now the crowds are lower, Is there any reason to buy the expensive LLMP? Or is attendance picking up again now?

[luvnwdwgal]

We’re going later this month and have decided not to buy them. Fortunately we’ve been there enough times that it doesn’t really matter what we ride or don’t ride anymore. I absolutely hate having to book rides on my phone. At least they did make it nicer with booking 3 early. We plan on just going with the flow like the good old days. I realize that doesn’t work for alot of people but I’m very much looking forward to just relaxing my way around the parks and just enjoy being in the bubble.

 

[CVG]

Same! I WILL NOT buy it. Same reason. Guess what?? Ive never needed it. 1. I use strategy and EE or EEH's. I lobe the parks early even if not riding rides. Another great time for a headliner is just before park close, etc.
2. Except for the headliners not needed. I believe they inflate wait time to sell more LL and also give a sense of value. I was given it free once on a busy MK day. It was fun..but so many ques had long waits displayed that were not true.
3. I am not interested in wasting the magic buried in my cell phone!

You saved me a post. How hideous and miserable to spend all that money and then be on your phone all day. Look at pictures and videos from WDW. Half of the customers are just staring down rather than looking up. It's like an episode of the Walking Dead.

 

[Karalee402]

We’re going later this month and have decided not to buy them. Fortunately we’ve been there enough times that it doesn’t really matter what we ride or don’t ride anymore. I absolutely hate having to book rides on my phone. At least they did make it nicer with booking 3 early. We plan on just going with the flow like the good old days. I realize that doesn’t work for alot of people but I’m very much looking forward to just relaxing my way around the parks and just enjoy being in the bubble.

My husband and I were just talking about something similar. Now, I know we're incredibly privileged that we've been able to go so often lately. I think if it were my first trip or once in a lifetime trip, I'd do all I could to make sure I could do everything. And we've definitely had trips like that! But at this point, we love to just soak in the parks, and we get a kick out of doing things like riding Three Caballeros over and over. Again, I realize we're so lucky to get to look at it this way, but I'm with you - enjoying being in the bubble can be just as fun!

 

[Mousetopia]

You saved me a post. How hideous and miserable to spend all that money and then be on your phone all day. Look at pictures and videos from WDW. Half of the customers are just staring down rather than looking up. It's like an episode of the Walking Dead.

The beauty of planning a strategy to ride without long lines is it can all be done before you get there, then you can go do and enjoy when there! It works great for me. Last December I ride every single thing I wanted and had a 15 min wait tops...with maybe 1 that got to just short of 30! Way less stress than the paid service

 

[Cynt]

I so miss the free FP. We went during Christmas last year and paid the extra for them ABSOLUTELY worth it to us. We will purchase them if we go during a holiday. We usually go September or May and the crowds are manageable.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The beauty of planning a stategy to ride without long lines is it can all be done before you get there, then you can go do and enjoy when there! It works great for me. Last December I ride every single thing I wanted and had a 15 min wait tops...with maybe 1 that got to just short of 30! Way less sttess than the paid service

Plus for me anyways it gives you more time to stop and smell the roses which is the opposite of what some posters have suggested it does.
Yes I may have my nose buried in my phone part of the time but doing that is giving me downtime while I'm doing it aka I sit and relax while I'm mobile ordering food so I don't have to stand in line and then while I'm enjoying my last sips of drink I'm booking my next LL so that I can be well rested and in the moment during the attractions.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There is certainly some trade-off of using your phone with LLMP, but how much you use it is really up to each person. You can stop at 3 prebooks, or just choose something quickly when you get to pass 4 and beyond.

You also have the option to look a little more carefully. I did not have much luck modifying my pre-booked passes, but others might have a different experience.

These days, people use their phones all day, no matter where they are. Using a phone while standing in line at WDW may have little to do with LLMP or MDE at all.

For us, the value of LLMP was more than if we'd paid for an after-hours event or party, but I could see how others might feel the PM events were worthwhile for them.

 

[DebbieB]

You saved me a post. How hideous and miserable to spend all that money and then be on your phone all day. Look at pictures and videos from WDW. Half of the customers are just staring down rather than looking up. It's like an episode of the Walking Dead.

I typically manage it for my group and don’t find I’m staring at my phone that much. Let’s face it, no matter where you go these days, people are on their phones. It’s not particular to Disney.

 

[mom2rtk]

Even if you happen to catch one of the rare lower crowd days, Disney is ahead of you and staffing down to make wait times longer.

You used to be able to at least wait until you got there to see how things were going before deciding, but now that people are scheduling 3-7 days out, if you want to maximize your investment, you have to commit before you ever see how the crowds are.

 

[NightGuardianAngel]

I consider Lightning Lane like the toll roads, usually if the traffic is lighter, then it may make less sense to pay the tolls to use the toll roads.