Disney Genie announcement

[LSUfan4444]

Anyone know if you can split up a party? So 2 people get LL for one ride and 1 person gets another one? Then regroup for the next LL with all three together?

yep

 

[leeniewdw]

Here's a positive thought about the complexity of the new Genie/G+/ILL$ system: The more complicated it is, the less likely it is that an unprepared guest will know how to use it or even know that they can use it. Therefore, for those of us in the know, we will have a distinct advantage, much like the advantage we had with FP+.

Last night I tried to explain the changes that went into place to my husband. We probably spoke about for 30 minutes and he still found it confusing. I feel like having to use example after example of hypothetical day to explain how it works is just evidence that the process is too complicated. You could explain FP+ in about 5 minutes.

Maybe that will work to the advantage to those that decide to purchase, but I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to use the system for our travel/arrival day and honestly aren't sure how to do it the best way. I literally want to give money to WDW for 6 people's park hoppers & G+ and I can't figure out how to get multiple LL reservations for the afternoon and travel at the same time.

 

[PaladinButters]

For anyone who's been in the parks and using Genie, G+, and/or ILL$: What's been your experience with phone battery drain?

For example, have you needed to recharge your phone more than once during the day? More than twice? Never?

TIA

That's going to depend on how you're using it (and for what else all day). I have never recharged my phone in a theme park, the app is only open 30 seconds at a time to select the next pass/ see wait times/ scan tickets/ whatever or the camera to snap a few photos. Otherwise it's in my pocket/bag. Now a power user constantly trying to refresh times the whole 20 minutes they are standing in another line is going to need a charge (or another adult to split the phone time with).

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Park opening of the park you are buying for. If you are buying Remy and are off site, you can buy Remy when Epcot opens.

That's what I thought. Perhaps @katyringo can update her summary.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Depends on how you use it. If you will judge it's value on quantity (meaning how many rides you use it regardless of time saving) on and not quality (time it saves you waiting vs just using standby regardless of how many rides you used it on) you will struggle to think it's worth it on busier days.

On busier days, if you use standby as your friend when waits are low (rope drop and park close) and use G+ and ILLs later in the day when standby is longer, you can have success.

The key to happiness is to view it as G+ and Ills vs standby only and not G+ and Ills vs Maxpass, FP+ or FP.

You have to look at what is being offered and what the options are if you plan to go.

Agreed! It’s all about time savings, not LL number of attractions. Only time will tell whether G+ will be truly useful (will useful return times for better rides be available as the day wears on) during peak times…..

 

[DisneyKidds]

A separate post for experiences would be nice. I would like to know how groups of 5+ found genie+/ILL$ useful or not. My group will have 7 next June and I have previously traveled with 11-13 during the summer. I could never effectively utilize FP+ 4th+ after our first 3 without a very long time spent on my phone. Most of the reports are for 1-2 people who stay in the park all day.

I haven’t used Genie yet….but I just started such a thread for people who have!

 

[Marionnette]

Anyone know if you can split up a party? So 2 people get LL for one ride and 1 person gets another one? Then regroup for the next LL with all three together?

As for battery packs , amazon has a small one thats like 25 $ and will recharge you phone to full 4 times. I xan share a link if anyone wants. I got mine for the last disney trip in 2019 and its still going strong.

Yes, you can choose who you are buying ILL$ for.

 

[MainMom]

I haven’t used Genie yet….but I just started such a thread for people who have!

Thank you!

 

[bsmcneil]

Not myself, but most reports (people and bloggers) say it is draining their phone quickly.

lol. I know this isn't what you mean - but bloggers are people, too!

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Love it or hate it your phone is going to likely run out of battery if you use G+. $20 on amazon can fix that.

 

[katyringo]

That's what I thought. Perhaps @katyringo can update her summary.

I updated it! Thank you!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Yes, you can choose who you are buying ILL$ for.

And G+, too. Then I believe it’s like FP+ was, where you can book different rides for different people in your group. If I want to book a G+ or ILL$ LL for something like Test Track or Space Mountain while my wife gets one for something like Spaceship Earth or Pooh I think you can do that. At least I hope so!

 

[katyringo]

Love it or hate it your phone is going to likely run out of battery if you use G+. $20 on amazon can fix that.

Yes. Get an external charger and charge during meals. My phone drained before genie+ because I was always using it to take pictures and such.

 

[DavidNYC]

I think we are of a similar mind regarding G+ but I gotta say…..this post baffles me.

For starters, to plan your “30 minutes a day in the MK” 60 days in advance you had to, you know, plan that you were going to be in the MK. While it wasn’t a park reservation, per se, it was darn near the equivalent. Ok, so 60 days out you had to decide which parks you’d be in which days to make your FP+ reservations. Oh, but it wasn’t that simple, no. Will you be park hopping any of those days? Better figure that in. Oh, and then you needed to worry about ADRs before you book those FP+. Honestly, a lot more went into planning under FP+….pretty much your entire day….than your hyperbole here let’s on.

