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

[DizneyFamof4]

It's more than just the 7am- it's the panic inducing, everyone refreshing, trying to get a ride at the right time problem. I could never get back to sleep after! Sleeping in, doesn't necessarily mean until noon. While stacking was nice, it doesn't always work for all the rides. It still pays off to be at the parks early, and for me sleeping the extra hour till 8am and being at the park before 9:30am without all the crazy 7am is better. You can still make 2 late LL and work off an early one. I would have been happy if we could have made just one early and then kept the system like Genie+, but they decided to go back to FP+ without the restriction of using all three first, which is a great compromise. I found I didn't use Genie+ as much because it wasn't really worth it for certain parks, it will probably be the same with the new system.

We will be guinea pigs for this, we check in on July 28th. Celebrating DD's 21st. I am soooo happy to not have to deal with 7am panic. If someone wants a VQ- they can get up instead of me!

Please give feedback of LLMP, because we will need it. LOL

 

[DisneyFive]

Just wondering does everyone hate Universal, Six Flags, Cedar Point, Dollywood, Knott's Berry Farms, Carowinds?? .... all of which have more expensive "Fast Passes" than Disney's has been.

Sadly it is how theme parks are operating now, not sure why Disney is supposed to be any different.

Do I like it NO, do I blame them NO. So what do I do ...... we take it out of the food budget. Guests are spending that much on ONE table service meal each day and don't blink. I'd rather get Lightning Lane for the day for that same amount of money.

To me, the big difference is that people are not visiting those parks for 6,7,8+ days in one visit like they often do at WDW. The amusement parks you mentioned are 1 day (maybe 2) and Universal maybe 4?

Completely changes the dynamic of what can be charged for their “skip the line system”. At least that’s how I see it.

 

[jeneric997]

Please give feedback of LLMP, because we will need it. LOL

I will- if we decide to use it. I have the extra added complication of having people getting in with CM main gate and guest passes. It's always a headache with those. Haven't heard back from my CM if they can even use the system! Also have a split stay and the second stay is 8 days out from July 24th, so another day of getting up to plan. No system is perfect, but I am usually up at 7am when not on vacation!!!

 

[Gentry2004]

With regards to Genie+ I found that the Disney website was easy to understand and offered correct information. But in the end it is the only OFFICIAL information. The only other is on the ground operation CMs and you can't plan for that.

And that is why I rarely watch, read or listen to any of the Disney fan sites, more often than not they are wrong. There are a couple that are solid sources of information ~ most are just looking for clicks and cash. And if you want truthful reviews, stay away from any on Disney's media list.



Will you be okay with $150 per person per day?

Last time DS bought Universal top pass (he had one day and job was paying for it) is was $199. And that is for a lot less rides. Disney would have to charge more.

I am paying $400/night for a deluxe Universal hotel, walking distance to both parks, with unlimited express pass for my family of 4. There is no Disney equivalent. You can't even get Deluxe accommodations at that price point (without renting points) and certainly not walking distance to a park with line shortening access.

 

[Mouse Tracker]

I’m trying to figure out strategy for this.

Should I build backward, like in the FP+ days? I’m assuming SDD is still going to be the most difficult to get, in addition to Remy and possibly Tiana?

I’m already envisioning myself crying while Stich is eating the page on the 24th.

Think of it like this: On the 24th you're gonna be in the first group to have a crack at everything. Your only competition will be the "day of purchasers" on the 24th and each day after that.

 

[sparrow10_]

I am paying $400/night for a deluxe Universal hotel, walking distance to both parks, with unlimited express pass for my family of 4. There is no Disney equivalent. You can't even get Deluxe accommodations at that price point (without renting points) and certainly not walking distance to a park with line shortening access.

Watch out for the Disney fanatics

 

[tom1944]

Is there information on the amount of time you need to check in to your selection?

If you pick say 10am can you arrive at 9:45 all the way to say 10:30 or later?

 

[Gentry2004]

I venture you're looking at twice that for Disney at peak times - Unlimited EP at Universal can get up to $300 per person per day if bought day of for both parks at busy times, so Disney would be way more.

I love how Universal's EP works, too - so super easy albeit expensive - but folks are really under estimating how much that sort of thing would cost at Disney IMO.

