Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Because there's far too much to see and do. We're here to help guide you through. We are a married couple with two boys age 9 and 6 talking all things Disney World. This podcast will cover the tips and tricks we've learned along our journey, history of the parks and attractions, and most importantly why and how Disney makes us feel how we do while in the parks and that it's ok to feel that way.
Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Episode #194: Time vs. Storytelling: What You Sacrifice When You Pay to Skip The Queues in Walt Disney World
The return of Disney's paid "skip the line" options has sparked heated debates among parkgoers, and for good reason. We're diving deep into the true value proposition of Lightning Lane single passes – those individually purchased front-of-line privileges ranging from $12-25 per attraction.
Beyond simple time-versus-money calculations lies a more profound question: What experiences are you sacrificing when you bypass Disney's meticulously crafted queues? For Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, that interactive gem-sorting and barrel-spinning queue tells half the story. Skip it, and you might wonder why the brief coaster commands such steep prices. Meanwhile, at $20 per person, Tron Light Cycle Run's Lightning Lane represents the clearest value – minimal storytelling lost for substantial time saved.
The most fascinating case studies emerge at attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, where the queue itself is essentially a fully realized Epcot pavilion celebrating Xandarian culture. First-time visitors who bypass this immersive experience miss crucial narrative elements that make the attraction truly special, including delightful nods to extinct attractions that occupied the same space decades ago.
We break down each major attraction's Lightning Lane offering, considering wait times, prices, and – most importantly – what storytelling elements you miss by skipping straight to boarding. For families with dining reservations, multiple park days, or specific priorities, these decisions become even more nuanced. Our recommendation for Flight of Passage particularly stands out: purchase the Lightning Lane for guaranteed access, but also experience the breathtaking bioluminescent queue by entering standby just before park closing, when actual waits drop dramatically.
Whether you're calculating cost against time saved or prioritizing Disney's legendary immersive storytelling, we've got the insights to help you make smarter Lightning Lane decisions for your next vacation. Ready to maximize both your time and experience at Disney? Listen now!
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Hello and welcome to Circle of Parks podcast episode number 194. Today we are discussing if Lightning Lane single passes are worth the price. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that we must talk Disney merch. So this week Disney merch is not quite available yet, but April 4th it will be available to everyone. Lego is putting out a Beauty and the Beast Beast Castle.
Speaker 2:Saw this coming.
Speaker 1:And it is fantastic. A friend of ours sent me a video about it several days ago and oh my goodness, the details. It's a lot like that big Disney World castle that one of our sons has. There's so much detail in it. This one is going to have, you know, the West Wing, the ballroom, like all the rooms in the Beast's castle, the characters you know, even Belle's father, of course, lumiere Cogsworth, belle, beast Chip, mrsrs potts, and more. So. Uh, it is just yeah, yeah, like. Uh, this will be one that I may be getting for myself and figuring how out how to build myself. Usually it's zach and the boys building um. So I am counting down a little bit till april 4th for this, and that is this week's Disney merch.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we may be getting that and figuring out where to put it in our mess of an office slash recording studio, slash second spare bedroom, slash junk room.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:But we do like one side is excuse me, one side of our recording room and office is where I do my writing at as well. It's really well themed, we got some soundproofing stuff and we got some Disney stuff, and the other side is like the rest of the room just threw up on it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's just a mess.
Speaker 1:I mean, I've got ideas for it, you just don't want to.
Speaker 2:It takes time and money.
Speaker 1:Well, and you don't want to. I think you have some sentimental value to some stuff too.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah, yeah, anyway, all right, thank you everybody for joining us. Episode number 194. Are Lightning Lane single passes worth it? And you may be saying to yourself, yes, in the show, right, but we're going to maybe convince you otherwise. I don't know.
Speaker 1:We'll see.
Speaker 2:We'll see, but if you're new here, I you otherwise.
Speaker 1:I don't know. We'll see, we'll see.
Speaker 2:But if you're new here, I'm Zach, I'm Brittany and we do this show every single week and we thank you for joining us. Our goals are to one just break your daily mundane week up. I'm not saying your week is mundane, but just your week. Take you to Disney. Hopefully you'll learn something, hopefully we learn something and Hopefully you'll learn something, hopefully we learned something. And just to kind of help you relax and take you to the parks for a week helps us. When we record it. We hope it helps you and then we also hope to help you have a better Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation. Are his lightning single passes worth it? Maybe not, I don't know. We're going to have this discussion and you'll probably be screaming at us in the car or when you're out working out or walking or wherever you're listening to us going. Yes, of course they are. Time is money, well, but you're also here for the experience and storytelling as well.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So we're going to get into these. And really, what is the Lightning Lane single pass? We haven't really talked much about it because I don't think we've fully understood them as well. Right this is what the fourth iteration of Skip the Line.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because it started out with the paper fast passes, which you had to go up to the kiosks to get a paper fast pass with the return time.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Then they went to fast pass plus, which you had to do. What was? It's like 120 days, 180 days out, right?
