Hollywood Studios is the park with probably the most headliners and perfect moderate wait instances at Walt Disney International, making line-skipping particularly treasured. With the release of the brand new Lightning Lane Multi Cross gadget, I made pre-arrival journey reservations and headed to DHS to check the paid FastPass carrier on a moderately-crowded day.
This was once if truth be told one in all a couple of box exams I’ve now completed of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross (LLMP) at Walt Disney International. “Sadly,” crowds had been even less than anticipated on a few the ones days, rendering them needless from the point of view of a publish like this. I do know, I do know…low wait instances is a great drawback to have! However now not when looking to take a look at technique and bring consultant effects for LLMP that’ll be remotely helpful for any individual visiting from October thru December.
I shouldn’t be shocked, nevertheless it seems that Walt Disney International’s pre-arrival pricing isn’t completely predictive of crowds. This isn’t the primary time their forecasts have overlooked the mark. For the ones questioning what I imply by means of this, mainly what I’ve completed thus far is goal the most costly days and do trying out on the ones. Finally, I did have good fortune at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and controlled to hit the park at the busiest day of this month (thus far).
Truthfully, even that isn’t pronouncing a lot. The day of my talk over with had a median wait time of 34 mins and a crowd point of four/10. I don’t wish to oversell it–this isn’t even remotely busy by means of Disney’s Hollywood Studios requirements. My private threshold for average crowds at DHS is round 40 mins, and 50 mins for prime crowds. On the other hand, the dimensions has shifted as crowds have bogged down around the board.
With that stated, don’t make the error of assuming Lightning Lane Multi Cross was once now not vital on these days as a result of the whole thing was once a walk-on or had low exact wait instances. On the contrary, there have been rides with wait instances exceeding an hour and a few fleeting cases of triple-digit waits.
In this 4/10 crowd point day at DHS, right here’s a rundown of moderate wait instances (all wait instances records is courtesy of thrill-data):
- Slinky Canine Sprint: 78 mins
- Megastar Wars Upward push of the Resistance: 60 mins
- Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster: 59 mins
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: 49 mins
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run: 46 mins
- Tower of Terror: 43 mins
- Toy Tale Mania: 42 mins
At more than a few issues, each and every unmarried any such rides had wait instances that had been over an hour lengthy. On the other hand, they all additionally had a lot more manageable wait instances over the process the day, too. All of it relies on whilst you hit each and every appeal.
Nonetheless, it sort of feels like Walt Disney International lovers have unrealistic expectancies for what “low crowds” method at DHS within the present generation. This wasn’t precisely a lifeless day–it simply wasn’t just about as dangerous as DHS can get all the way through the guts of the vacation season.
Finally, this photograph document walks you thru my step by step day the usage of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, with advance & identical day choices, what I achieved the usage of LLMP all the way through low to average crowd ranges (by means of 2024 requirements), and ideas on the finish about whether or not Lightning Lane Multi-Cross is definitely worth the cash at DHS.
Earlier than we get going, it’s vital to notice that that is merely my day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios the usage of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross. It’s now not a really helpful itinerary, traveling plan, or universally-applicable day that I might counsel replicating. Merely what I did over the process trying out LLMP all the way through an afternoon at DHS. For exact recommendation, see the next:
In case you’re looking to accomplish simply as a lot in an afternoon with out Lightning Lanes, savvy technique is needed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s the hardest park to excursion at Walt Disney International. There’s no magical system for napping in, rolling as much as the park a pair hours after rope drop, now not purchasing Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, playing the park in a leisurely method, and conducting the whole thing.
Anyway, let’s transfer alongside to my day the usage of Lightning Lane Multi Cross at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
I had an on-site cut up keep, which enabled me to buy Lightning Lane Multi Cross seven days previous to the beginning of my complete commute. With cut up remains, there’s at all times the opportunity of issues, however those had been related in My Disney Revel in and I had no problems by any means. Nonetheless, I nonetheless waited till the 7-day mark as different items of my making plans fell into position.
