Are we going to regret not buying LL? Did you?

[mickeymom629]

We plan to rope drop (ee) and we are only going to each park once. I plan to get LL for HS but not the other parks. We'll be going to MK on a party day (we aren't going to the party).
I watch YouTube videos and can't find any recent videos for anyone doing all day without buying extras in a park.
We are a group of 11 and have done many trips but they are 2-3 years apart.
We don't mind waiting in lines (to an extent) but we do hope to do our favorites.
It seems like everyone is buying LL and LL$.
I'd love to hear about anyone having a successful (or UNsuccessful) day with medium to higher crowds with no extras who have recently gone (or are there this Thanksgiving week).

 

[Indio]

Last Sunday (16th) we went to the MVMCP. We arrived at 4:30 so the party hadn't started and day guests were still there (we were staying at Universal so only went to the party). The parks were crowded, but before the party started at 7, we rode the People Mover, Tea Cups, Little Mermaid, Small World and 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. Mine Train had a 35 minute wait posted, but I think we were on and off in less than 30. So going on a party day should be fine to go with no LL!

 

[Paulaparm]

My only bit of advice is that maybe if you have any “must do” attractions, you might want to purchase the single ride…
Also, you should be good just doing standby on a party day at MK.

 

[hardcorestitch]

We plan to rope drop (ee) and we are only going to each park once. I plan to get LL for HS but not the other parks. We'll be going to MK on a party day (we aren't going to the party).
I watch YouTube videos and can't find any recent videos for anyone doing all day without buying extras in a park.
We are a group of 11 and have done many trips but they are 2-3 years apart.
We don't mind waiting in lines (to an extent) but we do hope to do our favorites.
It seems like everyone is buying LL and LL$.
I'd love to hear about anyone having a successful (or UNsuccessful) day with medium to higher crowds with no extras who have recently gone (or are there this Thanksgiving week).

If you’re park hopping, LL may be necessary. You’ll want to space out which attractions you plan on using LL for in this case.

If park hopping isn’t on your plan and you’re staying in one park all day, no need to get LL!

 

[BrianL]

I find I can manage without it. I am more apt to by that LLSP for the big rides, but not worry about the lines on the others. I just follow the old adage of hitting the big stuff at rope drop, saving the stuff with typically shorter lines for after lunch (shows, etc.), then just dealing with a semi-long line or two until it thins out more in the evening. That may not work on the extremely busy days (liek around the holidays), but I do okay with it.

 

[OP95]

I just got back from my trip and went on a non party day last Friday which I had purchased lightning lane for. I went about 8am and managed to do everything I wanted ( some things twice) by lunch time and ended up not using the lightning lane. Maybe purchase single rider for Tron and seven dwarfs if they are a must. Peter Pan was about 25 minutes and everything else was 10 minutes or less. Not sure what it was like later on though. Other days I would probably recommend.

 

[Lumpy1106]

We were going to get LLMP for our MK day but when we looked at what was available, what we wanted to use it for, and what else we wanted to do, we passed. We did not regret that decision for a minute. In fact, on our last day (DAK) it was almost impossible to look at the people in LL queue and not think just how much it was costing them to be there.

Our best strategy;
RD every day
Take advantage of all EMH, especially after hours EMH
SINGLE RIDER LINES!!! Except for RnRC, these will save you hours in line
Take a break from the crowds and leave the park in the PM when crowds are heaviest - every day
Resign yourself to knowing you will have to wait in a long line or 2 each day to ride the headliners you were not able to ride at RD (it's really not more than that if you plan it right).
Treat yourself to a nice meal or some other nicety with the money you saved not buying LL

 

[mickeymom629]

If you’re park hopping, LL may be necessary. You’ll want to space out which attractions you plan on using LL for in this case.

If park hopping isn’t on your plan and you’re staying in one park all day, no need to get LL!

We are not hopping.
Thanks for the replies of encouragement/hope!

 

[MyNewAP]

I just got back from my trip and went on a non party day last Friday which I had purchased lightning lane for. I went about 8am and managed to do everything I wanted ( some things twice) by lunch time and ended up not using the lightning lane. Maybe purchase single rider for Tron and seven dwarfs if they are a must. Peter Pan was about 25 minutes and everything else was 10 minutes or less. Not sure what it was like later on though. Other days I would probably recommend.

There was a party on Friday.

 

[Tess]

We have never used LL since its (paid) inception and are always able to do whatever we choose over the course of our visits. Granted we have many, many years of attendance and it is only the two of us, but we utilize rope drop/early entry to knock out the majors early in the a.m. and try to stay one step ahead of the crowd thereafter. If a queue is too long for us--we skip and make it a priority on another day. You will be fine!

I do confess that the last two trips (May and early November), I did succumb to the siren's call of LLSP for Guardians (arrival and departure days) because it is currently our favorite ride and on those days we couldn't rope drop. When you stay at the Epcot Resorts, rope drop for GoG puts you nowhere near the front of the queue due to the distance you have to hike. We are pretty speedy walkers and we still had a good 40 minute wait on the days we rope dropped. The front of the park folks have a definite advantage for GoG at rope drop. Wish Disney would go back to giving the back of the park folks a five minute head start.