Best last minute strategies?

[TinkOhio]

We are checking today and are hoping some lovely people from these boards can help. I’ve been buried in the tasks of care taking for a very ill parent and am taking a short break at WDW with my daughter to recharge my batteries. Although we do have our park, party, and dining reservations in place, we have no real idea how to use Genie+. We plan to book ILLs and regular LL passes, but don’t know how! We’ll be rope dropping and are staying on property, but not in a deluxe.

What are the best threads, tutorials, and tips for how to use the new app and Genie*? Any links you can provide will be extra helpful. Thanks In advance for any help!

 

[CynBeth]

I am bad with technology and found it very easy to use but went Thanksgiving week and did experience some issues sometimes where it kept making me sign in and wait for an e-mail with a password. My DH tried on his phone as well so usually were able to eventually get what we wanted. Download the new version of the app. I looked ahead of time to familiarize myself with it. Basically on the main screen hit the menu drop down at the bottom right and select tip board. Usually it will come up on MK but there is an option to change the park. It shows rides and shows in alphabetical order. For example if you look at Peter Pan you will see first it will show a standby time. Then under it will be an option to select the lightening lane. You do not get a choice in time and be careful a lot of times you select and then I believe it was the next screen that shows the time where you confirm and might show a different time so to have to go out and start from the beginning selecting it again if it is not what you want. We found if we refreshed a time or 2 could get it. For the rides at each park with the extra fee such as Space Mountain at MK in the spot you would see on the example I gave of PP where you could select the lightening lane it will give you the choice to reserve and pay a fee whatever it is. Sometimes it lets you select a time others it gives you one and again can try refreshing the tip board. You would also use the same drop down menu for mobile food ordering. Hope this helps. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[TinkOhio]

I am bad with technology and found it very easy to use but went Thanksgiving week and did experience some issues sometimes where it kept making me sign in and wait for an e-mail with a password. My DH tried on his phone as well so usually were able to eventually get what we wanted. Download the new version of the app. I looked ahead of time to familiarize myself with it. Basically on the main screen hit the menu drop down at the bottom right and select tip board. Usually it will come up on MK but there is an option to change the park. It shows rides and shows in alphabetical order. For example if you look at Peter Pan you will see first it will show a standby time. Then under it will be an option to select the lightening lane. You do not get a choice in time and be careful a lot of times you select and then I believe it was the next screen that shows the time where you confirm and might show a different time so to have to go out and start from the beginning selecting it again if it is not what you want. We found if we refreshed a time or 2 could get it. For the rides at each park with the extra fee such as Space Mountain at MK in the spot you would see on the example I gave of PP where you could select the lightening lane it will give you the choice to reserve and pay a fee whatever it is. Sometimes it lets you select a time others it gives you one and again can try refreshing the tip board. You would also use the same drop down menu for mobile food ordering. Hope this helps. Good luck and have a great trip!

Thank you!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would recommend reading the last 5-10 pages of the Here Now and Just Back thread.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

Word of advice... last-minute planning at WDW is not a great way to recharge your batteries, unless you get a thrill out of last-minute planning. Certainly nothing wrong with rope-dropping and trying to get the most out of your money.. but it's important to set expectations when planning last minute.

There's a lot of content on Youtube regarding how to use Disney Genie+. I suggest taking a look there.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been to WDW dozens of times in the last few years- several times since the pandemic started, and many, many times over the holidays. We’ve planned most trips way ahead of time, and a few on the fly. My expectations are fairly realistic. We just haven’t been here since the start of Genie+, and we are seeking guidance specific to that.

I’ve been caring for my very elderly father as he declines from metastatic cancer and Alzheimer’s, so this small dose of Disney happiness is just what the doctor ordered.

 

[DisneyPanthersFan]

I am so sorry about your father. I hope you and your daughter have such a fun and happy time.

I kept up with the The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread right before our last trip. I still do, as we have another upcoming trip and the process has already changed since we went last month! Anyway, you might want to check out some of the most recent pages.

I think CynBeth's advice of making sure you have the most recent version of the MDE app and taking a look at the Genie part of it beforehand is great. I agree with that recommendation. However, I'm not sure I did beforehand so don't worry if you don't get a chance to do so!

 

[TinkOhio]

I am so sorry about your father. I hope you and your daughter have such a fun and happy time.

I kept up with the The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread right before our last trip. I still do, as we have another upcoming trip and the process has already changed since we went last month! Anyway, you might want to check out some of the most recent pages.

I think CynBeth's advice of making sure you have the most recent version of the MDE app and taking a look at the Genie part of it beforehand is great. I agree with that recommendation. However, I'm not sure I did beforehand so don't worry if you don't get a chance to do so!

Thanks so much for your kind words and advice.