I honestly think they could even do a free digital version of the old fastpass system, and it would far 'Eclipse' what is in place now. - You see what I did there? lol
Back in the day, the system rewarded those that were interested in overachieving (i.e. hitting rope drop and running across the park to gather fast passes) and didn't punish those that just wanted to show up and ride some rides. This new system punishes everyone that doesn't have money to burn. And even those that do have money to burn, it's kind of annoying and limited.
They really did. That is what we were trained to do. Treat every guest like they were special, and a magical part of what made Disney Parks so amazing. I would bend over backwards to make sure guests had the experience of a lifetime!
@@nicholewilde4750 I always thought to myself, Disney is the one great equalizer. Even celebrities have to wait in line like the rest of us. Not anymore
Does anyone remember the TV ads about that $14 after 4PM ticket for Florida Residents back in the 90s, the free birthday tickets, and buying your ticket at the gate? There was no passing-the-line, process that I remember, but I got on every ride/attraction I wanted to.
People who pay for the premium LL pass will still have to wait in the LL line (more often than not, wont be a walk on). $400 at Disneyland to still wait in a line where some people paid a fraction of that price is ridiculous.
Disney had already lost me before this news, so it isn't pissing me off. I just don't care what they do anymore because I'm not going. We are happy with Universal!
@@kakan9787 it's true, but if you stay at one of their universal premium resorts you get it for free. And there are only so many of them, they don't really slow down the standby lines. Disney is just cramming these premiere people into the normal lightning lane with everyone else, making that line even longer.
@@builderphil13 - Exactly…. Walt Disney invented the “E-Ticket” attraction. Disneyland opened with a tiered ticketing system. Everyone complains when Disney builds a ride that is not revolutionary. Yet does mot understand those revolutionary attractions cost a premium to design and build. So, if anything, the Disney Parks have returned to their roots.
Sadly people just keep paying, Disney knows this, so they just keep raising prices. Today's WDW bears no resemblance, to the Disney of the 70s,80s and early 90s. If you were there you know, if you weren't you can't imagine what you missed
Maybe with Epic universe opening there might be some changes. I have no doubt Disney will get more guests when epic universe opens but I foresee epic universe bringing in more money from merchandise sales than Disney during that time. Everything at epic universe is new and unlike Disney where you can buy official disneyworld stuff from a thrift store. Epic universe items won’t be anywhere else just yet and I foresee more people buying the newer epic universe merchandise over buying Disney stuff.
@@0Demonheart Disney won't change, they're too greedy. The corporate managers, have no idea that they've destroyed anything. Clueless, I won't be going back. I was there a month ago,, terrible vacation and it cost a fortune. They won't get a chance to fool me again.
@@0Demonheart I do think Epic opening has Disney very worried. And going through the comments on my videos shows a lot of people have made the leap from Mouse to Movies.
I honestly don't care because I think the whole idea of fast pass is just ridiculous. Theme parks were so much better and ran alot more smoothly without them. The only people who should be able to skip the lines, are people who have health conditions and are not medically/physically cannot stand long enough to wait in them. Everyone else, it should be first come first serve. You pay to get in to the park, and that's that.
I don't know why everyone is so upset. This is how the rest of the industry has done it for years. Disney was one of the last hold outs. Yes, it is over priced. But isn't everything at Disney. It will not make the stand-by lines any longer. These people will just pay extra money not to have to play "Lightning Lane Roulette" on their phones all day.
It’s more that it is a slap in the face to all of us that cannot afford it and have to watch more and more people get in line in front of us. And it does make the normie queue times longer
Not really. The VIP tour can get you on all rides faster. Not just some. And depending on the attraction you can get on ride faster than lighting lane. Plus you can go multiple times each ride. Plus you get VIP seating for parade and fireworks show.
I wish they would go back to a new version of the ORIGINAL system. You pay to get into the park and then pay for a ticket book with a certain number of A tickets, etc all the way to the E tickets. But it would be a computer version of that. Therefore, there is only one line to each ride. No fast passes. You want more tickets, you buy a new book.
That would be kind of mind blowing if they did that, but I suppose to a certain extent they are already placing tiers on some of their attractions now with the Multi Lightning Lane
I thought they were just copy Universal but it seems so much worst. At least at Universal, if you stay on property at one of their deluxe hotel, then you get a FREE express pass. Do you want if the $400 is included in the ticket or it is additon?
From what i can tell, no, this is purely additional on top of the cost of your deluxe resort. Down the line I can see them including it as a promotional item to boost their stays at deluxe resorts. Put me on the record lol
We love Universal, the only way we do express pass is with the deluxe resort IF the price is right. Thankfully we still have a great time even without the express passes. Disney has lost their minds
respectfully… too many people compare Disney to universal and they’re not the same product. Disney is so much bigger, and has so many more people with money, that love the company and spend $100,000’s of dollars there. They have DVC. They have Victoria’s and alberts… their not universal. This is a targeted product for the higher end guest, that’s why they made sure it’s in limited quality, only for the deluxe resorts. It’s mainly designed to get people to not have to stay on their phones. It’s technically cheaper, to do lightning lane pass, and then do individual lighting lanes in addition to that. And you can work too with that. Premier pass can’t even park hip. This product isn’t for regular middle class family’s/people…
Plus Universal is genuinely an Express pass (i.e. you get on straight away, not in 15 or 20 mins), as although there are tiers (such limited rides vs unlimited) they compliment one another. Disney are straying further and further away from the norm, but the competition worldwide (I'm from the UK) is heating up - just look at Universal, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Phantasialand, Efteling etc. This is a short-term business strategy that is going to do a lot of damage to Disney in the long-term. Their reputation is gradually slipping, and it will be almost impossible to regain that reputation when the going gets tough.
@@andrewraphael3800 I really do think it will do a lot of damage to Disney long-term as well. A lot of people are searching out alternatives like you just spelled out and it should not be taken lightly by the Disney executives.
Nothing like a corrupt ceo making us pay for all his bad choices and failure. 🙄 Warning, if you go to Disneyland they aren't maintaining the rides. They break down a lot. Disney is making people pay premium prices for crappy quality. Current disney is the worst!!
I imagine a lot of people especially international visitors will be obliged into coughing up the money for fear of missing out on things but factoring in those insane prices will also rule it out for so many people. Imagine your a Brit who visits for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and the premium queue jump jumping pass alone costs, for 1 day/1 park, about as much as a short budget break within Europe (per person). Yet those who can will, those who can't but must have it even if it means getting into more debt will do that and so many people who can't and won't are now just getting further priced out of the parks. It really is a debacle.
Just don’t buy it if the USA is much more expensive than Europe and Asia. Brits can easily go to Disneyland Paris, Efteling, Phantasialand, Europapark, Parc Astérix and PortAventura World.
I think the idea is that they have to buy it to ensure that they can get on all the attractions during their one time visit. It is very sad what the parks have become.
Speaking as an International visitor (and someone who went regularly to WDW in the 90s and 00s), everything is so expensive nowadays, we'd probably just not go. The Parks in Europe are getting better, and we might even get a new Universal park over here, so why bother? I have my memories.
Hoo Boy... This opinion is going to be extremely unpopular, but if they got rid of the first two options, and had this premiere option as a premium feature, it would actually be a plus, as they'd be less people in the Lightning Lane lines, and the Standby line would go quicker. Honestly, I'd much prefer to see Disney just go for something more akin to Universal's ExpressPass or Dollywood's Timesaver. Simply put: Free FastPasses, all things considered, while they were a nice perk, it meant the standby line would be pretty clogged up. Simply put, making Lightning Lane more of a premium feature would mean less people in the FastPass line, which, in turn, means quicker movement in the standby line. This is still not the ideal way to do it, but I do think we're INCHING towards the right direction.
I think they're losing so much money on their awful movies (except Deadpool and Wolverine and Inside Out 2) they're trying to make it back through the parks.
It's not the 1990's anymore, that's for sure. God, I remember EVERY movie they put out between 1990 to 1995 were blockbusters. And not one movie was "Woke."
Im with you on this but people keep paying for it so I cant blame disney . I would raise prices every 6 months and testing the waters until its time to stop. See how much you can get out of them from a business standpoint
Actually prefer Disney do something like this versus the single or multi Lightning Lane, as it would deter people from paying the extra fee. That way the ticket price is essentially tiered, standard and premium. Similar to how it was when Disneyland first opened. Hence, where the whole “E-Ticket” term came from. It would also lead to both the standby and Lightning Lanes running smoother.
