🤣 I appreciate the good thoughts. And don't feel too bad for me - I wouldn't make these videos if I didn't love figuring out all these systems (and also making the videos). Although I'm really hoping next time Disney updates the system I won't need any If/Then flow charts.
Whenever I go to WDW it feels like I’m doing SAT get a physical test for the military. This would be the 7th time Imm going and it just happens to be the 31th this month. I can’t say how lucky I am to be able to see your video to know about the change! And hopefully to get more info before I actually go. Those videos are amazing. Cheers man 🎉
I’ve been waiting on your video. You explained genie+ the best! Now I can learn the new system for our upcoming trip to Disney! But I honestly just wish Disney would offer fast passes like Universal & we can be done. Trying to reserve rides & what not while on vacation is stressful. Universal wins for the fast pass category in my category. It might be more expensive, but I’ll pay to have a peace of mind on vacation. That’s just me!
Thank you so much! I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed my Genie+ video, and happy to help you learn this new system. And I couldn't agree more with you about how much better Universal's system is. First off, it's an included perk for resort guests but paid upgrade for offsite guests, which makes sense, but other than that it works the same for everyone. And Express Pass is just so much simpler to understand, use, and save time with. Even if they keep charging for it, I genuinely wish Disney would make all of this simpler. It certainly would make my videos shorter, but I think guests would be happier for it.
Leave it to Disney to announce a new, sweeping change to their most iconic system - not to mention,emotion the most make-or-break part of a trip for a lot of people - just a short while before it goes live, and set the go live date to be right in the middle of the busy summer season. Great forethought there.
100%. This rollout seems rushed, to say the least. They expect guests to know where they want to eat 60 days ahead of time, but only give them a month's heads up for changing the whole line skipping system, all while making it way worse for international guests. I'm working on a video about what's better and what's worse with this system, but, yeah, I have a lot of thoughts.
I just answered your question in my newest video: ua-cam.com/video/g8CQjLBE1Nc/v-deo.html To give you the answer here, tiers only apply to pre-booking Lightning Lanes (the 3 advanced reservations). Once you start making new reservations on the same day, tiers do not apply. You can pick from any of the rides, as long as they're still available.
Omg i LOOOVE your videos. So clear and easy to understand! Im taking my family to disney world for the first time, and we’ll be coming all the way from hawaii so i want to make the most out of our trip. Your videos are incredibly helpful
Yes, for the Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly Individual Lightning Lane) rides, you can buy them in two different parks, or just for the park you plan to park hop to later.
Do you know if we'll be able to cancel if we dont find any good wait times. Exp I go try to get 3 passes for MK and they're all in the afternoon but I was planning on hopping. Its not like I can book for the park im hopping too since we have to book for the park we have a reservation for. Does this just make hopping useless( ride wise) since most rides will already be book by the time we hop. I wouldnt mind if this was FREE( fast pass) and I was JUST starting to figure out genie plus and found it pretty damn useful sometimes
Lightning Lane is non-refundable. But I've read that one new part of Multi Pass is that you will be able to select your reservations before you commit the purchase. So you should be able to see what rides are available before deciding to buy or not. Also, I'm not entirely sure if you're locked into buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass only for the park you have a reservation for. If you have a park hopper ticket, it stands to reason that you should be able to buy passes for later in the day for the park you're hopping to. I'll be eager to look into this once the system comes online next week. And I definitely understand your frustration, but hopefully we'll be able to figure out this new system as well and get just as much use out of it as Genie+.
Yeah, that's a really good point. Local APs and international guests are put at the most disadvantaged with this new system. I imagine Disney will sort out the international guest part since there's a clear profit incentive there, but it seems like Multi Pass and Single Pass are not great for local APs by design.
I would like to know if you can cancel your LL to then book another. For example can you cancel your 2 tier 2 rides to then book 2 more tier 1 rides after the park opens.
I wondered something similar, book 2 tier 2 rides early and let them expire first thing in morning (probably have hour arrival window) and then stack 2 tier 1 rides for later in day… your idea is way better if that would work bc could grab those tier 1 rides right away after park open instead of waiting an hour for arrival window to expire
We're going at the end of August and will be staying in a Disney hotel, our park tickets were part of the package. My brother is booked to stay in the same hotel for a few of the same days, but has a Fl. resident yearly pass. Can he book 7 days ahead like us, or does he need to wait?
Yes, he should be able to book 7 days ahead of check in for the days of his stay. Disney Resort guests get the 7 day perk, no matter what ticket type they have. I answer some more questions just like this about APs and resort stays here: ua-cam.com/video/g8CQjLBE1Nc/v-deo.html
We were up before 7am each day to make early entry at each park anyway, so selecting our stuff from the Animal Kingdom turnstiles or the hotel right before leaving for the other 3 parks wasn't so bad. That said, I like the idea of the new system. Let's hope it actually turns out to be an improvement.
