Are People now having to walk around on their phones all day?

[HeatherC]

With all the changes to their system, are people having to constantly be on their phones all day between Genie, LL, Mobile Ordering, etc..? Is there anyway at all to just go and decide what you want to do when you get there or is that now a recipe for disaster? Trying to decide if it is worth it. Not sure we want to on our phones all day on vacation. What are your experiences with it?
Thanks!

 

[HopperFan]

With all the changes to their system, are people having to constantly be on their phones all day between Genie, LL, Mobile Ordering, etc..? Is there anyway at all to just go and decide what you want to do when you get there or is that now a recipe for disaster? Trying to decide if it is worth it. Not sure we want to on our phones all day on vacation. What are your experiences with it?
Thanks!

I'm only on day 2, keeping some notes, trying to keep an open mind ..... but the one thing that hit me today is YES YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE too much. It's the only way to dine, even most quick serve and if you buy Genie+ you want your monies worth so you work to roll it. I've been more aware of folks on phones, standing to side on their phone and eating while on their phone.

There have been more CMs asking to see your LL or ADR on your phone, more guests pulling out their phone and waving it at CMs in frustration about whatever.

Honestly the Genie+ forces you to last minute decide what to do over and over all day long. Now if you don't book ADR and want to wing it, you likely won't get in anywhere. We ate at Tony's today - usually not a popular place and they were turning away people.

 

[a1tinkfans]

That’s awful and what I was afraid to hear.
my family used to complain when I’d scan into the ride and literally be booking for our next one …in the past.
ugh… I am getting more disappointed.I mean. You can’t Immerse In Disney if ur looking and manipulating ur phone all day n nite

Hope others will also post here, GREAT Q op!

 

[HeatherC]

I'm only on day 2, keeping some notes, trying to keep an open mind ..... but the one thing that hit me today is YES YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE too much. It's the only way to dine, even most quick serve and if you buy Genie+ you want your monies worth so you work to roll it. I've been more aware of folks on phones, standing to side on their phone and eating while on their phone.

Thanks for the reply! Uggh…not exactly what I want to do on vacation..especially to order food. I wonder what people without smartphones (there must be a few left) do?

 

[Donald13]

No. We had it last week. It’s no different from trying to get a fast pass or a last minute adr. Why the hate on the phones? It’s not like your all not on your phones all day as it is… this is such a weird hill to die on

 

[Boopuff]

The way I think about this is that so many people are constantly on their phones, that Genie can’t be that big of a deal. Social media, movies, we’re all on our phones. Sad really.

 

[HeatherC]

No. We had it last week. It’s no different from trying to get a fast pass or a last minute adr. Why the hate on the phones? It’s not like your all not on your phones all day as it is… this is such a weird hill to die on

If you have to actually pick out what you want to eat on a tiny phone screen for five people, that is a pain! Not EVERYONE is on their phones all day and I certainly don’t want to “have” to be tied to it to plan every single minute of a visit to Disney. I think it is a legitimate question/concern.

 

[DebbieB]

It’s been that way the last 10 years.

 

[cruisefortibet]

I'm only on day 2, keeping some notes, trying to keep an open mind ..... but the one thing that hit me today is YES YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE too much. It's the only way to dine, even most quick serve and if you buy Genie+ you want your monies worth so you work to roll it. I've been more aware of folks on phones, standing to side on their phone and eating while on their phone.

There have been more CMs asking to see your LL or ADR on your phone, more guests pulling out their phone and waving it at CMs in frustration about whatever.

Honestly the Genie+ forces you to last minute decide what to do over and over all day long. Now if you don't book ADR and want to wing it, you likely won't get in anywhere. We ate at Tony's today - usually not a popular place and they were turning away people.

We just finished our trip last week, and had a similar feeling for the day we used Genie+. We backtracked a lot and it was annoying feeling like I was in constant planning mode while on my phone looking for LL's to get.

