Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[SLThomas318]

You actually brought something to my attention I hadn't thought of yet - I'll be getting LLs for my family of 5. But the system doesn't know that when I'm refreshing for availability yet. Is that why sometimes those times disappear? We have no way of knowing if a random time shows up to be booked maybe is just for one person or 10. For you, maybe it's okay that you try to add just one more person to your reserved LL, but I don't think that would be an option for me with my family. I haven't done this in practice just yet so it hadn't even occurred to me that the systems doesn't know how many you're booking for until you actually click on the time.

We were a party of 6 back after Thanksgiving and I ASSUMED that was part of the issue... since you don't select party size 'till after you click on a time. I figured that is why it would keep giving us a later return time. I was able to eventually get the time I kept seeing by refreshing/closing the app/going back in... this was for It's a small world though so I don't think it would help with anything popular. We have a party of 11 the end of the year and I'm hoping things have improved/changed by then. Small groups are going to have better luck for sure. That's why I'd also caution checking too much from home, since there is no guarantee you will be able to select the times that you see pop-up.

 

[MainMom]

Not until September. So lots of time for everything to change anyway. but you know, I would like to set expectations early. Please please do a big write up of how it goes for you!

I definitely will & probably some daily brief posts during down time.

 

[LisaRay]

Just Back!! trip dates were March 2nd-10th
Just DH and I for the 1st three days then adult kids joined for the last 5 days.
I was very nervous this trip was going to be a mistake! It was our 1st time traveling anywhere since covid hit! but reading about the crowds, lines, loss of magic, and of course Genie and LL's! ugh I was concerned!

BUT I'm pleased to say that the only things that went wrong were RAIN and a couple scooter issues! And we did feel the same Disney magic we have before.
Annoyed by the nickel and diming as well as the rules where they aren't doing certain things because of "covid" but yet they can shove that many people on a bus and it's not a covid issue. LOL. Felt like they were using covid as an excuse when it suited them BUT the trip was GREAT!

CMs: were all wonderful. so pleasant and magical and no difference from the past the one and only one we encountered that was a bit snippy with us. But one out of hundreds isn't bad! We were also pleasant to them.

LL's and ILL ugh HATED the 7am thing because with an 8 day trip we'd like to sleep in a few days!! Also just like many others I hate that you need to pay extra for it! but having not been there for 3 years (normally go once a year) and having grandbabies being born before long not sure when we will be back, so we wanted the most out of the trip! I bought it for every day! I did this because even though I'd heard it's not needed for AK and Epcot we were planning on park hopping on those days and so we used it in both parks on those days.

We got Rise on three different days. the reason we did it so many times is because on day one I made my husband ride it to determine if I could handle it. Then on another day we both rode it and then later in the trip we rode it with the kids. BUT every time we got it, we never managed to get it at 7:00. This was such a stressful way to begin your day and then NOT get it and feel like your day may have been ruined. but we refreshed for 20 min off and on and got it on all 3 days by 7:20 ish. The same thing happened with our Remy day as well. We also did it those two days before the kids arrived to practice using and become more familiar with it and I'm glad we did!

The Saturday the kids were flying down was the most stressful for me trying to make it a great day for others LOL and knowing we weren't going to be rope dropping. we headed to HS at 10am with them (very early flight)
I had booked:
Rise 5:00-6:00 (booked at 7:00-7:20
Tower 12:00-1:00 (booked at 7:20 after i'd finished with Rise)
(they didn't care about riding slinky preferred Tower)
TSM 12:15-1:15 (booked at 11) it was soon so we could book another as soon as tapped in
MMRR 6:00-7:00 (booked after TSM
those are the only ones I booked today because they had been up for a flight at 3am!

but the day went like this:
Enter park at 10
Star Tours 15 min wait standby
MFSR walk on single rider
lunch
TSM LL
Tower LL
RnR single rider (waited about 40 min)
Frozen show
indy show arriving just in time for last few rows of seats at 3:30ish
Rise LL
baseline taphouse for drinks and pretzel
MMRR LL at 6pm and headed out for early night due to them being up so early

We did 7 rides in a park that has 9 (skipped slinky and aliens) and didn't rope drop so I was pleased with how the day turned out..

