Enthusiastic about Genie+ touring

[ThistleMae]

Bring us more news! All this speculation is killing me!

 

[LindaOwl1]

Has it been announced - or hinted at - when Genie+ will start?

 

[shawthorne44]

If the Genie+ were free, they would have to eliminate standby lines (like Volcano Bay) or severely limit the number of free LL passes per day. Otherwise, a free Genie+ would just be standby lines with a cell phone complication.

I hope that Genie+ will be like getting the 4th FP+ except with more availability since people have to take or leave the next available time. With FP+ I was not looking forward to the criss-crossing of the parks that seemed to be required when you did get lots of 4th FPs.

 

[gharter]

With FP+ I was not looking forward to the criss-crossing of the parks that seemed to be required when you did get lots of 4th FPs.

I don't see how Genie+ changes this. With FP+, you would pick the ride and time you wanted and had the ability to change the time if a better one came up. You could pick a ride close to you or across the park. I don't see Genie+ being any different in that you can pick a ride close to you or across the park. The only difference, if true, is that you can't modify the time once selected.

 

[wisblue]

If the system was free (like legacy FP) and didn't exclude top tier attractions, I'd love it. Unfortunately, those are some major sticking points.

When I look at these things I focus first on how they will affect my experience in the parks and then look at the cost separately. Given the overall cost of a Disney trip, I'm not going to fixate on a relatively small marginal increase. We all know that the cost of Disney visits goes up regularly and significantly and we all have to decide for ourselves at what point the cost isn't worth the experience. I really don't focus on whether something used to be "free", which really means that the cost was just packaged in with something else. The after hours events have proven that a lot of people are willing to pay handsomely for the benefit of avoiding lines. This new system just seems to be putting another angle on that concept.

As for the top tier attractions, that's where seeing how it works in practice comes in. If the "pay as you go" attractions are limited to one or two per park, that might still be OK. You can either choose to go standby, pay the charge for LL, or skip the attraction completely. Under the paper FP system, the FPs for the most popular attractions were typically pushed out into late in the day or completely gone within an hour or two after park opening, at least during busy times of the year. So, to ride without a long line you pretty much had to get to the attraction at or shortly after rope drop either to ride or snag a FP (or both).

If it turns out that using the Genie + system only gets you 1 or 2 LL experiences for attractions that we're interested in, I may decide that I don't like it. Time will tell. Those of us who liked FP+ because we knew before we left home that we had 3 major attractions booked for each day at convenient times may not like this new arrangement. One thing for sure, though, is that this system is going to work a lot better for people who know how it works and know how to take maximum advantage of it. Probably more so than with FP+.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Good tip! I’ve been meaning to look at what rides offer single rider as I’ve never used single rider befor.

Everest, Rock n Roller Coaster, Millenium Falcon, and Test Track are the only rides with single rider at WDW.

 

[ThistleMae]

When I look at these things I focus first on how they will affect my experience in the parks and then look at the cost separately. Given the overall cost of a Disney trip, I'm not going to fixate on a relatively small marginal increase. We all know that the cost of Disney visits goes up regularly and significantly and we all have to decide for ourselves at what point the cost isn't worth the experience. I really don't focus on whether something used to be "free", which really means that the cost was just packaged in with something else. The after hours events have proven that a lot of people are willing to pay handsomely for the benefit of avoiding lines. This new system just seems to be putting another angle on that concept.

As for the top tier attractions, that's where seeing how it works in practice comes in. If the "pay as you go" attractions are limited to one or two per park, that might still be OK. You can either choose to go standby, pay the charge for LL, or skip the attraction completely. Under the paper FP system, the FPs for the most popular attractions were typically pushed out into late in the day or completely gone within an hour or two after park opening, at least during busy times of the year. So, to ride without a long line you pretty much had to get to the attraction at or shortly after rope drop either to ride or snag a FP (or both).

If it turns out that using the Genie + system only gets you 1 or 2 LL experiences for attractions that we're interested in, I may decide that I don't like it. Time will tell. Those of us who liked FP+ because we knew before we left home that we had 3 major attractions booked for each day at convenient times may not like this new arrangement. One thing for sure, though, is that this system is going to work a lot better for people who know how it works and know how to take maximum advantage of it. Probably more so than with FP+.

I loved FP+ for all the reasons you mentioned. I knew I could get on all the rides I wanted. I really only needed the Tier 1 rides and the other two were really ones I didn't care about. Now those Tier 1 rides will be ones I have to pay for, try to rope drop the ones that don't require a boarding pass or pay. I really don't know if buying the Genie+ will get me anything I really need. I guess it depends on crowds. Everyone tours differently depending on the ages in their families and the rides you really enjoy. I'm a carousel of progress and spaceship earth fan...LOL. But I enjoy HM and Pirates too, so we shall see how I make out at EMH for onsite guests and go from there.

