Disney Genie announcement

[JakeAZ]

I don’t really get what the advantage of being able to buy an ILL$ at 7 am is. I get for Genie+ why it’s an advantage if there’s some form of stacking. But ILL$? Does Disney really think all the desirable ILL$ slots are going to sell out before park open? I think they’re misjudging the demand on that a bit…. Maybe ROTR on crowded days. But Space Mountain? EE? MMRR? Even Remy’s? Lol, no.

There is no benefit to being able to buy it early. Well, no benefit to you, or me.

Disney knows there isn't really anything to keep people on-site (once the revenge travel subsides) so they have to point to as many on-site "benefits" as they can.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

There is no benefit to being able to buy it early. Well, no benefit to you, or me.

Disney knows there isn't really anything to keep people on-site (once the revenge travel subsides) so they have to point to as many on-site "benefits" as they can.

But it would be so easy for them to make a benefit here that wouldn't cost them anything. Just letting on-site book 2 LL's at 7 instead of 1 would be a benefit. They must really think people will stay onsite for 5 times the price of a comparable offsite no matter what. I guess we'll see if they're right.

 

[JakeAZ]

But it would be so easy for them to make a benefit here that wouldn't cost them anything. Just letting on-site book 2 LL's at 7 instead of 1 would be a benefit. They must really think people will stay onsite for 5 times the price of a comparable offsite no matter what. I guess we'll see if they're right.

Occupancy is very high for the next few months. They can do whatever they want right now and we know the mouse loves money.

Once that dies down, they will make changes.

My guess....no more free dining plan. "Free Genie+" with rack rates.

They overshot on the Xmas parties. None of them have sold out. Most of the trips coming up are from people (myself included) who are rebooking from 2020 and DVC members who need to use points. Maybe they've finally hit the breaking point. We'll see.

 

[lostprincess_danie]

The timing for purchasing and making selections for Genie+ and ILL$ has been announced (although still confusing). But has anything been said about setting up the free Genie planner? Or will that also be morning of? Would love if I could make all those ride selections and fill out any other Genie info at least a day or two before.

 

[JakeAZ]

The timing for purchasing and making selections for Genie+ and ILL$ has been announced (although still confusing). But has anything been said about setting up the free Genie planner? Or will that also be morning of? Would love if I could make all those ride selections and fill out any other Genie info at least a day or two before.

I'm sure Disney would allow you to get it going early for a small fee of like $15pp per day

 

[Jrb1979]

But it would be so easy for them to make a benefit here that wouldn't cost them anything. Just letting on-site book 2 LL's at 7 instead of 1 would be a benefit. They must really think people will stay onsite for 5 times the price of a comparable offsite no matter what. I guess we'll see if they're right.

Doing that would eat up a lot of availability. I personally don't see Genie+ ever being tied to resort stays. Gone are the days of perks for staying on site. There wasn't always perks to staying in site. Most did it to stay in the bubble.

 

[JakeAZ]

Doing that would eat up a lot of availability. I personally don't see Genie+ ever being tied to resort stays. Gone are the days of perks for staying on site. There wasn't always perks to staying in site. Most did it to stay in the bubble.

This is true, but then as they added benefits, they jacked up the prices. Benefits are going away and prices are still going up. People have noticed. Disney doesn't need to worry yet, but once this rush of 2020 rebooked trips subsides, it's going to be a problem for them.

$1000 per night for a 250sq foot room? Come on

 

[JakeAZ]

The timing for purchasing and making selections for Genie+ and ILL$ has been announced (although still confusing). But has anything been said about setting up the free Genie planner? Or will that also be morning of? Would love if I could make all those ride selections and fill out any other Genie info at least a day or two before.

For a non sarcastic response...

While they should launch the free version before going live with the paid version, to allow people to input their preferences, I don't see them doing it. Unfortunately.

Maybe a day in advance, at most.

 

[dawnball]

If I don’t go, there are 10 people waiting to fill my shoes.

Oh, I wasn't saying that me not going would somehow change Disney's plan. They're experimenting with price elasticity of demand and they clearly have some headroom. But I don't feel particularly locked in to the two choices you offered.

There aren't 10 people waiting to fill my shoes, because the parks aren't at capacity, let alone that oversubscribed. If the value proposition doesn't work - I'm not harmed by it working for someone else.

 

[denman007]

If I need to pay for hassle free, I want something like Universal where I buy a ticket and can ride anything I want, any time I want, as many times as I want.

This seems like a complete mess and to much work. I think enough at work I don't want to think this much while on vacation.

I might cancel my trip due to this. I have about a month to see how it goes

 

[Violetspider]

If I need to pay for hassle free, I want something like Universal where I buy a ticket and can ride anything I want, any time I want, as many times as I want.

This seems like a complete mess and to much work. I think enough at work I don't want to think this much while on vacation.

I might cancel my trip due to this. I have about a month to see how it goes

My plans before Covid were to sell my house and move near WDW. I did sell my house finally, but definitely trying to come up with a new plan. Being a local annual pass holder won't be anything like I was imagining. The Disney dream is starting to look like a nightmare now. Going to have to see what happens over the next few years.

 

[CarolynFH]

The timing for purchasing and making selections for Genie+ and ILL$ has been announced (although still confusing). But has anything been said about setting up the free Genie planner? Or will that also be morning of? Would love if I could make all those ride selections and fill out any other Genie info at least a day or two before.

