EARLY PLAN for visiting Disneyland Resort Parks with Genie+

[DLRExpert]

This is based off of the first few days of Genie+ at WDW.

If you plan to buy into Genie+ expect to pay up to $40 (adding G+ and ILL for ROTR) at Disneyland and $50 at California Adventure (adding G+ and ILL for Web Slingers and Racers).
However, you can probably lessen that amount depending if you can experience certain attractions at opening.
The next thing you have to determine is if you want to experience an attraction more than once and can be at the park at rope drop.
For example, You can knock out RSR pretty quickly at park opening lessening need for its ILL unless you want to ride twice.
For ROTR you can easily not pay the ILL and use the StandBy line instead.

If I wanted a chance to ride an attraction twice I would try to experience every G+ LL attraction via Stand By at rope drop and then start stacking LL for later in the day.

Then you also have to take into account Single Rider. Almost EVERY major G+ LL attraction has a single rider line. Of course SR is harder to do if you have a party with younger children, but it is an option.
Racers, Incredicoaster, Goofy, Soarin (maybe), Grizzly, Space, Matterhorn, Splash, Indy, Falcon all have SR.
NON-SR LL are Big Thunder, TSMM, Guardians, Mansion, Small World, Buzz, Star Tours, Roger, Monsters Inc, and Autopia. All of these are pretty easy to complete at Rope Drop or Later in the day (after 6pm).

Just thinking

 

[Geemo]

This is based off of the first few days of Genie+ at WDW.

If you plan to buy into Genie+ expect to pay up to $35 (adding G+ and ILL for ROTR) at Disneyland and $40 at California Adventure (adding G+ and ILL for Web Slingers and Racers).
However, you can probably lessen that amount depending if you can experience certain attractions at opening and if Boarding Groups remain a thing.
The next thing you have to determine is if you want to experience an attraction more than once and can be at the park at rope drop.
For example, You can knock out RSR pretty quickly at park opening lessening need for its ILL unless you want to ride twice.
For ROTR you can easily not pay the ILL if you get the BG and are okay with only riding once.

If I wanted a chance to ride an attraction twice I would try to experience every G+ LL attraction via Stand By at rope drop and then start stacking LL for later in the day.

Then you also have to take into account Single Rider. Almost EVERY major G+ LL attraction has a single rider line. Of course SR is harder to do if you have a party with younger children, but it is an option.
Racers, Incredicoaster, Goofy, Soarin (maybe), Grizzly, Space, Matterhorn, Splash, Indy, Falcon all have SR.
NON-SR LL are Big Thunder, TSMM, Guardians, Mansion, Small World, Buzz, Star Tours, Roger, Monsters Inc, and Autopia. All of these are pretty easy to complete at Rope Drop or Later in the day (after 6pm).

Just thinking

I like your ideas. Except for having to pay extra for ILL options. I'm not a fan of this.
Genie+ is one thing but I have to draw the line somewhere when it comes down to $$.

I will watch for your report once everything goes LIVE.
It appears I have to learn how re-calibrate my trips to Disneyland.

I had been an AP holder for many years. But with the closure and chaos of re-opening not sure if I will spring for one any time soon.

I appreciate those reporting back on their experiences in the parks now.
Pre-Pandemic I had every detail figured out how to maximizing my trips to DLR.
Looks like this ole dog will need to learn all the new tricks for touring the parks.

Geemo

 

[AndrewC]

I actually kinda like the idea of ILL. I’ve missed reservations for Rise almost 50% of my trip (forget, couldn’t get it, etc) and if I knew my fall back was tossing them $15 to do it I might skip Genie+ midweek and instead buy a ride. That said, I usually travel solo so single rider is huge for me, or at most I’m with another adult and we don’t mind being separated by a single rider for the really long lines (Space, RSR, etc).

 

[disneylover102]

Since when does Soarin’ have SR again? I know they got rid of it a few years ago

 

[gelatoni fan]

Here's what we know so far of WDW:

• Each lightning lane can only be done once per day
• Hotel guests have dibs on Individual Lightning Lanes
• The 5 min before 15 min after grace period still exists
• A ride breakdown on an Individual Lightning Lane attraction refunds everybody who is still holding the ILL
• If your next lightning lane is over 2 hours from the current time, you can get your next lightning lane after 2 hours. In the case of a lightning lane booked before park open that is later than 2 hours after park open, your second lightning lane becomes available 2 hours after park open
• With the exception of the 2 hour rule, you can book your next lightning lane attraction after using your existing one or after it expires

Here's what I have not seen any info about:

• If you use your lightning lane less than 30 minutes after booking it, can you book a new lightning lane or is the 30 minute rule implemented?
• What happens if a lightning lane attraction goes down? Are multiple experience passes issued? Is your lightning lane automatically cancelled? Or are you just out of luck?
• Which if the above rules will apply at Disneyland? It's possible they may do 90 minutes like Maxpass instead of the 120 minutes like Fastpass.

 

[Didi8367]

I was running through some scenarios yesterday, trying to plan for our December trip, and the strategy the OP describes seems like a good one—EXCEPT for the fact that G+ doesn’t seem to give you return times far enough out so you can stack efficiently.

For example, looking at the WDW app right now shows that, of all the attractions in MK that offer LL options, only three are more than 120 mins away. (And even those three aren’t offering times far beyond 2 hours. One is 2 hours, 40 mins and the others are right at 3 hours). Stacking in the way described in the OP requires making return reservations farther in the future so that you can book another after your mandatory wait time ends, right? If the only return time offered (and with G+ you can’t choose a return time. You get “next available.”) is inside that window, there’s no real ability to stack.

I would love to be wrong about that or missing something, though. If I am, please tell me!

