Disney Genie announcement

[Miffy]

I figured out why I don't like it (besides spending money and getting up early on vacation). I don't gamble. I don't find it enjoyable. In fact, it really stresses me out. What if I pay $75 (family of 5) and the rides we want are unavailable? What if I pay it and the wait times are low? What if I think we don't need it and everyone has a miserable time because of the long waits?

Yes, @Turksmom, this is exactly the reason I don't like it. It seems to be a gamble. What if I buy it and never use it because the rides I want are never available at the times I want? Then I'm just out $15/person? Or will they refund the price?

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I have read a lot of threads, blogs, and news about Genie+ but I have not seen the issue of how it will or can work with magic bands. The system seems heavily built on the use of your smart phone. Here is my question, what about all the magic bands they have sold and shipped for trips that will inevitibly happen after genie drops? It feels like they have sold and are selling something that will be totally obsolete, or at best redundant to the app in the few things it will still be able to do) which must be used because it does things the band can't. So are magic bands going to be trash for fodder and if they are, how do we unlink our reservations to them if they're not going to be used after all, or does it even matter becasue they'll just autmatically dump everyones existing reservations into Genie from MDE. We have a spring trip planned and I prefer not to have my phone out constantly and use a band, but it seems like using a band will just saddle you into having to use both. Also, secondary thought, what about kids that don't have smartphones, they could use a band before, I guess mom will just have to show her phone for everyone? Maybe they just intend to squash bands and start selling phone chargers as upgrades to tickets and packages because everyone is going to have their phone out all day with Genie+. I'm feeling like I was duped buying useless magic bands. What do you think? What are we supposed to do with bands now?

I would think magic bands will still be used and can be tied to your G+ and LL passes. Everything will still be tied to MDE, and magic bands would be a great, easy way to do this. We've been 3 times since Covid and besides getting in the park there hasn't been a need for them at all like there was with FP+. Seems like if you use the new paid offerings they would be very handy.

 

[mouserrificmom]

The more I reflect on the pricing structure, the more I realize how much better this would have been received IF the Genie+ was complimentary for resort guests. I believe I have read somewhere that only 20% or so of visitors each day are staying on property - and I suspect that number has possibly dropped and certainly will when Disney's Magical Express ends.....there would be plenty of off property guests willing to pay because the cost of their vacation was so much lower because they were staying off site, and they might encourage MORE people to stay on site with this benefit. Some of the most recent decisions just have me scratching my head.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Yes, @Turksmom, this is exactly the reason I don't like it. It seems to be a gamble. What if I buy it and never use it because the rides I want are never available at the times I want? Then I'm just out $15/person? Or will they refund the price?

 

[Cynner]

I never get this argument. "There's some of this already, so why not layer on a ton more!". I don't particularly like onion, but have enjoyed many dishes that included a little bit of it. If there's too much, I push it away and find something else to eat.

It's a matter of degrees. This is exponentially worse. People can put up with a little bit of something and not want to double down on it.

And this is about the core Disney experience, the attractions that we get to experience when we visit the parks. The very attractions we already paid to experience with the pricey tickets we already purchased before walking through the gates.

But you can still ride everything except possibly the virtual queue rides, everything still has stand by. They have also added attractions, so you are getting more for your tickets as well. Yes, they increase ticket prices every year, but certainly not enough to cover all the new things.

at least I’m walking away with something when I buy a souvenir. I think there will be a different feel when people plop down cash for a 3 minute ride. Buyers remorse will be much higher. Good thing is if you don’t like it after doing it once you don’t have to do it the next day.

I balance my perceived value per hour and what else I could do instead of stand in line for an hour or two.

Agreed. And you can always return your souvenir days later for a full refund if you decide you don’t really want it. There’s no comparison.