I’m going to Disney with a military ticket that requires a reservation and I’m staying in property as long as I have reservations made I can book my whole trip 7 days before check out right?
The timing of this rollout is going to make our trip to Disney which starts on the 21st of July and ends on the 28th so much fun. We've got dining and experience reservations for Hollywood Studios on the 24th so it will be very interesting to see how this impacts our ability to get onto the rides we want the rest of the week. From what you're hearing will we be able to book for the 24th under the new system or are we going to be jumping into this new system right in the middle of our park visits?
I definitely don't envy your timing, since you'll be dealing with two different systems over the course of your trip. For the first three days of your trip, you will be dealing with the current Genie+ rules. But on the 24th, everything will switch over. Disney has said that that's when purchases will start as well, so there is no pre-booking Lightning Lanes before the 24th. So on July 24th, the new rules will go into effect, and you'll be able to buy and book the rest of your trip's worth of Lightning Lanes all on that morning. If you have important plans you want to plan around on the 24th, I'd prioritize that day first, and then maybe work on the 28th-25th in that order.
Thank you for making and posting this well-made, well-delineated video! I have one burning question to which I have been seeking the answer: Do you or does anyone know about restrictions to the time slots? Back in Fast Pass+ days, you always had to schedule rides a minimum of one hour apart. Do you know if this "no-overlapping" will continue or what the time between ride reservation slots will be?
Thank you for your kind words! I had the same question and tested it out today now that the system is online. Multi Pass reservations can overlap, but it appears that the system won't let you book reservations closer than 40 minutes apart. For example, I was able to get Dumbo for 7-8, Buzz for 7:40-8:40, and Small World for 8:30-9:30. I was not able to make any reservations start closer than 40 minutes apart. This is just for advanced reservations - I haven't been able to test it with same day modifications and see if you could nudge those reservations closer together. It looks like Multi Pass and Single Pass reservations can overlap without restriction.
Yes, you should be able to book 7 days ahead of your check-in day at the Swan & Dolphin. Just be sure to have your park reservations made before you try to buy Lightning Lanes (or that it's a Good to Go day).
I got a free pass from a cast member friend, I do know it’s available to park hop but I’m sure I’ll only get 3 day advance booking. But am I correct I can buy Individual LL 3 days also?? I thought I’d read that could only be done day of when the park opens? I’m trying not to hold out much hope that I’d be able to get on Rise of the Resistance and Cosmic Rewind, but those are two goals for my one day. The return of tiers will be tricky because I want to try and get in Slinky and Runaway Railway. Since I’m not staying on property I’m at a slight disadvantage, but hopefully I’ll get some options!!
It all depends if you're going before July 24th or not. Before July 24th, it will still be Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane rules: everything's same day, and Individual Lightning Lane is available at park opening if you're not staying at a Disney resort - which it doesn't sound like you are. On July 24th and later, the system completely changes. You can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly known as Individual Lightning Lane) 3 days ahead of time if you are staying off-site. And since you have a park hopper, you'd be able to buy both Rise and Guardians in the same day, and you should be able to pick the time slots so it works with your timing for going to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. As for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, definitely prioritize Slinky Dog. Runaway Railway will be in demand, but I think it will be much much easier to get than Slinky based on the current Lightning Lane sell out data. Hope you have a great time!
My initial gut feeling is that we will get less lightening lanes than we could with Genie + while paying the same (or more). I totally agree no lightening lane is needed for shows! But they are for meet and greets.
Thank you! I got it from Cotton Bureau - I love how their shirts fit and feel. And there are a ton of fun designs on the site: cottonbureau.com/p/MHERAA/shirt/pizza-planet-truck#/4850273/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-red-tri-blend-s
My Disney trip is in the beginning of August right when the new system is barely taking place when I had spent over the last couple of weeks learning the old system 😭 (hopefully the crowds aren’t too bad in August, especially August 8th since that’s when my trip starts 🥲)
I definitely understand the pain of learning the old system just for Disney to change everything. Luckily, your timing is pretty good, as you'll be able to see how things are going in the first week or two with Multi Pass and Single Pass. Also, August 8 is typically around when crowds go way down as school is going into session, so you should be able to get on plenty of rides without Lightning Lane as well. Hope you have fun on your trip!
@@Guide2WDWthanks for the additional info appreciate it! Also random question, but would you recommend wearing your glasses on certain rides? Since my party wears glasses I’m a bit concerned about that as well haha
That’s a great question! I typically opt to wear contacts in the park just for that reason. I feel like rides like Guardians or Big Thunder would definitely put glasses at risk.
