Is Lightning Lane worth it off site?

[GatorChris]

I’ve got a conference in Orlando first of August, so I’m taking the family the week before to WDW. I know…HOT. Anyway, we’ll be doing a condo near the convention center for the conference and I was planning on staying the whole 12 days there.

But…I know LL will come in handy on the crazy busy summer days. But at 3 days out, will in the onsite guests have made the good choices disappear? Is LL even worth it 3 days out? Should I book a few days at a Disney resort just to have the 7 day option? Seems pricey but I want a good trip.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We visit the 3rd week of August and find we don’t need LLMP or LLSP. Yes, we used it one day and it was a nice treat to have but depending on when you are visiting in Aug you may not really need LLMP. My suggestion if you don’t mind missing the fireworks is to visit MK on a party day. That was a far better advantage than LLMP on a non- party day.

 

[kandb]

We visit the 3rd week of August and find we don’t need LLMP or LLSP. Yes, we used it one day and it was a nice treat to have but depending on when you are visiting in Aug you may not really need LLMP. My suggestion if you don’t mind missing the fireworks is to visit MK on a party day. That was a far better advantage than LLMP on a non- party day.

Agree! We have visited many times in August. The end of August is MUCH less crowded then the beginning of August. Makes all the difference in the world.

 

[bettertheangel]

I just got back from a trip where we stayed offsite and we managed to ride everything we wanted to with LLMP. Granted, I don't know if it's busier when you're going than it was last week, but if you can commit to logging in at 7am Eastern three days out then I think you should be able to snag some good rides. They must drop new LLs each day because I was able to snag a Slinky Dog LL for four days out.

 

[GatorChris]

We visit the 3rd week of August and find we don’t need LLMP or LLSP. Yes, we used it one day and it was a nice treat to have but depending on when you are visiting in Aug you may not really need LLMP. My suggestion if you don’t mind missing the fireworks is to visit MK on a party day. That was a far better advantage than LLMP on a non- party day.

That was the plan. To do WDW in August during the second full week. But now it's the last week of July and the first few days of August. So...wondering how important it is. And if it would be worth it being 4 days late to the on-site crowd.

 

[HeiHei2018]

It depends on which rides are a priority and how much line time is worth to you. In MK, we are usually able to keep a rolling selection of three LL, each of which saves us about 30 minutes. You will not be getting a 9 am Tier 1 LL, but you would certainly get one or more Tier 1 and many of the Tier 2. In HS, we have been able to get MMRR, MFSR, annd Aliens same day. Those alone save us 2-3 hours in lines. The good news is that you can see the options before you buy. The bad news is you are making those decisions at 7 am only a few days before your trip.

 

[GatorChris]

The good news is that you can see the options before you buy. The bad news is you are making those decisions at 7 am only a few days before your trip.

7am wouldn't be bad if I wasn't in California.

I didn't know you could see the options of what's available before I buy. I'd love to find a video that walks me through it.

 

[LKing]

7am wouldn't be bad if I wasn't in California.

I didn't know you could see the options of what's available before I buy. I'd love to find a video that walks me through it.

I feel your pain. I've been waking up at 3 am PST to book ADR for my April trip. My experience has been that only one restaurant was available at 3 am PST but not at 7 am PST.

Have you looked at the price difference between a 7 day ticket and an 8, 9, or 10 day ticket? When you get to the larger number of days, the price for each additional day is significantly less (approx $17-$22/person per day). We're going to a conference and then visiting WDW after. After looking at ticket prices, we decided to buy a 10 day ticket so we could go to the parks in the evening after our meetings were over. Each additional day was cheaper than the cost of going to the movies! I know you said that your family will be there before the conference. Just throwing it out there in case you have time in the evenings on the days of your conference.

As far as videos, I found this one pretty helpful.

 

[alex33x]

We visit the 3rd week of August and find we don’t need LLMP or LLSP. Yes, we used it one day and it was a nice treat to have but depending on when you are visiting in Aug you may not really need LLMP. My suggestion if you don’t mind missing the fireworks is to visit MK on a party day. That was a far better advantage than LLMP on a non- party day.

We've only been one the last week of August, and I wish we could always go that week or the first two week of September. Due to our kids school schedule and my wife being a teacher, the best time for us to go is the first week of October. So, it's relatively crowded.

 

[GatorChris]

I feel your pain. I've been waking up at 3 am PST to book ADR for my April trip. My experience has been that only one restaurant was available at 3 am PST but not at 7 am PST.

Have you looked at the price difference between a 7 day ticket and an 8, 9, or 10 day ticket? When you get to the larger number of days, the price for each additional day is significantly less (approx $17-$22/person per day). We're going to a conference and then visiting WDW after. After looking at ticket prices, we decided to buy a 10 day ticket so we could go to the parks in the evening after our meetings were over. Each additional day was cheaper than the cost of going to the movies! I know you said that your family will be there before the conference. Just throwing it out there in case you have time in the evenings on the days of your conference.

