I need help with Genie+, I'm DAS-less, going 7/15

[Goldilocks07]

Can someone please give me a quickie with Genie+? I have previously used DAS, and was denied today (yippee!) - so I'm going to try Genie+ for the first time (on Monday, so still the old system) and don't know all the tips and tricks with it. Here's what I know (or what I think I know):
1. Genie+ can be purchased the day of going? Is this right? You can't buy it ahead of time??? What time do I buy it? At 12:01 am the day I go to the park? Seems reasonable...
2. I have to somehow wake up at 6:58 am and both try and snap a VQ for Tiana's Bayou ANNNND grab whatever popular LL I can, at 7:00 am on the dot, because a lot of rides 'sell out' aka no more genie+ for that ride.
3. Rides on Genie+ may show unavailble or 'sold out' for the day, but to refresh it because they may become available again. Awesome.
4. I don't have to be on property to do the above, but do need a park reservation (which I have). Geezus.
5. Is stacking still a thing? I have read about this over and over and my brain isn't understanding this. You can hold 3 LL on genie+? So, I choose one while the rooster crows at 7:00am (for one late in the day) and then 2 hours later (9:00am) I can choose another (and not lose the first)? And 2 hours later do the same?
6. And if above isn't confusing enough, in between this 'every 2 hour' business, I can then select other LL to go on as they are available?
7. I know I'm lucky to get to pay on top of Genie+ to get on the 'special LL rides'. How thoughtful.
8. Does anyone actually enjoy using this? I feel like I'm going to be on my phone ALL DAY and not present to enjoy the park. Should I hire an assistant to do all this work for me?
9. Please pray for me.
10. Also please give me hope. I absolutely love Disney World but clearly pretty sour about all this.

Thank you.

 

[scrappinginontario]

While waiting for more responses, you may wish to read post 2 of the Everything Genie thread as it explains Genie+ in great detail.

 

[DVCjj]

Following along and definitely printing out the instructions (thanks) for post mentioned above (thanks scrappinginontario). This time I know I will be turned down and even though I'm a Disney veteran, I'm old and am 100% overwhelmed with Genie+ instructions. Never used it or LL before and am already hyperventilating for September trip. I consider myself a fairly smart person but admit I find this absolutely overwhelming. Where oh where did FP+ go. Knew it like the back of my hand.

 

[1lilspark]

RE: stacking
Ride 1- book @7
Ride 2- book after tapping into ride #1 OR two hours after park opening whatever comes first
Ride 3-book after tapping into ride #2 OR two hours after booking ride # 2 whatever comes first
Ride 4- book after tapping into ride #3 OR two hours after booking ride 3 whatever comes first

 

[Minnie1222]

1. Genie+ can be purchased the day of going? Is this right? You can't buy it ahead of time??? What time do I buy it?

I usually buy them around 6:45 AM on the day of.

2. I have to somehow wake up at 6:58 am and both try and snap a VQ for Tiana's Bayou ANNNND grab whatever popular LL I can, at 7:00 am on the dot, because a lot of rides 'sell out' aka no more genie+ for that ride.

My sequence at 7:00.
1. Try for VQ*
2. Get LL through Genie+
3. Buy the Individual Lightning Lane

*I actually have stopped trying for VQ.

3. Rides on Genie+ may show unavailble or 'sold out' for the day, but to refresh it because they may become available.

Yes.

5. Is stacking still a thing? I have read about this over and over and my brain isn't understanding this. You can hold 3 LL on genie+? So, I choose one while the rooster crows at 7:00am (for one late in the day) and then 2 hours later (9:00am) I can choose another (and not lose the first)? And 2 hours later do the same?

Yes, stacking is still a thing. Only stack if you don't plan to go to the park until later in the day.

1st LL: select at 7:00.
2nd LL: select at two hours after park opening, so at 11:00 (if park opens at 9).
3rd LL: select at 1PM.
4th LL: I haven't tried this one.

I only stack on the day I'm flying in, or traveling from Universal, since I wouldn't be at the park until the late afternoon or early evening anyway.

6. And if above isn't confusing enough, in between this 'every 2 hour' business, I can then select other LL to go on as they are available?

You can select a new one as soon as you redeem a current LL. Use one, get one. The 2 hour rule is only for stacking/saving the LLs.

