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

[Minnie1222]

Let’s say you prebook the following at magic kingdom.
- Big Thunder Mountain (gives you a return time of 11:00am)
- Haunted Mansion (gives you a return time of 10:00am)
- Pirates (gives you a return time of 9:00am)

Then at 9:00am you use your pirates lightning lane and book a new lightning lane for Space Mountain. Space Mountain gives you a return time of 9:30pm. So basically at this point you can’t book any other lightning lanes for the rest of the day… unless you cancel your Space Mountain.

I thought this is how it works (assuming there's a wide availability),

9am: Tap into Pirates, then book Space Mountain at 9:30pm.
10am: Tap into Haunted Mansion, then book Mermaid at 12pm.
11am: Tap into Thunder Mountain, then book Small World at 1pm.
12pm: Tap into Mermaid, then book Philharmagic, and so on.

Of course, this is all hypothetical. We don't know how it works until July 24th.

 

[Jellybean9]

Another Disney journalist confirming you can always have 3 LL’s booked.

 

[pens4821]

I also think you can always hold three. So once you use one, you book another.

 

[BrianL]

Are you basing this on the section that BrianL quoted, or is there a different piece of information that you're looking at?

To be clear, I am challenging that notion. I laid out how it would work under those conditions, but I believe it is use one/replace one.

 

[Mattrg_2000]

I thought this is how it works (assuming there's a wide availability),

9am: Tap into Pirates, then book Space Mountain at 9:30pm.
10am: Tap into Haunted Mansion, then book Mermaid at 12pm.
11am: Tap into Thunder Mountain, then book Small World at 1pm.
12pm: Tap into Mermaid, then book Philharmagic, and so on.

Of course, this is all hypothetical. We don't know how it works until July 24th.

I bet your right, however there will likely not be supply of the top attractions. Space Mountain likely won’t be available, or not until very late in the day. If you can book 3 good attractions you’d like in the morning, you’ll want to do that. Just like FP+, you will benefit from 7 day stays so you can make sure and get 1 top attraction per day. Slinky dog will be day 4-7 as an example. It will be sold out for guests staying off property trying to book 3 days prior.

 

[Mattrg_2000]

Good thing they fixed DAS and opened up supply.

 

[Figment Mom]

I'm going to assume that refreshing and finding a time for a "sold out" attraction will still work?

 

[BrianL]

I'm going to assume that refreshing and finding a time for a "sold out" attraction will still work?

I would think so. There are always changes and cancellations.

 

[jelona]

Another Disney journalist confirming you can always have 3 LL’s booked.

I don't understand why this whole ordeal feels like we're in an escape room, looking for clues. lol
If fast passes were one way before, where you could get another one after you check into your first prebook, and then can't book another till the other prebooks are done...

but then we had genie plus where we had the 120 rule or you can book another when you check into your first...


YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD SPELL OUT HOW THIS WORKS!! sorry for the yelling. But i don't understand why we have to decode a system that we are paying for! Especially when there has been different ways this has happened in the past. It makes sense why this would be a debate and there is confusion. The only way we will know how it works is when it plays out... and that's not fair to us who will be there that week it rolls out.
This is telling me that Disney has no clue how it works either and hasn't actually tested this with a small group. Everywhere i know, before they role out a new platform, typically uses a test group to gather feedback. i don't understand why this is hard for them.

We're less than a month away... spell everything out! Show us the process of what it looks like. pricing range of when it will be released. Let everyone be on the same playing field... so start with the 7 days out people. like "Everyone who has a book on July 31st can start their prebooking on July 24th" That way the system doesn't get overloaded.

Why are we rolling everyone out on the same day? that makes no logical sense! They are settting this up for failure. Yeah sure, by October the kinks maybe will be worked out... But what about everyone in the first 3 weeks? or the people the day of (like me) that are paying probably 30 dollars a person and can't book a LL because the system is overloaded. I would look over all of this and say "it is what it is" if it was still the "free" system. But its not. If this is around 30 dollars a day the first week it out, that's an extra $600.00 on top of my vacation. (not including the ILL). I know its a "Well if you don't like it don't buy it" But if you were DAS and denied, or even someone who doesn't go to Disney a lot and wants to make sure you get a good experience... then you will buy it. But you also want to make you know what you are getting.

