LL Premier Pass is here!

[CeCe0906]

If you're willing to spend this for your family, can someone explain to me why you wouldn't just get a VIP tour instead?

I've splurged on VIP Tour, used some of my inheritance from my mom to take my grandkids- it was amazing ( my grandkids are spoiled now!) But - this pass would come close to that experience and probably half the cost. Not cheap - no- but probably doable for people that are not Disney vacation repeaters, and want a special day.

For example family of 4 $440×4 = $1760 + 4 admission tickets. Vs 7hr VIP tour = 7 x $700/hr $4900 + tip + admission tickets. ( I still think it's crazy that for $700+/hr admission isn't included.)

Sure you lose a few perks like private transpo to park hop, or a VIP spot for firework or parade viewing, or a reride- but still a less stressful day, and if you need a break you don't feel like you just wasted money - bc with a VIP tour your hours are consecutive so if you stop to eat, rest, see a show, or have a kid or adult that just needs to sit awhile, you are still paying in that time.
So with the Premier pass, you can still have the stress free experience, not have to make it to a certain place at a certain time, no criss crossing park, no hour wait in line. You could do that one day for your groups must haves, and then regular LL for rerides on other days of your trip, or for parks that are easier with LL like AK.

For larger groups maybe VIP is better deal, but those are also limited, so the Premier pass would be a back up

 

[gmi3804]

Is this all a plot to make Cake Bake look Iike a deal?

 

[sagosto]

Honestly, because planning and executing a Disney vacation sounds like torture to the average person, so if you have the money, you're turning that into something simple and relaxing. It's not for people who like being really good at planning a complicated trip and leading their family members through the parks while constantly booking the rest of the day. So obviously it's going to be unpopular on the disboards.

I can see how that could be the talking narrative but $100 vs $1600 and the ONLY diff is using your phone to click another available pass after you use one (ignoring UPDATE potential) isn't worth $1500 to me and not sure how anyone else? Obviously, Disney has done their research but it won't be me.

 

[sagosto]

I know everyone has different PTO/time/etc. but I'd rather just stay an additional 1-2 days on property for that cost.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wonder if Disney secretly begrudes allowing DVC members, renters, ect. the ability to purchase this? I know they want to sell this, but rather to those who didn't get a a hefty discount on thier Deluxe room rate?

No, they make bank on DVC members- if they didn't they wouldn't keep expanding DVC at WDW. Also, if they didn't want DVC to join in they'd simply exclude them from the preliminary launch. Instead "Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts" are specifically noted as qualifying.

This perk can now be used as a selling point for buying DVC- and people with the money to spend on Deluxe hotels + LLPP are a definitely a target audience for DVC.

 

[ckb_nc]

No, they make bank on DVC members- if they didn't they wouldn't keep expanding DVC at WDW. Also, if they didn't want DVC to join in they'd simply exclude them from the preliminary launch. Instead "Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts" are specifically noted as qualifying.

This perk can now be used as a selling point for buying DVC- and people with the money to spend on Deluxe hotels + LLPP are a definitely a target audience for DVC.

And only available on direct contracts and not re-sell. Disney keeps making re-sell less attractive on purpose (note: grandfathered in on most of these myself).

 

[BamaGuy44]

I, too, would like it to be free and included in my existing resort stays.

It neither surprises nor bothers me that that's not what is happening.

Yeah I don’t get the “OMG so greedy” takes. It’s not greed to offer a premium service at a premium price. By its very definition, something like this can’t be cheap or it would collapse under its own weight. This is frivolous luxury vacation spending we’re talking about, not tripling the price of plywood or bottled water after a hurricane or something.

Is it greedy for DCL to offer a helicopter ride to a glacier in Alaska followed by a dog sled trip for $1,000 per person? Not really, IMO. Would I ever pay it? I’m not afraid to splurge on vacation, but H-E-double hockey sticks no! But that doesn’t make them evil to offer it

 

[_19disnA]

This new ride option seems excessively expensive and even those who can afford it may not be interested. Disney hotels costing $500+/night are also way overpriced for what they offer. We have many other choices of places to go in our vacation rotation and haven't been to Disney since 2019, no current plans to return. The VALUE you get for what you pay is no longer there. This latest offering does nothing to change our minds about wanting to return to Disney.