For sure. I really think Disney is tripping over debuting this new system. It would make all the sense in the world to start making reservations available to buy 7 days ahead of the system debuting, as it would ease in some of the demand. It also would have made sense to roll this out mid-August when crowds are much smaller. But by putting everything online all at once during a moderately busy time, they are just inviting tech issues and guest headaches. And that's not even getting into how bad it is for international guests. But, genuinely, best of luck! I hope that all the booking goes well for you.
Still a very strong chance that the tier 1 rides will be sold out your day by guests who booked days before you could due to park time overlap. Also tier 1 can be sold out by the time you use 1 ride and try to book another ride to fill its place.
I doubt they will be sold out before you can prebook. If you check the tip board at noon, after ppl have been able to book 2 genie+ LL's the big rides still have open times.
I doubt all Tier 1 rides will be gone before the same day. You just have to look at current Genie+ sellout patterns to see what rides typically sell out immediately after 7 am opening. Slinky Dog, Remy, Tiana, and Frozen are all the fastest to sell out right now. Those will probably remain the hardest to get, and I can imagine those selling out ahead of time. But many Tier 1 rides have late day availability with the current system, like Big Thunder, Soarin, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Millennium Falcon, and MMRR.
Totally agree. Rides like Slinky Dog and Tiana may sell out ahead of time, but many of the Tier 1 rides sell out much later in the day with the current system.
Hmmm wondering. I am from Manila 🇵🇭 going to new york October 15 and plan to be in Epcot and Animal kingfom on the 25th and 26th. I was thinking of buying my entrance t😅clets this week here in my country and book my lightning lane Multi pass when i get to new york. Wondering where do best buy my ticket? On the app? On klook? Or the disney website on my PC. I wonder if buy it say on klook, how will i be able to buy a Multi pass 3 days before i arrive?
I do have one question about virtual queue.. i know i dont need a park reservation because i have a date based ticket, but its a 3 day 3 park ticket. How will the system know which park im going to on each day when im trying to get the virtual queue
Thank you! The on-site/off-site split stay is a bit tricky, but this is how I believe it works. - For your Disney Resort stay, you can book 7 days ahead of check-in, but only for the length of that stay (through check-out) - You can then book the rest of your trip 3 days ahead of your first non-Disney resort day.
I’ve watched so many videos I’m confused about Virtual queues. Do you need to purchase anything to have access to VQs? As in, if I choose not to get LLMP for an EPCOT day, will I still be able to book GGCR at 7am?
Virtual Queue is free with your ticket - no purchase required. So you don’t need to buy Lightning Lane to access the Virtual Queue for Guardians or any other VQ ride. I have a Virtual Queue video that should answer any other questions you have too: ua-cam.com/video/6Jd4yGrIhew/v-deo.html Hope this helps!
I really hope disney withholds a number of lightning lanes for those of us not staying at a disney hotel and have to use the 3-day booking window. It would be awful practice if hotel guests got all the lightning lanes for the best rides at the best times
My Disney trip is from Check in day July 21 to check out July 27. When can I book my Lightning Lanes?? I am a resort guest at the Caribbean Resort. Can I book at 7 am on July 14? And will I be able to book ahead on the 22 and 23 or will my first advance booking be on the 24th? Thanks for the info!
What would the best strategy for a UK couple flying out to a non resort hotel on the 20th July be? I was planning on starting with Universal studios the day after we land and then focusing on Disney after that for when the changes start. Will I be able to pre book everything before the 24th? We are there for 2 weeks starting from the 20th! And gutted these changes are happening during our stay
Great questions! Your timing is actually pretty good, despite the new system rolling out. Everything goes online at 7 am on July 24th. Currently, you cannot buy or book any Lightning Lanes before the 24th. This really works to your advantage, as it puts you on an even playing ground as all the other guests. Because you'll be within the US starting on the 20th, you won't be at a disadvantage like most international guests, since you'll be able to buy Lightning Lanes as soon as the system goes online. And you'll most likely be on the same footing as the Disney Resort guests visiting the same week, depending on the timing. As for a strategy, it depends on your ticket type and ticket length. But going to Disney after Universal will help with this. Ideally, your ticket is a Date Based Ticket (no reservations) and it starts any day between July 24 (or earlier)-July 27. That way, you can buy and plan all your Lightning Lanes on the morning of July 24th for your whole stay. I'd start booking your last day and work backwards to your first day to give the best chance at getting hard to get rides like Slinky Dog or Tiana. The same strategy applies if your ticket starts July 28 or later, but you can then only start booking 3 days ahead of the ticket start date. Hope this helps, and hope you have a great trip!
@@Guide2WDW Thank you for your reply! And that makes me feel better that the timings work out for me :) The tickets we have are unlimited entry to all Disney and universal studio parks starting from 20th July for 14 nights, so we have access for our full holiday. I will follow your advice and be online ready for 7am on the 24th and book from the last day backwards!