I've been giving thought to this, and while I think this is overpriced, I don't think it is AS overpriced as it appears at first glance. This is not for the casual or repeat guest. This is for the guest who needs to reduce their total vacation by taking a day off of their vacation to make it work, and this allows them to fold what would be otherwise an additional day into a single day. Those who are staying at a deluxe resort would likely purchase this option, take a night off their vacation, and not buy another day for a park ticket (room, meals, ticket). I believe THIS is the target market. At least, this is the only scenario I can find that makes the most sense.
I hate Disneyland but my wife loves it. So I purchased the cheapest entrance ticket to the park on a off day/month. Rode her favorite ride It's a small world. Got a walk on to the Disney train, teacups and ferry boat. Enjoyed a casual walk throughout the park. Left the park to enjoy a fabulous early dinner. My wife got her Disney fix for the year and I can only hope I don't have to do it again next year. Oh, by the way visited Knott's Berry Farm 5 times this year. Had more fun, cost effective and really enjoyed the theme park experience. My request is that we keep it between us, no sense of ruining a good thing😊
We are living through the conversion of the Disney parks into being some elite country club thing. Walt's vision is already long since dead, to make a park that regular families can take their kids and everyone has fun together and can fucking afford it.
@@InLikeFlynns I was a weird kid in the 70s/80s; I just pondered stuff I don't think kids my age gave a shit about. Lots of "what ifs" and "would would it be like ifs" sort of nonsense. I CLEARLY recall speculating about one particular trip on one of the few trips my family took to WDW, circa 1984, I'd be about 13/14. This would have been about our 3rd trip. My parents were able to bring us about 5 times total, about 3/4 years apart each, and they would "do it like they meant it" in terms of time/money spent. I had a personality type that I would take these trips to heart, I didn't take them for granted, I was a bit on the sentimental side, deeply appreciated being there. I didn't come back happy that I got to go. I came back depressed that it would be forever before I could go back, if ever. We lived in Texas, so it was an undertaking. Anyway, all that said, I remember sitting on a bench eating a treat and staring at the crowds and thinking... "what's this going to be like in like 30 years? 50 years (when I'm an old man)? Won't the crowds be getting bigger? Will they just make whole new parks? Will they maybe put one in Texas? Will it just become too expensive to go? Will I even be able to take my family here when I have a family?" Having lived to finally see these realities come to be, my 14 year old self still inside me who remembers this entire journey is extremely sad, sad for everyone who enjoyed this in it's glory days. Sad for everyone who will never get to go but might have if shit was different. My inner child feels the unfairness. Strongly. Anyway, I'm done rambling.
I wish I had memories of the Disney Parks as far back as you do. I would have loved to see the parks in the 70's and early 80's. Unfortunately for my family, it was never in the cards, as we struggled to get by. But I did get to live a part of my dream and work there for a time and experience the magic.
Did we all forget about the "Galactic Starcruiser?" That was Disney's first attempt to make an enclave for the rich. It failed, so now they're just going to make the entire park for the rich.
I think the absolutely insane pricing of these super passes is to make the usurious price they charge for LL "seem" like a bargain. If you pay $400+ per day for a MK super pass - there are only a half dozen rides you might want to use it on - so that is $60+ PER RIDE. So now, charging $30 for LL "seems" cheap. I hate what Disney has become...
Disney has completely lost their minds. Ridiculously expensive. Pure greed. Our family is trying hard to keep liking Disney, but they are making it harder and harder to do so.
I still have a deep love and passion for the parks honestly. But these greedy decisions they keep making are driving me bonkers. Something needs to change.
That is the way it was from the start. You had to pay to get into the park then pay for rides. I remember being sad because my family could not afford to ride all the good rides.
I have never used any of the Disney skip the line passes. I used the old free fast pass once. We just go during “slow” season, stay in either the cheapest hotels or rent dvc points and rope drop. That’s it. I think the longest line we’ve ever waited in was an hour for Tron and that’s because it broke down. An hour one time is my longest wait in over ten years of regular park attendance. Average wait is like 30 minutes and that’s doable for us. Just don’t buy this. Fast pass, genie plus, lightning lane and now whatever this is. If you can afford this and wanna do it go for it. But honestly, you probably don’t need it. Theme parks have lines. If you go understanding that decades old truth you should be fine?
I absolutely agree with you. I think that going in the old off season and navigating crowds was more than sufficient. Loved the old fast pass system with paper tix, and I would love for that to come back, or do away with it all.
It’s only a matter of time before Disney World announces a new ride where Bob Iger and Josh D’Amoro hold you upside down by the ankles and shake you for loose change to fall out of your pockets
Actually, If you stay at a Universal premier resort you get the unlimited express pass automatically and most likely paid less than a Disney deluxe resort….Loewes manages all of the hotels at universal and they are very nice. If you stay at a Disney deluxe resort you still have to purchase, as an add on, an equivalent to the downgraded express pass at universal and they…..crazy
Yup, at first I thought it was going to be a perk of staying at Deluxe. Not so much. You just get the honor and priviledge of buying it. LOL. At some point I am sure they will run it as a promo where you get it free if you stay in a deluxe. Mark my words.
This is a huge marketing campaign. Think about it. 400$ for skip the line or book 2 lighting lanes at a time for 35$. The 35$ sounds like deal now. Same with hotel. Free skip the line pass when you stay at the hotels so 6-1100$ room rates aren’t so bad now….#thedemiseofthefranchise
You also don't have to buy it for every day. I think we'd try it but it would be for one of the days during a trip. Budget in one day where we splurge and just experience riding all the attractions without having to worry about time windows. Then we could use the other options for the other days.
I guess if you are going to get it, this would be the way to do it. Unless you are filthy rich and can just afford it for every day. And if you can...I propose we be best friends right now lol
You know who deserves this? Make a wish (type) families FOR FREE! That's who deserves such a thing. People with that kind of money generally don't spend it like that.
@@InLikeFlynnsIs it not cruel to take a kid now to WDW for a MAW trip since they aren’t allowed to have DAS if they live long enough for a second trip and you have to break their heart when extremely vulnerable? Seems better to choose another option for a MAW trip.
@@JH-hd3oy if I were a rich person, I would fund such a trip so the family didn't have to deal with such nonsense. That is true philanthropy in my mind.
For that kind of money, every light bulb and special effect on every attraction better be working like it's supposed to. *cough* *cough* Disco Yeti *cough*. I'd say I'd be less willing to cut them any slack whatsoever on maintenance if I remotely paid that on top of the already high ticket price.
Coming in 2026. Premium ticketed AK event to have an evening with Disco Yeti. You get dropped off at the party stop on Everest, have drinks and finger foods...take photos with the man of the hour...then finish your journey down the mountain. $300 pp sounds about right lol
Absolutely won’t be. And at the very least they’ll have to roll it out to non deluxe resorts, but that’ll necessitate a pricing change because no one staying in a value resort is gonna tack on $200-400 PER DAY, give or take, to skip lines en masse.
But you still have to wait in the lighting lane line with all the others who only bought the standard lighting lane. It's not really "front of the line".
This is a good thing for people that only have one day in the park however I wish that it included all 4 parks within the price range just like universal studios.
@@InLikeFlynns lol nah I don’t want to spend my day waiting in line. I bought the express pass for universal and was able to ride every ride at both parks. I’m going to do the same when epic universe opens.
Disney's system has been confusing so long. Now there's a crazy price to go with it. Universal just makes so much sense, doing the same method from 2 decades ago. Buy the fast pass, go to the fast pass lane, scan it, and go in. Doesn't matter the ride. No scheduling, no one-ride-per-day, etc. And several universal hotels include express pass unlimited by default. And it starts at less than 1/3rd the price of the magic kingdom "premiere" pass lolololol.
It’s truly crazy to think about if someone were to actually fork this kind of money out just to skip the lines. I live in San Diego and have never been to Florida so I don’t know the experience at Disney World but I can’t imagine it being much different when it comes to the queues. For some, one of the best parts of Disney rides/attractions are experiencing the different and unique queues. At least with a regular fast pass (or whatever the hell they want to call it nowadays) you could still experience the lines a little bit.
Keep doing what your doing! Been a Disney fan most of my life; as you, I've reminisced the 80s and 90s era and how special it was for that time period. Last couple times I've went, I've been thoroughly unimpressed, and it's been extremely overpriced. Universal is edging them out in many ways as you have explained. Keep making your videos, maybe Disney will get the memo before it's too late!