As far as videos, I found this one pretty helpful.

I've been looking into that. My kids are part of a Fine Arts Festival that runs simultaneously at the OCCC, but we don't know times until a few weeks before. Still, being able to go there whenever during the conference would be great. Outside of the parking fees, of course.

 

[hes122]

We were there last summer in August. We pre-purchased LLMP for HS and LLSP for Guardians at our 7-day window since we stayed onsite. The morning we were scheduled to go to Epcot we decided about 7:30 am we were too tired to get moving in order to hit Remy during early morning entry so I hopped on to see what was available for LLMP and Remy & Frozen were both available, so I booked Remy, Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land. We managed to get additional LLs for Figment, Soarin, Frozen Ever After, and Mission Space. That night before we went to bed, we decided to buy LLMP for AK and managed to do several things in our short window (it was our departure day so we didn't stay the whole day).

All that to say....you can make up your mind at the last minute and will probably be fine.

 

[AngieInOH]

I've been looking into that. My kids are part of a Fine Arts Festival that runs simultaneously at the OCCC, but we don't know times until a few weeks before. Still, being able to go there whenever during the conference would be great. Outside of the parking fees, of course.

Don't park. Take Lyft/Uber. It's really not that much and they drop you off near the front (except for MK, which drops off at the Transporation center, that kind of stinks).

 

[LKing]

Don't park. Take Lyft/Uber. It's really not that much and they drop you off near the front (except for MK, which drops off at the Transporation center, that kind of stinks).

How are the lines for Lyft/Uber at park closing or after Luminous/fireworks/Fantasmic?

 

[Juventus]

Expensive.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I can't tell you about the on/offsite part, but summer was not all that busy last summer. the weather might also surprise you a bit. It does get hot in the afternoon, and it depends in large part how well you are acclimated to summer weather.

1. If possible spend time outdoors before your trip, assuming you live some place that get fairly warm in the afternoon. Even if you have a few days in FL before your park days start, every bit will help. The less AC you use at home, the better. Try to get used to an indoor temp of 78, if possible. If your workplace is chilled to 69, or you live in a colder location, my apologies.

2. Try to find a way to take later afternoon breaks. If you can't get back to your hotel, then maybe do something like a late TS lunch. Maybe see a show, but not one where you have to wait in the heat to see it ( so NOT Nemo, unless you can time it so you are not waiting around in the heat.) consider visiting a hotel lobby for a bit, or a long snack break.

3. Do be prepared for afternoon downpours. I mean tropical rain. Water tolerant shoes/walking sandals. If you plan on sneakers, make sure they are not stinky. TRY not to get your sneakers wet. Pay attention to the weather each day. Hiking sandals like Keen are smart. So is a bit of precut moleskin for possible blisters. OH, and full body deodorant, like Body Glide can be helpful. GEt some cheap plastic ponchos, and carry them in your pocket. check weather report. If rain odds are above 50% then consider carrying a more substantial rain jacket/poncho that day.

4. After dark in the parks can be really nice. Nice temps, and nice waits.

 

[AngieInOH]

How are the lines for Lyft/Uber at park closing or after Luminous/fireworks/Fantasmic?

I've never had an issue with Lyft/Uber at closing. It might take a couple of minutes for them to arrive but they are usually close by, anticipating pick ups.

 

[kylenne]

How are the lines for Lyft/Uber at park closing or after Luminous/fireworks/Fantasmic?

They come fast but watch out for surge pricing. At MK I like to walk over to the Contemporary and book one after waiting a few minutes, the price has usually calmed down by then. At Epcot I've walked to Beach Club to get one before when staying at the GF just because we were too tired to walk to the monorail from Japan, which is where we typically watch the Epcot fireworks.

 

[GatorChris]

I can't tell you about the on/offsite part, but summer was not all that busy last summer. the weather might also surprise you a bit. It does get hot in the afternoon, and it depends in large part how well you are acclimated to summer weather.

1. If possible spend time outdoors before your trip, assuming you live some place that get fairly warm in the afternoon. Even if you have a few days in FL before your park days start, every bit will help. The less AC you use at home, the better. Try to get used to an indoor temp of 78, if possible. If your workplace is chilled to 69, or you live in a colder location, my apologies.

We live in California. Even when it's 105, it'll be 65 in the evening. And no humidity. We honeymooned at WDW in 2002 in June and were really hit hard by the heat and humidity. We did WDW Dec - Feb after that. But when your flights and rooms are taken care of, you go in summer!

I'm definitely wanting to take the family walking at 4pm everyday just to get used to the heat and walking in it. Pre-planned misery.