Enthusiastic about Genie+ touring

[havoc315]

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.

G+ will be like MaxPass, like getting a number at the deli counter.

FOP is expected to be an individual purchase. You’ll get to pick and reserve a time slot. And I’m willing to bet that it will be rare for time slots to sell out.
Arrive at FOP at 10:00am… see a 90 minute standby line. At that moment, decide whether you want to spend $100 for your family to ride immediately, or get into the line, or skip it.

 

[shawthorne44]

[QUOT

G+ will be like MaxPass, like getting a number at the deli counter.

FOP is expected to be an individual purchase. You’ll get to pick and reserve a time slot. And I’m willing to bet that it will be rare for time slots to sell out.
Arrive at FOP at 10:00am… see a 90 minute standby line. At that moment, decide whether you want to spend $100 for your family to ride immediately, or get into the line, or skip it.

You are right, I forgot that FOP is likely a IA$$$ ride. Yeah, then you pick a time.

 

[dchronister]

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.

I hope all that you say is correct! Although I have gotten some old FP with a return time way off in the day!

 

[btuftee]

I hope all that you say is correct! Although I have gotten some old FP with a return time way off in the day!

Yes - even at a moderately busy time, you weren't going to roll into MK at 1:00pm and snag a FP for Space Mountain with a return time that wasn't late in the evening. And everyone who was around pre-2013 knew that TSMM would be out of FP before noon on a busy day. Genie+ is probably just "cheap" enough that a lot of people will buy it, so I expect it will result in similar demand/capacity when compared withe old (pre-2013) FP system. Anyone who buys it thinking they'll be able to ride headliner attractions ten times a day with minimal waits will be disappointed. Just like the old FP days, where G+ will probably shine is on the less-crowded days if you want to cram in 15+ rides (and don't mind criss-crossing the park constantly).

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

Genie+ is probably just "cheap" enough that a lot of people will buy it, so I expect it will result in similar demand/capacity when compared withe old (pre-2013) FP system.

So then they can tell us that they're increasing the price to benefit the customer...

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

So then they can tell us that they're increasing the price to benefit the customer...

I agree with your thinking here but I'm not sure that tons of families will be shelling out for this - at least not on a consistent basis. $15 a head seems low-ish when you're just one person. $30/day for a couple/pair doesn't seem so bad either, especially when that party of two consists of two financially contributing adults. But when your family is a party of 4 or 5, you're looking at an extra $60-$75, which seems like a bigger pill to swallow, and harder for many to just write off as an incidental. I know my family of 4 is planning to use Genie+ for maybe half of our 10 days on our upcoming trip - and I think we (or my husband at least - I am peeved by this, and he is not as much) are probably more likely than most to splurge on this.

My point being, I think a lot of families are going to shy away from Genie+ usage and demand may not be high enough to effect wait times in that way. Which is not to mention that if wait times with Genie+ are not improved compared to FP+ lines, it will further deter many from spending money on it. Disney is trying to market this as paying for an improved system - if they don't deliver I think their profits will suffer.

 

[MainMom]

Here is what I think you and many others are missing. Yes, you're losing a free cruddy system, but it's being replaced by a cheap excellent system.

Especially at DHS and Epcot, you were getting only 1 good FP per day. How often did I have to accept a FP for Muppetvision or other attractions where it was totally worthless. Unless you had a small party during low crowds, and went through lots of FP refreshing, you were stuck with only 1 tier-1 ride. And at Animal Kingdom, it was often impossible to get FOP unless you were onsite for more than 4 days and you booked it for the end of your trip.
Now, you should be able to get a same day line-skip for every attraction, for a fee.

So they took away the free hamburger, and they replaced it with Filet Mignon (G+) and lobster (LL) for a fee.
1 good FP, booked 60+ days in advance, for "free".. or unlimited spontaneous same-day FPs for a fee.....
A trade that I will enthusiastically embrace.