I have other days to post later too.
sorry this was soooo long!

 

[wiggy500]

Small groups are going to have better luck for sure.

I've heard this a few times and I'm wondering if it is true that small groups do better than large groups using Genie+. Can anyone explain from their experience why they know this to be true? I know this was the case with Fastpass+. I would think group size would not matter with Genie+. But maybe I am wrong.

 

[LisaRay]

Ok, here are the 3 days my DH and I were there before the adult kids showed up.

Wed March 2nd
our travel day at airport hotel we booked Rise it was our 1st day using it and phones froze and we got so close several times but finally got Rise at 7:20-7:30am
we flew in checked into Pop got scooter and took Skyliner over to the Boardwalk for lunch then arrived to HS at 4pm.
Tower 4:00-5:00 booked at 7am
MMRR 5:00-6:00 booked at 11am while on the plane
Rise 5:30-6:30 booked at 7-7:30am
TSM 8:00-9:00pm booked at 3pm
when it came time for our MMRR and Rise they were both down! BOTH AT SAME TIME. ugh. we waited around maybe an hour and they both came back up so rode them both but then decided to skip TSM because we were tired due to travel day,.


Thursday March 3rd
Plan was Epcot in morning/early afternoon and MK evening. that didn't happen.
Tried for Remy gone just as fast as Rise was the day before! I refreshed over and over for an hour and finally got Remy! but it was for 8-9pm so there went our MK evening plan.
So Epcot! mid morning arrival really just here to festival booths back for rides this evening. but I have to say they need to open the booths before 11am there were SO many people lingering all over WS looking for something to do and waiting for booths to open!
We did booths from 11-1 then had a Test track LL which we booked at 7-8am while trying for Remy.
had pool break at hotel and then dinner at Ohanas.
Back into Epcot at 7ish for a Soarin LL I got earlier then to Remy at 8 but it went down so we were delayed in getting on it. ended up getting off the ride at 8:55 and my DH hates the fireworks crowds so we went to the skyliner and got on with no line right when the fireworks started and watched them from up high! LOL


Friday march 4th DH's bday
7am made Tower LL for later today and again much refreshing for Rise at 7am also!!

Rope dropped MK using NO lightening lanes as kind of a test for later in the trip with the kids.
we rope dropped Buzz LOL (the kids will rope drop Space so we were kind of running through the "plan") then over to Frontierland rope drop at 8:45 for Big Thunder and WOW this rope drop was funny to us we've never seen so many people care to ride BTMR and Splash! LOL we normally go in Nov and people don't seem to want to ride Splash as much when its cooler. anyway even rope dropping there was a 20 min wait to get on BTMR and then Splash said 45 but we timed it and it was 30. but by then we were hot and sweating already we aren't used to this heat.
Over to pirates said 35 was 25.
we mobile ordered from Pecos while in line for Pirates which was nice and also meant we didn't have to go far.
Also in line at 11 we got a LL for MFSR for 7-8
then standby for Magic Carpets mostly for sentimental reasons it said 35 but was 20.
then to main street for an ice cream sundae to share.
Then shopped down main street and to bus around 1:00 ish where I got TSM 8-9 for tonight.
Dinner was at Sebastians Bistro and then skyliner to HS entered at 6pm
DH to Tower while I did 6:30 Frozen show cause I love it.
He met at exit and over to MFSR for 7-8 LL
Then straight to Rise as it was also for 7-8
and then to TSM for the 8-9 LL

 

[Westerner]

I've heard this a few times and I'm wondering if it is true that small groups do better than large groups using Genie+. Can anyone explain from their experience why they know this to be true? I know this was the case with Fastpass+. I would think group size would not matter with Genie+. But maybe I am wrong.

It would make sense that it’s easier to catch rapidly shifting LL availability for a small group than a larger one.

