Recommendations for the right way to "stack" Genie + LL. Help!!

[muchaloha]

Hi all, I would love any advice on the best way to stack lightening lane passes with Genie + if you are park hopping!
When you enter the park you are starting your day out in, is it best to grab LL passes the second you get through the gates for THAT PARK and for use in the immediate future OR is is better to start stacking for late afternoon and night time rides for that same park or a park you plan to hop to (or both if you hop back and forth)?

Also, Is there a different best practice if you plan to go in the mornings for rope drop, head back to your hotel in the afternoon and then come back into the parks later that night VS if you plan to stay in the parks (and hop) for the full day?

Not sure if this info is needed or not, but we will be with our 2 kiddos (10/11) and the rides they will be most interested is:
In DL
Thunder Mountain
Astro Blasters
Small World
Pirates
Smugglers Run
Fantasy Land Rides

and in DCA
Monster's Inc
Webslingers
Toy Story Mania
Soarin
Little Mermaid

Any thoughts you all have would be so helpful! Thanks so much, everyone!

 

[Geemo]

Hi all, I would love any advice on the best way to stack lightening lane passes with Genie + if you are park hopping!
When you enter the park you are starting your day out in, is it best to grab LL passes the second you get through the gates for THAT PARK and for use in the immediate future OR is is better to start stacking for late afternoon and night time rides for that same park or a park you plan to hop to (or both if you hop back and forth)?

Also, Is there a different best practice if you plan to go in the mornings for rope drop, head back to your hotel in the afternoon and then come back into the parks later that night VS if you plan to stay in the parks (and hop) for the full day?

Not sure if this info is needed or not, but we will be with our 2 kiddos (10/11) and the rides they will be most interested is:
In DL
Thunder Mountain
Astro Blasters
Small World
Pirates
Smugglers Run
Fantasy Land Rides

and in DCA
Monster's Inc
Webslingers
Toy Story Mania
Soarin
Little Mermaid

Any thoughts you all have would be so helpful! Thanks so much, everyone!

Have you read through DLRExpert's thread on How to fish for Lightning Lane Experience Passes

The thread is almost a year old but I feel it contains very valuable info on how to maximize the use of Genie+

 

[muchaloha]

Have you read through DLRExpert's thread on How to fish for Lightning Lane Experience Passes

The thread is almost a year old but I feel it contains very valuable info on how to maximize the use of Genie+

I will check it out! Thank you! I read the first post and found it fascinating but didn't go much further because I felt they explained it so well in the first post. I am going to definitely read on to get ALL the good hints!! Thanks!!

 

[chezcurrie]

Are you looking to re-ride anything or are you a one and done family? Do you want to only “hop“ once or would you likely return to your starting park at night. Are there any rides you want to ride at night vs day? All that can affect what recommendations you get.

The important thing with G+ is knowing which rides “run out” of LL earlier than others, and if they are on your priority list keeping an eye on those return times and making sure you are able to book them when the ideal time pops up. Don’t just book something to book something, if that makes sense. Again I think DLExpert has a good list of the rides that go quicker than others.

The good news is several of your family’s priorities don’t have (or need) a LL - Fantasyland, Pirates, Blasters, Little Mermaid, Monsters - and with the exception possibly of Webslingers shouldn’t book out early. Falcon and Webslingers also have single rider which is very advantageous with your kids ages as you/they could re-ride to kill time without killer waits.

In general not knowing your specific touring style, I would say if you are taking a mid day break and not doing re-rides use LL to your advantage in your starting park booking your priorities for quick return times and then book your evening in your second park during your break.

If you are staying all day I would use G+ in the am for 1-2 priority rides, keeping an eye on return times, and aim to get 2-3 priority rides for the mid day crush (as you can only book one every 2 hrs or after you scan in to a ride.) I would want that mid-day to be as stress free as possible.

 

[muchaloha]

Are you looking to re-ride anything or are you a one and done family? Do you want to only “hop“ once or would you likely return to your starting park at night. Are there any rides you want to ride at night vs day? All that can affect what recommendations you get.

The important thing with G+ is knowing which rides “run out” of LL earlier than others, and if they are on your priority list keeping an eye on those return times and making sure you are able to book them when the ideal time pops up. Don’t just book something to book something, if that makes sense. Again I think DLExpert has a good list of the rides that go quicker than others.

The good news is several of your family’s priorities don’t have (or need) a LL - Fantasyland, Pirates, Blasters, Little Mermaid, Monsters - and with the exception possibly of Webslingers shouldn’t book out early. Falcon and Webslingers also have single rider which is very advantageous with your kids ages as you/they could re-ride to kill time without killer waits.