In consequence, I didn’t have each and every go back time choice to be had to me. Preferably, I might’ve sought after to knock out Slinky Canine Sprint first and had slight overlap on all of my go back instances. Slinky Canine Sprint first is each for the sake of comfort (I love doing Early Access in Megastar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Tale Land) and potency (Slinky Canine Sprint will get an extended line even early on).
Lightning Lane Multi Cross is a little bit of a balancing act. In an effort to “run the desk” on headliner Lightning Lanes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’s most often crucial to stack your bookings within the 9 am, 10 am, and 11 am hour. That is because of the ‘rolling 3 rule,’ which lets you at all times have 3 Lightning Lanes booked–and to be able to e-book extra, you first want to redeem one thing. You’re thus incentivized to attempt for previous go back instances so you’ll be able to e-book next choices.
The issue with this means is that very first thing within the morning is ceaselessly when standby strains are the shortest–so you wish to have to go back early, however now not too early when it’s good to be knocking out rides with brief strains by the use of standby. That is why a large number of lovers cherished Genie+ and its stacking laws.
Rapid-forward to the day of my talk over with to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After tapping into my first Lightning Lane (Tower of Terror), I instantly booked my subsequent Lightning Lane. The most suitable choice at this level was once Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
You’ll be aware within the screenshot above that my go back time for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is 10:45 am to 11:45 am. I’m now not this fortunate. My preliminary go back time was once early afternoon, however I performed the refresh sport till I used to be happy with a greater go back time.
This may additionally paintings neatly with my itinerary if I had been looking to reduce backtracking. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a in point of fact small footprint as when put next the opposite parks, so I don’t thoughts some backtracking, nevertheless it’s nonetheless great to knock out two within reach sights in fast succession.
Earlier than any individual bemoans having your face in a display with LLMP, my tough “rule” for enjoying the refresh sport is proscribing it to my time within the Lightning Lane go back line after tapping in. This implies I’ve any place from 2 mins to ten mins–all of it will depend on whether or not there are two faucet issues, the place merge happens, and so forth. Tower of Terror permits for extra time since there’s queue after the pre-show. Finally, it took perhaps 90 seconds of refreshing earlier than I scored that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run go back.
After tapping into Toy Tale Mania and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, I booked Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Those go back instances if truth be told would’ve labored neatly with my time table. In principle, I may’ve completed level presentations or non-headliners at DHS to kill time all the way through the center of the day. In reality, I used to be nonetheless doing Meals & Wine Competition taste-testing, so I may Park Jump over to EPCOT to try this for lunch earlier than returning for afternoon and night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Something value noting is that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run didn’t have an extended line in any respect. The posted wait time was once half-hour, however I’m guessing the true was once nearer to 10-Quarter-hour. On slower days, I’ve spotted that journey reservation refills at Walt Disney International observe with posted wait instances.
Which means that if wait instances drop or spike, Lightning Lane stock adjusts accordingly, additionally going up or down, and pushing go back instances later or shifting them ahead. A minimum of, that is my principle–corroborated by means of dozens of days of use (and plenty of extra of statement). That is not anything new–it’s how Fastpass+ and Genie+ additionally labored.
That’s in point of fact one of the vital giant variations between slower and busier day at DHS. Whilst each are going to have hour-plus wait instances for the headliners, the crowded day goes to have even worse wait instances. No marvel there.
Extra vital from the Lightning Lane point of view is that almost all sights received’t run out of journey reservations till very past due on a gradual day. There’s a ‘tipping level’ of varieties on less-busy days the place clients of LLMP falls under the entire allotted capability for Lightning Lanes, and makes it in point of fact simple for many sights as long as you e-book early and ceaselessly by the use of the rolling 3 rule. This was once a type of days.
