Genie+ - Why is it so limited

[AaronB]

I am a TA. Most of my clients are first-timers or second/third trippers. I can tell you anecdotally that the feedback I've gotten from them about Genie+ has been consistently positive. I'm just one person, but this has been my experience across the board.

I'm not a first-timer, but can say Genie+ probably does appeal to the way I do Disney more, and I have been coming 25+ years. My parents and sister live in Florida, and the family owns DVC. In the past, they typically had trips planned out in advance, and had Annual Passes, so getting Fastpass+ was fairly easy for them. For me, I am New York, so my visits would either revolve around me coming for a RunDisney event or more last minute, I am coming down for a visit. I don't have an annual pass, so I was buying day tickets. I could never secure a Fastpass on a headliner attraction ahead of time because they were gone by the time I had my ticket. If I did get a headliner on Fastpass, it was me leeching off my parents or sister who booked one for themselves. With Genie+, I guess I at least have a shot if I do want to pay for it. That said, I know I sit outside the typical hardcore guest who was working the Fastpass system, but Genie+ is maybe a more level playing field (despite still having frustrations).

I'll also add, I was a fan of Maxpass when I went out to Disneyland on a last minute trip a couple years ago. I get why the scale of WDW would make Maxpass not feasible in WDW, but I for sure appreciated the fact I was able to add it on to my ticket the day of. If they had Fastpass, I again would not have been able to get it by the time I was setting up my trip.

 

[Garyjames220]

Limiting the number of Genie+ reservations makes the Lightning Lane move SUPER fast (sometimes the FastPass+ lines were LONG), and it also allows the standby lines to move faster than they did with FastPass+.

so would you say it is moving a lot faster than it did when it was fast pass plus

 

[Carol_]

Because they let too many people into the parks.

 

[meremac]

so would you say it is moving a lot faster than it did when it was fast pass plus

Definitely. The Lightning Lane was much faster. We walked right on to almost everything. I think maybe a 5-minute wait for PP and that was it.

 

[Garyjames220]

Limiting the number of Genie+ reservations makes the Lightning Lane move SUPER fast (sometimes the FastPass+ lines were LONG), and it also allows the standby lines to move faster than they did with FastPass+.

so would you say it is moving a lot faster than it did when it was fast pass plus

The ride inventory for G+ is smaller than FP+ due to the removal of rides for the ILL program. FP+ would have been a capacity mess too without any of the ILL rides.

mybe so but I would have rathered all the rides be in it and pay a bit more and pick three rides in advance is always good

 

[Garyjames220]

Definitely. The Lightning Lane was much faster. We walked right on to almost everything. I think maybe a 5-minute wait for PP and that was it.

I guess they don’t call it lightening lane for nothing

 

[Donaldsfans]

I know it would have been too obvious to charge us for something we already had for free, but I wish I could just pay for the old fast pass system. Genie plus is awful.

 

[Donaldsfans]

Also, my husband and I paid $30 to LL Flights of Passage and still had a 30 minute wait. So magical.

 

[lockets]

I'm not a first-timer, but can say Genie+ probably does appeal to the way I do Disney more, and I have been coming 25+ years. My parents and sister live in Florida, and the family owns DVC. In the past, they typically had trips planned out in advance, and had Annual Passes, so getting Fastpass+ was fairly easy for them. For me, I am New York, so my visits would either revolve around me coming for a RunDisney event or more last minute, I am coming down for a visit. I don't have an annual pass, so I was buying day tickets. I could never secure a Fastpass on a headliner attraction ahead of time because they were gone by the time I had my ticket. If I did get a headliner on Fastpass, it was me leeching off my parents or sister who booked one for themselves. With Genie+, I guess I at least have a shot if I do want to pay for it. That said, I know I sit outside the typical hardcore guest who was working the Fastpass system, but Genie+ is maybe a more level playing field (despite still having frustrations).

I'll also add, I was a fan of Maxpass when I went out to Disneyland on a last minute trip a couple years ago. I get why the scale of WDW would make Maxpass not feasible in WDW, but I for sure appreciated the fact I was able to add it on to my ticket the day of. If they had Fastpass, I again would not have been able to get it by the time I was setting up my trip.

I will admit this is the most sensible example of genie being a plus that I’ve read. For people that literally buy tix day before or day of. And I’ve been that person in the past too so I get it.

That being said, the parks reservation system now leaves little in the way of spontaneity (during peak times at least), but even if that weren’t a problem - since they are all about pay-per-ride now - they could have retained fastpass and charged for it AND held some reservations back for spontaneous travelers so they wouldn’t be left with no selections.

I know some folks have also given examples of being in an unfortunate time zone when it came time to book fastpass hence genie is better for them.

But, yeah, still not sure where the logic to fix the above became “make them all wake up at 7 AM to compete with each other for limited ride slots on the day of - oh - and charge them for that privelidge”

There seems to be more sane workarounds for spontaneous and international travelers.

 

[lockets]

Definitely. The Lightning Lane was much faster. We walked right on to almost everything. I think maybe a 5-minute wait for PP and that was it.

When was this?

 

[stinkpickle]

I could probably count with my fingers the number of people that used the LL entrance for each attraction I waited in standby last week. It was great. The standby lines moved along nicely.

 

[Garyjames220]

I could probably count with my fingers the number of people that used the LL entrance for each attraction I waited in standby last week. It was great. The standby lines moved along nicely.

