Genie Service

[crazymomof4]

Look, I loved maxpass at Disneyland even though it really added to the cost for our family-we typically travel with six and mama pays for everything. But the difference here was that you still had paper FP available if you didn’t want to splurge on MP-and MP included everything. This whole attitude that folks who complain are “entitled” is really offensive to me-it’s absolutely fair to say to disney that we are unhappy that you are giving us a lesser product-that you are charging for something that used to be free-and I’m supposed to be happy about it?

Today I walked into my grocery store and to get into the meat section, I had to pay $15 and THEN I wasn't allowed to purchase all the meats, only the cheaper cuts. If I wanted to buy leg of lamb or filet mignon, I had to pay an added fee based on the time of day and how many people were buying those meats at that time. I was totally OK with it because my grocery store is a business and some of the other local grocery stores were adding some upcharges of their own but I heard a lot of very entitled people complaining that grocery shopping wasn't like this just a short time ago.

OK so this obviously didn't happen but the fact remains that to get the same WDW park experience that many of us had in 2019 and early 2020, we would now have to:
#1 pay for a park ticket
#2 pay for Genie+
#3 pay the variable (as yet unknown) fee for tier 1 attractions

Disney adding #2 and #3 in one swift move is not a good look especially such a short time after guests found out we will lose other previously included and much loved perks (DME, magic bands). People WILL respond to these substantial hits to what they have known as "a WDW vacation". Being a business, Disney should have expected it.

To the people calling others "entitled", can you truthfully say you have never complained about a drastic increase in the price (for ex: gas approaching $4/ gallon) of any product or the way things were done in a store or with your insurance company, etc? You've never once complained about any decision a "business" has made, even when you were directly affected in a significant way? Doubt it.

 

[TheEpcotForEver]

I was very surprised by the low low price of $15 per person per ticket until I read that headliners like 7 dwarves are not included. Wonder how much that extra option will cost for up to 2 premium rides.

They’re just getting us acclimated to paying for this. Then they’ll start pushing the price up

 

[TheEpcotForEver]

When is the charge for the toilets coming?

Well how long are you willing to wait in line? What frequency do you prefer your stall to be cleaned? There is this Toilet+ program we will be launching soon. As well as Super Duper Toilet+ for those that want paper towels to dry their hands

 

[davper]

what's another $30/day at Disney for DH & I??

Just what Chapek and company are hoping we will say.

Next you are going to see coin operated toilets

They won't ever do coin operated toilets. No profit in it for them. They will need maintenance workers to maintain the mechanics and workers to refill the Bill-to-coin machines. Nope it will be CC operated toilets and cost$1+.

the worst part of this is that -- even if you're willing to pay -- you have to get up at 7am every day on vacation

EXACTLY!!! I am on vacation. Why do I have to get up before 7am??? My trip last April sucked on days we planned to go to HS because I had to be awake and alert to spend 5 seconds to realize you not getting a boarding group that still does not guarantee you a ride because it breaks down a lot.
Now I am awake and have to kill an hour before I can head to a park to wait in line to get in.

If the profits of genie+ and the cost savings incurred from taking away all the other benefits "we were entitled to" meant that CMs stockholders get paid more then I'm all for it.

HI I fixed this for you.

Moreover, if Disney is true to form, you will be spending all that extra money for a computer application that likely will not work properly for at least 5 years.

Has any of there apps and websites ever worked properly? Everyday, I hear about one of the services being down or incredibly slow.

Can I interest you in a Mickey pretzel? Salted is an extra dollar.

Don't forget the up charges for mustard and napkins


I love how they think we should be thanking them for the privilege of paying more for less. How we have to start 'relaxing' at 7am will make our trip better. My wife and I were already discussing selling our DVC contracts. We are older and used to plan our 3 to 4 hours in the park around the FP we could get. Get dinner then head back to the resort for a dip in the pool.
Last trip, with no FP+ and waits too long for us to stand in, we did maybe 3 rides the entire 8 days of our stay. While our stay at Universal at $200 a night included Unlimited Express Pass and provided us a more fun and relaxing time.

 

[Leight19]

They’re just getting us acclimated to paying for this. Then they’ll start pushing the price up

I’ve wondered if they’ll increase price or eventually after paying for genie plus becomes norm they start allowing an extra extra fee to skip the virtual queue line for even the tier 2 rides when everything is sold out in genie plus.

 

[davper]

OK so this obviously didn't happen but the fact remains that to get the same WDW park experience that many of us had in 2019 and early 2020, we would now have to:
#1 pay for a park ticket
#2 pay for Genie+
#3 pay the variable (as yet unknown) fee for tier 1 attractions

You forgot one thing, The park reservation because paying$150 is still not enough to gain park entrance.

