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

[foodiddiedoo]

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’m the only person in my family that has an AP (I buy it for the food/merch discounts and potential room discounts) and the rest of my family has park tickets. If they don’t let me book with the rest of my family with park tickets all staying in the SAME ROOM, I’d be livid.

 

[bashuck]

Just read Tom Bricker’s article, and it sounds like all pre booked passes will need to be in the same park. Now I don’t know which park to do on our arrival half day. (A Thursday afternoon in late August)

Yeah I used to like HS for check in day as it had the best Genie+ options for us. Now we might just go to Epcot as we like Guardians the most and it doesn't have anything else significant for rides and we will just skip this multi fast pass that day and enjoy the world showcase

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I had this thought, too! By our last trip, we'd gotten so good at using Genie+ that we didn't wait in any lines more than a few minutes and rode almost everything we wanted picking up pretty good times/rides throughout the day. I really am anxious to see how availability holds up throughout the day...but, also, I'm THRILLED not to have to get up at 6:45.

It is important to note that VQ will still be at 7am.

 

[AttheParks]

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.

So how does this work, if some of the party has AP and some has date based ticket. And not really fair to AP's that stay on site.

 

[azrivest]

Can anyone confirm that international guests will not be able to use this? We’re Canadian, and we’ve always been able to use whatever Disney’s put out before.

That's what my TA said yes. We'd only be able to start booking LLs once we arrive onsite.

Absolutely despicable.

 

[CWTC]

So how does this work, if some of the party has AP and some has date based ticket. And not really fair to AP's that stay on site.

Who knows? At this point I question if the information I got was sound.

 

[Nikkimouse44]

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.

Seems pretty lame considering my 3 selected rides might not be open until the afternoon when making selections 7 days out - since those who are arriving before me had the chance to book the rides (similar to dining)

So if I wanted:
Big thunder
Pirates
Haunted Mansion

Those might not be free until noon or later on my MK day… so I’d have from 9am-12pm (or later) that I cannot use the service? (Assuming MK opens at 9am and EE is at 830am)

 

[HopperFan]

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.

Never say never but I don't believe them.

One, both those sources are often wrong especially on something new. They likely are just spieling that AP have 3 days without any consideration with an onsite stay. Two, Disney allows AP staying onsite to make length of stay park reservations vs offsite so I would think this would fall in the same category. Three, FAST way to encourage AP to stay offsite, I mean at this point there is really no benefit to staying onsite unless you have no car or stay deluxe. We don't pay to park and as an AP and regular visitor sleep usually wins over 30 minutes extra that I have to battle rope drop folks for.

Where did you see that?

Yeah, I want to see that IN WRITING.

 

[tom1944]

From the Video on the new site:

Guests of a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels, this includes Guests of Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Shades of Green Resort, can purchase beginning at 7 AM 7 days prior to their Resort reservation check in day.

I assume Swan Reserve is implicitly included.

Split stays have 2 different windows?

 

[MyNewDream012714]

Probably in the minority, but Genie+ worked well for us and I'm incredibly frustrated that our August trip means we're stuck in the early-ish goings of this one. Not fighting tiers was arguably the best part of Genie+ and going back to that is not something we're looking forward to.

 

[Nikkimouse44]

Split stays have 2 different windows?

Yes - they do with dining

 

[Genie+]

Split stays have 2 different windows?

Usually split stays have 2 windows on things like ADRs but I’m not sure how it’ll work in this case with advanced LL plans.

 

[traveler9]

That's what my TA said yes. We'd only be able to start booking LLs once we arrive onsite.

Absolutely despicable.

Couldn’t you just use a VPN to book from outside the US?

 

[Tom_E_D]

I'd like to get Len Testa's take on how this will affect their stuff at TP.

I'm pretty sure they were still working on incorporating Genie+ into their touring plans last month, perhaps still are. Now they'll have to start over again, I guess.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Perfectly said! Couldn’t agree more!

 

[azrivest]

Couldn’t you just use a VPN to book from outside the US?

yeah maybe a VPN could work. Or what if I'm sharing my room with a US based guest?

The wording implies we can only book once we've checked in onsite though so my initial guess was that the VPN wouldn't be enough.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Seems pretty lame considering my 3 selected rides might not be open until the afternoon when making selections 7 days out - since those who are arriving before me had the chance to book the rides (similar to dining)

So if I wanted:
Big thunder
Pirates
Haunted Mansion

Those might not be free until noon or later on my MK day… so I’d have from 9am-12pm (or later) that I cannot use the service? (Assuming MK opens at 9am and EE is at 830am)

That's how the old FP was, though, and only the very top rides booked way far out like that. In the above scenario, I think you'd likely be able to get pirates and/or HM early and, unlike old FP, you can start booking addition LLs as soon as you tap into the first one, so having a later Big Thunder doesn't hinder you picking up more once you use morning bookings.

Also, MK never used to be tiered, so it'll be interesting to see how that impacts availability there. With only being able to prebook one mountain, I would expect all of the mountains to still have good availability day of, at least until people start tapping and grabbing.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Perfectly said! Couldn’t agree more!

I assume you're replying to all the previous 274 posts and not just the one immediately before yours.

 

[Neener16]

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 it’s a mystery if you can use Geni + on the 22nd and 23rd. The wording seems to be “may” be able to use. Unfortunately, you and everybody that goes around that time are going to be the guinea pigs. I would keep reading here and just get as educated as possible before you go. We’re going in August and I am very happy that my daughter is coming with me.

 

[Nikkimouse44]

That's how the old FP was, though, and only the very top rides booked way far out like that. In the above scenario, I think you'd likely be able to get pirates and/or HM early and, unlike old FP, you can start booking addition LLs as soon as you tap into the first one, so having a later Big Thunder doesn't hinder you picking up more once you use morning bookings.

Also, MK never used to be tiered, so it'll be interesting to see how that impacts availability there. With only being able to prebook one mountain, I would expect all of the mountains to still have good availability day of, at least until people start tapping and grabbing.

I remember the paper FP, then I remember in 2018 we did the mobile FB, our trips after 2018 we had DAS, but unfortunately with new rules unsure if we’d qualify so I’m trying to learn more of this. I just got genie down in May on my last trip we have until December to learn though

I’m sure the kinks will be worked out by then