Lightning Lane Premier Pass

[C33Mom]

I misunderstood you. I thought you were talking about paying $25-$50 per person for unlimited rides of it - not per ride.

That's a whole other interesting take but nobody's waiting 2+ hours to ride that right now. There is no standby option to raw-dog a line through however long to get in it like has been the case with FOP since opening.. You either get a boarding group to come back in 1-8 (or however many) hours or you don't get picked. As far as I'm aware, those always run out... or you pay the $25 or so bucks if the LL hasn't already sold out.

So yeah, I guess charging people $50 to ride it each time, all they want is doable but I'm not sure even Disney wants that kind of PR hit when this was not announced as effectively being an exclusively pay-to-play-only attraction which is what such an option would effectively turn it into.

Ok, so we agree and I wasn’t clear enough that I meant paying per ride.

I actually think there’s some chance that single pass will sell out faster after CR goes off VQ, because it’s currently a manageable line if you know how to game the boarding group process (it’s rare for it to sell out in less than a few seconds at 1pm), but it could become a 2h line easily, which would be more worth skipping.

 

[Splash4eva]

Just went to BahMar, recent trips to Aruba and Grand Cayman - and how often do you visit WDW?

Do you not realize how different your life/travel experience is from the majority of people in America?

I mean, I'm not asking you to sympathise with them or feel sorry for them. Go ahead - look down on everyone who's not as well off as you and as well traveled as you and without as much experience to know what needs to be considered or looked out for as you.

But the degree you're expressing shock at their existence and calling them all stupid is... well, it's certainly a look.

Im far from well off for starters and this has nothing to do with money it has to do with the fact people are irresponsible im sorry how can you defend people who book trips w/o doing any research at all on what a trip will cost them. Especially those where money matters! Yes im sorry thats called stupidity. Judge me allll you want but go ahead and be empathetic to those who are irresponsible. Should we eliminate that debt as well for those who charge vacations and didnt realize it will cost them 25% in interest for their credit cards lol

 

[MrPromey]

Im far from well off for starters and this has nothing to do with money it has to do with the fact people are irresponsible im sorry how can you defend people who book trips w/o doing any research at all on what a trip will cost them. Especially those where money matters! Yes im sorry thats called stupidity. Judge me allll you want but go ahead and be empathetic to those who are irresponsible. Should we eliminate that debt as well for those who charge vacations and didnt realize it will cost them 25% in interest for their credit cards lol

Oh boy.

I'm sorry you're far from well off... I guess?

How did we get from people running into unexpected costs at Disney they may not be able to afford to people doing no research at all and being stupid?

Who said anything about people not paying their debt?

Did me mentioning people buying tickets at the gate trigger you?

Seriously, what are you going on about?

As for empathy, you may be the first person I've ever met who tried to frame that as a bad thing or do you just not know the difference between the words "empathy" and "sympathy"?

Like I said before, I'm not expecting you to be sympathetic towards this group.

I'm not defending anyone's poor life choices or implying that someone should be excused from what they do with their autonomy.

I was at first just trying to point out that, to your apparent disbelief, such people roam the earth and are customers who's money Disney would miss (maybe already are starting to miss without yet fully realizing it?) after your initial response to my half-serious comment.

Being far from well off yourself, it seems like the idea of such people would be a conceivable notion.

You're the one who doubled down by saying that to call them "stupid" would be "kind".

You left it up to everyone else's imagnation what the word you actually wanted to use was.

... which, you know, is an interesting way to turn the conversation on a Disney fan forum after being introduced to the notion that people who can't really afford a Disney vacation make up a chunk of people who try to go to Walt Disney World and especially after admitting you yourself are far from well off so it must impose some level of hardship on you to find your way there without going into debt, right?

Beyond that, I was just looking to coax a little decorum out of you that I guess may not exist.

Regarding judgement, I think you've been happy to do enough of that here for the both of us so I'll kindly bow out of this discussion with you, now.

 

[RSoxNo1]

@lentesta likes to break down surveys on his podcast, and one of the things he's discussed quite frequently are the income brackets Disney uses in this surveys. They're not equal based on range, but more likely equal based on % of guests.

My guess is that this is a play for the 2nd and 3rd highest income brackets. For simplicity purposes let's say that the this includes people making $250-400K a year. If this group is spending the same money as the group that's making $200-250K a year, Disney feels they're leaving money on the table.

This offering (and probably the $99 DVC offering) is a way of squeezing more money out of a specific subset of guests.

We all look at this as Disney being greedy because that's true. But we can also look at it from a "how did we get here" standpoint. I'm sure this started with survey work where they can lump in survey results with what they know that particular guests' spending to be.

This step up from traditional Lightning Lane is at a price point that caters to the upper echelon of AGI visitors to the park, but not the peak that would otherwise be buying the VIP tours. The other element here is that by paying for Premier Lightning Lane, you are not drawing attention to yourself or your wealth. By all accounts you are an average guest with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

 

[MrPromey]

Ok, so we agree and I wasn’t clear enough that I meant paying per ride.

