Best Strategy for a trip in 2022? Lower Your Expectations

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

We like to go to MK for four days out of our trip, and we concentrate on one area of MK per day (morning). We go to Epcot for two days and do Future World one morning and World Showcase one afternoon/evening since it opens late. We leave the majority of the parks midday to enjoy the pool at the Polynesian. We prefer table service most meals (loved the dining plan) rather than fast food on the run. We park hopped and ran ourselves ragged when DD was a child, but thankfully those days are over. Genie+ will NOT be a part of any future plans. At this point, I guess we will continue to rope drop, but rather than 6 out of 7 park days, I think we will have more resort days with only 4 park days. I also see us going to WDW much less often going forward.

Your planning mirrors the way I would plan back when FP+ was still in existence (RIP). I loved being able to just book our three fastpasses ahead of time, focusing on different lands of MK each time. Granted our trips are usually longer, so we had the advantage of being able to do that. But I liked how I could plan it so we weren't running back and forth across the park a million times. I don't like how scattered Genie+ seems to make things. That said, we have little kids and we'll be giving it a try. The less time in line with a rambunctious 18 month old the better!

 

[Donaldsfans]

One correction: Genie+ is open to all guests at 7AM. It's $ILL that is only open to resort guests at 7AM, and others at park open.

Thank you but I'm not sure about that.

 

[CoachBeard]

The only constant is change.

 

[Turksmom]

Thank you but I'm not sure about that.

Westerner is correct. Anybody who purchased G+ can schedule the first selection at 7 am. Only Disney resort guests (and partner resorts, listed on the website) can schedule ILL$ at 7am.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We like to go to MK for four days out of our trip, and we concentrate on one area of MK per day (morning). We go to Epcot for two days and do Future World one morning and World Showcase one afternoon/evening since it opens late. Crisscrossing across the parks would be too much walking on my arthritic knees. Focusing attention in one area, and riding all the rides there is more enjoyable for us. We leave the majority of the parks midday to relax at the pool at the Polynesian. We prefer table service most meals (loved the dining plan) rather than fast food on the run.

We park hopped and ran ourselves ragged when DD was a child, but thankfully those days are over. It is a vacation after all, and a very expensive one at that especially the way we like to go deluxe. Relaxation should be built into it. Genie+ will NOT be a part of any future plans. At this point, I guess we will continue to rope drop and hope that we can ride a couple of rides without standing in long lines. Rather than 6 or 7 park days, I think we will enjoy more resort days with only 4 park days. I also see us going to WDW much less often going forward. Disneyland was perfect for us. I see us switching it up and going there more often.

For me, at the current price of WDW, I can't really see doing half days anymore. Back when day 6 of a park ticket was under $15, yes. Now even with a multi-day ticket, you're talking about $100/day.

For me, it makes more sense to build a non-park day into my trip. Even better, an off-WDW day.
While I agree, relaxation should be built into a WDW trip, well, I try to have relaxation days when I'm staying offsite and paying less than $200/night, if possible. I love the WDW pools, but paying $900+/night for pool days? Marriott's World Center hotel - awesome pool - is only about $330/night for April 20, while a lagoon view Poly room is a whopping $1100! (Actually w/tax they are more like $400 and $1230!)

That's over $800 less. To me, that's crazy. Because even $400 is a LOT to pay.

I also think maybe the days where rope dropping= quiet park are over. The days of the relaxed pace? Not until WDW significantly increases park hours. Since everyone now has to be awake at 7am, and they are paying WDW's crazy prices, they might as well hit rope drop. Especially since late nights aren't an option. MK often used to stay open past midnight, but now the parks are all often closed by 9pm.

 

[Summer2018]

For me, at the current price of WDW, I can't really see doing half days anymore. Back when day 6 of a park ticket was under $15, yes. Now even with a multi-day ticket, you're talking about $100/day.

For me, it makes more sense to build a non-park day into my trip. Even better, an off-WDW day.
While I agree, relaxation should be built into a WDW trip, well, I try to have relaxation days when I'm staying offsite and paying less than $200/night, if possible. I love the WDW pools, but paying $900+/night for pool days? Marriott's World Center hotel - awesome pool - is only about $330/night for April 20, while a lagoon view Poly room is a whopping $1100! (Actually w/tax they are more like $400 and $1230!)

