They are going to have a big problem when people pay 400 and find out that the lightning lane line is just as long as the stand by line, b/c it is filled with people who have paid $30.00. You’re right though, LL is too cheap, but premier LL is TOO expensive..they need to just find the “happy” medium for premier and do away with regular LL. If you put premier LL at the right price it will increase the experience for ALL guests. Currently the whole system (even with the added premier) is a mess and nobody is happy. IDK why they have to make it SO FREAKING complicated
Absolutely! We'll have to see how this actually works, logistically speaking, once they roll it out for guests on the 30th. I do agree, they're going to have a HUGE problem if they add this to the lineup without adjusting other Lightning Lane offerings OR eliminating them completely. I think that's the direction they're headed anyway though. You gotta remember, this is their "pilot rollout" of this Premier Pass, so it's fair to assume [if we're also assuming that the powers that be at Disney have a brain somewhere in their skull. . . harder to believe on some days than others, but I digress] the this is part of a multi-part roll out. So what's probably happening is that we're going to see a small number of LLPP sales to Deluxe Guests at launch and that will slowly increase, maybe even decreasing the number of MultiPass sales over time, before the availability stretches out to everyone and MultiPass is phased out altogether. I do ABSOLUTELY agree that it is a mess and no one is happy. . . . which is why I think Disney digging themselves out of this hole is going to be a process. We'll see though! It's gonna be an interesting show to watch, that's for sure.
We used LLSP and LLMP in August, it wasn’t bad to use. We were able to do everything that we wanted to do. I do think the current price is low and being on the phone is not convenient, however if the current LL goes away I can’t see our family being able to afford the new premium LL.
Not for me !!! As a Canadian & having to pay to convert our dollar it puts that $ 400 to $ 551.81 . On top of the daily admission ticket . Ridiculous !!! Sorry but your answer to shorten the amount of days I would come to WWD to afford this uncharged is not a great solution . It’s starting to make me question why I would come at ALL . There has to be a better solution than this ridiculous up charge .
Yes, there is a solution. Go to Universal instead! Their third theme park, Epic Universe, opens may 22, 2025! AND their newest hotel, Helios, looks beautiful, is Inside the new park and is only $293 per night!!! I know where I'm going after May 22.....
I'll just wait until the competition from Universal forces them to go back and offer Fast Pass for free again. Won't happen? No problem. They can keep this nonsense. 😅
Hello from Tokyo. We went to Disney Sea the other day and enjoyed seeing a completely different park. They went all out with different themed areas. I think it is neat that they have one of the old 20,000 Leagues vessels. The food and drinks were fairly reasonable for a theme park. I didn't always like being next to the Priority Pass line, and now I see we only needed to download the app to join for free? Whoops!
Hey @thejokerspeaks! So glad to hear that you had a great time! DisneySea is probably my favorite Disney park to date. So much fun! Enjoy the rest of your trip and have a safe trip back home! 😄
Disney cannot do what Universal does. If so, it will have to be like this where the service has a MASSIVE price tag. Disney has far more rides and far more people than Universal. Scheduling the times allows them to manage the number of people who go through the lightning lane each hour. If you take that away, then they will have to drastically cut the number of passes they sell to make it work.
I couldn't agree more! What's wild to me is that in today's day and age, with social media and the ability to share information so easily, that they don't do like a fireside chat thing once in a while where they explain what they're doing and where they're going. Offer some reassurance to people. Explain the basics! What they seem to not realize is that not only would this be nice for the guests, but it would be hugely beneficial to the company itself. It's like they've forgotten how to do business and mitigate damage. . . . .
Hi, I recently found your channel. I really like your chill vibe and hearing your thoughts. Our family has been Disney fans since the early 90s, but for the past 3 years, we have transitioned to mostly Universal trips. I enjoy hearing your thoughts on DVC even though I will never buy one. Thanks ❤
My opinion on the new premier LL is if they are going to do this, they need to eliminate the other LL options and make this option available to everyone, not just deluxe resort guests.
