Genie Service

[Grumpy by Birth]

Disney should set up a Kool-Aid stand at the ticket window. Must drink it before you see the prices.
Of course, the price for a glass the Kool-Aid would be $11.99

No, it would be $15 pp per day (convenient payment options through the Genie app).

 

[Heather07438]

j

 

[WilsonFlyer]

k

 

[crazymomof4]

I think the free fast pass system we had was fine, and that a fee could have been added for more than 3 passes. I wonder if cash guests will still find the deluxe resorts, without the free parking, free fastpasses, free airport shuttles, and so forth worth the prices? If not, things will change, as Disney does not want to be stuck with thousands of empty onsite rooms. And this may even affect DVC sales, as people do buy in for the onsite experience. Right now, Disney is riding high on the 50th anniversary stuff, but after that is over, we may see attendance drop significantly.

I liked fast pass because it was much simpler to schedule table service meals between FP times, and plan the day overall.

My thoughts EXACTLY!
The conversations that have been happening in our household of 6 adult ARDENT Disney Parks fans has shocked even me!! I never thought I'd see the day!! Our kids were all raised on WDW and I never thought I'd hear a negative word about it from their mouths. They've never been to Universal and never asked to go. Each time I hear what they have to say since the Genie+ details were released, I think to myself, "If WE are saying these things then how much more so is the casual Disney Parks goer being turned off by these developments?"
Examples:
"Well, we've done WDW and DLR a lot I'm fine with not going for a while and trying other places" --- DH
"I am not happy about this. It just feels like a money grab. Like they are nickel and diming the guests." -- this really shocked me!!! Said by DD20, who is NOT a penny pincher and doesn't mind spending when she feels there's value: on clothes and cosmetics for example.)
"I'd like to look into doing more vacations to National Parks" DS24
"I'd like to do a Universal only trip. I've been reading about the [future] new addition to Universal and it sounds cool, especially the Nintendo part" DS29

Yes, I believe the empty WDW hotel rooms will not happen until after the 50th is over but it WILL happen! But maybe that's part of the plan. Maybe they already have a response to a down-turn in guests ready to roll out when the time comes ?? Resort room promo packages that include access to LL? Who knows? What I do know is that this family, who ALWAYS seemed to have a Disney Parks (FL or CA) trip in the planning, will be exploring other vacation options for a while (couple of years?) ...... at least. Generally speaking, it's not good when your customers start patronizing your competition. Jus' sayin'

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I tend to think this has actually diminished the value of the 50th anniversary. In response to the post above, contrarily; I think the causal visitor (once/twice in a lifetime) won't care at all. They don't know any different anyway. What this is killing with many of us that go several times and year and have for years, is the perception of the whole thing.

They put a sticker on the castle and there's a new fireworks show coming. I've already seen the sticker. There's not going to be one single thing different on October 1 than there was a week ago when I was there aside from the ability to say I was there during the "celebration." I think this is making a lot of us realize just that.

Don't write the 50th off as an overwhelming success just yet. It counts on us. And a lot of us are truly dishearted right now. This ain't over yet.

 

[corpcomp]

I remember someone saying why don't they just raise ticket prices instead of charging for this new system? They are going to raise ticket prices likely by February and still get the $15 per person. My only question is how will the LL lines compare to FP lines? We will soon find out.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

That's factoring on maximizing every part of Genie and LL.

I don't consider it maximizing. Honestly, I am being VERY restrained and frugal for those E rides. In the past over each ten day trip, I bet we managed to ride those E rides about 25 times if not more. Now if I take my calculator out and add those up x 4 people, you are talking a HUGE surcharge.

As Droopy says--yes, showing my age here, "Now that makes me ."

(But, we will not be paying that....ever.)

 

[AlanBradley]

I don't consider it maximizing. Honestly, I am being VERY restrained and frugal for those E rides. In the past over each ten day trip, I bet we managed to ride those E rides about 25 times if not more. Now if I take my calculator out and add those up x 4 people, you are talking a HUGE surcharge.

As Droopy says--yes, showing my age here, "Now that makes me ."

(But, we will not be paying that....ever.)

Haha, fair enough.

Standby is still an option though! Ten days should be enough to get through the queues.