Most people using unlimited EP at Universal are staying at one of the hotels that includes it. For what I'm paying to stay at Royal Pacific, I would get a moderate at Disney, not even a lower end Deluxe.

 

[vinotinto]

...

Disney's approach is a sort of worst-of-both-worlds: it's cheap enough that most guests purchase it, which means it isn't actually a good product, and makes the experience for those who don't purchase it quite a bit worse. To paraphrase The Incredibles: If everybody is skipping the line, nobody is.

agree with this!

 

[kylenne]

Is there information on the amount of time you need to check in to your selection?

If you pick say 10am can you arrive at 9:45 all the way to say 10:30 or later?

Nothing concrete as of yet, but the tap in timeframe has been pretty consistent regardless of what system has been in place. Anything past 5 minutes late is up to the discretion of the CM.

 

[vinotinto]

I'll have an opinion of the new system come the end of our trip on July 28th. But so far, this is what I am thinking:

Potential Likes

• Not having to get up at 7am every single day of our vacation.
• (Assuming there is availability), being able to select times that don't conflict with shows / dining plans.
• Being able to get another pass after using just one.

Potential Dislikes

• Not having the 2 hour rule. This means that I cannot stack multiple passes for the evening if I have not used my first pass at the park. Makes it challenging to do much on arrival day, or enjoy a resort day, or go to a waterpark, and show up later. Particularly challenging for summer, when it's hot during the day and you may want to spend time relaxing in the pool and then heading to the parks after 5pm.
• The tiers, which are the worst of any system.
  • FP+ only had a Tier 1 and Tier 2.
  • G+ only had ILL+ and G+.
  • This system effectively has 3 tiers: Individual Pass+ (ILL+), Multi-Pass Tier 1 and Multi-Pass Tier 2. UGH.
• And since you will need to get rid of one Multi-pass to get more multi-passes, and you cannot stack for the evening, there goes sleeping in during vacation. This effectively negates not having to be up at 7am.

The Unknowns

• How many Tier 1 Passes will you reasonably be expected to get in an average day? Will you still be able to do Tiana (Splash), Space and BTMRR?
• How much availability / timing choice will you have if you are NOT staying onsite or if you have short onsite stays?
• What happens when you book a Tier 2 first and someone in your party sleeps in and doesn't scan. Will you still be able to get another pass or do you have to modify that one to another Tier 2 before you can scan?
• Will non-US guests be able to book this in advance?
• What happens if you decide to switch your park days after you purchase this (since there is dynamic pricing / MK is more expensive)?
• Will time overlaps be allowed (like in G+, or will it be like FP+ where your times couldn't overlap, even by 5 minutes)?

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Is there information on the amount of time you need to check in to your selection?

If you pick say 10am can you arrive at 9:45 all the way to say 10:30 or later?

I know with FP+ you had 1 hour. If your selection was for 10, then you could arrive no earlier than 10 and no later than 11.

 

[Gentry2004]

I’m trying to figure out strategy for this.

Should I build backward, like in the FP+ days? I’m assuming SDD is still going to be the most difficult to get, in addition to Remy and possibly Tiana?

I’m already envisioning myself crying while Stich is eating the page on the 24th.

We were planning to stay offsite and those are the three rides I'm assuming I will not be able to get at 3 days out, based on when G+ sells out for the first selection. I'm wondering if there are more, but I think that's it. I booked an All Star place holder reservation (not going until Oct so I want to see how this plays out) but assuming I can get everything but those three, I'm going to stick with offsite as I much prefer the accommodation (and the price, free on points). I know its blasphemous to say that here.

 

[Cabius]

We were planning to stay offsite and those are the three rides I'm assuming I will not be able to get at 3 days out, based on when G+ sells out for the first selection. I'm wondering if there are more, but I think that's it. I booked an All Star place holder reservation (not going until Oct so I want to see how this plays out) but assuming I can get everything but those three, I'm going to stick with offsite as I much prefer the accommodation (and the price, free on points). I know its blasphemous to say that here.

TBH since those are all different parks, assuming you're doing each on a different day I would just rope-drop (if you're a morning person) or get in line at park close (if you're not) and stick with your existing reservation. Off-site for free >>> All-Stars for $$$.

