Do I really need Genie + and ILL?

[SpaceMan5]

.I know she will do a rollercoaster and drops don't bug her-but no swirly spins for me!

So you are saying the Mad Party TeaCups are a no go for you?!

 

[Diana ZP]

So you are saying the Mad Party TeaCups are a no go for you?!

Oh Lord no! I get queasy just watching them!

 

[JohnR5101]

What I'm going to say is only my opinion and not necessarily a recommendation. And this will depend on your finances too. We took a family that we are very close to for their children's very first visit (7 and 12 YO). 5 day park hoppers with Genie+. I wasn't a big fan of paying more for ILL but when it came down to it I did pay for ROTR, Radiator racers, and Webslingers (at that time). The value of time was much more than the dollars that cost me. When you add up airfare, transportation, renting DVC points for a Grand Californian villa (cheaper than getting 2 hotel rooms at the GC), and tickets, why not spend a couple hundred more on top of the $6000 I had already paid. At that moment I kinda figured that was a very small percentage of our vacation and I would rather have a shorter wait.
I don't do a financial analysis when I'm at the parks. That would take away from the enjoyment of the moment.

 

[Diana ZP]

What I'm going to say is only my opinion and not necessarily a recommendation. And this will depend on your finances too. We took a family that we are very close to for their children's very first visit (7 and 12 YO). 5 day park hoppers with Genie+. I wasn't a big fan of paying more for ILL but when it came down to it I did pay for ROTR, Radiator racers, and Webslingers (at that time). The value of time was much more than the dollars that cost me. When you add up airfare, transportation, renting DVC points for a Grand Californian villa (cheaper than getting 2 hotel rooms at the GC), and tickets, why not spend a couple hundred more on top of the $6000 I had already paid. At that moment I kinda figured that was a very small percentage of our vacation and I would rather have a shorter wait.
I don't do a financial analysis when I'm at the parks. That would take away from the enjoyment of the moment.

Good points! Thank you!

 

[MillauFr]

If you are going on a Monday you absolutely need to buy Genie +. On the less crowded days of the week it isn't necessary.

 

[Pluto468]

I'm the same way with the tea cups!

Magic Bands are really cute and we used them to scan into the rides. I found them more convenient than pulling my phone out every time. They also light up during night time shows, which is fun. I loved using them and they were a nice souvenir.

I usually get Genie+ on a day-to-day basis. Last July we went to the park for 5 days but only needed Genie+ for 3. I bought LL for Rise because I'd rather spend more time in the parks, not wait in an hour line.

WOC dessert party is super fun and would be great for kids. Have a great trip!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

She got a bit scared at the local fair and some of the rides...we explained that Disney rides are permanent etc not like the wobbly fair ones. Her mom is a bit nervous that she will get scared- doesn't want to ruin the trip. I am going to show her a video of the rides and tell her about them. I think it will be good, we all need a good fun Disney trip! Thanks!

Start her off easy like Dumbo, It’s a Small World, Winnie the Pooh, maybe Jungle Cruise … see what she likes and don’t pressure her. I have a child who doesn’t like most rides and we can still spend the entire day there and have the best time. There are a lot of wonderful things to experience other than rides! Have a great time!

 

[Pluto468]

Star her off easy like Dumbo, It’s a Small World, maybe Jungle Cruise … see what she likes and don’t pressure her. I have a child who doesn’t like most rides and we can still spend the entire day there and have the best time. There are a lot of wonderful things to experience other than rides! Have a great time!

That's a great idea. Disneyland rides are so different from the type you'd see at a fair. Alot of them are slow and gentle and cute

 

[LKing]

She got a bit scared at the local fair and some of the rides...we explained that Disney rides are permanent etc not like the wobbly fair ones

If that is the case, I would avoid Goofy's Sky School.

 

[chezcurrie]

OP, if it helps, think of G+ like the fast pass of before… use it to “guarantee” your top 3 rides, and the rest is a bonus. This can take a lot of the stress off you.

that said, not all rides have G+ (fantasyland rides, pirates, jungle cruise), so if for example it is worth it for you to not have to wait for haunted mansion and big thunder (assuming no other thrill rides) then there is your answer. Haunted Mansion Holiday will still be seeing insane lines in December (it topped 120min this last Saturday), and that alone is worth it for me as Haunted is a priority for us.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Good for you, great decision! You will love getting the use out of the Photopass too for memories you can treasure once you get back home! Especially all those Magic Shots!