 

[quandrea]

I just cancelled my visit and listed all my points resale. I had a pending riviera contract within the ten days and I pulled out as well.

Killing Magical Express really settled poorly with me. Doing this and magical express in the same year is just gross.
Cheers ya’ll.

I think this will be us in a matter of days. We can’t get there right now anyway due to the pandemic, but as a family of five, this prices us out. To pay exorbitant ticket prices and then have to pay again per ride is not sustainable. We used to spend forty nights a year at WDW and got ample use out of our pricey APs. That brought some value to the table. That value is gone now. We will sell our 860 points and vacation elsewhere.

I’m booked for a vacation to Newfoundland. I’ve purchased a whale watch and a boat tour of the fjords there, as well as a national park annual pass. The whale watch, while pricey, doesn’t then turn around and say, “Oh that survival suit you need to wear? That’s an extra $20 each. And the use of the boat? Extra $50 please.” No, my cost pays for the entire experience. I don’t mind the high price because then I’m done and I get an amazing experience. Disney now wants to charge an obscene amount to get through the gate. Then they will continue to charge me all day once I’m through the gate. Top it off with get up at 7am each day to sort out the day. Most days at 7am, I’m running around getting my kids fed, dressed and out the door.

 

[davper]

I would say you are prophetic, but then this is the norm for any added fee.

 

[JGINPL]

Just what Chapek and company are hoping we will say.


They won't ever do coin operated toilets. No profit in it for them. They will need maintenance workers to maintain the mechanics and workers to refill the Bill-to-coin machines. Nope it will be CC operated toilets and cost$1+.


EXACTLY!!! I am on vacation. Why do I have to get up before 7am??? My trip last April sucked on days we planned to go to HS because I had to be awake and alert to spend 5 seconds to realize you not getting a boarding group that still does not guarantee you a ride because it breaks down a lot.
Now I am awake and have to kill an hour before I can head to a park to wait in line to get in.


HI I fixed this for you.


Has any of there apps and websites ever worked properly? Everyday, I hear about one of the services being down or incredibly slow.


Don't forget the up charges for mustard and napkins


I love how they think we should be thanking them for the privilege of paying more for less. How we have to start 'relaxing' at 7am will make our trip better. My wife and I were already discussing selling our DVC contracts. We are older and used to plan our 3 to 4 hours in the park around the FP we could get. Get dinner then head back to the resort for a dip in the pool.
Last trip, with no FP+ and waits too long for us to stand in, we did maybe 3 rides the entire 8 days of our stay. While our stay at Universal at $200 a night included Unlimited Express Pass and provided us a more fun and relaxing time.

While our stay at Universal at $200 a night included Unlimited Express Pass and provided us a more fun and relaxing time. This is what Disney has to watch out for. With Universal making the Nintendo world soon too plus it being cheaper for families to stay on property and get unlimited express pass this may push others towards those parks.

 

[DVC92]

How about three free FP+ per day for us septuagenarians? Being "old" like we are, it is so uncomfortable standing in the hot sun since lines now stretch everywhere and the parks close early so we can't stay late as we prefer. For Peter Pan, as an example, they can no longer use the Columbia Harbour House to wind the line through since it reopened so you bake outdoors.

Like Iger, I don't think Chapek has ever stepped foot in a park. As usual, it is always about making more money so the guy at the top can get a bigger bonus!

 

[NoTime42]

I pulled out of Riviera also recently and sold 200 points at BRV.
I think this will send a message .Disney still needs to sell DVC and especially at Riviera. Did you tell them the exact reasons for decision?
I am starting to wonder if this is going to start the resale prices to drop . If so I hope you beat the market. I am glad I sold even tho I thought it would be heartbreaking.

For some, selling DVC will be the way they need to save money due to the rising costs.
To others, buying or renting DVC will be the way they save money to help offset the rising costs.

 

[pianomanzano]

Just finished watching the video overview again. For the trip planner aspects of the regular genie service, I wonder how accurate/optimized the underlying algorithms will be. We all know how inaccurate Youtube/Netflix/Spotify recommendations can be and how easy it is to game AI/ML algorithms (like the story of the guy in Europe who was able to manipulate google maps navigation recommendations by carrying a bunch of cell phones in a wagon). Not implying that anyone will actively try and game their systems to create fake lines, but we all know the issues Disney has regarding something as simple as website development, can we trust them to have optimized/accurate recommendations on Genie?

