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

[RamblingMad]

G+ was priced too low from day one. Once they announced guests would no longer be able to reserve G+ in advance it was obvious to me price increases were on the way. I locked in G+ for our November trip for all 5 park days. I'll admit, it felt like overkill at the time but it turned out well. I'm now getting 5 days of G+ for what will be the new price of 3.5 days.
On the surface going from $15 to $22 doesn't sound like that much. But for a family that extra $7 per person per day adds up quick for a multi-day vacation.

While I don't think it will make a huge dent in the number of sales, it will pass a threshold for more than the $15 mark did.

Now, the ILL going from $15 to $22? That's significant. For my family of five, $75 stings but worth for rides like RotR, which I haven't been on yet.. Now it will be $110, and that gives me pause.

Basically, you're paying to get into the park to shop. What Disney has essentially done is bring back the per ride ticketing.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

This simply isn’t born out by Disney’s actions. If you want to believe it, that’s fine. But it’s not based on any evidence at all. They wanted to monetize FP. So they did. If they wanted a front of the line pass they would have made a front of the line pass. Instead they put in a low barrier of entry price point for what is essentially the same thing they gave away for free.

sorry, but they are not charging for what is essentially what they were giving away for free. Genie+ is nothing like FP+.

you may like it better. You may find it’s worse. But no one would call it the same thing, or even a close cousin. At most, it’s the drunk, crazy, uncle of FP+’s fathers, cousins, friends, former roommate.

 

[Upatnoon]

I also don't understand this Genie+ needs to be more expensive to work when FP+ was FREE and worked fine.

FP+ was "free," but had other costs, like getting up at the crack of dawn to book attractions 60+ days out for popular rides. Many guests were frustrated by the planning required or never understood it. Also, many guests thought you had to pay for it, even if it was free.

While FP+ was all fine and dandy for people who hang out in Disboards and use spreadsheets to plan out visits, the average somewhat rich dad who dropped $10K on a trip was probably not happy about waiting in line three hours for Flight of Passage.

"I just want to go to the park, BUY my front-of-line pass, and waltz to the front," is probably what he told some cast member.

"Why are we making our most important guests miserable and leaving all that money on the table," is probably how the conversation eventually turned at Disney HQ.

In the end, if you are going to have system to cut the line, how do you decide who gets to cut? Money is the easiest, most profitable way to do it.

 

[Brett Wyman]

sorry, but they are not charging for what is essentially what they were giving away for free. Genie+ is nothing like FP+.

you may like it better. You may find it’s worse. But no one would call it the same thing, or even a close cousin. At most, it’s the drunk, crazy, uncle of FP+’s fathers, cousins, friends, former roommate.

I would pay for FP+ again. I’ll never pay for Genie Plus again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

FP+ was "free," but had other costs, like getting up at the crack of dawn to book attractions 60+ days out for popular rides. Many guests were frustrated by the planning required or never understood it. Also, many guests thought you had to pay for it, even if it was free.

While FP+ was all fine and dandy for people who hang out in Disboards and use spreadsheets to plan out visits, the average somewhat rich dad who dropped $10K on a trip was probably not happy about waiting in line three hours for Flight of Passage.

"I just want to go to the park, BUY my front-of-line pass, and waltz to the front," is probably what he told some cast member.

"Why are we making our most important guests miserable and leaving all that money on the table," is probably how the conversation eventually turned at Disney HQ.

In the end, if you are going to have system to cut the line, how do you decide who gets to cut? Money is the easiest, most profitable way to do it.

I don't think charging $15 (originally $10) for MP and $15 for Genie+ (originally) had much to do with a rich dad wanting front of the line access. That average somewhat rich dad would have just done a VIP tour. That would get him much more personalized service with front of the line access. Their most important guests aren't the ones spending $15 (or now up to $22 presently per person). They are the ones dropping $500 per hour (actual range is listed at $425-$850 per hour depending on season) for a 7 hour minimum.

 

[DCLMP]

sorry, but they are not charging for what is essentially what they were giving away for free. Genie+ is nothing like FP+.

you may like it better. You may find it’s worse. But no one would call it the same thing, or even a close cousin. At most, it’s the drunk, crazy, uncle of FP+’s fathers, cousins, friends, former roommate.