THIS

The CM's do such great work. So I agree take the time and get some photo's done at any spot you can within the park

 

[Kit Jackson]

I still have mine from WDW and I bought one at the Disney store thinking I was going back soon Good thoughts on this...thanks again!!!

If you already have a MagicBand+, it makes sense to bring it. You already have it, you've already paid for it, so using it again makes sense.

Start her off easy like Dumbo, It’s a Small World, Winnie the Pooh, maybe Jungle Cruise … see what she likes and don’t pressure her. I have a child who doesn’t like most rides and we can still spend the entire day there and have the best time. There are a lot of wonderful things to experience other than rides! Have a great time!

I'm also a ride coward too. In terms easy starter rides, I'd add Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion. They are pretty smooth rides. If she can handle those and you wanted to take up a small notch, I'd add Pirates, because there's a few drops, but it's not super crazy intense. I would also add Toy Story Midway Mania as next level ride. There is some spinning, but it's not constant and wild. I would next see if she can handle Star Tours or Smuggler's Run. If she can handle motion simulators on top of everything else, then go up another level and try Rise of the Resistance or Radiator Springs Racers. For me, Rise of the Resistance or Radiator Springs Racers are the limit of my intensity. I will not ride any of the more intense thrill rides, because they are too much for me and I don't enjoy them.

 

[Chickinvic]

IMO don't waste your $ on the Magic bands+ - very few perks in DL (and I loved them at WDW) and phones are easier to use honestly. Just bring a jump charger. Buy a fun pair of ears instead or a beautiful ornament that you can customize as a memento! But that's just me.

I'm of the opposite opinion. I found the Magic Bands very useful at DL. They are pricy (like everything else Disney these days), but I didn't want to pull my phone out all the time.

 

[Mama_Cass]

Sorry to piggyback here but how does genie+/ILL work exactly? I understand the fast pass part but can we get them for Weblingers, RSR, Rise of the Resistance or are those paid only now through ILL?

 

[LKing]

I'm of the opposite opinion. I found the Magic Bands very useful at DL. They are pricy (like everything else Disney these days), but I didn't want to pull my phone out all the time.

If you are doing Genie+, the MB are helpful. If you are doing PhotoPass, only one person in your party needs to have the photographer scan either your MB or phone.

MB at Disneyland do not recognize ride photos. To get those, you need to take a photo of the image/code with your phone after you get off of the ride. You enter the code onto the app and the photo will upload. MB at Disneyland are not used for purchases.

At Disneyland, MB can be used to enter the parks. They light up during shows (fireworks, WOC, Rogers). Unfortunately, in the evenings, I usually have a jacket covering my MB. Also, I would rather focus on the show than my MB. If you waive your arm around some of the statues, it will make sound. Most are the same generic pixie dust sound and aren't very sensitive to the arm waving. The headless horseman in DCA works well and makes a unique galloping sound.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Sorry to piggyback here but how does genie+/ILL work exactly? I understand the fast pass part but can we get them for Weblingers, RSR, Rise of the Resistance or are those paid only now through ILL?

The rides that are available for individual lightning lane purchase are Rise of the Resistance and Mickey's Runaway Railway at Disneyland and RSR at DCA. Webslingers used to be an ILL but is now included with Genie+.

 

[Foxhound3857]

It depends on what you value more, your money or your time. Personally I value my time more and I try to space out my Lightning Lanes in such a way as that, after getting off a ride that I waited normally for, like Pirates, then one of my LL's, like BTM, will be ready, and if not is only a short snack break away.

RotR and RSR have upwards of two hour waits on a normal day, two hours in which anything can go wrong at any time, and if it closes for maintenance, you're out all that time you waited. So again, it comes down to whether you value your money or your time more.

 

[Mama_Cass]

The rides that are available for individual lightning lane purchase are Rise of the Resistance and Mickey's Runaway Railway at Disneyland and RSR at DCA. Webslingers used to be an ILL but is now included with Genie+.

Thank you! So does that mean the only way to get on those three rides is to pay extra…no chance on genie plus, ILL only?

 

[Foxhound3857]

Thank you! So does that mean the only way to get on those three rides is to pay extra…no chance on genie plus, ILL only?

Two of them. You're limited to two ILL's per day. The third one you'd have to wait out normally.

But yes, those three rides are ILL only, not included with Genie+.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thank you! So does that mean the only way to get on those three rides is to pay extra…no chance on genie plus, ILL only?

As Foxhound3857 says, you can always choose to wait in the standby line if you do not want to purchase an ILL or have reached your limit of two for the day. The three rides that are available as ILL are NOT available through Genie+.