Why we think Lightning Lane is wrong

[Tami and Bryan]

This is not a bash on people who pay for lightning lane, but instead a criticism of how Disney is devaluing park tickets for profit.

Image waiting in line at a movie theater, DMV or grocery store, and then someone cuts in front of you? Other than disappointment, what happens? In short.. you have to wait longer which takes time from other things you would like to do.

When you buy a Disney ticket(s), it has a perceived value. For most people, most of value is derived from the amount of rides you can enjoy per day. A Lightning Lane is nothing more than a license to cut in front of everyone making others wait longer and taking time away from other things a ticket buyer would love to accomplish.

It's a devaluation of your tickets. We love Disney and they claim it is the "Happiest Place On Earth", but really is waiting in long lines all day while others cut in front truly the happiest place on earth?

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

This has dated back to legacy Fastpass and actually before that with the Adventureland Scavenger hunt so nothing new...

I do agree that prices have gotten out of control and making you pay for what was once included int he ticket price is "wrong" but Disney is a BUSINESS and wants to make as large of a profit as possible.

 

[Dug720]

waiting in line at a movie theater

I guess you don't go to AMC for movies - or at least you don't get snacks. They have a line at the concession stand for Premier and A*List members that gets called before people in the regular line. (And for buying tickets they don't really even have a window...it's all machines with like 1 person who can run a register for people still using cash.)

 

[DisneyMom93]

I totally agree. But everyone is doing that now. Airlines too. We all pay for our seats but some pay more to board first, get guaranteed overhead carry-on storage, etc. Some pay for their seats and all the carry-on storage is gone before they get to board.

 

[gmi3804]

If prices hadn't gotten to outrageous, the LL charge would've been easier to handle. They had a paid FP at DL several years ago, but it only something like $20/day, and the base admission hadn't been jacked up.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I guess you don't go to AMC for movies - or at least you don't get snacks. They have a line at the concession stand for Premier and A*List members that gets called before people in the regular line. (And for buying tickets they don't really even have a window...it's all machines with like 1 person who can run a register for people still using cash.)

And at the DMV they have the line that is for those that book an appt online who are taken before walk ins.

Just like at Quest Diagnostics. If you book an appt you're taken within 2 minutes but if you walked in it may say one time but then someone with an appt signs in and you are bumped down further and further.

Its life at this point...

 

[Dug720]

And at the DMV they have the line that is for those that book an appt online who are taken before walk ins.

Just like at Quest Diagnostics. If you book an appt you're taken within 2 minutes but if you walked in it may say one time but then someone with an appt signs in and you are bumped down further and further.

Its life at this point...

This is true. I forgot about that - and I have a DMV appointment upcoming. LOL.

Also call ahead (or for some app ahead) seating at restaurants. Or heck, even ADRs at Disney. Or mobile ordering!

 

[tom1944]

Many services have different levels of pay for quicker or better service.

I am willing to pay for the level of service I want and not concerned if others pay more for a different (better) level of service.

 

[Dave006]

This has dated back to legacy Fastpass and actually before that with the Adventureland Scavenger hunt so nothing new...

I do agree that prices have gotten out of control and making you pay for what was once included int he ticket price is "wrong" but Disney is a BUSINESS and wants to make as large of a profit as possible.

The legacy FP program was included in the ticket prices, was free, and you actually waited for your return time, just not in the Standby queue.

And at the DMV they have the line that is for those that book an appt online who are taken before walk ins.

Just like at Quest Diagnostics. If you book an appt you're taken within 2 minutes but if you walked in it may say one time but then someone with an appt signs in and you are bumped down further and further.

Neither of these examples cost extra or provide a special service since everyone is able to make a Free appontment. There is no jumping the line as mentioned earlier in the thread.

Also call ahead (or for some app ahead) seating at restaurants. Or heck, even ADRs at Disney. Or mobile ordering!

Again no cost or premium is paid for planning ahead. No it is not always possible to plan ahead but it helps everyone including those waiting as walk-in customers..

Dave

 

[Smugpugmug]

I totally agree. But everyone is doing that now. Airlines too. We all pay for our seats but some pay more to board first, get guaranteed overhead carry-on storage, etc. Some pay for their seats and all the carry-on storage is gone before they get to board.

Not to mention that you can pay to skip the security line with TSA Precheck and the customs line with Global Entry.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

And at the DMV they have the line that is for those that book an appt online who are taken before walk ins.

Just like at Quest Diagnostics. If you book an appt you're taken within 2 minutes but if you walked in it may say one time but then someone with an appt signs in and you are bumped down further and further.