They only time we had express passes is if we stayed at the premier hotel. How many Universal guests actually pay the daily price of the express? I’ve found even when we do Universal without the express (those hotel prices keep climbing) we can still have a good time and the express line doesn’t have a HUGE impact on the regular standby line. Disney has too many ways to get into the lightening lanes right now. Buy a single ride, buy the multi pass, DAS, and now this premier pass… but they all go to the same line correct? That’s shuffling too many people to the “skip the line” line. We also went to Hershey park this summer and almost no one was using the Fast Track lines ($50-$170 for 1 ride per day, $75-$225 for unlimited). If they want to charge the higher price it needs to be worth it with little to no waits. I don’t see it rolling out that way with the cheaper options of skipping the lines also available. There’s no way we would be paying those prices for us (a family/group of at least 4)
The logistics of how LLPP will work is not something I have information on at this time. My guess, though I think it's a terrible plan, is that you're right and they are ALL going through the same Lightning Lane line. . . . which is not going to go well at all for those guests paying for LLPP. [NOTE: Single Pass does not share a line with MultiPass guests 'cause those attractions are only available to Single Pass and DAS.] They are absolutely shuffling too many people through the "skip-the-line" line and that's a problem not only for those guests paying for the service, but also for guests in the standby who experience longer wait times because of it. I agree. I don't think that this is going to be "worth it" at the start, but I think that they will end up using the feedback from guests using LLPP as reasoning to eliminate MultiPass. Which, I know isn't what people want to hear, but I think will turn out to be an overall better experience for everyone in the parks.
Somehow I feel this is the experiment to see if they can do away with LLSP and LLMP and only include this LL Premier option JUST for all resort guests. Call me crazy, but I think this is what they’re after with this. Just to plus everyone by a couple of hundred bucks. If 2 out of 5 four person families do it, they’re still in the black.
I think that's exactly where this is going. On top of that, I think it will actually benefit the guests both who buy it and those who don't. Less people buying it 'cause of the price means that both the LL and the Standby move more efficiently. . . Disney makes the same money that they would have made otherwise. . . everyone ultimately wins. We just need to get to the point where it's fully implemented. That's at least my thought.
@@2foolishmortals agreed. It’s just a risky proposition given their major competitor is opening a new park and their resort prices are actually way less than initially anticipated. If they add anything to incentivize staying there, Disney will have a tough time justifying these LL premier prices.
I remember taking my kids to Disney in the 90’s and up to 2007 and it was wonderful. We had DVC points worked the system paid cash for the weekends and got annual passes for $300 a year Each! Now it’s $1,500 each. I’d call that ridiculous. Then they have the nerve to charge for parking. Now you have to book this ride…book that ride…run here…run there and pay thousands for that nonsense. If consumers didn’t pay the price you can bet Disney would lower their prices. People are in a revenge travel mode so the price goes up. If everyone skipped a Disney vacation one year that company would freak. We’d see prices drop because they would have to drop the price to get people in the park. $100 a day for a ticket. That’s what those parks are worth.$100 and that’s generous.
Ok, regarding the comparison of the services to other parks... it's not necessarily one for one comparison, let's take HersheyPark for example. Their skip service (each ride once per day) ranges from $50-170, and the unlimited skip service is $75-225. Disney is offering something comparable to the "each ride once per day" option at prices exorbitantly higher than what HersheyPark will. And compare the number of coasters and high-demand rides at HersheyPark to Animal Kingdom. I think it's like 17 rides at Hershey compared to ten at AK (including shows with the rides). The current system at Disney might appear affordable but it's a gamble because you don't know if you'll get to use the line-skip 3 times or 13 in a day. My hope is that this premier option is so exclusive and rare that it doesn't impact lines too much for the rest of us, and just a few rich people can blend in unnoticed.
I think that's what they're going for. . . making it so exclusive and rare that it doesn't impact the lines much. That's really the only way that these systems work and having it as accessible/affordable as it currently is makes it even less of a value cause you get so much less out of it, as you said. We'll just have to wait and see. I think we'll be waiting for a while, 'cause this is just the "pilot rollout" of LLPP. I'm thinking that we'll only REALLY see any positive impact of the change once it's fully implemented.
