How important is lightning lanes in late August?

[Scott McDuck]

Weighing, on the one hand, additional cost + being off-site (so can't make early LL reservations--or get early entry) vs, on the other hand, it being late-August, which is typically slower so maybe we won't need it. There will be 4 of us.

Does your answer vary depending on whether it is multi vs single pass?

I'm feeling pretty confident about not needing the multi-pass at least for AK and Epcot (but would consider the single-pass for those parks). But maybe we still need it for MK and HS?

I feel like this has to have been a subject of some discussion but didn't see much in the way of earlier threads. Please direct me to any earlier discussion on the topic.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think you still need multi pass for Disney Studios. After buying the Premier Pass for a day at the Magic Kingdom this past May, I would be hard pressed to not purchase that again for MK. I can't imagine ever doing that park without at least multi and single pass

 

[comicguy]

Weighing, on the one hand, additional cost + being off-site (so can't make early LL reservations--or get early entry) vs, on the other hand, it being late-August, which is typically slower so maybe we won't need it. There will be 4 of us.

Does your answer vary depending on whether it is multi vs single pass?

I'm feeling pretty confident about not needing the multi-pass at least for AK and Epcot (but would consider the single-pass for those parks). But maybe we still need it for MK and HS?

I feel like this has to have been a subject of some discussion but didn't see much in the way of earlier threads. Please direct me to any earlier discussion on the topic.

We usually go mid to late Aug and I agree about not really needing it for AK and EPCOT

That being said, weather, crowds, and school schedules do vary somewhat (so basically crowds size can be hit or miss). Just yesterday we were discussing this same issue (although we are staying on property) but I think we will purchase LL pass for MK and DS days

 

[scrappinginontario]

We visit late Aug and do not feel we need LL at any park. They will save time if purchased but likely not needed unless you have ver limited park days.

We purchased LLMP for our final MK day last year just to see what it was like. It did save us time and was nice to have but we did not feel it was ‘needed’.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We were at WDW the last week of August last summer and the parks had very low crowds. If you like low crowds and don't mind the heat, this is a great time to go to WDW.

 

[tom1944]

We arrive on August 12 and depart on the 18th for a cruise on the Wish. I will buy both LLSP and LLMP.

 

[elvispursley]

I went last Aug/Sep and did buy LLMP and a handful of SP (mainly for GotG a bunch of times). We absolutely did not need it and would have been fine just doing standby as the times were very manageable for us. We’re going again the same time this year and are not planning to buy for the trip. Then again, it’s an 11-day trip. If I were going to buy again, I’d do it for MK and HS

 

[HeiHei2018]

We do short trips with hoppers in late August, and we get a lot of value with our LLMP. It saves us a good chunk of time on a few headliners and then 10-20 minutes a ride on many smaller rides. If you don’t have hoppers, I would probably get it for MK and HS.

 

[kylenne]

I typically go at the end of August for a long Labor Day weekend and I only ever get SPs for my favorites (Cosmic Rewind, Rise, Flight of Passage, Tron). I find that rope drop is very effective with the lighter crowds and I tend to only get MP for HS on those trips because I always hit MK on a party day and waits stay low all morning there for everything but like Tron. This time though I'll be skipping buying it even at HS since I will have the DAS and will purposefully be taking things slower.

I would advise MP for HS, but MK only if you are going on a nonparty day to catch the new parade and HEA. But I highly highly suggest if there's a party day during your dates to do your heavy ride hitting at MK then and skipping MP that day unless you want to hop out to another park afterwards. We actually did that last September, rope dropping MK on a party day and doing everything standby and tapping in to flip our prebooked MK rides to HS. Worked very smoothly and we got everything at HS including Slinky Dog.

 

[brockash]

Weighing, on the one hand, additional cost + being off-site (so can't make early LL reservations--or get early entry) vs, on the other hand, it being late-August, which is typically slower so maybe we won't need it. There will be 4 of us.

Does your answer vary depending on whether it is multi vs single pass?

