Earlier this week, Walt Disney World dropped the bombshell that Lightning Lane Multi Cross is changing Genie+ at Walt Disney World. This information was introduced by way of press launch and official web site updates, together with further supplementary info given to web sites like this one. Consequently and unsurprisingly, there have been a lot of questions–even from seasoned Walt Disney World veterans.
Our announcement already has over 200 feedback, a lot of that are diehard Walt Disney World followers venting and/or grieving. Understandably. One of the vital controversial and outrage-inducing facets of the brand new Lightning Lane Multi Cross and Single Cross system is Walt Disney World indicating that worldwide visitors, categorically, wouldn’t be capable to make pre-arrival picks till arriving into the USA.
That coverage wrinkle wasn’t talked about within the official announcement or web site, however it was in supplementary info–and Forged Members confirmed it to worldwide visitors by way of chat and elsewhere. This meant that, even when worldwide visitors can be staying on-site, they’d not have an on-site benefit. Effectively, not less than not till arrival in the USA. I’d hazard a guess that round 100 of the 200+ feedback on our publish pertained to this rule. Effectively, we now have an replace to this that’ll please a lot of our pals within the Nice White North.
We spoke with a Walt Disney World consultant on the afternoon of June 28, 2024, who confirmed to us that Canadian visitors might proceed to make use of the My Disney Expertise app after the launch of pre-arrival buying and planning for Lightning Lane Multi Cross and Single Cross, simply as they do at present for Genie, Advance Eating Reservations, and all the things else.
Because of this Canadian visitors who’re staying on-site at Walt Disney World will be capable to reserve Lightning Lane passes as much as 7 days upfront for his or her total keep (as much as 14 days). Off-site visitors from Canada will be capable to plan as much as 3 days upfront. All of this whereas in Canada–no have to drive right into a border city in the USA as some readers indicated that they have been debating doing!
Please be aware that this replace applies solely to Canadian visitors and no different nations. We inquired about guests from the European Union and United Kingdom–two different huge demos for Walt Disney World (and readers of this weblog)–and the corporate indicated that there aren’t any updates for different markets right now.
Additionally please be aware that this isn’t hypothesis or the results of interacting with a chatbot, frontline Forged Member, and so forth. We spoke with a Walt Disney World spokesperson, who formally confirmed the entire above. (With that mentioned, the earlier categorical ‘rule’ excluding worldwide visitors was official, too.)
The underside line is that, for all intents and functions, visitors from Canada can be handled the identical as visitors from the USA in terms of Lightning Lane Multi Cross and Single Cross insurance policies and reserving home windows. The home guidelines apply to the USA and Canada, whereas the worldwide ones apply to everybody else.
As beforehand talked about, we’re persevering with to replace and increase our Lightning Lane Multi-Cross at Walt Disney World FAQ based mostly on questions you ask and solutions we’re in a position to get hold of from the corporate. (That’s a mixture of official insurance policies and our speculative solutions based mostly on previous precedent and expectations–it needs to be apparent which is which based mostly on wording.)
Lastly, right here’s the up to date reply to the FAQ query…
When can non-Canadian worldwide visitors buy Lightning Lanes?
They’ll buy Lightning Lane passes and make picks upon arrival into the USA.
As for the why of this, it’s most likely not as a result of Walt Disney World hates worldwide visitors. Though it’d appear that method on this one explicit challenge, Walt Disney World really loves visitors from outdoors the USA. They’re extra of a captive viewers, have increased per visitor spending metrics, and usually do longer stays. Because of this we routinely discuss with British visitors as Walt Disney World’s “whales” (non-derogatory).
It’s our understanding that this pertains to regulatory points and legal guidelines outdoors of the USA (notably in Europe), and it’s simpler for Walt Disney World to ‘decide out’ of these by not providing the app than it’s complying with quite a lot of native legal guidelines. In doing extra digging, it’s additionally my understanding that this was a recognized challenge and there was an answer–constructing a web-based model of the Lightning Lane Multi Cross reserving engine–however Disney opted towards doing that for no matter cause.
That’s most likely an unsatisfying clarification, however it’s possible the explanation why. Make no mistake, we aren’t justifying this choice by Walt Disney World. If I have been a world visitor–a so-called whale that Disney purports to worth–I’d be furious. Completely irate.
I nonetheless suppose worldwide visitors will be capable to work round this. Utilizing U.S. based mostly Licensed Disney Trip Planners is one possibility. One other chance is looking Walt Disney World and making an attempt to have a Forged Member make your picks. (Actually, this may be the very best route, as increased labor prices may pressure Disney’s hand to create a web-based model.)
One other conceivable possibility is utilizing a mixture and VPNs, GPS spoofers, and different know-how to side-step the rule. It’s not like Walt Disney World will care for those who do that, since they’re solely limiting entry to keep away from regulatory compliance, themselves. Or for those who vote along with your pockets and take your enterprise to Common since you don’t really feel valued by Disney, I don’t suppose anybody would blame you.
There’s nonetheless numerous time between now and July 24, and this has already confirmed to be probably the most controversial coverage of the Lightning Lane passes (and for good cause!). I wouldn’t be stunned if there are extra updates or makeshift options from Walt Disney World within the coming weeks.
For these non-Canadian worldwide visitors who’re nonetheless excluded from the pre-arrival Lightning Lane benefit by this coverage, you possibly can respectfully specific your opinions as to how will affect your holidays or enterprise with Walt Disney World by electronic mail [email protected].
That is far superior to complaining in feedback, social media, boards, and so forth. (Though Disney sees all of that, too.) Reasonably than beginning petitions, that are largely ineffectual, share suggestions in visitor satisfaction surveys, carry it up for those who converse with managers or others in park management, and even contact Visitor Relations.
You’ll completely get a typical type response to your electronic mail, so don’t anticipate in any other case. Nonetheless, Walt Disney World management can even see the quantity of the complaints and the way it might negatively affect the underside line or visitor satisfaction amongst a profitable viewers. That could possibly be outcome-determinative in getting this coverage modified for extra than simply Canadian visitors.
Simply as Genie+ advanced over its first year-plus based mostly on visitor use and demand dynamics, so can also you anticipate Lightning Lane MultiPass and Single Cross to alter all through the remainder of this yr and int 2025–which means that all the things above is topic to alter. In different phrases, the “guidelines” and the way Lightning Lanes work will proceed to evolve and we are going to replace our suggestions accordingly.
We’ll proceed to maintain you posted, as extra adjustments are possible on the horizon. We’ll additionally proceed updating this FAQ as we study extra and we obtain extra reader questions. For now, this ought to reply many of the questions that readers have been asking about Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World. There have been numerous questions, so if we didn’t deal with yours, we apologize. Please publish within the feedback beneath and we’ll reply extra as they’re requested!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Lodges Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things that you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have any questions we didn’t reply with the above FAQ? Nonetheless confused by how Lightning Lane MultiPass or Single Cross will work? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Different ideas or considerations? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
