Disney Genie announcement

[twincruisers]

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.

Standard software testing is to start with internal developers, then alpha test in the QA department. Then Alpha 2 with a few trusted individuals (few choice clients/trusted partners), then a beta with a few hundred (to a few thousand) select customers, repeat as needed. Maybe one more beta to simulate millions of connections to ensure scalability is working correctly, then finally a release version. That said, we seem to skip to Alpha to the general public (General Availibity Release) pretty quickly now to iterate quicker. Once you can confirm you're getting good consistent data from the base software, then you can really turn on the ML/AI algorithms to do their thing.

But I do agree, waiting to let the bugs and ML/AI stuff do get up-to-snuff is a good idea vs being a genie pig.

 

[rmclain73]

I am going 10/9-10/16. I will gladly be a genie pig.

 

[ChanaC]

I would love to hear from CMs about how the wait times are posted. I was an attractions attendant at Universal Studios and the employees working in the lines were responsible for updating the wait time sign at the front of the attraction. I was there right as they were rolling out their app with the wait times, and even when I was there I wasn't sure how the info was getting to the app. I don't think us changing the wait time sign triggered the app to change, it didn't seem like that complex of a system. I think periodically someone in one of the offices would call the managers at our attraction, who would radio the front of the line, who would then report back the time. I know we didn't inflate or deflate the wait times, just tried to give the most accurate times, and when you work at the attraction long enough you can do a pretty good estimate by just looking at how long the queue is. I imagine it's a lot harder when you are a CM outside a totally indoor queue, because they probably don't really know what's happening inside.

All this to say that is might not be "Big Bad Disney" making up the wait times, at least the sign at the attraction, just some CM trying their best.

 

[BK2014]

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.

I don't disagree that wait times are inflated, but I would imagine that keeping them inflated by only a certain amount of time, say 10 minutes, would be hard to do. Crowd flow can't be an exact science and it would seem to be nearly impossible to predict all of the ebbs and flows.

Though I am not ruling out the possible that times are inflated even more for more sinister reasons . . .

 

[JCornell]

We typically go 1-2 times per year and nothing is a must do so we'll probably just try out the free features mostly and maybe make an exception on a particularly busy day

I would love to hear from CMs about how the wait times are posted. I was an attractions attendant at Universal Studios and the employees working in the lines were responsible for updating the wait time sign at the front of the attraction. I was there right as they were rolling out their app with the wait times, and even when I was there I wasn't sure how the info was getting to the app. I don't think us changing the wait time sign triggered the app to change, it didn't seem like that complex of a system. I think periodically someone in one of the offices would call the managers at our attraction, who would radio the front of the line, who would then report back the time. I know we didn't inflate or deflate the wait times, just tried to give the most accurate times, and when you work at the attraction long enough you can do a pretty good estimate by just looking at how long the queue is. I imagine it's a lot harder when you are a CM outside a totally indoor queue, because they probably don't really know what's happening inside.

All this to say that is might not be "Big Bad Disney" making up the wait times, at least the sign at the attraction, just some CM trying their best.

Periodically they would give someone a lanyard with a tag to carry through the line. They'd scan the tag, give it to someone, and then scan it again near the front of the line. That's how the wait times would update. I personally haven't carried the tag in a couple years but I just assumed that still happened. Of course, by the time you get to the front, it could still be very different at the end of the line. Lots of people could have showed up or none at all. The algorithms also assumed a mix of standby and FP times so I'm sure things have been a bit wacky with almost all stand by now.

 

[luv2cheer92]

We typically go 1-2 times per year and nothing is a must do so we'll probably just try out the free features mostly and maybe make an exception on a particularly busy day

Periodically they would give someone a lanyard with a tag to carry through the line. They'd scan the tag, give it to someone, and then scan it again near the front of the line. That's how the wait times would update. I personally haven't carried the tag in a couple years but I just assumed that still happened. Of course, by the time you get to the front, it could still be very different at the end of the line. Lots of people could have showed up or none at all. The algorithms also assumed a mix of standby and FP times so I'm sure things have been a bit wacky with almost all stand by now.

They stopped doing those lanyards in 2017, brought them back very briefly in 2019 and then stopped again.

 

[jodybird511]

They stopped doing those lanyards in 2017, brought them back very briefly in 2019 and then stopped again.

We were actually handed one when we were at Disneyland at the end of June. Hadn't seen one for a long time prior to that.

 

[ShayBells]

Can I just say… out of everything that makes me mad not knowing an official start date for genie+ has to be on top of the list right now.

 

[js]

Can I just say… out of everything that makes me mad not knowing an official start date for genie+ has to be on top of the list right now.

I agree. I don't understand why they haven't given us any more information regarding a hard start date, pricing of attractions, etc. But I am not surprised.

 

[LiamsDISMom]

Can I just say… out of everything that makes me mad not knowing an official start date for genie+ has to be on top of the list right now.

Me too. At this point it is the one thing that is making me think I'm canceling. I'm close to my 30 days out and I don't want to go with crazy long lines and no Genie. On the other hand, I've got great ADRs and a fun trip planned, and I'm afraid as soon as I cancel they will announce a start date and it will be before my trip date.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Me too. At this point it is the one thing that is making me think I'm canceling. I'm close to my 30 days out and I don't want to go with crazy long lines and no Genie. On the other hand, I've got great ADRs and a fun trip planned, and I'm afraid as soon as I cancel they will announce a start date and it will be before my trip date.

This is only my thoughts with zero to support it but if your trip is in 30 days I'd be shocked if Genie is not up and running by then, or at least through your trip.

In my head they want to drop after October 1st but before the bigger November/December crowds arrive.

 

[LiamsDISMom]

This is only my thoughts with zero to support it but if your trip is in 30 days I'd be shocked if Genie is not up and running by then, or at least through your trip.

In my head they want to drop after October 1st but before the bigger November/December crowds arrive.

Also what I was hoping and thinking in my head too, BUT the closer we get and now word has me starting to doubt it. We will be there Halloween week/weekend.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Also what I was hoping and thinking in my head too, BUT the closer we get and now word has me starting to doubt it. We will be there Halloween week/weekend.

I'm of the group that feels we will get little/no warning before it drops, but that's must my thoughts.

 

[rmclain73]

I'm of the group that feels we will get little/no warning before it drops, but that's must my thoughts.

Disney has said in their online verbiage that they will make an announcement closer to launch.

 

[Turksmom]

Disney has said in their online verbiage that they will make an announcement closer to launch.

That they'll announce closer to launch doesn't give an indication of how much time there will be between announcement and start. It could be a 5pm announcement stating that you can purchase G+ at midnight

 

[rmclain73]

That they'll announce closer to launch doesn't give an indication of how much time there will be between announcement and start. It could be a 5pm announcement stating that you can purchase G+ at midnight

That is fine. At least give us something.

 

[thptrek]

Hoping it drops before Oct 18th. Really would like for it to be up and running before we get there so we can read reviews and get an idea of how best to use it. We expect to use the IAS and Genie+ during our trip.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I feel badly with those booked in the near future as there are decisions that will need to be made but so little information available.

 

[serenitygr]

I feel badly with those booked in the near future as there are decisions that will need to be made but so little information available.

We’re heading that way right now from Minnesota- checking in Sunday and staying three weeks. I figure we’ll just wing it!

 

[OhDannyBoy]

My offer of free churros for reports of how it works still stands.