*Confirmed* G+ Changes to Advanced Lightning Lane

[starlite_]

no secrets from me. Parks open usually by 9am. the misconception is you have to tap in (ie actually enter the park) I do not believe that is true, as I remember having more than one reservation before entering usually around 1pm or so.

Also do not be scared if Genie+ plans are overlapping... often times it warns you that you have two selections close together, but there is usually plenty of time to do both in my experiences

You have to tap in at DLR! I think that is what confuses ppl, Genie+ works almost exactly the same in both coasts. With 3 small differences as far as I know, none of which affect functionality. First at WDW you need to buy it same day, at DLR you can buy it in advance with your tickets. Second is that at DLR you need to actually tap in to a park to start booking, at WDW there is the "horrible" 7am start. Third, at WDW there are categories of Genie+ (multipark, etc) and at DLR it's the same for both parks.

The way it works however is the same.

Also, not really for Suger Mag specifically but wanted to agree with everyone saying that users make it complicated. Ppl refreshing 10min straight to try and get a dif time that what's offered: if you are spending too much time on your phone, it's on you, it's your choice for trying to "hack" a time that is more convenient for you. Average ppl are not doing that.

 

[jade1]

https://allears.net/2022/08/10/news-disney-reveals-number-of-guests-using-genie/

"Close to 50%." That was on an investor call, where lying is generally illegal. Now, that could be 50% of *people*--so e.g. any Passholder who buys it even once counts as "one". But still.

So about $1.5 Billion a year additional revenue. Plus ILL.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I think it’s 7 am since there are times the parks open at 8 am with EE being 730 am. Imagine if it was 830 am and Christmas week some parks open at 8 am and they change the G+ time. People would lose their minds.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I think it’s 7 am since there are times the parks open at 8 am with EE being 730 am. Imagine if it was 830 am and Christmas week some parks open at 8 am and they change the G+ time. People would lose their minds.

On my May 2022 trip, early entry at AK was at 7 am so I was literally buying the Flight of Passage LL as I was scanning into the park lol

 

[jimmymc]

or 830am. No good reason to have them at 7am that I can see with the limit of next booking 120 after park open or actually using the LL booking.

if the park opens at 9am, for the stackers it would still be the same. Book #1 at 7/7:30/8/8:30... you still can book #2 at 11... #3 at 1. And for folks in the park it would not matter either. they would be unaffected. So those two hours+ between 7am and 9am (park open) are needed for what?

I wouldn't mind having them earlier so I can do it from the room. I don't want to be trying to get a reservation as the bus is pulling up or while in a crowded monorail. Somewhere in there is a sweet spot.

 

[New Mouse]

Disney has been going down the rabbit hole with a complex vacation arguably since the implementation of MDX. It took a mensa expert to understand how to make things work, especially when there was an issue.

Employees today still struggle with the system, yet we are expecting grandma's and grandpa's to just get all of it.

 

[BrianL]

I think a good read on all of this is that Genie+ is not that complicated, BUT it is more complicated than it really needs to be.

 

[Disneychick13]

It’s not a complicated system, it’s just a bad system. I’ve long given up hope that they will actually make any changes that make it significantly better. It’s just designed poorly.

 

[Jrb1979]

It’s not a complicated system, it’s just a bad system. I’ve long given up hope that they will actually make any changes that make it significantly better. It’s just designed poorly.

Unfortunately the only way to make any system significantly better requires cutting out a lot of people from buying it.

 

[vinotinto]

Disney has been going down the rabbit hole with a complex vacation arguably since the implementation of MDX. It took a mensa expert to understand how to make things work, especially when there was an issue.

Employees today still struggle with the system, yet we are expecting grandma's and grandpa's to just get all of it.

I think a good read on all of this is that Genie+ is not that complicated, BUT it is more complicated than it really needs to be.

The simplest way would be something like what the local amusement parks (e.g., Six Flags) offer: a more expensive product where you get to use the Express Line ONCE for each attraction per purchased day. Lines are limited by the cost of the product, not by needing a reservation for a specific time.