Speaker 1:uh, because we only did that once or two.
Speaker 2:Erica would know erica would know, um, and then you could only have three, but they were free. And then, after you selected those three, your day in the park you could pick more if they were available. And then they went to nothing when covid happened, and that was right around five years ago. And then they went to nothing when covid happened, and that was right around five years ago. And then they went to the lightning lanes.
Speaker 2:Yes, genie, genie plus lightning and now we have this, which is a multi-pass, in the single pass and then they have the premier pass, which is no select times, just go when you want, and that's a whole other thing. I know we're getting confused. So we're just talking about the Lightning Lane single passes today, so they're separate from the multi-pass and are paid to skip the line at the most in-demand attractions. You can purchase up to two single passes per day, subject to availability. With Lightning Lane single passes, guests can choose their experience and arrival windows. Guests that are staying at Disney Resort Hotels and other select Good Neighbor Hotels can purchase Lightning Lane single passes starting seven days out before their first day of their resort day, for the length of the stay, up to 14 days and three days in advance for all other guests. So if you're staying on property or at a good neighbor hotel, you can get these seven days before.
Speaker 1:Correct.
Speaker 2:And Erica can take care of that for you as well.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:If you're staying off property or you're an annual pass holder not staying on the property three days in advance. So most of the in-demand ones you may not get them three days out.
Speaker 1:Right, because you have so many people giving them seven days.
Speaker 2:yes, and again, travel planner erica can do these for you. If you're using her, highly recommend that you do it. You ain't gonna wake up at seven o'clock eastern time to do it, which is six o'clock our time, and if you're on the west coast, that's early.
Speaker 2:Yes, so time is money. Are they worth it? If you're just looking at it from a time is money standpoint, yes, but you're paying thousands and thousands of dollars to come get the full experience in walt disney world. So I don't know if they are, because you're missing out on a lot of the queue and storytelling for these attractions.
Speaker 1:That help you get prepared for the ride? Basically yes. So you know, I don't think it really just depends on your trip and your family too.
Speaker 2:It does. And I go back to our when we went during the COVID times.
Speaker 1:COVID era.
Speaker 2:Excuse me, allergies here in Tennessee are just a mess. So there was no fast pass, there was no lightning lane, there was nothing. We all had to wait in the queue. Now the crowds weren't what they are now, but I go back to that trip and I think that was a maybe one of the best trips we've ever taken, because we knew we were going to have to wait in lines for these attractions and we didn't mind it, we accepted it and I think we had a better overall vacation because we weren't. Oh, we gotta do this next. We gotta do this next with this time is we have this for this time and this for?
Speaker 1:that time, right, there was none of that, none of it. But again, the parks weren't as crowded either. So I think that that just helped all of it kind of flow better, you know. So I mean, I'm going to be one of those, I'm going to get both sides of this and this episode is not going to give a definitive yes or no.
Speaker 2:Well, I am going to give yes or no definitively, with caveats though. Okay, so let's go to Magic Kingdom, and the first one we're going to talk about is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. There are two single pass lightning lanes available here. Single dwarfs mine train is one of them. Britney, tell us a little bit about seven dwarfs mine train yes, so seven dwarfs mine train.
Speaker 1:Of course, think of snow white and the seven dwarfs. You know this is a really cool ride. You're racing through the diamond mine and you're swaying. It's a family roller coaster. The height requirement is 38 inches or taller. It is fun for kids, teens and adults. There are some small drops. You know, think hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work. You go because you're inside an age old mountain. You're, you know, on a rustic mine train. You see, you're in the scenes when they're, when the dwarfs are, you know, digging for jewels and everything, singing the hi ho song. You know, at the end you're getting a glimpse of, like the cottage in the. You know the the evil witch, I guess you could say. And it's just, I don't know. I like the theming. It is definitely themed really well. The queue itself has a lot of interactive elements. We've talked about it before.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And so, yeah, I think it's a fun attraction. This is where most people for like rope drop are going to be heading as well so I'm currently looking at the wait time.
