If riding Guardians is important to you - buy the LLSP. Now, I was there Thanksgiving week so YMMV but, even with a resort stay and being able to book 7 days out, my first Epcot day was a later LL. I arrived on a Sunday and my first Epcot day was Wednesday. For that day, I was already well past 3pm for the earliest return time I could get. My Friday return time was 9:15am. The LLSP for this ride do tend to go quickly. If you want to ride but your day won't be ruined if you don't get on, then wait for the VQ. Personally, I have decided that I will just cough up the money for the LLSP for my planned Epcot days. I truly hate paying for something that once was free, but this is the way it is and I have accepted that I will have to pay for LLSP and LLMP for some parks.