In general not knowing your specific touring style, I would say if you are taking a mid day break and not doing re-rides use LL to your advantage in your starting park booking your priorities for quick return times and then book your evening in your second park during your break.

If you are staying all day I would use G+ in the am for 1-2 priority rides, keeping an eye on return times, and aim to get 2-3 priority rides for the mid day crush (as you can only book one every 2 hrs or after you scan in to a ride.) I would want that mid-day to be as stress free as possible.

This is SOOOOOOO incredibly helpful!! Thank you SO much for taking the time to write all that out! I am literally doing a screen shot of it and keeping it on my phone as I plan!!!! I truly appreciate it!!!

To be really honest, we don't quite even know what touring style we are. We have five days there and would love to ride things twice if that becomes a possibility. I hadn't even thought of the day ride vs night ride! I'm going to chat with the fam about that! Honestly, my kiddos are SO excited about going to Disney for the first time, they are going to be flabbergasted at any and all things, so any which was we go, they are going to be beyond thrilled! I just don't want to be the mama that shows up totally unprepared in planning! So thank you SO much!!

 

[chezcurrie]

This is SOOOOOOO incredibly helpful!! Thank you SO much for taking the time to write all that out! I am literally doing a screen shot of it and keeping it on my phone as I plan!!!! I truly appreciate it!!!

To be really honest, we don't quite even know what touring style we are. We have five days there and would love to ride things twice if that becomes a possibility. I hadn't even thought of the day ride vs night ride! I'm going to chat with the fam about that! Honestly, my kiddos are SO excited about going to Disney for the first time, they are going to be flabbergasted at any and all things, so any which was we go, they are going to be beyond thrilled! I just don't want to be the mama that shows up totally unprepared in planning! So thank you SO much!!

Oh wow, with 5 days you will have no problem riding everything on this list multiple times. I assumed this was a 1-day plan. Lol

With 5 days you can do a combo of whatever you want! You may find that you really like one time of day better. I would say that with 5 days definitely take that mid day break. People here are probably sick of hearing me say this but we have a rule of 3’s for our family: 3 rides (priority per person), 3 snacks, 3 hr break! Lol

One of my favorite memories I never expected was during our 5-night visit last December when I would go back to the park with my (then) 8 and 12 year old and we stayed until park closed. I had no idea they would be such night owls! We even booked it all the way across from galaxy’s edge (far end of DL) where we watched fireworks to Pixar pier (far end of DCA) and rode incredicoaster 3 times back to back before close!

Have an amazing trip and remember there’s no “right” way to Disney, only what way works best for you. And that can change day to day!

 

[muchaloha]

Oh wow, with 5 days you will have no problem riding everything on this list multiple times. I assumed this was a 1-day plan. Lol

With 5 days you can do a combo of whatever you want! You may find that you really like one time of day better. I would say that with 5 days definitely take that mid day break. People here are probably sick of hearing me say this but we have a rule of 3’s for our family: 3 rides (priority per person), 3 snacks, 3 hr break! Lol

One of my favorite memories I never expected was during our 5-night visit last December when I would go back to the park with my (then) 8 and 12 year old and we stayed until park closed. I had no idea they would be such night owls! We even booked it all the way across from galaxy’s edge (far end of DL) where we watched fireworks to Pixar pier (far end of DCA) and rode incredicoaster 3 times back to back before close!

Have an amazing trip and remember there’s no “right” way to Disney, only what way works best for you. And that can change day to day!

What special memory that is!! I bet they will be talking about that YEARS from now!!!! We are So excited to go and see them experience it all! I love that advice of 3, 3, 3!!! I'm gonna borrow that from you and use it on our trip!!! Thank you again for all your help! I feel WAY better about our planning now. I was getting nervous as I was trying to make sense of all the apps, hopping, stacking, and so on! You all have like PhD's in Disney and I am feel like a preschooler! Ha!!!

 

[Gaub]

What special memory that is!! I bet they will be talking about that YEARS from now!!!! We are So excited to go and see them experience it all! I love that advice of 3, 3, 3!!! I'm gonna borrow that from you and use it on our trip!!! Thank you again for all your help! I feel WAY better about our planning now. I was getting nervous as I was trying to make sense of all the apps, hopping, stacking, and so on! You all have like PhD's in Disney and I am feel like a preschooler! Ha!!!

Definitely do you best to experience both parks after dark! It's an entirely new experience with the lighting, etc.