I sincerely appreciate the kind feedback. I still have a deep love and appreciation for the parks and what they once were, and hope they are again. It's just hard right now....these decisions that keep getting made really bother me.
I enjoy this option. It allows those who are willing to spend more the opportunity to be rewarded with more. It’s no different than credit card rewards points or delta miles.
I would not spend the money for a lightning pass, lightning premier pass or regular ticket. I would rather get a season pass, wander around the park until the ride times are something reasonable.
Disney have just handed Universal their market share. What a thing to do when Universal is already gearing up to give families a week long experience at their parks once Epic opens up. We are planning to travel there from New Zealand in 2026 and I'm feeling more and more like we should just skip Disney. They are too greedy.
Do a Universal and Florida only vacation, like we did last year. It was kind of refreshing actually. The Non-Disney trip felt a little weird, but we still had a blast!
We got king size season passes to Hershey this year for $254 (each) parking and sodas included! Plus we got the bring a friend tickets and earned a couple extra with our first trip so we were able to bring my dad and nephew for a second visit. Not sure if we can squeeze in one more (I’m in MA). We also have had season passes to Universal since 2021 and on and off passes to Legoland (MA and NY). The kids have enjoyed every one of the parks we’ve visited. None of them require the amount of planning and saving a Disney trip will. We’re thinking of driving down next summer and tent camping, cook our own breakfast and dinners most days to help lower the costs, definitely not dealing with lighting lanes or whatever else they change/add before we go (if we go, I’m still having a hard time pulling the trigger but the kids are getting older). If we make it to Disney it’s definitely a one and done type of trip.
HEY, a fellow KING SIZE passholder! How awesome. If you see me walking around at Christmas Candylane, give me a high five. We just did Dark Nights last weekend. Sadly you wont be bumping into me at Disney any time soon. LOL
Yes, but it's been going a long time, is genuinely Express (so can be treated as a one-off treat) and is free for people that stay at deluxe resorts. This means that normal wait times aren't artificially lengthened, as there are no tiers (other than limited or unlimited rides on the Express) to clog up the system. It's very different as it all operates simply, and without you needing your phone all day.
If I was paying for Express (Which I wouldn't) then I would think it is insane. But the fact that they give it to you for free if you stay at a Deluxe Resort, makes it a little bit better than Disney.
@@InLikeFlynns I think that's the difference - Express is expensive, but treated as a premium product. Lightening Lane is marketed as just another thing you have to buy to have a good time at the parks in any way. Someone else put it this way - you've paid a hefty park entry, then you have to pay again for the rides.
Using the App all day at Disney is super irritating to me. It seems like if you want to provide a service to skip the line you have to charge more. The more you charge, the fewer people will purchase and the faster the lightning lane will be. But if the price is not very high, more people will buy and the lightning lane will be longer. I don’t think there is a model where everyone has access to a lightning lane that moves quickly. I would rather everyone wait in the same line and have the staff randomly pick people to jump to the front of the line. This system would keep the line up fun, because of the anticipation of possibly being picked!
Disneyland is getting soooooo crowded/popular. Supply and demand is real. I think that there should be a happy medium between LLMP and the LLPP. Disney just needs to find it. Now, if you are unable to comfortably afford this LLPP, don't buy it. Really. You can stand your happy bootie in line. Now, if there was no LL, stand by lanes would be longer. so you can look at this LLPP as something out of your reach or you can see it as a way to get more folks out of your stand by line or out of yourLLMP que. Out look is up to the viewer. Perspecticve is everything
I would gladly go back to navigating ride wait times based on the tip boards and abolishing all Lightning Lanes and Express passes everywhere. My happy bootie would be fine standing in line lol
You're missing the point completely. It's not for YOU, or people that go to Disney parks on a regular basis. It's for people coming from other countries or people that only go to Disney maybe once in their lives and want to make the most of it. I've been to Tokyo Disney and Disney Paris ONCE in my life, and I'll probably never have the opportunity to go again. If they had this kind of option when I went, you better believe I would have paid for it so I could get the full experience without worry or hesitation. As it was, I spent more money staying several days at each resort so I could guarantee to do everything. It actually would have saved me money to buy a premiere fast pass for everything and see it all in one day. This new system is NOT for passholders or people that go a few times a year, and it's not maditory to purchase to go to the parks.
I get that what you are describing is a large part of the audience this is geared to. But there are still people like me and my family who only get to go to California for a day or two every 15 years, and I cannot afford to drop $1,600 so we can go to the front of the line all day. I would love to be able to do it all, and put my kids on whatever they want, but I financially cannot swing that. So I will be in the normie line watching everyone go in front of me and I wont be able to ride it all. I just have to live with it.
I love the idea of a 'Premier Pass' but the pricing is incredibly high and unreasonable. The middle class are never going to get a chance to use this. I think the $400 per day in DL is for BOTH parks though. WDW the pricing is just outrageous. plus you gotta stay at a deluxe resort to even be eligible. Thanks for the video.
Yes, in DL the $400 is for both parks. Not in WDW though. In WDW the price is per park. I think it is absurd you have to pay to be at an already high priced resort, just to have the honor to be able to purchase it lol.
At least Universal Orlando offers options for one ride at one park to unlimited at one park or unlimited at 2 parks. It's not one option only at each park. Those prices can be awfully expensive, too.
They do have some great attractions, but none of them is worth $80-$100 for a few minutes of my families time. We can go out and get a meal at Outback for that.
Problem is, is that Disney has no competition in California. Universal only has a handful of rides compared to Disneyland. So, yeah, unless Universal picks up their game like they seem to be doing in Florida, I don't think things are gonna change anytime soon.
You are right. We just went to Universal Hollywood, and the lack of attractions was shocking. We did pretty much all of the rides and a show by 4pm on a summer day.
@@InLikeFlynnsthat sucks. I mean, there's potential there. It's just they don't have the room for it. Otherwise we would have a larger "Super Nintendo World" than what we have now at the park. Sad, really. That would kind of even things out, I think.
The lines without lightning passes will be hours long. You won't be able to do many rides. I was just there a month ago. Waits were 30 to 90 min, for popular rides. You have to buy the passes. Dont forget, some rides have their own passes, not included in lightening passes, like guardians
Yeah, I love how the Multi Lightning Lane folks have to choose one 'Tier A' attraction and two 'Tier B' attractions already, and those Tier A attractions dont include rides like Guardians, Tron, etc. Ridiculous
Well, I know it’s a business, there is no excuse for this disgusting, continual push reaching into people’s pockets and stealing more of their money. I was a former cast member. Holder… And for years, I absolutely loved Disney… But in the last few years, I’ve been absolutely disgusted with what they have done. When you pay to get into a park that should get you on all the rides… You should not have to buy a lightning lane just to do attractions you want to do…Greed will be Disneys downfall.
Is it still possible to just stand in line? Or do they make you buy some version of Lighting Lane? I grew up going to Disneyland back when the only option was to stand in line. Sometimes for hours for something like the Matterhorn. Is it still possible to do that? Just pick a ride, go to it, and stand in line? I'm genuinely curious and so very confused about just how one "does Disney" today.
@@InLikeFlynns thanks for your answer! :) My wife and I can't afford all the extra stuff, and I was worried that if we ever did make it back to Disney that standing in line wouldn't be an option. Good to hear they haven't stopped us from doing that. :)
@@KimbaLorber You never have to thank me for answering a question. I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to watch me spout off and support the channel. I will always be around to answer questions. You rock....so thank you!!!! :)
I appreciate ur passion cuz I understand how hard it is for me a Florida resident who is out priced Walt would never let it get this bad too bad the Disney niece doesn't become CEO and fires iger
I don’t see the big deal , if you can’t afford it keep doing the regular line , if you wanna reward yourself with a no line trip save and pay for it once in a while . IMO is better to have options ! Is like saying 1st class in airplanes is to make mad economic class ! No is just an option.
This is very true, but I think it is just a slap in the face to all us 'normies' that cant afford it, so we get to stand there in the 'cheap' line and watch all the people get in front of us all day.
@@InLikeFlynns whats the alternative ? The demand for the park is high , if they make the pass more affordable the amount of people using it will exceed the light lane capacity and won’t be any difference between regular and fast pass .
