Not quite sure what Disney is doing here. At DL, it's basically MaxPass, but without any free FP's, adding some LL$s, and (so far) no yearly AP addon price. This, along with the recent SoCal AP changes, makes me think that Disney is FINALLY trying to attract out of state tourists. AP's typically won't be spending the extra $20 a pop and with more blackout days, means less crowds AND
Genie+ benefits for tourists (who are more likely to pay for Genie+ than SoCal residents). If that ends up how it plays out, that's a win for me (since I don't live in Cali any more). But it's likely to anger those SoCal APs. Interesting...
What really has me scratching my head is how this would work at WDW. Because the problem there isn't the AP's. So that means a TON of tourists will be buying this. Yes, it is technically more rides, but there will be many times more people trying to use Genie+ at WDW. I've seen FP's for the more popular rides disappear by noon with MaxPass at DL. What happens when 10x the number of people are trying to book LLs with Genie+ at WDW? Way less LLs, that's what. I could easily and consistently get 10+ FP's a day on my last trip to DL with MaxPass, without park-hopping. If Disney can pull the same in Florida, well hats off to them. But I don't see it. WDW isn't DL and this program just doesn't make sense to me there.
Just for an example. Say you're gonna do HS that day. You get your RotR boarding pass at 7am and get a late boarding group, then book your G+ for SDD. But because you were booking RotR, SDD is already out until noon. Your G+ is now unable to make more LLs until after you do SDD. So your RotR return time is gonna be later, your SDD isn't until noon, and you can't get more G+. So you're in standby lines until after noon, check your G+ and ALL of the "good" HS G+ LL's are gone for the rest of the day. So you just paid $15/pp for SDD and nothing else. I just don't see how WDW avoids this, especially on busier days.
I have to say, Disney did a good enough job with Genie+ that I can see the potential. I just don't see how they are going to realize that potential at WDW, where the demand for skipping lines is going to outstrip the benefits of G+. Then what? If you don't have G+, you'll have major FOMO. So everyone buys G+. Now LLs are fill up so fast that you can only get 2-3 a day. So the 3 free FP's end up being 3 FP's for $15. And Disney makes a ton of $ with no added benefits to the customer. So G+ ends up angering the biggest demographics in both parks over $15 a person? Like I said, I see the potential, but wow this certainly has backlash potential too. Risky move.
Me personally, as a DL regular and with my first ever WDW trip planned for 2022, I like it. The potential tourist win at DL is there, and I'm all for making SoCal AP's pay more or wait in longer lines (as an ex-AP who now lives out of state, I can dislike them now). And for a one-and-done trip to WDW, I'm already only paying less than $70 a day a ticket. $15 more isn't gonna make me cancel my trip. So bring on Genie+!!
One final thing. No deluxe resort perks for G+? That's a mistake. A family of 4 gets MORE at a Disney Park now with Genie+ by saving money on that hotel stay and putting that money towards G+ and LL$. That's crazy and surely something Disney will look at. But since I'm not staying at a Deluxe, again, it's a win for me!
Can't wait to see all the creative ways guests use the new system. But in a way, they'll have to. Genie is gonna be telling all the secrets to the average first time guests right there on the app. Gonna make those "power user" guests kinda angry too I'm guessin.....
