Poll Time! The Case for Lightning Lane

Walt Disney World
61

My sister used to like the bus best. But since I’ve gotten the handicap placard, she likes driving - oh and gps, which can be wrong around Disney :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes::grin::wink: Particularly with which lane to turn from.

2 Likes
62

Not if you are a parent, or grandparent, of a infant in a stroller. You go through a physical search at every checkpoint.

2 Likes
63

Again, the middle of the day, there is pretty much no wait at Security. Strollers barely take a couple extra minutes. I grant you that in the morning, there can be a backup of strollers. But at least from what I’ve seen, that’s not generally the case other times of day.

1 Like
64

GPS was better the last two times. In June 2024 Maggie and I had a horrible time with GPS. Now I mostly follow Disney signs, but am happy GPS is better.

Oh, and always ask directions to the toll plaza.

2 Likes
65

Luckily I have a map in my head, naturally and after years of visiting family in the area. We started to depart the World and gps said go this way. I said nope we’re going the other way. Eventually it caught up with us.

2 Likes
66

I used to have a map in my head. Over reliance on GPS has spoiled that. Maybe I need to study the maps before driving them.

3 Likes
67

My youngest sister also has a map head. Knows which way is north most of the time, etc. My other 2 sisters do not. At least one doesn’t even care if north exists - she just wants to know which lane to be in to make the turn needed - in plenty of time to be in that lane. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

I love :star_struck::heart_eyes::smiling_face_with_three_hearts::heart_eyes: maps. I buy them, put them on walls. :blush:

5 Likes
The Case For with Chris Cox
68

Today there was a follow-up episode of The Case For about Lightning Lane! The episode revisited some of the topics discussed on the previous episode, and all referred to some of our discussion here!

I thought it might be fun to do a few more polls about Lightning Lane inspired by some of the discussion on the episode.

What is your strategy for Lightning Lane for each park?

Animal Kingdom

  • I buy LLMP
  • I buy LLSP for Flight of Passage
  • I use standby only
  • Other
0 voters

Epcot

  • I buy LLMP
  • I buy LLSP for Guardians of the Galaxy
  • I use standby only
  • Other
0 voters

Hollywood Studios

  • I buy LLMP
  • I buy LLSP for Rise of the Resistance
  • I use standby only
  • Other
0 voters

Magic Kingdom

  • I buy LLMP
  • I buy LLSP for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • I buy LLSP for Tron
  • I use standby only
  • Other
0 voters

Chime in below with any other feedback you have on the episode!

1 Like
69

I haven’t listened yet, but I did vote for LLMP and Standby Only. I like to go for long trips and will usually do a day at Epcot and MK each with LLMP and without.

I like long trips and I cannot lie.

2 Likes
70

I do this sometimes, too. Specifically with 7DMT, I will often buy LLSP once but then if we want a second ride later in the trip, we will try to ride standby last thing at night instead to save a little dough.

2 Likes
71

I really should have picked other. I can’t think of a ride I’ve been on since December 2023 when I rode Guardians for the second time. Got a next day boarding group because the resort lost our luggage for a few hours. (Rode Guardians first in 2022 when the Kid got BGs for all of us)

Oh, Jingle Cruise in December 2024. Stand by.

I can’t recall what year we rode Living with the Land. Either 23 or 24.

In 5 trips I’ve been on 4 rides :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

same :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

3 Likes
72

For me, as someone who has done the various attractions multiple times over the years, I am far more selective about what I bother to do. I use RD. I use Single Rider, which I count as Other on the choices.

I think the only LLSP I get is for GOTG, because I like it that much. I skip lots of things, many of them have LLMP. If I were to buy LLMP, it would be for HS. But there are times I go there early and just do standby (MMRR, TOT, TSM), and that’s good enough.

2 Likes
73

I will buy a LLSP for FoP and GotG. Unless it is a special trip, I will generally rope drop, use deluxe extra hours , or a good touring plan for most other parks. My exception is possible AK if I am hopping. Then I will but LLMP, do everything, and start booking LLMP at a second park. AK opens early enough that I can generally start that plan before my second park opens.

3 Likes
74

I voted “Other” for all of them, because…my response is “complicated”. I didn’t select LLMP, even though I on occasion do for specific purposes (and will in August).

I have purchased a LLSP for GotG, Tron, and RotR…and may again in the future. But as a general rule, I’m standby-only…UNLESS I see a particular need.

So, for example, in September 2024, in order to deal with the blistering heat, one of our days we paid for LLMP JUST to get through a few rides with as little “standing outside” time as possible. But the other park days, we didn’t.

This upcoming August trip, we have 2 days, doing all four parks, so we are planning utilize LLMP, which I generally avoid. It is such a hassle (to plan/use LLMP)…but again, we want to be able to spend as little time in the heat as possible, so plan to try to not be in ANY park in the afternoon. The LLMP will (hopefully) allow us to accomplish that.

On longer trips, or trips if temperature was better, I would do standby only.

2 Likes
75

I agree. I will buy LLMP for AK only if I’m hopping somewhere else. If I’m only going to Animal Kingdom that day, I’ll buy LLSP for FOP and rope drop.

3 Likes
76

I buy it all. I prefer spending money over time. Not so much that I’m gonna spring for PP for my party of 8 though. At least not right now.

5 Likes
77

Interesting responses so far!

Crunching the numbers a bit:

Most popular LLSPs

  • Guardians of the Galaxy (75%)
  • Flight of Passage (70%)
  • Tron (47%)
  • Rise of the Resistance (45%)
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (42%)

Most popular park for LLMP

  • HS (75%)
  • MK (61%)
  • EP (60%)
  • AK (55%)

Most popular park for “standby only”

  • MK (38%)
  • HS (25%)
  • EP (25%)
  • AK (20%)

This last result actually surprises me! I thought AK would be highest, but FoP skews it a little.

2 Likes
78

AK has so few rides that even if you wait an hour for each one, you’d still have time left over.

I wonder what other guests are doing with their extra time that I’m not getting to do bc I’m just doing standby. Are people shopping more? Walking more slowly? Taking longer meals times? We truly did everything we wanted, and many repeats, including PM entertainment, without LMNOP. So what am I missing out on?

3 Likes
79

I usually use the extra time to see shows, go to the Animation Experience (RIP) and petting zoo, explore the trails, and repeat rides! But I would struggle to fill more than 8am-6pm without too much repeating. So I’d go back to my hotel for a swim or a night out to dinner, etc.

2 Likes
80

We often sleep in, enjoy a late breakfast at Boma, then go spend the rest of the day there.

2 Likes