Doubt that we'll ever see the free skip the line perk again. Maybe for Deluxe Hotel guests, but I highly doubt that as that's still a lot of people given how many Deluxe hotels they have when compared with say Universal that only has 3 currently. My biggest issue with this change is that everyone is going into the same line. So if I pay $400 to skip a line I'm being funneled into the same line as the ones who paid $30 to skip?! 🤬Yeah, not going to make for happy bunnies. I've done say Tron with the single pass and had to wait 20-25 minutes with the standby at 45-50 minutes. Was it less of a wait? Sure and for $20 for the 25ish minute of skipping I personally did not see the value-😏 so a life lesson that I won't be repeating. The other issue I have is that it's not going to even include their most popular rides like Rise and Tron-those are still separately priced. Plus, you can only ride the ride one time. Which is different than Universal in that they do offer an Unlimited option for their Express Pass service 🤨(similar price point to Disney's one and done, I might add). Add to that the closings happening imminently (BTM, 😭 looking at you) and I'm sorry I just don't see the value. I have a hard time believing the $30 multipass LL is worth it most of the time I've used it. On Holidays sure, but normally I feel probably not. Doesn't stop me from getting it more often than not, but that's because I'm lazy and don't like standing in long lines. Fully aware I'm part of the problem. 😂 I also understand that they're testing this out and trying to dig themselves out of a hole, one of their own making, but a hole nonetheless. So I expect that there will be tweaking to this system yet again. I do question them not waiting until 2025 though after the holiday crowds have left. 🤦♀️ A couple weeks after New Years would have been a better time for a stress test like this, but Disney has been making questionable decisions for a while now. So I wish I could say that this surprised me. It didn't. This is a Very watered down VIP tour without the guide and free transportation to the other parks in a moment and without the backstage access and little tidbits that the tour offers. In my opinion, you are FAR BETTER OFF spurging for the full VIP TOUR. Get together with your family or friends and max out the occupancy. It is 10 now, I think. I've done it once at WDW and once at Disneyland (this one was better because of course it was) but that was a splurge worth the 💵. You go to backstage areas. When you park hop you get on golf carts and you're to the next park in minutes. They have snacks and water and umbrellas at the ready. It includes a luncheon. Highly recommend. Expensive? Yes Worth it? Also Yes!!
I agree. Unless it's a perk for guests at certain resorts or part of a package, the "free" option is a thing of the past. . . . which really shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone. I share that concern with you as well, everyone going through the same line doesn't seem like it's going to be a good call. I do think, however, that they're likely to make adjustments moving forward. I'd imagine that we end up with LLPP and DAS only going through that line.
We will have access to this on our upcoming November trip and we are planning on using it for HS since we only have 1 day scheduled there (might hop over a few nights) and the wait times at HS are insane and the multipass selections for major attractions book up so quickly or have super late returns. We will not use it at any other park bc all rides can be done via multipass & waiting in short lines over 2 days. I do wish they would reincorporate the character meet & greets with the premier pass though. Ill let ya know how it goes if you don't get to use it before then!
We'll be on the lookout to see what you have to say! I don't think we'll have the chance to get LLPP before the end of the year, so you'll know how it functions before we will. I do agree! I wish that the meet and greets were still available through LL. It's too bad that they went away from that.
One point you missed in your comparison of WDW Premier Pass with Express Pass is that Express works across 2 parks. Premier Pass only works at the park you bought it for. If you park hop it's useless. (Of course, this doesn't apply to Disneyland and DCA where the Premier Pass works at both.)
I think the price is crazy right now but am interested to see where this goes. If I was paying for a deluxe resort, there’s no way we could afford this… but I’m very interested in what will happen!!! Maybe there will be more options similar to other parks.
I'd imagine that eventually, as this fully rolls out IF they don't decide to scrap it [which I am convinced is an option that remains on the table], we'll see more options become available and the product rolled out to more guests across all categories of WDW Resort Hotel. We'll just have to wait and see. 😄
Agree with all you said. I hate the current system and this solves a lot of the problems if this eventually becomes the only LL system. My fear is they keep all 3 and make a bad situation worse. Im afraid the bad PR is going to scare them and say see see we have these (bad) cheaper options. Do ya think Disney is undecided on their line skipping strategy? What factors would tip their hand either way? Is this an Iger or Josh D initiative?
