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

[gottalovepluto]

I have been wondering if it’s a coding glitch in the automated emails. Also wondering if it could vary based on value, moderate, deluxe hotel stay?

If this was the case Disney would have covered it when they released the training guides to the TAs and about 10 seconds later all the Disney blogosphere would know.

IT glitch gets my vote.

 

[jeneric997]

I am DVC- I am thankful to everyone who posts. I would have just ignored this email. The LLMP was buried way down on the email. The email was titled Helpful Tools For Your Theme Park Visit, so be on the lookout for that.

 

[Silvermist999]

We arrive on the 27th and first park day is 28th, no emails yet. I’m also in Canada so maybe this new email doesn’t apply to me…

 

[Jellybean9]

The emails were sent out by mistake. 24th is still the date.

 

[Haley R]

The emails were sent out by mistake. 24th is still the date.

Why do they struggle so much with these things?

 

[LoveToDisney]

Why do they struggle so much with these things?

Because their IT is no longer in-house like it was decades ago. They outsourced it to save money and this is what you get.

 

[CVG]

I don't think that they have announced it, but my assumption is that it is due to European privacy laws like GDPR that make it much harder to manage real-time systems that run through the app, especially when payments are involved.

It's a theory, but with a small issue - UK, Mexico, South America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, etc are not part of the EU.

Disney claimed that it was circumstances beyond their control. I don't believe that for one second. The whole system they came up with was entirely within their control. They are just totally incompetent.

 

[andrewilley]

Disney claimed that it was circumstances beyond their control. I don't believe that for one second. The whole system they came up with was entirely within their control.

Have been following this via several forums for a while now, I think the most likely explanations are legal and jurisdictional rather than technical.

Technically I'm sure it would work just fine, the app couldn't care less where in the world you happen to be when you tap the screen to make your bookings.

However Disney needs to follow the correct local legal processes for wherever the user is currently based when it stores their data, and that's for nearly 200 different national legal frameworks. In the EU and UK, that would mean following the EU's over-bureaucratic GDPR for example, and most other countries have their own equivalents defining how their citizens' data can be processed and stored. Unless Disney is 100% sure it is working correctly within ALL of those legal frameworks, they aren't willing to risk the consequences of breaking some local data protection law accidentally.

A current example would be booking events and tours. None of those can be done on the Disney UK website by default, the option simply isn't shown on our ".co.uk" version of the page - which you are forced to visit by Disney's regional redirection code, even if you try to use the ".com" address. However if you first use a VPN to pretend you are in the USA, the booking options become visible and bookable. I fully expect LLMP will work the same way (possibly using GPS on phones rather than that IP-address based geolocation) but we shall have to wait and see.

Disney.co.uk web page view for Horse-drawn carriages for example (no "Check Availability" button is shown):



But with a VPN set to indicate a Miami based IP-address, bingo I can now see the disneyworld.disney.go.com version instead, with the "Availability" button displayed so I can make a booking:



(Just noticed the website price is wrong by the way - booking a carriage ride costs $65 including tax, not excluding)

Andre

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I'm sure this has been discussed, but what is the reasoning that Disney limits international guest options? I assume there is some reason they use, just curious as to what it is.

International regulatory issues related to in-app purchases, especially in the EU.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

It's a theory, but with a small issue - UK, Mexico, South America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, etc are not part of the EU.

Correct, and that makes it worse, not better, as every country has different laws, rules and regulations concerning this type of thing. I expect that Disney will get this sorted out eventually, likely with some sort of prepayment option offered through travel agent partners like they allowed for G+ purchases in advance when that first came out.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Have been following this via several forums for a while now, I think the most likely explanations are legal and jurisdictional rather than technical.

Technically I'm sure it would work just fine, the app couldn't care less where in the world you happen to be when you tap the screen to make your bookings.

However Disney needs to follow the correct local legal processes for wherever the user is currently based when it stores their data, and that's for nearly 200 different national legal frameworks. In the EU and UK, that would mean following the EU's over-bureaucratic GDPR for example, and most other countries have their own equivalents defining how their citizens' data can be processed and stored. Unless Disney is 100% sure it is working correctly within ALL of those legal frameworks, they aren't willing to risk the consequences of breaking some local data protection law accidentally.

