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

[DisFanDad]

So we are assuming that 1) Tiers don't matter the day of and 2) everytime you use an LL you can book a new one (even the second one and the third one)

First off, if we believe the above to be true, then tier 1 and tier 2 LLs all become equivalent when the day starts, it doesn't really matter which is which. 8 AM Tier 2, 9 AM Tier 2, 3 PM Tier 1 vs 8 AM Tier 1, 9 AM Tier 2, 3 PM Tier 2 are both equivalent states, so booking a Tier 1 in the afternoon vs a tier 2 in the afternoon with your strategy doesn't make a difference.

Your proposal is to do the following

8 AM - Haunted Mansion
9 AM - Pirates
5 PM - Big Thunder

Then enter the park and go on Haunted Mansion, then have the following:

9 AM - Pirates
5 PM - BIg Thunder
6 PM - Space Mountain

And then at that point do Pirates 9 AM, Small World 9:20 AM, Dumbo 9:40 AM, Teacups 10 AM like that? All while holding a 5 PM Big Thunder and 6 PM Space?

I guess if you are certain you can accomplish that it would work, but I don't think that's what I would try to do. It seems like a lot would have to go right to make it run smoothly

I see the confusion - but not - that's not my suggested strategy. The reason booking a Tier 1 later in the day as a pre-book is because it allows you to exchange a Tier 2 - as your first FP for another Tier 1 - this would be particularly important if the Tier 2's aren't necessary or throw aways.

8am Haunted Mansion
9am Pirates
3pm Tiana's

Go in ride Haunted, then book the next FP as soon as you can as close as you can to your last one
9am Pirates,
2pm Space Mountain
3pm Tiana's

Then you ride your 9am.
Then you have a single FP you can cycle trying to get Big Thunder and Jungle, peter pan - IMMEDIATELY if you like. And you'll also have 2 already pocketed. So at 9am you might be booking your Big thunder for 9:15am. Then at 9:15 am you might be booking your Jungle cruise for 10am, then at 10am you might be booking your Peter pan for 10:30am.

If you book your Tier 1 first ... you end up
8am Tiana's (though no one would ride this first thing I think)
9am Haunted
10am Pirates

You ride Tiana's then go and book Space at 2pm,
9am Haunted
10am Pirates

Your ride your 9am - but now you can't book anything until 11am ... so you try to book another Tier 1 at 11am or you can book it at 3pm or 1pm. At this point - all things are equal - but in the first plan you are already able to start cycling through the Tier 1s as fast as you can. In this second approach you now have to wait until after 10am to book another tier. At 10am in the first approach you could be booking your 5th tier 1 - the second approach you'd be booking your 3rd.

Now - ALL of this is subject to availability, but if my experience with Genie+ and Fastpass+ is any indication - the first approach is quite possible.

Another big question is whether you can modify - because if you can enter the park and then immediately modify your pre-booked FPs - well - that completely changes the equation.

 

[DisFanDad]

That is what I think will happen, but I don’t think all the discourse is holding that assumption (and it is still a huge assumption despite being my guess as to what will happen). Otherwise any discussion regarding having to tap in, throw away LLs, can I cancel an LL, etc would all be moot, but those are actively being discussed (which to be clear is perfectly reasonable to discuss).

I wonder whether or not they will require you to go to the park to start booking on the day of, that will be a big deal I think.

Yea if you can modify or cancel and book immediately - nothing really matters, just burn them as fast as you can. Though - I'd still probably argue Booking a Tier 1 later in the day to hold is probably still the best approach, because of course availability goes down as the day progresses. So I'd book a Tier 1 at 2pm (or in the evening if I intended to return). Then I'd immediately cancel my 2 Tier 2s., book another Tier 1 for 1pm, but a Tier 1 for ASAP. Burn that Tier 1 and start cycling Tier 1s as fast as I could.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I see the confusion - but not - that's not my suggested strategy. The reason booking a Tier 1 later in the day as a pre-book is because it allows you to exchange a Tier 2 - as your first FP for another Tier 1 - this would be particularly important if the Tier 2's aren't necessary or throw aways.

8am Haunted Mansion
9am Pirates
3pm Tiana's

Go in ride Haunted, then book the next FP as soon as you can as close as you can to your last one
9am Pirates,
2pm Space Mountain
3pm Tiana's

Then you ride your 9am.
Then you have a single FP you can cycle trying to get Big Thunder and Jungle, peter pan - IMMEDIATELY if you like. And you'll also have 2 already pocketed. So at 9am you might be booking your Big thunder for 9:15am. Then at 9:15 am you might be booking your Jungle cruise for 10am, then at 10am you might be booking your Peter pan for 10:30am.

