And this is why Diaper Genie is a big problem.,,

[lugnut33]

Gotcha. Yeah, I'm not sure I would want to pay $50 or even $100 for the same glitchy Genie+. If it was improved or replaced with a better system, then I would be more on board.

Problem with a better system is it then becomes an essential purchase to maximize your time in the parts. Suddenly, everyone is buying it unless it's priced at hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars per day. It's why people are happy to spend $150-$180 for the after-hours events. It's essential to maximizing your trip and if you don't do it you're a parks loser.

 

[Jrb1979]

Oh totally, that's what I meant to say- it's the issue we're having now. I just don't see a way to fix Genie+ when you can't price people out of it, but I'm not smart so I admit there is probably a way I haven't thought of.

You have to do both. Price it high but also cap sales. Limit it to 25% of guests a day.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Problem with a better system is it then becomes an essential purchase to maximize your time in the parts. Suddenly, everyone is buying it unless it's priced at hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars per day. It's why people are happy to spend $150-$180 for the after-hours events. It's essential to maximizing your trip and if you don't do it you're a parks loser.

That's the issue we have with Genie+ too. Everyone is buying it and skip the line services don't work if everyone has it. I really don't know how Disney can fix this tbh. No one is happy with Genie+ and no one will be happy with a better system.

 

[lowlight]

You have to do both. Price it high but also cap sales. Limit it to 25% of guests a day.

That would be another thing to have to wake up and try to get. You’d have to wake up to try and get Genie+, then try to get a virtual queue, then try to get an ILL, then try to get an LL. That’s a nightmare to plan around, so I’m guessing Disney will do this eventually.

 

[JodyK]

If you are changing the whole system it wouldn't necessarily have to follow the same rules of buy morning of and booking LLs.

 

[mom2febgirls]

Am I the only one who thinks G+ is very similar to the old FP (pre 2014)? You had to be in the park and pull a paper ticket from a machine with a return time. The only difference is that now it's on your phone. People who don't want to rope drop are actually in a better position now because they have the opportunity to get a G+ before entering the park.

 

[Jrb1979]

That would be another thing to have to wake up and try to get. You’d have to wake up to try and get Genie+, then try to get a virtual queue, then try to get an ILL, then try to get an LL. That’s a nightmare to plan around, so I’m guessing Disney will do this eventually.

I would change it to it not being available for purchase til park open.

 

[coasternut22]

Am I the only one who thinks G+ is very similar to the old FP (pre 2014)? You had to be in the park and pull a paper ticket from a machine with a return time. The only difference is that now it's on your phone. People who don't want to rope drop are actually in a better position now because they have the opportunity to get a G+ before entering the park.

This is not a coincidence, as G+ is modeled after Disneyland's Maxpass. Disneyland had the legacy paper fastpass system you described. Disneyland then added Maxpass, where you paid $20 to be able to book fastpasses on your phone. They ran Maxpass and paper fastpasses at the same time. No limit, and refreshing worked great. The best thing about Maxpass is that no one paid for it. Why pay for something you still got for free right? But it was the refreshing that made Maxpass so worth it. I could refresh while the paper ticket users could not. I got so many immediate return times, it was unheard of. Used it the day after Christmas and didn't wait in a single line. It was so awesome and so worth the money. Evidently Disney thought it was so awesome as well, they scrapped both coast's fastpass sytems, and introduced G+. But it's just a reskin of Maxpass with the restriction you can only book an attraction once per day. Disneyland veterans were already prepared for the change.

 

[raidermatt]

Theme parks are only going to be using more phone related technology so I guess you’ll just have to find different places to vacation or use your phone time more efficiently.

Using phone related technology is fine. But there's a difference between using it for wait times, maps, mobile ordering, etc, and hitting refresh dozens dozens of times. It's not a problem at all at Universal for example.

But yeah, if faced with that choice, yes, I will choose family/friends over my phone. Again, ymmv.

 

[Love Tink]

That's the issue we have with Genie+ too. Everyone is buying it and skip the line services don't work if everyone has it. I really don't know how Disney can fix this tbh. No one is happy with Genie+ and no one will be happy with a better system.

A LOT of people were happy with FP+, which was a better system.

 

[raidermatt]

It's as distracting as you make it. If you're the kind of person who has to obsessively refresh non stop until whatever you're looking for pops up regardless of whatever else is going on, yeah it will be distracting. If not, there are plenty of times when swiping on the app for a few minutes wouldn't take away from the park experience or keep you from enjoying whoever you're with.

Sometimes I'm just sitting waiting for my party to be done using the restroom. Sometimes I'm in a queue for 45 minutes. Sometimes I'm taking a break in the shade or waiting in line to pick up food. During those times I don't feel the need to be "living in the moment" so much I can't glance down at my phone here and there. And there are only a few windows during a day when swiping the app would even be needed.

So yeah put me in the camp that thinks this "have to stare at your phone all day" narrative is GREATLY exaggerated.