Tangentially comparable, this is a part of the genius (for Disney) in shifting from Genie+ to the pre-arrival Lightning Lane Multi Cross. Beneath the previous same-day gadget, visitors visiting all the way through slower seasons (like presently!) would possibly use Genie+ at some point, understand it was once useless after seeing/experiencing some standby strains, and now not purchase it all the way through next days in their commute.
Beneath Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, many visitors will acquire for each and every unmarried day in their holiday prematurely, earlier than even experiencing the ‘appears like’ crowds or wait instances. They’ll purchase as a hedge or because of concern, uncertainty and doubt…even supposing they wouldn’t have bought Genie+ in the similar instances. (Simply one thing to imagine in the event you’re visiting on borderline dates and are at the fence about Lightning Lane Multi Cross!)
After doing Slinky Canine Sprint, I used to be successfully completed with Lightning Lane Multi Cross at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I had already gotten each and every journey reservation I sought after, and re-rides aren’t imaginable. However I’m a completionist, so I booked Alien Swirling Saucers for some/no explanation why. I had no intentions of using it, simply were given it to end up I may, I assume.
That’s most probably the similar explanation why I changed my Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Go back time, shifting it ahead 15 entire mins, from 3:30 pm to three:15 pm. Overall gamechanger. This does illustrate the most important level: Lightning Lane Multi Cross tries to keep away from overlapping plans (see the caution) and the car effects it offers you when pre-booking will most often now not have any overlap.
On the other hand, you’ll be able to override this (to the level imaginable) by means of editing prematurely. The knowledge of doing that is controversial. Once more, you wish to have as a way to perform a little rides by the use of standby very first thing within the morning, so returning ASAP isn’t at all times the most efficient technique. It’s a steadiness.
There’s 0 problem to overlapping within the afternoon when standby strains are at their longest. By means of default, the gadget will nonetheless attempt to save you this from taking place. I most often adjust and feature important overlap until there’s a distinct explanation why to not (rides on reverse aspects of the park, starvation, sundown pictures, and so forth).
As a reminder, it’s imaginable to go into the Lightning Lane as much as 5 mins early or Quarter-hour past due. There is not any want to ask for a Solid Member’s permission to try this–it doesn’t require a pc override. If anything else, asking a CM would possibly lead to confusion, because it’s imaginable they may not learn about this Lightning Lane “rule.” (No knock at them–there’s method an excessive amount of to stay observe of with Genie!)
Once more, my unique plan was once to move to EPCOT for lunch and go back to DHS. On the other hand, I noticed previous availability for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster pop up, so I changed my time and grabbed that. I’m making some degree of looking at MuppetVision 3-d as ceaselessly as imaginable (for obtrusive causes), so I did that whilst looking ahead to my go back time.
Whilst looking ahead to MuppetVision, I opted to thrust back my Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway go back time so I didn’t need to get again to DHS from EPCOT somewhat as early. (Once more, I had no intentions of using Alien Swirling Saucers. That’s only a trophy Lightning Lane.) Although I deliberate on reserving Lightning Lane Multi Passes at EPCOT (and I did!), there was once little problem to doing this since I’d have open slots from each RnRc and ASS. There’s no method I used to be scoring 3 profitable LLMPs at EPCOT, so now not having that vacant spot didn’t harm me in any respect.
That is as excellent of time as any to proportion my refresh technique, which goes to the adjust display after which toggling the “shut” dropdown to refresh instances. Examine the left and proper, the latter of which presentations pop-up availability for 4:25 pm that wasn’t there 2 mins previous. In my revel in, toggling this “shut” dropdown is the best strategy to play the refresh sport. YMMV.
Rapid-forward to afternoon and night, and wait instances throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios had been considerably less than once I left for EPCOT. My Lightning Lane for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was once helpful, however slightly. I’m making a bet it stored me 10 mins, tops.
