Goodbye, Maxpass. Hello, Disney Genie.

[AndrewC]

I think even if the wait was 10 minutes it would be "worth it" to those that paid to get in front. If you can't get on the ride like Rise or Spiderman then even a "small wait" is totally worth it. If the wait is 45+ minutes then a 10 minute wait (especially with theming and as long as it feels like it's moving swiftly) you're probably going to think it's worth it for $10 to $15 a ride. I don't think it'll be anything insane like $25+ for each attraction. I think it'll be fairly "reasonable" like $7 to $15 for most rides. Maybe Rise will be $20, but again, you miss the queue and can't get on at all vs $20, it's going to seem like a good deal.

Also, once you hit those merge points the line seems fast. I don't know if it's honestly 10 minutes or not, but it seems to go by pretty quick as long as you're still walking and there are just a few times you actually stop moving.

This will be a key point though if wait times decrease in general. If RSR isn't 75 to 90 minutes but instead is like 40 to 45 minutes most time.... you can't be waiting very long in the paid line before it starts to feel not worth it...

 

[Simba001]

I believe the FP/LL for Smugglers Run and ROTR have not been used yet, correct? I wonder if they are more separate/ direct access lines to boarding than older attractions? If so, that would imply that they have been thinking a long time about paid FP/LL.

 

[brightlined]

I believe the FP/LL for Smugglers Run and ROTR have not been used yet, correct? I wonder if they are more separate/ direct access lines to boarding than older attractions? If so, that would imply that they have been thinking a long time about paid FP/LL.

If I'm not mistaken, I think they've both been used for DAS, rider swap, and/or recovery, but not for typical FP usage. (Smuggler's Run at WDW had its FP line open for maybe a month before lockdown.)

I can't remember for sure, but I think the merge point for Smuggler's Run is right before you go in to see Hondo. I think the merge point for ROTR is either at or near the waiting room before the first pre-show.

I think FP lines have been intentionally designed ever since FP became the norm. They're more direct than on the older rides, but I'd be surprised if a potential paid service was ever factored in - in general, I think the overall intent on newer attractions is to have the FP line end as close to ride boarding / pre-show as possible. It's usually the rides that pre-date FP that have all of the issues. (Or rides like TSM at WDW, where they had to jam an attraction - and a later expansion - into an existing structure.)

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

I would not be upset paying and having to wait 20 minutes in a 90minute line. I would be thrilled.

 

[Drewski77]

And yet they keep emptying their wallets with glee, eager to do so.

And yet the Disney hotels still have availability, and that is with a 25% promotion running.

And as gleeful as current guests are today, I would imagine they would be even more gleeful with Early Magic Hour, and also Fantasmic, WOC, and Max Pass…

 

[Rich M]

And yet the Disney hotels still have availability, and that is with a 25% promotion running.

And as gleeful as current guests are today, I would imagine they would be even more gleeful with Early Magic Hour, and also Fantasmic, WOC, and Max Pass…

I know I was considering booking for the promo price but there is literally no advantage to staying onsite right now. They need to have something to make it worth the price to stay there.

 

[Epicnemesis]

Merge points can easily be capacity managed. You simply don’t fill up the line beyond the merge point and suddenly the LL has a 2-3 car wait.

Once again, if I trusted Chapek’s disney to not be as greedy as possible then this would be okay, but I don’t. I easily see them overselling genie+ and the single purchases to inflate standby wait times.

The only potentially saving grace for the standby line is that Disney also knows a body in line is a body not buying stuff. I don’t have access to the data, but I know when we aren’t in line we are shopping or eating. If 10% or so of the people in stand by are like us then they will probably lose money in opportunity cost keeping us in line vs the revenue generated by genie+.

 

[NorthernCalMom]

I half think they're right now madly googling Disney fansites and scribbling down all our 'yeas and nays' in order to formulate their actual policy.

Listening in on us is a lot cheaper for them than hiring focus groups…

 

[StormyCA]

Merge points can easily be capacity managed. You simply don’t fill up the line beyond the merge point and suddenly the LL has a 2-3 car wait.

Once again, if I trusted Chapek’s disney to not be as greedy as possible then this would be okay, but I don’t. I easily see them overselling genie+ and the single purchases to inflate standby wait times.

The only potentially saving grace for the standby line is that Disney also knows a body in line is a body not buying stuff. I don’t have access to the data, but I know when we aren’t in line we are shopping or eating. If 10% or so of the people in stand by are like us then they will probably lose money in opportunity cost keeping us in line vs the revenue generated by genie+.

I may be imagining this, but somewhere I think I saw something about being able to shop online while in the Parks and pick up your merch at a store later. Or maybe I'm just losing it and that was one of the things people were speculating about.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

I may be imagining this, but somewhere I think I saw something about being able to shop online while in the Parks and pick up your merch at a store later. Or maybe I'm just losing it and that was one of the things people were speculating about.

