Why is Disney doing this? (with international guest)

[ellbell]

I was referring to the general announcement for the new lightning lane system, which is on their website.

I wouldn't expect them to 'announce' any potential disadvantage to international guests, but it has been confirmed several times in writing directly from Disney in response to questions from various people. It may be the case that this is only happening because they don't know the full details yet, which would just come down to poor communication within Disney. However, when it has been reported in every Disney blog and clearly confirmed by Disney in writing, I think it's fair to expect that people will assume there's some level of truth to it and start to try to plan around it, particularly those who have upcoming trips. Or, as some people have done, express their disappointment to Disney in the hope that with enough demand, the (actual or perceived) situation will be improved.

If it turns out that we've all got the wrong end of the stick and there's no issue, then that's a great outcome and I think (though we might question Disney's public relations skills) we will all be more than happy to eat our words.

Anyone who has received communication has received it from frontline agents. These agents have been know to have incorrect or misinterpreted information in the past. For example the one thing I saw from a TAs Disney contact advised that you wouldn't be able to download MDE unless in the US. That is 100% incorrect because I've downloaded and updated it in Canada since 2017 without issue. I'd be much more likely to believe it was happening if they weren't handing out "fact" sheets with incorrect information.

 

[Disneylover99]

Anyone who has received communication has received it from frontline agents. These agents have been know to have incorrect or misinterpreted information in the past. For example the one thing I saw from a TAs Disney contact advised that you wouldn't be able to download MDE unless in the US. That is 100% incorrect because I've downloaded and updated it in Canada since 2017 without issue. I'd be much more likely to believe it was happening if they weren't handing out "fact" sheets with incorrect information.

I think the takeaway from all of this is, there is concern this could be true, if not, great. There is no problem.

But it’s good to be aware and plan/prepare for this, especially if your trip is affected by this roll out. We probably won’t know for sure, until it starts.

 

[ellbell]

I think the takeaway from all of this is, there is concern this could be true, if not, great. There is no problem.

But it’s good to be aware and plan/prepare for this, especially if your trip is affected by this roll out. We probably won’t know for sure, until it starts.

For sure and I do have a backup plan only because I've already have plane tickets and all. I don't particular believe Canadians won't be able to do it but if it is the case and all this chatter somehow turns out to be true I won't be renewing my AP and all my Disney money then become cruise money. My spouse has been at me for years to do more cruises anyway because he doesn't like Disney. This just makes the decision easier. If this is true Disney is only hurting themselves.

 

[Nimbus]

Is this an issue that using a VPN while using the app would quickly remedy?

 

[saskdw]

As a Canadian, we pay roughly 30% more with our exchange rate. Lol.
How’s the Aussie dollar?

Closer to 40%

 

[Disneylover99]

Closer to 40%

True.
It’s just somehow easier to justify a trip when I think 30%. Lol.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

As of now our planned (but not yet booked) January 2025 trip has been put on hold. This would have been trip #10. We always stay onsite but, IF this turns out to be true, what a slap in the face by Disney to its international guests. Pay our outrageous hotel/park/food prices and be happy to enter at the back of the line for ride selection. Just a thought but they may be betting and hoping on longer hotel stays by the int'l group to fill up empty resort rooms in order to push out as far as possible the first park day. So, I book a 10 night trip instead of my intended 7 with only 4-5 park days starting 4-5 days after I arrive in order to capitalise on ride selection. Since park days #5, 6 ,7 etc. are minimal cost Disney gets its money in the first 4 days and $$$ on extra hotel nights and food.

Disney is very aware of everything being said on social media so why not release a statement to put its int'l visitors at ease with their planning if we are wrong?

 

[steve_rob]

Anyone who has received communication has received it from frontline agents. These agents have been know to have incorrect or misinterpreted information in the past.

If it was just a single agent (or two) I’d be happy to write it off as someone who isn’t signing from the same hymn sheet as Disney, but we have many, many people reporting replies from e-mails to Customer Services saying exactly the same thing each time, with boiler plate text that has clearly been copied and pasted from something official sounding, and so therefore I’m leaning towards this being an actual thing.

Also to those who are saying just use a VPN - if it is the issue we believe, then that’s not likely to resolve the problem. Most issues in the past with using the MDE app from overseas have been caused by geo-fencing (e.g. checking where your phone’s GPS reports it is located) which a VPN can’t help with.

 

[Jellybean9]

Once you arrive in the US, you can immediately book your LL’s for your entire 2-3 week stay…that will still be a jump start on a significant population of the other park guests. Also, do you plan on buying multipass for every single day? Maybe backload your multipass days to the 2nd week?

 

[ellbell]

If it was just a single agent (or two) I’d be happy to write it off as someone who isn’t signing from the same hymn sheet as Disney, but we have many, many people reporting replies from e-mails to Customer Services saying exactly the same thing each time, with boiler plate text that has clearly been copied and pasted from something official sounding, and so therefore I’m leaning towards this being an actual thing.