That's over $800 less. To me, that's crazy. Because even $400 is a LOT to pay.

I also think maybe the days where rope dropping= quiet park are over. The days of the relaxed pace? Not until WDW significantly increases park hours. Since everyone now has to be awake at 7am, and they are paying WDW's crazy prices, they might as well hit rope drop. Especially since late nights aren't an option. MK often used to stay open past midnight, but now the parks are all often closed by 9pm.

I have not been to WDW since 2018, and that is a trip that I will never forget because we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal and did EVERYTHING we wanted...fireworks cruise, Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast, breakfast & dinner at 'Ohana, dinner at Narcoossees, and California Grill during the fireworks. In 2019, we discovered just how magical Disneyland is, and IMHO, superior to WDW in many ways. We had to cancel our WDW Club level Polynesian stay in 2020 due to the pandemic. We cancelled WDW once again in 2021 in favor of a beach vacation 1/2 the price for two oceanfront rooms. This year, we have another beach vacation planned, once again mere steps away from the ocean.

I have no immediate plans to return to WDW based on everything you mentioned in your post plus a few other things. The only reason I will return at all is for my daughter who wants to get married there and for my future grandchildren. If things don't improve, I will still go for them and travel the way I choose: Deluxe on site hotels and half-days in the parks...it is my vacation after all.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

(kind of reminds me of how Genies are notorious for taking advantage of a wisher not phrasing their wish precisely enough and getting something they hadn't bargained for!).

You have identified one of several major flaws with Genie+.

Add this one to several other layers.....and the only "goal" that Genie+ may have achieved over FP+ was that people no longer have to plan for a trip 60/30 days in advance.

As you pointed out......Genie+ gave people what they asked for...............Oh Boy!!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

You have identified one of several major flaws with Genie+.

Add this one to several other layers.....and the only "goal" that Genie+ may have achieved over FP+ was that people no longer have to plan for a trip 60/30 days in advance.

As you pointed out......Genie+ gave people what they asked for...............Oh Boy!!

There’s still something missing though. The capacity math for G+ just doesn’t add up. With FP+ being free, the majority of people used it. Not everyone. But let’s just say 2/3 of visitors went to the parks with 3 FPs reserved. I think I saw posted that about 1/3 of guests are buying G+. With thousands fewer people using the system why can’t people be pretty guaranteed to get 3 of the more desirable rides? Yes, you have the top 2 rides in each park pulled out for ILL$, but in the FP days, refreshers could get the desirable rides day-of and there were lots of mid and lower tier ride times available when you looked in the morning (admittedly they were for later in the day but they were available without refreshing). It seems like there should be a lot of slots for people buying G+. And yet, people are getting up at 7 am to fight for JC and PotC.

I haven’t used it but those who have, is it complete walk on? FP could have waits of 20 mins. Did Disney think that wait time was unacceptable for a paid system and dramatically cut the number of times available? People will have different opinions about whether they’d rather pay for a 20 min wait on 3+ rides or no wait for 1-2. Personally I’d rather have more rides and I suspect a lot of others would too.

i just don’t understand the logic of drastically reducing the capacity of a free system that worked and then charging for it. How could they think this would be anything other than a guest experience and PR disaster.

 

[abtahime]

There’s still something missing though. The capacity math for G+ just doesn’t add up. With FP+ being free, the majority of people used it. Not everyone. But let’s just say 2/3 of visitors went to the parks with 3 FPs reserved. I think I saw posted that about 1/3 of guests are buying G+. With thousands fewer people using the system why can’t people be pretty guaranteed to get 3 of the more desirable rides? Yes, you have the top 2 rides in each park pulled out for ILL$, but in the FP days, refreshers could get the desirable rides day-of and there were lots of mid and lower tier ride times available when you looked in the morning (admittedly they were for later in the day but they were available without refreshing). It seems like there should be a lot of slots for people buying G+. And yet, people are getting up at 7 am to fight for JC and PotC.