Speaker 2:Right now it is saturday, march 8th. Spring break is hitting. It is now becoming spring break for the next month in walt disney world. If you're going, pack your patient pants, it's going to be crowded. Current wait time 60 minutes. Saturday, march 8th, at it's 1115 in Magic. Not bad for this time. 60 minutes is about what you would expect, and I'm looking at the Lightning Lane single pass to purchase. It is currently sold out for today, but we're looking seven days out, so we're looking at March 15th. Saturday, march 15th. It's $12 per guest, so we're going to go based on that price. Brittany is $12 per guest. Worth the price to skip this line.
Speaker 1:With a 60 minute wait. This one is tough, like part of those interactive elements in the line queue is. You know you're like jewel sorting and washing them with water spigots and, uh, you know you come across a collection of barrels that are overflowing with stones and you can turn the barrels and watch the ceiling above you that's what I like. It tells the story, you know so when you, if you purchase this to skip the line, you're missing all of all of it, you know it, which I mean if you're, if you are, I just want to ride, ride, ride, ride.
Speaker 1:Then, and you don't care about the story building up, then be ready for this ride to be over and done very quick.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Again, it is a very cute attraction. I enjoy riding it, but it is a short ride. The length of the ride is not very long. Personally, I wouldn't wait If this was like you know, if our family thoroughly loved this ride and everything like where the wait time is saying today, 60 minutes 60 minutes right now. I wouldn't wait any more than that for it.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you're saying it is not worth the $12 price?
Speaker 1:But see, when you first said $12, I'm like, oh, that's not bad. That's not bad, because we hear some of these prices really getting hyped up.
Speaker 2:I'm going to get to some more here. So $12, and we're just going to say for a family of four. So we're looking at, do the math $56.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's not $56. No, 12 times 4 is $48.
Speaker 2:$48. $48 to skip $48 is $48 worth 60 minutes of your time.
Speaker 1:And again, I think it just depends on you and your family. If you're like we're getting in all the rides, then yes, you need to skip waiting.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:You know. But if you really want to get the true full story and see all these interactive elements, then I think 60 minutes for this particular ride isn't bad, because we have seen it get an hour and a half. You know 90 minutes and stuff. So this episode for me again is hard, because I'm not going to give you a definite yes or no, because I see both sides of it and I think it just really depends on you and your family.
Speaker 1:But if you are maybe doing like two days, like at at magic kingdom, then I say I say wait well and then if, but if this is your like only time going, and you're trying to experience as much of the rides, like all the rides, um, then I say, yes, twelve dollars is worth it.
Speaker 2:That's really not that bad to pay individually well, and that's the purpose of this episode is to get you to think about it, right. What is your situation, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So, on the face of it, $12 to save, $12 per person to save 60 minutes yes, if you're looking at a time cost analysis, that is worth the money. Yeah, if you look at it that way, if you're just, if it's our family, I think it is worth it because we've done the Q before, right, it is worth it to us. Now, if you have smaller kids, you're not going to be going boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, right, you're just not. I remember when the kids were smaller, we went with my brother and sister-in-law. They had a small one. We were slow, we did not hit attraction to attraction to attraction.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So it slowed us down and I think if you're doing this as your kid's first coaster, you're not going to be doing a Space Mountain right after this, you're not going to Tron, you're not doing this, you're not doing that, you're doing an attraction and you're taking your time Right. So I think if you're a family, this is your first time doing it. Your kids really want to be in the store and you really want to see this cute interactive elements. I do not think it is worth the 12. I think you need to get the experience of this attraction, the full experience, with the queue yeah that's my opinion.
Speaker 2:If it's us just our family going, then we're going to pay the 12 at this point at this point, but we've done the queue. If you haven't done the queue, or maybe your kids love the queue and want to do it, then it is worth the 60 minutes.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I it's. 60 minutes is what we waited when we went during COVID times.
Speaker 1:And you know, besides the interactive elements too, there's other things that you can do. Disney related to to spend that hour.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:So when you're not in the exact location of the interactive elements, there are things on like different disney disney play apps.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that can keep you entertained and the queue does a really good job. Before you get into the interactive elements, putting you into the forest yes, this is a very well done attraction, well done queue. So I think it is again what is it for your family?
Speaker 1:I think it may not be worth it yeah, but if it's us, we're gonna do it probably yeah, I think it just again depends on if you're a go, go, go, let's get it all in. You know this is our only day, kind of thing, or if you are there multiple days and you can spread your time out a little more. I think it just comes down to all those different elements. Or if you have a kid that after 10 minutes hates waiting in a line and completely spazzes out you might want to pay and not wait.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, all right. Moving on Tron Light Cycle Run. Brittany, tell us about Tron.
