*Confirmed* G+ Changes to Advanced Lightning Lane

[jade1]

Every ride at MK right now is less than an hour wait and lines app is even less. I’d never pay that today.

Yea 59 and rain is a factor as well.

 

[Minnie1222]

Every ride at MK right now is less than an hour wait and lines app is even less. I’d never pay that today. They are milking every dollar from guests. If people don’t think Disney sometimes inflates times to scare people into buying Genie, their dreaming.

People also complain about excruciating long standby lines so it's difficult to tell when the wait times are inflated. I certainly don't want to be the test subject just to prove a point.

Someone may feel great about spending only 30 min in line when the posted wait time is 60 min. Not me! I'd rather pay for G+ with the confidence that I will zip through that line in under 10 minutes.

 

[SL6827]

I think an extra charge to book ahead of time will be money that Disney will not leave on the table.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

People also complain about excruciating long standby lines so it's difficult to tell when the wait times are inflated. I certainly don't want to be the test subject just to prove a point.

Someone may feel great about spending only 30 min in line when the posted wait time is 60 min. Not me! I'd rather pay for G+ with the confidence that I will zip through that line in under 10 minutes.

Well sadly not every family can afford that option. Esp multiple times on a trip, on top of ILL. What made Disney different, is that they did things that were different and more customer inclusive for people. Free fast pass. Free magical express. It’s gone. Need to now wake up every morning at 6:55am on my " vacation " to hopefully get a VQ. Maybe buy genie plus. Maybe buy a ILL. We can't even sleep in slightly anymore. ( This is the one change I am really hoping for. Let me choose things before the actual vacation ) With fast pass, I never had to wait in long lines. I would get every ride I wanted through the entire day. Same as genie plus ( just this costs money )

The whole point of Disney is for everyone to enjoy it, not just the ones who have the extra income to be able to do that. It costs almost $800 for a week pass, for 1 person. Then they want even more when you get in there, to actually be able to enjoy it, without the massive stress and heat of waiting? 9 Billion dollars in revenue for the parks in QT1 this year. Are they seriously going to take a hit by not charging for Genie? I get it though. Its a business to make as much money as possible. Just thought Disney would be slightly different in helping a little bit the consumer

Also the fact that this crap was free before Covid, is the most annoying part. I’d rather get rid of it completely and everyone stands in the same line if that’s the case. Believe me it’s awesome walking past a line of people who are hating life waiting, but at the same time, I wish their experience was better. They might never wanna come back based on that. Not very magical for them.

I don’t care who wants to spend their hard earned money on what. I’ve bought Genie plus myself. For me, I’m not gonna make Disney believe we are actually happy with having to do that. It has affected me wanting to go there more often, and has made them lose money that I would have given them, but I gave to another company. If people just keep buying it, then they have zero issues as it seems everyone is OK with it. Prices will go up etc etc and in the end, only the wealthy will be able to enjoy the park. That, I am not a fan of.

On topic though, they will never stop charging. I've accepted that at this point. I just hope they allow you to make selections before you actually get on the trip.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I wish they'd make every Wednesday 'StandBy Line Only Day"!!

 

[tjkraz]

Used Genie+ about two Saturdays ago. EP and DHS were at max capacity per Park Pass (at least for APs.) There was a big cheerleading competition at WWOS that week.

We got 7 attractions out of Genie+, and could have gotten more. Also did TRON Virtual Queue and filled in with at least 7 other attractions via standby. Arrived at MK around 9:30am (2 hours after EE opening) and later hopped to Epcot and DHS. In order we did:

- Haunted Mansion*
- IASW
- Pooh*
- Peoplemover
- Tron
- Animation Academy
- Soarin*
- Moana
- Test Track*
- Runaway Railway*
- TSM*
- Falcon*
- Rise
- Fantasmic

Asterisks are the G+ attractions. We left DHS at 10pm after Fantasmic. It was a long 12.5 hour day, but one of the more rewarding days overall. In addition to the attractions, we also stopped for a QS lunch, TS dinner, spent at least an hour browsing the Festival of the Arts exhibits and another hour in shops. Also park hopped using Monorail and Skyline, which took time (albeit welcome downtime.) Doing the Animation Academy at America Gardens Theater was actually the most strenuous part of the day as it required us to walk all the way to the back of the park upon arrival, then return to the front for rides.

