How will Genie/Genie+/LL Change your Park Strategies?

[JZCubed]

I also wonder if they will force a wait from one ride to another using the G+ system. For instance if I ride haunted mansion, is there an automatic 30 minute or one hour window or more before I can ride another ride using the G+ system? I HOPE NOT!

We'll adapt.

Regardless, you're gonna' get the response, "You can always just wait on standby."

Which misses the point - Genie will forever be getting people into Genie/Lightening Lanes that will slow standby for just about everything.....pushing more and more folks into more and more Lightening purchases for even A-ticket rides.

 

[miamimama]

We are DVC and visit several times a year - I think this would change our usual pattern quite a bit. Pre-covid, we would select the park for a a particular day based on fp+ availability. I am not an early riser, so would not usually schedule first fp+ until late morning. If I understand correctly, you will still need a park reservation with Genie+ (or is this incorrect) so I guess we'll see how much availability there is if we don't wake up at 7am. Will park hopping still be available only after 2? Can you get your second LL ride in another park? Maybe I need to do some more research - waiting for the final Cliffs Notes Version with all details!

 

[Farro]

There for 9 days. on-site.

Will buy the $15 Genie + for both of us for our entire stay. We will purchase the "extra" upcharge rides once in most parks, but not on our second days in the parks (or vice-versa).

For Epcot - will wake up at 7 am on whatever day to attempt boarding group for Rat or purchase as the upcharge ride. May purchase Test Track also if that's the second ride.

MK - won't purchase any upcharge rides because we are going to Boo Bash, so not needed.

AK - If the two upcharge rides are Safari and FoP, I doubt we will purchase those. Safari we should still be able to rope drop and FoP is not worth it to us to purchase.

DHS - if it's Rise and Slinky, will wake up at 7 am to just purchase both!

As far as the regular LL rides included with the $15 - will make our first reservation at 7 am in resort, then basically play the "paperfastpassgamethatnowcostsmoney" the rest of the park day.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

This totally changes our style and makes it a lot worse for us. We like arriving later and staying til after closing. We so much like the parks at night vs early morning. Once FP+ came out we changed our tour style because we knew we already had 3 of our favorite rides reserved and at times that we picked. It made our touring 100 times better, because we did not have to get up real early to rush to the parks, so we could run to the kiosk to get FP- at times that we could not control. GP+ is a version of FP- with getting up early and getting on your phone to get a GP+ at a time that we cannot control. I absolutely hate the fact that you can not choose a time. WDW has just forced us to get up before 7AM if we want to have a good shot at rides. Plus, based on everything i have read, RD is going to be a lot more crowded than ever before, with people just trying to get on rides without having to pay.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it's safe to say that most of us around here are less than thrilled with these changes, but this is the reality now whether we like it or not. For those us not cancelling trips (I for one am committed to a dvc rental in the spring, so cancelling isn't really an option, how do you foresee the new system(s) changing your park strategies?

I know for me, it means that rope drop will probably be priority, as will the deluxe/dvc evening magic hours. The whole park-pool-park structure we've always done will have to change. If we're paying for Genie+ for the day (assuming we don't have to pay for the length of stay), then the days we DO have Genie+ will wind up being more commando-style days without mid-day breaks (tough luck for my little ones, I guess they'll have to get used to the stroller nap) and we'll wind up with a few actual full rest days. This could help even out the budgetary difference if you're willing to skip a few park days to make up for the nickel and diming for Genie+ and LL.

I'm curious what all of your thoughts are on this.

We are night owls, we like to close a park down, so we like to sleep in and arrive around 10 am. I'm thinking since we can't get on to get Genie+ until we are in the park will mean getting rolling earlier.

Knowing Disney IT I really wonder how the system is going to react to hundreds of thousands of people all arriving and getting on it at the same time. I predict it will be ugly and they will have to adjust the process. Like if you are there with 5 day tickets and willing, why can't you just pay for it in advance? If you are an AP, why don't you have an option to prepay it or pay a flat fee for the year? It's money in their pockets we can't get back.

 

[DavidNYC]

Will likely result in lots more trips to places besides Disney. As an out of state ap holder, why would I plan a trip not know if I can even enter a park beyond my third day? I remember the days of being handed random FP times which invariably forced you into a schedule you didn’t want - cross crossing the park time and time again. It was lousy. This is the same - except now I have to pay and those willing to pay more can cut in front of me. No thank you.

 

[danceintherain]

It's too soon to tell for me. I've already started to shift my attention to Disneyland, because it's a lot more accessible for us. DH doesn't like Disney, in general, so our trips are getting further apart, and he didn't even come on the last one. (two, if you count my Disneyland trip, when I didn't take the kids either)

My next trip is being funded by my parents, and it may very well be the last major Disney hurrah for quite a while. ODS will be entering middle school next year, so pulling him during the school year will be less appealing, and DH shouldn't really travel during the summer due to health issues. He will have access to a DAS card, if he agrees to it, so that could help.