Okay, I'm done now.....Sorry for the TED Talk.

 

[Figment Mom]

I don't understand why this whole ordeal feels like we're in an escape room, looking for clues. lol
If fast passes were one way before, where you could get another one after you check into your first prebook, and then can't book another till the other prebooks are done...

but then we had genie plus where we had the 120 rule or you can book another when you check into your first...


YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD SPELL OUT HOW THIS WORKS!! sorry for the yelling. But i don't understand why we have to decode a system that we are paying for! Especially when there has been different ways this has happened in the past. It makes sense why this would be a debate and there is confusion. The only way we will know how it works is when it plays out... and that's not fair to us who will be there that week it rolls out.
This is telling me that Disney has no clue how it works either and hasn't actually tested this with a small group. Everywhere i know, before they role out a new platform, typically uses a test group to gather feedback. i don't understand why this is hard for them.

We're less than a month away... spell everything out! Show us the process of what it looks like. pricing range of when it will be released. Let everyone be on the same playing field... so start with the 7 days out people. like "Everyone who has a book on July 31st can start their prebooking on July 24th" That way the system doesn't get overloaded.

Why are we rolling everyone out on the same day? that makes no logical sense! They are settting this up for failure. Yeah sure, by October the kinks maybe will be worked out... But what about everyone in the first 3 weeks? or the people the day of (like me) that are paying probably 30 dollars a person and can't book a LL because the system is overloaded. I would look over all of this and say "it is what it is" if it was still the "free" system. But its not. If this is around 30 dollars a day the first week it out, that's an extra $600.00 on top of my vacation. (not including the ILL). I know its a "Well if you don't like it don't buy it" But if you were DAS and denied, or even someone who doesn't go to Disney a lot and wants to make sure you get a good experience... then you will buy it. But you also want to make you know what you are getting.

Okay, I'm done now.....Sorry for the TED Talk.

I'm right there with you. When we plan so much for a trip, the not knowing is very frustrating.

I LOVE to plan my Disney trips and don't find it a burden like a lot of people do. But we've been thrown a huge wildcard and it will impact where we go, what time we get everyone up and out the door, and what we spend. And I expect there to be a lot of frustration on the morning of July 24th.

I wonder how things went for people who were in the parks for the first day of G+? They must have felt the same way. Did they know it was coming more than a few weeks before their trip? But at least they only dealt with that day's guests getting onto the system. That's my biggest concern. I will not be surprised if Disney IT can't handle this that day.

 

[Silvermist999]

I don't understand why this whole ordeal feels like we're in an escape room, looking for clues. lol
If fast passes were one way before, where you could get another one after you check into your first prebook, and then can't book another till the other prebooks are done...

but then we had genie plus where we had the 120 rule or you can book another when you check into your first...


YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD SPELL OUT HOW THIS WORKS!! sorry for the yelling. But i don't understand why we have to decode a system that we are paying for! Especially when there has been different ways this has happened in the past. It makes sense why this would be a debate and there is confusion. The only way we will know how it works is when it plays out... and that's not fair to us who will be there that week it rolls out.
This is telling me that Disney has no clue how it works either and hasn't actually tested this with a small group. Everywhere i know, before they role out a new platform, typically uses a test group to gather feedback. i don't understand why this is hard for them.

We're less than a month away... spell everything out! Show us the process of what it looks like. pricing range of when it will be released. Let everyone be on the same playing field... so start with the 7 days out people. like "Everyone who has a book on July 31st can start their prebooking on July 24th" That way the system doesn't get overloaded.