I guess that’s one benefit

 

[DisneyFive]

I'm not a first-timer, but can say Genie+ probably does appeal to the way I do Disney more, and I have been coming 25+ years. My parents and sister live in Florida, and the family owns DVC. In the past, they typically had trips planned out in advance, and had Annual Passes, so getting Fastpass+ was fairly easy for them. For me, I am New York, so my visits would either revolve around me coming for a RunDisney event or more last minute, I am coming down for a visit. I don't have an annual pass, so I was buying day tickets. I could never secure a Fastpass on a headliner attraction ahead of time because they were gone by the time I had my ticket. If I did get a headliner on Fastpass, it was me leeching off my parents or sister who booked one for themselves. With Genie+, I guess I at least have a shot if I do want to pay for it. That said, I know I sit outside the typical hardcore guest who was working the Fastpass system, but Genie+ is maybe a more level playing field (despite still having frustrations).

I'll also add, I was a fan of Maxpass when I went out to Disneyland on a last minute trip a couple years ago. I get why the scale of WDW would make Maxpass not feasible in WDW, but I for sure appreciated the fact I was able to add it on to my ticket the day of. If they had Fastpass, I again would not have been able to get it by the time I was setting up my trip.

Here's the problem with that though. You say you couldn't get "day of" FP's for the headliners? Well, you can't now either with G+.

The rides that you couldn't get "day of" with FP+ are now the individually paid LL attractions. (Flight of Passage, ROTR, 7DMT, etc...). They aren't even available with G+. Except for one, possibly two, rides in each park you could ALWAYS get day of FP+'s with the old system. I know this because we did it all the time.

The rides left out of G+ are the "greatest hits" LOL. They are the same ones that could be difficult day of with FP+

MK: 7DMT, Space
Epcot: Remy, Frozen
HS: ROTR, MMRR
AK, EE and FOP

So now, you are locked out of the big headliners unless you want to pay. At least with FP+ you had a chance (a pretty good one in my experience) to still get those attractions day-of with a little persistence.

Dan

 

[DCLMP]

It worked great a Disneyland because the locals and annual pass holders who make up a large part of the capacity don't buy it. If you are disappointed in WDW try out DL you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Donaldsfans]

I will admit this is the most sensible example of genie being a plus that I’ve read. For people that literally buy tix day before or day of. And I’ve been that person in the past too so I get it.

That being said, the parks reservation system now leaves little in the way of spontaneity (during peak times at least), but even if that weren’t a problem - since they are all about pay-per-ride now - they could have retained fastpass and charged for it AND held some reservations back for spontaneous travelers so they wouldn’t be left with no selections.

I know some folks have also given examples of being in an unfortunate time zone when it came time to book fastpass hence genie is better for them.

But, yeah, still not sure where the logic to fix the above became “make them all wake up at 7 AM to compete with each other for limited ride slots on the day of - oh - and charge them for that privelidge”

There seems to be more sane workarounds for spontaneous and international travelers.

What you are saying is inaccurate. With fast passing, you could book 60 days in advance. Time zones weren't a factor.

 

[DisneyFive]

What you are saying is inaccurate. With fast passing, you could book 60 days in advance. Time zones weren't a factor.

Sure everyone could book at 60 days, but... I think it's the fact that 7am is much easier to wake up for than the equivalent 4am on the west coast. That is a difference in the convenience of FP+ for those in different time zones.

Regardless, I still feel that FP+ was FAR SUPERIOR to G+. No getting up at 7am. You had 3 prebooked each day so you had a sense of peace going into your vacation. You could sleep in. You could choose from a number of different time windows for each ride per day. You could modify without cancelling your FP and losing the ability completely to ride that attraction with FP for the day...

One thing I never understood though. Why did they make the window so far out? 60 days? Why not 30 days, or even 2 weeks. That would help those that make last minute trips.

Dan

 

[twodogs]

Here's the problem with that though. You say you couldn't get "day of" FP's for the headliners? Well, you can't now either with G+.

The rides that you couldn't get "day of" with FP+ are now the individually paid LL attractions. (Flight of Passage, ROTR, 7DMT, etc...). They aren't even available with G+. Except for one, possibly two, rides in each park you could ALWAYS get day of FP+'s with the old system. I know this because we did it all the time.

So now, you are locked out of the big headliners unless you want to pay. At least with FP+ you had a chance (a pretty good one in my experience) to still get those attractions day-of with a little persistence.

Dan

You are right. And this is exactly how Disney wants it. They want you to pay for that “chance” now. It is not good for the guest, but they have shown over and over that they want what is good for the share price, not the guest. Mission accomplished.

 

[Donaldsfans]

Here's the problem with that though. You say you couldn't get "day of" FP's for the headliners? Well, you can't now either with G+.

The rides that you couldn't get "day of" with FP+ are now the individually paid LL attractions. (Flight of Passage, ROTR, 7DMT, etc...). They aren't even available with G+. Except for one, possibly two, rides in each park you could ALWAYS get day of FP+'s with the old system. I know this because we did it all the time.

The rides left out of G+ are the "greatest hits" LOL. They are the same ones that could be difficult day of with FP+

MK: 7DMT, Space
Epcot: Remy, Frozen
HS: ROTR, MMRR
AK, EE and FOP

So now, you are locked out of the big headliners unless you want to pay. At least with FP+ you had a chance (a pretty good one in my experience) to still get those attractions day-of with a little persistence.

Dan

 

[Donaldsfans]

Another thing. Why don't they name the individual pricey LL attractions something else. Genie plus uses the lightening lane for the $15 daily fee. What are the headliners called? Genie plus plus? And just saying.....One day, they wanted $17 per person to ride ROR. Wow!

 

[Donaldsfans]

Because it is the most moronic system Disney has ever come up with. If my systems were designed and executed this poorly, people would die.

They try and market it as such an amazing guest experience.It would have been better for guests if they just charged for FP+. The optics on that were bad so they hatched this buggy, poorly designed system so they could put a charge on it.

I said the same thing, but you said it better!