Plan Ahead with Lightning Lane Entry at Walt Disney World Starting July 24

[CWTC]

Phone CMs and chat are notoriously unreliable, even the AP line. I would absolutely not believe a word of that unless and until it’s in writing somewhere on the site. Especially since it would completely fly in the face of how AP resort guests have been handed. This program was just announced today and I doubt they are all up to speed on particulars like this.

I hope and assume you are right and that the info just has to trickle out. But dang it this is messing up completely my to do list since I’m delaying the AP renewal until I have more info.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Did they post anything about this scenario?

All 3 pre selects are for the PM timeframe
Scan into the park at park opening - can we not make any selections until we scan into the first pre selects?

You cannot make another selection until you scan into one. You could perhaps modify one of the pre-selects to something with an earlier return time, but just entering the park doesn't entitle you to book another.

 

[Figment Mom]

Our vacation is July 22- 29. Can someone explain to me how that would work for our vacation? I am a 78 year old grandma. Thanks!

I think we'll all figure it out together.
Right now I'm expecting to use regular G+ through the 23rd, then wake up on the 24th and purchase/reserve 3 LL per day for the rest of our trip.
And ride out the glitches with everyone else those first few days.

I'm trying to remember that I'm still at Disney no matter what. I'm definitely slightly stressed, though. I was super comfortable with G+.

I'll be carefully reading to see if we get any more details between now and then.

 

[rmclain73]

I know people are saying this will better as they can now sleep in. However, if you want to get more than 3 attractions, and even try for another tier 1 attraction, you will have to be in the parks very early to do so.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

Once the official Disney webpage on this change was working, it appears AP holders will get 3 day window day by day whereas dated tickets can book 3 days ahead for the entire length of their ticket. I cannot find anything on how AP holders staying onsite will be treated - do they get the 7 day window like other onsite guests OR are they held to the 3 day AP rule?

If you are an AP who is staying onsite, you get the 7-day advance purchase like others who are onsite. If you are an AP who is not staying onsite, you get the 3-day advance purchase like others who are off-site. From WDW website:

Guests of Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance of their stay—and other Guests can purchase passes up to 3 days in advance of their park visit.

Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes for days they have valid theme park admission* starting at 7:00 AM Eastern Time on their first day of eligibility.

Here’s when you can purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Lightning Lane Single Pass—and choose experiences and arrival windows:

7 Days in Advance for Eligible Resort Hotel Guests
When staying at Disney Resort hotels or other select hotels, Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes—and choose experiences and arrival windows—starting 7 days before the first day of their Resort stay, for their length of stay (up to 14 days).

This early-planning benefit is available to registered Guests staying at:

• Disney Resort hotels
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• Shades of Green Resort

3 Days in Advance for All Other Guests
Not staying at a Disney Resort hotel or other select hotel? Then you can purchase Lightning Lane passes—and choose experiences and arrival windows—3 days in advance. See additional details below, which vary based on admission type:

• Guests with date-based theme park tickets (which require the Guest to choose a start date at the time of purchase) can purchase 3 days before the first day of their ticket, for the total number of valid admission days on their ticket.
• Guests with other ticket types* can purchase 3 days before their park visit.
• Annual Passholders* can purchase 3 days before their park visit.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Phone CMs and chat are notoriously unreliable, even the AP line. I would absolutely not believe a word of that unless and until it’s in writing somewhere on the site. Especially since it would completely fly in the face of how AP resort guests have been handed. This program was just announced today and I doubt they are all up to speed on particulars like this.

Sad to say, the website isn't noted for its reliability either. I seem to remember when Genie+ rolled out, the website said nothing about the 2-hour rule.

 

[vinotinto]

If back in 201X when FP+ started, you would have told me Jungle Cruise would be a Tier 1, I would not have believed you.

And yet, here we are.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

Sad to say, the website isn't noted for its reliability either. I seem to remember when Genie+ rolled out, the website said nothing about the 2-hour rule.

That appears to have been by design. They did not disclose most of the details about how the system worked.

 

[Tom_E_D]

That appears to have been by design. They did not disclose most of the details about how the system worked.

Intentional or not, it means you can't rely on the website for information that is factual and complete.

 

[Minnie1222]

According to Disney AP holders staying on site will not be granted the 7 day window but will held to the 3 day. If that is true, we may not renew our APs. Bummer.

Edited to add: I was told this on the phone and also via the MDE chat. Actually the chat people told me 1st, I didn’t believe them, so then I called in. I’m going to try again in a few days and see what I’m told.

That can't be true! They want everyone to stay on site, including us lowly AP holders.