 

[tlovesdis]

Since when does Soarin’ have SR again? I know they got rid of it a few years ago

This past weekend they had single rider. We were waiting in line and they were letting them on.

 

[disneylover102]

This past weekend they had single rider. We were waiting in line and they were letting them on.

There was an actual single rider line? Or they were just calling out asking for single riders?

 

[DLRExpert]

I was running through some scenarios yesterday, trying to plan for our December trip, and the strategy the OP describes seems like a good one—EXCEPT for the fact that G+ doesn’t seem to give you return times far enough out so you can stack efficiently.

For example, looking at the WDW app right now shows that, of all the attractions in MK that offer LL options, only three are more than 120 mins away. (And even those three aren’t offering times far beyond 2 hours. One is 2 hours, 40 mins and the others are right at 3 hours). Stacking in the way described in the OP requires making return reservations farther in the future so that you can book another after your mandatory wait time ends, right? If the only return time offered (and with G+ you can’t choose a return time. You get “next available.”) is inside that window, there’s no real ability to stack.

I would love to be wrong about that or missing something, though. If I am, please tell me!

LL for Indiana Jones and Space Mountain are one and two when it comes to what will sell out first.
At the beginning of the day choose LLs where you are okay with only doing once. For example, I am okay with doing Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion only once per day.
You then collect the re-rides when they get to your desired ride time.
For example, I would start at Indiana Jones LL at around 12-1pm (Return time would probably be around 6pm or 7pm), then get Space Mountain at 2-3pm (Return Time will probably be around 9pm-10pm). Then it would go Matterhorn, then Big Thunder.
REMEMBER the refresh trick still seems to exist in G+, so I would also use that to get a desirable return time.
Would be much easier if you could get multiple LLs per day.

 

[MonocularVision]

Dr


LL for Indiana Jones and Space Mountain are one and two when it comes to what will sell out first.
At the beginning of the day choose LLs where you are okay with only doing once. For example, I am okay with doing Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion only once per day.
You then collect the re-rides when they get to your desired ride time.

I am confused. You can only ride a ride using G+ via LL only once per day. Were you speaking theoretically?

 

[Didi8367]

LL for Indiana Jones and Space Mountain are one and two when it comes to what will sell out first.
At the beginning of the day choose LLs where you are okay with only doing once. For example, I am okay with doing Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion only once per day.
You then collect the re-rides when they get to your desired ride time.
For example, I would start at Indiana Jones LL at around 12-1pm (Return time would probably be around 6pm or 7pm), then get Space Mountain at 2-3pm (Return Time will probably be around 9pm-10pm). Then it would go Matterhorn, then Big Thunder.
REMEMBER the refresh trick still seems to exist in G+, so I would also use that to get a desirable return time.
Would be much easier if you could get multiple LLs per day.

Good point about using refresh to get a better time. I didn’t factor that in. I hope it works!

 

[Didi8367]

Deleted because I misread/misunderstood the quoted post. Oops!

 

[mouschievous]

I am confused. You can only ride a ride using G+ via LL only once per day. Were you speaking theoretically?

I think @DLRExpert was saying that you do those stand by in the morning, then get a G+ LL for later in the day, so you can ride twice without waiting in long lines.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I think @DLRExpert was saying that you do those stand by in the morning, then get a G+ LL for later in the day, so you can ride twice without waiting in long lines.

this is exactly my plan, as well as single rider. Standby when the wait times are low in the morning, then book a Genie+ Lightning Lane for the evening. My plan for Radiator Springs Racers is to pay for the Individual Attraction Lightning Lane, then single rider each side of it, to ride it 3 times in a row.

 

[DLRExpert]

G+ starts Dec 8th.
Bumping thread.

 

[mdmost]

Good info here. Not exactly Maxpass but you don't have to be online at 7am or be a hotel guest. You can make selections after you're scanned into the parks.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ce-coming-to-disneyland-resort-beginning-dec/

 

[DLRExpert]

At Disneyland, individual Lightning Lane will be available for three attractions: Radiator Springs Racers, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Guests who wish to purchase Lightning Lane access to one of these will only be able to choose the next available arrival window. Guests may only make two individual Lightning Lane purchases in a day.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

So you cannot do LL for RSR, WS, and RotR in the same day - you have to pick 2 of the 3. I'm guessing RSR and RotR will sell out of LL first, with WS having availability much later into the day. Although you might see people try to hold off on getting RSR until times get into the evening, since it is all next available. If you cannot pick your time, can you at least cancel/reschedule a paid ILL$?

 

[JC1984]

So you cannot do LL for RSR, WS, and RotR in the same day - you have to pick 2 of the 3. I'm guessing RSR and RotR will sell out of LL first, with WS having availability much later into the day. Although you might see people try to hold off on getting RSR until times get into the evening, since it is all next available. If you cannot pick your time, can you at least cancel/reschedule a paid ILL$?

I don’t think you will see LL sell out like you do at WDW. A lot of the MAGIC KEY holders aren’t going to spend the money repeatedly. I think on super busy days maybe. But I think we will be surprised. This is coming from my personal experience and thoughts but what do I know?

 

[DLRExpert]

So you cannot do LL for RSR, WS, and RotR in the same day - you have to pick 2 of the 3. I'm guessing RSR and RotR will sell out of LL first, with WS having availability much later into the day. Although you might see people try to hold off on getting RSR until times get into the evening, since it is all next available. If you cannot pick your time, can you at least cancel/reschedule a paid ILL$?

I would recommend Rise and Racers, just for the reason that they are better attractions than Web Slingers.

I think it really comes down to the cost of the ILL. I expect Rise to be around $15-$20, Web Slingers to be $10-$15 and Racers to be $7-$10.