Is the New LL Process a Bust or Win?

[Nimbus]

I don't think enough people know about the change. But you have to already be a savvy user to even know why the change is a bummer. I was so bummed to watch that video last week as I prep for our upcoming trip.

I felt the exact same way watching. We have a trip the first week of April, and I was sure I was going to be able to get all/most the rides we wanted. Now...not so much.

 

[tom1944]

Since your title didn’t specify LLPP, LLMP, or LLSP, I will say that LLPP is the best of all current and past offerings.

The huge downside of LLPP, of course, is the cost.

But the LLPP made our recent trip the best experience we’ve ever had avoiding lines (during a busy park day), and that includes the expensive VIP tour.

We will get the LLPP for our next trip also.

Did you change things like no park hopper tickets, purchasing less days of tickets, less time in the parks so less money on food or anything else?

 

[ShaneDJ]

Did you change things like no park hopper tickets, purchasing less days of tickets, less time in the parks so less money on food or anything else?

No. We have AP’s so we can park hop.

We didn’t spend less on food. But unexpectedly we got more park time (for other parks) because the LLPP got us through rides more quickly than expected.

For example, one day we had planned to spend the entire day at Hollywood Studios. But with the LLPP, we finished all of the rides in the park by late afternoon, so we decided to go over to Epcot for the evening. And we didn’t rope drop DHS (we got there mid-morning).

 

[tofubeast]

I felt the exact same way watching. We have a trip the first week of April, and I was sure I was going to be able to get all/most the rides we wanted. Now...not so much.

I am there sooner than you, so I will report back on my experience.

 

[tom1944]

No. We have AP’s so we can park hop.

We didn’t spend less on food. But unexpectedly we got more park time (for other parks) because the LLPP got us through rides more quickly than expected.

For example, one day we had planned to spend the entire day at Hollywood Studios. But with the LLPP, we finished all of the rides in the park by late afternoon, so we decided to go over to Epcot for the evening. And we didn’t rope drop DHS (we got there mid-morning).

Someone told me they did all the MK rides in 4 to 5 hours with LLPP.

I am trying to decide if buying LLPP in one park makes it easier in the other parks

We usually do 2 days in each park except only 1 in AK. If we can do say HS in 5 hours that gives us an extra day and a half at the other 3.

 

[Dave006]

Someone told me they did all the MK rides in 4 to 5 hours with LLPP.

Most reports I have seen indicate it takes 6+ hours or more to hit all the LL attractions at MK and to see the Fireworks Animation in MDE. Most guests don't hit every LL since they may not be favorites of their travel party.

I am trying to decide if buying LLPP in one park makes it easier in the other parks

Why do you think LLPP in one park makes it easier in other parks?

Dave

 

[tom1944]

Most reports I have seen indicate it takes 6+ hours or more to hit all the LL attractions at MK and to see the Fireworks Animation in MDE. Most guests don't hit every LL since they may not be favorites of their travel party.


Why do you think LLPP in one park makes it easier in other parks?

Dave

My phrasing was probably wrong, but I was thinking if I do not have to spend 2 days at HS but get everything done in say 5 hours, I could use the second HS day at other parks and hop to AK the second half of the LLPP HS day. That could free up my usual AK day.

If the LLPP day at HS results in having 3 days each at EP and MK that makes things much easier.

My trips are usually 9 or 10 days.

 

[glamdring269]

We've used paper FP, FP+, Genie, etc. Our last trip was Oct 2023 so I'm curious to see how things have changed. The 7AM thing didn't even bother us since we are rope droppers. It was probably actually an advantage.

Out of curiosity, what might we expect with this type of scenario in early Oct (not Columbus weekend):

2 adults, 0 kids, we might literally be touching the ropes some mornings and if not then we're only a few people back. So basically we're always there at RD. We also stay on site at deluxe properties. I was planning to mix in using LL in the AM with knocking out top attractions before lines build. As an LL gets used we would then schedule the next one for the park we plan to hop to that night. This is what we have always done since the transition away from paper FP.

Is this strategy still viable?

 

[Dave006]

As an LL gets used we would then schedule the next one for the park we plan to hop to that night. This is what we have always done since the transition away from paper FP.

Yes this strategy is still viable. The system actually works great for your situation by you starting early and having your initial LLMP selections locked in for your first park of the day.

As you use each LLMP selection you are able to replace it as soon as you tap into your attraction, and day of selections are often for later in the day or evening depending on how busy the parks are on any day. You also still have the option to look for a time that works for you even though the system offers you then next available time after you select a LLMP replacement.

Dave

 

[rangerxenos]

I tried it once at MK last October, and it was a complete bust for me, I actually went and requested a refund, and they gave it to me.

It was a very busy day because there was no Halloween party. Two of my first three LL choices were down for my times in the morning, so I was unable to use them to book more. And because it was so busy, the only times I was able to choose from if I wanted to change them were in the early evening, which would have left me standing in lines all afternoon anyway.

I'll stick with rope drop and staying later in the evening.