Speaker 1:Yes, so the Tron Light Cy cycle run. First of all, the height you need to be 48 inches or taller. This is one of the tallest height requirements in the parks and that is very important because, well, tell them a little bit about how you sit in it.
Speaker 2:It's like a motorbike. You're sitting like you're leaning over like this motorbike, and you're strapped in with your back and your legs and everything. So it is awkward and it is different than anything else you've ever done.
Speaker 1:Right, and that's why you need to be that certain height requirement too. So you like anywhere, you need to sit in it properly. But this one, just the setup of it. It's even more important.
Speaker 2:And they have a thing out front before you get in the queue if you can fit in or not, and if you're comfortable on it and whatnot. Right, right, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yes, so you are ready set. Launch into the exhilarating world of the grid at Tron. Leave the real world behind. Join Team Blue in a quest across the grid, the dark, computerized world with no horizons. From tron here, there's no limit to the excitement. Uh, you know, you're climbing aboard your very own light cycle. Take off a on a high speed adventure, racing against the grid's most menacing programs. Surge past your fierce opponents as you attempt to cross through eight energy gates and secure your team's victory. And I haven't ridden it, but that takeoff, that launch, looks pretty fast it is awesome now.
Speaker 2:Um so so you haven't ridden it, so you're not going to comment on if it's worth the price or not, right?
Speaker 2:no, but I might add a few little tips okay uh, this is one that I'm going to say yes, definitely worth the price. I'm looking at march 15th, a week from today. Twenty dollars now. Twenty dollars to skip this line. That is pretty expensive and it's one of the most expensive ones we're going to talk about today. I'm currently looking at the wait time it is 60 minutes. I am saying this is worth the price for several reasons. One, this queue sucks. It just does. There is no real storytelling to this queue, so you're not experiencing really anything.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Two, there is really no storytelling to this whole attraction, it's mainly just. It's based on the movie right, and if you were racing a like the, the yellow one, that's fine, but you're racing it virtually, you're not racing another at the same at the same time.
Speaker 2:So that might would make the storytelling a little bit better, right, but? But I can imagine the cost would have been, yeah, astronomical. So again, yes, you're in trump, but the storytelling here there's not really good storytelling and the queue just sucks. So I'm going to tell it right out now. It is worth the price.
Speaker 1:Skip this queue, pay the twenty dollars and when you can book it, book it for nighttime, yeah well, and I don't know about recently, but I know, like in the past, that that wait time always, like some of the wait times that are posted, you don't wait that long, you're waiting.
Speaker 2:This one, you're probably going to wait less.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I've heard a lot of people say you are waiting that full time or even longer.
Speaker 2:It is. With that being said, I love this attraction. It is a really awesome roller coaster, but again, I'm all about the storytelling, the queue, all that. With that being said, I love this attraction. It is a thrilling, awesome roller coaster, but again, I'm all about the storytelling, the queue, all that. It is not. They didn't. This just misses the whole mark on that right but it is a great coaster. That's why it was number two or three two on my list yeah, and the coaster itself is is pretty short it is a short coaster.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's about about a minute yeah.
Speaker 1:So this I again. I haven't ridden it, but based on things I've heard, not just from zach but other people, uh, I would think it's worth the price.
Speaker 2:Yeah it is worth the price. I'm gonna say it right now. I'm not even gonna give you a well maybe. No, this is definitely worth the price, right? So all right, we're gonna move on to epcot, and epcotcot only has one Excuse me.
Speaker 1:And I thought I'd be the one struggling more.
Speaker 2:Epcot only has one single pass, and it is Guardians of the Galaxy. Cosmic Rewind. Brittany, why don't you tell us about this attraction?
Speaker 1:Yes, so this one doesn't have quite as tall of a height requirement, but you still need to be 42 inches or taller. It's going to be dark, a thrill ride. You know you're taking off on an intergalactic chase through space and time with the Guardians of the Galaxy. You're rocking out, you know you don't know what song you're going to get. I think there's what? Five different songs.
Speaker 2:Five different songs. Yes, Right.
Speaker 1:So you don't know which song you're going to have each time you ride it, until the ride starts and you know it's a family thrill attraction, features the first ever reverse launch on a disney coaster and is one of the largest fully enclosed coasters in the world. Uh, an innovation from walt disney imagineering. This coaster rotates 360 degrees so you can focus on the action. So it is turning you where it wants you to look and that is very important. A world beyond belief. You begin your adventure by touring the galaxy.
Speaker 2:Galaxarium. Thank you, you're welcome.