 

[Jwaire]

My biggest problem with Genie+ is it's a paid service that doesn't include the E-Ticket attractions. Are you going to pay $15 per ticket per day to not have to stand in line for It's Tough To Be a Bug or Aladdin's Flying Carpets?

People are going to buy Genie+ (or more than likely add it to their vacation package) thinking they can ride ROR, FOP, Ratatouille, Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, etc. And they won't be able to. And then you tack on these new virtual queues for everything semi new, it's going to be confusing.

If it was like MaxPass, fine. OK. But it's not.

 

[NoTime42]

1. When FPs were free, I always questioned why.
2. I think this Genie thing has the potential to be a good thing overall.
3. Which phone provider has the best signal in the parks?
4. Which supplemental power doohickey should I buy to stay charged all day?
5. My Luddite heart still wants to pay for food with cash, not mobile order. Don’t make me use my phone to eat!

1) they used to do that so they could claim value as they made tickets more expensive.
Now they get both sides, expensive tickets + paid FP.

 

[Boopuff]

Told my DH about the new Genie (he’s a WDW fan by marriage). He used to be king of the FP. His response “so? We’re still going and having fun. So long as the English -his words- place has Guinness I’m good”.

 

[quandrea]

That's interesting. I would imagine you are in the minority and that most that spend large amounts of money on the additions you mentioned won't be phased by the cost increase.

I would really like to know why this would be the straw for you? You are already okay being gouged for everything you listed(which I am fine with BTW) so why would this be any different? You will be able to find value in the Genie and LL just as you say you have for the other events and activities that are Disney priced.

I am always taken aback by how many people threaten to sell(I would imagine not many follow through) DVC or boycott the parks based on seemingly incremental change or price increases.

You seem to have the means to pay for this, so aside from the inconvenience of looking at your phone - what is the negative here? If this wasn't a stand alone 15 dollar add-on it would have just meant that ticket prices would have increased more - how is this not the better option?

This is not a better option because prior to this system, my annual pass, in tandem with long stays and included Fastpasses, kept me from ever waiting in a standby line. There is a marked decrease in the VALUE of my park ticket. I could afford this, but why should I?Just because I can afford something, it does not mean it’s a good use of my money. This is a poor use of my money.

I was not the poster you quoted, but I will never pay for Genie. Disney has gotten really gross with their constant shake downs for more money, while watering down guest experience.

Just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should buy it. Sometimes something is simply a rip off.

 

[808blessing]

My thoughts EXACTLY!
….
Generally speaking, it's not good when your customers start patronizing your competition. Jus' sayin'

Make that your “most loyal” customers… I hear you and am on the same vibe.

Knowing some/many repeat DVC customers are feeling enough is enough has gotta mean something, right?

Wondering If diverse stakeholders are sitting at the table when decisions like G are made. Or if it is a table of a select privileged few. Hmmm.

Wonder how that conversation went when concerns were expressed.

It’s very expensive and difficult to manage plans now- about 25 percent more and a dedicated wake up time to jockey for limited slots/room. And need to now line up last minute plans b or c or depending on what the luck of the draw delivers. Who is that falling on? And the ongoing cost of updating/maintaining this technology services we will have invested $$$$$ in.What say you?

 

[New Mouse]

Something I havent read since the news release....the overall optics of raising prices during a global pandemic shows a complete lack of character, integrity and self awareness from the company and executives involved.

 

[Chuck S]

Something I havent read since the news release....the overall optics of raising prices during a global pandemic shows a complete lack of character, integrity and self awareness from the company and executives involved.

Something I havent read since the news release....the overall optics of raising prices during a global pandemic shows a complete lack of character, integrity and self awareness from the company and executives involved.

True, but sadly, prices everywhere, from groceries to utilities, have increased during the pandemic. The only difference is entertainment is a non-essential discretionary expense, compared to food, housing, and utilities.

 

[New Mouse]

True, but sadly, prices everywhere, from groceries to utilities, have increased during the pandemic. The only difference is entertainment is a non-essential discretionary expense, compared to food, housing, and utilities.