Why are we rolling everyone out on the same day? that makes no logical sense! They are settting this up for failure. Yeah sure, by October the kinks maybe will be worked out... But what about everyone in the first 3 weeks? or the people the day of (like me) that are paying probably 30 dollars a person and can't book a LL because the system is overloaded. I would look over all of this and say "it is what it is" if it was still the "free" system. But its not. If this is around 30 dollars a day the first week it out, that's an extra $600.00 on top of my vacation. (not including the ILL). I know its a "Well if you don't like it don't buy it" But if you were DAS and denied, or even someone who doesn't go to Disney a lot and wants to make sure you get a good experience... then you will buy it. But you also want to make you know what you are getting.

Okay, I'm done now.....Sorry for the TED Talk.

I’m with you, we should be looking forward to our trip arriving July 27th. Instead there is so much lack of information with such short notice. At least if you’re in the US, you get to plan from home. I’m in Canada and won’t be allowed to book anything till we arrive in the US.

 

[Jellybean9]

I don't understand why this whole ordeal feels like we're in an escape room, looking for clues. lol
If fast passes were one way before, where you could get another one after you check into your first prebook, and then can't book another till the other prebooks are done...

but then we had genie plus where we had the 120 rule or you can book another when you check into your first...


YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD SPELL OUT HOW THIS WORKS!! sorry for the yelling. But i don't understand why we have to decode a system that we are paying for! Especially when there has been different ways this has happened in the past. It makes sense why this would be a debate and there is confusion. The only way we will know how it works is when it plays out... and that's not fair to us who will be there that week it rolls out.
This is telling me that Disney has no clue how it works either and hasn't actually tested this with a small group. Everywhere i know, before they role out a new platform, typically uses a test group to gather feedback. i don't understand why this is hard for them.

We're less than a month away... spell everything out! Show us the process of what it looks like. pricing range of when it will be released. Let everyone be on the same playing field... so start with the 7 days out people. like "Everyone who has a book on July 31st can start their prebooking on July 24th" That way the system doesn't get overloaded.

Why are we rolling everyone out on the same day? that makes no logical sense! They are settting this up for failure. Yeah sure, by October the kinks maybe will be worked out... But what about everyone in the first 3 weeks? or the people the day of (like me) that are paying probably 30 dollars a person and can't book a LL because the system is overloaded. I would look over all of this and say "it is what it is" if it was still the "free" system. But its not. If this is around 30 dollars a day the first week it out, that's an extra $600.00 on top of my vacation. (not including the ILL). I know its a "Well if you don't like it don't buy it" But if you were DAS and denied, or even someone who doesn't go to Disney a lot and wants to make sure you get a good experience... then you will buy it. But you also want to make you know what you are getting.

Okay, I'm done now.....Sorry for the TED Talk.

I hear you. I don’t get why Disney uses their select journalists/disney influencers to dispense the information rather than just come out with an actual informative resource. That answers all the questions that they know are coming.

My check-in date is Aug 12 and I feel like in addition to competing with other guests/park goers, I’m going to be competing with every vlogger/influencer that is still learning the system and creating content on how to book every lightening lane in one day. Ugh.

 

[jelona]

I'm right there with you. When we plan so much for a trip, the not knowing is very frustrating.

I LOVE to plan my Disney trips and don't find it a burden like a lot of people do. But we've been thrown a huge wildcard and it will impact where we go, what time we get everyone up and out the door, and what we spend. And I expect there to be a lot of frustration on the morning of July 24th.

I wonder how things went for people who were in the parks for the first day of G+? They must have felt the same way. Did they know it was coming more than a few weeks before their trip? But at least they only dealt with that day's guests getting onto the system. That's my biggest concern. I will not be surprised if Disney IT can't handle this that day.

I love planning trips as well! Any trip rather its Disney or not. I love to research and study up on the best tools for my vacation. I'm the person that tells my husband "Just show up and enjoy!" I loved Genie+ when we used it in July. Even though I plan, I'm also go with the flow, so if plans change. I don't take it to heart. But this, I definitely am. It's a wrench being thrown in on a short notice. If this was an October vacation, or even august... I could say "Well I'll see what tips and trick the bloggers have found out" I'm just being whiney... but it's OUR vacation... that I'm paying a lot for, and if I want to cancel... I can't even get a full refund due to the short notice of things. Plus, my kids would be disappointed.