 

[123SA]

I know people are saying this will better as they can now sleep in. However, if you want to get more than 3 attractions, and even try for another tier 1 attraction, you will have to be in the parks very early to do so.

When FP+ was in effect, I had no problem getting more that 3 FP per day. (August trips) Why do you think it will not be possible now?

Also, the capacity isn't changing and last year I got at least 6 Genie+ rides per day. (Still August trips)

This new system will still be an additional cost...are you anticipating that more people will buy it?

 

[Minnie1222]

If back in 201X when FP+ started, you would have told me Jungle Cruise would be a Tier 1, I would not have believed you.

And yet, here we are.

Since it's labeled as a Tier 1, all the sudden I have a strong desire to go on it.

 

[gottalovepluto]

According to Disney AP holders staying on site will not be granted the 7 day window but will held to the 3 day. If that is true, we may not renew our APs. Bummer.

Edited to add: I was told this on the phone and also via the MDE chat. Actually the chat people told me 1st, I didn’t believe them, so then I called in. I’m going to try again in a few days and see what I’m told.

Sounds like bad info. WDW can be idiotic sometimes for sure but I don’t see them being that idiotic. Unlike DLR, WDW had the foresight to allow AP holders to make park reservations for the length of their on-site stay. I see no reason they would allow that but exclude them from the on-sight LL purchasing benefit.

BUT, if I were chat or anyone answering phones at Disney I would promise the absolute minimum until the system went live.

 

[katyjeka]

Our AAA agent told us a big change was coming for our September trip.....I'm thinking this is it? I'm so excited as I'm a plan ahead type of person!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I'm still unsure how the single-use LL will work for hopping, especially with VQ. Let's say I plan to visit HS in the morning and MK in the evening. If I'm quick and lucky, could I possibly have a ILL and a VQ for ROTR for the morning, plus Multi-Ride LL for Slinky, TSMM, and TOT, and a ILL for TRON booked for the evening at MK? And then could I grab another VQ for TRON at the 1pm drop, whether or not I've scanned into MK?

Also very interested to know whether concierge guests might be offered the promo for extra paid LL bookings without Tiers like they were in the last days of FP+.

 

[Smugpugmug]

According to Disney AP holders staying on site will not be granted the 7 day window but will held to the 3 day. If that is true, we may not renew our APs. Bummer.

Edited to add: I was told this on the phone and also via the MDE chat. Actually the chat people told me 1st, I didn’t believe them, so then I called in. I’m going to try again in a few days and see what I’m told.

I wouldn't listen to info given by CMs on the phone. They're about as reliable as Disney bus driver rumors.

 

[vinotinto]

And let the reminiscence of G+ begin...

We're flying in on July 25th, and I was all set to purchase G+ that day and modify my selections, so I could stack Remy, Frozen and Soarin, by the time we would enter the parks at 6pm.

Alas, my friends, that is unlikely to happen. So, now the question is, is it even worth purchasing this for arrival / departure days, since you may only get 1 Tier 1 ride?

Despite my avatar, I don't really need Nemo or Turtle Talk.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I know people are saying this will better as they can now sleep in. However, if you want to get more than 3 attractions, and even try for another tier 1 attraction, you will have to be in the parks very early to do so.

Things open up constantly throughout the day. I usually get ride after ride after rider throughout the day and never wait with genie. I expect the same. The hardest ones will be the ones you book in advance anyway so I think it will be fine.

Basically like fast pass before it.

But who knows

 

[ThornXBL]

Are there no LLs for meet and greets anymore?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805710353277362465

guess not

 

[Cabius]

Overall, this new system seems like a big improvement to me.

Disney is in a tough spot here, largely because there is so much demand that the parks are just too crowded for their ride capacity.

Allow too much advanced planning, and people will complain that you have to wake up at 6AM and know exactly what you want to do months in advance.
Allow too little advanced planning, and people will complain that they couldn't experience the attractions that they wanted to without spending their entire vacation standing in line.

Make it too complex, and casual guests will feel overwhelmed and complain that you need a PhD just to go on a Disney vacation.
Make it too simple, and savvy guests will find every possible exploit and loophole to get as much value as possible.

This seems like it threads the needle reasonably well, eliminating some of the chaos of mid-vacation scrambling without requiring months of advanced planning, and also giving some advantage to on-site guests and those with longer stays.

I've yet to pay for Genie+, partially out of spite, and partially because we can usually accomplish what we want to with careful rope-drop strategies and longer trips. I also haven't been willing to spend that much money and then roll the dice on what I would get for it, nor do I want to spend the whole day with my head in my phone. But I may actually spring for this in early August, if I can plan ahead and know what I'm getting.