And of course they decimated DAS so most of us have to pay for multi pass now if we can’t wait in line. This announcement was the nail in the coffin. I won’t be renewing my annual pass. Not that Disney cares, they’ll make back that money when some family of four buys the premium lightning lanes for a day. 😢
$400USD pp/pd!? That's $600NZD in my country - and the lowest airfare I can find to get from Auckland to LAX then to Orlando would cost a mere double that. Forget it Disney!
Hey man. I hear you. It’s a huge money grab. The board wants more and more. I was gonna buy a season pass at Disney but changed my mind. I think I’ll get one at Universal and Hershey park both and I’ll still be ahead of the game. Disney is now for the rich. This is the worst that I’ve seen. The food is expensive and it’s terrible! The parks are not as clean as they used to be and all they want is more more more. The people still keep paying it. I can assure you I will not be going. Hershey park sounds good and it’s close. Yep I’m around your area.
nah, that’s just a jealousy mindset. How can something be a “f you” to someone when it was never targeted to them? This premier lightning lane is over for deluxe hotel guest. Those are priced for the every day middle class person, also, there’s highly limited availability at each park. So it’s not even likely to impact the lighting lane much, as most people buying this, would have bought the lighting lane anyway.
From an entertainment standpoint, Disney decided to cater to people who sit around on social media virtue signaling instead of people who get out of their parents basement and purchase movie tickets. While doing that, they decided to start overcharging park guests and lower park standards at the same time. Both strategies have brought them to record low profits with no bottom in sight.
I sincerely could not agree with you more. They also upped pricing at the parks to make up for their failures in other ventures. It is a sad reality. Disney has infuriated their core audience to no end.
Disney has the stupidest fast pass system of any park i've ever been to. Looks like its only getting worse. Was there yesterday, and the app is a turd, and the one use only is terrible, and the fact you pay for something that used to be free is just terrible.
I feel like you need a degree in Disney Parks just to understand all the nuances between these Lightning Lane tiers and all the requirements each of them has.
As a Passholder who has watched his son grow up in the Theme parks. I just don’t see the need to renew sadly. But I’ll say this once I leave the parks what will the draw be to get my family to watch the Disney content if it’s a dead end road where I won’t be afford the Experiences of Disney in real life.
Disney has tried so many failed iterations of the line skipping process. Just go back to the original fast pass system, it’s still the fairest.
Exactly
Unfortunately those days are long gone… and there’s no going back 😢
I honestly think they could even do a free digital version of the old fastpass system, and it would far 'Eclipse' what is in place now. - You see what I did there? lol
It really is starting to feel that way isnt it?
Back in the day, the system rewarded those that were interested in overachieving (i.e. hitting rope drop and running across the park to gather fast passes) and didn't punish those that just wanted to show up and ride some rides. This new system punishes everyone that doesn't have money to burn. And even those that do have money to burn, it's kind of annoying and limited.
Part of what was magic about Disney in the 90’s was that they treated everyone like they were special. So much for the Disney Difference.
They really did. That is what we were trained to do. Treat every guest like they were special, and a magical part of what made Disney Parks so amazing. I would bend over backwards to make sure guests had the experience of a lifetime!
In the 70's when I was a little boy my family couldn't afford to go on all the good rides. It was a tiered system from the very start.
@@nicholewilde4750 I always thought to myself, Disney is the one great equalizer. Even celebrities have to wait in line like the rest of us. Not anymore
Does anyone remember the TV ads about that $14 after 4PM ticket for Florida Residents back in the 90s, the free birthday tickets, and buying your ticket at the gate? There was no passing-the-line, process that I remember, but I got on every ride/attraction I wanted to.
@@somebody1894 Are you serious? That is awesome. We didnt get anything like that in MD. I knew I should have been born in Florida lol
People who pay for the premium LL pass will still have to wait in the LL line (more often than not, wont be a walk on). $400 at Disneyland to still wait in a line where some people paid a fraction of that price is ridiculous.
$400 per person buys you a 5-10 minute wait in line...sometimes more. Absurd.
Disney had already lost me before this news, so it isn't pissing me off. I just don't care what they do anymore because I'm not going. We are happy with Universal!
@@cathinieto39 Then why are you posting
@@BobBaker-v9v because I feel like it
I’m growing more and more fond of Universal every day lol
🤣😂 This response literally made me lol
Same. I'm deep in my "radical acceptance phase of ending a toxic, one-sided relationship."
Their greed shall be their downfall. This is absolutely ridiculous! 😡 I’ll be over at Universal, IOA, and soon enough- Epic Universe.
They have their own version
People keep saying that but their express pass been around and it is like 200 per person right?
Universal is just loving every minute of this.
@@kakan9787 it's true, but if you stay at one of their universal premium resorts you get it for free. And there are only so many of them, they don't really slow down the standby lines. Disney is just cramming these premiere people into the normal lightning lane with everyone else, making that line even longer.
@@kakan9787That pass also usually covers 2 parks and unlimited rides in a day. That's another huge difference from what Disney is about to install.
Poor Walt must be tired from rolling in his grave...
Why? That old nazi would be loving this.
He is trying to get out of his cryo sleep chamber as we speak lol.
@InLikeFlynns He was cremated, never frozen 😊
Nah. Walt was a businessman. It was originally designed as a tiered system. Richer families could go on better rides
@@builderphil13 - Exactly…. Walt Disney invented the “E-Ticket” attraction. Disneyland opened with a tiered ticketing system. Everyone complains when Disney builds a ride that is not revolutionary. Yet does mot understand those revolutionary attractions cost a premium to design and build. So, if anything, the Disney Parks have returned to their roots.
Dollywood is sounding better and better.
Knott’s Berry Farm for us over here on the west coast
Because it is better
Going to Dollywood next October instead of Disney😊
Dollywood is an amazing park. We have been there a few times and love it. Get the cinnamon bread!!!!
Our family absolutely loves Dollywood. We have been there a few times! Pigeon Forge is like one of our home away from home areas.
Sadly people just keep paying, Disney knows this, so they just keep raising prices. Today's WDW bears no resemblance, to the Disney of the 70s,80s and early 90s. If you were there you know, if you weren't you can't imagine what you missed
I know what I am missing from the late 90's to early 2000's and 2010's. The drop off is steep. :(
I know very well due to going there regularly in the 80s and 90s. I can’t believe it’s gotten to this point.
Maybe with Epic universe opening there might be some changes.
I have no doubt Disney will get more guests when epic universe opens but I foresee epic universe bringing in more money from merchandise sales than Disney during that time. Everything at epic universe is new and unlike Disney where you can buy official disneyworld stuff from a thrift store. Epic universe items won’t be anywhere else just yet and I foresee more people buying the newer epic universe merchandise over buying Disney stuff.
@@0Demonheart Disney won't change, they're too greedy. The corporate managers, have no idea that they've destroyed anything. Clueless, I won't be going back. I was there a month ago,, terrible vacation and it cost a fortune. They won't get a chance to fool me again.
@@0Demonheart I do think Epic opening has Disney very worried. And going through the comments on my videos shows a lot of people have made the leap from Mouse to Movies.
Not only is it $400, it makes the experience worse for every other person in the park who didn't pay for it.
And that is my main issue and response to all the people that keep telling me, 'You know you dont have to buy it right?!"
It's basically putting the poor and lower middle classes in their place. It's Disney-themed gentrification.
If you've been to the Magic Kingdom before-youve done it-it looks tired and broken so why waste your money
Sometimes when I see myself in these videos I think to myself how tired and broken I look lol.
I honestly don't care because I think the whole idea of fast pass is just ridiculous. Theme parks were so much better and ran alot more smoothly without them. The only people who should be able to skip the lines, are people who have health conditions and are not medically/physically cannot stand long enough to wait in them. Everyone else, it should be first come first serve. You pay to get in to the park, and that's that.
I completely agree with this. I wish we could go back to the way it used to be.
Tell a 6 year old that "We can't ride Cars again because it's going to cost Mom and Dad "another" $120 for a 3 minute ride"... Walt would be so upset
Yeah exactly. My kids still dont fully comprehend how we went from going to Disney 2-3x a year 10 years ago, to only going once in the last 6.
I was five in 1973 when my parents told me and my brothers and sister that we couldn't afford to go on every ride. Walt did that lol
It’s a bargain. Compared to the VIP tour price it’s a steal
Well I’m never going to be able to enjoy either of them, so I guess I won’t have to worry about it lol
I don't know why everyone is so upset. This is how the rest of the industry has done it for years. Disney was one of the last hold outs. Yes, it is over priced. But isn't everything at Disney. It will not make the stand-by lines any longer. These people will just pay extra money not to have to play "Lightning Lane Roulette" on their phones all day.