I’m with you, we should be looking forward to our trip arriving July 27th. Instead there is so much lack of information with such short notice. At least if you’re in the US, you get to plan from home. I’m in Canada and won’t be allowed to book anything till we arrive in the US.

I'm so sorry! I don't understand the logic on why Disney is making this so difficult for international travelers. If there is a technological issue to why they are doing this... then it goes back to my point of them not rolling it our until it is fixed. Keep everyone on the same playing field currently with Genie+ and then roll it out when International guest can join in the same as US. It just doesn't make sense. I'm totally baffled! i feel like someone high up on a board somewhere should have said "Then why don't we wait....?"

I hear you. I don’t get why Disney uses their select journalists/disney influencers to dispense the information rather than just come out with an actual informative resource. That answers all the questions that they know are coming.

My check-in date is Aug 12 and I feel like in addition to competing with other guests/park goers, I’m going to be competing with every vlogger/influencer that is still learning the system and creating content on how to book every lightening lane in one day. Ugh.

UGH!!! I didn't even think about this. you are so right... They will want to be there to share feedback and make sure they are the ones with the news first. Hopefully its not a Huge pool of people that fall into that category.

 

[Madteaparty001]

Scott Gustin, who works directly with Disney on these news releases has been taking questions and answering back has confirmed that the meet and greets are all removed from the LL availability.

He posted this

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805710353277362465

Something important to note: When these changes take effect on July 24 at WDW, character meet and greets are no longer listed as Lightning Lane experiences (always subject to change).

Enjoy the brand new Mickey & Friends Lightning Lane sign while you can.

reposting from the Disabilities board

 

[Gussygranger]

Disney is giving me whiplash. Why do they keep changing everything?

With every new system, loyal park goers get annoyed. I remember feeling this way with FP+. It was so confusing but I got the hang of it. Mastered it actually. Then no FPs (dark days), then G+ which confused me, I never took the time to learn it, we wasted our money on it but we still had a great trip.

If they are basically bringing back FP+ (booking ahead) I’m ok with it but to add a fee? Not cool Disney. Maybe the first system didn’t work so they figure, if they charge for it, less people would utilize it? I’m just guessing.

 

[Gussygranger]

Aaand we’re back to people with 10-14 day trips getting all of the tier 1 rides, making it useless for people with 7 day or shorter trips. It was one thing when it was free fastpass+, but why would anyone with a shorter trip pay that much for something that gives them pretty much zero chance at lightning lanes on any tier 1 rides? Maybe I’m missing something, but this seems to have all of the problems of fastpass+ with none of the positives. Not free, no mention of re-rides, the wording even makes it unclear if you can get more than a 4th LL:

• Once you’re in the park and you enjoy your first multi pass experience, you may be able to make an additional selection (subject to availability).

Ooh, we MAY be able to make AN additional selection. At least they say they will let you see what rides and times you can get before you buy, so I guess the good news is you don’t have to pay to be disappointed. You get to be disappointed for free.

We never stayed on site with the old FP system and always got every single ride we wanted. Even days before our trip I was changing things, a lot of availability of most rides.

 

[Tom_E_D]

I don't understand why this whole ordeal feels like we're in an escape room, looking for clues. lol
If fast passes were one way before, where you could get another one after you check into your first prebook, and then can't book another till the other prebooks are done...

but then we had genie plus where we had the 120 rule or you can book another when you check into your first...


YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD SPELL OUT HOW THIS WORKS!! sorry for the yelling. But i don't understand why we have to decode a system that we are paying for! Especially when there has been different ways this has happened in the past. It makes sense why this would be a debate and there is confusion. The only way we will know how it works is when it plays out... and that's not fair to us who will be there that week it rolls out.
This is telling me that Disney has no clue how it works either and hasn't actually tested this with a small group. Everywhere i know, before they role out a new platform, typically uses a test group to gather feedback. i don't understand why this is hard for them.

We're less than a month away... spell everything out! Show us the process of what it looks like. pricing range of when it will be released. Let everyone be on the same playing field... so start with the 7 days out people. like "Everyone who has a book on July 31st can start their prebooking on July 24th" That way the system doesn't get overloaded.

