re: Disney's Lightning Lanes

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Don't think you know what this word means.

But please, explain your strategy for the day at say MK.

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Magic Kingdom is the only one of the parks that requires any modicum of planning. Epcot may also fit in that boat if you like to spend a lot of time in World Showcase and only want to spend one day there (you cannot change this about Epcot by utilizing Lightning Lanes).

The first thing I'd say is stay on property. You mentioned rope drop. The extra 30 minutes you get as a resort guest on top of that is enough to clear an entire section of any park on property. The trick is not to go to the "big" rides at rope drop or during your extra resort time. Don't use your extra time for Peter Pan (skip Peter Pan regardless), Big Thunder, etc. Use it to clear all of Adventureland or Tomorrowland before the park opens. If you get through those lands and the park isn't open yet, then sure go get in line for Big Thunder or Space Mountain. They haven't opened the LL yet anyway. No one else is trying to do this. They're all doing what you do. Because you're sheep consumers who just buy what the company tells you.

For Fantasyland, skip Peter Pan. That's the whole strategy. It isn't worth your time. It isn't worth your LL. It simply isn't worth it.

If you're skipping the Dumbo line, your kids are disappointed. The playground in the line is more fun than the ride.

For Epcot, we honestly spend 2 days there. One day for rides, one day just to walk around world showcase. That isn't because of wait times though (usually we still end up riding all the "big rides" like Guardians, Frozen, & Soarin on both days). It's because we want to stroll around world showcase without caring about catching a ride at a specific time or when the line is at the right level. Especially at the holidays when they have the various Christmas performers. And here's the dirty little secret: Adding a 5th, 6th, 7th, etc park day ticket to your trip is cheaper than the LLs you're buying over the course of your trip. Or at least, it is for us. We get a lot more utility and enjoyment out of an extra day or 2 than we do out of Lightning Lanes, and I'm certain you would get far more enjoyment out of your trip if you did the same.

For the other 2 parks, LLs simply can't be justified at all. You can complete all the rides at Animal Kingdom, for example, with hours to spare, even if you take your time to slowly meander through every zoo exhibit. Even if you do the sheep thing and follow the crowd around the park to every ride. Neither AK or Hollywood Studios are big enough for you to need LLs. Unlike MK, it's impossible to see how people think they're "getting something" by paying for LL at those parks. It's a complete waste of money. The only exception I could see to this is if Rise of the Resistance is having problems on the day you happen to be visiting. In that specific case, a LL might be the only chance you'll get to ride it at all.