Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2023 Edition

[HokieRaven5]

Adding the parks blog posts with the latest updates referenced for Disneyland and Walt Disney World:

Disneyland Resort Announces New Updates to Offer Guests More Value and Flexibility

3 Changes Walt Disney World is Making to Bring More Value & Flexibility to Your Visits

 

[ArielRae]

NEW: Guests with Genie+ at WDW will receive complimentary digital downloads of their PhotoPass attraction photos on the day of Genie+ purchase. Updated: No start date announced yet. Coming in the next few months.

Is it really only just the attraction/ride photos or is it all the photo pass photos taken that day? If it is all the photo pass photos I may consider buying it.

 

[Smugpugmug]

NEW: An update on Magic Key passes at Disneyland:

"Disneyland Resort will make select Magic Key passes available for new sales from time to time throughout 2023 as pass inventory becomes available."

Scott Gustin Twitter

Great for people wanting Disneyland APs.....now let's do WDW APs please : )

 

[HokieRaven5]

Is it really only just the attraction/ride photos or is it all the photo pass photos taken that day? If it is all the photo pass photos I may consider buying it.

It is just the attraction photos. Unknown about any of the Character Meet&Greets that can be booked on G+, but any PhotoPass photographer that’s out and about would not be included.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Yeah APs need to have reservations on weekends to hop. Weekdays they are free to enter a park after 2 pm without a reservation.

Only MK has the weekend restriction

 

[ArielRae]

It is just the attraction photos. Unknown about any of the Character Meet&Greets that can be booked on G+, but any PhotoPass photographer that’s out and about would not be included.

Thanks for the reply. Guess I’ll still be passing on buying Genie+ this next trip.

 

[jesskeys91]

I just hope they aren’t giving us all these nice things so they can say “ BUT WERE KEEPING DISNEY GENIE PLUS “ which is the main thing I really care about

Which they obviously are if they are saying guests who have it can have free photos

Sigh. The one thing they know will make everyone if they removed and happy, they will keep. $$

I actually like Genie+, we had a lot of success using it compared to the old system. It’s not a perfect system yet but I don’t mind it all.

Now the park reservations and restricted hopping interfere with the enjoyment of my trips WAY more than Genie+

 

[B1GxFOOT]

I don't usually have a car at WDW and even I celebrate this news. Charging for parking at the resorts just stinks.

I wonder if resort guests would still have to pay for parking at the theme parks?

 

[Violetspider]

I wonder if resort guests would still have to pay for parking at the theme parks?

I don't think resorts guests have to pay to park at the theme parks now.

"As a reminder, Disney Resort hotel guests also continue to receive complimentary standard parking at Walt Disney World theme parks, daily early theme park entry (with valid admission and a park reservation) and complimentary on-site transportation options such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner.”

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I actually like Genie+, we had a lot of success using it compared to the old system. It’s not a perfect system yet but I don’t mind it all.

Now the park reservations and restricted hopping interfere with the enjoyment of my trips WAY more than Genie+

Ok I like getting a fast pass type thing too to actually enjoy my trip but I don’t like spending 80 per day or 20 per family member , for a 7 day trip adding an extra $560 dollars to my trip when I already have to pay 700 per person for a 7 day base ticket, and then to enjoy the top rides maybe pay another 60 per day for ILL

Point is, this was free.

But yes I do “ like it “ cause it works but the extra expense is the slap in the face

And I feel really bad for the families who can’t remotely afford it

 

[KayMichigan]

Glad to hear they're getting rid of the Harmonius barges. Hopefully they NEVER put anything like that in the EPCOT lagoon again.

 

[kwdw]

Finally, some good news. Only the parking change helps me, but I’ll take it! Keeping my fingers crossed AP sales start again, but with this announcement today, I’m guessing it won’t be sooner. They will probably want to see what happens with park crowds with existing AP holders first.

 

[Violetspider]

I was hoping to see an earlier park hopping change at WDW. After seeing DL go down to 11AM, I was sure WDW would see at least a noon or even 1PM change.

 

[jesskeys91]

Ok I like getting a fast pass type thing too to actually enjoy my trip but I don’t like spending 80 per day or 20 per family member , for a 7 day trip adding an extra $560 dollars to my trip when I already have to pay 700 per person for a 7 day base ticket, and then to enjoy the top rides maybe pay another 60 per day for ILL

Point is, this was free.