There are also associated costs with things like food and fuel... but... its not like Disney had a reason to raise prices other than making sure the profit stays high enough. Enough being the key word. They arent paying staff more. They arent paying as many staff. They arent offering more. This is literally a because we feel like jacking prices in the middle of a pandemic fee. Well so much for those core company values they teach at day 1 training!

 

[AdamsMum]

Old lady here(on the outside not the inside ), I just retired and December was to be my retirement trip. More days than usual, plans to spend more on shopping for Disney housewares. Yes ticket prices went up, yada yada that happens at least once a year. There has been speculation in the air for months about fp coming back as a paid option. I think most of us got our brains around that.

Now, I'm 64 not 84, but I didn't grow up with a game controller or cell phone glued to my hand, and I don't walk around never taking my eyes off my phone, I call rather than text because texting takes me forever. To my point: Disney isn't only charging me for my fast passes (I know its called lighting lane), they are now putting me into a competition every morning of my vacation with every under 30 who did grow up in a digital world with game consoles and cell phones as second nature to them, in order to get my first (maybe only) fast pass. Who do you think will win? I'm thinking I could master mobile order without too much trouble, but I'm not fast on the button thing.

(Getting up early isn't the problem, 40 years of getting up at 6 or earlier to get to work has made that my norm.)

I know I can choose not to pay, but now that I'm 64 I also have joint issues. Standing in the same (or almost the same) position for a long period is incredibly painful. In no way do I consider myself disabled, nor would I ever compare myself with those unfortunate enough to have a truly difficult life. I'm just feeling really intimidated about this right now. As a person travelling to Disney solo most of the time, I can honestly say I've never felt intimidated before a trip.

Thanks for listening. None of my non Disney friends would get it, they'd just say go somewhere else, like they've been saying for years.

 

[Sandisw]

Old lady here(on the outside not the inside ), I just retired and December was to be my retirement trip. More days than usual, plans to spend more on shopping for Disney housewares. Yes ticket prices went up, yada yada that happens at least once a year. There has been speculation in the air for months about fp coming back as a paid option. I think most of us got our brains around that.

Now, I'm 64 not 84, but I didn't grow up with a game controller or cell phone glued to my hand, and I don't walk around never taking my eyes off my phone, I call rather than text because texting takes me forever. To my point: Disney isn't only charging me for my fast passes (I know its called lighting lane), they are now putting me into a competition every morning of my vacation with every under 30 who did grow up in a digital world with game consoles and cell phones as second nature to them, in order to get my first (maybe only) fast pass. Who do you think will win? I'm thinking I could master mobile order without too much trouble, but I'm not fast on the button thing.

(Getting up early isn't the problem, 40 years of getting up at 6 or earlier to get to work has made that my norm.)

I know I can choose not to pay, but now that I'm 64 I also have joint issues. Standing in the same (or almost the same) position for a long period is incredibly painful. In no way do I consider myself disabled, nor would I ever compare myself with those unfortunate enough to have a truly difficult life. I'm just feeling really intimidated about this right now. As a person travelling to Disney solo most of the time, I can honestly say I've never felt intimidated before a trip.

Thanks for listening. None of my non Disney friends would get it, they'd just say go somewhere else, like they've been saying for years.

There is no doubt this does impact people differently. Not sure I understand the intimidated reference but I get being alone you now have to rethink how you do Disney if you decide it’s not worth paying to skip the line.

I too am a solo traveler many times but do more resort time when alone than parks.

Honestly, many of the top tier rides..are no longer something I do regularly because my body can’t handle so I think the GP+ at MK will work fine to avoid standby when lines are longer than I can do.

I am still hopeful it will be fine. Guests can now hold 1/3 of FPs that they used to before the park opens. I just can’t imagine that won’t have a big impact on things being better.

 

[AdamsMum]

Not sure I understand the intimidated reference

It's the technology I find intimidating. Will it work? Will I be fast enough to grab the fp that comes up?

 

[snappy]

It's the technology I find intimidating. Will it work? Will I be fast enough to grab the fp that comes up?

Given recent history, I wouldn’t count on it working. And who you gonna call when it doesn’t, and how long will you be on hold?

As someone mentioned, invest in a fast but lightweight portable charger for your mobile phone if you haven’t already, you will likely need it.