 

[gottalovepluto]

If you are a morning person it is more valuable as the sooner you use the first LL the sooner you can get more. I think the lack of value comes from people who don't understand that or think that popular Tier 1 rides are guaranteed as an extra LL if you tap in soon enough. I expect to get about 4-5 rides from my MPLL purchase including 1 popular Tier 1- but I'm in the park at open and I park hop at night after a break. Sure I'll try for a 2nd popular Tier 1 ride as soon as I tap in but availability at that point is rough. I also appreciate LL for saving me a few steps as the lines are physically shorter so that adds to the dollar value for me but to others a few steps is nothing.

During super popular times you might just get the 3 you purchase- if you do not feel those 3 rides are worth the cost of MPLL, don't purchase it.

FWIW- The one change I did notice on my trip last week- I think GOTG is a good value SPLL for most people if they want to ride before lunch (idk what waits are like later). That line was running like 2 hours in the morning (when I prefer to ride it) and just looked miserable, it was awesome to walk right in and then enjoy the low morning crowds in the rest of EP.

 

[vinotinto]

The key with October is to go to MK on the party day, and hop out of it before 4pm when the party people come in. Most days (4 per week) have a party and people want to be at MK when they can be there through the evening, including fireworks. That makes the 3 days without parties obscenely crowded and many more people vying for LLs.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I have read many comments about this, but genuinely wondering if guests are getting their money's worth with the purchase? I have seen blogs and such, from TA sites, stating that many days they are only about to get the 3 pre-booked LLs and nothing else.

Disney has become so ridiculously expensive and I want to make the most of my last trip later this year, but I do not want to spend money I am not going to get value from.

Would really appreciate first-hand experiences, vs comments on YT videos from people who may just be anti-Disney.

I'd say for me, it's worth it because my family would not wait in lines all day. I am fine with getting my 3 rides plus my one ILL that I buy. That is enough rides for our family; I understand that to some that would be far under. I would agree though that during busier times of year, there is nothing left available after your first 3 except maybe rides no one really wants to ride or that may have a shorter line anyway. It's definitely worth it in MK. Epcot, most likely not. Maybe in slower times people can stack more easily? We always travel on school breaks so I can't speak to those times.

 

[Pinnochio]

As for Genie+ - good riddance. More than happy to never have to wake up at 7 am every single day on vacation and frantically purchase then book lightning lanes.

lol....same here for sure!!....I also prefer the booking 3 rides early

 

[Pinnochio]

For us, the new LL is a huge win. Granted, it is FP+ but paying for it, but it is a huge step up from Genie +. I love the ability to have 3 rides pre-booked, able to move times and change rides. Now, it's as it should have been to start with.

absolutely agree!!!

 

[ExcitedForWDW]

It's not a bust but I 100% prefer Genie+ and I REALLY cannot believe I am saying that. I was able to ride more attractions per day with Genie than with LLMP.

I do look forward to trying it in Disneyland as the general consensus is that it works WAY better than WDW's version.

I much preferred genie+ as well. For me I liked stacking the rides and the flexibility it provided. We much preferred to decide closer to the day what park to go to based on weather and how we felt. Now we have to plan a week in advance. Besides I was up at 7 each day anyway so it wasn't a problem to book the the same day. I don't dislike the new system but imo g+ was superior. For non resort guests i can imagine most of the morning times are gone by the time they book, so it loses alot of value as the number of rides you can do may be limited.
Again just my opinion and I can definitely see why some folks prefer the new system.

 

[disneybirds]

During super popular times you might just get the 3 you purchase- if you do not feel those 3 rides are worth the cost of MPLL, don't purchase it.

This is a great point and I think it was true for us at Epcot even though it wasn't super busy. We did a short trip the last week of February and purchased for Epcot and MK. In Epcot, we only got the 3 we booked since our girls wanted Soarin over Frozen or Ratatouille. We roped dropped Ratatouille since we came in the Intl Gateway, then rode Soarin, Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land. Frozen and Rataouille were sold out and never popped up in the system during the day. In theory, we probably could have booked some of the smaller rides but we didn't want to ride them. I am not sure that I would purchase in Epcot again unless it was a really busy day.

We got to ride all the big rides in MK with the LLMP and was well worth it. We booked the 3 for morning/early afternoon, then ended up booking the rest after dinner.

 

[Mango7100]

I absolutely prefer Genie to LLMP. I like being able to have flexibility to change what park we want to go to—now it feels like we are locked in with our LLMP preselection. We also liked being able to stack with Genie and have 4-5 rides ready to go when entering a park at 5 pm. We were very successful refreshing with Genie even on busy days (like New Years) and would easily pull 9-10 rides at MK, but our last trip this New Years we struggled to get 1-2 more rides after our preselections (and we did the burner first ride technique).

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Just tried the new LL process this weekend. It's a totally different strategy than before. Much preferred Genie.

In fact, because of the 7 day advance rule for staying on site, I would NOT choose MK to be my first park day of the trip again. Too many slots already taken/times left if any (7MDT was gone before I even had the chance).

Epcot and DHS are too Tier 1 heavy. DAK today was actually a perfect park day with all the selections available.

 

[Dave006]

I like being able to have flexibility to change what park we want to go to—now it feels like we are locked in with our LLMP preselection.

But you are not locked into your LLMP selections. You are able to change you initial park at anytime, and individual LLMP selections.

We also liked being able to stack with Genie and have 4-5 rides ready to go when entering a park at 5 pm.

That's why they removed the 2 hour window that allowed stacking. The average guest did not understand Genie+ and the magic of Stacking.

Dave