It’s more that it is a slap in the face to all of us that cannot afford it and have to watch more and more people get in line in front of us. And it does make the normie queue times longer
Sounds like a VIP tour pass without a tour guide
Yeah, the plaid vests are now referred to as Premiere+ hahaha
Not really. The VIP tour can get you on all rides faster. Not just some. And depending on the attraction you can get on ride faster than lighting lane. Plus you can go multiple times each ride. Plus you get VIP seating for parade and fireworks show.
The level of rub it in your face is such that soon they’ll be changing the lighting lane minutes wait display to a dollars display…
It will literally be like a toll lane 😭🤣😂
I wish they would go back to a new version of the ORIGINAL system. You pay to get into the park and then pay for a ticket book with a certain number of A tickets, etc all the way to the E tickets. But it would be a computer version of that. Therefore, there is only one line to each ride. No fast passes. You want more tickets, you buy a new book.
That would be kind of mind blowing if they did that, but I suppose to a certain extent they are already placing tiers on some of their attractions now with the Multi Lightning Lane
I thought they were just copy Universal but it seems so much worst. At least at Universal, if you stay on property at one of their deluxe hotel, then you get a FREE express pass. Do you want if the $400 is included in the ticket or it is additon?
From what i can tell, no, this is purely additional on top of the cost of your deluxe resort. Down the line I can see them including it as a promotional item to boost their stays at deluxe resorts. Put me on the record lol
We love Universal, the only way we do express pass is with the deluxe resort IF the price is right. Thankfully we still have a great time even without the express passes. Disney has lost their minds
respectfully… too many people compare Disney to universal and they’re not the same product. Disney is so much bigger, and has so many more people with money, that love the company and spend $100,000’s of dollars there. They have DVC. They have Victoria’s and alberts… their not universal. This is a targeted product for the higher end guest, that’s why they made sure it’s in limited quality, only for the deluxe resorts. It’s mainly designed to get people to not have to stay on their phones. It’s technically cheaper, to do lightning lane pass, and then do individual lighting lanes in addition to that. And you can work too with that. Premier pass can’t even park hip. This product isn’t for regular middle class family’s/people…
Plus Universal is genuinely an Express pass (i.e. you get on straight away, not in 15 or 20 mins), as although there are tiers (such limited rides vs unlimited) they compliment one another. Disney are straying further and further away from the norm, but the competition worldwide (I'm from the UK) is heating up - just look at Universal, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Phantasialand, Efteling etc. This is a short-term business strategy that is going to do a lot of damage to Disney in the long-term. Their reputation is gradually slipping, and it will be almost impossible to regain that reputation when the going gets tough.
@@andrewraphael3800 I really do think it will do a lot of damage to Disney long-term as well. A lot of people are searching out alternatives like you just spelled out and it should not be taken lightly by the Disney executives.
Nothing like a corrupt ceo making us pay for all his bad choices and failure. 🙄 Warning, if you go to Disneyland they aren't maintaining the rides. They break down a lot. Disney is making people pay premium prices for crappy quality. Current disney is the worst!!
We experienced the breakdowns a lot on our DL trip in August. Every day it was nuts with all the closures!
I imagine a lot of people especially international visitors will be obliged into coughing up the money for fear of missing out on things but factoring in those insane prices will also rule it out for so many people. Imagine your a Brit who visits for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and the premium queue jump jumping pass alone costs, for 1 day/1 park, about as much as a short budget break within Europe (per person). Yet those who can will, those who can't but must have it even if it means getting into more debt will do that and so many people who can't and won't are now just getting further priced out of the parks. It really is a debacle.
Just don’t buy it if the USA is much more expensive than Europe and Asia. Brits can easily go to Disneyland Paris, Efteling, Phantasialand, Europapark, Parc Astérix and PortAventura World.
I can't even imagine what the price tag is these days for international visitors. It must be astronomical. So sad.
I think the idea is that they have to buy it to ensure that they can get on all the attractions during their one time visit. It is very sad what the parks have become.
Speaking as an International visitor (and someone who went regularly to WDW in the 90s and 00s), everything is so expensive nowadays, we'd probably just not go. The Parks in Europe are getting better, and we might even get a new Universal park over here, so why bother? I have my memories.
@@lvovodessamate pound for pound Disney in Paris is more expensive than Disney in Florida, it’s ridiculous.
Hoo Boy... This opinion is going to be extremely unpopular, but if they got rid of the first two options, and had this premiere option as a premium feature, it would actually be a plus, as they'd be less people in the Lightning Lane lines, and the Standby line would go quicker. Honestly, I'd much prefer to see Disney just go for something more akin to Universal's ExpressPass or Dollywood's Timesaver. Simply put: Free FastPasses, all things considered, while they were a nice perk, it meant the standby line would be pretty clogged up. Simply put, making Lightning Lane more of a premium feature would mean less people in the FastPass line, which, in turn, means quicker movement in the standby line. This is still not the ideal way to do it, but I do think we're INCHING towards the right direction.
I actually think you are on to something. I like it.
I think they're losing so much money on their awful movies (except Deadpool and Wolverine and Inside Out 2) they're trying to make it back through the parks.
You speak the truth! There is no denying that!
It's not the 1990's anymore, that's for sure. God, I remember EVERY movie they put out between 1990 to 1995 were blockbusters. And not one movie was "Woke."
Im with you on this but people keep paying for it so I cant blame disney . I would raise prices every 6 months and testing the waters until its time to stop. See how much you can get out of them from a business standpoint
You aren't wrong. I would do the same thing I suppose.
Actually prefer Disney do something like this versus the single or multi Lightning Lane, as it would deter people from paying the extra fee. That way the ticket price is essentially tiered, standard and premium. Similar to how it was when Disneyland first opened. Hence, where the whole “E-Ticket” term came from. It would also lead to both the standby and Lightning Lanes running smoother.
I think I might actually agree with you on that. Make it a single, very expensive option that less people would do.
Damn, that’s insane. Disney’s greed has completely consumed them.
Whomever is at the top making these decisions is killing the company. Shame on you Iger.
I've been giving thought to this, and while I think this is overpriced, I don't think it is AS overpriced as it appears at first glance. This is not for the casual or repeat guest. This is for the guest who needs to reduce their total vacation by taking a day off of their vacation to make it work, and this allows them to fold what would be otherwise an additional day into a single day. Those who are staying at a deluxe resort would likely purchase this option, take a night off their vacation, and not buy another day for a park ticket (room, meals, ticket). I believe THIS is the target market. At least, this is the only scenario I can find that makes the most sense.
I agree. I don't see many people booking it for an entire trip, and it is geared for those that may only have 1-2 days to 'See it all' kind of thing.
you're talking about this if it was mandatory to purchase the new tier LL.
Not mandatory at all. In fact, only deluxe resort guests can do it. It makes it more of a slap in the face of those that cant afford it though.
I hate Disneyland but my wife loves it. So I purchased the cheapest entrance ticket to the park on a off day/month. Rode her favorite ride It's a small world. Got a walk on to the Disney train, teacups and ferry boat. Enjoyed a casual walk throughout the park. Left the park to enjoy a fabulous early dinner. My wife got her Disney fix for the year and I can only hope I don't have to do it again next year. Oh, by the way visited Knott's Berry Farm 5 times this year. Had more fun, cost effective and really enjoyed the theme park experience. My request is that we keep it between us, no sense of ruining a good thing😊
HAHAHA. Love it. I wish I got to visit Knotts Berry Farms on our last trip out there to California :(
We are living through the conversion of the Disney parks into being some elite country club thing. Walt's vision is already long since dead, to make a park that regular families can take their kids and everyone has fun together and can fucking afford it.
Someone else made that same analogy to me recently and I don't think its that far off at all
@@InLikeFlynns I was a weird kid in the 70s/80s; I just pondered stuff I don't think kids my age gave a shit about. Lots of "what ifs" and "would would it be like ifs" sort of nonsense.
