Lightning Lane Premier Pass

[HauntedPirate]

Now LLPP is available to everyone, just like LLMP and LLSP (the latter will never go away without a complete corporate lobotomy)?

That won't be a concern when they ultimately replace LLMP with LLPP.

 

[bpiper]

I'm wondering if they're not meeting their quota of gullible Disney hotel staying guests purchasing this and have opened it up to non-disney hotels to fill the gap of gullible people.

 

[JD80]

Is it really a "pilot" anymore when it's now been expanded twice?

Sure, but not from our point of view. They can be piloting availability levels and by calling it a pilot may choose to restrict it again.

 

[Jrb1979]

Sure, but not from our point of view. They can be piloting availability levels and by calling it a pilot may choose to restrict it again.

I'm curious as to the end game in this. My concern is they are heading back to the same issue they had with the amount of DAS users in the LL queues. Instead it's filled with paying guests.

 

[JD80]

I'm curious as to the end game in this. My concern is they are heading back to the same issue they had with the amount of DAS users in the LL queues. Instead it's filled with paying guests.

End game is to maximize LLPP purchases that don't impact LLMP purchases.

Then once that is known (which may already be known) they can then figure out how to maximize cost of both products to maximize revenue.

That may be more LLPP and less LLMP.
That may be lower cost LLPP and a higher cost LLMP.
That may be a higher cost LLMP and a higher cost LLPP.

 

[SpectroMagician]

I severely doubt it is a "popular pass" as the article says. They wouldn't need to open it to non-resort guests if it was truly that popular.

"Starting January 21, 2025, Walt Disney World will make the Lightning Lane Premier Pass available to all guests, removing the previous restriction limiting purchases to those staying at Disney Resort hotels and select partner properties.

This change significantly expands access to the popular pass, which allows one-time access to all Lightning Lane attractions in a single park for a day, priced between $119 and $449."

 

[Jrb1979]

I severely doubt it is a "popular pass" as the article says. They wouldn't need to open it to non-resort guests if it was truly that popular.

"Starting January 21, 2025, Walt Disney World will make the Lightning Lane Premier Pass available to all guests, removing the previous restriction limiting purchases to those staying at Disney Resort hotels and select partner properties.

This change significantly expands access to the popular pass, which allows one-time access to all Lightning Lane attractions in a single park for a day, priced between $119 and $449."

It's not meant to be a popular pass.

 

[wdwmagic]

I severely doubt it is a "popular pass" as the article says. They wouldn't need to open it to non-resort guests if it was truly that popular.

"Starting January 21, 2025, Walt Disney World will make the Lightning Lane Premier Pass available to all guests, removing the previous restriction limiting purchases to those staying at Disney Resort hotels and select partner properties.

This change significantly expands access to the popular pass, which allows one-time access to all Lightning Lane attractions in a single park for a day, priced between $119 and $449."

It has been selling out for up to a week in advance during its two busy seasons that it has been on offer - Thanksgiving 2024 and the Christmas Holidays. It has also on several occasions sold out at all four park son the same day. I think it is fairly popular during peak periods.

 

[MrPromey]

It kind of is. I still think if this new phase does well, that LLMP will become very limited. They can't keep adding more people to the LL queue or it will have the same issue it used to.

That's only a problem if you're a paying guest.

... at least up to a point. If you wait 30+ minutes after all the dust settles with what you've paid for but the standby is now 60+, it could be argued they're still providing you value even if there was a time when there was only one 30+ minute wait years ago for everyone.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm wondering if they're not meeting their quota of gullible Disney hotel staying guests purchasing this and have opened it up to non-disney hotels to fill the gap of gullible people.

It’s free money…that “quota” can never be met

Sure, but not from our point of view. They can be piloting availability levels and by calling it a pilot may choose to restrict it again.

There will never be a restriction per se…they’ll just steer you towards another product

Same as “reservations” during the plague…Magic kingdom and mgm always “booked”…Dak and Epcot wide open. Maximizing nickels spent on the college kids

It has been selling out for up to a week in advance during its two busy seasons that it has been on offer - Thanksgiving 2024 and the Christmas Holidays. It has also on several occasions sold out at all four park son the same day. I think it is fairly popular during peak periods.

“Selling out” like every mid week afterhours “special limited ticket premium experiency experience” 36 hours before hand?

Hmmm

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

There are not enough great e ticket like attractions in one Disneyworld park to make this worth it for most people. Of they offered this at Disneyland however with a hopper to both parks I would actually consider doing it.

I don’t even think that would be worth it, this isn’t designed for “normal” people though, this is for rich people (or horribly irresponsible people) where money is no object. As much as I hate Disney charging extra for everything now this is a money printer, selling even a thousand a day to the rich at $400 adds up quick, $150 million a year for basically doing nothing.

 

[C33Mom]

If they really want to turn on the money spigot, they need to open up LLPP to park hopping, even two parks selected in advance, would be a vast improvement in the product. For now, many of us who go regularly are aware they can get more good rides with (much cheaper) LLMP, if you’re willing to do a tiny bit of planning.