I haven’t used it but those who have, is it complete walk on? FP could have waits of 20 mins. Did Disney think that wait time was unacceptable for a paid system and dramatically cut the number of times available? People will have different opinions about whether they’d rather pay for a 20 min wait on 3+ rides or no wait for 1-2. Personally I’d rather have more rides and I suspect a lot of others would too.

i just don’t understand the logic of drastically reducing the capacity of a free system that worked and then charging for it. How could they think this would be anything other than a guest experience and PR disaster.

I would much rather wait 10-20 minutes and get more use out of it than walk right on to 1-2 rides a day!! Hoping so badly Disney makes some changes ASAP before spring break crowds hit

 

[jknc]

I would much rather wait 10-20 minutes and get more use out of it than walk right on to 1-2 rides a day!! Hoping so badly Disney makes some changes ASAP before spring break crowds hit

Most LL rides were close to walk on but I agree with this comment because again we experienced far fewer attractions overall than I would have predicted.

 

[a-mechanic]

I have not read all 18 pages. But to agree with the original post, I had to temper my expectations dramatically (and spend more) last November. If I had not, I would have been extremely disappointed. I have ridden all the rides many times since I started going. Thankfully, I was no first timer who could not get on a headliner I was excited about. Then again, maybe if you don't know what your missing it's not as bad? IDK, maybe getting rid of some of the regulars like "Bridget" who spend less but make more trips makes business sense and frees up capacity for the big trip people.
Anyway, I am debating cancelling yearly my November Fort Wilderness trip, and maybe waiting a couple years for 1 big trip?

 

[DavidNYC]

Add this one to several other layers.....and the only "goal" that Genie+ may have achieved over FP+ was that people no longer have to plan for a trip 60/30 days in advance.

Yup - at least now you can just show up a park with your ticket and . . . oh wait . . . nevermind. Well at least once you're in you can just show up to a restaurant . . . uh . . .

LOL - I never understood this complaint about planning 60/30 days in advance. How hard is it to pick three attractions you'll want to do. And you could change them. Or skip them. And get more once you used them . . . . I hope the people who thought having to spend 30 minutes one day 30 days in advance was too hard are enjoying setting their alarm for 6:50 am every single morning of their trip . . . and then hoping they can get something that fits what they wanted to do that day.

 

[pixiedust2u]

You have identified one of several major flaws with Genie+.

Add this one to several other layers.....and the only "goal" that Genie+ may have achieved over FP+ was that people no longer have to plan for a trip 60/30 days in advance.

As you pointed out......Genie+ gave people what they asked for...............Oh Boy!!

Ha except now you need to basically spend an entire 60 days trying to figure out how to use genie +

 

[fatevilmonkey]

Genie plus is such an inferior product it’s not even funny !!!!

 

[snikki]

G+ is basically a virtual version of the OG paper FP. I never liked and barely used the OG FP.

 

[JeannieNM]

Some advice would be appreciated.

Hi. I have not read all 18 pages but have read many. Everyone has articulated so many things I have been concerned about with our upcoming trip in the end of July. We are 4 adults, mom, dad, DD (26), and BF(27). We have not been to Disney World in a very long time (we used to go every year with several trips a year to DLR). We have recently become AP holders at Disneyland and go often, we live part time in LA where our daughter and her boyfriend live. Sometimes we go overnight, sometimes for a few hours, we mix it up. I have not been since Genie+ but the kids have. I probably would not bother with Genie+ there as we know the ins and outs and if we can not do one thing we can do it another time. We are going to be in Orlando post cruise and thought it would be fun to spend a few days at DW. My DH who swore 10 years ago to never go back to a Disney theme park after a really bad experience for which customer service did nothing, has shocked us all and said he wants to join us at the parks in DW. Now I want to know what I can do to insure it is pleasant. He is interested in rides that show new technology.
We have 3 day park hoppers with Genie+ Debated doing 2 day which I can still do as it is a package, if we decided we wanted the 3rd day could we add it? Debating taking the Genie+ off of DH and my pass too.

So here is my plan and would appreciate any suggestions to improve on this.

Stay at the Four Seasons so we will have a nice room, nice pools, good service, and true 4 star hotel for relaxing when not at the parks. The down side is there really are no Disney perks except early entry which is not for us.

