Disney Genie announcement

[captain america 2003]

Additional charge LL attractions , previously referred to as Tier 1 attractions , I suspect , and maybe I'm wrong...and I hope I am , probably won't be open during early entry mornings for resort guests . Think about it...HS opens at 8:30 for onsite guests and everyone heads for ROR .Then at 9:00 the park opens to everyone and the people who have the first ten or so boarding groups find a 2 hour or more wait time to ride already . Plus these attractions don't have standby lines for anytime so...I fear the strategy of getting in a LL extra charge/virtual que attraction before regular park hours is not going to be a option .

 

[eleven24]

Hey, I would pay $20 for that!

View attachment 598269

I've got tons of ideas. I could make Disney a fortune. They should call me.

I'll sell them each idea for $10,000

 

[eleven24]

They've already said 'variable' pricing, so essentially surge pricing. My only consolation is we're booked for 'quiet' weeks end of Aug/beginning of Sept.

It will probably be variable just as the park passes are variable based on the day of the year. I can't see them surge pricing by the hour like Uber or Lyft do. What would be the point then of paying to "fastpass" a ride that is at a low wait volume and cheaper?

 

[Lashed34]

Additional charge LL attractions , previously referred to as Tier 1 attractions , I suspect , and maybe I'm wrong...and I hope I am , probably won't be open during early entry mornings for resort guests . Think about it...HS opens at 8:30 for onsite guests and everyone heads for ROR .Then at 9:00 the park opens to everyone and the people who have the first ten or so boarding groups find a 2 hour or more wait time to ride already . Plus these attractions don't have standby lines for anytime so...I fear the strategy of getting in a LL extra charge/virtual que attraction before regular park hours is not going to be a option .

I agree - but then you have YET ANOTHER phone huggeing moment as people fight for the LL passes for RotR....it's a never ending battle and war just to get on a bloody theme park ride. Disney needs to sort this out, it's shocking how people are expected to virtually fight to get a boarding pass.

 

[rangerxenos]

I wonder how long it will take Genie & Genie+ will drain your phone of all power?

And how much the power packs will increase in cost...?

I bring my own, charge it each night and it's good for the next day.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It will probably be variable just as the park passes are variable based on the day of the year. I can't see them surge pricing by the hour like Uber or Lyft do. What would be the point then of paying to "fastpass" a ride that is at a low wait volume and cheaper?

Of course, they could just understaff and take 1/2 the ride out of operation during the slow periods to keep a "minimum price" on those LL rides...

 

[Cabius]

Of course, they could just understaff and take 1/2 the ride out of operation during the slow periods to keep a "minimum price" on those LL rides...

Posted wait times have already been wildly overstated for the past year, as a crowd control measure (the standby queues aren't designed to hold everybody!). If Pirates is a 15-minute wait, but posted as a 45-minute wait, that paid Lightning Lane looks more attractive, right?

 

[ckb_nc]

Additional charge LL attractions , previously referred to as Tier 1 attractions , I suspect , and maybe I'm wrong...and I hope I am , probably won't be open during early entry mornings for resort guests . Think about it...HS opens at 8:30 for onsite guests and everyone heads for ROR .Then at 9:00 the park opens to everyone and the people who have the first ten or so boarding groups find a 2 hour or more wait time to ride already . Plus these attractions don't have standby lines for anytime so...I fear the strategy of getting in a LL extra charge/virtual que attraction before regular park hours is not going to be a option .

I wonder if by default tier 1 are all virtual queue only? What is the value of early entry onsite if you can't ride Tron or Mine train?

 

[wdw&sonny]

I don't know if this has already been brought up, in the 47 previous pages...I admit I only read a few. But with all the pros and cons, one I didn't see mentioned is how it will split families up. I know for my family, the LL additional charge will divide us. In the past, I could talk my wife into some of the Tier 1 (E ticket) rides, but now, with an extra charge, she will just say "it's not worth it for me to ride; I don't need to; I won't enjoy it enough to justify $10/$15". And of course, I will then say "OK, let's skip it this time". It will greatly diminish our enjoyment of the parks.
I have been in the "wait and see" camp with WDW, in general. This only adds to that. I'll sit back and wait for the reports from other and see if WDW can ever again be my Happy Place.