Or something like what Universal offers: a more expensive product where you get to use the Express Line unlimited times per purchased day. Again, lines are limited by the cost.

Disney’s problem is that it wants to control the line by limiting how many people can be in it at once, without making it an expensive product. So, there are all kinds of rules about when to purchase, when you can make your “reservation” and having specific times for your attraction “reservation” and when you can book your next one. Simple enough for us to figure out, but for the regular visitor, it can seem a bit complex.

 

[Disneychick13]

Unfortunately the only way to make any system significantly better requires cutting out a lot of people from buying it.

That’s how every other park does it. And it works well and people accept it. Disney did this to themselves by ever offering a free system in the first place. You can’t have a free system or relatively cheap system that also works really well. You have to drastically limit the number of people who use it. And with at least 50% of park visitors using it, it’s really not sustainable In the long term. That‘s why FP+ evolved to Genie+ and that has had to be tweaked and why Genie+ will evolve to something else and on and on. They can’t get it right until they limit it- it’s just that simple.

 

[Suger Mag]

I think it’s 7 am since there are times the parks open at 8 am with EE being 730 am. Imagine if it was 830 am and Christmas week some parks open at 8 am and they change the G+ time. People would lose their minds.

I wouldn't mind having them earlier so I can do it from the room. I don't want to be trying to get a reservation as the bus is pulling up or while in a crowded monorail. Somewhere in there is a sweet spot.

good points. I can imagine from Disney's perspective it would be a pain to change the time in a daily basis, so choosing an early time would work for various opening times and avoid the transportation times. I admit I have made some reservations in some funny places.

 

[tinkerjo]

I have an idea and I did not read all the responses so forgive me if someone already said it. Give ALL resort guests an extra Genie + selection. Even if it’s at 7 AM. There isn’t a whole lot of incentives to staying onsite anymore (but I will be always stay onsite if I can) this would fill up their resorts a little more
ETA- I actually like Genie + but my parents in their mid 70s and my technically challenged husband could never use it

 

[eticketplease]

oh I agree, the first time I used paper fast pass vs the last time how I used paper fast pass are way different

Disney had a way to make the paper fast passes difficult as well.

They would have the the pickup location near exits of rides, far away from rides as in the case of Radiator Springs or in the case of Indy it looked like it was a FP location for the Jungle Cruise.

Loved paper as we always had a “runner” that would carry our tickets and grab them for us.

Now I need a Jitterbug for Fastpasses lol

 

[Suger Mag]

it

Disney had a way to make the paper fast passes difficult as well.

They would have the the pickup location near exits of rides, far away from rides as in the case of Radiator Springs or in the case of Indy it looked like it was a FP location for the Jungle Cruise.

Loved paper as we always had a “runner” that would carry our tickets and grab them for us.

Now I need a Jitterbug for Fastpasses lol

def. sucked if you did not go to the parks early, certain ones like TSMM went fast. I did like collecting them and using them later at the end of the day. Such a waste of paper, the kiosk area was always a mess.

 

[Moliphino]

it

def. sucked if you did not go to the parks early, certain ones like TSMM went fast. I did like collecting them and using them later at the end of the day. Such a waste of paper, the kiosk area was always a mess.

Early on, they only checked the time and didn't look at the date. We'd save fastpasses for our next trip if we couldn't use them. Sad day for us when they cracked down on that. I still have hundreds of unused fastpasses at home.

 

[feesh]

This is the way that I look at it - what percentage of Disney travelers are the type to really dig in and do research? This is just a wild guess but maybe 20%?

For the other 80% - most of them will have knowledge of Genie+ and use it in a simpler way then most people here. Just book the next slot of a nearby ride. They will be happy it because they don't care to see the full potential. They are just happy they avoided some rides. Blessfully ignorant. In the end, the system works for most of them.

