Is the New LL Process a Bust or Win?

[tom1944]

Just tried the new LL process this weekend. It's a totally different strategy than before. Much preferred Genie.

In fact, because of the 7 day advance rule for staying on site, I would NOT choose MK to be my first park day of the trip again. Too many slots already taken/times left if any (7MDT was gone before I even had the chance).

Epcot and DHS are too Tier 1 heavy. DAK today was actually a perfect park day with all the selections available.

We arrive on a Tuesday, and I was going to book MK for the Wednesday and Friday so 8 and 10 days out. I believe Wednesday might have extended evening hours at MK.

I am far enough out that I could easily change everything. Really will not know for sure until I book our dining reservations. We are still at the point that certain restaurants are a big factor. This year it will be Space 220, Ohana and HDDR that will factor into at least 3 days of which park we are at.

 

[Orsino]

I tried it once at MK last October, and it was a complete bust for me, I actually went and requested a refund, and they gave it to me.

It was a very busy day because there was no Halloween party. Two of my first three LL choices were down for my times in the morning, so I was unable to use them to book more. And because it was so busy, the only times I was able to choose from if I wanted to change them were in the early evening, which would have left me standing in lines all afternoon anyway.

I'll stick with rope drop and staying later in the evening.

I'm not fully understanding this post. If the rides were down during your LL return time, did you not get a Multi-Experience Pass (MEP) for use at anytime during the day? Plus, you should have been able to book immediately a new LL attraction (including the down ride) when the MEP was issued.

Or am I completely missing significant changes in how LL works?

 

[Lady Hiss]

In regard to the original question: It all depends on your tolerance for spending extra money beyond what you’ve paid for your park tickets. My tolerance reached the limit on our latest trip - so much extra $$$ spent.

Personally, I’m fed up with the huge crowds, the resulting long lines, rides going down, less free entertainment, and the money grabbing. They need another park, not more hotel rooms or more $$$ systems to manage the lines.

Grudgingly, I paid for LLMP on our most recent trip. I found it didn’t work all that well beyond the original 3 rides, and I resented the need to spend the money so a few of my group could experience the headliner Disney rides since they’d never been to WDW. Oh yeah, we got LLSP as well. More $$$. If we hadn’t had the LL most of our group would’ve hated WDW as the standby lines were way beyond our “30 minute wait” tolerance.

So, nope IMHO, LL is not a win. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Dave006]

Grudgingly, I paid for LLMP on our most recent trip. I found it didn’t work all that well beyond the original 3 rides, and I resented the need to spend the money so a few of my group could experience the headliner Disney rides since they’d never been to WDW.

When did you visit? If you went it was so busy that you could not make use of additional LLMP attractions, then the Standby waits would be well beyond 30 minutes as they have always been for the last 20+ years when the parks are busy.

Dave

 

[Lady Hiss]

When did you visit? If you went it was so busy that you could not make use of additional LLMP attractions, then the Standby waits would be well beyond 30 minutes as they have always been for the last 20+ years when the parks are busy.

Dave

We went a couple weeks ago. Part of the issue was the size of the group we had (8 of us) as well as the Mardi Gras crowds. However we’ve been to WDW many times (30+) and have navigated the lines, FP, Genie+, etc. pretty well as things have changed. The standby lines for this trip were the worst we’ve ever seen and that includes previous spring break trips. Add that issue along with the cost of LLs and you have my reason for considering LL to be not so great. That’s my story and I’m stickin to it.

 

[Dave006]

We went a couple weeks ago. Part of the issue was the size of the group we had (8 of us) as well as the Mardi Gras crowds.

Yes March has gotten busier in the last 5 years, and Mardi Gras was in March this year, Next year, 2026 it will move back to mid February (Feb. 17th), and President's week.

Did you actually wait in any Standby lines or were you just looking at the posted times which are very often highly over indicated these days.

Dave

 

[Lady Hiss]

Yes March has gotten busier in the last 5 years, and Mardi Gras was in March this year, Next year, 2026 it will move back to mid February (Feb. 17th), and President's week.

Did you actually wait in any Standby lines or were you just looking at the posted times which are very often highly over indicated these days.

Dave

We waited in a few standby lines that were less than 30 minutes and found some were inflated while others were spot on. The times were definitely inflated the half hour before park close.

 

[Mango7100]

But you are not locked into your LLMP selections. You are able to change you initial park at anytime, and individual LLMP selections.


That's why they removed the 2 hour window that allowed stacking. The average guest did not understand Genie+ and the magic of Stacking.

Dave

You kind of are in a way locked in. Yes I could change my LLMP selections the night before if we want to switch parks, but the availability will be much less compared to what was available 7 days out. We go at peak times due to school, (like Spring Break, New Years, Presidents Day), and if I made preselections for MK 7 days out but then the night before decided we wanted to go to HS instead I’m not going to be able to get anything decent.