Speaker 1:A planetarium like exhibition, showcasing the similarities and differences between Xandar and Earth's galaxies the similarities and differences between Xandar and Earth's galaxies. You'll even get to discover some of the incredible wonders of Xandar and learn about their technology.
Speaker 2:Xandar- Xandar, sorry, it's okay.
Speaker 1:An extraterrestrial escapade. So just as you're about to reach the culmination of the tour, everything goes sideways and you are called into action to help the Guardians join rocket Groot, gamora and star Lord on an urgent mission where you'll rewind, rotate and head towards the action through an exciting space pursuit. So this, like leading up to it I've written it once and it is a very thorough, detailed cue yes, a lot to look at. I think it was very well done. Zach can go into a lot more detail.
Speaker 2:Oh, I will.
Speaker 1:But it is, you know, like there's just a lot there's. You know, every turn you take there's something to look at, something to really study and pick up on things that are in it, even things that are kind of like Easter eggs and stuff, you know. So, yeah, I don't know this one.
Speaker 2:I think this helps build. Do you want to know the wait time versus the cost?
Speaker 1:What's the wait time?
Speaker 2:Current wait time on March 8th right now, 75 minutes. That's a long time. However, when we have had virtual queues.
Speaker 1:We've waited this long yeah for the virtual queues yeah you want how much it cost this is gonna be high, like probably higher than tron 19 so a dollar less than tron, so 19.
Speaker 2:So we're paying for a family of four. Let's just say 80 bucks To save 75 minutes in Epcot.
Speaker 1:Again, I think it's going to be one of those that depends on your family, because there is a lot to keep you busy while you're waiting in line. There is a lot yes, you know, and if you're visiting in the summer, you're out of the heat. Well, at least once you're in in line. There is a lot. Yes, you know, and if you're, if you're visiting in the summer, you're out of the heat. Well, at least once you're in the main building. I don't know how the lines are now.
Speaker 2:The extended queue is built outside, but they have a lot of covered shade for it. So they have a lot of you're covered pretty much.
Speaker 1:And then, once you know summertime anyway, like it's getting you out of the heat for a while and again there's a lot to look at. Now, if you're in that outside queue, there's not a lot.
Speaker 2:No, they're just switchbacks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but once you're in the building and you'll be in there for a bit, you know, I don't know Like, do you want to be out of the heat for a little while? Do you want to look at all the details of the line queue, you know, because I think it does kind of help build you into the ride.
Speaker 2:This was number one on my list for a reason. And this is the entire package in my opinion, From the queue to the ride, to the storytelling. They nailed it with this attraction $19 to save 75 minutes per person. Is it worth the price?
Speaker 1:yes and no yeah, I think, like in epcot I mean there there are several other attractions to ride and I think you can get them all in uh, but I think it also depends, maybe if you have like sit down reservations and stuff built into your day too, that's going to take up some time of your day. I think then that's when you might need to look at do I, do I need to pay to skip the line or not?
Speaker 1:maybe you know, because I think you can get all the other attractions in oh for sure uh, even with this weight right but I think if you're say you're eating, you know, maybe lunch and dinner somewhere or breakfast and dinner somewhere, that's going to be cutting into your time at epcot.
Speaker 2:So well, so I'm saying it's worth it. Yes, and no one. If you've never done this before, don't skip this line. You need to fully appreciate this attraction. You need to go through the queue because this is going. This is a nod to the old Epcot days, where there were pavilions. This is a Wonders of Zandar pavilion. You are learning about their culture and in the planet, not the what do you call it? Not the planetarium in the beginning, yeah, the planetarium?
Speaker 1:Well, it's a planetarium, but it was the galaxarium, the galaxarium.
Speaker 2:You're learning a lot and they're telling you the similarities between Terran which is what we're Terrans is what they call us and Xandar. And then, once you get out of that room, it's like a. It's like a World's Fair type of display for Xandar. You're learning about their culture, waltz in the queue I mean come on. But you have Star-Lord talking about. He's wanting to come back to the 80s version of Epcot with Veggie, veggie, fruit, fruit and seeing Horizons. And Universe of Energy, which is this building that you're in right now, the former Universe of Energy building, and the whole story is based on this queue. You miss so much of this attraction if you skip this queue and then if you do skip the queue but you do still have to go to the pre-shows.
Speaker 2:So you are still getting some of the storytelling Right, but if you've never done this attraction, you need to do this queue do still have to go to the pre-shows, so you are still getting some of the storytelling right, but if you've never done this attraction, you need to do this queue. It is a great queue. You're missing a lot of the storytelling. If you've done it before, then, yes, skip the queue yeah we've done it before.