For the other 20% - this is good. If the system was too simple, everyone would know exactly how to use it to the max and there would be no advantage for the people who wanted to invest some more time into understanding strategies to use it in a most effective way. Most of these people feel good because they see they are getting more value out of their dollars than most.

I still think a lot of the frustration boils down to the fact that everything feels owed "more". Whether that is more flexibility, more spontaneity, more advanced planning capability, more sleep from a different booking window etc. Its different for everyone based on their interests. And I get it - these trips are $$$$ - of course we are all looking for more value.

But I do agree with a previous commenter that this is about a mindset. It can't be perfect because everyone's perfect is different. Accept it for what it is in the moment and take whatever benefits you can from it. Or don't if the value isn't there for you. If you let it frustrate you it will only impact your trip negatively.

It obviously sucks we need to pay for something when we got previous versions for free - but honestly, in todays world of corporate greed, im actually more surprised it took this long to start charging for a service like this.

 

[jimmymc]

good points. I can imagine from Disney's perspective it would be a pain to change the time in a daily basis, so choosing an early time would work for various opening times and avoid the transportation times. I admit I have made some reservations in some funny places.

If you're rope-dropping early entry for Animal Kingdom, you're most likely on a bus at 7 am getting whatever reservations you need for the day. I've also pulled over on the way to the airport at 7 am to make a first day reservation.

 

[Minnie1222]

For the other 80% - most of them will have knowledge of Genie+ and use it in a simpler way then most people here. Just book the next slot of a nearby ride. They will be happy it because they don't care to see the full potential. They are just happy they avoided some rides. Blessfully ignorant. In the end, the system works for most of them.

Yes, this is me. I don't have the urge to dissect G+ further since we already get everything we want. While I may be among the very first group to use G+, I'm happy to not evolved with it, and I certainly don't need a doctorate in Genie+ology. After all, these are just amusement parks. There's no need to stress over a fun vacation.

 

[Disneychick13]

This is the way that I look at it - what percentage of Disney travelers are the type to really dig in and do research? This is just a wild guess but maybe 20%?

For the other 80% - most of them will have knowledge of Genie+ and use it in a simpler way then most people here. Just book the next slot of a nearby ride. They will be happy it because they don't care to see the full potential. They are just happy they avoided some rides. Blessfully ignorant. In the end, the system works for most of them.

For the other 20% - this is good. If the system was too simple, everyone would know exactly how to use it to the max and there would be no advantage for the people who wanted to invest some more time into understanding strategies to use it in a most effective way. Most of these people feel good because they see they are getting more value out of their dollars than most.

I still think a lot of the frustration boils down to the fact that everything feels owed "more". Whether that is more flexibility, more spontaneity, more advanced planning capability, more sleep from a different booking window etc. Its different for everyone based on their interests. And I get it - these trips are $$$$ - of course we are all looking for more value.

But I do agree with a previous commenter that this is about a mindset. It can't be perfect because everyone's perfect is different. Accept it for what it is in the moment and take whatever benefits you can from it. Or don't if the value isn't there for you. If you let it frustrate you it will only impact your trip negatively.

It obviously sucks we need to pay for something when we got previous versions for free - but honestly, in todays world of corporate greed, im actually more surprised it took this long to start charging for a service like this.

But this is really terrible. I’m fine with paying for better access. I’m fine with AP holders/ DVC owners/ on-site visitors/deluxe resort visitors/concierge visitors getting an additional benefit If that ever happens. What I think really stinks is saying well in order to get the maximum benefit you have to know to check at 1:17 for this ride or whatever time for whatever drops and you have to know to refresh a lot to get better times or better rides. And that maximum benefit is still not that great. Like the 80% should just be happy they get anything? Stop complaining simpletons, you got space mountain and dumbo and the barnstormer? I personally get the maximum benefit/I understand the system. I’m all for tiered access. But tiered access shouldn’t include knowing how to “game” the system in order to get a maximum benefit. A good system wouldn’t be dependent on the ability of patrons to exploit it.