LL unavailable question

[wendlle]

I waited too long to purchase LL for Hollywood studios for a date next week

Slinky dog says “unavailable” for every single date
Does that mean I can’t get one at all that day? Or just can’t get one for preselection?

 

[hes122]

It means that right now there is nothing available for the dates you're looking at. There's always a possibility something will pop up, but you have to be diligent about checking. We booked HS for day 1 last August and it was the only LL we were never able to move around.

 

[scrappinginontario]

You may be able to get one day of but honestly it's highly unlikely. SDD is the most requested LL at DHS and 'sells out' within minutes each morning. My recommendation is to keep trying the day you're there but also be prepared to wait in the standby line as likely that will be your best option.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It’s sold out. Is there a tiny chance you’ll pick it up day of? Sure. But we’re talking like 1% chance you snag one day of so for planning purposes if you purchase LL, don’t expect to get SDD.

Bummer on missing your LL window, hopefully if you’re doing any other parks you booked what you wanted right? Stuff sells out elsewhere too, SDD just happens to be like the most popular LL.

 

[Dave006]

Slinky dog says “unavailable” for every single date
Does that mean I can’t get one at all that day? Or just can’t get one for preselection?

Nope that happens on popular times, and next week will be quite popular as it is part of the Memorial Day Holiday week. The good news is that Slinky Dog is a high volume attraction. They drop additional LL for it all morning starting at 6:55 AM each day until 12 PM and then a couple of times in the afternoon.

Check this Thrill Data page, and it has details on the average times additional LL drop windows per day; https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane/wdw/popup#slinkydogdash

Begin to refresh MDE a minute before the times listed for releases for your best chance to snag a Lightning Lane slot!

Dave

 

[WDWLODGE]

Just to give you a glimmer of hope, last Friday I was on the look for an earlier Haunted Mansion LL & stumbled across 4 LL's for Tiana's and was able to scoop them up. Tiana's is a tough one to get as well.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just to give you a glimmer of hope, last Friday I was on the look for an earlier Haunted Mansion LL & stumbled across 4 LL's for Tiana's and was able to scoop them up. Tiana's is a tough one to get as well.

Keep in mind Tiana’s drops a ton of LLs through the day. (Most likely due to its operational issues.) It’s much easier to snag than SDD day of.

 

[traveler9]

Keep in mind Tiana’s drops a ton of LLs through the day. (Most likely due to its operational issues.) It’s much easier to snag than SDD day of.

Slinky does as well but they are much fewer and farther between than Tiana's.

 

[wendlle]

thanks everyone. I'm back from my trip now and all I can say is that the experience wasn't what I was expecting.
I am so upset Disney decided to go the route they did, we didn't have the best time in the parks, we DID have an amazing time at Universal.
The LL situation at WDW really put a sour note to our trip, we couldn't afford it so didn't get it but the wait times were insane and we just found that we weren't riding anything so decided to get the LL for 3 of our days, turns out we were too late and just about everything was sold out already or not at times that suited us or all over the park making it too hard with small kids to run around in 95 heat.
It was never this way with FP+ and even if it was you didn't care because over $100 wasn't missing from your bank account each day.

I have to say we won't be back anytime soon which is so sad, the prices have gotten way out of control and we left feeling like we didn't get our money's worth at all.

 

[Dave006]

I am so upset Disney decided to go the route they did, we didn't have the best time in the parks, we DID have an amazing time at Universal.

While I appreciate your honest feedback from your trip. It does lead me to ask some questions if you want to answer. Did you get Free Express passes at Royal Pacific when you went to Universal?

The LL situation at WDW really put a sour note to our trip, we couldn't afford it so didn't get it but the wait times were insane and we just found that we weren't riding anything so decided to get the LL for 3 of our days, turns out we were too late and just about everything was sold out already or not at times that suited us or all over the park making it too hard with small kids to run around in 95 heat.

It is not that you could not afford LLMP and/or LLSP, you chose to allocate / spend your money in different ways. We all make those choices on every vacation.

It can get quite hot during the second 1/2 of May. Have you visited WDW during this time of year before?

