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

[Minnie1222]

So is this 7 days from checking into room or 7 days from first park day? We still select the day we want to purchase a park ticket for, correct? Thank you!

I believe it's 7 day before check-in day since it's a resort-related perk.

 

[Mouse Tracker]

To me it boils down to price.

It transitioned from a free perk (FP+) to paid (G+). The original thought on forums during that change was that Disney realized they were losing money on something visitors would pay for.

You either buy it and enjoy the perk or don't and become a "standby". Buy the individual LL where offered or be a "standby".
That hasn't changed with this new format.

What has is the ability to "pre book" and the "number" to start off with, which is a positive.

At what cost is this new enhanced version going to be and will it be enough "value" to upgrade me from "standby"?

In theory, park tickets now have another add on option: PH which is just a one $ for total days of ticket, Now a Multi pass $ but is a daily extra. Base ticket$ plus PH $ plus daily MP$

 

[Nick6300]

I really like the looks of this, except for one thing: The new Multi Pass will include Photopass for the day. Kind of double dipping on the people who have already purchased it, or adding extra cost for those who don’t want it anyway. But I’ll still take it over Genie+ any day! I hope the price doesn’t get jacked up too much!

Didn't G+ also have photopass for the day? We always buy MM so never cared to know for sure.

 

[Figment Mom]

Didn't G+ also have photopass for the day? We always buy MM so never cared to know for sure.

Not at WDW.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Didn't G+ also have photopass for the day? We always buy MM so never cared to know for sure.

At WDW, Genie+ has ride photos but not photographer photos. I believe it is different at Disneyland (California).

 

[DebbieB]

They should just bake it in to the cost of the rooms for the onsite guests. Then have a separate charge only for the off-site guests. Basically exactly like Universal does.

Though I guess you could argue with the current system you can choose not to pay for it, whereas it would be automatic if included with room.

Universal only includes it for their Premier (Deluxe) resorts. They have 3 of them, Disney has 20 Deluxe including DVC. It would be a big number to add to the room rates to make up for it, plus the availability would go quick, there may be nothing left for offsite or day of.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

What has is the ability to "pre book" and the "number" to start off with, which is a positive.

But now you will basically be limited to 3 a day. The language says you *may* be able to book another one after you use your first pre-selection of the day, but the likelihood that anything good is left at that point is very low. Plus, it just occurred to me that it says you may be able to book an additional ONE pre-selection. Does anyone see somewhere where it says you can keep booking after that one?

 

[Tom_E_D]

So is this 7 days from checking into room or 7 days from first park day? We still select the day we want to purchase a park ticket for, correct? Thank you!

If staying onsite, seven days before first day of resort stay.

 

[Nick6300]

Onsite gets 7 days booking vs. 3? I see lots of FW campsites being purchased.

I hope that doesn't get resurrected

 

[Tom_E_D]

Universal only includes it for their Premier (Deluxe) resorts. They have 3 of them, Disney has 20 Deluxe including DVC. It would be a big number to add to the room rates to make up for it, plus the availability would go quick, there may be nothing left for offsite or day of.

It wouldn't make any difference to those staying offsite or buying day-of. They're already behind everyone staying onsite with the announced system. Giving Disney deluxe guests an edge hurts only Disney moderate and value resort guests.

 

[Nick6300]

At WDW, Genie+ has ride photos but not photographer photos. I believe it is different at Disneyland (California).

Thanks. We have been having our regular debate on if we have to buy MM or not, and per usual, wife won (in favor of MM). I tried to use the G+ ride photos as a possible mitigant to not having MM. If the new LLs come with all photopass including photographers, and we decide to book more than the 1 G+ out of 8 days we did the last trip, maybe that could be a reason to not get MM since we never do anything with those photos.

 

[tx911]

Universal only includes it for their Premier (Deluxe) resorts. They have 3 of them, Disney has 20 Deluxe including DVC. It would be a big number to add to the room rates to make up for it, plus the availability would go quick, there may be nothing left for offsite or day of.