Every other summer I travel with a group of 10-13 people to WDW. I’m the planner and I maxed out our FP’s every time. We rode every ride. All of the top tier rides. And we didn’t need to pay. Now we have to pay fees and I have try to book same day for those 10-13 people at 7am AND while I’m in the park. What a pain. We don’t so much care about the fees, it’s my time that I now have to spend booking passes when I don’t want too. And don’t tell me I don’t HAVE too. That’s a junk defense. If you’re used to doing it one way you’re not suddenly going to be ok with standing in long lines. So my vacation TIME is now allocated differently and I don’t like it. I’m also completely skeptical that there is going to be this huge pool of FP’s available for me to get what I want at a time I want.

 

[havoc315]

Every other summer I travel with a group of 10-13 people to WDW. I’m the planner and I maxed out our FP’s every time. We rode every ride. All of the top tier rides. And we didn’t need to pay. Now we have to pay fees and I have try to book same day for those 10-13 people at 7am AND while I’m in the park.

Well… something doesn’t add up. Under FP+, at 3 of the parks, you could only pre-book 1 top-tier ride per day. So if you honestly did “all of the top tier rides” with FP, that means you were constantly on your phone. Being nearly impossible to find same day top tier FPs for a party of 10-13, you must have been breaking up the party, constantly refreshing all day long while in the park.

So now, prior to park entry, you can pre-book 3 top tier attractions. Previously, at 3 of the parks, you could only book one.

What a pain. We don’t so much care about the fees, it’s my time that I now have to spend booking passes when I don’t want too.

If you don’t mind the fees, seems this new system is a huge win for your use situation. You said you got FPs for all the top tier attractions. But you were only able to pre-book 1 per day at 3 of the parks.
Now, can pre-book 3 top tier attractions each day.
And before — adding a top tier FP meant lots of same-day refreshing on the phone. Now, there will be tons of open availability until late in the day.

Honestly — it seems you’ll now be able to spend a lot LESS time booking passes than you used to.

And don’t tell me I don’t HAVE too. That’s a junk defense. If you’re used to doing it one way you’re not suddenly going to be ok with standing in long lines. So my vacation TIME is now allocated differently and I don’t like it. I’m also completely skeptical that there is going to be this huge pool of FP’s available for me to get what I want at a time I want.

You might not be able to book a 8pm pass at 7:58 pm for Soarin, but yes… there will be a huge pool with lots of availability into the late afternoon for the most part. There may be some exceptions in both directions — some rides that book up by early afternoon, some with open availability right until the park closes. But for the most part, on a typical day, plenty of availability at most attractions until late afternoon or better.

 

[Turksmom]

So now, prior to park entry, you can pre-book 3 top tier attractions. Previously, at 3 of the parks, you could only book one.

How? Top tier attractions are priced individually and limited to 2 per day.

 

[havoc315]

How? Top tier attractions are priced individually and limited to 2 per day.

Each park will have no more than 2 "individually priced" attractions.
So limit of 2 per day -- And there are only 2 per park.
So you can purchase the top 2 in any given park. In any given park, the 3rd most popular attraction will be available on G+, meaning you can book it in the morning. (these aren't free boarding groups to ROTR... Soarin, Big Thunder Mountain, etc, are not going to book up for the entire day in 6 seconds).

Thus, 2 purchased attractions plus at least one top G+ attraction = 3 attractions at a park, minimum for the day. (in all likelihood, you'll be able to add several more G+ attractions through the day).

 

[Turksmom]

Each park will have no more than 2 "individually priced" attractions.

Disney hasn't actually stated this. It may be a reasonable guess, but it is not a guarantee. Also, the G+ rides you listed weren't top tier rides, so they were always available along with a tier one ride- no advantage there
So your "advantage" is now we can buy 2 from tier one, instead of having to choose just 1 for free?

 

[MainMom]

Well… something doesn’t add up. Under FP+, at 3 of the parks, you could only pre-book 1 top-tier ride per day. So if you honestly did “all of the top tier rides” with FP, that means you were constantly on your phone. Being nearly impossible to find same day top tier FPs for a party of 10-13, you must have been breaking up the party, constantly refreshing all day long while in the park.

So now, prior to park entry, you can pre-book 3 top tier attractions. Previously, at 3 of the parks, you could only book one.



If you don’t mind the fees, seems this new system is a huge win for your use situation. You said you got FPs for all the top tier attractions. But you were only able to pre-book 1 per day at 3 of the parks.
Now, can pre-book 3 top tier attractions each day.
And before — adding a top tier FP meant lots of same-day refreshing on the phone. Now, there will be tons of open availability until late in the day.

