*Confirmed* G+ Changes to Advanced Lightning Lane

[mum2simon]

I HATE waking up everyday of the vacation to get it at 7am. VQ or Genie. I’d gladly get up at 4am weeks before my trip to plan things again once, then get bothered on my vacation lol

That’s just me

Really hoping they change the times a little bit

What’s taking them so long to give us changes they said we’re coming. Too busy counting the 6 billion maybe

This! We have been contemplating a Disney vacation every year since our 2020 trip was cancelled.....and we have decided to do Universal two years in a row now because I do not want to wake up (to be stressed) at 7am on vacation every day!

Now we are booked for this coming August and I am really hoping G+ changes so I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn (I will gladly stay up until midnight though )

 

[ramee]

This! We have been contemplating a Disney vacation every year since our 2020 trip was cancelled.....and we have decided to do Universal two years in a row now because I do not want to wake up (to be stressed) at 7am on vacation every day!

Now we are booked for this coming August and I am really hoping G+ changes so I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn (I will gladly stay up until midnight though )

Exactly the same circumstances with us. Loved Universal and their Express Pass.

We’re going to try a couple days at Disney with Genie+ soon. But looking forward to when we go back to Universal, too.

 

[Minnie1222]

Also interested, but not sure what 'the same' will look like. Will new resorts be included in Express Pass? If so, just for the new park or for all 3? Will the original resorts with EP be included for Epic Universe? I agree there's likely going to be an Express Pass, but waiting to see the format and requirements. This new park will be a must-do for us at some point.

I think it's fair if Helios guests could get Express all day to Epic and then maybe after 4 P.M for the other two parks, and vice versa with the other three premier hotels. Standby only would be awful, unless they're ramping up on VIP tours.

 

[Minnie1222]

Just announced Disney Parks made 6 BILLION revenue for Q1, yet we get charged for every little thing now. Disney lately, esp the past few years, really annoys me as the greed is overwhelming.

There's nothing unethical about charging whatever they want for a 100% optional product.

 

[Jrb1979]

There's nothing unethical about charging whatever they want for a 100% optional product.

Agreed. Its how it works at every other park.

 

[ChipnDale79]

There's nothing unethical about charging whatever they want for a 100% optional product.

i agree with this, but with a small call out on it.

First off, i do think; like any business they have to play a fine line of what is too much and what is not. Disney has played the short term gain for a long time, i know a lot will disagree with that. I do wonder at some point, when does this short term stuff start to hurt the long term. I know that nickle and diming has turned some people away from the parks. I also know a lot of people are ok with it too. But how does that effect things in the long term? how many people have gone in the past few years, but arent booking return trips in the future because of all the nickle and diming?

As opposed to those like me; that fell in love with disney because a lot of the "all inclusive resort" feel that it used to have; and we've booked many return trips because of that.

The thing that does bother me a little bit; is how much marketing and their business is geared at young kids. It puts a lot of pressure on parents to at least do one; once of a life time trip to disney, and for those that really cant afford it because of how expensive they've made wdw, i feel for them.

 

[SL6827]

honestly our trip in 2021 was nice without fast passes. the lines moved pretty darn quick.

Yep. Same here. I seen last week how many of the stand by lines were at a crawl because of us with LLs.

 

[BrianL]

i agree with this, but with a small call out on it.

First off, i do think; like any business they have to play a fine line of what is too much and what is not. Disney has played the short term gain for a long time, i know a lot will disagree with that. I do wonder at some point, when does this short term stuff start to hurt the long term. I know that nickle and diming has turned some people away from the parks. I also know a lot of people are ok with it too. But how does that effect things in the long term? how many people have gone in the past few years, but arent booking return trips in the future because of all the nickle and diming?

As opposed to those like me; that fell in love with disney because a lot of the "all inclusive resort" feel that it used to have; and we've booked many return trips because of that.

The thing that does bother me a little bit; is how much marketing and their business is geared at young kids. It puts a lot of pressure on parents to at least do one; once of a life time trip to disney, and for those that really cant afford it because of how expensive they've made wdw, i feel for them.

I think those are valid points. As I often say, I don't really mind the costs, even if they do go up, as long as they deliver that first-class experience that is commensurate with the price. I still feel that they do, but, less so than they used to. There are definitely gaps. Some aspects, like staffing, aren't only Disney's fault, but it does still hurt. Balancing it all out can be tricky. There was a lot of positive news yesterday, so hopefully that will continue.

 

[Rpo0921]

Now we are booked for this coming August and I am really hoping G+ changes so I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn (I will gladly stay up until midnight though )

what time do you get up on your Disney trip? The 7am issue doesn’t make a lot of sense to me if you’re rope dropping

 

[tx911]

i agree with this, but with a small call out on it.

First off, i do think; like any business they have to play a fine line of what is too much and what is not. Disney has played the short term gain for a long time, i know a lot will disagree with that. I do wonder at some point, when does this short term stuff start to hurt the long term. I know that nickle and diming has turned some people away from the parks. I also know a lot of people are ok with it too. But how does that effect things in the long term? how many people have gone in the past few years, but arent booking return trips in the future because of all the nickle and diming?