I agree 100%. Keeping all 3 systems in place won't be good for anyone, including Disney's bottom line. Based on what they've said, calling this their "pilot rollout", I'd imagine that it's phase 1 of what will ultimately be a drawn out restructuring of LL. However, my concern is the same as yours. All the bad PR scaring them away from actually moving forward into the next phase. Of course, much of the bad PR that they're getting is from either those who are out-of-touch [for a lack of a better word] with how things happen outside of Disney or disingenous. I don't think that Disney is undecided. . . . I think that they're trying to walk a tightrope. There's a bigger discussion here that I'd like to get into later this week, so stay tuned for that, but Disney fans have never made things easy for Disney. They express complaints and want to see change, but by the time Disney delivers it. . . they forget that they wanted that change and the complaints start all over again. Magical Express is a GREAT example of that. Lightning Lane Premiere Pass is another. The challenge that Disney has to navigate is making these changes with the least amount of fallout, but that's an issue in and of itself 'cause look at what's happening here. This is described as the "pilot rollout" and people have made up their mind that this is what the final product in its full form. . . . before it's even rolled out. We also don't know anything about the logistics of how this is going to work yet. We can guess, but we don't REALLY know. 🤷 What factors would tip their hand? At this point I don't know if anything would. I'd imagine that at this point they know what needs to happen, based on years and years of data about how their skip-the-line services have worked when implimented, and now they FINALLY have to do what other theme and amusement parks have been doing with a good amount of succes for years. . . incrase the price so that it's not something everyone can/wants to buy without a second thought and reduce supply so that it works the way it's intended to work. They just have to find the path of lest resistance in order to arrive at that point. Frankly, I think they should have just gone all in, dealt with that fallout and then moved on. . . but here we are.
@@2foolishmortals i hope your right and they are committed. sometimes disney talks too much (like their bluesky d23 projects) and too little (this and the DAS switch). If they just treated these sorts of operational processes changes like they do when a new ride is coming out it would fill the void with actual facts instead of ppl guessing and assuming their some sort of evil entity who wants to ruin ppls lives or something. have josh d do a talk with a fan site explaining why
I agree. . . the optics are going to create more problems for Disney than they solve. I don't think there's any way out of this for them other than plowing forward though. People have proven to have short memories and I think they're counting on that when they make choices like this.
You added Universal on your cost comparison BUT you get that Free by staying at their deluxe resorts, one of the reasons we are staying at Hard Rock on our upcoming trip for 4 days. We are also staying at Boardwalk for 6 nights, but will not be paying $400 per person per day ( for 3 adults) on our stay that's more than a night at Boardwalk, no thankyou, we will grab lightening lanes, and multipass, we are going from 4/30-5/10. We also have the dining plan added.
That's because we don't know how or if Disney will use this new product as a perk in the future. It's important to remember, Express Pass is an established product available at Universal Orlando. . . . . Lightning Lane Premiere Pass is a new product that is beginning its phased rollout later this month. It's not a fair comparison/criticism to make UNTILL we have a fully implemented Premiere Pass at WDW and see what they do with it then.
Ok.... but it is not comparable in price per value. If you look at Universal, a 1x skip the line express is not 190$, it's less. That price is in the universal express unlimited range per person. A 1x alternative faster moving queue That's what lightning lane is. It's not a skip the line pass, you're still standing in the line. It just moves 80-90% faster than standby. The premiere pass is still a 1x stand in the fast line pass... not unlimited, but it includes the single pass lightning lanes and there's no booking. Would I pay $129 - $400 per person. Nope. Just like I don't pay it at universal. Just not value for dollar.
I did look and that's where I got the numbers of what the 1x skip-the-line service would be at Universal [as well as all the other listed parks] for October 19th. For that same day, Unlimited is $230 at Studios and $235 at Islands. Disney was listed there, just for the sake of comparing pricing on that particular day. . though the services are not comparable because they operate so differently.
