BREAKING: Walt Disney World Introduces Date-Based Variable Pricing for Genie+ Service

[PaladinButters]

I'm not sure how accurate the AECOM data are. But, comparing their 2019 and 2021 reports (available here), Disney attendance was much lower last year than before the pandemic. (MK in 2019: almost 21 million; MK in 2021: less than 13 million. Similar declines at Epcot and AK. DHS only down about 3 million.) And -- of relevance to much of the discussion in this thread -- Disney's attendance relative to Universal is down. According to this report, attendance at each of Universal's two main parks now surpasses attendance at each of the Disney World parks with the exception of Magic Kingdom. Whereas, before the pandemic, all four Disney parks ranked ahead of both Universal Parks.

I'm sure that Disney's 2022 attendance is much higher than 2021. It will be interesting to see where it falls relative to 2019.

I surely don't know where they get those numbers from but I love a good FAQ that just says trust us, we've been estimating for a long time about it.

 

[lowlight]

So does anyone here think the daily fluctuating increase of 4 dollars or so has reduced uptake of Genie+ from over 50% of parkgoers to the likely 25% needed to make it useful? If not, it’s just a money grab, not a solution.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

I surely don't know where they get those numbers from but I love a good FAQ that just says trust us, we've been estimating for a long time about it.

As I said, I have no idea how reliable these numbers are. But I will note this from the BlogMickey article I linked, "While Disney does not release attendance figures publicly, the TEA index is widely accepted within the industry as having accurate estimates." Obviously, I have no idea whether that is true either!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So does anyone here think the daily fluctuating increase of 4 dollars or so has reduced uptake of Genie+ from over 50% of parkgoers to the likely 25% needed to make it useful? If not, it’s just a money grab, not a solution.

I don't think anyone could make much of an adjustment in a product in a handful of days. In reality it would need months of testing, finding sweet spots depending on anticipated guest conditions spanning multiple seasons and multiple holiday timeframes to get a consistent dependable anticipated outcomes.

If all you think it is is a money grab that's not going to change. I don't really think charging at Value resorts does anything to help parking around resorts at the theme parks and view that more like because they can, no reason to think someone who views Genie+ pricing structure as just a money grab will change their mind but there can be outliers I suppose.

 

[cakebaker]

Of course it’s a one way street. They will push the price as high as they can to achieve maximum uptake. They know on a busy day, people are going to pay. So they can max out the price. Less busy day, they have to provide some incentive to purchase.

If that's what you want to believe, but it still makes no sense at all. Pushing the price higher deters people from buying, it just does. I'll buy it any day for $15. For $25, I'm going to pick and choose when I buy. For $50- I better see a vast increase in quality and quantity or I don't buy at all. I'm guessing along the way there will be a lot of people tapping out and at $50, the experience will be much, much better. But if you'd like to take everything Disney does and find a way to make them the evil corporation out to stick it to their guests, enjoy. I'm often critical of them but I don't see evil lurking behind every move they make.

 

[cakebaker]

So does anyone here think the daily fluctuating increase of 4 dollars or so has reduced uptake of Genie+ from over 50% of parkgoers to the likely 25% needed to make it useful? If not, it’s just a money grab, not a solution.

No, but I don't think we've seen the last of the price increases. I don't think they need to cut sales by half to make it more useful, but regardless, they aren't going to jump from $15 to $50 overnight- they'll do it gradually. I wouldn't be surprised by this time next year, $50 or more is what we'll be looking at.

 

[Jrb1979]

No, but I don't think we've seen the last of the price increases. I don't think they need to cut sales by half to make it more useful, but regardless, they aren't going to jump from $15 to $50 overnight- they'll do it gradually. I wouldn't be surprised by this time next year, $50 or more is what we'll be looking at.

I agree. I think they are slowly trying to get to the Universal route as well as get people used to having to wait in lines like it used to be.

IMO Genie+ is part of the reason the parks feel so crowded. With so many people waiting in virtual queues they end up just wandering around. The parks weren't built for that

 

[BamaGuy44]

I agree. I think they are slowly trying to get to the Universal route as well as get people used to having to wait in lines like it used to be.

IMO Genie+ is part of the reason the parks feel so crowded. With so many people waiting in virtual queues they end up just wandering around. The parks weren't built for that

No doubt that's a factor. Of course, to Disney "wandering around" means buying merch and food. I hope we're moving toward some kind of Universal model without return times and app refreshing. Paid line skipping systems are here to stay, I'd rather pay more for one that actually works well. I don't actually mind G+, I've gotten good value out of it on the 2 trips I've used it. But I've never set foot in a Disney park between May 15 and September 15, or the last 2 weeks of December. During really busy times it shows the cracks in the system more. I don't do theme parks in the summer, period. But I realize many peoples' schedules aren't that flexible.

 

[TikiRob]

So does anyone here think the daily fluctuating increase of 4 dollars or so has reduced uptake of Genie+ from over 50% of parkgoers to the likely 25% needed to make it useful? If not, it’s just a money grab, not a solution.

You still have a ton of people who have it as part of their vacation packages at $15. My guess is you won't know the real impact of variable pricing model until MLK Day weekend, President's Day weekend, or spring break.

