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

[Dave006]

Can you explain this bit a little more? Do you mean that the default times given to me will automatically not overlap, then I have to modify in order to get overlap? Is there a timer on the page so I know when my 5 min is almost up and I need to check out?

Correct the LLMP times returned by MDE are in the order you select them and they don't overlap by default. By default each selection is added after your previous selection return times.

Yes in the selection process you will see a timer on the top line of the MDE that starts at 5 Minutes and counts down while you are still able to Modify your selections and return times. If you don't complete your purchase before the timer runs out your selected LLMP attractions are released back in to the LLMP attraction pool.

Dave

 

[Ariel620]

Is there a way I can practice (try for a day now that I don't have a ticket for), if my tickets really start a month from now. Like a way I can play around to check availability? Back in the FP+ days I had an annual pass so I would check around to see what availability was like for 4th FP at different times of day. Any way to do that now (without an annual pass). I'm tempted to upgrade to an AP just to play around (jk...kind of).

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is there a way I can practice (try for a day now that I don't have a ticket for), if my tickets really start a month from now. Like a way I can play around to check availability? Back in the FP+ days I had an annual pass so I would check around to see what availability was like for 4th FP at different times of day. Any way to do that now (without an annual pass). I'm tempted to upgrade to an AP just to play around (jk...kind of).

No, but you can see LL availability for all rides using thrill data

 

[Dave006]

What is the best strategy? Do I start picking rides and paying ILL starting with the farthest day out then moving closer to my arrival date? or do I start with the closest day (since those will have fewer options) then move to the farthest day out? Or do I do based on the popular park/ride (like prioritize MK and HS regardless of the date)

I would focus on your MK and HS days first. As to starting with your first vs your last full day, that depends on how you schedule your individual days. Some guests swear by both methods while others swear at both methods. Personally I would take a quick look at Thrill data for LLMP and/or LLSP a day before you book to get an indication what may be unavailable at MK and HS on your first couple of days and make your individual choice based on the latest data.

Link: https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane

Do I need to waste time picking the best time for each ride, or do I just pick three, then the single pass, check out ASAP then pick the times later once I have finalized all 7 days? I am worried about wasting time on each day trying to find the perfect time and not get the best rides/times for the other days

Again if you focus first on MK and HS then you can spend the 5 minute purchase window to adjust your selected return times. Once you complete your purchases it is more complex or near impossible to modify later to improve your return times unless you are looking to switch to a later afternoon or evening visit for that day.

I don't plan to park hop, do you still recommend picking a low demand ride for park opening (like Dumbo, Aladdin) to unlock the tier restrictions? for all parks? or only HS or MK?

If you plan for arrive at a park early then it is best to have your first LLMP attraction as early as possible to unlock Tiers. If you are planing for a later start I would focus on the 3 LLMP attractions you really want to experience. The Tiers don't really play much of a roll at AK or Epcot.

Chances of finding better rides/times after paying for LLMP but before arrival date? I heard a lot of things can pop up the day of your reservation, but what about few days prior? Do I keep checking frequently or just bother on the day of the park first thing in the morning?

Once you complete your purchases it is more complex or near impossible to make changes later. When you are at WDW on the actual day of each Park visit there is often more flexibility to adjust your return times.

Dave

 

[CarolynFH]

We rode Guardians VQ on 4 days of our trip we just got back from. Each and every time we were several hours late for our BG and the CM just waved us through without saying a word.

Thanks. My real question was whether it works the same for LLSP, whether you can be late and still ride, since it was paid for. But we modified the time to be one that I'm 99% sure will work for us.

 

[godfather927]

Thanks. My real question was whether it works the same for LLSP, whether you can be late and still ride, since it was paid for. But we modified the time to be one that I'm 99% sure will work for us.

Yes, I believe they've always waved you through if you were late for an ILL, dating back to when they were first implemented on G+. I did ask about this at a blue tent once when I was trying to squeeze in a Lion King show before my ILL for FoP and they were trying to tell me I still had to be back by the end of my return time so I never actually tried it out personally but I know others who have and did not have a problem getting through 2+ hrs late for an ILL.