I never said you have to stare at your phone all day. If you want to argue with hyperbole, at least quote the right person.

That said, if you don't care if you get to experience certain attractions, then of course you never have to refresh at all. But there are no "windows". Once the LLs are gone for an attraction its a free for all. Available times could pop up at any time.

The kind of refreshing needed to get these available times requires far more than "glancing down" at your phone here and there, so you are hardly one to be complaining about exaggeration.

But hey, if you spend a lot of time in the park alone, or don't care about the sights and sounds, sure spending time repeatedly swiping on your phone may be an enjoyable pastime. If so, enjoy.

 

[Love Tink]

Using phone related technology is fine. But there's a difference between using it for wait times, maps, mobile ordering, etc, and hitting refresh dozens dozens of times. It's not a problem at all at Universal for example.

But yeah, if faced with that choice, yes, I will choose family/friends over my phone. Again, ymmv.

Hitting refresh dozens dozens of times was absolutely addictive and exhilarating. I loved it.

The generations that think of phones as a distraction or a nuisance are on the way out, while the ones who think of them as an extension of their hand are filing in. No corporation is going to lose money by making things more tech-reliant.

 

[Smugpugmug]

A LOT of people were happy with FP+, which was a better system.

Not everyone was happy with Fastpass+. Remember all of the complaints about having to book rides 60 days in advance? How it wasn't good for those that weren't planners/were spontaneous visitors? I don't think Disney could ever put out a system that everyone will be okay with. Personally I liked Fastpass+ but that was because I knew how to really use it like most of the people on these forums.

 

[raidermatt]

This is not a coincidence, as G+ is modeled after Disneyland's Maxpass. Disneyland had the legacy paper fastpass system you described. Disneyland then added Maxpass, where you paid $20 to be able to book fastpasses on your phone. They ran Maxpass and paper fastpasses at the same time. No limit, and refreshing worked great. The best thing about Maxpass is that no one paid for it. Why pay for something you still got for free right? But it was the refreshing that made Maxpass so worth it. I could refresh while the paper ticket users could not. I got so many immediate return times, it was unheard of. Used it the day after Christmas and didn't wait in a single line. It was so awesome and so worth the money. Evidently Disney thought it was so awesome as well, they scrapped both coast's fastpass sytems, and introduced G+. But it's just a reskin of Maxpass with the restriction you can only book an attraction once per day. Disneyland veterans were already prepared for the change.

I mean, there are some other changes too in terms of timing. And the removal of any kind of free FP ability was huge as this was the primary reason refreshing worked so well and was so advantageous. So yeah, it was based on Maxpass, but with major changes which make it a much less satisfactory option.

 

[raidermatt]

Not everyone was happy with Fastpass+. Remember all of the complaints about having to book rides 60 days in advance? How it wasn't good for those that weren't planners/were spontaneous visitors? I don't think Disney could ever put out a system that everyone will be okay with. Personally I liked Fastpass+ but that was because I knew how to really use it like most of the people on these forums.

True, no system will make everyone happy. But there is no doubt the ire is greater with G+.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Am I the only one who thinks G+ is very similar to the old FP (pre 2014)? You had to be in the park and pull a paper ticket from a machine with a return time. The only difference is that now it's on your phone. People who don't want to rope drop are actually in a better position now because they have the opportunity to get a G+ before entering the park.

Not the only one. I think that also...because it's true...Genie+ is the same system.

Paper FP was better because fewer people used it or maximized it, and the paper FP never expired.

 

[Jrb1979]

True, no system will make everyone happy. But there is no doubt the ire is greater with G+.

A lot of that has to do with paying for something that used to be included. It's why I always have thought they needed to go the Universal system route.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

True, no system will make everyone happy. But there is no doubt the ire is greater with G+.

Were you here when FP+ rolled out?

It was at least this bad, if not worse.

"I have to GET UP AT 7AM AND DECIDE WHAT RIDE I WANT TO GO ON MONTHS LATER???? ARE YOU INSANE????"

etc etc etc

 

[Love Tink]

Not everyone was happy with Fastpass+. Remember all of the complaints about having to book rides 60 days in advance? How it wasn't good for those that weren't planners/were spontaneous visitors? I don't think Disney could ever put out a system that everyone will be okay with. Personally I liked Fastpass+ but that was because I knew how to really use it like most of the people on these forums.

Hence, my use of the words "a LOT of people" rather than the word "everyone."

 

[Smugpugmug]

Were you here when FP+ rolled out?

It was at least this bad, if not worse.

"I have to GET UP AT 7AM AND DECIDE WHAT RIDE I WANT TO GO ON MONTHS LATER???? ARE YOU INSANE????"

etc etc etc

Yup and if you had no idea Fastpass+ was a thing and went to the parks day of, you were too late in booking any of the E-tickets. My sister worked at MK when Fastpass+ was implemented and this was a complaint she heard from guests every single day.