 

[GhostHost1000]

We don’t know what “sold out” means for LLPP…hundreds, tens, or 5

They could be playing a game. The more they show this new offering as sold out, it can make some feel like they need to consider purchasing it on their trip if others are doing it.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

you sure about that? They may have changed it but I watched a couple of YouTubers and it was only once (no re rides) on the VIP tour and also on this one, they COULD NOT GET ON TRON!!!! it was when it first opened or previews or something

Was that that MrHandPay guy? Jeremy was There or something like that?

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I feel the complete opposite. I much prefer the ease of using Express Pass over WDW's LL's.

At Universal, I just go on whichever ride I want, whenever I want, and I can go on it as many times in a row as I wish with minimal waiting.
With EP, even over busy holiday weeks, which I've done many times, I do not wait 30+ for the rides at Universal.

(If you're regularly waiting that long, you're likely doing something wrong.)

At WDW, guests have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get a limited # of LL passes. It is not at all as easy to use as EP. Even if I bought LLPP, I'd only be able to ride each attraction once. I also dislike WDW's dumb 7am VQ lottery. In the morning, I want a few moments to quietly sip my coffee while I enjoy the sunrise.

Alas, I vote with my wallet. I save WDW for slower months and favor Universal if I'm visiting Orlando over a major holiday week. MK still has better fireworks, but at present, US is vastly easier to tour over holiday weeks.

I wasn’t really posting my subjective opinion about which one i like better. I meant that the lightning lanes themselves objectively have shorter waits than the express pass lanes (at the popular attractions). Unless something has gone terribly wrong, you’re not waiting 30-40 minutes int he lightning lanes at 7dmt or SDD. You are at Velocicoaster, Forbidden Journey, Minions, etc. Minions is actually one of the worst offenders. Even the Simpsons ride is a pretty bad offender. Yes, you’re generally not waiting much before the merge, but the post-merge line can be pretty lengthy/backed up.

 

[Purduevian]

I'm curious as to the end game in this. My concern is they are heading back to the same issue they had with the amount of DAS users in the LL queues. Instead it's filled with paying guests.

In theory... you aren't actually adding that many people to the LL. I would assume anyone that is buying LLPP would have bought LLMP and LLSP that day anyway.

So on the LLSP rides, there are no new people in the LL.

Restricting it to rides on LLMP. I would assume it something like the following chart:

Park	Average LLMP uses	Average LLPP uses	Extra capacity taken
Magic Kingdom	7/15	13/15	6 extra rides per guest
EPCOT	5/8	7/8	2 extra rides per guest
Hollywood Studios	5/8	7/8	2 extra rides per guest
Animal Kingdom	4/5	5/5	1 extra ride per guest

The LL ride count does go up... but it's not like quadrupling the number of people in each LL.

 

[LSLS]

In theory... you aren't actually adding that many people to the LL. I would assume anyone that is buying LLPP would have bought LLMP and LLSP that day anyway.

So on the LLSP rides, there are no new people in the LL.

Restricting it to rides on LLMP. I would assume it something like the following chart:

Park	Average LLMP uses	Average LLPP uses	Extra capacity taken
Magic Kingdom	7/15	13/15	6 extra rides per guest
EPCOT	5/8	7/8	2 extra rides per guest
Hollywood Studios	5/8	7/8	2 extra rides per guest
Animal Kingdom	4/5	5/5	1 extra ride per guest

The LL ride count does go up... but it's not like quadrupling the number of people in each LL.

But remember you are looking at all rides as the same. Of those 7 rides at MK, only one of them could be Tiana/Pan/Jungle/Space. Now those people can visit all 4 of those. So it's very possible you would see those specific rides quadruple if all things are equal. Now, all things will not be equal, and there is a ton of modeling to go into this as to the effects of people in an hour, numbers allowed to be purchased, etc. But point is, it could be a lot more than you realize.

 

[Laketravis]

“Selling out” like every mid week afterhours “special limited ticket premium experiency experience” 36 hours before hand?

Hmmm

We don’t know what “sold out” means for LLPP…hundreds, tens, or 5

They could be playing a game. The more they show this new offering as sold out, it can make some feel like they need to consider purchasing it on their trip if others are doing it.

In order to create demand, you sometimes have to fabricate need.

 

[Purduevian]

But remember you are looking at all rides as the same. Of those 7 rides at MK, only one of them could be Tiana/Pan/Jungle/Space. Now those people can visit all 4 of those. So it's very possible you would see those specific rides quadruple if all things are equal. Now, all things will not be equal, and there is a ton of modeling to go into this as to the effects of people in an hour, numbers allowed to be purchased, etc. But point is, it could be a lot more than you realize.

Very fair point... If I was Disney (I hope they don't do this). I would reduce the LLMP options on the high in demand rides (Tiana/Pan/JC/Space/HM/Pooh) in order to sell more LLPP so it doesn't back up... Push those people to Philharmagic and Aladdin.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Was that that MrHandPay guy? Jeremy was There or something like that?

I need to search through YouTube, but I seem to remember the VIP tour guide needed to check with CMs at the attraction to "see if they ride?" which stuck out to me as strange, but this is a while ago and I think TRON was just opening or was in previews, or something, but I thought it was strange for this happening on a VIP tour.

I think the YouTuber eventually go a refund (because YouTube ) if I remember correctly.

Today, I do not know the actual experience on the VIP tours, I suspect there should recent VIP tours on YouTube?