Disney Genie+ and ILL$ Details & FAQ - Launches 10/19 at WDW, Paid "FastPass" at WDW and Disneyland (date TBD)

[popy]

it is not designed to help you, it is designed to cost you. just another little pat of butter.

 

[luv2cheer92]

The average wait time for Space Mountain yesterday per touringplans was 7 minutes. If things keep going the way they're going for disney right now, my guess is the answer to your question will be "not many."

If you think wait times right now are representative of anything, then I don't know what to tell you. Its pretty dang obvious why wait times are low right now.

 

[asumom]

I just want a start date! I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to start right in the middle of my mid-October trip. And I am not happy to be the guinea pig.

They are changing the fast pass signs right now. I hope genie stays in the bottle until after my trip.

 

[Elephantay]

Ok working my way through these pages, but ...can you get to a ride and decide the line is too bad and somehow on your phone buy the pass and go on it faster? I'm sort of laughing imagining all of the screaming, begging kids and exhausted parents who would cave- and think about people on their last day of vacation...theyd be all "ok why not we just bought a $20 balloon..."

 

[Elephantay]

What I am not clear on is how much the tier one rides will cost. What the price tag to go on the SDMT per person on the FP line? $5, $10, $15, $20?!?

Right? SO basically you'll be looking at a two hour wait time or deciding to just pay $80 and ride it.

 

[Liquidice]

Ok working my way through these pages, but ...can you get to a ride and decide the line is too bad and somehow on your phone buy the pass and go on it faster? I'm sort of laughing imagining all of the screaming, begging kids and exhausted parents who would cave- and think about people on their last day of vacation...theyd be all "ok why not we just bought a $20 balloon..."

For the Tier 1 rides, you may be able to do that assuming there is availability. But if the ride is already fully booked, you wouldn't be able to get immediate access, you might have to buy it for later in the day or perhaps not at all if it is completely sold out. I'm not sure how popular the Individual attraction Lightning Lane access will be.

For the Tier 2 rides, I don't think you'd be able to change your mind and just buy Genie+ because the people who already bought it will probably have already taken the Lightning Lane pass for that time - unless it is a really unpopular ride, but in that case I'm guessing the standby line wouldn't be that bad either.

 

[snowwhite84]

Some updated rumors one when it will be released, and pricing.
Article says release date is first week of October, and LL+ is $4-$24.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/disn...imminent-launch-of-disney-genie-and-genie.htm

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Just found this quote,
“It allows us to best utilize our capacity — you can distribute demand much more effectively through your ecosystem,” D’Amaro told the New York Times. “And then obviously there is revenue attached to this. That revenue we get to then reinvest in new experiences.”
I think it shows exactly how Disney plans on using their new tech to distribute crowds throughout their parks

 

[ChipnDale79]

Just found this quote,
“It allows us to best utilize our capacity — you can distribute demand much more effectively through your ecosystem,” D’Amaro told the New York Times. “And then obviously there is revenue attached to this. That revenue we get to then reinvest in new experiences.”
I think it shows exactly how Disney plans on using their new tech to distribute crowds throughout their parks

Dear Mr. D'Amaro

"The continued reaching into my pocket for additional revenue streams for experiences that I was already paying for, has lead me to invest that revenue into other experiences not related to Disney".

Me.

 

[New Mouse]

Just found this quote,
“It allows us to best utilize our capacity — you can distribute demand much more effectively through your ecosystem,” D’Amaro told the New York Times. “And then obviously there is revenue attached to this. That revenue we get to then reinvest in new experiences.”
I think it shows exactly how Disney plans on using their new tech to distribute crowds throughout their parks

Big surprise on how poorly this works when nowhere near the volume of people you expect to pay actually pay.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just found this quote,
“It allows us to best utilize our capacity — you can distribute demand much more effectively through your ecosystem,” D’Amaro told the New York Times. “And then obviously there is revenue attached to this.

Isn't that exactly what FP+ was supposed to do?

That revenue we get to then reinvest in new experiences.”

Yes, because that $150 you spent to walk through the gates has already been earmarked for executive bonuses.

