Hunger Games indeed. Presidents Day weekend is a very busy time.

There is the Premier Pass too, but it is exorbitant (still, and especially at the MK) and the only advantages it confers: 1) you don't have to plan at all and 2) you may save steps because you don't have to zigzag across the parks from LL to LL. It's only worth it if you would have considered a VIP tour.

For the regular lightning lane MP: you should have watched the strategy videos that are available. Yes, you can book the length of your stay, so longer stays have the advantage. The other thing you can do is choose a less popular ride like Small World for very early in the morning. As soon as you tap into that, you can booth any other LL ride, including the Tier 1 rides. It helps to have another adult book the individual lightning lane rides like that 7DMT. If your spouse or other travel partner wasn't available, you were at a disadvantage. Take what you can get now or choose another MK day later in your trip (may be more feasible if you have park hopper trips).

Sorry, OP, we threw a lot of $$ at Premer Passes on our recent trip during Winter Break, and I think I'm done, though I do find Disney is a great family trip. As the planner for every trip, there is a different kind of stress when you travel elsewhere, so all travel is fraught with it. You just have to pick your poison.

Anonymous wrote:I stopped going to Disney. It's too much like the Hunger Games.

I also feel like I am being trained to get treats...get up at 7 am, log onto my device, wait in an online line for a pass. Maybe I get a treat.

Then, I have to be on my phone all day trying to get onto rides at certain times.

And for that, I am paying high prices? No way.

Some of us figured out a long time ago that it was not worth it.

Move on, to real life for a good time.

I am surprised because I went the weekend before Christmas and had no trouble getting the lightening lanes. I did notice that they try to default you to slots later in the day—you have to click on the option to show all available times and then you can pick earlier in the day.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah I hate the new system because i LOVED the advance planner approach of the old FPP system. Having to wing it day-of is not great for Disney in my view.

With the new system you book 3 in advance now per day. Plus you can book the single pass rides in advance too.

Anonymous wrote:As i mentioned, I was online right at 7 am, not 7:01, and the snow white was not available until after 6 pm. There must be slots set aside. No other explanation.

People have longer trips than you and are arriving earlier than you. And you can book for the length of your whole trip. So there is better availability at the end of your trip.

Let's say you arrive 2/17. Someone else is arriving 2/12 and staying until 2/19. They got to book all their lightening lanes 7 days in advance of 2/12, so they booked ahead of you for the overlapping days.

I stopped going to Disney. It's too much like the Hunger Games.

I also feel like I am being trained to get treats...get up at 7 am, log onto my device, wait in an online line for a pass. Maybe I get a treat.

Then, I have to be on my phone all day trying to get onto rides at certain times.

And for that, I am paying high prices? No way.

They will release more spots three days before when non-resort guests can buy. Check then.

This is why we did AK on the first day.

Yeah I hate the new system because i LOVED the advance planner approach of the old FPP system. Having to wing it day-of is not great for Disney in my view.

Anonymous wrote:I am stay at a Disney resort and our window to get lightening passes opened today at 7:00? I was online right on time and many many slots gone. And I couldn't get the Snow White Train until evening. Just a vent, but it makes no sense. What about people not staying at Disney hotel.

Anyone have any idea how they allocate? Do the set aside a huge number of times? This is for a Tues in Feb.

Disney is so frustrating as lots of people have said. I have been going for years and it gets worse and worse.

For example, you can no longer get your three favorite rides with the LP. You get one of the most popular and then get to pick 2 from the others. This i just an example of how they get you at every turn. (And the 2 most popular are a separate ticket for more money)

is Snow White train something new or do you mean the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride?

Anonymous wrote:As i mentioned, I was online right at 7 am, not 7:01, and the snow white was not available until after 6 pm. There must be slots set aside. No other explanation.

At 7am on the day of your resort check-in, you can get all the lightning lanes for your entire trip, so if you are going for 5 days, start backwards - pick for day 5 first and then 4, 3, 2, etc. When you are picking for your first day, you are already behind everyone that is checking in for a multi-day stay as they picked for that day days ahead of you.

I went in January and had no issues. I loved the lightning lanes and got everything I wanted. I especially loved being there and getting to book more throughout the day.

Are you going the Tuesday after Presidents’ Day? That might be the issue.

How much is the lightning lame premier pass now? Price might be low since it is off peak? No need to book in advance.

As i mentioned, I was online right at 7 am, not 7:01, and the snow white was not available until after 6 pm. There must be slots set aside. No other explanation.

Anonymous wrote:I am stay at a Disney resort and our window to get lightening passes opened today at 7:00? I was online right on time and many many slots gone. And I couldn't get the Snow White Train until evening. Just a vent, but it makes no sense. What about people not staying at Disney hotel.

Anyone have any idea how they allocate? Do the set aside a huge number of times? This is for a Tues in Feb.

Disney is so frustrating as lots of people have said. I have been going for years and it gets worse and worse.

For example, you can no longer get your three favorite rides with the LP. You get one of the most popular and then get to pick 2 from the others. This i just an example of how they get you at every turn. (And the 2 most popular are a separate ticket for more money)

Well, they only have so many lightning lane spots, and yes the most popular ones go right away at 7am. That means you need to stand in line for some rides. If you can't stand it, don't go. A big part of Disney is ... lines.

I am stay at a Disney resort and our window to get lightening passes opened today at 7:00? I was online right on time and many many slots gone. And I couldn't get the Snow White Train until evening. Just a vent, but it makes no sense. What about people not staying at Disney hotel.

Anyone have any idea how they allocate? Do the set aside a huge number of times? This is for a Tues in Feb.

Disney is so frustrating as lots of people have said. I have been going for years and it gets worse and worse.

For example, you can no longer get your three favorite rides with the LP. You get one of the most popular and then get to pick 2 from the others. This i just an example of how they get you at every turn. (And the 2 most popular are a separate ticket for more money)