Genie/G+ & Distances

[bsmcneil]

So - I'm writing this as someone for whom walking can be difficult but is possible (walking significant distances even more difficult) and for whom a DAS isn't appropriate, it seems, because my concerns are mobility related and I believe an ECV can solve. That said - are folks finding that they're needing to (or being encouraged to) travel more because of Genie/Genie+? I've seen a number of threads where people mention going back and forth between areas because of it - but I also recognize folks with disabilities in mind might be thinking that through in a different way. For instance, when I've used TouringPlans (all of once so far - though I'm planning for it for trip 2 in a month or so), I tell them that my style is to go very slow (fast walking - even if my norm for years - would be terrible for my hips and not very possible now) and I tell it to minimize walking (vs. waiting) because of my body. But taking two kids (vs. me solo), I'm a little nervous about the prospect of long lines - so, I'm just wondering how folks are finding/navigating this now with G+ and with disabilities in mind.

 

[Wedgeout]

This new system is just an available tool to assist you. It won’t change how you want to enjoy your visit. Genie will give suggestions to your profile. You are not forced or required to do anything it suggests. With Genie+ you select each ride. If the return time and it’s location on the map looks good, you select it. You will only be going back and forth across the parks with extra travel distances if you choose the times and order of the rides that gets you having to rush around.

 

[Selket]

This may depend on the ages of your kids (older? young ones?) but ... I think the issue people find with Genie+ is that to maximize their rides they end up going back and forth. Of course...you don't have to do that but you may get fewer rides in.

I have badly arthritic knees (boy they were awful this last trip) and if I didn't use an ECV I'd be done in the first hour and probably up all night in pain from my knees. If your kids are older and can walk beside you - any reason not to rent an ECV? You can always use it for long distance or long lines and park and walk as much as you want. I used to park the ECV on trips (or days) when my knees were not so bad and that worked well for me.

 

[lanejudy]

We haven't been since Genie/G+ so take this as you will... we don't back-track in the parks. We start in one land and do the attractions there, then move to another land, etc. It may not be the most efficient as far as shorter time spent in queues, but it is much more efficient as far as physical effort and stamina. We would not make it through a half-day criss-crossing the park like some folks do.

I'm not sure if Genie can be tweaked in a way to do our style of touring -- I believe it's programmed to recommend the next shortest queue in your list of preferred attractions, but that may not be in the same area of the park where you are standing at the moment.

 

[bluecruiser]

We haven't been since Genie/G+ so take this as you will... we don't back-track in the parks. We start in one land and do the attractions there, then move to another land, etc. It may not be the most efficient as far as shorter time spent in queues, but it is much more efficient as far as physical effort and stamina. We would not make it through a half-day criss-crossing the park like some folks do.

I'm not sure if Genie can be tweaked in a way to do our style of touring -- I believe it's programmed to recommend the next shortest queue in your list of preferred attractions, but that may not be in the same area of the park where you are standing at the moment.

Based on first hand experience last month, Genie/Genie+ is not designed to maximize your attraction time or even make sure you get to ride all the rides you specified interest in. G/G+ makes recommendations to balance the crowds throughout the park for Disney's benefit. It even recommends attractions that have no relation to your interests. Listed standby wait times are inflated, which makes it seem more attractive for guests to spend money on G+ and/or Individual Lightning Lanes (pay-per-attraction).

I received much more benefit from my subscription to Touring Plans (TP), which cost less for a whole year than two days of G+ for one person. You have many options when using their customized touring plans feature. You can specify more detailed parameters with TP vs. G/G+ such as planned park arrival/departure time, your walking speed, and your preference for balance of walking vs. waiting time. And TP's customized plans won't try to send you to attractions you're not interested in.