Don’t get me wrong, I long for FP+ over G+, I think. Not that it matters a whit. While G+ will allow you to avoid pre-planning ride times months in advance, you still need to plan your days months in advance to make park reservations and ADRs. In that regard….the more things change the more they stay the same, as they say. With FP+ you chose 3 guaranteed rides, in advance, for which you picked your times, then in park FPs, and you had it for free. Under Genie you can pick your times to guarantee 2 rides, but you do it day of, and you can make other ride reservations starting at 7am day of. However, it comes with a $40 ($15 G+ plus up to $25 ILL$) per day per person price tag. That’s a big change.

Oh, and because Disney is ingraining in cast members that monetizing every aspect of the Disney experience is of paramount importance those cast members now tell little kids to go scratch in circumstances where they would otherwise have created a truly Magical moment for the kid in the past. Disney Magic vs. Disney “Magic”. That’s a big change, too…..

You still need now to know which parks you’re going to be in which day so that hasn’t been improved at all. In fact it’s worse - you could always change your mind before. Now you have to hope there’s a reservation available. ADRs by all account are even harder now so that hasn’t changed. I ha e said that if you don’t mind paying that the ILL does offer new benefit - but at a big price. Looking at the times this morning - I see many return times creeping up faster than the last two days - so the planning is still there - but with far more pressure. You’re locked into your park - and if you don’t get what you want - tough. The amount of planning before was still relatively minor as far as rides go.

 

[DisneyKidds]

You still need now to know which parks you’re going to be in which day so that hasn’t been improved at all. In fact it’s worse - you could always change your mind before. Now you have to hope there’s a reservation available. ADRs by all account are even harder now so that hasn’t changed. I ha e said that if you don’t mind paying that the ILL does offer new benefit - but at a big price. Looking at the times this morning - I see many return times creeping up faster than the last two days - so the planning is still there - but with far more pressure. You’re locked into your park - and if you don’t get what you want - tough. The amount of planning before was still relatively minor as far as rides go.

Agreed!

 

[LSUfan4444]

And G+, too. Then I believe it’s like FP+ was, where you can book different rides for different people in your group. If I want to book a G+ or ILL$ LL for something like Test Track or Space Mountain while my wife gets one for something like Spaceship Earth or Pooh I think you can do that. At least I hope so!

Yes, not everyone will want to ride Tower of Terror so they can be booked at Beauty and the Beast (for example). I mean, I weep for those people but it can be done =)

 

[LSUfan4444]

You still need now to know which parks you’re going to be in which day so that hasn’t been improved at all. In fact it’s worse - you could always change your mind before. Now you have to hope there’s a reservation available. ADRs by all account are even harder now so that hasn’t changed. I ha e said that if you don’t mind paying that the ILL does offer new benefit - but at a big price. Looking at the times this morning - I see many return times creeping up faster than the last two days - so the planning is still there - but with far more pressure. You’re locked into your park - and if you don’t get what you want - tough. The amount of planning before was still relatively minor as far as rides go.

I agree too. The best thing to happen to WDW since COVID (IMO) was getting rid of FP+ the worst was park reservations.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Anyone know if you can split up a party? So 2 people get LL for one ride and 1 person gets another one? Then regroup for the next LL with all three together?

As for battery packs , amazon has a small one thats like 25 $ and will recharge you phone to full 4 times. I xan share a link if anyone wants. I got mine for the last disney trip in 2019 and its still going strong.

Would love that link as need to order one today for a trip in a couple of weeks!

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Would love that link as need to order one today for a trip in a couple of weeks!

Something like this will be great.

https://www.amazon.com/INIU-High-Sp...prefix=PHONE+BATTERY+CHAR,aps,184&sr=8-6&th=1
I always carry these in the parks as we bring old phones for the kids to occupy them in long lines. They stream Youtube videos which is murder on a battery.

 

[snikki]

You still need now to know which parks you’re going to be in which day so that hasn’t been improved at all. In fact it’s worse - you could always change your mind before. Now you have to hope there’s a reservation available. ADRs by all account are even harder now so that hasn’t changed. I ha e said that if you don’t mind paying that the ILL does offer new benefit - but at a big price. Looking at the times this morning - I see many return times creeping up faster than the last two days - so the planning is still there - but with far more pressure. You’re locked into your park - and if you don’t get what you want - tough. The amount of planning before was still relatively minor as far as rides go.

Park reservations are rarely selling out anymore. Only on certain very popular days.

I would say it’s much easier to switch parks with this new system if you aren’t going Xmas, Easter or Thanksgiving weeks. With FP+ you would be screwed if you had a FP+ for FOP, SDD, SDMT and a few others and had to switch the park that morning. Chances of getting those in the next few days we’re slim to none. It happened to me one trip. We had to leave AK and I lost Navi and never was able to get another the rest of the trip. It wasn’t a big deal but I’m glad it wasn’t FOP because we really wanted to ride that.