You can’t return used stuff. You can’t return that balloon, or light up bubble wand you used one night and no one will ever use again. If experiences and memories are not worth paying for, why not just go to the Disney outlet? You go to the parks for the expieremces, not the souvenirs (unless you’re one of those resell hacks). With everything in life, you always have to balance what’s means more to you.
I get that this feels like it sucks. We feel like we are having to pay for something we used to get free. But it was free and not an obligation on Disney’s part. It very likely could have benefits all around. We already know with fewer Fastpasses the stand by line moves much faster. Heart broken families on their once in a lifetime trip not getting on ROTR at all now can hopefully guarantee it.
There is going to be massive growing pains, adjustment on our part, on Disney’s part and learning all around.

I will also be there the week of Oct 1 and will report back on it if it’s in place.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I have a trip coming up in mid Oct. I really wish they would announce the start date for this so I know what to expect. I would think they want it in place before 10/1 for the 50th, and with some additional time to work the bugs out beforehand. I also really would like to know the price range of IAT.

We used Maxpass at DL a few years ago and really enjoyed it so I'm hopeful this will work similarly and be a fun way to tour. I obviously don't like that now I will be paying more for something we got for free before, but I guess I'm kind if accepting it. What bothers me the most though is not having all rides included and not knowing what the price of those rides will be.

 

[hcompton]

Do you have to purchase the Genie+ ($15/per person) in order to spend more $ on the LL for 2 premium rides? Or can you just do the LL without purchasing the Genie+ for the day?

 

[magickingdomprincess]

One thing that I don't really get about Disney right now is why not bring back the paid early morning events if they're looking for ways to make more money? We did three of these before and really enjoyed them. My DD still talks about getting to ride SDD 7 times in a row one day during that event! It was only one area of the park open like 75 minutes before park opening, and a small breakfast offering. Seems like a pretty minimal cost to Disney to get offer.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Do you have to purchase the Genie+ ($15/per person) in order to spend more $ on the LL for 2 premium rides? Or can you just do the LL without purchasing the Genie+ for the day?

You can purchase the 2 LL rides without paying for Genie+.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

I was involved in the discussions about "rumored" paid FPs long before the G+ announcement, so it wasn't really a surprise at all to me for the most part. But, as I kind of alluded to in my previous post, the gut punch for me was the fact that the "best" rides are ala carte additional charges and not included in G+.

I would have predicted a higher price tag for G+ but with the expectation that it would be all-inclusive. In fact, a lot of the discussion about price and whether or not it provides value, depends on how many people are using it. Everyone wants it to be priced high enough that the "masses" won't spend the extra for it, but low enough that you are willing to (thus maximizing the value to those who do purchase it). It will be interesting to see if the $15 pp per day price point is high enough to deter the "masses." Based on many posts here and around other social media sites, the outrage would indicate that it will. But how many of those outraged folks will begrudgingly fork over the $15 to avoid what they predict will be even longer SB lines because others have paid to skip them?

This is where the IAS model for those high demand rides may, in fact, balance supply/demand. The rumored prices are making me think long and hard about whether I'm willing to pay that much for one ride (strongly leaning towards NOT). How many people will fork over another $50 or $100 or more for their family to skip the line for ONE RIDE???? I want that number to be low, but in order to keep it low enough the price has to be high enough, meaning I may be included in the population of those not willing to pay it.

In terms of the comment above about not knowing what the price will be... we may never know that until "in the moment" because of the rumored "surge pricing" model. If they implement that, we might eventually know at least a range of possible prices, but there wouldn't be a set price since it would fluctuate based on the SB wait/desperation level of the guests.

How would you feel if you spend $25 pp to skip the line for FOP and then later in the day, the price drops to $10 pp because SB is now shorter????

The gambling analogy is an apt one... do I spend that much to skip the line now? Wait until later to see if the price drops or if the SB wait time gets low enough that I don't mind waiting? What if I spend this much and then the line is short later? UGH!

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

You can’t return used stuff. You can’t return that balloon, or light up bubble wand you used one night and no one will ever use again.

Actually yes you can. Happens all the time. Even food.