I would agree with that. They both are awful.

 

[DCLMP]

I agree with you but also would say "I can afford" is usually a bit hard to pin down when more generally speaking, I know you were giving your personal feelings just sorta expanding on that one. A lot of people can afford stuff but it crosses the threshold of comfortability and I often think that's mostly what people are talking about unless people are in different financial situations than they are portraying on the Boards (totally possible and not my business if it is the case).

I could afford a $10K WDW vacation, which is an often quoted amount of costs on these Boards, but I wouldn't want to spend it. Not at WDW.

Most of our vacations my husband and I have we can afford a lot more than we're spending but we have a sorta general feeling we go with on the costs. We may say "I'd like lodging to be below X" for instance and it's relative to the place we're visiting. This was the case even in 2011 when we were just out of college (well I had graduated the year before) on a Disney vacation together. We weren't nearly as stable as we are now but we could have afforded (and not regretted it later) more than we spent but it was just not how have vacationed together.

I think even at the prices they are now you'd probably find more people than not that could afford Disney if they had gone before but it may cross into that "nope no way that's just not worth it" line than in the past.

I think anything that crosses the threshold of comfortable is something you can't afford. No I don't think many people can afford 700-800 a night for a hotel room. A couple of years ago you could get the same room for 300-400 a night. That's a big price jump. I could afford 400 a night. I can not afford 800 a night. I don't think I'm some sort of anomaly. I am your average upper middle class wage earner that has been Disney's bread and butter over the last 12 years.

You also have to consider there is currently double digit inflation in everything we buy. People's real incomes are shrinking fast and it's only going to get worse. I guess anyone could afford "it" if they had enough time to save up for it, but I don't consider spending a year saving up for a vacation "as comfortably affording it."

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think anything that crosses the threshold of comfortable is something you can't afford. No I don't think many people can afford 700-800 a night for a hotel room. A couple of years ago you could get the same room for 300-400 a night. That's a big price jump. I could afford 400 a night. I can not afford 800 a night. I don't think I'm some sort of anomaly. I am your average upper middle class wage earner that has been Disney's bread and butter over the last 12 years.

You also have to consider there is currently double digit inflation in everything we buy. People's real incomes are shrinking fast and it's only going to get worse. I guess anyone could afford "it" if they had enough time to save up for it, but I don't consider spending a year saving up for a vacation "as comfortably affording it."

Comfortable paying and being able to afford are way different things. I'm not wanting to spend $200 per night for All-Stars but I can afford it. I'm not comfortable spending $1,000 a night but I can afford it. When people talk about not being able to afford something and they actually mean that it truly means they can't like they wouldn't be able to pay their utility bill that month or get groceries or other basic needs. But being uncomfortable with the pricing and what that feels like in terms of value is usually what people actually mean when discussing Disney pricing. Been that way for years. They usually talk about what other vacation(s) they'll take instead.

To put it a different way people are too liberal with the phrase, especially on these Boards.

 

[Jrb1979]

Basically, you're paying to get into the park to shop. What Disney has essentially done is bring back the per ride ticketing.

Disagree. Only at Disney people think Genie+ is required to enjoy the parks. Go to any other park in the country and see how skip the line systems actually work. They are priced high and have limited availability for a reason. There was time when standing in long lines was part of going to a theme park.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Disagree. Only at Disney people think Genie+ is required to enjoy the parks. Go to any other park in the country and see how skip the line systems actually work. They are priced high and have limited availability for a reason. There was time when standing in long lines was part of going to a theme park.

I priced bringing my son to 6 flags for a day. The skip the line feature raised our cost by over $1,200 for just the three of us. And I think that tier limited us to one time per ride, Genie + is pennies in comparison. Of course it’s not as good a program either. But cost wise, 6 flags way way more expensive.

having said that, I might be willing to pay north if a few hundred a day for a true skip the line, but I don’t see Disney implementing that.

 

[cakebaker]

I hear you, I was on property for many many years. But the perks were diminishing for me. When I can get a 1-2 bedroom condo or hotel suite for less than a value resort WITH kitchen and laundry (pack less) it is hard. When security checks started, they stepped over the line. I did stay at Sports last month because we were doing a Halloween Party and I wanted the bus back.

But we are long past room breaks and we are park centric. We tend to stay very close to Disney but here is a story. Was at MK with two sons and a friend. One son and I were staying past the Outlet Mall and the other & friend staying at POP Century. We all left park. DS and I rode the ferry, walked to our car, drove out (with delay due to police situation in parking lot), drove to hotel and as I was getting ready for bed DS & friend texted that the bus for POP had just arrived. I for the most part stay no more than 15 minutes parking lot to parking lot. There isn't even a Disney bus ride that short.

They are diminishing for me as well, but so far, the negatives of doing just what you describe- I mean, I've seen that mass of humanity exiting the MK at closing, waiting for ferry- along with having to get in a hot car and drive through traffic, then do it all over again the next day, is just something I'm not willing to do. The bus service at the values is one reason we don't move down to value level. For us, having gone for over 35 years now, we are less park focused. We like a much slower, relaxed experience. I haven't seen the inside of a park at 4 pm in I don't remember when. I suspect the day I finally get to the point that staying onsite is not "worth it" is the day I just don't go back again.

But Disney is closer every day to that point in which it's just not worth it anymore. I think if it weren't for me trying desperately to give my grandson the childhood memories I gave my daughters, I might have given up long ago. It's getting harder and harder every trip and costing more and more to do it. We have to do add ons like After Hours and dessert buffets to make it enjoyable for us. While I don't have a bottomless wallet, I want them to do whatever it takes to reduce the demand. I want the limited events- but I want them truly limited. I'd love to do a holiday party- charge more if you must- but just stop packing people in like sardines!

 

[PaladinButters]

I disagree. And a system that was offered to EVERYONE for free is completely fair and an even playing field. It couldn't get more even than that. If someone didn't want to put in the effort, that doesn't mean the system wasn't fair.

A system that is offered to everyone to use the same whether it is free or not is as "fair" as you are going to get. If somebody wants to drop thousands on a vacation without doing even a simple Google search on the destination first that's on them.

By far the most fair system would be no system at all.

Who says Disney (or life) was fair or had to be fair anyway?

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Anyone there now? Is it $20 again today?

 

[xdan0920]

I priced bringing my son to 6 flags for a day. The skip the line feature raised our cost by over $1,200 for just the three of us.

They charge $400 per person per day?

 

[xdan0920]

sorry, but they are not charging for what is essentially what they were giving away for free. Genie+ is nothing like FP+.

you may like it better. You may find it’s worse. But no one would call it the same thing, or even a close cousin. At most, it’s the drunk, crazy, uncle of FP+’s fathers, cousins, friends, former roommate.

I didn't call it the same thing. Doesn't change the fact that it is, in fact, a paid FastPass system.

 

[Jrb1979]

They charge $400 per person per day?

It's possible. Most days this summer at Cedar Point it was close to $200 a person per day.

I'm surprised people are so shocked by the price of skip the line passes at most other parks.

 

[PaladinButters]

They charge $400 per person per day?

Probably depends on the park, the day, and the tier of pass. (Y'all think Genie is confusing) The last few Saturdays at Magic Mountain are $285 right now. IDK what is was earlier in the year.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Looks like it’s $20 again today. Random Thursday in October makes this seem like $20 is the new baseline. I wonder what the outer limit will be? I guess we’ll find out on Thanksgiving.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I don't think I'll use Genie+ anywhere but MK anyway, but I did plan to buy the ILL for our NYE trip. We are taking my little nephews, and my kids are bringing a friend and BF so I'm going to buy it more than I might usually so they can have a fun trip. For those of you that are faster at research than me, how much with tax will it be per day per person for that max price on Genie+ and ILL???

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I don't think I'll use Genie+ anywhere but MK anyway, but I did plan to buy the ILL for our NYE trip. We are taking my little nephews, and my kids are bringing a friend and BF so I'm going to buy it more than I might usually so they can have a fun trip. For those of you that are faster at research than me, how much with tax will it be per day per person for that max price on Genie+ and ILL???

Nobody knows what the max price of genie will be. They haven’t said. Especially for New Years. Could be $22. Could be $25. Could be $50. Could be $100 or more.