Disney Genie announcement

[scrappinginontario]

Just my thought but I'm guessing they out sourced the creation of Genie or, purchased something off the shelf and personalized it to Disney.

Historically their IT is bumpy and what they're offering to do with this is HUGE.

 

[CBMom01]

Right now, I cannot see myself paying for IA$ for anything that Disney has. I've done ROTR twice. I wasn't wowed either time. The most memorable part (in a bad way) was the CM who mask-shamed a young girl loudly and mercilessly in queue.

I enjoy FOP more than ROTR but have done it enough times that I don't need to ride it again.

7DMTR, SpcMtn, TT are all been there, done that. I'm not paying extra to ride them again. If standby lines are long, I have no qualms about not riding.

My brother just did the DVC preview of Remy yesterday. His verdict is that it's cute but he wouldn't pay extra to ride it. And he said that he wouldn't wait longer than 30 minutes to ride it the first time, although the queue appears to have been set up to accommodate a large number of people. I may just be satisfied to watch a YouTube ride thru video given that the attraction is mostly video screens anyway.

When you say “mask shamed”, do you mean asked her to wear one?

 

[CBMom01]

Just my thought but I'm guessing they out sourced the creation of Genie or, purchased something off the shelf and personalized it to Disney.

Historically their IT is bumpy and what they're offering to do with this is HUGE.

That’s my hesitation in a nutshell. Once they roll this out, bad IT will ruin people’s experience.

 

[morrik5]

You make a great point about the phones...which made me think of a question I have: on the My Disney Experience App I have the reservations for Park Entry. It has the entire group. I assume I can just show that and get in or do each of the people need a separate way to show their reservation? Obviously since 2 are young children, they won't be separate from me. And do we do the same for Dining reservations? Just use the App on my phone? How about the Genie+...will that be on a phone only as well? Dang!! I hate carrying a phone!

I do not like carrying my phone in the park either. You carry the phone, you have to carry a charger or power bank. Personally I'm trying to avoid the bag check entry line at the gate.

 

[champagne&disney]

I do not like carrying my phone in the park either. You carry the phone, you have to carry a charger or power bank. Personally I'm trying to avoid the bag check entry line at the gate.

The new contactless security scanners are life changing! No more long lines for bag check.

 

[Figment1990]

You know, all of this is reminding me of when Magic Bands and My Disney Experience rolled out. I think it was around 2014? I was a cast member then. They started with picking a few high level execs to test out the magic band. They had them go around and get Photopass pics, or they had them set up credit cards through hotel reservations to test the purchase option. I was a PP photographer and remember being kind of amazed to see my first MB in person on someone's wrist because, it was here now! On the PP side we had to get a new piece of hardware that let us tap the MB to get the photos on the band vs the scanner we had to just scan cards. I don't remember the exact date Magic Bands began, but I think it was also a slow roll out where they started with guests at certain hotels and expanded from there. My Disney Experience and FastPass+ was also set up with multiple steps, and I remember CMs with iPads helping people book their FPs, and banks of FP+ computers for people to book them on their own when they got to the park if they couldn't do it online or on their phones themselves (since the system was still glitchy, and many people weren't aware of the new changes)

I wonder what the Genie+ rollout is like. It kind of seems like one day they will just announce it's open and that's that. FP+ and Magic Bands were a pretty big deal and affected nearly every department so it was probably a larger project, but still, has there been any word about people testing out the system? Even internally? Like I said before, the MDE rollout was slow and over a couple of stages. It wasn't an overnight change. I'm sure there is a LOT happening behind the scenes, but it really does feel like an overnight change once it starts up.

This is my question too. But I don't think they can actually test it without having masses of people test it at once. Therefore, it will seem like they just bam, drop it on the guests one day.
Realistically they only way to do this would be to do simulated tests but not with actual people in the park. The problem with that though is that as good as we've gotten at AI and machine learning, people are not machines and we have biases and weird decision making tendencies. Programs still have to be programmed, and it's REALLY hard to predict human behavior. The whole thing is very fascinating to watch develop. In theory it's interesting. But it's really messing with my vacation plans. To the point that we are considering moving our trip until it settles out.

My guess is that in the beginning, Genie will function much like wait times apps and G+ will be paid fast pass and we won't really notice the difference (except in our wallets). I don't think that there will be enough people not paying for G+ to keep the standby lines where they are now without FP. It will be beneficial for newbies - I can't tell you how many people I know who are left less than thrilled because they didn't research before their trip. But for regular disney planners, it's just another cost.