I'm not an International Guest, but I would think a VPN would resolve this issue for people coming in from over seas or the any other countries. Pick a location in the U.S. to terminate the VPN and BAMM!!! problem solved!
Great video! You made it pretty easy to understand. Just a couple of points I wasn’t clear on - how would booking Animal Kingdom save money? Is that just if you’re park hoping? - Do you know how this will work for those doing an onsite split stay? Eg I have two 7 night onsite bookings and a 14 day ticket, can I book the whole stay 7 days before because of the length of my tickets? Or are onsite limited to length of stay rather than length of ticket? Thanks for all your hard work!!!
Glad it was helpful! To answer your questions: - Yes, I meant specifically cheaper for park hopping. If pricing is similar to Genie+, picking Animal Kingdom as your first park vs Magic Kingdom will save you money because AK is cheaper. And MK will have the most same day LL availability because it has the most rides. So a good strategy could be to do an AK morning with pre booked and then hop to MK for all your same day LL’s. - As for split stays, I’m not entirely sure. Looking at how the rules are set up, I imagine it depends on your ticket type. So if you have a date based ticket, you should be able to book the length of your ticket 7 days ahead of your first check in. But if you have an AP, it should only let you book the length of your first stay 7 days ahead of 1st check in, and then the second half of your stay 7 days ahead of your second check in. But that’s just me making an educated guess based on the rules as stated right now. I’ll do some more digging, since split stays have been a popular question. Thanks for watching and for your great questions!
Hello again! I have an update as I looked into split stays for my next Lightning Lane video (should be out today or tomorrow!). For an onsite split stay, this is what Disney says: If you have no gap between the Disney Resort stays, you can treat them like they're one stay. If that's the case for you, you can book up to 14 days of Lightning Lanes ahead of your first check in day. If there is a gap between the stays, then you can only book for the length of your first stay 7 days ahead of your first check in day, and then you can book for the days of your second stay 7 days ahead of your 2nd check in day. Hope this helps!
This has probably been asked/answered already... but why can't international users just use a GPS app to put their phone in the US to book those LL ahead of time?
When someone has to create a masterclass to figure out the ticketing system for a theme park you know not a single UX person was involved at the planing stage.
Hey! we went to elementary school together and lived in the same neighborhood. I just stumbled upon your page. Maiden name Lambert. :) Love your videos!
Genie+ was way better. It was a level playing field when everyone had to buy it the day of, it's ridiculous to not get to skip the line on slinky dog because you didn't get a hotel reservation and have to preorder your lightning lane
Honestly I’m glad this isn’t like universal. Universal is 130 per person per day. With 3 parks that are worth having the pass for that would be crazy expensive.
@@Nursejustinreviews well thats stupid bc if u stayed in the hotel you would get it for free. Least universals fast pass actually fkn works n walk on n theres no pre booking or planning or using ur phone
Disney: “let’s make skipping the like complicated”
Universal: Just pay us and you can skip almost all the lines with no rules”
As soon as I heard about these changes, I was thinking poor James has to make an entire new masterclass video.
🤣 I appreciate the good thoughts. And don't feel too bad for me - I wouldn't make these videos if I didn't love figuring out all these systems (and also making the videos). Although I'm really hoping next time Disney updates the system I won't need any If/Then flow charts.
Whenever I go to WDW it feels like I’m doing SAT get a physical test for the military. This would be the 7th time Imm going and it just happens to be the 31th this month. I can’t say how lucky I am to be able to see your video to know about the change! And hopefully to get more info before I actually go. Those videos are amazing. Cheers man 🎉
Thanks so much, and I'll do my best to help you ace the "test." 😄
Thanks for this detailed video! Very helpful!
Thanks for watching! 😄
I’ve been waiting on your video. You explained genie+ the best! Now I can learn the new system for our upcoming trip to Disney! But I honestly just wish Disney would offer fast passes like Universal & we can be done. Trying to reserve rides & what not while on vacation is stressful. Universal wins for the fast pass category in my category. It might be more expensive, but I’ll pay to have a peace of mind on vacation. That’s just me!
Thank you so much! I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed my Genie+ video, and happy to help you learn this new system.
And I couldn't agree more with you about how much better Universal's system is. First off, it's an included perk for resort guests but paid upgrade for offsite guests, which makes sense, but other than that it works the same for everyone. And Express Pass is just so much simpler to understand, use, and save time with. Even if they keep charging for it, I genuinely wish Disney would make all of this simpler. It certainly would make my videos shorter, but I think guests would be happier for it.
Leave it to Disney to announce a new, sweeping change to their most iconic system - not to mention,emotion the most make-or-break part of a trip for a lot of people - just a short while before it goes live, and set the go live date to be right in the middle of the busy summer season. Great forethought there.
