First trip back in 2 years. Feeling like a newbie.

[tink89]

We were AP and went a few times a year. Last time we went was right before the shutdown in 2020. We are trying to book a last minute trip but seems the hotels are pretty booked since it is ski week. We are used to staying on site, using EMH, and MP. I have been reading through the post and it seems there is so much that has changed. I have a few questions and want to make sure I have an understanding of how everything is working now. I am so used to being very prepared and being able to do everything we want in a 2 or 3 day trip. Not sure if this trip will be a challenge with all the changes.

Park Hopping- I am able to park hop only after 1 pm? Correct?
Max Pass- Is Genie basically the same thing? Is this the same as Lightning Lane? If purchased with tickets do I need to to anything to set up?
Tickets- IF we want to upgrade to a MK what are the options? Are MK reservations better now?
On Site- Are pools and shops open? Anything different from staying on site now?
Rides- Has anything changed with any rides.
Health- Is the only rule in place that we must wear mask? Indoor and outdoor? Walking and eating?

 

[DisneylandFan22]

Park Hopping- I am able to park hop only after 1 pm? Correct?

This is correct. You can only enter the starting park for your reservation until 1:00 PM.

Max Pass- Is Genie basically the same thing? Is this the same as Lightning Lane? If purchased with tickets do I need to to anything to set up?

Genie+ lets you make reservations for Lightning Lanes one time for each ride listed. If you want to access the Individual Lightning Lanes for ROtR, WS, or RSR, you have to pay separately.

On Site- Are pools and shops open?

Yes, some hotel dining options still not available

Anything different from staying on site now?

Less perks than you are probably used to. Only real perk at this time is distance/Disney bubble.

Rides- Has anything changed with any rides.

Not sure exactly what you mean. Snow White’s Scary Adventures has changed to Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Nemo is still closed. Fantasmic!, WOC, and Frozen shows still haven’t started up again.

Health- Is the only rule in place that we must wear mask? Indoor and outdoor? Walking and eating?

Pretty much. Masks indoors which they are pretty good at enforcing. There is no social distancing.

 

[tink89]

Park Hopping- I am able to park hop only after 1 pm? Correct?

This is correct. You can only enter the starting park for your reservation until 1:00 PM.

Max Pass- Is Genie basically the same thing? Is this the same as Lightning Lane? If purchased with tickets do I need to to anything to set up?

Genie+ lets you make reservations for Lightning Lanes one time for each ride listed. If you want to access the Individual Lightning Lanes for ROtR, WS, or RSR, you have to pay separately.

On Site- Are pools and shops open?

Yes, some hotel dining options still not available

Anything different from staying on site now?

Less perks than you are probably used to. Only real perk at this time is distance/Disney bubble.

Rides- Has anything changed with any rides.

Not sure exactly what you mean. Snow White’s Scary Adventures has changed to Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Nemo is still closed. Fantasmic!, WOC, and Frozen shows still haven’t started up again.

Health- Is the only rule in place that we must wear mask? Indoor and outdoor? Walking and eating?

Pretty much. Masks indoors which they are pretty good at enforcing. There is no social distancing.

Thank you!! What do you mean by individual LL? We would want to try WS and of course we would want to get on RSR. Is it not on the options for LL? How much extra? Are there any rides that had MP that don't have LL?

ETA: Are we still able to book LL in the other park as long as we have a hopper? or not until after 1pm?

 

[ktlm]

Thank you!! What do you mean by individual LL? We would want to try WS and of course we would want to get on RSR. Is it not on the options for LL? How much extra? Are there any rides that had MP that don't have LL?

ETA: Are we still able to book LL in the other park as long as we have a hopper? or not until after 1pm?

Disney has carved out certain rides from Genie +/LL both at DLR and WDW and made them pay per ride.

At Disneyland, ROR, WS and RSR are a separate per ride price. You can only buy 2 of the attractions per day. The prices fluctuate depending on crowds. ROR is often $20 person per person. RSR and WS fluctuate between $7 per person some weekdays, to $18 per person on peak days. It is quite ridiculous in my mind.

Out side of that, Genie +/LL is very much like Max Pass- except you can only ride each ride once per day using LL. It is $20 per person per day- and it does still include photopass. So, basically because you are limited to riding each ride once, you are basically paying more for less.

I think the DL regular Genie+/LL rides are

• Autopia
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones
• it’s a small world
• Matterhorn
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours

I think the CA regular Genie+/LL rides are

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• Monsters Inc.
• Soarin’
• Toy Story Midway Mania

I haven't used it yet as it was not yet in place for our October 2021 trip--- I bet you can find threads and articles taking you through all the specifics.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

For RSR, RotR and Webslingers, you either wait in the standby line or you pay separately to ride each one (you can ride once per day). It's surge pricing, so it changes, but RotR is always $20 per person. RSR and WS vary, about $12-$20.

Genie+ is not exactly like MaxPass. You can only ride each attraction one time. You have to wait two hours to book new attractions (or if you use one your holding you can book another one more quickly). RSR, RotR and WS are NOT included in Genie+.

Onsite hotels have no magic mornings or whatever they called the early hours. Shops and pools are open but some restaurants are gone (others are operating normally).

The only covid policy is masks must be worn indoors. This means no eating or drinking in indoor queues or shops, but you can eat and drink in outdoor queues or while walking around outside.

 

[tink89]

For RSR, RotR and Webslingers, you either wait in the standby line or you pay separately to ride each one (you can ride once per day). It's surge pricing, so it changes, but RotR is always $20 per person. RSR and WS vary, about $12-$20.

Genie+ is not exactly like MaxPass. You can only ride each attraction one time. You have to wait two hours to book new attractions (or if you use one your holding you can book another one more quickly). RSR, RotR and WS are NOT included in Genie+.