I actually think there’s some chance that single pass will sell out faster after CR goes off VQ, because it’s currently a manageable line if you know how to game the boarding group process (it’s rare for it to sell out in less than a few seconds at 1pm), but it could become a 2h line easily, which would be more worth skipping.

I'm not sure I agree it was your fault I misunderstood but I'll go with it.

 

[BrianLo]

Universal Japan is essentially offering a variant of this already.

Based on my anecdotal experience today, it’s used both more often than people think it will be, but less than they fear. It does sell out though and the numbers, per attraction, are similar.

Unlike WDW there isn’t a secondary option that functions if you are willing to do the work yourself (LLMP) and their parks lack any rides of substance you can actually do without a wait time.

 

[BrianLo]

Today I got notice USO's Epic Universe will be opening May 22, 2025 with tickets and packages on sale beginning next week on 10/22.

From the announcement website (emphasis mine):

"This changes everything. Now with four amazing theme parks, spectacular themed hotels and more, Universal Orlando Resort offers an entire week's worth of awesome in one complete vacation destination."

It will be interesting to see how the many changes at WDW will be received in light of USO's goal to be the sole destination.

We’re still off until presumably January 2026 when Universal is actually offering a complete week long destination. All multi day offerings are still limited to 1 epic day - and frankly I don’t think the current offering they have really justify 6 days.

I said this before, but people are going to be comparing what it costs in ticketing prices for Universal to WDW next year and it’s not going to look great in Universals favour (once you start a la carting a second or third Epic day). Though I understand and do agree with what they’ve ultimately done from a business perspective.

 

[KrzyKtty]

We’re still off until presumably January 2026 when Universal is actually offering a complete week long destination. All multi day offerings are still limited to 1 epic day - and frankly I don’t think the current offering they have really justify 6 days.

I said this before, but people are going to be comparing what it costs in ticketing prices for Universal to WDW next year and it’s not going to look great in Universals favour (once you start a la carting a second or third Epic day). Though I understand and do agree with what they’ve ultimately done from a business perspective.

Honestly we are putting our universal trip off because of the 1 day Epic thing. We are only interested in going when we can go to Epicfor 2 days, because I honestly don't see how we're supposed to enjoy.That part can only one day right now.

Even then it's at best a five day trip? 4 for the parks and 1 for Volcano Bay.

 

[BrianLo]

Honestly we are putting our universal trip off because of the 1 day Epic thing. We are only interested in going when we can go to Epicfor 2 days, because I honestly don't see how we're supposed to enjoy.That part can only one day right now.

Even then it's at best a five day trip? 4 for the parks and 1 for Volcano Bay.

My previously planned 7 day Universal trip has turned into 5 for Universal (I’ll do a 4 day pass and +1 Epic one day ticket)

Because I’m an absolute sucker and Disney are sneaky, DHS has a moonlight magic when I arrive and a split stay will let me into Typhoon Lagoon another. Between the balance of things I’ve never done Boo to You… so given the choice of too many days at IOA/USO, paying for a third Epic day, somehow Disney seems to be getting that money.

Not that Universal is crying. That’s a lot of near full price days for them.

 

[Jrb1979]

My previously planned 7 day Universal trip has turned into 5 for Universal (I’ll do a 4 day pass and +1 Epic one day ticket)

Because I’m an absolute sucker and Disney are sneaky, DHS has a moonlight magic when I arrive and a split stay will let me into Typhoon Lagoon another. Between the balance of things I’ve never done Boo to You… so given the choice of too many days at IOA/USO, paying for a third Epic day, somehow Disney seems to be getting that money.

Not that Universal is crying. That’s a lot of near full price days for them.

IMO it's a Disney fan thing with not being able to do a 7 day Universal stay. We've done it multiple times now. Between park days is a resort day to relax. It's easy to make Universal a 7 day vacation.

For some reason, it's not just Disney park fans either, Universal park fans are the same, many like to do things once maybe twice. Last time we visited we did the Mummy 11 times, Hulk 7 times, Spiderman 8 times and Men in black 5 times.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

Honestly we are putting our universal trip off because of the 1 day Epic thing. We are only interested in going when we can go to Epicfor 2 days, because I honestly don't see how we're supposed to enjoy.That part can only one day right now.

Even then it's at best a five day trip? 4 for the parks and 1 for Volcano Bay.

I'm curious on what the pricing will be for 3 day universal tickets. I'm thinking of buying 2 sets of 3 day tickets so I get 2 days Epic. It might end up being we throw away a day, but then we can still get 2 days at Epic. (Depends on when single day tickets become available).

 

[SamusAranX]

If you are not going to buy any product, you need some luck to get in the boarding group for Guardians as there is no standby.

The last time I tried I tried at the 1PM time and my return time was over 6 hours away, I never made it.