We did not use Genie or Genie+ for the first four park days, and we had a great time! Granted, I had everything planned in advance, and lines were not too crowded. We did do mobile ordering, which was slightly annoying, but in some cases convenient. I was not on my phone too much those first few days. I think it's possible as long as you have a realistic idea of what you can accomplish on your trip. For me, I planned a lot in advance and I think it did pay off in the end.

 

[Delirium]

No. We had it last week. It’s no different from trying to get a fast pass or a last minute adr. Why the hate on the phones? It’s not like your all not on your phones all day as it is… this is such a weird hill to die on

It is different. With FP+, you could secure 3 attractions in advance. With Genie, you can't. The only people that had their face in their phone all the time previously were those with a commando touring strategy that wanted to do everything in as short a time as possible as well as people that are incapable of disconnecting.

Our last trip was Thanksgiving Week 2018 and we were able to do everything using our 3 FP+ each day with maybe one extra on a couple of days. The only standby line we waited in greater than 30 minutes was to see Mickey on Main Street.

A good touring strategy did not require constant phone monitoring when FP+ was around.

 

[Delirium]

You can’t Immerse In Disney if ur looking and manipulating ur phone all day n nite

This single sentence is all that's needed to explain to the Disney decision makers what many that love Disney are experiencing. It's just sad. Truly sad.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think it depends on your touring style.

Full disclosure: I am "on my phone" all day long at Disney but it's because I became a full-on amateur documentary style photographer when I became a mom and basically video/photograph my child's entire life. I did NOT check or use the Disney app but occasionally to check wait times (which were wildly inaccurate)

We went Saturday for the day. Got there at rope drop and walked on - or waited less than 15 minutes - Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Aladdin, Buzz, People Mover, Dumbo, Teacups, Speedway, and met Mickey on the wait out. We could have done more but were hangry. Left at 11:30am, took monorail to Poly. On monorail I mobile ordered Captain Cooks. Ate outside, overlooking the water.

Drove to Epcot, let toddler nap in car, entered park at 2:30pm and walked on/less than 5 minute wait for Figment, Land, Nemo, Crush, Spaceship Earth. Stopped at 2 booths, shopped at Creation, and toddler played at the playground for an hour. Left park at 5pm.

We had a full, fun, MAGICAL day as a family with no waiting in lines, no Genie, no phone checking. But we have a young toddler (no headliners) and visit often so this was the perfect Disney day for us.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it depends on your touring style.

We went Saturday for the day. Got there at rope drop and walked on - or waited less than 15 minutes - Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Aladdin, Buzz, People Mover, Dumbo, Teacups, Speedway, and met Mickey on the wait out. We could have done more but were hangry. Left at 11:30am, took monorail to Poly. On monorail I mobile ordered Captain Cooks. Ate outside, overlooking the water.

Drove to Epcot, let toddler nap in car, entered park at 2:30pm and walked on/less than 5 minute wait for Figment, Land, Nemo, Crush, Spaceship Earth. Stopped at 2 booths, shopped at Creation, and toddler played at the playground for an hour. Left park at 5pm.

We had a full, fun, MAGICAL day as a family with no waiting in lines, no Genie, no phone checking. But we have a young toddler (no headliners) and visit often so this was the perfect Disney day for us.

I do think that rope drop has now become an important component. My DS is disabled and mornings are lots of work for me, and him. Today we arrived at 10 am - which we normally do - but by that point the LL for most the E rides were already out at lunch or later. Had we been there earlier we could have knocked out more. I also noticed by around 6 pm the wait times had dropped so unless you were camping in the hub, you could work the LL/SB lines well.

I also think mid afternoon at Epcot is a good time because I'll bet most who started there, tried to hop elsewhere by mid afternoon OR went to their hotel for a break. I go to Epcot tomorrow and fully plan to be out by 3 back to MK to pick up where we left off. I think if you gather enough "data" before your trip you can make better choices like you did. But for some it will mean learning a new touring style.

Thanks for the reply! Uggh…not exactly what I want to do on vacation..especially to order food. I wonder what people without smartphones (there must be a few left) do?