Some other thoughts on this all. If a family doesn't want to pay extra and will rely on trip optimization through the app, what will the app recommend when all the standby times are 3hr+? Also, what about those less tech savvy? I know they're probably not the type to be rushing from thrill ride to thrill ride, but they will definitely want to ride the classic slower rides. Interesting to see how their perspectives are taken into account as well.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

As someone who learned to really maximize the previous free FP+ system I am bummed. As others have said, I think it will be a similar experience to pre-Covid FP+ lines but with the added $15 to $xx per day (depending on what the top tier rides cost). Put me in the camp of people who thinks we'll more than likely be paying more for the same experience. I'm not sure how people can be so excited about that.

We currently have 2 trips planned, just us for 4 days in October then 8 nights with the extended family in January (8 people total). We will definitely use it in October if available just to give it a try. But we'd need to be pretty impressed to justify the added expense on a 7 park day trip with 8 people.

 

[Chuck S]

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.

 

[heynowirv]

A few things stand out. You can use at different parks which can work to ones favor and maybe not get it every day of the trip.

Not everyone in the party needs it. I think it will be good. I am also happy about some of the DAS changes that will work well for me!

I'm a little hazy what is DAS?

 

[Sandisw]

I'm a little hazy what is DAS?

Disability access service. There will be an option now to use the phone to schedule a return time vs. having to make your way all the way to the ride. Sometimes, it wasn't a big deal, but at certain parks it was.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Most of the feedback here and in the other threads are negative...

Yes, Genie+ & Disney are getting killed on Twitter, their website, here.... "Cheap-ek Money Grab" to sum it up.

I find it doubtful though that Disney execs will listen. This is a bigger deal than the noodles being put back on the menu at Ohana.

But I am hoping that this genie gets put back in its bottle.

 

[808blessing]

1.The app algorithm is just like a paid subscription to Touring Plans. They were also the ones who came up with the first “prediction” on pay to play tier. Wonder what the connection is there. It was helpful to me in my first timer years.

2. It’s too expensive.
I already want to go to parks less because of this. There will be even more one and done people.

3. They needed to do this before they rolled out the annual passes.

4 This may actually disperse crowds.

5. Although I love Max Pass at 2 day Disneyland, the individual paid tier at WDW is crazeballs and yuck and sad. Click away to debt.

6. I foresee complications of inaccurate data: app says wait time is 75 mins when it is only 45 is predictable. It happened a lot. It’s not a science.

7. Sigh. I canceled my Fall trip the evening before the Genie announcement. I won’t be finding out any time soon.

 

[TAX GUY]

Just so I'm clear, this is OPTIONAL, correct? So, if you don't want to pay an extra $15, $20, $25... you don't have to. Just go to the parks and wait in line, regular line. No need to wake up early on vacation, no need to plan for large groups, no need to sell. Just do what's comfortable for you and have a magical time.

People may pay a premium for what they feel is added benefit that suits them. Pay more for a better cut of meat? Up to you, you don't have to. Pay for for a nicer car? Up to you, but you don't have to. Pay more for a shorter line?

 

[striker1064]

Unless this is a way to help with crowds because people will choose to come less often?

Most of the feedback here and in the other threads are negative so I see it going a few ways.

People won’t pay it and those that do will have great success which will cause people to begin paying it.

People won’t be repeat visitors which will make it a better experience for those that still come because standby won’t be as bad as it has.

Lots of people will just pay as it’s not as bad as many feared but Tier 1 attractions will become a once and done per trip which may mean more people ride.

For us, I can see some benefits for certain trips depending on who we are traveling with and others a change in what and how we do things, especially TS meals and adult drinks. Glad I got my Owners Locker!!

I've been thinking about this, and it makes some sense in my head. If revenue was the only goal, they'd just raise ticket prices again. But I think that misses the point. People coming to WDW are coming to the parks, and are possibly pretty price-inelastic on tickets. I know I couldn't tell you what ticket prices are on any given day, and I certainly wouldn't notice if they were $15 more per day. But Genie+ has a psychological effect. Even if the parks remain as crowded as they are, ride capacity is the problem. This addresses ride capacity. Do I agree with this method? No, not at all. They'd make more money raising ticket prices, because lots of people won't pay for rides. But this at least gives people the illusion of not standing around in a crowded park in a 2+ hour line on a hot July day.

We should be getting really close to the time when one of those guys pops in here with, "Well, you didn't buy theme parks. You're not entitled to anything. You bought a timeshare. Get over it."

I know you are frustrated and I totally get that, but your statement remains true. We've always only ever been timeshare owners. It's right there in the contract. This is separate and I'd totally get anyone who sells as a result. At least that remains a viable option, for now.