Yes purchases of LL at the last minute are not the best use of the new LL service as you found out. It shows you your first 3 before you even purchase. We never found FP+ to be that magical. Did you have your small children when FP+ was available?

Dave

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Disney really is a game of advanced planning at this point. That is if you don't go very often and need to get everything checked off a list. Sounds like the last minute of it all got the better of you on the trip. It stinks when that happens. The mantra of WDW planning at this point is The Early Bird Gets The Worm.

 

[DL1WDW2]

The responses seem strange .
I have to wonder just how familiar you are with Universal in comparison to WDW because you seem to want to make excuses for Disney .
Getting Express Passes included with hotel stay at a specific park would be a good thing offered at Universal but that is not the only thing that makes Universal more easy to visit .And more enjoyable.

 

[wendlle]

This trip was in the planning for over a year and cost over $50K
I knew all about the LL advance planning etc but because we didn't want it, I didn't bother about it. Once the kids started getting upset about the wait times I knew I had to get them onto something so purchased it and that's when I knew how crappy the system was.

In comparison we also went to Disneyland on our way back home, we used LL there it came as part of our discounted ticket package and we did enjoy using it there - everyone is on a level playing field - everyone can access LL once they scan into the park and they were readily available all day - the only one we saw sell out each day was sourin and I didn't much care as I don't fancy that ride much anyway and we did to it at WDW with the EEH.
I just don't like the system at WDW, that you have to do it all in advance. Our Disneyland trip was so magical, we will def be back to Disneyland in a heartbeat but WDW not so much. I could go to Universal for half the cost and get a lot more for my money, and we really loved Epic Universe (we did a preview day)
I see us spending a lot more time at Universal over WDW when we go back to Orlando again - something we would have never said before.

We will visit the Asian parks more often anyway. They are closer to Australia, they are a lot cheaper and less crowded with the exception of Tokyo - but they handle the large crowds there well and I don't mind their "pay for ride" system, at least you're guaranteed to ride not like the LL which is a gamble.

 

[Minnie1222]

While it's still cheaper to visit the two original Universal parks, I don't think the same applies to Epic Universe. At $300/person for the express pass which excludes 3 rides, it makes the Premier Pass at Disney look like a bargain. With $1500/night, you can get a decent suite at Disney with windows, access to sunlight/fresh air via a balcony, and unlimited food & drinks from the club lounge. For the same amount, all we got from Helios Grand was a tight space where 2 out 3 rooms had no windows.

 

[Dave006]

I have to wonder just how familiar you are with Universal in comparison to WDW because you seem to want to make excuses for Disney .

Not sure who you are asking but yes we have done all Universal has to offer and we have used Express pass each time. That's why I asked about Royal Pacific vs Cabana Bay. Express pass it not included with Cabana Bay. The cost of the Express pass is no cheap option.

Dave

 

[wvjules]

thanks everyone. I'm back from my trip now and all I can say is that the experience wasn't what I was expecting.
I am so upset Disney decided to go the route they did, we didn't have the best time in the parks, we DID have an amazing time at Universal.
The LL situation at WDW really put a sour note to our trip, we couldn't afford it so didn't get it but the wait times were insane and we just found that we weren't riding anything so decided to get the LL for 3 of our days, turns out we were too late and just about everything was sold out already or not at times that suited us or all over the park making it too hard with small kids to run around in 95 heat.
It was never this way with FP+ and even if it was you didn't care because over $100 wasn't missing from your bank account each day.

I have to say we won't be back anytime soon which is so sad, the prices have gotten way out of control and we left feeling like we didn't get our money's worth at all.

Were you not able to see the return times for your first 3 before you bought them? Or notice that the rides you wanted were unavailable?

 

[kylenne]

We also just got back and tbh it was unusually hot for the end of May, especially around Memorial Day, and crowds were definitely elevated more than usual for this time of year. We were shocked by how crowded it was at MK EEH on 5/28 to the point we bounced early and were glad we opted to purchase LLMP and Tron SPs for the next day. Maybe Iger was right after all about Epic boosting Disney crowds, I can't disagree with it anecdotally.