Honestly — it seems you’ll now be able to spend a lot LESS time booking passes than you used to.



You might not be able to book a 8pm pass at 7:58 pm for Soarin, but yes… there will be a huge pool with lots of availability into the late afternoon for the most part. There may be some exceptions in both directions — some rides that book up by early afternoon, some with open availability right until the park closes. But for the most part, on a typical day, plenty of availability at most attractions until late afternoon or better.

Because I have a good touring strategy that worked well for a large group that got us on the headliners over 6-7 days. I had a willing group. Yes that strategy will still work. However, I will be on my phone booking more FP’s instead of just going to the next thing with my already booked FP. Like I said, my time is now used differently and I don’t like it. I don’t like being on my phone. For some people they don’t like pre-planning. None of your arguments take away my time on the phone. You can believe I’ll have this huge pool to choose from and I can believe it will be like the previous system. We will see what happens.
Also, my group will not be paying for the LL attractions unless it’s a brand new ride like Tron. Been there, done that. SDMT is not worth even $5/person.

 

[havoc315]

Disney hasn't actually stated this. It may be a reasonable guess, but it is not a guarantee. Also, the G+ rides you listed weren't top tier rides, so they were always available along with a tier one ride- no advantage there
So your "advantage" is now we can buy 2 from tier one, instead of having to choose just 1 for free?

They specifically announced it would be 1-2 individually priced attractions per park. They aren’t going to individually price Small World and Muppet Vision.

At DHS, Runaway Railway, Smuggler’s Run and Slinky Dog were all tier-1 before Covid. You could only book 1 of the 3. (And you couldn’t pre-book ROTR until you entered the park at that time)

Epcot had 5 tier-1 attractions, including Soarin.

So the advantage is being able to get 3 from those lists, instead of just 1.

 

[Turksmom]

They specifically announced it would be 1-2 individually priced attractions per park. They aren’t going to individually price Small World and Muppet Vision.

link?

 

[havoc315]

link?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/introducing-disney-genie/
Watch the videos.... They say it specifically.

 

[MDIME]

Every other summer I travel with a group of 10-13 people to WDW. I’m the planner and I maxed out our FP’s every time. We rode every ride. All of the top tier rides. And we didn’t need to pay. Now we have to pay fees and I have try to book same day for those 10-13 people at 7am AND while I’m in the park. What a pain. We don’t so much care about the fees, it’s my time that I now have to spend booking passes when I don’t want too. And don’t tell me I don’t HAVE too. That’s a junk defense. If you’re used to doing it one way you’re not suddenly going to be ok with standing in long lines. So my vacation TIME is now allocated differently and I don’t like it. I’m also completely skeptical that there is going to be this huge pool of FP’s available for me to get what I want at a time I want.

I thought this was the “Enthusiastic about Genie+” thread? Your post belongs on the Genie+ thread where the posters are p!$$!ng and moaning about it.

 

[Turksmom]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/introducing-disney-genie/
Watch the videos.... They say it specifically.

No they don't. I'll leave you to your enthusiasm and hope it works for you the way you imagine it will. Best wishes

 

[havoc315]

No they don't. I'll leave you to your enthusiasm and hope it works for you the way you imagine it will. Best wishes

They absolutely do say it. It will be 7-8 attractions that are individual purchase. You can choose to live in ignorance and fear. I’ll stick to the facts.

 

[Turksmom]

They absolutely do say it. It will be 7-8 attractions that are individual purchase. You can choose to live in ignorance and fear. I’ll stick to the facts.

Tone doesn't convey well through text. I wasn't being snarky, I sincerely do hope it works as you are anticipating

 

[disneyworldsk]

maybe this post should be changed to is anyone enthusiastic about Disney anymore. ive been feeling lately that if you say anything positive or 'look at the bright side' of anything disney it's met with great disdain on the boards, comments, etc. Everyone is just hating on Disney itself, disney genie plus is just the last straw of it all. makes me sad actually. i get why, i even agree with so much of it, but it makes me feel upset i guess, kind of down, because it's the only thing that's my hobby i guess that i love so much.