Also - I saw someone post that if disney is going to post wait times that are higher than reality and then charge for individual attractions with inflated wait times, that seems a bit iffy. I don't think they will try that. Obviously I have no actual clue but maybe this would also mean we might get more accurate wait times. Maybe.... who knows!

 

[Marionnette]

This is my question too. But I don't think they can actually test it without having masses of people test it at once. Therefore, it will seem like they just bam, drop it on the guests one day.
Realistically they only way to do this would be to do simulated tests but not with actual people in the park. The problem with that though is that as good as we've gotten at AI and machine learning, people are not machines and we have biases and weird decision making tendencies. Programs still have to be programmed, and it's REALLY hard to predict human behavior. The whole thing is very fascinating to watch develop. In theory it's interesting. But it's really messing with my vacation plans. To the point that we are considering moving our trip until it settles out.

My guess is that in the beginning, Genie will function much like wait times apps and G+ will be paid fast pass and we won't really notice the difference (except in our wallets). I don't think that there will be enough people not paying for G+ to keep the standby lines where they are now without FP. It will be beneficial for newbies - I can't tell you how many people I know who are left less than thrilled because they didn't research before their trip. But for regular disney planners, it's just another cost.

Also - I saw someone post that if disney is going to post wait times that are higher than reality and then charge for individual attractions with inflated wait times, that seems a bit iffy. I don't think they will try that. Obviously I have no actual clue but maybe this would also mean we might get more accurate wait times. Maybe.... who knows!

The proof of inflated wait times would be when Touring Plan's Lines app (or similar line monitoring apps) begin to show consistent and markedly inflated posted standby wait times.

Harder to prove would be if Disney chose to increase standby waits via reduced ride through put or increasing the ratio of LL to standby guests beyond the previously reported 70%-80% FP+.

 

[shawthorne44]

The proof of inflated wait times would be when Touring Plan's Lines app (or similar line monitoring apps) begin to show consistent and markedly inflated posted standby wait times.

Harder to prove would be if Disney chose to increase standby waits via reduced ride through put or increasing the ratio of LL to standby guests beyond the previously reported 70%-80% FP+.

We already know via TP that they inflate the wait times at the end of the day. We also know that they've been consistently and grossly inflating some wait times already. While I wouldn't put it past Disney to inflate wait times to help G+ and IA$$$, I don't think they could inflate them much more without it being just silly outrageous.

 

[CBMom01]

I assume Disney inflates wait times so that CMs aren't attacked when the SB wait says 30 minutes and someone freaks out because the wait was actually 32.5 minutes.

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

I assume they just inflate the times because it's human nature to be happy if someone delivers greater than was promised and unhappy if they fail to live up to their promises. It seems like they've been doing it long enough that there's probably no nefarious long game they were playing.

 

[Marionnette]

I assume Disney inflates wait times so that CMs aren't attacked when the SB wait says 30 minutes and someone freaks out because the wait was actually 32.5 minutes.

Yeah. But we're not talking about a matter of a few minutes. The current posted wait time for PP is 40 minutes and actual wait is 29. PotC is posted as 20 minutes, actual wait is 11. 7DMTR is posted as 50 mins, actual wait is 39. I agree that adding 10 minutes or so to expected waits in order to define posted wait times is most likely a policy of sorts. People are less likely to grumble if they pass thru the line quicker than anticipated.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We already know via TP that they inflate the wait times at the end of the day. We also know that they've been consistently and grossly inflating some wait times already. While I wouldn't put it past Disney to inflate wait times to help G+ and IA$$$, I don't think they could inflate them much more without it being just silly outrageous.

WDW's practice of inflating wait times predates TP by a long shot, and I've never used TP.

Much of the time I can roughly judge a line just by looking at it (and sometimes a few minutes of observing how quickly it is moving).

In the days of the red cards, WW only checked wait times like every 15 min or so. Sometimes one large group could throw off the time by 10 minutes.

Pre-parade/fireworks, Buzz wait was short, but as soon as the show is over people stream into Buzz, so in the matter of 5 min the wait changes from 5 min to 25+ min.

Back when Frozen was new, the A+E meet and greet went from zero to 3 hours in a matter of seconds at rope drop! It was pretty crazy.

 

[CBMom01]

WDW's practice of inflating wait times predates TP by a long shot, and I've never used TP.

Much of the time I can roughly judge a line just by looking at it (and sometimes a few minutes of observing how quickly it is moving).