As opposed to those like me; that fell in love with disney because a lot of the "all inclusive resort" feel that it used to have; and we've booked many return trips because of that.

The thing that does bother me a little bit; is how much marketing and their business is geared at young kids. It puts a lot of pressure on parents to at least do one; once of a life time trip to disney, and for those that really cant afford it because of how expensive they've made wdw, i feel for them.

Well, this is capitalism working as intended.

As someone (Churchill?) once said, capitalism is the unequal distribution of prosperity, socialism is the equal distribution of misery.

I do agree that Disney needs to continue working towards more affordable solutions for lower income families, but this may not nor need not include Genie +

 

[Minnie1222]

There was a lot of positive news yesterday, so hopefully that will continue.

What positive news? I didn't read much yesterday, or the day before...

Thanks.

 

[BrianL]

What positive news? I didn't read much yesterday, or the day before...

Thanks.

Well, it wasn't a lot of parks news, but generally good earnings, plus talk of parks investment. Nothing specific, but it feels like they do want to tackle thier many issues across the board. I am sure they are doing it to combat the proxy challenges, but positive steps are positive steps.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

No system will make everyone happy. No matter what skip the line product Disney has a good percentage will dislike it and complain.

I actually like G+ and got way more rides out of it than I ever did with FP+. I personally don’t mind getting up at 7 am since I’m usually up at 5 am so 7 am is sleeping in for me. I’m also a morning person.

Booking ahead will eat up availability and will be in the same spot as FP+. One thing I really disliked about FP+ was the tier 1 rides (FOP, TT, SDD etc) and if you wanted to switch your parks around you were basically giving up those FP+. And having to book at least a 6 day trip to get some of these FP+. I remember FOP often times not being available the first 4-5 days of lots of trips.

G+ leaves room to be spontaneous that FP+ didn’t allow for us. I can get up and decide to go to AK instead of MK and purchase G+, (or not) book my rides and go.

 

[Moliphino]

what time do you get up on your Disney trip? The 7am issue doesn’t make a lot of sense to me if you’re rope dropping

Not the person you were responding to, but I generally set the alarm for 8 on vacations. Never been a fan of rope drop.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I personally don’t mind getting up at 7 am since I’m usually up at 5 am so 7 am is sleeping in for me. I’m also a morning person.

On a Disney vacation we're usually up early but I think the point can be made that regardless of being up at that time or not you

1) may be doing things like you know getting ready...
2) it adds a stress point to what often is already a hectic vacation
3) takes time out of your morning to book rides
4) it's just me and my husband but already that would be a pain point in completing booking of rides that morning at that time but I can only imagine how it can be for families especially those with young kids

MP did have the stress point of booking rides once you scanned into the parks but at least it was when the parks opened.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Well, it wasn't a lot of parks news, but generally good earnings, plus talk of parks investment. Nothing specific, but it feels like they do want to tackle thier many issues across the board. I am sure they are doing it to combat the proxy challenges, but positive steps are positive steps.

They did inadvertently admit that the parks are where the money is coming from right now. I don't believe any words of investment until there are shovels physically removing dirt.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't believe any words of investment until there are shovels physically removing dirt.

Even then I don't believe it lol. It could be scaled back, halted, delayed, cancelled, etc all of which has happened in the last several years.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We don't really view Genie+ as a stressor on vacation. We plan the night before what we want to do at a park the next day. At 650AM, I'll buy Genie+. At 7AM, I'll book our first LL. Then I set an alarm on my phone for 10 minutes prior to when I can make my next LL, which is usually 3 1/2-4 hours later. If on a particular morning we want an ILL, then that's an extra 2 minutes. The biggest "stressor" might be getting a VQ some morning, if that's important for our day. But even there, we either get one or we don't.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Even then I don't believe it lol. It could be scaled back, halted, delayed, cancelled, etc all of which has happened in the last several years.

Don't look at early concept art for Galaxy's Edge unless you want to be sad about how much was budget cut out of that project.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

On a Disney vacation we're usually up early but I think the point can be made that regardless of being up at that time or not you

1) may be doing things like you know getting ready...
2) it adds a stress point to what often is already a hectic vacation
3) takes time out of your morning to book rides
4) it's just me and my husband but already that would be a pain point in completing booking of rides that morning at that time but I can only imagine how it can be for families especially those with young kids

MP did have the stress point of booking rides once you scanned into the parks but at least it was when the parks opened.

Yes true and many more reasons it’ll never make everyone happy. It’s not a perfect system but I found even with all those things you mentioned it literally takes 60 seconds to make a LL and/or ILL. It didn’t ruin my day or make me crazy stressed out. It lasted a minute and we moved on.

FOR ME it’s worth it over FP+. And I’m a planner and really liked FP+. I was stressed about G+ prior to our trip with not knowing what I would get the day of. I liked having my FP+ ride security prior to trips but once there and using the system I really enjoyed it much better even with the negatives.