Speaker 2:It's worth it for us to skip the queue, but if you've never done it before, I think you need to do the queue. You have to wait in it. The storytelling storytelling is just it's. They nailed it, they really did.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That's my opinion.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So again, you know it. I think it just really depends to like I was even throwing out there yes, if you've never experienced it, I agree with Zach Like you need to go through it. But I think you also need to see, like, what your other plans are during the day. Like if you're just eating, like the food booths and stuff at a festival, you know you're going to have time to still do that. You're going to have time to ride the other rides, walk through other attractions, if you are there all day. But I think if you end up doing like some sit down restaurants and stuff, and especially more than one, that's where it cuts into your time Right, All right.
Speaker 2:So if you want to book these lightning single passes, let's take a listen to our sponsor. Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming, but that's where our new sponsor comes in. You've heard us talk about her for a long time and now she's the official sponsor of this podcast Travel planner Erica with Wishes Code Travel Planning. As a travel planner specializing in Disney destinations, she takes care of every detail, from finding the best resort options for your family booking, dining reservations to park strategies, and now offers a special lightning-ling booking service to your park days. She truly offers top-tier service from start to finish, and the best part is her planning services are free when you book your room and ticket package with her.
Speaker 1:We're thrilled to have Travel Planner Erica as the official sponsor of this podcast, and exclusively for Circle of Parks listeners. When you plan your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation or your next run Disney racecation with Erica, you'll receive a Disney gift card based on the value of your trip on your arrival day to put towards your Disney snacks.
Speaker 2:So if you're dreaming of a magical Disney trip, she's the expert you want on your side, ready to plan. Reach out to Erica at TravelPlannerEricacom or follow her on Facebook and Instagram at Travel Planner. Erica dot com. Or follow her on Facebook and Instagram at Travel Planner.
Speaker 1:Erica yeah.
Speaker 2:Travel Planner Erica is probably screaming at us right now with what we're saying, because to her time is money and they are when they go. They go there, they're hitting everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:There is no stopping them so, and they also have a podcast. Go check them out at Once Upon a Park Podcast. They do a lot of news, a lot of tips and tricks, and it's her husband, johnny, and her, and they do a really great job of explaining things and they have very different opinions than we do yes, and it's a great podcast.
Speaker 2:Go check them out. Once Upon a Park Podcast as well. All right, so we're moving on to Star Wars Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios. Now, Brittany, do you think this is worth? Oh, it is currently down, right now too.
Speaker 1:Oh, well when it goes down. It's that kind of can change things a little bit. But first off let me give a little information 40 inches or taller height requirement. You're joining the resistance in an unforgettable battle against the first order on this exciting ride. This is an attraction within an attraction within an attraction, I think.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:You know it is impressive. You know it's just multiple ride systems are used. It's you really feel like you are in the movies, like I mean they put you in to feeling like oh, I better listen to them. Oh yes, ma'am, you know kind of thing.
Speaker 2:And I like to get snippy with them.
Speaker 1:And you know you are like've. I've been on here with some people that think the first part of this attraction is the ride and it's like, oh no, we're just getting started. You know, I mean, there's just so many elements to it and stuff. Um, I don't know when it down, you can time it right sometimes and just catch it right when they open back up. We've done that and been like a walk-on.
Speaker 2:That was at Disneyland. Well, yeah, but the same thing works here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's the same, though. If you happen to just be walking by and all of a sudden, nope, it's back up and running, bam, you can be one of the first ones to ride it. But then there are times that that it doesn't get as long of a wait as it used to either yeah, uh, you know, when I just randomly look sometimes I mean, yes, on some busier days you're going to be waiting over an hour, but then on other days I've seen it at like 45 minutes.
Speaker 2:Um so let's go with an average time. Let's say so smugglers run right down with 65 minutes, so let's just go with 65 minutes as the wait time okay, so when you skip the line, where are you entering? You get right into the show with Ray and BB-8.
Speaker 1:I think that's fine, you go right there.
Speaker 2:I think that's fine, honestly you want to know how much it costs.
Speaker 1:Like what $25?
Speaker 2:$25 per person to skip this line. That's the most expensive so far.
Speaker 1:Leading up to that point. For me, there's not enough to keep me entertained.
Speaker 2:So you think it is worth the price entertained, so you think it is worth the price.