All waits had been minimum by means of 6 pm or so. Megastar Wars: Upward push of the Resistance, which I had additionally completed all the way through Early Access, had a posted wait time of 25 mins and was once if truth be told a walk-on. On slower evenings when downtime isn’t dangerous, a posted wait time beneath an hour ceaselessly method close to walk-on standing. (On the finish of the night time, it was once handiest 10 mins–that’s an extraordinary posted wait time to peer for RotR!)
It was once a an identical tale with Slinky Canine Sprint. This had a posted wait time, however one have a look at the queues led me to imagine the wait time was once about part of that. The standby line right here later within the night advantages from LLMP customers leaving, doing dinner, or choosing Fantasmic as a substitute in their Lightning Lane reservations.
In the long run, I stopped up the usage of Lightning Lane Multi Cross to safe all 4 most sensible tier Lightning Lane choices and the one two profitable 2d tier sights all the way through this 4/10 crowd day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (I additionally booked 3 at EPCOT: Soarin, Dwelling with the Land, and Spaceship Earth.) I most probably may’ve scored 10+ Lightning Lanes had I additionally completed the useless ones for level presentations.
Going by means of posted wait instances all the way through my go back home windows, I stored over 3 hours ready in line at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (plus every other hour or so at EPCOT). This was once if truth be told down significantly from my remaining time trying out Genie+ on a an identical day at DHS, and that’s virtually completely as a result of I pre-booked a number of journey reservations previous within the day once I differently would’ve most well-liked to be doing sights by the use of standby. In contrast, I ceaselessly discovered myself stacking by means of default at DHS and the usage of the 120 minute rule beneath the previous gadget.
3 hours stored goes to be sufficient to make Lightning Lane Multi Cross definitely worth the cash to the typical vacationer. In fact, that period of time financial savings assumes posted wait instances are correct (they aren’t) and that I might’ve waited in standby strains at an identical instances as my LLMP returns (I might now not).
I may’ve gotten so much completed by the use of standby all the way through Early Access and at rope drop, and in addition been competitive with standby strains on the finish of the night. With that stated, the usage of Lightning Lane Multi Cross was once the extra laid again choice for these days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Lightning Lane Multi-Cross allowed me to not fear over wait instances or rigidity about conducting the whole thing in an effective order. I didn’t do a lot backtracking or refreshing, and knocking out such a lot of sights previous within the day allowed me to have a leisurely night.
Briefly, LLMP this was once the very best way to this actual day at DHS. That received’t at all times be the case. On busier days, my choice is Early Access and staying past due and doing standby as soon as the crowds begin to subside. There are more than one “answers” to beating crowds and no one-size-fits-all solution. Now and again, it if truth be told will take a couple of–that means Early Access plus Lightning Lane Multi Cross.
Fortunately, Lightning Lane Multi-Cross doesn’t essentially want to contain over the top display time, frantic refreshing, or criss-crossing the park more than one instances. Whilst there are downsides as opposed to Genie+ (particularly with the best way I care to do issues at DHS), the facility to reach with 3 journey reservations in hand provides super peace of thoughts (and also will be offering strategic merit–particularly when it’s busier). Optimistically these days illustrates that LLMP is usually a excellent software to have on your ‘park traveling equipment’ to be used when vital or suitable.
For more information and solutions to commonplace questions, see our Information to Lightning Lane Multi Cross Walt Disney International. We’ve already up to date that a number of instances, and it’s a super leaping off level in the event you’re perplexed, crushed…or absolutely perceive the gadget, however need some next-level approach to higher leverage LLMP.
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Your Ideas
Ideas on my day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios the usage of Lightning Lane Multi Cross? Would this be sufficient time financial savings so that you can be happy with LLMP? Are you making plans on the usage of Lightning Lanes or sticking to unfastened standby strains at DHS? Favor Early Access, LLMP, or finish of day at DHS? Do you settle or disagree with my evaluate? Any questions we will mean you can solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