 

[mullysisters]

Pay per ride, no benefits to staying at a very expensive on site resort? These are bad enough, but having the parks all close at 7pm or 8pm for a hard ticket event? That's the deal breaker for us. We loved returning to parks after 7pm and staying till midnight or later. What are we going to do at 7pm besides eating and buying stuff. No thanks. Last vacation I went in February, okay, I knew the parks would close early. But quite frankly, I was bored all evening. I'm a park person not a late night diner or shopper. I bought one evening event at DAK, it was amazing but we cant afford to do that every night as well as paying for every ride. Time to explore other vacation ideas.

 

[Disneylover99]

You can’t return used stuff. You can’t return that balloon, or light up bubble wand you used one night and no one will ever use again.

I should have said you can return most souvenirs you buy. I’m talking tshirts/mugs and most of the souvenirs you buy at World of Disney. If you have regret, it’s easy to bring your receipt and item back before your trip ends.

If experiences and memories are not worth paying for, why not just go to the Disney outlet?

What? That’s basically what everyone is paying for every time people enter the Disney Parks.

 

[bookgirl2632]

I just want to know when it is starting. It is beyond frustrating that they would announce this and give us this nebulous “Fall” start time. That tells us nothing and impacts a lot of people. My trip is mid-October and my fear is that it’s going to drop right in the middle of my trip. I don’t want to be the guinea pig for this.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Pay per ride, no benefits to staying at a very expensive on site resort? These are bad enough, but having the parks all close at 7pm or 8pm for a hard ticket event? That's the deal breaker for us. We loved returning to parks after 7pm and staying till midnight or later. What are we going to do at 7pm besides eating and buying stuff. No thanks. Last vacation I went in February, okay, I knew the parks would close early. But quite frankly, I was bored all evening. I'm a park person not a late night diner or shopper. I bought one evening event at DAK, it was amazing but we cant afford to do that every night as well as paying for every ride. Time to explore other vacation ideas.

When are parks closing at 7 for a hard ticket event?

 

[Disneylover99]

Actually yes you can. Happens all the time. Even food.

That’s true. I’ve seen all kinds of surprising exchanges.

 

[dominiondad]

I agree that the feeling that there is a gambling aspect is off-putting. For me, it's the unknown. I like to plan ahead so I can turn off once I get there. There remain so many unknows for a trip in less than a year. If WDW is already selling tickets for June 2021 and taking park reservations, they should be able to provide very specifically exactly what the terms of attending WDW will be.

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

I bought an overpriced bubble ($25) and when I bought it, jokingly said “this will probably break before we leave”. The woman told me if it broke during the trip I could exchange or refund for free. It didn’t break until two months later but I had to secretly throw it away, as it was always deemed “not trash”

I agree with you though, there are situations where I may feel like I’ll pay to skip a line that’s over 90 minutes. or maybe my husband and I would pay for just us but not the kids, so we could ride the ones the kids are too scared for but are also too long of a wait to have them sit with grandparents.

 

[mom2rtk]

I bought an overpriced bubble ($25) and when I bought it, jokingly said “this will probably break before we leave”. The woman told me if it broke during the trip I could exchange or refund for free. It didn’t break until two months later but I had to secretly throw it away, as it was always deemed “not trash”

I agree with you though, there are situations where I may feel like I’ll pay to skip a line that’s over 90 minutes. or maybe my husband and I would pay for just us but not the kids, so we could ride the ones the kids are too scared for but are also too long of a wait to have them sit with grandparents.

And of course more lines will be over 90 minutes when they carve out capacity made available for purchase.

 

[JoJoGirl]

I really really hope, that there is enough LL+ paid availability that if you bite the bullet and want to buy one that they will still be available.

That depends on Disney finding the right price point. Price too low, LLs will sell out as soon as they drop. Price too high, and they won’t sell as many they could. Either way leaves revenue on the table.

What will that price eventually be? To reach equilibrium: