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

[tinkerhon]

I just cant wait to hear all of the kids calling their parents cheapskates all day, because they wouldnt pay $100 for their family to go on "FoP" !!! )

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I'm not sure Genie will be out in time for our next trip (if we go at all), because I haven't gotten "the email" (whatever that is). As for the Christmas trip we planned this year, I could see us using it for Christmas Day at Magic Kingdom to ensure we get on at least a few rides. I never wanted to do CD at MK because of the crowds, but caved to my DH's desire to do it once.

After that I don't know. In all honesty, I'd rather just pay one big price to get on everything easily (like at Universal). Sure they're gouging me, too, but at least they're not trying to hide it in the guise of questionable technology which requires me to get up early every day of my trip. I think, perhaps, we'll break from WDW a bit. Save up our DVC points a couple of years, or maybe use them for some exchanges elsewhere in the world.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

My family used to joke that I was their VIP tour guide. I booked FP+ strategically so there was no criss-crossing the parks, booked PPO breakfasts that would end in time to get in line for Soarin just ahead of the RD crowds. All the advance planning meant I only used my phone to check the screenshots of our itinerary or make sure our PP photos were getting added. Our last trip had free FP+, free Magical Express and Free Dining. I feel like the only way to replicate the ease of our old touring style would be to hire a plaid. If Disney has simply copied Universal’s express pass system with VQs for the newest headliners it would have been better. They could have limited certain rides to one use of the express pass per day. But at least then you wouldn’t be forced to get up early to fight Disney’s IT every morning of your supposed vacation.

 

[Eastern]

Restaurants and airlines get completely booked - they don't then put tables & seats in the aisles to squeeze more profits. For the life of me, I cannot understand the greed that is required to sell more and more tickets to people who must frequently leave Disney feeling ripped off - because even at $250 for a day ticket, they were treated like lesser human beings without access to bells & whistles.

This. Corporate greed reaches new heights.

We don't rope drop much anymore. If it's 'too crowded' we ride what's available. I don't think we will change our routine, esp since it means having to get up at 7am.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It really won't. I don't need to use it at all but I might try it for a "ride day" every once in awhile.

 

[TioAdis78]

Our two kids are on the autistic spectrum, so just like with anything else, we approach our Disney vacation time with patience and without expectations.
We typically used half our FP+ on rides they don’t like (SDMT, SDD) so DW and I can ride, a few on the ones DD enjoys (FOP, Frozen Ever After) and the rest we used DAS for, even silly things like Aladdin, or to repeat rides our daughter enjoys or we couldn’t get FP+ for, like Toy Story Mania or Smuggler’s Run. We use Rider Switch and the single rider line A LOT. The wife and I haven’t ever been on a thrill ride together, EVER! We take what we can get and we love our yearly trips.

We don’t think we’ll use Genie+ or LL. We’ll rely a bit more on their DAS, a bit more on character sightings, a bit more on the single rider line, and waiting until later in the evening when wait times drop, and I’m sure we’ll make it work, we always have!

 

[palmettostatemom]

Probably won't change our style much. We always stay off site because we can get a timeshare condo with 2 bedrooms & a full kitchen for at most $219 for a week and we drive in from SC so all the on site perks don't matter at all to us. We would buy a few groceries - waters, cokes, snacks, easy meals for 1 or 2 nights. Since we drove we could also eat outside Disney to save money. For a week stay we would purchase 4 or 5 day Hoppers.

We are early risers naturally so rope drop the parks for rides we really wanted (FOP, ToT, Space) to at least get on them once. We would stay in park until lunchtime or so, take a midday break at the resort to eat, nap, pooltime (Wyndham Bonnet Creek and Hilton Grand Tuscany are faves) or shop. Then go back to the parks late afternoon/early evening to enjoy them at night and see FW. Back in the day we used paper FP with no issues, one person would go grab for all on the rides we wanted. I hated FP+ due to scheduling rides ahead of time - I hated that much rigid planning - but we did it when it came out and learned how to refresh for even more during the day.

Our last trip was in 2019 with our son and his GF in December before they went to college the next year. We said then we wouldn't be back until we had grandkids (hopefully, lol) because we were over it - been so many times and son going to college we decided the increasing prices, lower standards, etc. just didn't provide us with the vacation we enjoyed. I've been going to WDW since 1972 and the changes in the last few years really highlighted how unmagical Disney has become for me.

Fast forward to today & H's company is having a convention at the Dolphin 9/26 - 9/29 and we decided to go and add on days to stay the week, lol. Hopefully Genie won't be around then, but if it is, we MAY purchase Genie+ for MK, it just depends on the crowds and regular line situation. We WILL NOT pay for the LL$ rides, not interested in that at all. We'll rope drop for FOP or stay late to board at closing and there's not any other rides in the list we care about (as part of the convention we have a special group event in Galaxy's Edge one night of the convention so we are getting access to ROTR and MFSR through that so no need to be up early to try for a BG).

 

[scrappinginontario]

Discussion and questions re: Genie+ are being consolidated into one thread as the same topics and questions are being discussed in many locations. This thread is being moved to the Theme Parks Community board for historical reference.

Please continue discussion of Genie+ here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-genie-announcement.3849361/

 

[JustinS30]

My thought, not so much about changing how I will navigate parks once I’m there (I typically worked around FP availability, which will likely be similar with Genie+)

The thing that may change; I’ve been planning to not start any day in Epcot, but rather hop there multiple evenings. The caveat here is Remy’s Ratatouille reportedly having a virtual queue similar to ROTR. Given that I currently have little interest in paying the additional Lightning Lane fees (beyond Genie+), I’d imagine I now need to start a day at Epcot in order to get a boarding pass (or whatever it’ll be called for Remy’s).