I CLEARLY recall speculating about one particular trip on one of the few trips my family took to WDW, circa 1984, I'd be about 13/14. This would have been about our 3rd trip. My parents were able to bring us about 5 times total, about 3/4 years apart each, and they would "do it like they meant it" in terms of time/money spent. I had a personality type that I would take these trips to heart, I didn't take them for granted, I was a bit on the sentimental side, deeply appreciated being there. I didn't come back happy that I got to go. I came back depressed that it would be forever before I could go back, if ever. We lived in Texas, so it was an undertaking. Anyway, all that said, I remember sitting on a bench eating a treat and staring at the crowds and thinking... "what's this going to be like in like 30 years? 50 years (when I'm an old man)? Won't the crowds be getting bigger? Will they just make whole new parks? Will they maybe put one in Texas? Will it just become too expensive to go? Will I even be able to take my family here when I have a family?"
Having lived to finally see these realities come to be, my 14 year old self still inside me who remembers this entire journey is extremely sad, sad for everyone who enjoyed this in it's glory days. Sad for everyone who will never get to go but might have if shit was different.
My inner child feels the unfairness. Strongly.
Anyway, I'm done rambling.
I wish I had memories of the Disney Parks as far back as you do. I would have loved to see the parks in the 70's and early 80's. Unfortunately for my family, it was never in the cards, as we struggled to get by. But I did get to live a part of my dream and work there for a time and experience the magic.
Did we all forget about the "Galactic Starcruiser?" That was Disney's first attempt to make an enclave for the rich. It failed, so now they're just going to make the entire park for the rich.
Hahaha sadly I did. As soon as I saw the price it was erased from my core memories lol
When Disney World opened in 1971 it was $3 dollars and 50 cents to get in. 😂
$20 in 1971 went a whole lot further 🤣😂 Today it will almost buy you a pass to get in the front of a line hahaha
You know what annoys me about this... $1600 for 4 people!! Just buy the darn VIP tour and I never have to see them.
I guess for the cheaper $1,600 option you dont have to have a stranger following you around all day lol
It's just business. If everyone stopped going, Disney might reconsider their crazy prices. As for me, I'm done.
Yeah, I do not blame you. Even if I wanted to go more, I couldn't afford it.
I think the absolutely insane pricing of these super passes is to make the usurious price they charge for LL "seem" like a bargain. If you pay $400+ per day for a MK super pass - there are only a half dozen rides you might want to use it on - so that is $60+ PER RIDE. So now, charging $30 for LL "seems" cheap. I hate what Disney has become...
Cant say I have been the biggest fan since 2018 time frame either. And you make a wonderful point. Multi Lightning Lane seems like a steal.
Gotta price the plebs out. If it’s “affordable”, it becomes completely ineffective.
Yeah, normies be gone is the attitude these days.
Disney has completely lost their minds. Ridiculously expensive. Pure greed. Our family is trying hard to keep liking Disney, but they are making it harder and harder to do so.
I still have a deep love and passion for the parks honestly. But these greedy decisions they keep making are driving me bonkers. Something needs to change.
Never thought I’d see the day when the price of 3 days at Disneyland would be comparable to a 2-week vacation to Japan for two adults!! 😱
I know right? I need to head over there to Japan and check it out!
Disney is asking for Express pass pricing for one park about 4 attractions when Universal offers both parks & 3x’s the attractions.
100%. I think the WDW price for Premiere LL for a single park is absurd.
Nostalgia and wanting to relive your childhood is expensive
The nostalgia will quickly fade as they start filling in Rivers of America.
So disney really wants you to pay to get into the park and then pay to ride the rides it's like some f**ked up roller coaster tycoon in real life
Yeah, and we need to be happy while doing it to keep their guest satisfaction scores up.
That is the way it was from the start. You had to pay to get into the park then pay for rides. I remember being sad because my family could not afford to ride all the good rides.
It's like a restaurant charging you to look at a menu so you can pay to eat ..
@@marklewen9384 ummm, yeah, it’s nothing like that
@@builderphil13 exactly like that..
I used to want to go to Disney, but because of the price they’re charging now, and that I’m from Canada, it’s now too expensive.
It's too expensive for me, and I am further south in Maryland, lol.
I hope they eliminate LL and only offer this high tier skip the lines.
Weirdly I might be ok with it. At least then it’s really only the uber rich getting in front of me in line
I have never used any of the Disney skip the line passes. I used the old free fast pass once. We just go during “slow” season, stay in either the cheapest hotels or rent dvc points and rope drop. That’s it. I think the longest line we’ve ever waited in was an hour for Tron and that’s because it broke down. An hour one time is my longest wait in over ten years of regular park attendance. Average wait is like 30 minutes and that’s doable for us.
Just don’t buy this. Fast pass, genie plus, lightning lane and now whatever this is. If you can afford this and wanna do it go for it. But honestly, you probably don’t need it. Theme parks have lines. If you go understanding that decades old truth you should be fine?
I absolutely agree with you. I think that going in the old off season and navigating crowds was more than sufficient. Loved the old fast pass system with paper tix, and I would love for that to come back, or do away with it all.
It’s only a matter of time before Disney World announces a new ride where Bob Iger and Josh D’Amoro hold you upside down by the ankles and shake you for loose change to fall out of your pockets
Small World will be re-themed to Elite World lol
Still waiting for the green stick outside the gates with a sign saying 'you must be this rich to enter the park'
I'm so tired of this. I won't be going back to the Parks....ever.
I hope they come to their senses at some point and start giving perks back to us normal folks.
Actually, If you stay at a Universal premier resort you get the unlimited express pass automatically and most likely paid less than a Disney deluxe resort….Loewes manages all of the hotels at universal and they are very nice. If you stay at a Disney deluxe resort you still have to purchase, as an add on, an equivalent to the downgraded express pass at universal and they…..crazy
Yup, at first I thought it was going to be a perk of staying at Deluxe. Not so much. You just get the honor and priviledge of buying it. LOL. At some point I am sure they will run it as a promo where you get it free if you stay in a deluxe. Mark my words.
@@InLikeFlynns I think the word 'perks' has been erased from the Disney vocabulary.
Yeah I think this is my last straw with them. Gonna spend that money for more days at Epic Universe!
Looking forward to Epic Universe myself. I wonder if they will increase prices though due to the anticipation of the park.
This is a huge marketing campaign. Think about it. 400$ for skip the line or book 2 lighting lanes at a time for 35$. The 35$ sounds like deal now. Same with hotel. Free skip the line pass when you stay at the hotels so 6-1100$ room rates aren’t so bad now….#thedemiseofthefranchise
The problem is, they dont seem to be including it if you stay at a deluxe. That just gets you in line to buy it lol
@@InLikeFlynns 🤷🤦🤦
You also don't have to buy it for every day. I think we'd try it but it would be for one of the days during a trip. Budget in one day where we splurge and just experience riding all the attractions without having to worry about time windows. Then we could use the other options for the other days.
I guess if you are going to get it, this would be the way to do it. Unless you are filthy rich and can just afford it for every day. And if you can...I propose we be best friends right now lol
You know who deserves this? Make a wish (type) families FOR FREE! That's who deserves such a thing. People with that kind of money generally don't spend it like that.
I 100% whole heartedly agree with this!
@@InLikeFlynnsIs it not cruel to take a kid now to WDW for a MAW trip since they aren’t allowed to have DAS if they live long enough for a second trip and you have to break their heart when extremely vulnerable? Seems better to choose another option for a MAW trip.
@@JH-hd3oy if I were a rich person, I would fund such a trip so the family didn't have to deal with such nonsense. That is true philanthropy in my mind.
They already get everything for free you toaster
For that kind of money, every light bulb and special effect on every attraction better be working like it's supposed to. *cough* *cough* Disco Yeti *cough*. I'd say I'd be less willing to cut them any slack whatsoever on maintenance if I remotely paid that on top of the already high ticket price.
Coming in 2026. Premium ticketed AK event to have an evening with Disco Yeti. You get dropped off at the party stop on Everest, have drinks and finger foods...take photos with the man of the hour...then finish your journey down the mountain. $300 pp sounds about right lol
This is not going to be sustainable long term for Disney. I am done with their money grab.
Absolutely won’t be. And at the very least they’ll have to roll it out to non deluxe resorts, but that’ll necessitate a pricing change because no one staying in a value resort is gonna tack on $200-400 PER DAY, give or take, to skip lines en masse.
It really feels like they keep adding straw after straw to the camels back. One of these days it is going to break.
I'm surprised it is not Single Lightening Lane for Value Resorts, Multi Lightning Lane for Moderates and Premiere for Deluxe.