Day 1 we will just chill at the hotel (we arrive very early)
Day 2 going to book a VIP tour so we can hit all the hard to get rides with the entire family (4 of us) without having our nose in the phones
Day 3 chill at the pool Explore whatever rides, shows or parades we want that are not E rides. Have dinner at Epcot and see the fireworks there
Day 4 Morning explore the animals at AK or chill at the pool Explore whatever rides, shows or parades we want that are not E rides.
Day 3 and 4 the kids can decide if they want to be more aggressive about getting up at 7 am to use Genie+ or $ILL in order to ride some of the top rides.

Thoughts and Advice welcome!

 

[JeannieNM]

Opps Duplicate post

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Maybe Disney is listening. I got back Sunday and I've had a least 5 different survey's sent. Not new to get surveys but these had very specific questions. The latest was very specific for the days I visited, when I planned, Crowd levels, specifically asking which park on which day.. whether I used G+ LL asking if I visited other parks and comparisons to Universal offerings. I honestly hope they make changes because as of now my family agrees, I'm not booking anything for next year .. planning on banking/renting out my DVC points before they expire.

 

[gkeable]

Planning at the moment for our mid august trip from the UK. Will be staying onsite for the 1st time and my research is really pushing me to a different strategy than previous visit. We would of always rope dropped our Disney days, not because we are early birds but because there was a big advantage to doing so. Now I'm not so sure.

Staying onsite (Yacht Club) we will want to take advantage of the resort as well as the parks. My perceived dilution of the rope drop advantage combined with difficulty getting morning only G+ and also perceived advantage of extended evening hours is really pushing us to an afternoon/evening strategy, stacking G+ and ILL afternoon/evening bookings. Also splitting HS into 2 days seems to make sense. Plan is Day 1 (sat) - AK rope drop as will be up early just ILL for FOP, no G+. Day 2 - HS 10ish Just Star wars stuff - ILL RoTR - no G+ (Q for MFSR). Day 3 - Pool morning - EPCOT late night (with EEH) - maybe ILL Rat + GotG ride. Day 4 - Pool morning - HS (non starwars - G+ afternoon stacking ILL MMR. Day 5 - Pool morning - MK late night (with EEH) - G+ afternoon stacking ride ILLs during EEH.

Hoping that strategy still enable us to have a great trip, still means getting up at 0700 to book stuff which is a bit rubbish. Kids are teenagers now so late nights in parks should be OK but there's no way we could do ropedrop till park close. As repeat visitors (last in 2015) the pressure is off a bit to do everything, I do feel my expectations are well are truly reduced though. Still very excited to be coming back finally in August!

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Yup - at least now you can just show up a park with your ticket and . . . oh wait . . . nevermind. Well at least once you're in you can just show up to a restaurant . . . uh . . .

LOL - I never understood this complaint about planning 60/30 days in advance. How hard is it to pick three attractions you'll want to do. And you could change them. Or skip them. And get more once you used them . . . . I hope the people who thought having to spend 30 minutes one day 30 days in advance was too hard are enjoying setting their alarm for 6:50 am every single morning of their trip . . . and then hoping they can get something that fits what they wanted to do that day.

it's not like people who didn't like FP+ demanded Genie+. they just didn't like aspects of it...for us...we didn't like the 3 FP cap as under the old system we got many all day every day at all the parks. We also didn't like the tiering.

As far as getting up early...due to the FP+ tiering the only way to ride headliners with short waits was to get up early anyway and get over to the parks for rope drop. So you had your 3 FP+ in hand including one Tier one ride and you had to get up, get dressed, get over to the park by 7:30 or 8am and do a stampede to the other tier 1 rides to get a short wait.

Now...albeit you must pay....and albeit you must stay onsite...you can rollover in bed grab your phone and in a few minutes have 3 Tier 1 rides booked and then go back to sleep or lay around and go to the park whenever you want. OR you can still get up and do RD and go for your next favorite ride early.

e.g. at DHS book Genie+ for SD and buy ILL$ for ROTR and MMRR...then turn up at park open and ride MFSR, TOT and RNR with minimal, if any wait. that was:

• NOT possible under FP+
• it was KIND OF possible under old FP but you had to hustle all over the park grabbing paper FPs under that system...
• and now it IS 100% possible and MUCH easier...for a fee.