7. I know I'm lucky to get to pay on top of Genie+ to get on the 'special LL rides'. How thoughtful.

They are better than VQ since you can choose the time you want to ride.

I feel like I'm going to be on my phone ALL DAY and not present to enjoy the park.

That's the biggest misconception about Genie+.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Following along and definitely printing out the instructions (thanks) for post mentioned above (thanks scrappinginontario). This time I know I will be turned down and even though I'm a Disney veteran, I'm old and am 100% overwhelmed with Genie+ instructions. Never used it or LL before and am already hyperventilating for September trip. I consider myself a fairly smart person but admit I find this absolutely overwhelming. Where oh where did FP+ go. Knew it like the back of my hand.

Thanks for following but your experience in September will be different from OP who is visiting Monday. They will be using G+ but you will be visiting after July 24th which is when G+ ends and Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) begins.

Once we have more details from Disney about how LLMP functions, we will create an ‘Everything LLMP’ thread.

 

[Minnie1222]

Where oh where did FP+ go. Knew it like the back of my hand.

FP is back on July 24th as a paid version. You can buy 3 or 7 days pre-arrival depending on where you stay.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Can someone please give me a quickie with Genie+? I have previously used DAS, and was denied today (yippee!) - so I'm going to try Genie+ for the first time (on Monday, so still the old system) and don't know all the tips and tricks with it. Here's what I know (or what I think I know):

1. Genie+ can be purchased the day of going? Is this right? You can't buy it ahead of time??? What time do I buy it? At 12:01 am the day I go to the park? Seems reasonable...

You can purchase it anytime from 12:01AM onwards.

2. I have to somehow wake up at 6:58 am and both try and snap a VQ for Tiana's Bayou ANNNND grab whatever popular LL I can, at 7:00 am on the dot, because a lot of rides 'sell out' aka no more genie+ for that ride.

We do the following:
- try for VQ
- book first LL
- purchase ILL$ (although I cannot justify the cost so personally have never done that)

3. Rides on Genie+ may show unavailble or 'sold out' for the day, but to refresh it because they may become available again. Awesome.

The vast majority of attractions do not fill immediately. The couple of exceptions I can think of that do fill very quickly are:
- Slinky Dog Dash (DHS)
- Tiana (MK)

All the others last long enough for you to try for a VQ and then book your first LL.

4. I don't have to be on property to do the above, but do need a park reservation (which I have).
5. Is stacking still a thing? I have read about this over and over and my brain isn't understanding this. You can hold 3 LL on genie+? So, I choose one while the rooster crows at 7:00am (for one late in the day) and then 2 hours later (9:00am) I can choose another (and not lose the first)? And 2 hours later do the same?

You may book your first LL at 7AM then your second one either:
- after you use your first one or, 2 hours after your park opens (whichever happens first). The MDE app clearly shows you on your Tip Board when you are eligible to book your next LL attraction.

6. And if above isn't confusing enough, in between this 'every 2 hour' business, I can then select other LL to go on as they are available?

See #5 above.

7. I know I'm lucky to get to pay on top of Genie+ to get on the 'special LL rides'. How thoughtful.
8. Does anyone actually enjoy using this? I feel like I'm going to be on my phone ALL DAY and not present to enjoy the park. Should I hire an assistant to do all this work for me?

Honestly, once you get there and start using it, it will make more sense. Thousands of people try it each day for the first time and it's not as complicated as it seems once you're there. There are also good videos to watch (linked in the Everything Genie thread I mentioned above)

9. Please pray for me.
10. Also please give me hope. I absolutely love Disney World but clearly pretty sour about all this.

Thank you.

You'll be fine. Prepare before you go (which you're already doing) and enjoy. You will be just fine and you'll be at Disney!

 

[elvispursley]

Look at Ear Scouts in YouTube! Rob doe an excellent tutorial on all things G+. I watched a ton of those when I realized I likely won’t be approved for DAS either )and then G+ will have changed before my Aug trip)!

 

[DVCjj]

Thanks for following but your experience in September will be different from OP who is visiting Monday. They will be using G+ but you will be visiting after July 24th which is when G+ ends and Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) begins.

Once we have more details from Disney about how LLMP functions, we will create an ‘Everything LLMP’ thread.

Oh my I must have been living under a rock (life has been crazy lately). I truly had no idea and thank you for telling me. I appreciate it more than you know. I always prided myself on being in the know of Disney for an insane amount of years but now I feel like a newbie and very dumb.