Speaker 1:For this ride, to be sure that, guys, if you are in Hollywood Studios and I am not a huge Star Wars fan, but you've got to ride this ride- this is a must ride. So if it's one of those like the only way you can squeeze it in your day is paying that much money, I think it's worth it. Uh, because I think if it's putting you in that pre-show where, like, ray's talking, you're getting right to that, yeah I think that. I think it's worth it, I agree this is 100.
Speaker 2:It's expensive, so we're looking at a hundred dollars for our family yeah the queue is not that good. You're just in the cave and you kind of walk through some switchbacks where they have like some weapons and some uniforms and stuff, but there's not a lot of storytelling in here, yeah that's why I was like there's not a lot of storytelling, there's not really like any interactive elements to it.
Speaker 1:Yeah so, as long as you're getting in that pre-show, that's where this experience truly starts, because I mean, the whole land itself is an experience. It is, you know. So I mean I think that in itself is building you up for the ride right, the queue is not.
Speaker 2:Building is not adding anything to this attraction. I don't think that you're not already getting within the land yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I think it is, it is worth it. Would I pay it on our next trip? Yes, we do, every single time.
Speaker 2:We have paid every single time for this, and it has single rider now as well, and I think this may be a good single rider attraction too for as long as yeah, for your family.
Speaker 1:You figure it out. I don't feel comfortable single rider with the boys on this ride for as long.
Speaker 2:You can get split up, yeah, yeah. Well, ryan's getting older, he wouldn't mind. But yeah, but Nolan may.
Speaker 1:If we like, thoroughly, thoroughly got split up. I mean, that's a good 20 minutes, not it's 20 minutes yeah. Knowing where he, I wouldn't feel comfortable.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I agree, this have to do it when you go to hollywood studios, actually when you go to walt disney world. This is a must ride. Yeah, it truly is, and this is up there you know, it's my excuse my second favorite attraction in walt disney world. It's a great attraction. They, they nailed it with this, except the queue it's mediocre but it's. It's just not adding anything to it yeah, but no but the ride itself again.
Speaker 1:I'm not huge on star wars and you know you're just wow, like everywhere you turn you know, even how many times have we written it now and I'm still at certain parts of it Like wow, Wow.
Speaker 2:Speaking of wow, let's move on to the next attraction, our favorite attraction in all of Walt Disney world. We're going to animal kingdom, the best park in Walt Disney world. Avatar flight of passage. Yeah, in Walt Disney.
Speaker 1:World.
Speaker 2:Avatar Flight of Passage. Yeah, tell us about Avatar.
Speaker 1:So Avatar Flight of Passage height requirement 44 inches or taller.
Speaker 2:They're strict on that too.
Speaker 1:They are strict because man, man, we learn, we, yes, and apparently throughout the day your height kind of shrinks.
Speaker 2:It does. We didn't know that.
Speaker 1:No, because several years ago Nolan, earlier in the day, had ridden Everest.
Speaker 2:I had photographic evidence.
Speaker 1:Same height requirement and he met it there but then at the end of the day did not meet it for Avatar. Flight of Passage.
Speaker 2:I had photographic evidence, I still wouldn't let him on.
Speaker 1:Yep. So anyway, keep that in mind. You're climbing atop a winged mountain Banshee for a breathtaking 3D flight over Pandora's otherworldly landscape and there are some 4D elements a little bit. Board your own mountain banshee, embark on a thrilling expedition where interstellar explorers like you get an up-close look at the moon's incredible landscape. Bonding with a banshee is a crucial step in the life of a Navi hunter on Pandora, and flying on the back of one of these powerful creatures is an important rite of passage. Now you'll finally have the chance to test yourself like a Navi, and it is just all-encompassing. I have been on it or we have been on it. Where you know, at the end of the ride, people are like oh, you know, because they didn't want it to come to an end either.
Speaker 1:And it's a lengthy ride. It's not like it's over quickly.
Speaker 2:It's like three minutes and 50 seconds.
Speaker 1:You know, but it's just. It's not enough. It needs to be like five minutes, but it is. I mean, they did a great job. It's just again. It's all-encompassing. We have waited in this line queue and we have done Lightning Lane.
Speaker 2:Do you want to know prices and wait times?
Speaker 1:What's the wait time?
Speaker 2:Current wait time 95 minutes. That's about average for it.
Speaker 1:Okay, and then the price $19.
Speaker 2:And you said 90 minutes 95 minutes.
Speaker 1:I'm not gonna wait 95 minutes what I'm not okay. I'm not okay, so we've we've ridden it several times, uh a lot the queue is amazing, so don't get me wrong. For us, I'm gonna throw a few different scenarios out. For us, I wouldn't wait that long and would skip the line, because you're still getting some pre-show stuff yeah, you have to go through the pre-show, yeah you're getting pre-show. You know you're. Yeah, you're getting the pre-show. The ride itself is amazing 90 minutes is a big chunk of a day.