 

[Imamom2]

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

I’m that person up at 6:00 am even on vacation Hoping the rollout is soon.

 

[ZeeWP]

I was really relying on Fastpass+ strategies for our first family vacation, so this does put a crimp in it. I don't want to stand in lines for more than 30 minutes. I skipped rides in DL because of this--but missed out on Increditcoaster

But I am lucky, I'm not going till 2022 during Thanksgiving week. So I think we will know a lot more by then. What works and what doesn't, and the veterans and frequent visitors giving away their tips and tricks.

I can foresee us spending the 15 bucks a person or Genie+ for 4/5 days. But the individual ride ones chafe me if it isn't a reasonable cost. And since we will be visiting during Thanksgiving... I bet those will be incredibly high. So... I may either spend 60 minutes in line or miss out on riding Remy's or 7DMT. That makes me sad

 

[bruhl1j]

I will let the dust settle before changing my approach to WDW.

First, I remember the book of tickets my parents bought in 1973. Different prices for rides was a norm! As for as paper FP, I never liked it bc I would get a FP for late afternoon or evening. I never got to ride any of the new rides bc we rarely stayed open to close at a park.

I liked the FP+ bc I could plan a morning or evening at a park with a set of rides. We could hit a few shows or rides between FP+ times. We could adjust FP+ to each trip like ride one ride one trip and another the next. However, sometimes it was tough to get popular rides even at the 60 day mark.

The cost per day for Genie based on my family size means I could go eat somewhere nice. I might spring for the Genie Plus if it gets me on the ride I want. However, I would only do that once for a ride(new rides). I have never rode RotR bc I never get a pass or get such a high number it does not work out.

Let's wait and see if this system will work. Everything system has +/-. Personally, I would prefer if the pay system would allow me to schedule with more details. My fear is my first ride pass will be after lunch then the next after supper. On busier days, I feel it would be a waste of money bc only a few passes will be used. I can wait till the dust settles. I know some WDW pros will figure out the shortcuts to max out Genie!!

 

[_19disnA]

Probably will go to Disney less frequently, if at all. It used to be just one of the many choices in our vacation rotation. Since the typical Disney vacation costs about 2x as much as other places we like to go, it becomes a lower priority for us to go at all. Requires too much advance planning, parks are generally way too crowded, ride lines too long and many of the rides haven't changed in years. With new rides like Star Wars it sounds like you have to win one of their daily lotteries to even get a chance to ride it. So there is a chance we travel a long distance, spend a lot of money and then can't even get on some of the newest/most popular rides? None of those things make our vacation enjoyable. We get up early when at home to go to school/work. Part of the reason we vacation is to relax, sleep in, do different things and not be forced into a rigid schedule. When a Disney vacation turns into more of a job, we will spend our vacation time elsewhere.

 

[imbelle]

I am an early riser, I often stay in Deluxe resorts, and I can afford the extra money for new Genie+ and Individual attraction charges. But at on least half of my trips I join up with my sister and her three kids who are the exact opposite on all accounts. Genie+/Individual Attraction charges/evening EMH will definitely not be utilized on those trips. The biggest game changer for me is the push to vacation via your cell phone. I don't mind it being an option but it's becoming the ONLY option for everything as simple as experiencing a ride or scoring a beverage at a counter service stand. I have two WDW vacations scheduled for October and whether or not I renew my annual pass in November will depend a lot on how those trips go. I already reallocated some of my vacation funds this year and went to Iceland. On that vacation I only had to pull out the cell phone to show the Covid test results to re-enter the US. With the loss of the "easy" amenities (Magical Express, resort/airport luggage delivery, resort package delivery, etc) and the trending need to be on a cell phone all day, I can see my WDW vacations being reduced to maybe once a year.

 

[gharter]

I suspect there are many who say it won't change anything.
Then, when they can't get on RoTR or SDD or FoP, they will spent the $15 to get in the LL to ride it.
As much as I may dislike it, we would spend the money. As would many others. And that is what WDW is counting on.

 

[twincruisers]

I’ll be up at 7, go for BG’s, then book g+ ride, then IAS if i didn’t get the BG. After that, get up for breakfast and be ready for rope drop.

 

[JustinS30]

I suspect there are many who say it won't change anything.
Then, when they can't get on RoTR or SDD or FoP, they will spent the $15 to get in the LL to ride it.
As much as I may dislike it, we would spend the money. As would many others. And that is what WDW is counting on.

Worth noting that the attractions you mention will most likely not be included for the $15 Genie+. They will most likely be on the additional individual charge LL.

Your main point is valid and likely correct though.

 

[WickstarRunner]

I need more information before I can make an informed recommendation to the group I'm going with in December regarding Genie+:

• Can one person (me) make reservations for the whole group (assuming everyone has it)?
• What's the average number of reservation people can get per day?
• What will this system do to stand-by cues?
• (BIG ONE) Will Disney limit how many Genie+ "subscriptions" are sold each day?
• Will Disney change the LP/Stand By merge points on some attractions (IE RnRC & HM where the merge points still leave decent queues afterwards thus making LP less attractive)?

As of right now my thought is that we'll go with Genie + but ignore IAP, but if we lose Boarding Group Bingo, who knows?