 

[wiggy500]

It would make sense that it’s easier to catch rapidly shifting LL availability for a small group than a larger one.

To me it doesn't. But it depends on how the system works.

 

[holden]

We got here Monday. We were supposed to fly home today but our flight was canceled, and we are now going home Monday.

Crowds weren’t too bad until today. It’s now a madhouse. Genie + is really a must do, especially if you don’t want to rope drop. We also paid for ILL for ROTR (two times), FOP, and MMRR.

Today we didn’t do Genei+ because we spent most of the day scrambling to make hotel reservations and new flights home. We hit DHS tomorrow and will get Genie+ again. I feel bad for those who don’t get it. Rides that used to be a walk on really aren’t anymore. There a few (like Muppets and COP) but not many at all.

 

[Kazi7]

Do you happen to remember what all you did or in what order? The rides are so far apart at Epcot I’m trying to wrap my mind around what’s possible or a good way to hit rides without making my family run between everything.
I thought we’d probably try to do Soarin’ and Remy during the day, and at the start of EE do frozen, then head up to future world stuff like test track and spaceship earth. Did that seem doable to you on your busy night?

Last time we did extra evening hours at Epcot, we watched Harmonious from Japan and then walked leisurely around world showcase counterclockwise with the intent to ride Frozen. The line seemed really long with a posted 45 min wait. That was before Remy was added to what you can do, but still, I think that many people may do Frozen or Remy first since they are in the vicinity after watching Harmonious. We walked past and rode TT which wasn't a walk on but not too bad, maybe 15-20 min wait. Then Soarin which was a near walk on by then. Could have ridden Soarin again but we didn't want to walk all the way back around! Living with the Land wasn't open which was disappointing. I have seen a report that Deluxe guests can access the LL to bypass any "regular" guests that are still in line, but not sure that is definitely a thing.

I think my strategy next time is going to be to walk to the front and do Spaceship Earth first, then Soarin and TT and work back to Frozen and Remy. We will be exiting the IG since we're staying at BWV. The 2 hours does go fast since it's so big and walking around all the construction walls takes longer.

 

[Neverbeast]

The 2 hours does go fast since it's so big and walking around all the construction walls takes longer.

that’s pretty much what I imagined, so thanks for confirming.

I was thinking we won’t do G+ that day but maybe I will ILL Remy and GoTG by then, and then after fireworks we could do frozen and hope the actual time is shorter than posted, then hit just a few others like SE and Soarin on our way out of the front.

We have to leave on busses or monorail so I doubt my party will agree to walking to the front for rides, back to showcase, back to front all in two hours

 

[Kazi7]

We have to leave on busses or monorail so I doubt my party will agree to walking to the front for rides, back to showcase, back to front all in two hours

Yeah that's not ideal. And if you watch Harmonious, that knocks 20 min off the 2 hours. We didn't get around to Frozen until probably 10:35. I wonder if you try to sneak in line a few min before the end of Harmonious if it would be a little better.

 

[disneyfan150]

We got here Monday. We were supposed to fly home today but our flight was canceled, and we are now going home Monday.

Crowds weren’t too bad until today. It’s now a madhouse. Genie + is really a must do, especially if you don’t want to rope drop. We also paid for ILL for ROTR (two times), FOP, and MMRR.

Today we didn’t do Genei+ because we spent most of the day scrambling to make hotel reservations and new flights home. We hit DHS tomorrow and will get Genie+ again. I feel bad for those who don’t get it. Rides that used to be a walk on really aren’t anymore. There a few (like Muppets and COP) but not many at all.

Thank you for sharing. Do you mind me asking which airline? I am thinking of booking a backup hotel reservation in case this happens to us.

 

[AussieFan8]

I think my strategy next time is going to be to walk to the front and do Spaceship Earth first, then Soarin and TT and work back to Frozen and Remy. We will be exiting the IG since we're staying at BWV. The 2 hours does go fast since it's so big and walking around all the construction walls takes longer.

This is what we did the week of Thanksgiving and it worked great! Remy was not available during evening hours at that time, though.