That basic problem Disney never seems to address is they have too few rides/capacity for the number of people they let into the parks each day. This pricey jump the line option don't really solve the underlying issue. Add more rides (or increase capacity) so the majority of the people don't need to stand in a 1 hr line for a 3 minute ride.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Shocking. I mean, it's literally $100 ($25 for FP) vs potentially $1600 to not have a return time to understand a few rules? No clue why anyone would do it.

Incurable cancer patients (like blood cancer ones)...they no longer usually qualify for DAS, but they can't wait in the lines, nor crisscross a park with their energy levels.

They are used to paying for their disability (I know I do). I don't stay deluxe, but I would think about this if it's opened to offsite guests as a single day for MK. The price is too high for me as a family price, but if my spouse and I ever went solo, I'd probably do it. He'll have enough time managing me vs trying to manage LL...and we're not waking up early when sleep is a premium for sick people.

 

[BamaGuy44]

This new ride option seems excessively expensive and even those who can afford it may not be interested. Disney hotels costing $500+/night are also way overpriced for what they offer. We have many other choices of places to go in our vacation rotation and haven't been to Disney since 2019, no current plans to return. The VALUE you get for what you pay is no longer there. This latest offering does nothing to change our minds about wanting to return to Disney.

That basic problem Disney never seems to address is they have too few rides/capacity for the number of people they let into the parks each day. This pricey jump the line option don't really solve the underlying issue. Add more rides (or increase capacity) so the majority of the people don't need to stand in a 1 hr line for a 3 minute ride.

Since the deluxe hotels run at near full capacity, they’re arguably underpriced.

 

[soniam]

Since the deluxe hotels run at near full capacity, they’re arguably underpriced.

Actually, they don’t all run at capacity. That’s why they have converted some buildings to DVC. The moderates and values usually go first.

 

[mom2rtk]

Actually, they don’t all run at capacity. That’s why they have converted some buildings to DVC. The moderates and values usually go first.

Also wouldn't be running any resort discounts if they were running at full capacity.

 

[Minnie1222]

I can see how that could be the talking narrative but $100 vs $1600 and the ONLY diff is using your phone to click another available pass after you use one (ignoring UPDATE potential) isn't worth $1500 to me and not sure how anyone else? Obviously, Disney has done their research but it won't be me.

But the next available pass could be hours away. With this new system, we are figuratively waltzing from one ride to the next.

 

[Disturbia]

I can see how that could be the talking narrative but $100 vs $1600 and the ONLY diff is using your phone to click another available pass after you use one (ignoring UPDATE potential) isn't worth $1500 to me and not sure how anyone else? Obviously, Disney has done their research but it won't be me.

They should offer a service for a minimal upgrade (say $5-10 on a $39 LLMP) to those of us for whom the clicking and booking next pass is the only issue with LLMP. We can’t mention the name of the service here (someone already came up with it) but that was my biggest issues with Genie+; the time I spent grabbing the phone from my 3 year old to modify my 8 pm SDD to a reasonable time at 10 am.

 

[Jrb1979]

They should offer a service for a minimal upgrade (say $5-10 on a $39 LLMP) to those of us for whom the clicking and booking next pass is the only issue with LLMP. We can’t mention the name of the service here (someone already came up with it) but that was my biggest issues with Genie+; the time I spent grabbing the phone from my 3 year old to modify my 8 pm SDD to a reasonable time at 10 am.

That would basically be this system they are now offering.

 

[Jrb1979]

This new ride option seems excessively expensive and even those who can afford it may not be interested. Disney hotels costing $500+/night are also way overpriced for what they offer. We have many other choices of places to go in our vacation rotation and haven't been to Disney since 2019, no current plans to return. The VALUE you get for what you pay is no longer there. This latest offering does nothing to change our minds about wanting to return to Disney.

That basic problem Disney never seems to address is they have too few rides/capacity for the number of people they let into the parks each day. This pricey jump the line option don't really solve the underlying issue. Add more rides (or increase capacity) so the majority of the people don't need to stand in a 1 hr line for a 3 minute ride.