They've certainly taken away 90% of the appeal of staying in a Disney owned hotel. I was pretty much hanging on to the early FP+ reservations as a justification. Now if the early entrance is the only thing, it may not make sense for us to continue to stay on the property. My kids get up early, so booking through Genie won't necessarily impede anything for me, but I've never managed to make it in time for early magic hours, and I doubt that will change. Plus, they're getting older, so the regular 9am opening time might not even stay accessible.

 

[Imamom2]

Lots to consider. Is waking up at 7am to get into a que or get to the parks any different from waking up early to book FPs 60 days out? Idk… I think this will impact lots of things. Certainly sit down breakfasts, hoppers, and deluxe reservations. Guests will give up resort character meals and get LL one day. Deluxe resorts will be in demand for the extra hour perks. Will hopping be worth it? Waiting to see how it plays out but I expect it will be in place when we go in November. We will do it all this time (just 2 of us) because I’m so curious but I think families will have a lot more planning and budgeting now. I will be following along with everyone. Thanks to all who will share their experiences.

 

[TangledHairDon'tCare]

Probably won’t change much of our touring style. We’ll definitely try Genie+ for the first time at MK and depending on how much we like it and exactly what rides are available, I would try it for HS too. We’re night owls, so we’ll continue to stay until closing and take advantage of extra magic hours when staying deluxe. I would definitely consider paying for FOP or Remy at least once, but wouldn’t become a regular thing.

 

[Airb330]

We typically had 2 park touring styles the last 9 years we've had DVC:

1) 10a-11a-12noon FP+, hang out in park to 2-5PM. Go back to hotel, maybe do EPCOT or TOTWL for fireworks or Disney Springs.
2) Wake up, hang in the villa for awhile. Go to the pool. FP+ at 5p-6p-7p and stay till park close.

This new system destroys how we like to enjoy the parks. First off, our plan for GFV2 extra VGF points is gone. No way will we buy more DVC. I think we let our Gold Pass Lapse and only go 1 time a year and in a bigger room...maybe even sell some DVC. We absolutely can afford Genie+ and LL (even 2x a day) but for us there's no value in it. We've rode everything way more than once (except ROTR, cause it always breaks on us ).

We won't become rope-droppers and I am not paying $15 a day to 'maybe' get POTC or Haunted Mansion or Jungle Cruise 2-3 times in the afternoon. Does anyone who tours like us see a way we can possibly continue? As others here have said, this is going to drive mornings to insanity at WDW (7am on phone, rope drop in park to pull Genie+ selections and then another after its use).

 

[DisneyFive]

Lots to consider. Is waking up at 7am to get into a que or get to the parks any different from waking up early to book FPs 60 days out? Idk…

Not to sound snarky, but of course it is different!

60 days out I am not trying to get my rest while on vacation. It was also only one single day.

This new system requires 7 AM every single day of your trip!

Dan

 

[georgina]

I definitely need more info. i am going on the assumption that it will not be up and running for our Sept 25-Oct 1 trip. If it was, I would probably buy Genie+ for our MK day only. Other days we will be hopping - if I buy it for the day, is it good at multiple parks? Could I book an Epcot ride ressie from HS? I only have one other trip planned, a May DVC rental that was rescheduled from an Oct 2020 cancelled trip. We'll see what reviews are like then. That may be our last trip for a while!

 

[DisneyFive]

From what I understand it will be usable for multiple parks in one day

Dan

 

[AdamsMum]

I'm not impressed with this. I've long since stopped arriving at parks pre opening or staying for evening EMH. I don't carry my cell phone in my hand all day long (I'm old), and I don't need a "seamless itinerary planned for me". Sounds like a conference, not a vacation.

Unfortunately it looks like it will roll out before my December trip. Mind you I hated FP+ in the beginning then I got used to it, but still I'd blow off some fast passes if I felt like being somewhere else. I guess we all just wait to see how it turns out for those of us not willing to add $15/day + to our already $760 (almost $1,000 Canadian) park tickets. I'll spend my time as I always have coffee on the balcony in the morning, fireworks from the balcony (if I can get the view) with a glass of wine at night. LOL

I guess I should be happy I'm not shepherding a couple or three kids around anymore. Maybe renting out my DVC points will pay for other trips I've been meaning to take.