 

[gatorfreud]

Thanks for this info! So if I need to do six days of LL booking... I should
1. Choose which park I want to book first and the order of rides.
2. Book those (say MK day).... system will give me times.
3. CHANGE those times if I want to move them if available.
4. Check out and pay. Times are harder to move after this.

Is this correct??

and should I do one park then check out, then do the next one? Or should I put multiple days in the cart and try to do it? We have 2 MK and 2 DHS days, 1 AK and 1 Epcot.

Is this right? Suggestions? I have not done this before and my day to book is Friday!

Thank you!!
Kim

 

[Dave006]

So if I need to do six days of LL booking... I should
1. Choose which park I want to book first and the order of rides.
2. Book those (say MK day).... system will give me times.
3. CHANGE those times if I want to move them if available.
4. Check out and pay. Times are harder to move after this.

Is this correct??

Correct. And as always you have 5 minutes to modify your selections and complete your transaction for a park day.

should I do one park then check out, then do the next one? Or should I put multiple days in the cart and try to do it? We have 2 MK and 2 DHS days, 1 AK and 1 Epcot.

That's your only option. 1 park day per transaction (purchase). You can have your up to 3 LLMP selections and up to 2 LLSP selections (no park restriction if you have a Hopper ticket) selections per transaction.

Dave

 

[gatorfreud]

thank you!!

 

[Wayland10]

My husband and I will be arriving at WDW on Feb 5 around 10 in the morning for our 20th anniversary trip! We’re staying at AKL, so we’ll have the Extended Evening Hours at MK. If we arrive there by 1and plan to stay until the EEH close, do you think we’d need to purchase either LLMP or LLSP to do the following rides?
Tiana’s Bayou
TRON
Haunted Mansion
Pirates
Seven Dwarfs
Small World
Jungle Cruise
We’d fill in with other rides and shows, but these are the priority.
Thanks for any advice!

 

[Disturbia]

I would focus on your MK and HS days first. As to starting with your first vs your last full day, that depends on how you schedule your individual days. Some guests swear by both methods while others swear at both methods. Personally I would take a quick look at Thrill data for LLMP and/or LLSP a day before you book to get an indication what may be unavailable at MK and HS on your first couple of days and make your individual choice based on the latest data.

Link: https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane


Again if you focus first on MK and HS then you can spend the 5 minute purchase window to adjust your selected return times. Once you complete your purchases it is more complex or near impossible to modify later to improve your return times unless you are looking to switch to a later afternoon or evening visit for that day.


If you plan for arrive at a park early then it is best to have your first LLMP attraction as early as possible to unlock Tiers. If you are planing for a later start I would focus on the 3 LLMP attractions you really want to experience. The Tiers don't really play much of a roll at AK or Epcot.


Once you complete your purchases it is more complex or near impossible to make changes later. When you are at WDW on the actual day of each Park visit there is often more flexibility to adjust your return times.

Dave

This is what I did. I narrowed it further to getting Tron for 12/25 first for instance (we were checking in 12/21). So book holiday high demand attractions first. We were park hopping to AK that day so I booked FOP after I booked other days because I knew that was least likely to sell out based on Thanksgiving trill data (Tron first, MK LLMP first park day, then HS - later in trip; second MK LLMP). Have a list of what you need to book and approx when. I had already estimated costs using the allears December LLMP pricing list (you can look up each day 10 days before your trip as well)

If MK or HS is earlier in your trip make sure you know the alternatives if you don’t get your first choice (I printed the LLMP chart to see tier1 and tier2 attractions).

I had each day ADRs and main events (parade/fireworks) on a planner. Then I had another blank page listing priorities first and double checked that I didn’t miss anything.

 

[Disturbia]

My husband and I will be arriving at WDW on Feb 5 around 10 in the morning for our 20th anniversary trip! We’re staying at AKL, so we’ll have the Extended Evening Hours at MK. If we arrive there by 1and plan to stay until the EEH close, do you think we’d need to purchase either LLMP or LLSP to do the following rides?
Tiana’s Bayou
TRON
Haunted Mansion
Pirates
Seven Dwarfs
Small World
Jungle Cruise
We’d fill in with other rides and shows, but these are the priority.
Thanks for any advice!

I don’t think you need LLMP if you’re staying for EETPH provided you can wait for some of those rides during regular park hours (eg Pirates, Small World and HM are covered and AC).