If you book your Tier 1 first ... you end up
8am Tiana's (though no one would ride this first thing I think)
9am Haunted
10am Pirates

You ride Tiana's then go and book Space at 2pm,
9am Haunted
10am Pirates

Your ride your 9am - but now you can't book anything until 11am ... so you try to book another Tier 1 at 11am or you can book it at 3pm or 1pm. At this point - all things are equal - but in the first plan you are already able to start cycling through the Tier 1s as fast as you can. In this second approach you now have to wait until after 10am to book another tier. At 10am in the first approach you could be booking your 5th tier 1 - the second approach you'd be booking your 3rd.

Now - ALL of this is subject to availability, but if my experience with Genie+ and Fastpass+ is any indication - the first approach is quite possible.

Another big question is whether you can modify - because if you can enter the park and then immediately modify your pre-booked FPs - well - that completely changes the equation.

Ah I see, you are thinking that you need to use the Tier 2 in order "convert" it to the Tier 1 (as some others have speculated), so then you want the Tier 2s earlier, that makes sense. Well we'll see I guess.

Yea if you can modify or cancel and book immediately - nothing really matters, just burn them as fast as you can. Though - I'd still probably argue Booking a Tier 1 later in the day to hold is probably still the best approach, because of course availability goes down as the day progresses. So I'd book a Tier 1 at 2pm (or in the evening if I intended to return). Then I'd immediately cancel my 2 Tier 2s., book another Tier 1 for 1pm, but a Tier 1 for ASAP. Burn that Tier 1 and start cycling Tier 1s as fast as I could.

You can definitely modify your LLs, though the question is as you and others have brought up as to whether it is possible to modify a Tier 2 into a Tier 1 on the day of, which is not yet known I think.

Modify Your Plans
Changed your plans… or your mind? You can modify your Lightning Lane selections via the My Disney Experience app.

To get started, tap the Lightning Lane Passes section on the app’s home screen to find your plans. Then, you can:

• Change your selected park and/or date in advance (subject to availability)—up until the moment you redeem your first Lightning Lane selection of the day.
• Change each selected experience and/or arrival window in advance (subject to availability)—up until the start of the arrival window

 

[Jellybean9]

Scott Gustin reports on X that your LL times can overlap by only 15 minutes.

 

[irlandaise]

If you book your Tier 1 first ... you end up
8am Tiana's (though no one would ride this first thing I think)
9am Haunted
10am Pirates

You ride Tiana's then go and book Space at 2pm,
9am Haunted
10am Pirates

Your ride your 9am - but now you can't book anything until 11am ...

Why not? As soon as you've used your 9:00 a.m. pass, you can book a new one. Why would you need to wait until 11:00?

 

[Minnie1222]

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.

Unfortunately, the first test group will be everyone going between July 24th to August 24th. Sorry guys! Good luck! We're all counting on you.

 

[CarolynFH]

Scott Gustin reports on X that your LL times can overlap by only 15 minutes.

Oh blast. Better than no overlap, I guess.

 

[Jellybean9]

Oh blast. Better than no overlap, I guess.

I wonder what the best strategy is then if you’re just going to Park #1 until 1pm-ish (it’s going to be August and insanely hot) with a plan to park hop to Park #2 in evening.

LL preselect #1 9:00-10:00
LL preselect #2 9:45-10:45
LL preselect #3 10:30-11:30

When I scan in for LL #1, will I not be eligible to book anything from 9:15-10:15 because of preselect #2? I’m thinking I might want to book LL#1 (tier 2) for park opening and LL’s 2&3 for closer to noon so that i have a window for booking immediate redemptions. And then when I’m ready to leave Park #1 try to book last 3 for park #2.

 

[PoppyJ]

I wonder what the best strategy is then if you’re just going to Park #1 until 1pm-ish (it’s going to be August and insanely hot) with a plan to park hop to Park #2 in evening.

LL preselect #1 9:00-10:00
LL preselect #2 9:45-10:45
LL preselect #3 10:30-11:30

When I scan in for LL #1, will I not be eligible to book anything from 9:15-10:15 because of preselect #2? I’m thinking I might want to book LL#1 (tier 2) for park opening and LL’s 2&3 for closer to noon so that i have a window for booking immediate redemptions. And then when I’m ready to leave Park #1 try to book last 3 for park #2.

(1) Do you think immediate redemptions will be available? With Genie+ I rarely got an immediate return time in Hollywood Studios. I never used Fast Pass. Were return times better / were return times readily available throughout the day?