Yes, I was just thinking this when I read your post.

I agree, Disney has way bigger volumes to manage, and it changes the math a lot.

 

[Nick6300]

That was a much bigger problem with the original paper FP system, and the reason why some posters (the ones who knew how to work the system and stayed in one park all day to take advantage of it) hated move to the FP+ system.

I liked the old paper FP's, not that it matters any longer. As a speed walker, I enjoyed racing around, beating people to the best FPs.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Thanks. We have been having our regular debate on if we have to buy MM or not, and per usual, wife won (in favor of MM). I tried to use the G+ ride photos as a possible mitigant to not having MM. If the new LLs come with all photopass including photographers, and we decide to book more than the 1 G+ out of 8 days we did the last trip, maybe that could be a reason to not get MM since we never do anything with those photos.

As others pointed out earlier in this thread (or else in the other thread on this topic), Disney is still only offering free ride photos, not photographer ones, with the new system.

 

[vinotinto]

This.
As the MDE app is geo-fenced / locked you cannot use a VPN to trick it. People in the UK will need to use a spoof location app (possibly combined with a VPN) in order to book in advance.
Unfortunately fake GPS apps only really exist for Android operating systems. So unlikely to work with an IPhone or other apple device.

This is likely due to GDPR compliance. If the new service cannot comply with it 100% then they will need to ensure the agreement with the Privacy Policy is based on the US, so the US-Privacy Policy applies, and that’s why the app is checking for your location. Technically, this should be an issue with the EU site(s), but it may just be easier to set up as US or Not US.

 

[disney-inspired]

I'm really not understanding the restriction for international guests - it is no different than the other items but just screws over the international guests. I'm stateside but I'd be super pissed if I was shelling out so much money and not able to use this 'benefit' when I'm paying for it.

 

[Cabius]

If the new LLs come with all photopass including photographers, and we decide to book more than the 1 G+ out of 8 days we did the last trip, maybe that could be a reason to not get MM since we never do anything with those photos.

What has been published so far suggests that MM is not included.

And, given Disney's track record over the past 5 years, I think it's a safe bet that given the choice between bundling something together, and making it a paid add-on, Disney will always choose to charge more.

Those losses in ESPN and Disney+ aren't going to pay for themselves!

 

[jo-jo]

Thanks, I didn’t realize you could use it at another park later in the day….thats good to know but I definitely will still miss the stacking of rides which was huge to how we do the parks

Sure , just when thought I understood genie + and the stacking plan , they change it.

Good thing I have four months to learn new system.

I do feel bad for those right by the change over date. Especially for those who were denied DAS, and was turning to genie plus, and now another system to learn.

 

[tx911]

I feel like this new system will hurt park hopping.

Under Genie+, if I plan on hopping to DHS in the evening and want to ride SDD, I can book it at 7am and choose or modify to an evening return time.

Under the new system, I would not be able to book anything at DHS until after I use my first LL at my daytime park. And by that time, SDD will be long gone

 

[DisneyFive]

Was it though? Was it really?

The greatest marketing ploy of all time has got to be Disney charging people thousands of dollars to come to their theme parks and then convincing them that all of the features of their stay they really liked (Magic Express, Fastpass & Dining) were actually 'FREE"

In short, yes. You’re talking semantics. There was no additional charge for those perks. If you are suggesting that they were built into the overall price, sure they were. However, think about this…. the prices did not drop when they removed those perks. So yes I have no problem saying they were “free” perks

FP is a massive part of our enjoyment of the parks. We’ve done standby-only for eight nights back right after Covid and vowed we would never do it again. So yes, we know all too well what it’s like with and without.

We make efficient and optimal use of whatever system is in place and we love it. Whether it was a paper Fastpass , the multiple versions of FP+ or now multi pass. The only major problem I have now is paying so much for the same thing we used to get for free.