I saw some CMs working with guests on iPads out front, like they were placing their order there. Not sure but I don't know what else they would be working on. I was also told if you pay in cash they let you enter to place your order. In the places so far we mobile ordered, it appeared to be only one cashier open inside to assist. I'm not sure how they are doing the Genie+ or if you don't have a smartphone, you just aren't going to bother. I didn't see any of the old FP+ kiosks so not like you could use those to book.

We experienced the mobile order issues this summer so this trip we are eating breakfast in room (I have a kitchen) and both nights so far just ate a late sandwich for dinner in room. We are spending less on food at Disney since they are making it so difficult, but that pays for my Genie+ so it's not an extra add on.

 

[gharter]

I'm not sure its any worse. Previously, with FP+ and mobile ordering, I spent a lot of time in the phone finding better FPs. 2 weeks ago, I found myself doing the same thing only with Genie +. Similar game, but different rules and now it cost me $15 per person. My phone battery still needed to be recharged early afternoon.

 

[Lsyves]

Yes. I hate phones already and was on mine more than I wanted to be this trip!

My husband and I really had a hard time with the tech the CMs have to use in restaurants. Example: we walked up to Geyser Point and asked for a table. They were not busy. We had to wait a solid 5 mins for the CM to enter all our info into her iPad (name and room number for some reason?) and then assign us to a table in the system. She could have just seated us and then done that part. It is overkill IMHO.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I'm usually on my phone anyway. If I'm not using Genie + (I might, but only sporadically) I might have used it to check in for dining (I usually do table service or kiosks at Epcot so no mobile ordering), look for last minute dining, or take photos. Used to use it to keep track of fastpasses. If I'm alone, I'll use it to read (yes in the parks).

A phone charger and cord has been part of my park bag for years.

 

[OhThePain]

I think it all depends on how you want to handle the parks. We returned on Saturday and I feel like I was on my phone for trip related purposes less this trip than on previous trips. We did not use Genie+ or any of the new Genie features (with the exception of LLs for RotR). I was not constantly looking for our next FP+. I rarely bothered to check wait times since they are unreliable. We booked our Remy boarding groups and RotR LLs in the morning before going to the parks, mobile ordered, checked in for ADRs and looked at the menus, and took pictures. Those were the only times my phone came out of my pocket on this trip.

 

[wisblue]

I‘ll see if this changes on our trip in two weeks, but I just don‘t see why you HAVE to be on your phone that much.

For getting wait times, using the phone is a lot more convenient than having to walk to an attraction or finding one of the few boards that were in the parks.

For getting a FP, it’s a lot more convenient than having to go to the attraction to see what the return time is and pull the paper FP. (I did prefer FP+ and being able to arrange our favorite attractions in advance, but a lot of people complained about that too.)

For mobile ordering, I much prefer finding a place to sit down and place the order, over going to the location and having to stand in line behind groups that wait until they get to the cash register to ask everyone what they want.

I don’t think any of this makes me use my phone that often, and when I do use it it’s better than the alternative.

If you’re someone who constantly tries to refresh to change plans or get better return times you’ll be on your phone a lot. But in my opinion that isn’t necessary.

 

[motherof5]

I'm only on day 2, keeping some notes, trying to keep an open mind ..... but the one thing that hit me today is YES YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE too much. It's the only way to dine, even most quick serve and if you buy Genie+ you want your monies worth so you work to roll it. I've been more aware of folks on phones, standing to side on their phone and eating while on their phone.

There have been more CMs asking to see your LL or ADR on your phone, more guests pulling out their phone and waving it at CMs in frustration about whatever.

Honestly the Genie+ forces you to last minute decide what to do over and over all day long. Now if you don't book ADR and want to wing it, you likely won't get in anywhere. We ate at Tony's today - usually not a popular place and they were turning away people.

This doesn't seem very relaxing or fun at all.

 

[Donald13]

If you have to actually pick out what you want to eat on a tiny phone screen for five people, that is a pain! Not EVERYONE is on their phones all day and I certainly don’t want to “have” to be tied to it to plan every single minute of a visit to Disney. I think it is a legitimate question/concern.