New pre-purchase lighting lane July 24th?

[mikeishere]

Hey, with the new announcement that you will be able to pre-purchase lighting lane from July 24th me and my parents have a trip already pre booked at the swan hotel at Disney world will I be able to lighting lane to our pre existing booking from July 24th?

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

Swan is included. But its a bit up in the air atm about how it will work for international guests

 

[nursejackie]

This is from another website:
International guests will not be able to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass prior to arriving in the United States. This is likely related to international laws, and may change in the future — but probably not any time soon.

 

[Duck In Blue]

In a DVC group I am in somebody shared this information from another website:

I saw a few social media posts that said international visitors cannot book their rides in advance if they are outside the United States. So I called Disney World customer service to hear straight from the mouse itself.

They confirmed:

• If you have a Disney resort reservation you can book 7-days in advance no matter where you are in the world.
• If you do not have a Disney resort reservation you cannot book 3-days in advance outside of the United States.
• Customer service cannot book your rides for you.
• The team is aware of these issues and we can expect more announcements before the launch.

Hopefully that clarifies some of the misinformation flying around (I'm looking at you WDWNT!!!). Fingers crossed they fix this for everyone.

EDIT: Just to clarify further. The CM originally told me that international visitors would not be able to book their rides until they were in the US. Then I asked if we could call customer service and have them do it for us. They said they weren't sure and put me on hold as they escalated the issue. When the CM came back on the line she said she learned the new information that guests with resort reservations, regardless of location, would be able to book 7-days in advance. So this person didn't have all the info when I first called and when they checked with the escalation department they got more information. I think this is why some people have been hearing the contrary of what I'm reporting here. They also apologized and said they only learned about this yesterday themselves and they don't know all the ins and outs yet.

I really hope this one is right, but unless all cast members start repeating the same message, or Disney themselves put something out about it we won't know for sure until people actually get to the point we should be able to book.

 

[McCrae]

If you run into a problem you can use a VPN.

 

[walt34]

If you run into a problem you can use a VPN.

Probably not. Genie+ is currently handled within the MDE app and not the website and the app checks the location of the user through location services (GPS) and not the IP address. At least for me it doesn't care about VPN, it just tells me that it won't work outside the US or Canada.

 

[nursejackie]

I have to say I am more confused that ever! I guess the proof will be in the pudding, when people travelling in late July from overseas reach their 7 day window. I am praying this latest information is correct.

 

[Matt and Emma]

Probably not. Genie+ is currently handled within the MDE app and not the website and the app checks the location of the user through location services (GPS) and not the IP address. At least for me it doesn't care about VPN, it just tells me that it won't work outside the US or Canada.

Seems odd that I can go onto my Disney experience app (while I’m sat here in the midlands) and order food to pick up in 45 mins from Casey’s corner and there’s no issue with being geo locked?? Yet won’t be able to pick out some lightning lanes before we go

 

[McCrae]

Probably not. Genie+ is currently handled within the MDE app and not the website and the app checks the location of the user through location services (GPS) and not the IP address. At least for me it doesn't care about VPN, it just tells me that it won't work outside the US or Canada.

That is interestIng. I disabled the location function and was able to use the MDE App without a problem.

 

[walt34]

That is interestIng. I disabled the location function and was able to use the MDE App without a problem.

Can you buy Genie+ with location services deactivated? I can use the app but I cannot buy Genie+.

 

[zavandor]

It's possible to change GPS location using an app (at least with Android). Not sure if it's enough, it is possible for the app to recognize that (but not many do). Worst case, it's possible to install and Android emulator, like Bluestack, that allows to set the location, that should always work. However, if Disney checks registered home address, that would have to be changed too.

 

[McCrae]

Can you buy Genie+ with location services deactivated? I can use the app but I cannot buy Genie+.

I don’t have a live booking so haven’t tried to buy Genie+. I own DVC and from what I have read I won’t have a problem buying it before my next trip.

 

[jf256]

They need to sort this out. At least let people call and purchase. Good luck getting slinky dog or anything worth while if they don't.

I actually loved the old genie plus and I'm disappointed they've done this. We aren't planning a trip until at least Sept 2025 so I'm hopeful this will in part be sorted.

 

[mikeishere]

Thanks for all the info, it’s so confusing. We go first week in October I hope it’s sorted by then

 

[Tink-osophy]

It's possible to change GPS location using an app (at least with Android). Not sure if it's enough, it is possible for the app to recognize that (but not many do). Worst case, it's possible to install and Android emulator, like Bluestack, that allows to set the location, that should always work. However, if Disney checks registered home address, that would have to be changed too.

Yes, there's a lot of chat about this kind of thing; along with Canadians talking about driving into the US just for this purpose! These are hoops that Disney guests, who are already paying through the nose, shouldn't have to jump through. Crazy, if true.

Disney seems to have woven a really tangled web with their IT systems and can't seem to get it straight.

 

[walt34]

Disney seems to have woven a really tangled web with their IT systems and can't seem to get it straight.

I don't think this is a tech issue at all. They just want to avoid selling to customers outside the US through the app - quite possibly to avoid regulations in other jurisdictions.

This needs to be resolved, though. If international customers can only buy multipass in the US and thus lose access to attraction time slots, this would devalue a WDW visit quite significantly for them.

And it can be resolved: there are several ways for me to buy tickets, hotels and packages and then link those in MDE today. So they were available to make the sales process compatible with the regulations in other countries by doing this through different websites. They should do the same for buying Multipass and then allow linking and attraction booking in the app.

 

[Tink-osophy]

I don't think this is a tech issue at all. They just want to avoid selling to customers outside the US through the app - quite possibly to avoid regulations in other jurisdictions.

Just to clarify, I didn't mean it as a tech issue, I meant the complexity of the whole system - its objectives; how it works; what it demands from its users etc.. Plus, I meant it beyond this latest issue. ETA: Sorry, looking back, I can see I didn't make that clear.

 

[nursejackie]

Canadians can now access the system to book as the US guests can. Will it be a matter of time before it's opened up to us all? I am fortunate, it's 410 days until we travel so who knows what will happen in that timeframe.

 

[JackosinDIS]

My guess is that they’re not going to open it up to UK guests. We have never been able to use the MDE app to book tickets or other special events whereas the Canadians have been able to.

It’s good that you have plenty of time so will be able to get a feel for how it works and make decisions based on that before you go. We arrive 13th August, so only a few weeks to work it all out!

 

[walt34]

My guess is that they’re not going to open it up to UK guests. We have never been able to use the MDE app to book tickets or other special events whereas the Canadians have been able to.

Yes, but guests from Europe were able to book tickets and reserve rides through the dedicated websites when Disney still used FP+. If they don’t implement a solution, international visitors to WDW will be in a much worse position than they were ever before. This will have an impact on revenue for Disney parks.