But yes I do “ like it “ cause it works but the extra expense is the slap in the face

And I feel really bad for the families who can’t remotely afford it

When Fastpass was free you got 3 a day. A handful more if you were an expert at using the system. And you had to be up at the crack of dawn months in advance to book them.

With Genie+ it is a smaller pool of people than just everyone who is in the parks, so without having to be an expert you can easily get double that or more in a day. Which to me makes it a luxury perk worth paying for. And on the days I don’t want to pay for it, standby is still there and available to everyone.

If you plan your day right you can get just as much done without paying anything extra. The trade off is you don’t have to put in the time and effort to do that if you pay for the extra perk. To me that is a time value that is worth it on days I don’t want to tour that way.

But to each their own. To me I like it soooo much better than the free version but I understand not everyone feels the same.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

When Fastpass was free you got 3 a day. A handful more if you were an expert at using the system. And you had to be up at the crack of dawn months in advance to book them.

With Genie+ it is a smaller pool of people than just everyone who is in the parks, so without having to be an expert you can easily get double that or more in a day. Which to me makes it a luxury perk worth paying for. And on the days I don’t want to pay for it, standby is still there and available to everyone.

If you plan your day right you can get just as much done without paying anything extra. The trade off is you don’t have to put in the time and effort to do that if you pay for the extra perk. To me that is a time value that is worth it on days I don’t want to tour that way.

But to each their own. To me I like it soooo much better than the free version but I understand not everyone feels the same.

And now I need to get up at the crack of dawn everyday of my trip when I’d like to sleep in just a little bit, instead of me doing it one time months in advance. This is one thing I think they need to fix with genie plus. Stop making people get up early to book these things. Give perks to people staying on site to book earlier.

My point in the end is everything that I can do with genie plus, I was doing for free and saving almost $1,000 in the process. Nobody is forced to use it but there no comparison between trips with genie plus and without when it comes to ease of trip and less stress.

To each their own as you said, just venting frustration

Not everyone is gonna be happy. I’ll still buy genie plus cause it’s needed but I’ll attempt to just use it less days. Hopefully Disney does something about the cost of it or gives some perk to on site Resort guests. If I’m staying on site with a 7 day ticket, how about giving me 2 days free of genie plus if I pay for 4 Or free ILL for a few days.

Just the little things

 

[Tigger's ally]

I'm very (happily) surprised to see all of the positive news.

When I heard Iger was back, I told my wife that just maybe his time off allowed him to see the wrong things that were happening and maybe just maybe he would come back and put the Customer Service back in Disney. Good start. The parking fee was always a bad thing for me and most of the time we actually don't have a car.

 

[MissPixieDreamer]

And now I need to get up at the crack of dawn everyday of my trip when I’d like to sleep in just a little bit, instead of me doing it one time months in advance. This is one thing I think they need to fix with genie plus. Stop making people get up early to book these things. Give perks to people staying on site to book earlier.

My point in the end is everything that I can do with genie plus, I was doing for free and saving almost $1,000 in the process. Nobody is forced to use it but there no comparison between trips with genie plus and without when it comes to ease of trip and less stress.

To each their own as you said, just venting frustration

Not everyone is gonna be happy. I’ll still buy genie plus cause it’s needed but I’ll attempt to just use it less days. Hopefully Disney does something about the cost of it or gives some perk to on site Resort guests. If I’m staying on site with a 7 day ticket, how about giving me 2 days free of genie plus if I pay for 4 Or free ILL for a few days.

Just the little things

Those would be great, but I still prefer being able to book 3 rides in advance. I hate the anxiety every day of the trip. Having to wake up some minutes before 7am, double checking if I'm logged in, world clock in a different screen and trying to get Slinky, or ILL for ROTR, I mean... I don't wake up in this state of mind on a work day! On vacation? This is crazy! Paying for something that used to be free is bad, but this morning process is the worst!

 

[HokieRaven5]

Angela Bassett Wins Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

 

[Maleficent_Hades]

I don't usually have a car at WDW and even I celebrate this news. Charging for parking at the resorts just stinks.

same, i don't drive and my hubby is a bus driver so he refuses to drive while on vacation, but i am happy for all that this will affect!!

 

[brockash]

Parking being free again screams that they see the perception that they’re nickel-and-diming folks, paying more and getting less, etc. The hotel prices have also gotten insane in the last few years so this is a PR win that might not cost them money when it comes down to it.

I don’t think it means anything for Genie+ though.

I agree. It does sound better and ridiculously does make me feel less angst towards them even though I know they're just getting the money from the insane room cost, but I guess I prefer my money to be taken in disguise lol.