In the days of the red cards, WW only checked wait times like every 15 min or so. Sometimes one large group could throw off the time by 10 minutes.

Pre-parade/fireworks, Buzz wait was short, but as soon as the show is over people stream into Buzz, so in the matter of 5 min the wait changes from 5 min to 25+ min.

Back when Frozen was new, the A+E meet and greet went from zero to 3 hours in a matter of seconds at rope drop! It was pretty crazy.

We got a red card once. My kid was so excited, heh

 

[disneyseniors]

I've done both FOP and ROTR. I love FOP but would not pay to ride it. I'll try for EMH in the a.m. As far as ROTR, rode it once, stuck in the line in the middle somewhere for two hours. They brought us water and fruit. I would not pay to ride it, nor would I try for it at EMH, but that's just me.

I agree. We have been enough times and have ridden all the rides multiple times, except for ROTR. I would never pay for rides I have done over and over. Also I would not pay for ROTR. So, if we ever go back, it is standby for us, but we are not planning another trip at this time. I think they are pretty much going for the first time guests or every 3/4 years or so who would gladly pay for these things. Honestly, I don't understand their strategy at all, except to make more money in the short run, and alienate their fans. Long term? I think there are other places to see; I'm just glad we did disney before all the money grabs.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yeah. But we're not talking about a matter of a few minutes. The current posted wait time for PP is 40 minutes and actual wait is 29. PotC is posted as 20 minutes, actual wait is 11. 7DMTR is posted as 50 mins, actual wait is 39. I agree that adding 10 minutes or so to expected waits in order to define posted wait times is most likely a policy of sorts. People are less likely to grumble if they pass thru the line quicker than anticipated.

Inflated waits can be used as a deterrent. CM's probably want to go home. They don't want to run Test Track an hour past park closing, because it isn't just the CM's at TT that have to stay late, it is a group of employees that might have to stay later. (or otherwise do extra work late in the day)

I suspect wait times are currently inflated, in part, to make the parks look more populated than they are, but that's just my hunch.

 

[Marionnette]

When you say “mask shamed”, do you mean asked her to wear one?

She had a mask on when we had reached the point where this CM was but apparently she had taken it off at one point in the queue (maybe more than once and perhaps after multiple reminders, I tend to not notice what others are up to thing too often). The CM was in character for the role they were playing. The reminder was not gentle and went beyond "We've been watching you and you have not been wearing your face shield properly. Put it on and keep it on." It was loud and drew the attention of everyone within earshot. I could see that the girl was nearly in tears. Maybe that's what she needed in order to take the mask requirements seriously. But I still felt bad for her and it has stuck with me.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We got a red card once. My kid was so excited, heh

The funniest was a time we once saw a red card lanyard around the neck of one of the pirate skeletons that are on the beach in the PotC ride. (The wait for PotC was so long....) We thought it was hilarious, but I don't think anyone else in our boat got the joke at all.

Alas, ever since, I'm always on the lookout for oddities like that. There are some. Like whenever a wall gets repainted, small details sometimes change, like hidden Mickeys that appear/disappear. A good example is the paint splotches that are outside near the exit of Muppets. There is splattered purple paint. There used to be a hidden Mickey there, but it is gone. For a time, that was it. Then they repainted again, and a new hidden Mickey has appeared, but it isn't where it once was. It is nearby, but not in the purple paint.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

She had a mask on when we had reached the point where this CM was but apparently she had taken it off at one point in the queue (maybe more than once and perhaps after multiple reminders, I tend to not notice what others are up to thing too often). The CM was in character for the role they were playing. The reminder was not gentle and went beyond "We've been watching you and you have not been wearing your face shield properly. Put it on and keep it on." It was loud and drew the attention of everyone within earshot. I could see that the girl was nearly in tears. Maybe that's what she needed in order to take the mask requirements seriously. But I still felt bad for her and it has stuck with me.

Ah, it was one of the First Order CM's.

 

[WEDWDW]

Ah, it was one of the First Order CM's.

That makes a huge difference to me-I don't think the CM was "out" to embarrass the Guest intentionally-the First Order CMs use that "tone" constantly.

 

[Marionnette]

That makes a huge difference to me-I don't think the CM was "out" to embarrass the Guest intentionally-the First Order CMs use that "tone" constantly.

I think that there are some guests for whom that tone isn't appropriate. She was one of those guests. And if I (a person who admits to basically ignoring the people around her) noticed her distress, the CM should have as well and maybe dialed it back a little. But, I've gone off-topic for this thread. I'll save any further comments for a ROTR thread.