100%. This rollout seems rushed, to say the least. They expect guests to know where they want to eat 60 days ahead of time, but only give them a month's heads up for changing the whole line skipping system, all while making it way worse for international guests. I'm working on a video about what's better and what's worse with this system, but, yeah, I have a lot of thoughts.
Once you book 1 Tier 1 and use it, will you be able to book more Tier 1 on day of or are all your subsequent bookings going to be Tier 2?
I just answered your question in my newest video: ua-cam.com/video/g8CQjLBE1Nc/v-deo.html
To give you the answer here, tiers only apply to pre-booking Lightning Lanes (the 3 advanced reservations). Once you start making new reservations on the same day, tiers do not apply. You can pick from any of the rides, as long as they're still available.
Omg i LOOOVE your videos. So clear and easy to understand! Im taking my family to disney world for the first time, and we’ll be coming all the way from hawaii so i want to make the most out of our trip. Your videos are incredibly helpful
Can you purchase individual lightning lanes for the park you plan to park hop to later?
Yes, for the Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly Individual Lightning Lane) rides, you can buy them in two different parks, or just for the park you plan to park hop to later.
Do you know if we'll be able to cancel if we dont find any good wait times. Exp I go try to get 3 passes for MK and they're all in the afternoon but I was planning on hopping. Its not like I can book for the park im hopping too since we have to book for the park we have a reservation for. Does this just make hopping useless( ride wise) since most rides will already be book by the time we hop. I wouldnt mind if this was FREE( fast pass) and I was JUST starting to figure out genie plus and found it pretty damn useful sometimes
Lightning Lane is non-refundable. But I've read that one new part of Multi Pass is that you will be able to select your reservations before you commit the purchase. So you should be able to see what rides are available before deciding to buy or not.
Also, I'm not entirely sure if you're locked into buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass only for the park you have a reservation for. If you have a park hopper ticket, it stands to reason that you should be able to buy passes for later in the day for the park you're hopping to. I'll be eager to look into this once the system comes online next week.
And I definitely understand your frustration, but hopefully we'll be able to figure out this new system as well and get just as much use out of it as Genie+.
This is mega annoying as a local, gonna have to book resort stays I’m not even going to use just to be able to ride the good rides, flight & Tron.
Yeah, that's a really good point. Local APs and international guests are put at the most disadvantaged with this new system. I imagine Disney will sort out the international guest part since there's a clear profit incentive there, but it seems like Multi Pass and Single Pass are not great for local APs by design.
Staying polynesian booked vscation. Can you take a day off in between days or locked in to consecutive days?
Can we book LLMP for one park but LLSP for other parks? For example starting at Epcot and want to buy 7DMT?
Yes, as long as you have a park hopper you should be able to do that.
I would like to know if you can cancel your LL to then book another. For example can you cancel your 2 tier 2 rides to then book 2 more tier 1 rides after the park opens.
That is one of my biggest questions too! It would unlock a lot of “advanced strategies.”
I wondered something similar, book 2 tier 2 rides early and let them expire first thing in morning (probably have hour arrival window) and then stack 2 tier 1 rides for later in day… your idea is way better if that would work bc could grab those tier 1 rides right away after park open instead of waiting an hour for arrival window to expire
We're going at the end of August and will be staying in a Disney hotel, our park tickets were part of the package. My brother is booked to stay in the same hotel for a few of the same days, but has a Fl. resident yearly pass. Can he book 7 days ahead like us, or does he need to wait?
Yes, he should be able to book 7 days ahead of check in for the days of his stay. Disney Resort guests get the 7 day perk, no matter what ticket type they have. I answer some more questions just like this about APs and resort stays here: ua-cam.com/video/g8CQjLBE1Nc/v-deo.html
We were up before 7am each day to make early entry at each park anyway, so selecting our stuff from the Animal Kingdom turnstiles or the hotel right before leaving for the other 3 parks wasn't so bad. That said, I like the idea of the new system. Let's hope it actually turns out to be an improvement.
I’m going to Disney with a military ticket that requires a reservation and I’m staying in property as long as I have reservations made I can book my whole trip 7 days before check out right?
Yes, staying at a Disney Resort should allow you to book 7 days ahead of your check-in day, no matter what ticket type you have.
@@Guide2WDW I’m guessing you need to have your reservations in before buy.
Yes, I believe so. You definitely should make the reservations before trying to buy Lightning Lane.
very helpful thank you!
So glad! Thanks for watching!
The timing of this rollout is going to make our trip to Disney which starts on the 21st of July and ends on the 28th so much fun. We've got dining and experience reservations for Hollywood Studios on the 24th so it will be very interesting to see how this impacts our ability to get onto the rides we want the rest of the week. From what you're hearing will we be able to book for the 24th under the new system or are we going to be jumping into this new system right in the middle of our park visits?
I definitely don't envy your timing, since you'll be dealing with two different systems over the course of your trip. For the first three days of your trip, you will be dealing with the current Genie+ rules. But on the 24th, everything will switch over. Disney has said that that's when purchases will start as well, so there is no pre-booking Lightning Lanes before the 24th.
So on July 24th, the new rules will go into effect, and you'll be able to buy and book the rest of your trip's worth of Lightning Lanes all on that morning. If you have important plans you want to plan around on the 24th, I'd prioritize that day first, and then maybe work on the 28th-25th in that order.
Thank you for making and posting this well-made, well-delineated video! I have one burning question to which I have been seeking the answer:
Do you or does anyone know about restrictions to the time slots? Back in Fast Pass+ days, you always had to schedule rides a minimum of one hour apart. Do you know if this "no-overlapping" will continue or what the time between ride reservation slots will be?
Thank you for your kind words! I had the same question and tested it out today now that the system is online.
Multi Pass reservations can overlap, but it appears that the system won't let you book reservations closer than 40 minutes apart. For example, I was able to get Dumbo for 7-8, Buzz for 7:40-8:40, and Small World for 8:30-9:30. I was not able to make any reservations start closer than 40 minutes apart. This is just for advanced reservations - I haven't been able to test it with same day modifications and see if you could nudge those reservations closer together.
It looks like Multi Pass and Single Pass reservations can overlap without restriction.
wait im a annual pass holder but I will be staying in the swan and dolphin can I still book 7 days in advance ?
Yes, you should be able to book 7 days ahead of your check-in day at the Swan & Dolphin. Just be sure to have your park reservations made before you try to buy Lightning Lanes (or that it's a Good to Go day).
I just find everything about the logistics at disney soo overwhelming 😢
I got a free pass from a cast member friend, I do know it’s available to park hop but I’m sure I’ll only get 3 day advance booking. But am I correct I can buy Individual LL 3 days also?? I thought I’d read that could only be done day of when the park opens? I’m trying not to hold out much hope that I’d be able to get on Rise of the Resistance and Cosmic Rewind, but those are two goals for my one day. The return of tiers will be tricky because I want to try and get in Slinky and Runaway Railway. Since I’m not staying on property I’m at a slight disadvantage, but hopefully I’ll get some options!!
It all depends if you're going before July 24th or not. Before July 24th, it will still be Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane rules: everything's same day, and Individual Lightning Lane is available at park opening if you're not staying at a Disney resort - which it doesn't sound like you are.
On July 24th and later, the system completely changes. You can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly known as Individual Lightning Lane) 3 days ahead of time if you are staying off-site. And since you have a park hopper, you'd be able to buy both Rise and Guardians in the same day, and you should be able to pick the time slots so it works with your timing for going to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. As for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, definitely prioritize Slinky Dog. Runaway Railway will be in demand, but I think it will be much much easier to get than Slinky based on the current Lightning Lane sell out data.
Hope you have a great time!
My initial gut feeling is that we will get less lightening lanes than we could with Genie + while paying the same (or more). I totally agree no lightening lane is needed for shows! But they are for meet and greets.
i love the shirt! where did you get it?
Thank you! I got it from Cotton Bureau - I love how their shirts fit and feel. And there are a ton of fun designs on the site: cottonbureau.com/p/MHERAA/shirt/pizza-planet-truck#/4850273/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-red-tri-blend-s
My Disney trip is in the beginning of August right when the new system is barely taking place when I had spent over the last couple of weeks learning the old system 😭
(hopefully the crowds aren’t too bad in August, especially August 8th since that’s when my trip starts 🥲)
I definitely understand the pain of learning the old system just for Disney to change everything. Luckily, your timing is pretty good, as you'll be able to see how things are going in the first week or two with Multi Pass and Single Pass. Also, August 8 is typically around when crowds go way down as school is going into session, so you should be able to get on plenty of rides without Lightning Lane as well. Hope you have fun on your trip!
@@Guide2WDWthanks for the additional info appreciate it! Also random question, but would you recommend wearing your glasses on certain rides? Since my party wears glasses I’m a bit concerned about that as well haha
That’s a great question! I typically opt to wear contacts in the park just for that reason. I feel like rides like Guardians or Big Thunder would definitely put glasses at risk.
So as an annual passholder who always stays on Disney property, I’ll be able to make my selections a week prior to my trips? 😅
Yes, if you're staying on property, you can book 7 days ahead of check-in, no matter what ticket you have.
any idea on prices?
It should be very similar to Genie+, which varies by park and by day, currently ranging from $15-$39 per person.
Can you purchase LL for rides with a que
My stay is starting the 26th of July. this is not going to be fun booking all 5 days worth of vacation with everything else
For sure. I really think Disney is tripping over debuting this new system. It would make all the sense in the world to start making reservations available to buy 7 days ahead of the system debuting, as it would ease in some of the demand. It also would have made sense to roll this out mid-August when crowds are much smaller. But by putting everything online all at once during a moderately busy time, they are just inviting tech issues and guest headaches. And that's not even getting into how bad it is for international guests.
But, genuinely, best of luck! I hope that all the booking goes well for you.
Still a very strong chance that the tier 1 rides will be sold out your day by guests who booked days before you could due to park time overlap. Also tier 1 can be sold out by the time you use 1 ride and try to book another ride to fill its place.
I doubt they will be sold out before you can prebook. If you check the tip board at noon, after ppl have been able to book 2 genie+ LL's the big rides still have open times.
I doubt all Tier 1 rides will be gone before the same day. You just have to look at current Genie+ sellout patterns to see what rides typically sell out immediately after 7 am opening. Slinky Dog, Remy, Tiana, and Frozen are all the fastest to sell out right now. Those will probably remain the hardest to get, and I can imagine those selling out ahead of time. But many Tier 1 rides have late day availability with the current system, like Big Thunder, Soarin, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Millennium Falcon, and MMRR.
Totally agree. Rides like Slinky Dog and Tiana may sell out ahead of time, but many of the Tier 1 rides sell out much later in the day with the current system.
@@Guide2WDW it's a totally new game now.
Hmmm wondering. I am from Manila 🇵🇭 going to new york October 15 and plan to be in Epcot and Animal kingfom on the 25th and 26th. I was thinking of buying my entrance t😅clets this week here in my country and book my lightning lane Multi pass when i get to new york.
Wondering where do best buy my ticket? On the app? On klook? Or the disney website on my PC.
I wonder if buy it say on klook, how will i be able to buy a Multi pass 3 days before i arrive?
I do have one question about virtual queue.. i know i dont need a park reservation because i have a date based ticket, but its a 3 day 3 park ticket. How will the system know which park im going to on each day when im trying to get the virtual queue
Hello! Great vid! We are staying on resort for only part of our vacation. Will we be able to book for our whole trip 7 days in advance or not? Thanks!
Thank you! The on-site/off-site split stay is a bit tricky, but this is how I believe it works.
- For your Disney Resort stay, you can book 7 days ahead of check-in, but only for the length of that stay (through check-out)
- You can then book the rest of your trip 3 days ahead of your first non-Disney resort day.
I’ve watched so many videos I’m confused about Virtual queues. Do you need to purchase anything to have access to VQs? As in, if I choose not to get LLMP for an EPCOT day, will I still be able to book GGCR at 7am?
Virtual Queue is free with your ticket - no purchase required. So you don’t need to buy Lightning Lane to access the Virtual Queue for Guardians or any other VQ ride. I have a Virtual Queue video that should answer any other questions you have too:
ua-cam.com/video/6Jd4yGrIhew/v-deo.html
Hope this helps!
Will the lightning lanes be available during mickeys not so scary Halloween party??
I really hope disney withholds a number of lightning lanes for those of us not staying at a disney hotel and have to use the 3-day booking window. It would be awful practice if hotel guests got all the lightning lanes for the best rides at the best times
I hope so too. It would be terrible if it was practically impossible to get Slinky Dog or Remy unless you're staying at a Disney resort.
Are we still only going to be allowed to ride each ride once with the multi pass or can we ride multiple times?
You can only get one Lightning Lane per ride per day, just like Genie+.
My Disney trip is from Check in day July 21 to check out July 27. When can I book my Lightning Lanes?? I am a resort guest at the Caribbean Resort. Can I book at 7 am on July 14? And will I be able to book ahead on the 22 and 23 or will my first advance booking be on the 24th? Thanks for the info!
What would the best strategy for a UK couple flying out to a non resort hotel on the 20th July be? I was planning on starting with Universal studios the day after we land and then focusing on Disney after that for when the changes start.
Will I be able to pre book everything before the 24th?
We are there for 2 weeks starting from the 20th! And gutted these changes are happening during our stay
Great questions! Your timing is actually pretty good, despite the new system rolling out. Everything goes online at 7 am on July 24th. Currently, you cannot buy or book any Lightning Lanes before the 24th. This really works to your advantage, as it puts you on an even playing ground as all the other guests. Because you'll be within the US starting on the 20th, you won't be at a disadvantage like most international guests, since you'll be able to buy Lightning Lanes as soon as the system goes online. And you'll most likely be on the same footing as the Disney Resort guests visiting the same week, depending on the timing.
As for a strategy, it depends on your ticket type and ticket length. But going to Disney after Universal will help with this. Ideally, your ticket is a Date Based Ticket (no reservations) and it starts any day between July 24 (or earlier)-July 27. That way, you can buy and plan all your Lightning Lanes on the morning of July 24th for your whole stay. I'd start booking your last day and work backwards to your first day to give the best chance at getting hard to get rides like Slinky Dog or Tiana. The same strategy applies if your ticket starts July 28 or later, but you can then only start booking 3 days ahead of the ticket start date. Hope this helps, and hope you have a great trip!
@@Guide2WDW Thank you for your reply! And that makes me feel better that the timings work out for me :)
The tickets we have are unlimited entry to all Disney and universal studio parks starting from 20th July for 14 nights, so we have access for our full holiday.
I will follow your advice and be online ready for 7am on the 24th and book from the last day backwards!
I'm not an International Guest, but I would think a VPN would resolve this issue for people coming in from over seas or the any other countries. Pick a location in the U.S. to terminate the VPN and BAMM!!! problem solved!
Great video, Thank you
Glad you liked it! 😄
Great video! You made it pretty easy to understand. Just a couple of points I wasn’t clear on - how would booking Animal Kingdom save money? Is that just if you’re park hoping? - Do you know how this will work for those doing an onsite split stay? Eg I have two 7 night onsite bookings and a 14 day ticket, can I book the whole stay 7 days before because of the length of my tickets? Or are onsite limited to length of stay rather than length of ticket?
Thanks for all your hard work!!!
Glad it was helpful! To answer your questions:
- Yes, I meant specifically cheaper for park hopping. If pricing is similar to Genie+, picking Animal Kingdom as your first park vs Magic Kingdom will save you money because AK is cheaper. And MK will have the most same day LL availability because it has the most rides. So a good strategy could be to do an AK morning with pre booked and then hop to MK for all your same day LL’s.
- As for split stays, I’m not entirely sure. Looking at how the rules are set up, I imagine it depends on your ticket type. So if you have a date based ticket, you should be able to book the length of your ticket 7 days ahead of your first check in. But if you have an AP, it should only let you book the length of your first stay 7 days ahead of 1st check in, and then the second half of your stay 7 days ahead of your second check in. But that’s just me making an educated guess based on the rules as stated right now. I’ll do some more digging, since split stays have been a popular question.
Thanks for watching and for your great questions!
Hello again! I have an update as I looked into split stays for my next Lightning Lane video (should be out today or tomorrow!). For an onsite split stay, this is what Disney says:
If you have no gap between the Disney Resort stays, you can treat them like they're one stay. If that's the case for you, you can book up to 14 days of Lightning Lanes ahead of your first check in day.
If there is a gap between the stays, then you can only book for the length of your first stay 7 days ahead of your first check in day, and then you can book for the days of your second stay 7 days ahead of your 2nd check in day.
Hope this helps!
That’s great thanks
How’s it going to work for people that are disabled and for people that have visual issue?
This has probably been asked/answered already... but why can't international users just use a GPS app to put their phone in the US to book those LL ahead of time?
You should def try and report back! lol
When someone has to create a masterclass to figure out the ticketing system for a theme park you know not a single UX person was involved at the planing stage.
Hey! we went to elementary school together and lived in the same neighborhood. I just stumbled upon your page. Maiden name Lambert. :) Love your videos!
Hi Natalie! Wow! Yes, I remember you! Also, your sister Jennifer was good friends with my sister Laura. Thank you for watching! 😄
We are from Germany. It‘s Not an advantage,yet. Hopefully Disney will thought on International guest.
I really hope Disney fixes the international guest issues before they roll this out.
The whole 7 vs 3 days thing isn't that big of a deal. Really no different than the 60 vs 30 day window with Fastpass+.
Genie+ was way better. It was a level playing field when everyone had to buy it the day of, it's ridiculous to not get to skip the line on slinky dog because you didn't get a hotel reservation and have to preorder your lightning lane
I've never been to Disney so I think of all the stress I save myself by not going
you'll def live longer than most of us lol
Disney made something unnecessarily complicated? I’m shocked and dismayed. 😂
😂😂😂 I’m not crying, I’m laughing, I promise
LETS GO!!
😄
Why can’t they just do what universal does. It works
Honestly I’m glad this isn’t like universal. Universal is 130 per person per day. With 3 parks that are worth having the pass for that would be crazy expensive.
@@Nursejustinreviews someone doesnt know absolutely anything about the universal express pass
@@hollybabyyy I’ve used it
@@hollybabyyy I also spent 800 dollar for one day with my family
@@Nursejustinreviews well thats stupid bc if u stayed in the hotel you would get it for free. Least universals fast pass actually fkn works n walk on n theres no pre booking or planning or using ur phone
DEIsney SUCKS!!!
Will the lightning lanes be available during mickeys not so scary Halloween party??
No, they do not offer Lightning Lane during any of the holiday parties or after hours events.