And we arguably wasted our first two Genie+ passes on Haunted Mansion (hadn't seen the Hatbox Ghost yet) and Pooh (just because we wanted to.) Could have probably used those on something like Space and Big Thunder instead.

Soarin was a little backlogged in the G+ line. We probably waited around 15 minutes there. (Standby was listed as 60 minutes, and it was every bit of that. The queue was backlogged nearly to the entrance.) Other G+ attractions got us into the ride / pre-show almost immediately.

I don't love the cost of Genie+. But you couldn't have that sort of a day with FastPass+. Over the course of a week-long visit, buying G+ a couple times to avoid long waits isn't the worst approach in the world. Other days we'll use early entry, late nights and attractions with shorter standby lines to tour at a more leisurely pace. We've even rediscovered the joy in having a full "pool day". That was difficult to justify with FP+ because the 3/day limit and tiering of attractions meant you really needed to get the 3 rides every day to avoid 60-90 minute standby waits.

I do agree that some wait times are inflated. Not sure if it's malicious or just neglectful on CMs' part. Rise was listed as 70 minute wait when we got in line. It was easily half of that.

 

[Minnie1222]

I’d rather get rid of it completely and everyone stands in the same line if that’s the case. Believe me it’s awesome walking past a line of people who are hating life waiting, but at the same time, I wish their experience was better. They might never wanna come back based on that. Not very magical for them.

We spent many hours waiting in line when standby was the only option in the last century. I agree it was not magical. I didn't want to return due to the crowds. It's understandable why I eagerly accept any skip-the-line product.

It has affected me wanting to go there more often, and has made them lose money that I would have given them, but I gave to another company.

It lost money from you, but gained from us. We're going more often knowing that we can get on more rides.

 

[MJJME]

They may not. Disney has never officially said they are coming. Only released a statement last year that they were looking into ways to be able to pre-book and that changes may come in 2024.

I’m sure Genie will continue to evolve as it has since it’s inception, but could still be a while.

Yes they did.

In a post on the official blog, Disney said, "We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024. Our goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family. While we are not yet able to share specific details, we look forward to sharing more information at a later date.”

That was in May 2023

The speculation is that they are revamping DAS and need to complete that prior to rolling out Genie+ changes (waiting on lawsuit vs six flags b they use a service to verify disability)

 

[mikeishere]

I wish they’d just introduce some sort of pre-paid express pass like universal. Me and one family member are coming from the uk later this year and I feel peace of mind knowing we have our pre-paid express pass for our one day at universal and knowing we’ll probably get most done in a day. Disney just seem to make everything so confusing and complicated these days.

 

[Minnie1222]

I wish they’d just introduce some sort of pre-paid express pass like universal. Me and one family member are coming from the uk later this year and I feel peace of mind knowing we have our pre-paid express pass for our one day at universal and knowing we’ll probably get most done in a day. Disney just seem to make everything so confusing and complicated these days.

Did you find FP confusing and complicated? Genie+ is just a modified version of FP, and iLL is a guaranteed option to get you on the most popular rides. Your probability of getting more rides with a shorter wait is higher with G+/iLL.

The loudest Disney guests are not ready with the cost of the Express system. They're angry with $15, $35. Can't imagine what the reaction would be when those amounts are increased ten times.

 

[tony67]

I know they are different structures and one is superior to the other, but day of 2-park express unlimited today at universal is $285 a person.

Just something to consider for the folks that say they want to go more towards Universals model…especially since there isn’t anyway Disney would be able to accommodate giving it to every deluxe resort guest like Universal does.

Personally I would never pay the 285 for Express. 285 is on the high side of it.

This is the pricing the next two weeks. Even at 164 I would probable not buy it, but I go to Universal quite a bit..


For a family of four you can book one night at the least expensive premier hotel and get two days free for all 4.
So you get a room at a very nice hotel.
Check in at 7AM and get your express passes for two days is almost always a better deal than paying for it, depending on the number of people in your party..

