Day 2. Woke up around 7:30 with the screams of excitement of young families leaving their rooms and headed to the parks. Since we were awakened by the noise and it appeared
Genie+ was up and running, we threw on some clothes and headed to the parks for a quick check in despite the fact we wouldn’t be having our park day start until 1pm. We didn’t know how the day would go with the Genie+ option and we wanted to test it out. Quickly through security and the gates just after 8, turning immediately around and back to hotel. With Genie+ purchased, I nabbed a return time for Guardians at 1:30. Dozed off and on while daughter had her zoom meeting.
Back to DCA just before 1. Lines for park hopping at both parks were rather long. While waiting to enter, grabbed a LL for Monsters (I like this ride) with an immediate return. Once we bought our sip and savor pass, we headed straight to Monsters. Posted wait 25 minutes, on the ride in 5 minutes durning which time grabbed a TSMM pass. Then to Guardian. Posted wait 80 minutes. Walk on with LL and immediately to room with Rocket. There was a delay with a couple of elevators, but that affected everyone not just LL. Actually delay worked to our advantage as rain had picked up and we were inside staying dry and warm. Off to TSMM posted wait 30 minutes, we were on ride in under 5. Again grabbing next LL for Incredicoaster. Posted wait 20 minutes, on ride in under 5. Rinse and repeat. Soarin’ posted wait 30 minutes, basically walk on and front row seats. Ended up in CarsLand around dusk and tried RSR single rider. Complete walk on and ended up in the same car together. TowMater, less than 5 minutes. Ended night at Animation Academy.
The whole day we moved at a leisurely pace enjoying the festival foods and various entertainment offerings. We did everything we wanted and felt very satisfied with our day. The crowds from DL were hopping to DCA as merriest nights was chasing them out of that park. So having done all we wanted, the crowds growing, and the colder weather setting in, we decided we were tired and head back to hotel. Plus I believe DCA closing at 10 does not offer the same late night benefits as a midnight closing at DL.
To compare the 2 days as far as with and without Genie+, I was pleased with our purchase of it on day 2. Some might argue we only used it on 5 rides and it didn’t save us much time, but for us, it allowed a more casual pace and the time we would have spent in line, we spent enjoying the atmosphere. Now day 1 without it was also enjoyable, but definitely more time spent in lines.
For our future visit in May with adult children and their significant others, I can definitely see the advantage of Genie+ since it’s so easy to park hop and it helps deal with the parks without rope dropping. The one thing I miss from MaxPass is the ability to re-ride an attraction. I didn’t think I’d miss it much as we are usually one and done with each ride, but for 1 or 2 rides in each park it would have been nice. As to ILL, I briefly considered it for RSR just to ride at night, but we nailed a dusk ride as single riders and were satisfied with it. Now with serious Star Wars fans joining us in May, I can definitely see us forking over the cash to avoid an hour plus wait. Will I do it repeatedly? No, but yeah definitely once.
For those of you hoping people will hate Genie+ and refuse to buy it thus bringing about its quick demise, my generally positive reception of it may not be what you want to hear, but I am just one person/family. Perhaps others will feel differently and the reception will be lukewarm and it underperforms in sales, perhaps they will tweak it (repeat rides as a suggestion). I wouldn’t count on it, but one can dream.