 

[shh]

This totally changes our style and makes it a lot worse for us. We like arriving later and staying til after closing. We so much like the parks at night vs early morning. Once FP+ came out we changed our tour style because we knew we already had 3 of our favorite rides reserved and at times that we picked. It made our touring 100 times better, because we did not have to get up real early to rush to the parks, so we could run to the kiosk to get FP- at times that we could not control. GP+ is a version of FP- with getting up early and getting on your phone to get a GP+ at a time that we cannot control. I absolutely hate the fact that you can not choose a time. WDW has just forced us to get up before 7AM if we want to have a good shot at rides. Plus, based on everything i have read, RD is going to be a lot more crowded than ever before, with people just trying to get on rides without having to pay.

+1. We are not morning people. At all. I adore the parks at night and hate getting up early in regular life, let alone on an expensive vacation, which is why I loved FP+. It really allowed me to choose what worked best for me.

So this totally changes things for us, I think. I don't ever see us buying a WDW pass or park ticket again. Not gonna set alarms and rush to parks, fight the RD crowds or constantly have to be on a device. The alternative isn't appealing either: long 1hr + waits in standby. We'll probably splurge on 1 or 2 after hours/party type things each year around Christmas, so we can be there at night. And that's it for WDW.

Too many other fun things in Florida - all a short drive away: UO, Sea World/DC, Keys, Florida springs, etc.

 

[Biggen]

Disney take my money. I'll happily fork over a few hundred extras to not wait in line. Sign me up!

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

We've been going to DW since 1987, often going a couple of times a year, but this along with the many other negative changes have me thinking that our December trip will likely be our last.

 

[Klismania]

Probably won't change a thing. We most likely won't buy the $15 upgrade and most definitely won't buy the other one. We rarely used FP when it was free since riding rides isn't a huge priority for us and we really don't mind waiting in line. It has never been about seeing how many rides we can get done and rushing from ride to ride for us. We also don't rope drop unless we just so happen to be up and ready to go. We did used to like the evening EMHs and since we tend to stay in Swan/Dolphin those will still be available to us so we will most likely use those. I might look at the app when I'm looking for somewhere to eat that has walk up available but that is probably it. We don't even use the wait times on MDE now, we go to a ride and if it looks like it's moving pretty fast, or we just want to ride it, we get in line.

Our touring styles are the same and I agree with you: This Genie + won't really change my style at all. It's not all about "getting in as many rides as I can" for me, either.

 

[gharter]

I suspect most people on DisBoards will use their own plan and not use Genie to plan theri day.
As much as we complain about the new service, I suspect most will use the $15 a day and probably at least one paid LL per day. As much as I dislike the idea, I'm sure we will. Especially if we don't get a RoTR Boarding pass.

 

[cjlong88]

FP+ Strategies (Pre-Covid): Book our three initial FP+ attractions back to back in the morning. Stroll in around park open (not rope drop) and hit those three attractions first, moving them up as enter each attraction. Then, it's grab what we can. Never waited in standby, even during Christmas/NYE and it was awesome. We would usually take a midday break before exploring the parks in the evening. Sometimes I would look for FP's during our break and sometimes we just decided to just soak in the atmosphere in the evening, eat a pretzel, watch fireworks, whatever.

Genie+ Strategies (Maybe): We will only add on Genie+ for the days we plan to ride a lot of attractions (perhaps 4 days out of our 6-7 PH tickets. Wake up at 7am and book our first paid LL+ attraction if I would like to, then fall back asleep. Everyone wakes up gets ready like always. Stroll in around park open...maybe rope drop, maybe not....and begin booking our passes in Genie+ as soon as we arrive (hoping you can hold a paid LL+ pass for later in the day and still book the others that come with Genie+ simultaneously). Take a midday break and continue to search for great LL passes as the day moves on. We will have park hopper and plan to utilize that if we see attractions at other parks that are more available.

My big hope is to ensure I get the time I want for certain attractions. I would love to ride attractions such as SDD, TRON, and SDMT at night (which I assume will be paid options), so if I can pay for an evening pass, that would be excellent. I would just need to see if doing so somehow prevents me from booking my first Genie+ pass that comes complimentary with the app. My hope is that this will work like Maxpass and they give you the option to book your next pass after you scan your original one OR book your second one ninety minutes after you booked your initial. Who really knows.

Some days we will rope drop the paid-for attractions or get in line at park close to avoid paying for them if we can. My husband has yet to miss a BG for RotR, so I'm sure we will continue to be able to snag any boarding groups that will be used on future rides. At least that is the hope.

Also...watch lots of vloggers master the system over the months and use their strategies to help my experience be great without breaking the bank. We are visiting in December 2022 so we have plenty of time to see how things shake out.

A lot of my strategies won't be terribly different. I will just continue to use the rolling pass system like I did after I used my initial three when FP+ was a thing.