Room rates can vary a lot. But 400-600 is not unusual, and if you have an AP $350 is not unusual.

 

[tony67]

Did you find FP confusing and complicated? Genie+ is just a modified version of FP, and iLL is a guaranteed option to get you on the most popular rides. Your probability of getting more rides with a shorter wait is higher with G+/iLL.

The loudest Disney guests are not ready with the cost of the Express system. They're angry with $15, $35. Can't imagine what the reaction would be when those amounts are increased ten times.

Paying for G+ is the least of my issues with it - Ill pay for it. I will not pay for individual rides on top of that though.

The issue is the getting up at 7AM and buying it daily.
I am on vacation and don't want to get up at 7AM, but have to. Sure Ill be up anyway, but Id rather get breakfast and head out.

If you are at one of their properties you really should be able to buy it for length of stay IMO.
There needs to be some perks for staying on property as far as G+ goes.

 

[TCRAIG]

Paying for G+ is the least of my issues with it - Ill pay for it. I will not pay for individual rides on top of that though.

The issue is the getting up at 7AM and buying it daily.
I am on vacation and don't want to get up at 7AM, but have to. Sure Ill be up anyway, but Id rather get breakfast and head out.

If you are at one of their properties you really should be able to buy it for length of stay IMO.
There needs to be some perks for staying on property as far as G+ goes.

AND you could preselect 3 FP+ per day AND you could pick your times…
Like you (tony67), paying is not my main beef…

 

[Cfabar1]

When Genie+ first came out (pre-variable pricing), you could purchase it in advance.

I don't understand why they can't make a calendar that predetermines what the price will be on any given day - ideally of the year - but at least 60-90 days out, and let people purchase it in advance.

Now, we were in two parks this week. As AP holders we rarely purchase Genie+, and we passed on it this time. Here is what I noticed:

- At MK Genie+ more or less works well. There are enough attractions and enough A-E attractions that it works out just fine. By the end of the night though, it starts going away and the options are limited.

- At EPCOT it was really unclear what we would actually get out of it. I think if we went in first thing in the morning, it would have far more utility, but we came in the afternoon, by which time most Genie+ options were unavailable, or alternatively were useless (not much of a longer wait than being in the standby line... not a bad deal compared to free, but not worth paying the $15 or whatever it is).

 

[New Mouse]

- At MK Genie+ more or less works well. There are enough attractions and enough A-E attractions that it works out just fine. By the end of the night though, it starts going away and the options are limited.

- At EPCOT it was really unclear what we would actually get out of it. I think if we went in first thing in the morning, it would have far more utility, but we came in the afternoon, by which time most Genie+ options were unavailable, or alternatively were useless (not much of a longer wait than being in the standby line... not a bad deal compared to free, but not worth paying the $15 or whatever it is).

This is arguably the biggest failure of Genie Plus as well as Fastpass plus that they've literally refused to address.

I couldn't imagine being a family of 5 and unknowingly spending $150 on this for a day at Epcot or AK and feeling like I just got ripped off.

The system works OK at MK it always has. They haven't even tried to attempt to fix it at the other 3 parks and then had the gall to charge for it on top.

 

[mikeishere]

Did you find FP confusing and complicated? Genie+ is just a modified version of FP, and iLL is a guaranteed option to get you on the most popular rides. Your probability of getting more rides with a shorter wait is higher with G+/iLL.

The loudest Disney guests are not ready with the cost of the Express system. They're angry with $15, $35. Can't imagine what the reaction would be when those amounts are increased ten times.

I found fastpass straight forward and easiest when it was paper based. It’s just the way you have to re-learn everything / do homework all the time everytime you plan a WDW trip because they don’t just have genie+ they have virtual queues and then lighting lane+ and god knows what else. I find the universal system easier the way I have bought my express passes in advance and I don’t have to get up at 7am on vacation just to get genie+ and grab lighting lanes. Why do Disney make you pre- book rides too?! When I say I find universal easier with my express pass I feel less stressed and chilled knowing I can just walk up to every ride and join the express line with my express pass whereas Disney make you buy genine+ but it’s not enough just to have bought the thing you then have to book times for each ride. Like I said just walking up to each ride in universal with my express pass and joining the line sounds way easier. Granted only the 2 of us and we have budgeted express passes into the cost and only at universal one day. I’m finding these days universal make things easier and their app seems a little more straight forward than Disneys after a play around with that this weekend.