Also to those who are saying just use a VPN - if it is the issue we believe, then that’s not likely to resolve the problem. Most issues in the past with using the MDE app from overseas have been caused by geo-fencing (e.g. checking where your phone’s GPS reports it is located) which a VPN can’t help with.

That may be so but it doesn't make it true. I'm of the opinion that we will know when one way or another when Disney either makes an official announcement or when people actually try it.

I'm not naive enough to be blind to the possibilities of it being true and I do have a backup plan to get my early booking done. But, that being said I believe it's just as likely to be untrue.

 

[Nimbus]

Assuming Disney is determining a device's location by IP address/Server location, If it's just a matter of "Needing to be on US soil" before one can make the reservations, it seems like a VPN would easily solve the issue. Many people use VPN's as a standard part of the internet usage/security, and there are many free VPN services available.

 

[Disneylover99]

Once you arrive in the US, you can immediately book your LL’s for your entire 2-3 week stay…that will still be a jump start on a significant population of the other park guests. Also, do you plan on buying multipass for every single day? Maybe backload your multipass days to the 2nd week?

Good advice if you have a super long stay. And yeah, I don’t think it will matter too much if you do have a lengthy stay. But there are plenty of international travellers who fly in, just for a few days. This will affect them if they wanted to buy Genie+.

 

[Minnie1222]

Even if it were true due to some new obscure laws, I'm confident that Disney will find a way to help international guests while monetizing on the situation. It's fine to form a plan B, but there's no reason to panic.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This is normally a reliable source. Good news for some. Hope it's soon the same for all!

Canadian Guests WILL Have Pre-Arrival Lightning Lane Access at Disney World​

And yet, I can't help but ask myself, what is Disney going to charge for this? I'm fully prepared for it to be $$$ and I'll be priced out regardless.

 

[Minnie1222]

Who wants to take a guess at which country will be included next?

 

[ellbell]

This is normally a reliable source. Good news for some. Hope it's soon the same for all!

Canadian Guests WILL Have Pre-Arrival Lightning Lane Access at Disney World​

And yet, I can't help but ask myself, what is Disney going to charge for this? I'm fully prepared for it to be $$$ and I'll be priced out regardless.

I'm glad it was confirmed.

 

[zanzibar138]

This is normally a reliable source. Good news for some. Hope it's soon the same for all!

Canadian Guests WILL Have Pre-Arrival Lightning Lane Access at Disney World​

And yet, I can't help but ask myself, what is Disney going to charge for this? I'm fully prepared for it to be $$$ and I'll be priced out regardless.

That's great news for Canadians!

Sounds like there could still be problems for other international guests though. I'm certainly not advocating that people should panic, but I do think it's fair for people to have concerns.

"Please note that this update applies only to Canadian guests and no other countries. We inquired about visitors from the European Union and United Kingdom–two other big demos for Walt Disney World (and readers of this blog)–and the company indicated that there are no updates for other markets at this time.

Also please note that this is not speculation or the result of interacting with a chatbot, frontline Cast Member, etc. We spoke with a Walt Disney World spokesperson, who officially confirmed all of the above. (With that said, the previous categorical ‘rule’ excluding international guests was official, too.)"

 

[walt34]

Assuming Disney is determining a device's location by IP address/Server location, If it's just a matter of "Needing to be on US soil" before one can make the reservations, it seems like a VPN would easily solve the issue. Many people use VPN's as a standard part of the internet usage/security, and there are many free VPN services available.

The WDW website does it this way - the app doesn't. As far as I know the app checks the geographical location through the smartphone location services.

Currently a VPN does not enable you to buy Genie+, which is only sold through the app. Assuming multipass is sold in the same way, VPNs won't help.

Disney needs to offer a solution here. Imagine guests from overseas flying 4000 miles and when they land they can only pick up what's left on the day of arrival.

If it stays like this, I will spend a week at Universal before going to Disney for a short trip when I go to Orlando. This would flip my travel patterns around but it would allow me to book multipass seven days in advance. Disney would lose 2/3 of the budget I'm currently spending there.

 

[UKdisneydad]

The WDW website does it this way - the app doesn't. As far as I know the app checks the geographical location through the smartphone location services.

Currently a VPN does not enable you to buy Genie+, which is only sold through the app. Assuming multipass is sold in the same way, VPNs won't help.

Disney needs to offer a solution here. Imagine guests from overseas flying 4000 miles and when they land they can only pick up what's left on the day of arrival.

If it stays like this, I will spend a week at Universal before going to Disney for a short trip when I go to Orlando. This would flip my travel patterns around but it would allow me to book multipass seven days in advance. Disney would lose 2/3 of the budget I'm currently spending there.

So on a few people's advice I spent several hours working how to spoof my phone's GPS to an American address and alas this didn't work either. Looks like VPN's aren't the only option out for non-US citizens.

 

[mabucco]

So on a few people's advice I spent several hours working how to spoof my phone's GPS to an American address and alas this didn't work either. Looks like VPN's aren't the only option out for non-US citizens.

Have you tried it on Android or iOS?
I don’t understand why that wouldn’t work as there would be no way for an app to find out the real location when using the fake GPS signal and a VPN simultaneously.