Since it will be part of MDE, I think you’ll be able to input planning data (such as which attractions you want on a given day) as soon as you have dates. Genie will get your ADRs, hotel reservations, ticket info, etc. from MDE.

 

[denman007]

My plans before Covid were to sell my house and move near WDW. I did sell my house finally, but definitely trying to come up with a new plan. Being a local annual pass holder won't be anything like I was imagining. The Disney dream is starting to look like a nightmare now. Going to have to see what happens over the next few years.

Maybe a combo of Disney and Universal?

Maybe when covid is over the 50th is over things will settle down and they will have worked out the kinks.

If you're in Florida, at least you can enjoy the weather the next 6 months.

 

[Leight19]

There is no benefit to being able to buy it early. Well, no benefit to you, or me.

Disney knows there isn't really anything to keep people on-site (once the revenge travel subsides) so they have to point to as many on-site "benefits" as they can.

I may have misread but doesnt the ILL$ allow you to pick the times? If so maybe the benefit isnt to avoid selling out but to allow you to better pick your time to fit your plans.

On the general topic of genie plus I’d also like to add for genie plus I feel like it’s such a small amount of additional revenue per person it’s serious risk of being revenue loss for Disney .

We travel as party of 4 and tend to stay in hotels that cost ~$400 a night ($100 each). We get multi day tickets which cost us $100 each. We tend to spend $50 to $100 each in dining and merchandise each day. Adding that together we are spending up to $300 a day per person. With these numbers to offset us not going or shortening stay they need 20 people to adopt genie plus.

Now granted this math isn’t perfect since the amount we pay per day isn’t all profit and some revenue will be made up by other guests but it shows how this could easily backfire if guests are turned off and stay home or even if they purchase and just use efficiency to shorten trip. I’d say Disney has data to back up this will be success so maybe it works for them but their history of predicting fan response seems off (dlp paid fast pass price reductions as perfect example but even the surprise at negative response to dme or the mk dj shows some serious disconnect to customers).

 

[JakeAZ]

If I need to pay for hassle free, I want something like Universal where I buy a ticket and can ride anything I want, any time I want, as many times as I want.

This seems like a complete mess and to much work. I think enough at work I don't want to think this much while on vacation.

Exactly!

I hate the whole one hour ride window or you can book again after two hours or after you tap in. It’s just a constant slog on your phone trying to make things work with where you are and where you might be later.

 

[Disturbia]

I may have misread but doesnt the ILL$ allow you to pick the times? If so maybe the benefit isnt to avoid selling out but to allow you to better pick your time to fit your plans.

On the general topic of genie plus I’d also like to add for genie plus I feel like it’s such a small amount of additional revenue per person it’s serious risk of being revenue loss for Disney .

We travel as party of 4 and tend to stay in hotels that cost ~$400 a night ($100 each). We get multi day tickets which cost us $100 each. We tend to spend $50 to $100 each in dining and merchandise each day. Adding that together we are spending up to $300 a day per person. With these numbers to offset us not going or shortening stay they need 20 people to adopt genie plus.

Now granted this math isn’t perfect since the amount we pay per day isn’t all profit and some revenue will be made up by other guests but it shows how this could easily backfire if guests are turned off and stay home or even if they purchase and just use efficiency to shorten trip. I’d say Disney has data to back up this will be success so maybe it works for them but their history of predicting fan response seems off (dlp paid fast pass price reductions as perfect example but even the surprise at negative response to dme or the mk dj shows some serious disconnect to customers).

They’re cutting benefits for locals (and off site guests), so I don’t think they’re the target market for genie+ (Implied by your substitution of genie+ sales to offset staying onsite). I think they want people who travel and stay at their resorts for a week and spend $$$ for dining and merchandise.

 

[tony67]

My guess....no more free dining plan. "Free Genie+" with rack rates.

Yeah - I've been saying the same thing - they can give this for free and there is really no cost to them. may still see free DDP as well - but that will depend on Occupancy rates next fall Id guess - for now they don't need free DDP

 

[tony67]

They’re cutting benefits for locals (and off site guests), so I don’t think they’re the target market for genie+ (Implied by your substitution of genie+ sales to offset staying onsite). I think they want people who travel and stay at their resorts for a week and spend $$$ for dining and merchandise.

Well - could be worse - you could be a Disney Land AP holder who really cant get into the park much over the next three months - even with the highest plan there are no weekend reservations till January I believe - but you can buy daily tickets for any of those days and get in

Seems really bad to do over folks that just spent $1400 on an AP - but hey Minnie needs new Shoes

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah - I've been saying the same thing - they can give this for free and there is really no cost to them. may still see free DDP as well - but that will depend on Occupancy rates next fall Id guess - for now they don't need free DDP

I don't see them giving it away for free. Then you are back to the problem with FP+. Too many people having it. I doubt you see discounts or free offers for awhile. This the Chapek Disney now.

 

[tony67]

I don't see them giving it away for free. Then you are back to the problem with FP+. Too many people having it. I doubt you see discounts or free offers for awhile. This the Chapek Disney now.

Good point - could be free for Club level or Deluxe though - of course they may assume those folks would pay for it anyway.

Will be interesting to see how it all plays out - as I have said - as a solo traveler who does not care about most of the pay per ride rides - I don't mind paying $15 if it saves me a few hours over the day - but if my family was with me and it was $45 to $60 a day that's different story