They are going to have a big problem when people pay 400 and find out that the lightning lane line is just as long as the stand by line, b/c it is filled with people who have paid $30.00. You’re right though, LL is too cheap, but premier LL is TOO expensive..they need to just find the “happy” medium for premier and do away with regular LL. If you put premier LL at the right price it will increase the experience for ALL guests. Currently the whole system (even with the added premier) is a mess and nobody is happy. IDK why they have to make it SO FREAKING complicated
Exactly
Absolutely! We'll have to see how this actually works, logistically speaking, once they roll it out for guests on the 30th. I do agree, they're going to have a HUGE problem if they add this to the lineup without adjusting other Lightning Lane offerings OR eliminating them completely. I think that's the direction they're headed anyway though. You gotta remember, this is their "pilot rollout" of this Premier Pass, so it's fair to assume [if we're also assuming that the powers that be at Disney have a brain somewhere in their skull. . . harder to believe on some days than others, but I digress] the this is part of a multi-part roll out. So what's probably happening is that we're going to see a small number of LLPP sales to Deluxe Guests at launch and that will slowly increase, maybe even decreasing the number of MultiPass sales over time, before the availability stretches out to everyone and MultiPass is phased out altogether. I do ABSOLUTELY agree that it is a mess and no one is happy. . . . which is why I think Disney digging themselves out of this hole is going to be a process. We'll see though! It's gonna be an interesting show to watch, that's for sure.
I agree. They have to get rid of the $30 LL for this new premier LL to be worth it.
Why don't they do it like Universal and if you stay at a higher end resort, you get the fast pass included with the room.
We don't know that they won't. They need to launch and test with a smaller group before they open up the flood gates though.
Disney doesn't give anything away. The word "free" isn't in their vocab.
We used LLSP and LLMP in August, it wasn’t bad to use. We were able to do everything that we wanted to do.
I do think the current price is low and being on the phone is not convenient, however if the current LL goes away I can’t see our family being able to afford the new premium LL.
There is absolutely no chance im buying one of those big swirl lollypops. That is a level of stick and waste im not willing to play with
They make cases for them if you need to save it for later
Thank you for ALWAYS providing a balanced, honest review no matter the subject.
Thanks! We're glad you appreciate our take on subjects like this. ❤️😄
Not for me !!! As a Canadian & having to pay to convert our dollar it puts that $ 400 to $ 551.81 . On top of the daily admission ticket . Ridiculous !!! Sorry but your answer to shorten the amount of days I would come to WWD to afford this uncharged is not a great solution . It’s starting to make me question why I would come at ALL . There has to be a better solution than this ridiculous up charge .
Yes, there is a solution. Go to Universal instead! Their third theme park, Epic Universe, opens may 22, 2025! AND their newest hotel, Helios, looks beautiful, is Inside the new park and is only $293 per night!!! I know where I'm going after May 22.....
I'll just wait until the competition from Universal forces them to go back and offer Fast Pass for free again. Won't happen? No problem. They can keep this nonsense. 😅
Oh. . . your doubts make sense! You are definitely not alone here.
last thing i want to do is be on my phone
You're definitely not alone!
3:46 SFTH looks very cool! I want to visit this attraction.
It's pretty cool, especially if you're familiar with Swiss Family Robinson!
Hello from Tokyo. We went to Disney Sea the other day and enjoyed seeing a completely different park. They went all out with different themed areas. I think it is neat that they have one of the old 20,000 Leagues vessels. The food and drinks were fairly reasonable for a theme park. I didn't always like being next to the Priority Pass line, and now I see we only needed to download the app to join for free? Whoops!
Hey @thejokerspeaks! So glad to hear that you had a great time! DisneySea is probably my favorite Disney park to date. So much fun! Enjoy the rest of your trip and have a safe trip back home! 😄
Disney cannot do what Universal does. If so, it will have to be like this where the service has a MASSIVE price tag. Disney has far more rides and far more people than Universal. Scheduling the times allows them to manage the number of people who go through the lightning lane each hour. If you take that away, then they will have to drastically cut the number of passes they sell to make it work.
I couldn't agree more! What's wild to me is that in today's day and age, with social media and the ability to share information so easily, that they don't do like a fireside chat thing once in a while where they explain what they're doing and where they're going. Offer some reassurance to people. Explain the basics! What they seem to not realize is that not only would this be nice for the guests, but it would be hugely beneficial to the company itself. It's like they've forgotten how to do business and mitigate damage. . . . .
Hi, I recently found your channel. I really like your chill vibe and hearing your thoughts. Our family has been Disney fans since the early 90s, but for the past 3 years, we have transitioned to mostly Universal trips. I enjoy hearing your thoughts on DVC even though I will never buy one. Thanks ❤
My opinion on the new premier LL is if they are going to do this, they need to eliminate the other LL options and make this option available to everyone, not just deluxe resort guests.
They only time we had express passes is if we stayed at the premier hotel. How many Universal guests actually pay the daily price of the express? I’ve found even when we do Universal without the express (those hotel prices keep climbing) we can still have a good time and the express line doesn’t have a HUGE impact on the regular standby line. Disney has too many ways to get into the lightening lanes right now. Buy a single ride, buy the multi pass, DAS, and now this premier pass… but they all go to the same line correct? That’s shuffling too many people to the “skip the line” line. We also went to Hershey park this summer and almost no one was using the Fast Track lines ($50-$170 for 1 ride per day, $75-$225 for unlimited). If they want to charge the higher price it needs to be worth it with little to no waits. I don’t see it rolling out that way with the cheaper options of skipping the lines also available. There’s no way we would be paying those prices for us (a family/group of at least 4)
The logistics of how LLPP will work is not something I have information on at this time. My guess, though I think it's a terrible plan, is that you're right and they are ALL going through the same Lightning Lane line. . . . which is not going to go well at all for those guests paying for LLPP. [NOTE: Single Pass does not share a line with MultiPass guests 'cause those attractions are only available to Single Pass and DAS.] They are absolutely shuffling too many people through the "skip-the-line" line and that's a problem not only for those guests paying for the service, but also for guests in the standby who experience longer wait times because of it. I agree. I don't think that this is going to be "worth it" at the start, but I think that they will end up using the feedback from guests using LLPP as reasoning to eliminate MultiPass. Which, I know isn't what people want to hear, but I think will turn out to be an overall better experience for everyone in the parks.
Somehow I feel this is the experiment to see if they can do away with LLSP and LLMP and only include this LL Premier option JUST for all resort guests. Call me crazy, but I think this is what they’re after with this. Just to plus everyone by a couple of hundred bucks. If 2 out of 5 four person families do it, they’re still in the black.
I think that's exactly where this is going. On top of that, I think it will actually benefit the guests both who buy it and those who don't. Less people buying it 'cause of the price means that both the LL and the Standby move more efficiently. . . Disney makes the same money that they would have made otherwise. . . everyone ultimately wins. We just need to get to the point where it's fully implemented. That's at least my thought.
@@2foolishmortals agreed. It’s just a risky proposition given their major competitor is opening a new park and their resort prices are actually way less than initially anticipated. If they add anything to incentivize staying there, Disney will have a tough time justifying these LL premier prices.
I remember taking my kids to Disney in the 90’s and up to 2007 and it was wonderful. We had DVC points worked the system paid cash for the weekends and got annual passes for $300 a year Each! Now it’s $1,500 each. I’d call that ridiculous. Then they have the nerve to charge for parking. Now you have to book this ride…book that ride…run here…run there and pay thousands for that nonsense. If consumers didn’t pay the price you can bet Disney would lower their prices. People are in a revenge travel mode so the price goes up. If everyone skipped a Disney vacation one year that company would freak. We’d see prices drop because they would have to drop the price to get people in the park. $100 a day for a ticket. That’s what those parks are worth.$100 and that’s generous.
Ok, regarding the comparison of the services to other parks... it's not necessarily one for one comparison, let's take HersheyPark for example. Their skip service (each ride once per day) ranges from $50-170, and the unlimited skip service is $75-225. Disney is offering something comparable to the "each ride once per day" option at prices exorbitantly higher than what HersheyPark will. And compare the number of coasters and high-demand rides at HersheyPark to Animal Kingdom. I think it's like 17 rides at Hershey compared to ten at AK (including shows with the rides). The current system at Disney might appear affordable but it's a gamble because you don't know if you'll get to use the line-skip 3 times or 13 in a day. My hope is that this premier option is so exclusive and rare that it doesn't impact lines too much for the rest of us, and just a few rich people can blend in unnoticed.
I think that's what they're going for. . . making it so exclusive and rare that it doesn't impact the lines much. That's really the only way that these systems work and having it as accessible/affordable as it currently is makes it even less of a value cause you get so much less out of it, as you said. We'll just have to wait and see. I think we'll be waiting for a while, 'cause this is just the "pilot rollout" of LLPP. I'm thinking that we'll only REALLY see any positive impact of the change once it's fully implemented.
Doubt that we'll ever see the free skip the line perk again. Maybe for Deluxe Hotel guests, but I highly doubt that as that's still a lot of people given how many Deluxe hotels they have when compared with say Universal that only has 3 currently. My biggest issue with this change is that everyone is going into the same line. So if I pay $400 to skip a line I'm being funneled into the same line as the ones who paid $30 to skip?! 🤬Yeah, not going to make for happy bunnies. I've done say Tron with the single pass and had to wait 20-25 minutes with the standby at 45-50 minutes. Was it less of a wait? Sure and for $20 for the 25ish minute of skipping I personally did not see the value-😏 so a life lesson that I won't be repeating. The other issue I have is that it's not going to even include their most popular rides like Rise and Tron-those are still separately priced. Plus, you can only ride the ride one time. Which is different than Universal in that they do offer an Unlimited option for their Express Pass service 🤨(similar price point to Disney's one and done, I might add). Add to that the closings happening imminently (BTM, 😭 looking at you) and I'm sorry I just don't see the value. I have a hard time believing the $30 multipass LL is worth it most of the time I've used it. On Holidays sure, but normally I feel probably not. Doesn't stop me from getting it more often than not, but that's because I'm lazy and don't like standing in long lines. Fully aware I'm part of the problem. 😂 I also understand that they're testing this out and trying to dig themselves out of a hole, one of their own making, but a hole nonetheless. So I expect that there will be tweaking to this system yet again. I do question them not waiting until 2025 though after the holiday crowds have left. 🤦♀️ A couple weeks after New Years would have been a better time for a stress test like this, but Disney has been making questionable decisions for a while now. So I wish I could say that this surprised me. It didn't. This is a Very watered down VIP tour without the guide and free transportation to the other parks in a moment and without the backstage access and little tidbits that the tour offers. In my opinion, you are FAR BETTER OFF spurging for the full VIP TOUR. Get together with your family or friends and max out the occupancy. It is 10 now, I think. I've done it once at WDW and once at Disneyland (this one was better because of course it was) but that was a splurge worth the 💵. You go to backstage areas. When you park hop you get on golf carts and you're to the next park in minutes. They have snacks and water and umbrellas at the ready. It includes a luncheon. Highly recommend. Expensive? Yes Worth it? Also Yes!!
I agree. Unless it's a perk for guests at certain resorts or part of a package, the "free" option is a thing of the past. . . . which really shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone.
I share that concern with you as well, everyone going through the same line doesn't seem like it's going to be a good call. I do think, however, that they're likely to make adjustments moving forward. I'd imagine that we end up with LLPP and DAS only going through that line.
We will have access to this on our upcoming November trip and we are planning on using it for HS since we only have 1 day scheduled there (might hop over a few nights) and the wait times at HS are insane and the multipass selections for major attractions book up so quickly or have super late returns. We will not use it at any other park bc all rides can be done via multipass & waiting in short lines over 2 days. I do wish they would reincorporate the character meet & greets with the premier pass though. Ill let ya know how it goes if you don't get to use it before then!
We'll be on the lookout to see what you have to say! I don't think we'll have the chance to get LLPP before the end of the year, so you'll know how it functions before we will. I do agree! I wish that the meet and greets were still available through LL. It's too bad that they went away from that.
One point you missed in your comparison of WDW Premier Pass with Express Pass is that Express works across 2 parks. Premier Pass only works at the park you bought it for. If you park hop it's useless. (Of course, this doesn't apply to Disneyland and DCA where the Premier Pass works at both.)
@@BeantownMrs Express Pass is the same, it works at the park you buy it for. Just like the proposed LLPP
@@2foolishmortals there’s a two-park, one-day version of EP
@@2foolishmortals There is a 2 park, 1 day Express Pass.
I think the price is crazy right now but am interested to see where this goes.
If I was paying for a deluxe resort, there’s no way we could afford this… but I’m very interested in what will happen!!!
Maybe there will be more options similar to other parks.
I'd imagine that eventually, as this fully rolls out IF they don't decide to scrap it [which I am convinced is an option that remains on the table], we'll see more options become available and the product rolled out to more guests across all categories of WDW Resort Hotel. We'll just have to wait and see. 😄
Agree with all you said. I hate the current system and this solves a lot of the problems if this eventually becomes the only LL system. My fear is they keep all 3 and make a bad situation worse. Im afraid the bad PR is going to scare them and say see see we have these (bad) cheaper options.
Do ya think Disney is undecided on their line skipping strategy? What factors would tip their hand either way? Is this an Iger or Josh D initiative?
I agree 100%. Keeping all 3 systems in place won't be good for anyone, including Disney's bottom line. Based on what they've said, calling this their "pilot rollout", I'd imagine that it's phase 1 of what will ultimately be a drawn out restructuring of LL. However, my concern is the same as yours. All the bad PR scaring them away from actually moving forward into the next phase. Of course, much of the bad PR that they're getting is from either those who are out-of-touch [for a lack of a better word] with how things happen outside of Disney or disingenous.
I don't think that Disney is undecided. . . . I think that they're trying to walk a tightrope. There's a bigger discussion here that I'd like to get into later this week, so stay tuned for that, but Disney fans have never made things easy for Disney. They express complaints and want to see change, but by the time Disney delivers it. . . they forget that they wanted that change and the complaints start all over again. Magical Express is a GREAT example of that. Lightning Lane Premiere Pass is another. The challenge that Disney has to navigate is making these changes with the least amount of fallout, but that's an issue in and of itself 'cause look at what's happening here. This is described as the "pilot rollout" and people have made up their mind that this is what the final product in its full form. . . . before it's even rolled out. We also don't know anything about the logistics of how this is going to work yet. We can guess, but we don't REALLY know. 🤷
What factors would tip their hand? At this point I don't know if anything would. I'd imagine that at this point they know what needs to happen, based on years and years of data about how their skip-the-line services have worked when implimented, and now they FINALLY have to do what other theme and amusement parks have been doing with a good amount of succes for years. . . incrase the price so that it's not something everyone can/wants to buy without a second thought and reduce supply so that it works the way it's intended to work. They just have to find the path of lest resistance in order to arrive at that point. Frankly, I think they should have just gone all in, dealt with that fallout and then moved on. . . but here we are.
@@2foolishmortals i hope your right and they are committed. sometimes disney talks too much (like their bluesky d23 projects) and too little (this and the DAS switch). If they just treated these sorts of operational processes changes like they do when a new ride is coming out it would fill the void with actual facts instead of ppl guessing and assuming their some sort of evil entity who wants to ruin ppls lives or something. have josh d do a talk with a fan site explaining why
Get rid of lighting lane!!! standby would be much shorter and more bearable and fair for everybody
Or price it super high so
Not many use it.
I'm not a big fan of this. The optics are not great to be honest.
I agree. . . the optics are going to create more problems for Disney than they solve. I don't think there's any way out of this for them other than plowing forward though. People have proven to have short memories and I think they're counting on that when they make choices like this.
You added Universal on your cost comparison BUT you get that Free by staying at their deluxe resorts, one of the reasons we are staying at Hard Rock on our upcoming trip for 4 days. We are also staying at Boardwalk for 6 nights, but will not be paying $400 per person per day ( for 3 adults) on our stay that's more than a night at Boardwalk, no thankyou, we will grab lightening lanes, and multipass, we are going from 4/30-5/10. We also have the dining plan added.
That's because we don't know how or if Disney will use this new product as a perk in the future. It's important to remember, Express Pass is an established product available at Universal Orlando. . . . . Lightning Lane Premiere Pass is a new product that is beginning its phased rollout later this month. It's not a fair comparison/criticism to make UNTILL we have a fully implemented Premiere Pass at WDW and see what they do with it then.
Ok.... but it is not comparable in price per value. If you look at Universal, a 1x skip the line express is not 190$, it's less. That price is in the universal express unlimited range per person.
A 1x alternative faster moving queue That's what lightning lane is. It's not a skip the line pass, you're still standing in the line. It just moves 80-90% faster than standby. The premiere pass is still a 1x stand in the fast line pass... not unlimited, but it includes the single pass lightning lanes and there's no booking. Would I pay $129 - $400 per person. Nope. Just like I don't pay it at universal. Just not value for dollar.
I did look and that's where I got the numbers of what the 1x skip-the-line service would be at Universal [as well as all the other listed parks] for October 19th. For that same day, Unlimited is $230 at Studios and $235 at Islands. Disney was listed there, just for the sake of comparing pricing on that particular day. . though the services are not comparable because they operate so differently.
@2foolishmortals I see. Must have been s busy day. That seems awful high