 

[Neverbeast]

And if you watch Harmonious, that knocks 20 min off the 2 hours.

That’s a bummer. My family loves fireworks and we’re bringing first timers so they’re not going to want to skip this. Is there a good place to watch it closest to frozen to make a quick path into line after?

 

[Boopuff]

I have seen a report that Deluxe guests can access the LL to bypass any "regular" guests that are still in line, but not sure that is definitely a thing.

Do you think this is a real thing? I would think that regular guests would be standing in line forever! Although It would be great! So much for those vloggers who suggest regular guests jump in line right at 9 (or whenever the EMH starts)

 

[Meglen]

Do you think this is a real thing? I would think that regular guests would be standing in line forever! Although It would be great! So much for those vloggers who suggest regular guests jump in line right at 9 (or whenever the EMH starts)

When I complained about our last trip wasting 30 min of eeh in line at haunted mansion people asked if we tapped in to use the LL line. I said no I didn't know that was a thing. But the time we got off the ride the rest of the rides were clear of day guests. But 7dwarves was super long line all night. Idk if an hour and half was just day guests or what. So I have no clue if it's a thing or not.

Seems like a bad deal if you have to wait with day guests almost to the end of eeh.

 

[Kazi7]

Do you think this is a real thing? I would think that regular guests would be standing in line forever! Although It would be great! So much for those vloggers who suggest regular guests jump in line right at 9 (or whenever the EMH starts)

I wish I could remember where I saw this. Somewhere on Disboards! I believe it was in regards to Remy. But I haven't seen it discussed otherwise, so maybe it's not a thing. Seems like we would have heard more about it.

 

[Gentry2004]

We got here Monday. We were supposed to fly home today but our flight was canceled, and we are now going home Monday.

Crowds weren’t too bad until today. It’s now a madhouse. Genie + is really a must do, especially if you don’t want to rope drop. We also paid for ILL for ROTR (two times), FOP, and MMRR.

Today we didn’t do Genei+ because we spent most of the day scrambling to make hotel reservations and new flights home. We hit DHS tomorrow and will get Genie+ again. I feel bad for those who don’t get it. Rides that used to be a walk on really aren’t anymore. There a few (like Muppets and COP) but not many at all.

How many rides were you able to use G+ on at DHS, before all the good stuff was gone? I've seen some reports that after 11am there aren't really any good optiosn left, meaning you got 2 G+ rides.

 

[Mango7100]

How many rides were you able to use G+ on at DHS, before all the good stuff was gone? I've seen some reports that after 11am there aren't really any good optiosn left, meaning you got 2 G+ rides.

We actually had very good success stacking Genie for HS yesterday 3/12. We drove from TN and arrived at HS at 545 pm. We did the following LL…

MMRR (540-640)…booked at 1115 am, had to keep waiting for a time late enough since we were driving so could not book when our window opened at 1030. Posted wait 70, waited 10
Slinky (610-710)…booked about 30 seconds after 7 am. Posted wait 80, waited 5
TSMM (630-730)…booked as our 3rd LL at 130. Posted 35…waited about 10
Saucers (710-810)…booked at 4 (again had to wait a bit to get a later time, was eligible at 330), posted 30 and waited about 5
MFSR (820-900)…found this one at 730 by refreshing for about 10 min while waiting for Woodys Linchbox mobile order.
Did MMRR standby at 855 with an actual 10 min wait (posted 25).

So 5 Genie rides and a standby in 3 1/2 hrs was pretty good for me.

 

[holden]

Thank you for sharing. Do you mind me asking which airline? I am thinking of booking a backup hotel reservation in case this happens to us.

How many rides were you able to use G+ on at DHS, before all the good stuff was gone? I've seen some reports that after 11am there aren't really any good optiosn left, meaning you got 2 G+ rides.

American Airlines

in DHS we did:

ROTR
MMRR
TOT
RNR
TSMM
MFSM
ST
Indiana Jones Show
All but Indy were with Genie+
We had lunch at HBD midday.

We got there around 7:50. We left the park at 3.