 

[steve_rob]

I am the only one on here who doesn't have a big problem with the 7am thing? If you're getting in the park for rope-drop (which let's face it, if you're shelling out $25-$35 for G+, you want to make the most of it surely?) then chances are you'll be awake long before 7.

When I was staying on-site last year, I was already waiting at the bus stop for a ride to Magic Kingdom when 7am rolled round as our plan was to get to the park at least 45 minutes before they let us in at 8:30, so we could be near the front of the crowd. So having already purchased it back in my room, I started booking my first rides while we were already on the move (thanks Disney Transport Wi-Fi!).

Even on days where we were having a more relaxed start, typically at least one of us would still be up and about or having breakfast at or near 7, especially given how long we know it takes to get everyone ready and out the door in the mornings. The days we'd lie-in would be days where we weren't going to a park at all, or ones where we knew in advance we weren't going to buy Genie+ (e.g. an afternoon half-day at Epcot).

 

[mikeishere]

I am the only one on here who doesn't have a big problem with the 7am thing? If you're getting in the park for rope-drop (which let's face it, if you're shelling out $25-$35 for G+, you want to make the most of it surely?) then chances are you'll be awake long before 7.

When I was staying on-site last year, I was already waiting at the bus stop for a ride to Magic Kingdom when 7am rolled round as our plan was to get to the park at least 45 minutes before they let us in at 8:30, so we could be near the front of the crowd. So having already purchased it back in my room, I started booking my first rides while we were already on the move (thanks Disney Transport Wi-Fi!).

Even on days where we were having a more relaxed start, typically at least one of us would still be up and about or having breakfast at or near 7, especially given how long we know it takes to get everyone ready and out the door in the mornings. The days we'd lie-in would be days where we weren't going to a park at all, or ones where we knew in advance we weren't going to buy Genie+ (e.g. an afternoon half-day at Epcot).

It’s not so much the 7am thing as like you I’m already up but on vacation want to take my time not make sure I’m not in the shower etc dead on 7am! Plus why make us do it every morning? Why can’t I just purchase it once for the whole of our 10 night trip, give options how many days what parks etc in advance?! Just bring in a universal system with a pre purchased express pass and not have to then pre-book times can go back to that ride to ride it.

 

[lowlight]

I am the only one on here who doesn't have a big problem with the 7am thing?

I don’t have a problem with off site guests not being allowed in the parks because I stay onsite. My point is most people aren’t bothered by things that don’t affect them personally. You’re up early every park day, so you don’t care. I’m up early 99% of my life because of work and small children, but that doesn’t mean I’m ok with “having” to be up early on vacation to get a ride.

 

[BrianL]

I am the only one on here who doesn't have a big problem with the 7am thing? If you're getting in the park for rope-drop (which let's face it, if you're shelling out $25-$35 for G+, you want to make the most of it surely?) then chances are you'll be awake long before 7.

When I was staying on-site last year, I was already waiting at the bus stop for a ride to Magic Kingdom when 7am rolled round as our plan was to get to the park at least 45 minutes before they let us in at 8:30, so we could be near the front of the crowd. So having already purchased it back in my room, I started booking my first rides while we were already on the move (thanks Disney Transport Wi-Fi!).

Even on days where we were having a more relaxed start, typically at least one of us would still be up and about or having breakfast at or near 7, especially given how long we know it takes to get everyone ready and out the door in the mornings. The days we'd lie-in would be days where we weren't going to a park at all, or ones where we knew in advance we weren't going to buy Genie+ (e.g. an afternoon half-day at Epcot).

I don't think it's a big problem for rope droppers at all - we're already on the move by 7 AM. But for people who don't want to rope drop, it does limit the value, and it's certainly an issue that it can't work as well for everyone, especailly when they are charged the same amount. I would be pretty upset if I arrived at Epcot at 11 AM, bought Genie+, then couldn't get any of the big rides with it. Of course, I know the system and how it works, but what about people who don't?