Why are we rolling everyone out on the same day? that makes no logical sense! They are settting this up for failure. Yeah sure, by October the kinks maybe will be worked out... But what about everyone in the first 3 weeks? or the people the day of (like me) that are paying probably 30 dollars a person and can't book a LL because the system is overloaded. I would look over all of this and say "it is what it is" if it was still the "free" system. But its not. If this is around 30 dollars a day the first week it out, that's an extra $600.00 on top of my vacation. (not including the ILL). I know its a "Well if you don't like it don't buy it" But if you were DAS and denied, or even someone who doesn't go to Disney a lot and wants to make sure you get a good experience... then you will buy it. But you also want to make you know what you are getting.

Okay, I'm done now.....Sorry for the TED Talk.

Under Fastpass+, you had to use up all three pre-books before you could book another. It caused people to book two throwaways in Tier 2 at Epcot, tap into them and walk away without riding them. That's what you had to do to book a fourth FP+ which could be Tier 1.

I suspect the July 24 mess may be due to the fact that Disney IT just isn't capable of running the Genie+ and Lightning Lane Multi Pass systems at the same time. If they allowed people to buy and book their LLMP rides up to seven days before the Genie+ system ended, they'd have an overlap when both systems are being used. As it is, for those who'll be booking their first LLMPs on July 24, I wouldn't wait until just before 7:00 to open up my app. I wouldn't be surprised if you had to download a major app update on that date to use it. That's just speculation on my part, but I'm sometimes right.

 

[DisFanDad]

Here's my only question on all this - as I think you've all established pretty well you can hold 3 at a time. How many of which tiers can you hold ??? Or does it not matter ?

Initial booking you can only book 1 tier 1 ride. But if I book Tier 2 @ 9am, tier 2 @ 10am, and Tier 1 @ 4pm (cuz that's the earliest I could get it) - does that mean I'm locked out of Tier 1 rides until I use the Tier 1 @ 4pm ???

 

[jelona]

Under Fastpass+, you had to use up all three pre-books before you could book another. It caused people to book two throwaways in Tier 2 at Epcot, tap into them and walk away without riding them. That's what you had to do to book a fourth FP+ which could be Tier 1.

I suspect the July 24 mess may be due to the fact that Disney IT just isn't capable of running the Genie+ and Lightning Lane Multi Pass systems at the same time. If they allowed people to buy and book their LLMP rides up to seven days before the Genie+ system ended, they'd have an overlap when both systems are being used. As it is, for those who'll be booking their first LLMPs on July 24, I wouldn't wait until just before 7:00 to open up my app. I wouldn't be surprised if you had to download a major app update on that date to use it. That's just speculation on my part, but I'm sometimes right.

That makes sense. I guess in my head i would just think there was a way to do more planning with it. But I don't have an IT Background. So I get that sometimes its easier said than done....

But then I also go "Disney is a major multi-billion dollar corp.... surely they can figure it out" lol. I think it just boils down to .... They don't really care too. They will get their money from me regardless.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Here's my only question on all this - as I think you've all established pretty well you can hold 3 at a time. How many of which tiers can you hold ??? Or does it not matter ?

Initial booking you can only book 1 tier 1 ride. But if I book Tier 2 @ 9am, tier 2 @ 10am, and Tier 1 @ 4pm (cuz that's the earliest I could get it) - does that mean I'm locked out of Tier 1 rides until I use the Tier 1 @ 4pm ???

No. You can replace a Tier 2 with a Tier 1. From the Disneyworld website: "Once you redeem a selection on the day of your park visit, you can choose another multi pass experience from either group (subject to availability)." (emphasis added; group=tier) If the Tier 1s last until after you tap into your 10am Tier 2, you could have three Tier 1s at once. The unanswered question is whether you can modify your Tier 2s to Tier 1s on day-of without tapping into one first. That could cause everyone to get up at the applicable time (7:00? park opening?) and there would be a mad rush to modify then. Who says this new system will mean no longer having to get up before 7:00?!