But, yes its possible.

Speaking of how would this work with GotG or other VQ rides? Do they sign up for queue and get a LL or can they do VQ standby then ONE additional LL reride?

 

[KrzyKtty]

I'm curious on what the pricing will be for 3 day universal tickets. I'm thinking of buying 2 sets of 3 day tickets so I get 2 days Epic. It might end up being we throw away a day, but then we can still get 2 days at Epic. (Depends on when single day tickets become available).

Honestly we could do that, but we're also going on a 7 day Disney cruise next summer. And while I could afford both trips my husband keep giving me the side eye while looking forlornly at our floors that desperately need to be replaced .

 

[KrzyKtty]

Speaking of how would this work with GotG or other VQ rides? Do they sign up for queue and get a LL or can they do VQ standby then ONE additional LL reride?

On our big trip a couple years ago this is how we would go twice in one day. VQ and then ILL. I would think the premier pass would work much the same way.

 

[Raineman]

There are alot of people here and on social media that are missing the point of why some people don't like this. It doesn't matter if the majority of people will never buy it-this is just furthering the caste system that Disney has created. It is furthering the two levels of park experiences that the introduction of LL started. If you have hundreds or thousands more to spend on top of your park ticket, then you have the ability to get on attractions faster and experience more attractions per day, while the unwashed masses are forced to use the standby line and miss attractions that they don't have time to access/can't access. Go back to the time before there was even paper FP-it didn't matter if you had a seven figure salary or a 5 figure salary-you paid your park admission, and you had to wait your turn in the queues at each attraction with everyone else. Even after the introduction of FP, everyone had the same opportunities to get them. This whole view that "you don't have to buy it if you don't want to" is so narrow and myopic.

 

[KrzyKtty]

this is just furthering the caste system that Disney has created. It is furthering the two levels of park experiences that the introduction of LL started.

I really don't get why that bothers so many people. Personal opinions aside, we live in a capitalistic economic society. And I get that we can have a debate about stakeholder VS shareholders, but at the end of the day disney has an obligation to maximize profits. Capitalism doesn't stop at "this is your reasonable profit. You have enough now."

And while disney might be doing it to a level the other parks are not, line skip passes at other parks are by no means cheap. All the complaints from people just come off as sour grapes. I get being jealous regarding something one can't afford, but doesn't make Disney evil. They are a corporation and they will do whatever they can to reach maximum profits.

 

[JD80]

There are alot of people here and on social media that are missing the point of why some people don't like this. It doesn't matter if the majority of people will never buy it-this is just furthering the caste system that Disney has created. It is furthering the two levels of park experiences that the introduction of LL started. If you have hundreds or thousands more to spend on top of your park ticket, then you have the ability to get on attractions faster and experience more attractions per day, while the unwashed masses are forced to use the standby line and miss attractions that they don't have time to access/can't access. Go back to the time before there was even paper FP-it didn't matter if you had a seven figure salary or a 5 figure salary-you paid your park admission, and you had to wait your turn in the queues at each attraction with everyone else. Even after the introduction of FP, everyone had the same opportunities to get them. This whole view that "you don't have to buy it if you don't want to" is so narrow and myopic.

Parks have always been like this, society is has always been like this. Not sure why people think it's any different because a wildly expensive LL product was created.

 

[KrzyKtty]

Parks have always been like this, society is has always been like this. Not sure why people think it's any different because a wildly expensive LL product was created.

Honestly, I think it is because Disney has been a little bit too successful at their marketing. People focus so much on the myth like origin story that Disney has carefully cultivated around Walt, that they forget that Disney is still a corporation, much like Comcast, Exxon, X, and the rest. We see it all the time on these boards, "Walt would be so disappointment." "This isn't the park Walt created." "This isn't what Walt would have wanted." I regretfully disagree. Walt was a man of his time, and beholden to business of his time, but he was a businessman through and through (along with his brother of course). At the end of the day, Walt and his brother understood that businesses don't survive without $$.

 

[JD80]

Honestly, I think it is because Disney has been a little bit too successful at their marketing. People focus so much on the myth like origin story that Disney has carefully cultivated around Walt, that they forget that Disney is still a corporation, much like Comcast, Exon, X, and the rest. We see it all the time on these boards, "Walt would be so disappointment." "This isn't the park Walt created." "This isn't what Walt would have wanted." I regretfully disagree. Walt was a man of his time, and beholden to business of his time, but he was a businessman through and through (along with his brother of course). At the end of the day, Walt and his brother understood that businesses don't survive without $$.

Imagine if Disney brought back ticket books.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

I don’t think the reaction is because of the mythical Walt Disney figure or marketing, I think it’s because the people upset have been visiting long enough to remember how much the parks and resorts have changed in terms of additional charges and what the base experience offered in just under 5 years. Pre Covid Disney looked wildly different from this angle. Go back 10-15 and it’s even more drastic.