 

[cakebaker]

I agree. I think they are slowly trying to get to the Universal route as well as get people used to having to wait in lines like it used to be.

IMO Genie+ is part of the reason the parks feel so crowded. With so many people waiting in virtual queues they end up just wandering around. The parks weren't built for that

That's an excellent point. I know when we went in July 2021, our first trip back after the closure, the walkways and stores seemed empty but that's because the lines for the rides were horrendous. There was no ride system in place and wait times were crazy high. We had a decent trip, but only because we had DAS to soften the waits a little. The trip last month was just the opposite- stores and walkways were packed but we spent little to no time in lines. They definitely need to have more people taking up space in standby rather than filling the walkways and the way to do that is have less of them willing to buy Genie+.

 

[lowlight]

You still have a ton of people who have it as part of their vacation packages at $15. My guess is you won't know the real impact of variable pricing model until MLK Day weekend, President's Day weekend, or spring break.

That is very true, and a good point. I bounce back and forth between thinking Disney is trying to fix the problem (and enrich themselves) by charging more, and thinking Disney is just trying to keep it as high as they can with the most uptake to make the most money. You're right though, only time will tell.

 

[xdan0920]

If that's what you want to believe, but it still makes no sense at all. Pushing the price higher deters people from buying, it just does. I'll buy it any day for $15. For $25, I'm going to pick and choose when I buy. For $50- I better see a vast increase in quality and quantity or I don't buy at all. I'm guessing along the way there will be a lot of people tapping out and at $50, the experience will be much, much better. But if you'd like to take everything Disney does and find a way to make them the evil corporation out to stick it to their guests, enjoy. I'm often critical of them but I don't see evil lurking behind every move they make.

Yes. This is def altruistic. I apologize to the multinational corporation!

 

[DCLMP]

I was perusing through one of the DVC rental sites confirmed reservations and I'm seeing a ton a good deals this summer. Examples would be studio at GF for 2400 for 6 nights or 7 nights in a studio at Riviera for 2800. I don't know what this means? Either DVC

owners need money or they or so disgusted with Disney they are just putting their reservations up for sale. A confirmed reservation is one that is already booked and the owner is trying to sell and transfer it to someone else. I just thought I'd mention it if

anyones looking for cheaper way to do Disney next year.

 

[wilkydelts]

Let's hear the "rationalizations" today, Genie+ $20 for Wednesday October 19.

 

[xdan0920]

I was perusing through one of the DVC rental sites confirmed reservations and I'm seeing a ton a good deals this summer. Examples would be studio at GF for 2400 for 6 nights or 7 nights in a studio at Riviera for 2800. I don't know what this means? Either DVC

owners need money or they or so disgusted with Disney they are just putting their reservations up for sale. A confirmed reservation is one that is already booked and the owner is trying to sell and transfer it to someone else. I just thought I'd mention it if

anyones looking for cheaper way to do Disney next year.

This is just the new way of renting points. I have been repeatedly reprimanded for bringing this up as an issue for DVC owners. Just ignore it.

 

[xdan0920]

Let's hear the "rationalizations" today, Genie+ $20 for Wednesday October 19.

Well, listen, it's really better for guests. This will make for a better experience!

 

[Uncle Coaster]

So does anyone here think the daily fluctuating increase of 4 dollars or so has reduced uptake of Genie+ from over 50% of parkgoers to the likely 25% needed to make it useful? If not, it’s just a money grab, not a solution.

Wouldn’t a money grab be them just going the $4 increase everyday? If this is a money grab, why lower the price on certain days?

I don’t say that as someone who thinks they figured out the exact reasoning behind their decision, but it seems like if they could get $22 everyday they should charge $22 everyday. What am I missing?

 

[xdan0920]

Wouldn’t a money grab be them just going the $4 increase everyday? If this is a money grab, why lower the price on certain days?

I don’t say that as someone who thinks they figured out the exact reasoning behind their decision, but it seems like if they could get $22 everyday they should charge $22 everyday. What am I missing?

They want to sell "x" amount of these things a day, at a minimum. They don't believe, yet, that they can get $22 for every day.

 

[DaviVascaino]

Wouldn’t a money grab be them just going the $4 increase everyday? If this is a money grab, why lower the price on certain days?

I don’t say that as someone who thinks they figured out the exact reasoning behind their decision, but it seems like if they could get $22 everyday they should charge $22 everyday. What am I missing?

that is the same thing with park tickets. If there is a higher demand, they will INCREASE prices to get more money. Higher traffic months = higher ticket prices (holidays, summer, etc). In slower months or lower attendance weeks (Jan, Feb for example), ticket prices DECREASE.

That is the same thing with genie plus. If the park is crowded, they will increase the price of genie plus, and if attendance is lower, they will decrease prices.

Isn't that obvious??? People coming up with 100 explanations when we have several similar practices done by disney: ticket prices, hotel rooms, etc...

 

[Uncle Coaster]

That is the same thing with genie plus. If the park is crowded, they will increase the price of genie plus, and if attendance is lower, they will decrease prices.

Isn't that obvious??? People coming up with 100 explanations when we have several similar practices done by disney: ticket prices, hotel rooms, etc...

Seems obvious to me. I guess I just have a different definition of “money grab” than some others.