 

[Liquidice]

I've been watching videos on Epic Universe and seeing just how large the land is that they have ... It is too bad the park is likely delayed due to the pandemic.

If it were still opening next year, when you consider how big the park is and look at the Nintendo and Harry Potter IPs, I think Disney would need to be worried. At least now they have until at least 2023 before Epic Universe may open.

 

[circus4u]

Dear Mr. D'Amaro

"The continued reaching into my pocket for additional revenue streams for experiences that I was already paying for, has lead me to invest that revenue into other experiences not related to Disney".

Me.

Me Too!

 

[Mamabun]

I've been watching videos on Epic Universe and seeing just how large the land is that they have ... It is too bad the park is likely delayed due to the pandemic.

If it were still opening next year, when you consider how big the park is and look at the Nintendo and Harry Potter IPs, I think Disney would need to be worried. At least now they have until at least 2023 before Epic Universe may open.

When it was first announced, the ambitious goal for opening was 2023, but I believe most expected 2024 was more likely. Now, they are hoping for an early 2025 opening.

 

[sheilafri]

Why is it that I do not trust Disney to put my interests ahead of theirs? I feel like a third party company will be more interested in truly delivering a touring plan to suit my needs rather than G+ which could be manipulated to optimize revenue for Disney, steer crowd management, etc.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Why is it that I do not trust Disney to put my interests ahead of theirs? I feel like a third party company will be more interested in truly delivering a touring plan to suit my needs rather than G+ which could be manipulated to optimize revenue for Disney, steer crowd management, etc.

It can do both, companies exist to drive revenue, period, and a good way to do that, is to keep their guests satisfied. It’s all one big balancing act

 

[snowwhite84]

It can do both, companies exist to drive revenue, period, and a good way to do that, is to keep their guests satisfied. It’s all one big balancing act

I’ve tried to make this point on a number of G+ threads. Yes of course Disney’s main goal is to make money. And a really good way to do that is to create a product people very much want to pay for. And I think Disney is excellent at that.

 

[New Mouse]

I’ve tried to make this point on a number of G+ threads. Yes of course Disney’s main goal is to make money. And a really good way to do that is to create a product people very much want to pay for. And I think Disney is excellent at that.

I disagree. They are living off decades of reputation recently. The old Disney matches what you said to a T. Current disney not so much.

 

[snowwhite84]

I disagree. They are living off decades of reputation recently. The old Disney matches what you said to a T. Current disney not so much.

I really believe a lot of Disney guests are going to be happy to pay an upcharge in exchange for an easier Fastpass system. I don’t think the disboards is a fair sampling of the average WDW guest. Of course that’s just my opinion.

 

[disneyfan123]

I really believe a lot of Disney guests are going to be happy to pay an upcharge in exchange for an easier Fastpass system. I don’t think the disboards is a fair sampling of the average WDW guest. Of course that’s just my opinion.

They could have just gone back to the old fast pass system if they were concerned that FP+ was too complex and/or detrimental to guest satisfaction. Instead they charged for a service that was previously included in the admission price, and added a 2nd tier fee (IA$) on top of that. That’s price gouging, period.

Now, will the system work? Maybe, but they’ve lost a LOT of goodwill with genie+. I can’t imagine very many informed guests would be happy to pay for genie+. Some will, some will pay begrudgingly and others will not, and maybe give up on Disney. Time will tell if this actually increases revenue or if it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back and the parks division suffers.

Not sure what my family will do; we may purchase genie+ for a day or two here and there (begrudgingly) but I don’t see us spending money on IA$. As someone who recently purchased DVC, in part to take advantage of the 60 FP+ window, I’m really upset with this announcement. I get Disney wants to make money, and I’m happy to give them a substantial proportion of mine, but decisions like this really turn me off and I don’t see the benefit for me. FP+ was waaayyy better, imho. In my mind, and, it seems, in many others, we are paying more for less; that doesn’t seem to be the Disney way, and why, I think, so many loyal customers are upset.

It will be interesting to revisit this topic 5 years from now, once things have shaken out. Maybe people will end up loving it, or maybe it will be scrapped for something else…