I'm feeling pretty confident about not needing the multi-pass at least for AK and Epcot (but would consider the single-pass for those parks). But maybe we still need it for MK and HS?

I feel like this has to have been a subject of some discussion but didn't see much in the way of earlier threads. Please direct me to any earlier discussion on the topic.

I think it also depends if you plan to RD. If you rope drop; there's really no need for any LLs in our opinion. Do headliners at rope drop and just keep going until the waits get heavy (usually around 10/1030 in our experience. Then we get a late breakfast/early lunch and do shows etc. or go back for a break and then will do some more popular rides towards the end of the night. You can also get smaller rides in during the busier part of the day if it's not a super crowded time.

 

[JimmyBean42]

I think it also depends if you plan to RD. If you rope drop; there's really no need for any LLs in our opinion. Do headliners at rope drop and just keep going until the waits get heavy (usually around 10/1030 in our experience. Then we get a late breakfast/early lunch and do shows etc. or go back for a break and then will do some more popular rides towards the end of the night. You can also get smaller rides in during the busier part of the day if it's not a super crowded time.

This strategy has always worked for us. We've never bought LL and have never waited longer than 45 minutes for any ride. For most rides I won't even get in line if it says 40 min or more for the wait. Not knocking those who buy LL. But we generally go for at least 5 days when we visit and there's 6 of us. I'd rather spend the LL money somewhere else.

 

[tom1944]

We are fortunate that the cost of the LLSP and LLMP are worth it to us and not something we cannot afford. We only do 1 meal a day and no alcohol so I am willing to spend on the LL

 

[FrancisK7]

We couldn't imagine doing the parks without Multipass and LL. With good planning you can do all attractions with 0 wait, freeing you to do character meet and greets, shopping, shows, of my preferred activity, the midday nap back at the resort.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We get the Multipass every visit regardless of the time of year. We hop each day and we like the ability to stack a few passes for the evening park after we use what we need in the morning park.

However, we've never felt the need to get the single passes and save that money for Dole Whips, etc. It's just too easy to get on those attractions later in the evening when the lines are the shortest of the day. I just can't justify the expense for something that can be done later, often multiple times, for free.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

How long is your trip? Do you have multiple days in each park?

If I only had one day in HS and MK I would be tempted to purchase. If you have more than one day and plan to hit rope drop they aren’t needed.

We went mid May and were there for 9 days. We bought LLMP 4 days and we probably could’ve just done two days and been fine. The rest of the time we did standby and it wasn’t bad at all. It was actually very freeing not being tied to a plan. We rode tons of headliners with low waits. Including guardians and Tron.

 

[irene6118]

Would this be true for late Sept./Oct. as well? We are debating whether we should spend the money on LLMP's or just enjoy more TS meals.

 

[han22735]

We also go the last few weeks of August every year and we only ever buy it for our first MK and HS days...never Ep or Ak. Use it to get everything done at MK, HS and our second days there just wing and get on what we can.

 

[hes122]

We there right before F&W started last August (but still after MNSSHP started). We pre-purchased LLMP for HS (because we were going there on our arrival day and didn't get to the part until almost noon) and LLSP for Guardians. Once on-site we ended up buy LLMP for EP & AK, but for EP we bought it the morning of and AK we bought it the night before. We could've managed without it but decided to get it for the convenience (and frankly not having to be there at RD for some of the bigger stuff).

 

[Dug720]

Since I'll be there the 20-25 so before F&W starts and will be solo, I'm thinking I might get a couple of single passes, but skip the MP. And maybe not even a single pass in Epcot since I'm doing After Hours.

 

[elvispursley]

Would this be true for late Sept./Oct. as well? We are debating whether we should spend the money on LLMP's or just enjoy more TS meals.

That time of the year starts picking back up. While not as busy as mid-late October, it's definitely busier than the end of August/beginning of September. The weather might be a tad, and I mean just a smidge, better than August but it is still hot, still hurricane season and can still have afternoon t-storms.