancel a Disney room without penalty at 7 days which is intentional on their part. Google says 8 days for free cancellation depending on booking type, definitely intentional.

I doubt this will sell out! They’ll just crease the number available to meet demand, that’s the whole point of pricing it so high.

 

[Stevie Amsterdam]

Thank you for this. I saw that original post and just shook my head... And I've only been to Paris once (but have rough, tentative plans to visit again in 3 years, plus Tokyo the year after that).

You'll have a blast in each of the non-US parks. Make sure to visit Paris after the redo of Disney Adventure World has been completed (seeing that you aim for 3 years from now, that was probably already your idea).

Personally I can't wait to go to Tokyo again, but I'm holding back for when their new Space Mountain opens.

 

[Andrew C]

I would be completely fine with this if...
-It was available between parks.
-There was an unlimited option.
-The current lightning lane multi pass system went away completely.

This would simplify the park experience for most people and help with standby lines (some may get a bit longer but at least they will move).

Ultimately, I am looking for a better park experience because the current one is lacking, and this doesn't deliver for most guests. But this isn't what Disney is trying to do with this program...that's not the goal.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Seriously, why are they continuing to cater ONLY to the super rich? They continue to fall on their face.

Because this management no longer believes the formula that made Disney parks the most successful amusement enterprises in history have to be adhered to…
…they’ve made their money off the middle. That’s not a theory…it’s a fact

 

[Dranth]

Disney self generates the market for LL’s by manipulating their wait times (not just through the app but also by not having rides at full efficiency).

He can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Len has pointed out they don't do this any more than they traditional have.

he other is that Uni actually caters to paying deluxe guests with an unlimited express pass.

Something they wish they didn't do anymore and only exists because they made a short sighted agreement with the third party that runs their hotels. There is a reason they have opened more Deluxe level hotels since and none of them have included EP.

Their model is so obviously profit driven (and they have every capitalistic right to) that it makes me feel I’m getting fleeced as I enjoy every damn Plaza sundae and Mickey waffle my stomach can handle.

A lot of people feel this way (myself included many times), and it doesn't feel good, but this particular addition should have little impact. There seems to be three main outcomes:

1. It sells like crazy so they up the limit and it impacts the lines for everyone else. I don't think this one will happen but if it did, was Disney wrong for offering it? Obviously, there is strong demand in that scenario.
2. It is used by a small group that has little or minor impact on operations overall. In this case it is just an option for those that want it. No real downside.
3. It is a trial to replace the whole system with this. A lot of people want that, and I am sure Disney is aware of all the complaining about how complicated everything is. If they go that route, it will give a real benefit to those who buy it while everyone else will get something pretty close to the old all standby days. Nice and straight forward.

 

[Purduevian]

I agree about it having a negligible impact atm.

But as to capacity, presumably the LLPP user is now no longer using LLMP, and therefore there would be no effect on capacity.

Except presumably the LLPP user is using more LL lines than they would have as a LLMP user. So they are taking up more ride capacity than before.

 

[JAB]

But it does impact people. Capacity is (basically) fixed on every attraction. To give a seat to a LLPP user, it must either be taken away from a LLMP user (by making less slots available), or a standby user (by pushing the wait time higher). I personally think there will be few enough of these sold that it won't really be noticeable, but the capacity has to come from somewhere.

This ignores that most (if not all) of those willing to pay for Premier Pass would have likely purchased LL-MP & LL-SP anyway, so their net effect on LL capacity would be zero.

 

[Andrew25]

They might be holding off on a multi-park same day option as you could easily reduce the number of park days and subsidize a potential pass?

Let's say you purchase a 4-5 day ticket today. You could reduce your trip to a 3-4 day trip (therefore reduce hotel spending & in park spending) and then spend the difference on a multi-park lightning lane pass (split DHS/DAK into a one day, etc.)