A current example would be booking events and tours. None of those can be done on the Disney UK website by default, the option simply isn't shown on our ".co.uk" version of the page - which you are forced to visit by Disney's regional redirection code, even if you try to use the ".com" address. However if you first use a VPN to pretend you are in the USA, the booking options become visible and bookable. I fully expect LLMP will work the same way (possibly using GPS on phones rather than that IP-address based geolocation) but we shall have to wait and see.

Disney.co.uk web page view for Horse-drawn carriages for example (no 'Check Availability' option is shown):

View attachment 877005

But with a VPN set to indicate a Miami based IP-address, bingo I can now see availability and make a booking:

View attachment 877006

Andre

Even something as simple as having to code the app to correctly charge sales tax across hundreds of different jurisdictions (which may be required in some countries/locations and not others) based upon the laws in those jurisdictions is problematic. You can see why this would take time.

 

[CVG]

Correct, and that makes it worse, not better, as every country has different laws, rules and regulations concerning this type of thing. I expect that Disney will get this sorted out eventually, likely with some sort of prepayment option offered through travel agent partners like they allowed for G+ purchases in advance when that first came out.

Hence the incompetence. To not realise what the International reaction would be. To not develop a compliant system in advance.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Hence the incompetence. To not realise what the International reaction would be. To not develop a compliant system in advance.

I don’t think it’s incompetence. I think they did a cost/benefit analysis. Rolling it out sooner and patching it later if necessary versus waiting until they had all the regulatory issues solved.

There is also a universe I suppose in which they never fix this for international guests. They may assume (possibly correctly) that most international visitors are new visitor one and done types who aren’t extensively researching their trip online and will never know the difference. Given how many international visitors didn’t take advantage of the free fastpass preselects I’m not entirely sure they’re wrong.

 

[scrappinginontario]

If someone has non dated tickets, would they be able to select 3 attractions (for research purposes), then not purchase?

Do you need park reservations for non dated tickets?

I highly doubt this would work. I believe you would need to complete the purchase prior to being allowed to even see what is available to book.

I have been wondering if it’s a coding glitch in the automated emails. Also wondering if it could vary based on value, moderate, deluxe hotel stay?

I would not rely on an email. I often do not receive emails other guests receive. (Eg I have 2 reservations at Pop in Aug but have not received the food court mobile order only email but know for a fact it’s happening.)

I agree! I’ll be ready to log-on on the 20th but won’t be expecting to get in. Hopefully the site won’t crash.
Also was hoping to enjoy the lower than average crowds this summer, but think it’ll be very busy with “influencers” in the parks who will be testing out different ways to book etc. which may skew the actual experience (if that makes sense).

Even every single influencer being at WDW at the same time, they are a drop in the number of guests. I we pull not be concerned by them at all.

The emails were sent out by mistake. 24th is still the date.

I greatly appreciate Earscouts and his very helpful videos but how do we know the CM he spoke to us correct? If I was arriving soon, I’d start trying 7 nights prior to my arrival. Better safe than sorry.

 

[CoasterGT24]

There won't be any ability to pre-book until a MDX update is released. Whether they drop the new version before the 24th is the question.

 

[KrazeeK120]

The emails were sent out by mistake. 24th is still the date.

Source?

 

[pooki1]

Source?

Echoing this question

 

[jlstwinmommy]

I highly doubt this would work. I believe you would need to complete the purchase prior to being allowed to even see what is available to book.

I actually think you WILL be able to do this - Disney's website says you will be able to choose attractions and times before purchase. I presume so people don't complain about lack of availability after purchase, causing a lot of refunds.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/lightning-lane-passes/

 

[CML's mom]

Echoing this question

I just asked on the chat feature on Disney app. I was told emails were a mistake. 24th is the date.

 

[princesswahooey]

I highly doubt this would work. I believe you would need to complete the purchase prior to being allowed to even see what is available to book.

We do know that we'll be able to see selections BEFORE paying, so I think it's possible to see and select, but unless you pay, the items will leave your cart like on a concert tickets website where you have a set amount if time to complete payment before your selected seats are returned to the pool.