 

[DVCjj]

FP is back on July 24th as a paid version. You can buy 3 or 7 days pre-arrival depending on where you stay.

Thank you the this information. Much appreciated.

 

[Selket]

Also please give me hope. I absolutely love Disney World but clearly pretty sour about all this.

I was just there last week (July 2-6) so it was the "busy" 4th of July holiday. We noticed that the LL entrances were not nearly as busy as they were in the past and the wait times posted were always shorter. Most wait times we had were about half of what was posted (say 25 minutes to get to the ride vehicle if the posted time was 45). The longest wait was Slinky Dog in the middle of the day - 65 minutes posted and 45 to get to the ride.

Just sayin if the standby line seems like a decent wait time then you may want to try it if you can. I think Disney is inflating the wait times which makes standby feel great cause they got on in way less time than posted and the LL lane people also think they breezed through when it would have been a 45 minute wait. We even saw times as low as 35 minute standby wait for ROTR.

If you are doing the VQ for Guardians (and maybe Tron) - I noticed at the end of the day the VQ line was super long. I didn't buy Genie+ this trip but I did buy Guardians $LL. I had a Tron VQ return time in the first group and it was a walk through straight to the ride. I couldn't ride many things because of my knees so I didn't try for Tiana. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[jo-jo]

Hope you have a great trip.

I'm seeing so many stories of lower crowds, here's hoping you find that true.

 

[Anna131517]

You pretty much summed it up! It is stressful, but don’t let the process make you become too ride-Focused to miss out on actually enjoying the parks. I think that’s honestly the hardest part.

 

[scrappinginontario]

FP is back on July 24th as a paid version. You can buy 3 or 7 days pre-arrival depending on where you stay.

Thank you the this information. Much appreciated.

To clarify, Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) starts Jul 24th and we believe it will be similar to FP+ but, Disney has not released enough details to say they will be the same. Also, this will now be a paid-for service, not free. There will be new restrictions (e.g. first 3 will all need to be booked at same park; booking eligibility, etc.) More details will be released later.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Thank you all for chiming in and responding. I'm a WDW vet and am well-versed on FP and now DAS Pass. Now it's time to learn Genie+ and soon the new thing whatever it's called. This is all incredibly frustrating.

I pay for a ticket to go on rides, I pay for hotels ON PROPERTY, and of course pay for food/snacks/souvenirs....
And now I have to pay to enjoy myself with rides and attraction or the alternative is to spend my time in pain standing in line.

Oh wait, the other option is to not pay at all and stand in pain in a line that is up to 4 times the amount of standby.

And yet there's still another option: not to go at all (which makes me very sad because we are DVC members and AP holders).

Let's see how Monday works.

This BLOWS that I have to either stay up late AND wake up at 6:58 or wake up at 6:45 regardless. FML

 

[Mouse Tracker]

Are you going with someone ? If so, have everybody linked.
Are you park hopping? If so, get the correct G+ for hoppers
Be sure you/everyone have the current version of MDE on phone

Buy G+ around 6:30am for the park your visiting. Coordinate with someone in your party - let them "book" the first LL for the group while you attempt the VQ for the group.

Don't pay attention to any of the new stuff regarding G+ change, it won't affect you.
2 hours after park open you can book another LL or sooner once you use the first (I believe). "Stacking strategy is still in play (booking every 2 hours)

Paid Individual LL's can be used for those rides to supplement.

Refresh your screen when searching for LLs, sometimes things pop up

 

[Mouse Tracker]

Also please give me hope. I absolutely love Disney World but clearly pretty sour about all this

It's not that hard, you'll be fine. Watch a few videos on Mammoth Club, Ear Scouts, etc.

 

[DVCjj]

Just wanted to say how appreciative I am about all the help these threads give to us who are struggling. I shouldn't be but I am. There are so many other stresses in life these days that going to my long beloved Disney shouldn't be that way.

Thank you always for anyone willing help anyone with anything.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Just wanted to say how appreciative I am about all the help these threads give to us who are struggling. I shouldn't be but I am. There are so many other stresses in life these days that going to my long beloved Disney shouldn't be that way.

Thank you always for anyone willing help anyone with anything.

This was beautifully written. I cannot tell you over the past 13+ years how much this site (the people ON this site) has helped.