Tiana might change to standby (someone else can verify; double check rules night before) during EETPH but I would ride it with the 1 pm VQ to save EETPH for other rides with low waits. Tiana is not currently offered during EETPH:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/

Tiana was also removed from after hours:

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/t...d-from-magic-kingdom-after-hours-ride-roster/

You might want to purchase Tron LLSP for early evening.

 

[Wayland10]

I don’t think you need LLMP if you’re staying for EETPH provided you can wait for some of those rides during regular park hours (eg Pirates, Small World and HM are covered and AC).

Tiana might change to standby (someone else can verify; double check rules night before) during EETPH but I would ride it with the 1 pm VQ to save EETPH for other rides with low waits. Tiana is not currently offered during EETPH:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/

Tiana was also removed from after hours:

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/t...d-from-magic-kingdom-after-hours-ride-roster/

You might want to purchase Tron LLSP for early evening.

Thank you!

 

[cruising spud]

Hollywood Studios was our park for Day 3. We had LLSP for Resistance and LLMP. Most rides had short waits (it was cold-that might have kept the locals away). We did Resistance and then were able to go back on again. I would say I was glad we had both LLSP and LLMP. This gave us low wait times and enabled us to do all of the rides we wanted.

 

[Disturbia]

We had LLMP for HS as well. There are fewer rides but waits are really long. I would not go to HS without LLs.

I rode ROTR single rider (opens at park opening; skip directly to stormtrooper area). My family wouldn’t wake up (they’re not big Star Wars fans but would gladly wait for 1.5 for Tron or FOP) so I got ready and was in the park by 8:15 am.

 

[slo]

I apologize if this has already been answered, I don’t have time to read through the entire thread.

We are doing a lot of park hopping this trip. When we buy our LLMP which park do we choose? Do we choose the one that we are starting at, or the one that we’re finishing at or does it not matter?

 

[Dave006]

We are doing a lot of park hopping this trip. When we buy our LLMP which park do we choose? Do we choose the one that we are starting at, or the one that we’re finishing at or does it not matter?

It depends on you and your choices of LLMP attractions, and your park mix per day of hopping.

The basic function is that when you purchase a LLMP for a Park with up to 3 pre-selected attractions, as soon as you enter your park and tap in to your first LLMP attraction you unlock Tiers and Multi Park selections for additional LLMP selections ot to modify any of you other 2 LLMP selections for another park. The down side is that your potential of LLMP attractions being available for the most popular attractions will be limited to much later in the day or even only available in the evening or be gone for the day.

If you decide to purchase LLMP for your first park of the day then you can continue to make replacement selections or modify your additional selects for your next park of the day. Some guests chose to purchase LLMP for their second park of the day to have 3 attractions pre-selected that they want to enjoy.

Dave

 

[Tom_E_D]

I apologize if this has already been answered, I don’t have time to read through the entire thread.

We are doing a lot of park hopping this trip. When we buy our LLMP which park do we choose? Do we choose the one that we are starting at, or the one that we’re finishing at or does it not matter?

You choose the one where you will first use an LLMP reservation at. You cannot book an LLMP reservation at another park until after you have used (tapped in to) your first one. For most people that will be the first park they enter, but it can be your second or later park. But that would mean not using LLMP at the park(s) you enter first.

 

[slo]

@Dave006 and @Tom_E_D - Thank you for your replies. They are very helpful. This is our first trip since this system started. I know many are liking it, I just haven’t taken the time to learn the ins and outs of it yet. My DD21 and I were a master of Genie+, and now we need to learn things all over again. We went from master to novice in the snap of a finger - LOL!

 

[Dave006]

I just haven’t taken the time to learn the ins and outs of it yet. My DD21 and I were a master of Genie+, and now we need to learn things all over again. We went from master to novice in the snap of a finger - LOL!

The key difference from Genie+ is that LLMP allows you up to 7 day advanced booking for on-site guests and you can always hold 3 LLMP attraction return times.

Gene+ was only"day of" but you could take advantage of the 2 hour rule to stack additional attractions. However the 2 hour rule is gone and it is simply a replacement on a 1 for 1 basis with LLMP.

Dave