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

Has it been announced - or hinted at - when Genie+ will start?

"Fall" was the only information I've seen from a solid source but that was when it was announced so it may have changed.

 

[havoc315]

If the system was free (like legacy FP) and didn't exclude top tier attractions, I'd love it. Unfortunately, those are some major sticking points.

If it was free, it wouldn’t work nearly as well.
The associated cost will reduce demand, whether by only 10% or even 50%.

And this reduced demand will allow easier access to reservations for those purchasing Genie+ and individual attractions.

The “free for all” system was the reason you were only guaranteed a single Tier-1 attraction in 3 of the parks. Under the new system, if willing to pay, easy to guarantee 3 tier-1 attractions.

 

[mom2rtk]

If it was free, it wouldn’t work nearly as well.
The associated cost will reduce demand, whether by only 10% or even 50%.

And this reduced demand will allow easier access to reservations for those purchasing Genie+ and individual attractions.

The “free for all” system was the reason you were only guaranteed a single Tier-1 attraction in 3 of the parks. Under the new system, if willing to pay, easy to guarantee 3 tier-1 attractions.

For you. It wouldn't work as well for you.

I get it now. You like the new system because a bunch of other people won't have access like you will.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm shocked at the negative feedback and backlash about the Genie+ announcement. Seems it's pure apprehension about change.
Too many people, I believe, I erroneously viewing this as now having to pay $15 per day for FP+, and having to book every morning at 7am, instead of 60 days in advance ...

No, it's not about change. I'm fine with learning a new system, and we're rope-dropping-commando-visitors, so no problem with first thing in the morning. In a nutshell, the problem is EXTRA COST FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN FREE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. It's about the money-grab on top of multiple other money-grabs.

This one and parking really get me.

 

[havoc315]

No, it's not about change. I'm fine with learning a new system, and we're rope-dropping-commando-visitors, so no problem with first thing in the morning. In a nutshell, the problem is EXTRA COST FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN FREE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. It's about the money-grab on top of multiple other money-grabs.

This one and parking really get me.

As I've said, it's not something that's been free for a decade. It's something new that Disney has never offered before.
Something free was discontinued -- I get being upset about that.
But what's being offered isn't the same thing, they aren't slapping a price tag on FP+. You aren't now paying extra for the "privilege" of having to play your entire trip 60+ days in advance, paying extra to be limited to a single Tier-1 FP, etc.

The ability to digitally book ride reservations, same day, as you go, with tons of same day availability... that's never ever been offered at WDW before. It has been offered at Disneyland -- and they charged for it. (the digital booking aspect has been charged at Disney for several years).

 

[havoc315]

For you. It wouldn't work as well for you.

I get it now. You like the new system because a bunch of other people won't have access like you will.

So tell me... why aren't you upset that Disney charges over $100 for a day ticket? Aren't you upset that there are tons of people who can't even afford to go to Disney World for a single day? Or, weren't you upset that on-site people got to book 60 days in advance but people who couldn't afford on-site were limited to 30 days? Weren't you upset that EMH was only for people who could afford to stay onsite?
Or, you're very happy as long as you are in the side of the line with people who have access. As long as you're on the right side of the line, you don't care about the people who don't have access.
But the moment you cross to the other side of the line, you raise your voice as if there is a travesty of justice.

 

[Baby Groot]

So tell me... why aren't you upset that Disney charges over $100 for a day ticket? Aren't you upset that there are tons of people who can't even afford to go to Disney World for a single day? Or, weren't you upset that on-site people got to book 60 days in advance but people who couldn't afford on-site were limited to 30 days? Weren't you upset that EMH was only for people who could afford to stay onsite?
Or, you're very happy as long as you are in the side of the line with people who have access. As long as you're on the right side of the line, you don't care about the people who don't have access.
But the moment you cross to the other side of the line, you raise your voice as if there is a travesty of justice.

The problem is the line itself is moving, and for many it’s moving too fast. You fail to appreciate that, because you’re happy to be on ”right side” of it still. One day you may not be.

 

[havoc315]

The problem is the line itself is moving, and for many it’s moving too fast. You fail to appreciate that, because you’re happy to be on ”right side” of it still. One day you may not be.

I’ve been on both sides of the line, and still am.
There will likely be days I choose to pay for G+, there will be days I pay for individual attractions, and days I don’t pay for any.
I estimate it will increase my daily cost by about $10 per person, per day. (Buying G+ 2-4 days of a week, buying 2 or 3 individual attractions over the week).
So I see it as a rather small cost for a significantly improved experience.