Onsite hotels have no magic mornings or whatever they called the early hours. Shops and pools are open but some restaurants are gone (others are operating normally).

The only covid policy is masks must be worn indoors. This means no eating or drinking in indoor queues or shops, but you can eat and drink in outdoor queues or while walking around outside.

Oh wow I didn't realize it was one time per ride. That really changes things up. DD like to go on BTMR, Matterhorn, SM and IJ more than once. Ill have to see if it is worth it to us. We normally use MP to maximize our time in the parks and it was very helpful. We might give it a try and see how we feel about it for future use.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Oh wow I didn't realize it was one time per ride. That really changes things up. DD like to go on BTMR, Matterhorn, SM and IJ more than once. Ill have to see if it is worth it to us. We normally use MP to maximize our time in the parks and it was very helpful. We might give it a try and see how we feel about it for future use.

Yes, it's quite the downgrade unfortunately. You might not want to purchase your tickets with Genie+ in case you decide you only want to use it one day or don't want to use it at all.

 

[tink89]

Yes, it's quite the downgrade unfortunately. You might not want to purchase your tickets with Genie+ in case you decide you only want to use it one day or don't want to use it at all.

For sure downgrade. How quick is it add once you are scanned in? Same as MP?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

For sure downgrade. How quick is it add once you are scanned in? Same as MP?

Yes, it *can* be fast but I found it really difficult to figure out HOW to do it when I tried a few weeks ago. It is frustratingly not obvious/easy in the app. You might want to poke around or some some research to figure out ahead of time so you are not like me clicking and staring at the app over and over instead if enjoying your morning!

 

[ktlm]

Oh wow I didn't realize it was one time per ride. That really changes things up. DD like to go on BTMR, Matterhorn, SM and IJ more than once. Ill have to see if it is worth it to us. We normally use MP to maximize our time in the parks and it was very helpful. We might give it a try and see how we feel about it for future use.

Having been to the parks last October when it was crowded and there was no max pass or Genie + or any type of FP, I would say give it a try. At least maybe you can maximize your time to get everything done once. After that trip, DH said he was never going back without some type of FP in place. We didn't get near done what we usually do even with 5 days in the parks (really 4 full because 2 of those were half days with arrival and departure). It was our worst trip to either DLR or WDW, and we have been to WDW in a hurricane.

 

[tink89]

Having been to the parks last October when it was crowded and there was no max pass or Genie + or any type of FP, I would say give it a try. At least maybe you can maximize your time to get everything done once. After that trip, DH said he was never going back without some type of FP in place. We didn't get near done what we usually do even with 5 days in the parks (really 4 full because 2 of those were half days with arrival and departure). It was our worst trip to either DLR or WDW, and we have been to WDW in a hurricane.

I am already a bit worried that the parks just won't be the same as what they were before the shutdown. I think I'll try Genie out for at least for one day.

 

[whoever]

G+ seems like such a lack-luster solution. Can only LL an attraction once per day (WHY?). The new Park hopping restrictions are a huge downgrade as we would typically Hop by 10-11. No EMH. Pay to ride via LL on the "Hot" attractions. Limited food/service offerings. All seems so disappointing for what you are shelling out.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

G+ seems like such a lack-luster solution. Can only LL an attraction once per day (WHY?). The new Park hopping restrictions are a huge downgrade as we would typically Hop by 10-11. No EMH. Pay to ride via LL on the "Hot" attractions. Limited food/service offerings. All seems so disappointing for what you are shelling out.

The park hopping restriction is my number one complaint. It's so restrictive and pointless!

 

[whoever]

The park hopping restriction is my number one complaint. It's so restrictive and pointless!

I guarantee it was due to staffing/social distancing/occupancy restrictions. Most of which have been rescinded/resolved.

 

[tink89]

G+ seems like such a lack-luster solution. Can only LL an attraction once per day (WHY?). The new Park hopping restrictions are a huge downgrade as we would typically Hop by 10-11. No EMH. Pay to ride via LL on the "Hot" attractions. Limited food/service offerings. All seems so disappointing for what you are shelling out.

Yes that is normally what we would do. Start at one park and by 11am hop to the other for a few hours and then go to the hotel and pool and come back after. The main reason we have not been back is because I feel I will be a bit disappointed. I kept waiting for things to get "fixed" but it seems it is staying that way for a while.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I guarantee it was due to staffing/social distancing/occupancy restrictions. Most of which have been rescinded/resolved.

Exactly! So it’s time to rescind this ridiculous park hopping restriction!

 

[whoever]

Exactly! So it’s time to rescind this ridiculous park hopping restriction!

Disney is clawing back from the debt incurred via the shutdown via the pandemic (they are not a cash-heavy company, but an asset-rich company). While I understand some of their current "money grabs" to repay the debt (they work for the street, not the consumer), at some point they WILL have to return to normal operations. Not sure how the hopping restriction applies to that however.

 

[JohnR5101]

Since park hopping restrictions do not actually put a cap on how many are in either park at any one time, it seems pointless to hold the hoppers in one park until some arbitrary time. So as it is now at 1:00 you have a mass of people moving from one park to the other. That seems like a bottleneck. And it does nothing to prevent a shift of 90% of the park hoppers from going from say DL to CA. So you could have staffing problems if you expected it to stay balanced all day.
If you could hop whenever you want then the bottleneck at the gate would be removed.

 

[Jason2015]

If you're in a group without young kids and you don't mind being separated on a ride-do the single rider line for RSR. Took us about 15 minutes to get on the ride when the standby was 90+ and saved money from having to buy the ride.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

If you are open to it, RSR is the best single rider. We have also been lucky to frequently get the same cars.