Yes they don't have enough capacity. These new additions coming don't solve that either as the majority is replacing old attractions. Adding more capacity would help but they also need to end line skips for everyone.

Once they roll out this new system, make it available to everyone but at this price point. Majority won't buy it making standby move quicker and those who do buy it will have very short waits

 

[Boardwalk III]

Been thinking about this, and I might actually purchase this if I’m traveling with elderly loved ones or young kids.

No need to pre-plan when we need to be at each ride. No need to whisper-scream at anyone to walk faster. Don’t have to wake people up on vacation if they’re sleeping in or napping. Don’t need to figure out the location of each ride to minimize criss crossing the park. Don’t have to find strangers to share a VIP tour with in order to make it less expensive for a smaller group. And also don’t have to spend 10 hours with a stranger dressed in plaid.

Just go to the park, and go on whatever ride we feel like trying. Only limitation is the lack of re-rides. But as someone that has issues with the 1 hour return window, this sounds good. Yes it’s expensive but I think I’d pay it for my parents or in-laws.

I hear you, as someone who used to take a lot of larger family trips using our DVC Membership, and the one who always did all the planning, I no longer feel I can do so for more than a few people at time. It’s just too complicated. Not much fun at all.

This sounds delightful. But the cost is a hard pill to swallow!

 

[Syndrome]

Hard NOPE !
This is never going to work if Disney keeps the lower priced LL available too !
So they sell an "affordable" "front of the line pass" for the masses , that most everyone buys , then they also sell an "expensive" "front of the line pass" for select few , that some buy . They are all vying for that same front of the line que ???? Imagine paying $400. a day for this "front of the line" pass , only to be waiting in line with everyone else who payed only a fraction of that cost ???
Disney is trying to get it from all sides ........never going to work ! Either keep what they have now OR go with the "expensive" "front of the line" pricing model , NOT BOTH ! I would prefer they just go with the "expensive" option like Universal and most ALL other theme parks . IT WORKS ! If you really want that "front of the line" option, you will be paying for it, and then, the normal lines wont be that bad .
SO GLAD that we decided to go to Universal for our big family trip upcoming in 2025 !
Finally getting sick of Disney and all their price gouging .
It took a while , but just cant climb on board that crazy train any more !

 

[Boardwalk III]

I don't think that's the right question. A better question might be: Why anyone would find value in this? And, in my experience there are two possible answers.

One is: "It lets me turn my planning brain off for the day." As the person who Does The Planning, there is a fair amount of work leading up to each day, and then during the day constant adjustment as things don't work out exactly the way I thought they would. This removes all of that work.

The second is: "I have a group who is not good at following directions." This happened to me when we traveled with a second family. They did not "get" the idea of a touring plan, because they'd never done it before. When their kids saw something they wanted to do, they wanted to do it RIGHT THEN, and it took a bit to help the parents understand why that might not be wise. We ultimately followed the plan, but not without some resentment on everyone's part.

BINGO! Especially #1, though I have experienced both situations. I’m so tempted on occasion, but boy is it a high price to pay. Sigh.

 

[tx911]

Hard NOPE !
This is never going to work if Disney keeps the lower priced LL available too !
So they sell an "affordable" "front of the line pass" for the masses , that most everyone buys , then they also sell an "expensive" "front of the line pass" for select few , that some buy . They are all vying for that same front of the line que ???? Imagine paying $400. a day for this "front of the line" pass , only to be waiting in line with everyone else who payed only a fraction of that cost ???
Disney is trying to get it from all sides ........never going to work ! Either keep what they have now OR go with the "expensive" "front of the line" pricing model , NOT BOTH ! I would prefer they just go with the "expensive" option like Universal and most ALL other theme parks . IT WORKS ! If you really want that "front of the line" option, you will be paying for it, and then, the normal lines wont be that bad .
SO GLAD that we decided to go to Universal for our big family trip upcoming in 2025 !
Finally getting sick of Disney and all their price gouging .
It took a while , but just cant climb on board that crazy train any more !

Given the numerous posts I've seen comparing LLPP to Universal's Express Pass, I feel like there are a lot of uninformed or misinformed people about how these skip-the-line systems work, and why Disney trying to copy Universal on this would be an Epic (pun intended) failure.