Our family of 4 chose opportunity of concerts with great seats and some with perks for one day over a Disney trip (which is now more expensive).
Oh wow. Which concert did you go to?
But you still have to wait in the lighting lane line with all the others who only bought the standard lighting lane. It's not really "front of the line".
EXACTLY!!! Its re-donk-u-lus!!!
Anyone else feel like the Mouse is trolling 99% of their customers??? We’re finally understanding The Mouse is apparently played by Scrooge McDuck.
Hahaha. Me.
I just bought season passes to the local six flags park for a family of 4. Parking plus 2 meals and snacks included in every visit. Total was $450.
And you can now go to a bunch of the other Six Flags Parks too. Total win.
This is a good thing for people that only have one day in the park however I wish that it included all 4 parks within the price range just like universal studios.
The whole thing is just whacked out. Get rid of all of it and just have folks waiting in line again. LOL
@@InLikeFlynns lol nah I don’t want to spend my day waiting in line. I bought the express pass for universal and was able to ride every ride at both parks. I’m going to do the same when epic universe opens.
@@pjustice817 I'm probably waiting until 2026 to go. It's going to be a mad house next year lol. I hope you have a blast though!
Disney's system has been confusing so long. Now there's a crazy price to go with it.
Universal just makes so much sense, doing the same method from 2 decades ago.
Buy the fast pass, go to the fast pass lane, scan it, and go in. Doesn't matter the ride. No scheduling, no one-ride-per-day, etc. And several universal hotels include express pass unlimited by default.
And it starts at less than 1/3rd the price of the magic kingdom "premiere" pass lolololol.
Yes! It is 100% less confusing at Universal. You dont have all these different levels and subtleties.
It’s truly crazy to think about if someone were to actually fork this kind of money out just to skip the lines. I live in San Diego and have never been to Florida so I don’t know the experience at Disney World but I can’t imagine it being much different when it comes to the queues. For some, one of the best parts of Disney rides/attractions are experiencing the different and unique queues. At least with a regular fast pass (or whatever the hell they want to call it nowadays) you could still experience the lines a little bit.
I will be experiencing a lot of the lines now as a simple normie. HAHHA. But you are right. Some of the queue's are pretty darned cool.
Keep doing what your doing! Been a Disney fan most of my life; as you, I've reminisced the 80s and 90s era and how special it was for that time period. Last couple times I've went, I've been thoroughly unimpressed, and it's been extremely overpriced. Universal is edging them out in many ways as you have explained. Keep making your videos, maybe Disney will get the memo before it's too late!
I sincerely appreciate the kind feedback. I still have a deep love and appreciation for the parks and what they once were, and hope they are again. It's just hard right now....these decisions that keep getting made really bother me.
And they keep coming! They need another Eisner I would guess.
I enjoy this option. It allows those who are willing to spend more the opportunity to be rewarded with more. It’s no different than credit card rewards points or delta miles.
I guess that’s one way of looking at it in a different light
You can turn the music off after like 2 minutes. We don't need to listen to it the entire length of the video.
Got it. I will keep that in mind for future videos. Im still a noob :)
This is why I've switched to the Disney cruises.More bang for my buck
You must be rich lol. I'm maxed out on our Royal Caribbean cruises. HAHAHA
Stand in line wait your turn!
I will be. Behind all the rich people….hahaha
I would not spend the money for a lightning pass, lightning premier pass or regular ticket. I would rather get a season pass, wander around the park until the ride times are something reasonable.
I like the thought of that. Usually if you rope drop you can get on a few things before crowds are too insane.
Disney have just handed Universal their market share. What a thing to do when Universal is already gearing up to give families a week long experience at their parks once Epic opens up. We are planning to travel there from New Zealand in 2026 and I'm feeling more and more like we should just skip Disney. They are too greedy.
Do a Universal and Florida only vacation, like we did last year. It was kind of refreshing actually. The Non-Disney trip felt a little weird, but we still had a blast!
We got king size season passes to Hershey this year for $254 (each) parking and sodas included! Plus we got the bring a friend tickets and earned a couple extra with our first trip so we were able to bring my dad and nephew for a second visit. Not sure if we can squeeze in one more (I’m in MA). We also have had season passes to Universal since 2021 and on and off passes to Legoland (MA and NY). The kids have enjoyed every one of the parks we’ve visited. None of them require the amount of planning and saving a Disney trip will. We’re thinking of driving down next summer and tent camping, cook our own breakfast and dinners most days to help lower the costs, definitely not dealing with lighting lanes or whatever else they change/add before we go (if we go, I’m still having a hard time pulling the trigger but the kids are getting older). If we make it to Disney it’s definitely a one and done type of trip.
HEY, a fellow KING SIZE passholder! How awesome. If you see me walking around at Christmas Candylane, give me a high five. We just did Dark Nights last weekend. Sadly you wont be bumping into me at Disney any time soon. LOL
Doesn't Universal studios have a very similar system at a similar price? I hate them both now...
Yes, but it's been going a long time, is genuinely Express (so can be treated as a one-off treat) and is free for people that stay at deluxe resorts. This means that normal wait times aren't artificially lengthened, as there are no tiers (other than limited or unlimited rides on the Express) to clog up the system. It's very different as it all operates simply, and without you needing your phone all day.
I honestly just wish all front of the line pass systems went away. Reward the folks that do their homework on ride wait times lol.
If I was paying for Express (Which I wouldn't) then I would think it is insane. But the fact that they give it to you for free if you stay at a Deluxe Resort, makes it a little bit better than Disney.
@@InLikeFlynns I think that's the difference - Express is expensive, but treated as a premium product. Lightening Lane is marketed as just another thing you have to buy to have a good time at the parks in any way. Someone else put it this way - you've paid a hefty park entry, then you have to pay again for the rides.
Using the App all day at Disney is super irritating to me.
It seems like if you want to provide a service to skip the line you have to charge more. The more you charge, the fewer people will purchase and the faster the lightning lane will be. But if the price is not very high, more people will buy and the lightning lane will be longer. I don’t think there is a model where everyone has access to a lightning lane that moves quickly. I would rather everyone wait in the same line and have the staff randomly pick people to jump to the front of the line. This system would keep the line up fun, because of the anticipation of possibly being picked!
Great idea!
Sort of like The Year of A Million Dreams. Do you remember that? It was so awesome.
Disneyland is getting soooooo crowded/popular. Supply and demand is real. I think that there should be a happy medium between LLMP and the LLPP. Disney just needs to find it. Now, if you are unable to comfortably afford this LLPP, don't buy it. Really. You can stand your happy bootie in line. Now, if there was no LL, stand by lanes would be longer. so you can look at this LLPP as something out of your reach or you can see it as a way to get more folks out of your stand by line or out of yourLLMP que. Out look is up to the viewer. Perspecticve is everything
I would gladly go back to navigating ride wait times based on the tip boards and abolishing all Lightning Lanes and Express passes everywhere. My happy bootie would be fine standing in line lol
Damn. We WERE planning to go in March, now have to RE DO math....SMH
Well I truly hope you have a magical vacation. Sincerely. As a former cast member, all I want is for folks to have a magical trip :)
You're missing the point completely. It's not for YOU, or people that go to Disney parks on a regular basis. It's for people coming from other countries or people that only go to Disney maybe once in their lives and want to make the most of it. I've been to Tokyo Disney and Disney Paris ONCE in my life, and I'll probably never have the opportunity to go again. If they had this kind of option when I went, you better believe I would have paid for it so I could get the full experience without worry or hesitation. As it was, I spent more money staying several days at each resort so I could guarantee to do everything. It actually would have saved me money to buy a premiere fast pass for everything and see it all in one day. This new system is NOT for passholders or people that go a few times a year, and it's not maditory to purchase to go to the parks.
I get that what you are describing is a large part of the audience this is geared to. But there are still people like me and my family who only get to go to California for a day or two every 15 years, and I cannot afford to drop $1,600 so we can go to the front of the line all day. I would love to be able to do it all, and put my kids on whatever they want, but I financially cannot swing that. So I will be in the normie line watching everyone go in front of me and I wont be able to ride it all. I just have to live with it.
I love the idea of a 'Premier Pass' but the pricing is incredibly high and unreasonable. The middle class are never going to get a chance to use this. I think the $400 per day in DL is for BOTH parks though.
WDW the pricing is just outrageous. plus you gotta stay at a deluxe resort to even be eligible. Thanks for the video.