It is possible to be successful with a same day LL purchase. I was able to pull a same day Rise LL on Sunday by refreshing a bunch and if I had opted to buy LLMP could have pulled everything including Slinky Dog if I wanted to, early on in the day I saw everything come back. I have no doubt MK is similar because I've seen it there too. Times may not be ideal and you may need to refresh a lot but it's possible to non-ideal back times up too. You just have to be patient and probably spend more time on your phone than is ideal.

Conversely Frozen was sold out by like 8:30a on Monday at Epcot so I was unable to pull it despite tapping in for Living with the Land at exactly 9a. It was the last day of Flower & Garden so very busy. Some days even a high knowledge guest struggles but for the most part patience and constant refreshing will do it. The thing is, FP+ was even worse for the top tier rides unless you knew what time the drops hit, precisely because it was free and everyone had access to it, and also because the prebooking window was way earlier than it is now.

 

[wendlle]

We also just got back and tbh it was unusually hot for the end of May, especially around Memorial Day, and crowds were definitely elevated more than usual for this time of year. We were shocked by how crowded it was at MK EEH on 5/28 to the point we bounced early and were glad we opted to purchase LLMP and Tron SPs for the next day. Maybe Iger was right after all about Epic boosting Disney crowds, I can't disagree with it anecdotally.

Yep, I was there for that EEH at MK, we went the week before and rode Mine Train twice both times with sub 20min waits, that night of the 28th it was over 45 mins the entire EEH so basically the same as all day.
We did a whole bunch of smaller rides which were all walk on so the kids were happy with that but the crowds were insane compared to the week before for EEH that's for sure.

I don't mind paying for the premier hotels at universal and getting the included EP we usually split our stay between Cabana Bay and a premier that way we can do Volcano Bay and our pool time/relax at CB then do the parks when we go to the Premier hotel - Epic I don't mind waiting in line when it's one day and a brand new park, I wouldn't pay for EP's there, I just can't afford it.


I just don't get why some people can't see other opinions, not everyone likes LL or thinks it's a good system. I don't mind planning but I shouldn't have to be picking rides a week in advance. I liked the DL system where you can just do it the morning of, seems more fair and like I said it won't bother me, I won't be coming back to WDW for 5+ years anyway, it wasn't the vacation I was picturing so am in no hurry to return.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'll be experiencing it in another two weeks, but getting LL for MK and HS.

I still think the original FP was the most "fair".
A) You not only had to be in the park, but at the ride to get one.
B) The return time was based (IIRC) on what the current standby time was, plus a little.
C) It was free.

People could be spending time in restaurants & shops (spending money which is what Disney wants), or people watching and soaking up the atmosphere. You weren't buried in your phone hoping for the perfect LL to pop up.

We'll do it, simply because that's the way the game is played, and my FOMO is too strong to not to.

ETA, and before someone says "that's not fair if you want to park hop", yes it is. At least it's more fair (IMO) than someone standing in MK able to book a ride in HS, and a person actually IN HS cant.

 

[Dave006]

Yep, I was there for that EEH at MK, we went the week before and rode Mine Train twice both times with sub 20min waits, that night of the 28th it was over 45 mins the entire EEH so basically the same as all day.
We did a whole bunch of smaller rides which were all walk on so the kids were happy with that but the crowds were insane compared to the week before for EEH that's for sure.

Yes you timing was unfortunate. That second week ,May 28th is a Holiday week for Memorial day. It causes a spike in crowds every year.

I liked the DL system where you can just do it the morning of, seems more fair and like I said it won't bother me, I won't be coming back to WDW for 5+ years anyway, it wasn't the vacation I was picturing so am in no hurry to return.

Yes the DLR uses the same name Lightning Lanes Multi Pass, and even Lightning Lane Premier Pass. However the DLR LLMP is really a rebranded MaxPass, and nothing like the offerings at WDW.

Actually many of us at WDW would prefer the DLR solution but we don't have that option. We have learned how to maximize the system that was forced on us on July 24th of 2024.

Dave