(2) Once you are in the park, you have used your first lightning lane, and you are selecting additional lightning lanes, do you still have a choice of return time? Or will it be like Genie+ where you get the next available?

 

[Jellybean9]

(1) Do you think immediate redemptions will be available? With Genie+ I rarely got an immediate return time in Hollywood Studios. I never used Fast Pass. Were return times better / were return times readily available throughout the day?

(2) Once you are in the park, you have used your first lightning lane, and you are selecting additional lightning lanes, do you still have a choice of return time? Or will it be like Genie+ where you get the next available?

I had assumed you could select a time frame for your LL selections in park but now I’m questioning that?

And yes, I think there will be “immediate” time redemptions available. I 100% believe they’re going to have inventory held back just for day of selections and I think if you’re good about pinning certain attractions and refreshing you should be able to churn through some attractions - at MK at least! Hollywood Studios will def be tricky.

 

[Minnie1222]

(1) Do you think immediate redemptions will be available? With Genie+ I rarely got an immediate return time in Hollywood Studios. I never used Fast Pass. Were return times better / were return times readily available throughout the day?

With FP, we had to use all 3 pre-selected rides before getting a new one, so immediate redemption was non-existent to me. I had much better luck with Genie+ via the use-one-get-one method. I actually think the new multipass LL will be even better.

(2) Once you are in the park, you have used your first lightning lane, and you are selecting additional lightning lanes, do you still have a choice of return time? Or will it be like Genie+ where you get the next available?

I think you will see the return time, but just like Genie+ you may not get that particular time if you don't click on it quick enough. This was my problem during the first days with G+, I thought I was getting a 10 AM ride, but by the time my selection was processed, I somehow ended up with a 5 PM choice. This problem was semi-solved when Disney doubled the G+ cost.

 

[jelona]

Unfortunately, the first test group will be everyone going between July 24th to August 24th. Sorry guys! Good luck! We're all counting on you.

well....Thats is me! Hahah..Thats why i wished they had a test group! Fingers Crossed!

 

[Gussygranger]

During FP+ years, after going to the park only every other year or so, I became a FP expert. It all clicked one day when I was planning our next trip, I understood how to plan a schedule with such accuracy, even I was amazed how well it worked out.
I tested it out the last year we went with FPs (February 2019) I wrote down everything we did and saved in case I ever need to look back. When FP+ was taken away, I remember looking at my notes and thinking it was all useless now but I never deleted any of it (thank goodness!). I had even documented how I did it with precise steps in case someone I knew needed help, I would just forward the document.
For all the people upset about this new change, there are people like me who are happy it’s back!!!

 

[AttheParks]

This is all just making my head spin! I hate being a guinea pig arriving 7/27. The 24th will be a frustrating day. They really should not have rolled this out so quickly. Also, should allow booking on desktop for those at home doing multiple days and making multiple plans.
Not happy about TT and PP being down-and with the daily storms things will really get backed up.

I hope more clear info comes out about booking. Hoping it's use one, book one. Always being able to hold 3-otherwise, it's of minimal value compared to Genie+

 

[Mouse Tracker]

I hate being a guinea pig arriving 7/27

We do expect a full and precise report on your PreBook Day, no pressure though

 

[Mouse Tracker]

should allow booking on desktop for those at home doing multiple days and making multiple plans.
Not happy about TT and PP being down-and with the daily storms things will really get backed up.

Why do I hear the panicked voice of Dorothy - Wizard of Oz saying this as I read it?

 

[New Mouse]

So how does a family arriving on different days and rooms manage getting fastpass together?

 

[Jellybean9]

So how does a family arriving on different days and rooms manage getting fastpass together?

I have same issue.

I am hoping that my sister can book hers and then two days later when our window opens up that she can modify and add us? Probably not possible bc we have to check out/pay for our passes. This part seems not well thought out.

 

[Mouse Tracker]

So how does a family arriving on different days and rooms manage getting fastpass together?

I don't think "room" has anything to do with that. As long as you have everybody linked, 'Friends and Family', the dates that overlap should be manageable. Everybody's MDE itinerary might need to match up.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I have same issue.

I am hoping that my sister can book hers and then two days later when our window opens up that she can modify and add us? Probably not possible bc we have to check out/pay for our passes. This part seems not well thought out.

You are on separate reservations? I would imagine you would just book your LLs separately. If you end up booking the exact same time as them, the reservations will all appear as 1 reservation in the app (assuming you are all Friends on the app). If you can't get the exact same time as them, then it will just appear as 2 separate LLs, which is not a big deal really if they overlap. At least that's how it works now I believe, things could change of course