Speaker 2:It's a big chunk, yeah, especially in Animal Kingdom because it's not open as late.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so keep that in mind. Also, like what I was saying earlier, if you have like dining reservations, that sit down places and stuff, you know, because that can easily turn into an hour and a half of your day also. So you know, depending on what time of day you get here and stuff, you know, hey, this might be where you want to rope drop, but if it's not, then you may want to go ahead and pay. You said $19?, $19. Yeah, you might want to go ahead and do that because there's still so much that helps build you up before you get to the actual ride. And then the ride itself is just so wonderful that you know I don't want you to miss out because you're like, oh, I can't wait that 90 minutes, but I could easily pay a little more money and get to ride it. Okay, yeah, now if you have the time, an hour and a half for this ride still isn't technically that bad.
Speaker 2:That's about average.
Speaker 1:You know. So if you don't have dining reservations, you're fine. Maybe not getting one of the shows here in you can skip finding nemo yeah, I mean you know then, then 90 minutes is okay if you don't have like dining reservations and you're fine skipping one of the shows. But other than that, I'm at that point where I don't know if I'd wait more than an hour, because I could just pay and skip.
Speaker 2:So it is worth the price.
Speaker 1:It is worth the price. It just depends on your day.
Speaker 2:I'm saying it is worth the price with asterisks. The cue here is phenomenal and it does tell a lot of the story.
Speaker 1:It is, but it's not going to hinder it either.
Speaker 2:No, it's not, but it is phenomenal, it is beautiful, it is so, but it's not going to hinder it either. No, it's not, but it is phenomenal, it is beautiful. It is so well done. And I'm going to answer right now. Is it worth the price? Yes and no. Here's what we do. We don't rope drop this, because that's what everybody goes to do.
Speaker 1:But it just depends on you and your family.
Speaker 2:We used to rope drop. We always go to the safari.
Speaker 1:We rope, dropped it twice.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Until we realized we need to do the safari earlier in the day.
Speaker 2:But what we do is we will get the single pass or whatever it was lightning lane in the past, and then we would shut down the park with this Get in line before closing. You're still going to wait about. It'll say 80, 90 minutes, but it's going to be about 40 to 45. And that way you do get the full queue Right. The queue is great. The walking up through the vegetation into the caves the caves have so much storytelling in them. And then from the caves you go into the bioluminescent forest, which is just beautiful. You go from the forest into the lab, which there's so much cool stuff, so many Easter eggs in the lab. You got Hank floating around in there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the lab is wonderful, full of details.
Speaker 2:And the single pass skips all of that.
Speaker 1:It does.
Speaker 2:So it's just it's hard, it's not sure when. 85 minutes.
Speaker 1:It's hard just because, yes, it's good to experience all that, and especially the lab area and seeing that Hank animatronic and stuff. But you're still going to get enough from it even if you do skip it, I think. Just because it's all encompassing.
Speaker 2:I recommend you do it twice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you can, in your day, do like what we do if possible. So you know for sure you're going to get it in, get the pass.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But if you have time to end your day, as long as you're in that line before park close, then yeah, and it's usually, like zach said, under an hour yeah, yeah, all right.
Speaker 2:So we hope that helped you make some decisions. Um, I don't know, we're talking about next week, maybe 90s nostalgia in the park yes I like that you brought that up.
Speaker 1:I like the idea that's really, I think, I think, so I'll have a little time to work on it. We're gonna have a little time to work on it.
Speaker 2:We're going to have a little time to work on it. Yeah, so yeah. Next week we're going to talk about 90s nostalgia that's still in the parks.
Speaker 1:That's still in the parks.
Speaker 2:Still in the parks.
Speaker 1:We might throw a few little things out there that were maybe in it in the past.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, if you want to support the podcast, the best way to do that is to go book your next day vacation with Travel Planner Erica. She's the official sponsor of this podcast. Go check her out wwwtravelplannerericacom. She's on Instagram and Facebook at Travel Planner Erica. Again, tell her we sent you to get that gift card based on the value of the trip. They're going to save you money, time and effort. We just love Erica so much and go check out their podcast. Once Upon a Park podcast. You can email us circleofparks at gmailcom. Our website is wwwcircleofparkscom and we're on Facebook, instagram and X all at Circle of Parks. Thank you so much for listening. We will talk to you next week.
Speaker 1:Talk to you soon, thank you.