Put simply, given the choice of getting a slice of stale bread for free, or getting the option of purchasing a fresh gourmet meal…
I’d much rather have the option of purchasing a fresh gourmet meal than getting a “free” piece of stale bread.
Of course — that stale bread wasn’t free. The choice is actually $5,000 with a daily piece of stale bread. Or $5,100-$5,600 for a few gourmet meals.
I’m willing to pay slightly more for the greatly improved experience.

 

[MrsPete]

As I've said, it's not something that's been free for a decade. It's something new that Disney has never offered before.
Something free was discontinued -- I get being upset about that ...

We'll have to disagree about that. No, Genie is not identical to Fast Pass, but it's clearly the same concept now at a high price. I can't be happy about that, and it's totally about the money /not about a change in the system.

So tell me... why aren't you upset that Disney charges over $100 for a day ticket?

I am. With prices the way they are, I'm not saying "I'm done", but I figure I'll probably visit 2-3 more times at most ... for the rest of my life. The proportion of value-for-the-dollar isn't nearly what it used to be.

 

[havoc315]

We'll have to disagree about that. No, Genie is not identical to Fast Pass, but it's clearly the same concept now at a high price. I can't be happy about that, and it's totally about the money /not about a change in the system.
I am. With prices the way they are, I'm not saying "I'm done", but I figure I'll probably visit 2-3 more times at most ... for the rest of my life. The proportion of value-for-the-dollar isn't nearly what it used to be.

I only see it as the “same concept” to the degree it’s a line skipping system. So it’s the “same concept” as the Universal Express Pass too, for which Universal charges $129 and up.

I see getting a single tier-1 attraction, but only being guaranteed the attraction you want if you book 64+ days in advance (often the case for FOP, Mine Train, and Slinky), with very limited same day availability… Being totally different than wide open same day availability, being guaranteed 3 or more top attractions per day, without the need to map out every ride 2 months in advance.
Honestly, I found FP+ to be so horrible, that I was thrilled to see it suspended. Even for free, it made my trips worse than having no line skipping. My last trip, with no FP at all, was vastly superior to FP+.

 

[dchronister]

My question is…. Are people just assuming that they can just book one genie+ after another and don’t think they will have to wait at some point for open availability! The OPs plan is great but am I missing something……I realize that it isnt FP but I don’t see instant availability! And also… just because you go on at 7 and book FOP, how do you know that you won’t get a time for later in the day, not everyone that gets a time can go at park opening! I’m concerned that it is going to affect my park hopping! I have to have a park reservation, say for Epcot, I go on to get a Remy pass, if I can only get late in the day, then I have to hang out in Epcot all day, so now my plans are shot as I had dining plans elsewhere! Can I change my park reservation after I get a pass (if available) if it’s late in the day or will that void my pass that I secured in the morning!

 

[shawthorne44]

...ook FOP, how do you know that you won’t get a time for later in the day, not everyone that gets a time can go at park opening!

If it is like MaxPass, then it will be for the next available time, not, for later in the day. They are just given out in order until they are gone.

 

[havoc315]

My question is…. Are people just assuming that they can just book one genie+ after another and don’t think they will have to wait at some point for open availability! The OPs plan is great but am I missing something……I realize that it isnt FP but I don’t see instant availability! And also… just because you go on at 7 and book FOP, how do you know that you won’t get a time for later in the day, not everyone that gets a time can go at park opening! I’m concerned that it is going to affect my park hopping! I have to have a park reservation, say for Epcot, I go on to get a Remy pass, if I can only get late in the day, then I have to hang out in Epcot all day, so now my plans are shot as I had dining plans elsewhere! Can I change my park reservation after I get a pass (if available) if it’s late in the day or will that void my pass that I secured in the morning!

Yes, there will be instant availability. That’s what happens when people book 1 pass at a time, on the same day, instead of 3 passes months ahead.
Instant availability doesn’t mean “ride now”, but plenty of availability to ride within the next 1-3 hours.
That’s how MaxPass works, and how Fastpass used to work. And Disney has announced it will work like MaxPass. No more staring at your phone hitting refresh over and over, awaiting availability.
Through the late afternoon, you’ll have plenty of availability.

As to the purchased individual attractions, you will get to pick your time. And there will be plenty of availability. It won’t be like, “dang… it’s 7:02 am, and the only time slot left is 8:14pm…” There will be no shortage of open time slots. In fact, I expect demand for the individual attractions to be very low.
Speaking for myself, for example… if I had never done FOP before, I might pay $100 for my family to skip the line. But having done it before, I’d never pay extra to do it again. I’d go at rope drop, or I’d go if the standby line was under an hour, or I’d just skip it. Because it’s simply not worth $100 or a 2-hour line.