 

[FuzzyPeach]

I am paying $400/night for a deluxe Universal hotel, walking distance to both parks, with unlimited express pass for my family of 4. There is no Disney equivalent. You can't even get Deluxe accommodations at that price point (without renting points) and certainly not walking distance to a park with line shortening access.

To be blunt, if Universal could get away with charging what Disney does for resorts and without having to entice people with an express pass like system (which they could turn around and charge everyone for) I think they would. I think comparing the two is hard because in both demand and sheer numbers they’re not the same.

The best thing for Disney guests would be this being the last straw and sending more people over to Universal. Especially their resorts. I’d be surprised though.

 

[georgina]

Just wondering does everyone hate Universal, Six Flags, Cedar Point, Dollywood, Knott's Berry Farms, Carowinds?? .... all of which have more expensive "Fast Passes" than Disney's has been.

Sadly it is how theme parks are operating now, not sure why Disney is supposed to be any different.

Do I like it NO, do I blame them NO. So what do I do ...... we take it out of the food budget. Guests are spending that much on ONE table service meal each day and don't blink. I'd rather get Lightning Lane for the day for that same amount of money.

I guess I am missing people saying they 'hate' Disney. Change can be difficult and upsetting, as you have to relearn a new system.

I am a Universal AP holder. I used to have a Disney AP also pre-covid, not any more. I never buy the express pass at Universal, and rarely stay in one of their premier hotels for it. I have not needed it. Universal has a lot more single rider lines.

I usually only bought G+ for DHS, and it worked really well for me. Maybe once for MK, but lately I just attend the after hours events and parties there instead. It doesn't sound like getting lightning lane for the day (I stay offsite) is going to get me many rides.

 

[sadiecatie]

We were planning to stay offsite and those are the three rides I'm assuming I will not be able to get at 3 days out, based on when G+ sells out for the first selection. I'm wondering if there are more, but I think that's it. I booked an All Star place holder reservation (not going until Oct so I want to see how this plays out) but assuming I can get everything but those three, I'm going to stick with offsite as I much prefer the accommodation (and the price, free on points). I know its blasphemous to say that here.

I very briefly toyed with booking an All Star for our December trip, but I just cannot stomach paying MORE for what is essentially a cheap motel room than we will pay for our room at the Renaissance. I’ll deal with having a disadvantage for prebooking! (And we’ll just have to wait and see how much of a disadvantage it actually ends up being)

 

[Gentry2004]

To be blunt, if Universal could get away with charging what Disney does for resorts and without having to entice people with an express pass like system (which they could turn around and charge everyone for) I think they would. I think comparing the two is hard because in both demand and sheer numbers they’re not the same.

The best thing for Disney guests would be this being the last straw and sending more people over to Universal. Especially their resorts. I’d be surprised though.

Perhaps. But it's misleading when posters quote the per day/per person dynamic pricing for Universal Express. I'd be shocked if many people are paying for it a la carte, most are at the three hotels that include it.

We love both. It's not an either/or choice for us. We will continue to visit both. But the hotel/pool/walking distance/express pass setup at Universal is undeniably superior. They do not have the depth and breadth of attractions and theming that Disney does so I agree it's hard to really compare.

 

[Gentry2004]

I very briefly toyed with booking an All Star for our December trip, but I just cannot stomach paying MORE for what is essentially a cheap motel room than we will pay for our room at the Renaissance. I’ll deal with having a disadvantage for prebooking! (And we’ll just have to wait and see how much of a disadvantage it actually ends up being)

I'm not really planning to use the AS reservation - I don't want to stay there either! If this plays out the way I think it will, we'll be okay with the options 3 days out. My kids are older, have been many times, and Remy and SDD are not "do-or-dies" for us, plus we can stay out late and ride things at night. It's just insurance in case the result of this is not what I expect.

 

[tom1944]

I know with FP+ you had 1 hour. If your selection was for 10, then you could arrive no earlier than 10 and no later than 11.

I like that.

My concern is booking something for after lunch and having a delay being seated timely or service being slow so we do not get out of the restaurant at our expected time