Disney World Genie+ No longer sold pre-arrival, subject to availability

[PalmettoPath]

There is an insider at Wdwmagic named Disneyglimpses. That's the biggest issue with Genie+. They never expected this many to buy it. There isn't enough attention capacity for everyone to have Genie+.

As soon as they released that price, it was inevitable. I was expecting something in the $100 neighborhood at least (similar to ExpressPass)...not $15. At $15 it's a no brainer for everyone already paying so much more for everything else. In for a dime, in for a dollar.

 

[New Mouse]

It was never meant to have this many people buying each day. Disney figured charging $15 that many wouldn't buy it. The first step in fixing things is getting rid of advanced sales. The next will be to cap daily sales.

If they weren't expecting that they have no business being in their position.

The very easy fix is allowing genie plus for resort guests only. If that's not enough then deluxe guests only.

The real answer is they don't want to fix the problem.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

If they are set on limiting capacity, why not first limit it to either deluxe resort guests or all resort guests at first, and then give non-resort guests the option to buy any leftover space later? Eg deluxe buys at 6pm the night before, regular buys at 9, and then everyone can buy at 7am. Or make it available to all resort guests at 6pm the night before. Something like that. This midnight idea is stupid for a system that also requires a 7am start time.

 

[Jrb1979]

If they are set on limiting capacity, why not first limit it to either deluxe resort guests or all resort guests at first, and then give non-resort guests the option to buy any leftover space later? Eg deluxe buys at 6pm the night before, regular buys at 9, and then everyone can buy at 7am. Or make it available to all resort guests at 6pm the night before. Something like that. This midnight idea is stupid for a system that also requires a 7am start time.

Thats still too complex. Just make it available starting at 8am daily to everyone but change it to booking starts when you enter the park.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Thats still too complex. Just make it available starting at 8am daily to everyone but change it to booking starts when you enter the park.

I don’t know. Cali was like this and I found it very stressful. There are all different ways of “doing” Disney. Some people don’t rope drop. Why should they be shut out of a chance for Slinky later in the day?

I’m trying to think about a way that incentivizes people (or provides a tangible benefit) to stay on property.

 

[Jrb1979]

I don’t know. Cali was like this and I found it very stressful. There are all different ways of “doing” Disney. Some people don’t rope drop. Why should they be shut out of a chance for Slinky later in the day?

I’m trying to think about a way that incentivizes people (or provides a tangible benefit) to stay on property.

They don't need to do that right now. People are filling the resorts with very little perks now.

If they fixed Genie+ and capped sales missing out on Slinky wouldn't happen very often.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

They don't need to do that right now. People are filling the resorts with very little perks now.

If they fixed Genie+ and capped sales missing out on Slinky wouldn't happen very often.

We may need to agree to disagree.

Let’s say that I’m paying $1,000+/night to stay at GF. If I want to pony up for Genie+ I had better be able to get the Genie+. If I’m spending $250/night at a value resort instead of paying $150 somewhere else I might be able to understand getting locked out vs a deluxe, but not versus the general population.

If spaces are limited and customers are going to be locked out those staying on property should have priority over those who are not.

 

[xdan0920]

Let’s say that I’m paying $1,000+/night to stay at GF. If I want to pony up for Genie+ I had better be able to get the Genie+. If I’m spending $250/night at a value resort instead of paying $150 somewhere else I might be able to understand getting locked out vs a deluxe, but not versus the general population.

Of course this is true in theory, but people keep piling into these resorts, regardless.

 

[lugnut33]

I find it hilarious that people think Disney will limit sales. What they'll do is jack the price up (let's say to $25) and the same amount or even more people will buy it. You must have it to get the most out of your trip (people who go just to walk around are excluded from my statement). $100 per day for a family of 4 is nothing for people going to Disney World.

 

[Liquidice]

If they don't cap the number of Genie+ sales the system will continue to be broken. Guest satisfaction with Genie+ is very low right now. Despite what you many think, Disney does consider guest satisfaction. But if they can sell half the amount of Genie+ and then double the price, it will result in the same revenue for them.

I do wonder if there are some "in between" methods Disney could use to assist with the way Genie+ works. For example, instead of being able to book at 7am for everyone - maybe the 7am time is for resort guests only and everyone else requires you to scan into the park. I understand Disney doesn't need an incentive for people to stay on property, but this would reduce the number of people booking a lightning lane in the morning and maybe help things. There are some definite tweaks they could do to improve the system overall.

Remember Hollywood Studios used to have a tiering system for the rides? You could only pre-book 1 Tier 1 ride and 2 Tier 2 rides. They could do something like this with Genie+, especially for stacking (if you're holding a Tier 1, you can only stack a Tier 2 ride) - or they could even limit your Lightning Lanes for the day somehow. I know this wouldn't be preferable but it would make it more fair for everyone.

Personally for me, I prefer the old Fastpass+ system where you could book ahead of your trip, even if they started charging for it, but I doubt they go back to anything like that.

DLP's Premier Access Ultimate sounds good because it removes the scheduling aspect of it but I don't know if it would work in WDW?

I do hope the changes they make have a positive impact on Genie+.

 

[Sweettears]

Have there been any reports of sold out days?

 

[FreeCA]

Have there been any reports of sold out days?

Not yet