 

[JakeAZ]

Of course, they could just understaff and take 1/2 the ride out of operation during the slow periods to keep a "minimum price" on those LL rides...

That's the thing, right? Nobody is better than Disney at offering paid "solutions" to the problems they created.

No enough people buying lightning passes? Slow down capacity and lengthen that line!

 

[SealedSeven]

I've got tons of ideas. I could make Disney a fortune. They should call me.

I'll sell them each idea for $10,000

Getting to the point where it's how I play Roller Coaster Tycoon. $5 to use bathrooms

 

[Cliffside]

They could have easily done the same thing on the existing FP infrastructure without adding an additional cost.

I was about to say the same thing

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

Well, I'm pretty much officially questioning my return to the parks any time soon.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against paying extra for some sort of express line. Have done it for Universal. But that was for ALL rides including their biggest (with the exception of their newest rides, understandably). So here you're telling me that not only do I have to pay for FastPass for Tier 2 rides, but now the Tier 1 rides cost an additional amount and it's based on crowds???

For a family of 4 dropping an extra $420 for a week long vacation, why not give them a Tier 1 return time like the parks did with FastPass+? "Hey, you bought Disney Genie+. As a reward for throwing more of your money at us, schedule a T1 lightning lane for your visit".

Actually, as I rant this out, there may be a silver lining IF the Tier 1 lightning lines prove to be cost prohibitive for many visitors, thereby keeping those lines shorter. So I'll withhold the full force of my ire, but still not happy about it.

 

[Lashed34]

On a different angle of the whole Genie/Genie+ thing - I wonder how much info Disney will get from your phone. with this...seems a very deep app this one, years in the making just give you tips and send you in the right direction (of where they want you to go)? Not convinced.

 

[gakrrajo_1]

My biggest problem with this is that for those that don't pay the standby wait times go way up. So not only do you not get a benefit, you get penalized for not paying. Would be nice if they offered 1 day a week in each park where genie+ wasn't offered. Would relevel the playing field on those days and maybe even make things better since pay- to-players might avoid that park on that day.

 

[diskids2]

They've already said 'variable' pricing, so essentially surge pricing. My only consolation is we're booked for 'quiet' weeks end of Aug/beginning of Sept.

Let's take bets on my Dec. 21-Jan 2 trip.........

 

[Cabius]

For a family of 4 dropping an extra $420 for a week long vacation...

Personally, assuming it doesn't have to be purchased for an entire ticket, I would probably only upgrade to Genie+ for 1-2 days out of a week.

With Tier-1 attractions not included, it would be laughably not worth it at Epcot. Maybe worthwhile at DAK or DHS depending on the types I rides I want to do, but not really critical.

Seems like there's real value at MK, but otherwise it's a tough sell for me.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Let's take bets on my Dec. 21-Jan 2 trip.........

RIP your bank account

 

[Miffy]

Getting to the point where it's how I play Roller Coaster Tycoon. $5 to use bathrooms

I think $10 is more like it. We're talking about a necessity here!

 

[JakeAZ]

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against paying extra for some sort of express line. Have done it for Universal. But that was for ALL rides including their biggest (with the exception of their newest rides, understandably)

Aside from not giving any (real) on-site benefit, this is my biggest gripe too. It's just too "piece meal". Just introduce a package that requires no planning, no looking at your phone, no scheduling, no up charges AND no guide you have to hang out with for the day.

Sure, it will be astronomical in price, but at least it would be an option people could consider.

I'll be on my phone the whole trip (with early AM wake up calls) and my wife / kids will be oblivious to the behind the scenes nonsense. So glad we cut a couple DW days added a few days at UO with express pass.