I speculated about this earlier in the thread. I would not be surprised if this comes true. Technically, you can already do this with mobile food orders, they would just need to expand it to non-food items/stores.

 

[DizMe]

I may be imagining this, but somewhere I think I saw something about being able to shop online while in the Parks and pick up your merch at a store later. Or maybe I'm just losing it and that was one of the things people were speculating about.

I just saw that you can pay in store through your phone and not have to check out for purchases. You get a mobile order bag of some sort, get the stuff you want, pay on your phone and then you get a QR code that you present to a CM when you exit. Is that what you were thinking of?

ETA: of course, I can't find it now, LOL. I saw it on the app but I have no idea where, but I did find a place in the app (World of Disney) that has a blue "Shop in Store - Now Testing" button.

 

[StormyCA]

I speculated about this earlier in the thread. I would not be surprised if this comes true. Technically, you can already do this with mobile food orders, they would just need to expand it to non-food items/stores.

That must be where I heard it then. It is a good idea! It would stop having to run from store to store looking for a particular item, or the item in your size. Plus think of all the 'impulse buys' from people bored in lines!

I just saw that you can pay in store through your phone and not have to check out for purchases. You get a mobile order bag of some sort, get the stuff you want, pay on your phone and then you get a QR code that you present to a CM when you exit. Is that what you were thinking of?

ETA: of course, I can't find it now, LOL. I saw it on the app but I have no idea where, but I did find a place in the app (World of Disney) that has a blue "Shop in Store - Now Testing" button.

I remember seeing that when we were at WDW. CMs were standing around with special bags and 'Ask me about....' signs. I didn't try it, too much work lol.

What I was thinking of and what the above poster suggested was being able log in and shop from anywhere in the Park and then walk into a particular store and pick up your pre-purchase item. As she said, like food mobile ordering, but with merch.

 

[DizMe]

That must be where I heard it then. It is a good idea! It would stop having to run from store to store looking for a particular item, or the item in your size. Plus think of all the 'impulse buys' from people bored in lines!




I remember seeing that when we were at WDW. CMs were standing around with special bags and 'Ask me about....' signs. I didn't try it, too much work lol.

What I was thinking of and what the above poster suggested was being able log in and shop from anywhere in the Park and then walk into a particular store and pick up your pre-purchase item. As she said, like food mobile ordering, but with merch.

That would be awesome.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I just saw that you can pay in store through your phone and not have to check out for purchases. You get a mobile order bag of some sort, get the stuff you want, pay on your phone and then you get a QR code that you present to a CM when you exit. Is that what you were thinking of?

ETA: of course, I can't find it now, LOL. I saw it on the app but I have no idea where, but I did find a place in the app (World of Disney) that has a blue "Shop in Store - Now Testing" button.

I did this at WOD. It was amazing! So fast, especially since I was only buying one item. I didn’t actually buy it in the app although that’s what the sign said. I made the purchase via the person standing there with a mobile charging device.

 

[DizMe]

I did this at WOD. It was amazing! So fast, especially since I was only buying one item. I didn’t actually buy it in the app although that’s what the sign said. I made the purchase via the person standing there with a mobile charging device.

Oh, that's interesting! I would definitely use this because those lines can be soooooo long. I'm also keen on stuff where I don't have to interact

 

[lindyv321]

Fresh Baked is reporting Genie+ could be available by 10/01

https://www.freshbakeddisney.com/genie-could-be-at-disneyland-as-soon-as-october-1st/

 

[dieumeye]

They’ve already been changing the FP+ signs at WDW. October has been rumored for awhile but I haven’t seen any FP signs replaced at DL yet, so I wonder when we’ll start to see some of the new signs.

 

[twodogs]

I used the “pay on the app” option at the Emporium this summer and at WOD. It was actually amazing, easy and saved SO much time in those long lines at the end of the night. You scan each item into the app, pay on the app and then take the clear bag and the QR code to the person at the exit of the store. They verify that you paid for what is actually in your bag, seal the bag up and out you go. It literally took 30 seconds or less. I LOVE this option!!

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

Fresh Baked is reporting Genie+ could be available by 10/01

https://www.freshbakeddisney.com/genie-could-be-at-disneyland-as-soon-as-october-1st/

OOOOH!! I'm so hopeful about this!! We're staying at DLH (checking in Oct. 5th) and are bringing FIRST time guests with us, so we're really crossing our fingers to be able to splurge on this to make their trip extra magical! Fingers crossed.
Thank you for giving me such super news!!

 

[DLgal]

They’ve already been changing the FP+ signs at WDW. October has been rumored for awhile but I haven’t seen any FP signs replaced at DL yet, so I wonder when we’ll start to see some of the new signs.

They're efficient here. They'll do it overnight.