Its life at this point...

But you don’t pay extra for these.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The legacy FP program was included in the ticket prices, was free, and you actually waited for your return time, just not in the Standby queue.


Neither of these examples cost extra or provide a special service since everyone is able to make a Free appontment. There is no jumping the line as mentioned earlier in the thread.

I did mention it was included...
And waiting for a return time is no different now.
And with legacy FP you could say that it was not fair that people collected FP's and then used them outside of the windows which would have basically made people wait longer if a group of 10 came 3 hours after their window...

OP is the one that brought up how they'd be mad if someone cut them at the DMV making them wait longer and I was just pointing out that with the appt line vs walk in line its basically the same scenario as SB vs LL.
OP did not bring up money in that example just their TIME.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

But you don’t pay extra for these.

OP brought up the DMV and did not use paying extra in the example... They brought up their TIME.

 

[Tatebeck]

Almost everything at Disney is fashioned in a way that those who pay more get more. I don't know why some people draw the line at LLs. For the parks:

Pay more to stay on site - early entry, preferred booking for LLs
Pay even more to stay deluxe - extended evening hours
Pay for LLs - get to use some LLs
Pay for LL premier - Get to use all the LLs guaranteed
Pay for private tour - behind the scenes back entrances and rerides are usually allowed with no wait

Do you want to get rid of all these other things as well? I don't mind the various options because you can choose a level and get what you pay for. If I bought DVC or stayed on site at a deluxe but had no advantage over someone staying off site what would the point be of staying on site?

You seem to be looking at it like Disney is punishing those who don't spend as much money, but you can also look at it as them rewarding their most loyal customers who return more or spend more.

In any system like this people towards the bottom are upset while those towards the top are usually okay with it. It's just human nature. No one likes feeling like they are average or on the bottom, everyone wants to feel they are above average. But that's not how averages work.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

So studies in airlines have concluded that when coach fliers have to walk past first class fliers on their way to their seats, there are more disruptive fliers, in both classes, as opposed to when they don’t.

There is a perception of status that comes with getting these privileges and thus the sort to different levels of importance on all levels. I feel it underlines that the culture in most companies is money and power, not happiness of society. And it shows in our low rank in happy country polls.

I don’t like it. I don’t agree with it. I would rather live in a culture that values its people. You can do this and still ‘keep the doors open’ and even generate a surplus as a company. But that’s not how things are here. I think the wonder of the amazing imagineers would be better suited would Disney start valuing each and every customer, versus ranking them by their spend.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

OP brought up the DMV and did not use paying extra in the example... They brought up their TIME.

I was emphasizing that point.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The legacy FP program was included in the ticket prices, was free,

Disney's first foray into paid FP was with MaxPass over at DL. A reason why it probably wasn't as controversial is that they still had Legacy FP alongside it. There were advantages with MP such as if someone cancelled or modified their return time it went back into a bucket and you could pick that time back up (like you could with FP+).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think the feeling is understandable, the one where you see people who paid an additional fee were able to do something you were not. It has unfortunately bled into many different industries and usages much like how the tipping has. I think we could give a lot of examples out there but I also understand the feeling behind what the OP is frustrated at. It's kinda a throw up your hand thing though you either do it and seemingly benefit from doing so or you don't.

We did our 2022 trip without Genie+ but we've been enough that while incredibly frustrating it was not a trip where we were going there for the first time and were not planning on going back. On the other hand we did not limit ourselves with their paid system in Tokyo Disneyland because it's location in Japan meant we did not know when we would be able to make it back.

 

[_19disnA]

Actually when I first went to the TSA-precheck office to get approved, those having an appointment got to go first while those who are just walks-ins have to wait in line. I don't have an issue with that or at the DMV since everyone can make an appointment ahead of time.

None of us work for Disney, so complaining about their practices/prices on here isn't going to accomplish anything. The opportunity exists to pay extra when at Disney to avoid long lines. Disney lets far more people into the parks than the available ride capacity, so FastPass, Genie+/etc. are efforts by them to manage the large crowds (and make more money at the same time.)

To me there a LOTS of choices where to go on vacation and anyone can choose to spend their vacation dollars wherever they like.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've written about this before, but Disney is in the business of selling happiness. That's not the same as "Disney wants me, personally, to be happy," but it is easy to confuse the two. Price increases or perk devaluations make it more obvious that Disney and I are in an adversarial relationship. Disney's goal is to get as much of my money for the lowest investment possible. My goal is to get as much happiness possible from each dollar.

If I think the balance of that relationship tips too far in Disney's favor, my remedy is simple: Stop going.