Yes, in DL the $400 is for both parks. Not in WDW though. In WDW the price is per park. I think it is absurd you have to pay to be at an already high priced resort, just to have the honor to be able to purchase it lol.
At least Universal Orlando offers options for one ride at one park to unlimited at one park or unlimited at 2 parks. It's not one option only at each park. Those prices can be awfully expensive, too.
I think soon stepping foot in Orlando will cost you an arm and a leg lol.
If you buy this you're missing the entire point of the park, half the attraction is the queu, not the actual ride part, skipping that is just dumb.
I will say that the queue is a lot of the experience. Especially on attractions like Flight of Passage
Don’t think this is front of the line you still have to wait in the lightning lane line.
That is a great point, and a lot of those lines are often 10+ minutes.
can you do another video for the Premier Lightning Lane PLUS when it comes out?
You can count on it for sure. That will be the pass where you can ride the Lightning Lanes multiple times in a day. Just wait and see. LOL
Like their rides are worth that price!😂😂😂
They do have some great attractions, but none of them is worth $80-$100 for a few minutes of my families time. We can go out and get a meal at Outback for that.
When I went to Universal this past July, on one of the rides the regular line was shorter than the premier line.
I must admit, I have seen this a few times at DL and WDW myself and I giggle when it happens.
We make six figures a year, can't afford disneyland
Right there with ya lol. But you pretty much have to make that much to be middle class in MD or CA
Problem is, is that Disney has no competition in California. Universal only has a handful of rides compared to Disneyland. So, yeah, unless Universal picks up their game like they seem to be doing in Florida, I don't think things are gonna change anytime soon.
You are right. We just went to Universal Hollywood, and the lack of attractions was shocking. We did pretty much all of the rides and a show by 4pm on a summer day.
@@InLikeFlynnsthat sucks. I mean, there's potential there. It's just they don't have the room for it. Otherwise we would have a larger "Super Nintendo World" than what we have now at the park. Sad, really. That would kind of even things out, I think.
The lines without lightning passes will be hours long. You won't be able to do many rides. I was just there a month ago. Waits were 30 to 90 min, for popular rides. You have to buy the passes. Dont forget, some rides have their own passes, not included in lightening passes, like guardians
Yeah, I love how the Multi Lightning Lane folks have to choose one 'Tier A' attraction and two 'Tier B' attractions already, and those Tier A attractions dont include rides like Guardians, Tron, etc. Ridiculous
Well, I know it’s a business, there is no excuse for this disgusting, continual push reaching into people’s pockets and stealing more of their money. I was a former cast member. Holder… And for years, I absolutely loved Disney… But in the last few years, I’ve been absolutely disgusted with what they have done. When you pay to get into a park that should get you on all the rides… You should not have to buy a lightning lane just to do attractions you want to do…Greed will be Disneys downfall.
I think you are right. The greed will certainly come back to bite them at some point.
Is it still possible to just stand in line? Or do they make you buy some version of Lighting Lane? I grew up going to Disneyland back when the only option was to stand in line. Sometimes for hours for something like the Matterhorn. Is it still possible to do that? Just pick a ride, go to it, and stand in line? I'm genuinely curious and so very confused about just how one "does Disney" today.
It certainly is possible. I would probably start recommending people do that and stop handing Disney all of their money to get on rides quicker.
@@InLikeFlynns thanks for your answer! :) My wife and I can't afford all the extra stuff, and I was worried that if we ever did make it back to Disney that standing in line wouldn't be an option. Good to hear they haven't stopped us from doing that. :)
@@KimbaLorber You never have to thank me for answering a question. I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to watch me spout off and support the channel. I will always be around to answer questions. You rock....so thank you!!!! :)
I appreciate ur passion cuz I understand how hard it is for me a Florida resident who is out priced Walt would never let it get this bad too bad the Disney niece doesn't become CEO and fires iger
I appreciate you watching my videos and supporting the channel. :)
I don’t see the big deal , if you can’t afford it keep doing the regular line , if you wanna reward yourself with a no line trip save and pay for it once in a while . IMO is better to have options ! Is like saying 1st class in airplanes is to make mad economic class ! No is just an option.
This is very true, but I think it is just a slap in the face to all us 'normies' that cant afford it, so we get to stand there in the 'cheap' line and watch all the people get in front of us all day.
@@InLikeFlynns whats the alternative ? The demand for the park is high , if they make the pass more affordable the amount of people using it will exceed the light lane capacity and won’t be any difference between regular and fast pass .
I think to tackle crowds, WDW needs to open a 5th park, and enforce lower park capacity numbers at its parks.
The beginning of the end for Disney is here
If they don't change something soon, you may not be that far off....which would have been unheard of 15 years ago
Yeah, they are destroying their parks and charging a premium for the experience. No thanks.
Seems about what they are doing lol 😂
And of course they decimated DAS so most of us have to pay for multi pass now if we can’t wait in line. This announcement was the nail in the coffin. I won’t be renewing my annual pass. Not that Disney cares, they’ll make back that money when some family of four buys the premium lightning lanes for a day. 😢
I know. That wasn't purposeful at all was it? Pretty obvious they cut way back on DAS and then revamp all these premium Lightning Lane options.
Used to love travelling from Australian to visit disney. Unfortunately its now become out of my price range and the lines are hideous. Wont be back
I can barely afford to go from Maryland. LOL. Not sure how you afford from Australia. Thats nuts.
$400USD pp/pd!? That's $600NZD in my country - and the lowest airfare I can find to get from Auckland to LAX then to Orlando would cost a mere double that. Forget it Disney!
At those prices, Tokyo Disney appears to be a better option all round.
Everyone keeps saying this!!!
Oooof.....There is no way I would do that ever.
Hey man. I hear you. It’s a huge money grab. The board wants more and more. I was gonna buy a season pass at Disney but changed my mind. I think I’ll get one at Universal and Hershey park both and I’ll still be ahead of the game. Disney is now for the rich. This is the worst that I’ve seen. The food is expensive and it’s terrible! The parks are not as clean as they used to be and all they want is more more more. The people still keep paying it. I can assure you I will not be going. Hershey park sounds good and it’s close. Yep I’m around your area.
Sweet! Another Hershey Park fan! I hope to see you around the park sometime. Give me a high five and we can vent!
Using lightning lane is like giving the finger to everybody in the regular line Feel free to give them the finger back.
It’s exactly how it feels. I wonder how quick I’d get blacklisted for giving everyone in lightning lane the bird 🤣😂
Universal has the same type of premium fast pass
They do, but at a far less price point. Plus they offer it free to Deluxe Resort guests. Disney will not be. At least not now.
@@InLikeFlynns - Universal also has less attractions than Disney. Hence the lower premium bracket.
This is a big F you to their customer base that can't afford it or won't buy it.
This is exactly how I took it. A big ole F you buddy
nah, that’s just a jealousy mindset. How can something be a “f you” to someone when it was never targeted to them? This premier lightning lane is over for deluxe hotel guest. Those are priced for the every day middle class person, also, there’s highly limited availability at each park. So it’s not even likely to impact the lighting lane much, as most people buying this, would have bought the lighting lane anyway.
I'm convinced disney doesn't know how money works.
Sad how far the apple has fallen from the tree.
From an entertainment standpoint, Disney decided to cater to people who sit around on social media virtue signaling instead of people who get out of their parents basement and purchase movie tickets. While doing that, they decided to start overcharging park guests and lower park standards at the same time. Both strategies have brought them to record low profits with no bottom in sight.
I sincerely could not agree with you more. They also upped pricing at the parks to make up for their failures in other ventures. It is a sad reality. Disney has infuriated their core audience to no end.
Disney has the stupidest fast pass system of any park i've ever been to. Looks like its only getting worse.
Was there yesterday, and the app is a turd, and the one use only is terrible, and the fact you pay for something that used to be free is just terrible.
I feel like you need a degree in Disney Parks just to understand all the nuances between these Lightning Lane tiers and all the requirements each of them has.
Right after Universal announces the opening date of Epic Universe is great timing. 🤦
Right?! They totally trolled Disney with that! HAHAHA
As a Passholder who has watched his son grow up in the Theme parks. I just don’t see the need to renew sadly. But I’ll say this once I leave the parks what will the draw be to get my family to watch the Disney content if it’s a dead end road where I won’t be afford the Experiences of Disney in real life.
I feel ya. In a few years I may not be able to afford the parks even if I wanted to go.