Is anyone feeling positive?

[thanxfornoticin]

So hard for me to understand. I felt it was so much easier setting everything up - FPs and ADRs - well in advance, and then have this perfect, beautifully executed plan to follow each day - Hakuna Matata. Each day started so low-stress and full of excitement. I was really darn good at it, too. Those that we travelled with were always impressed at how smoothly our day flowed, and liked that there wasn’t any decision making or stress on the fly. We got done everything we wanted to do. Loved going into our trips knowing that. I was super chill as soon as we hit the airport. That was honestly one of my favorite things about the Disney system.

Making arrangements 6 months in advance for ADRs and 60 days for FP+ was a love/hate situation. So the change will be an adjustment - some will prefer it.

We had the chance to try MaxPass at DL a few years back, and loved it. Hoping Genie+ is just as useful for us.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I agree with what some have said or implied--I think a lot of the grouchiness is that this just comes on top of a lot of other bad announcements over the past year or so. If we still had sufficiently-staffed parks, attractions, shows and restaurants, trams in the parking lots, magical express, meaningful extra magic hours, longer park hours, etc., maybe this Genie announcement would have been better received.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I think you better be careful about asking that question in Lou of a delta variant!

Actually I am feeling a lot more confident and positive kids are going back to school in September and people are scared of the virus so I should have the Park more to myself

 

[PetePanMan]

- I liked regular paper FP’s but recognized there were issues (exhausting)
- I liked FP+ but recognize there were issues (need for major planning)
- I think I will like new options available under Genie / lightning lane but recognize there will also still be some issues (inability to plan too far in advance, cost) Overall, I think I will like it as our kids are now adults (travel more as a couple now) and we have greater financial flexibility than when we had young family. I would definitely be concerned about additional costs as a family of 5.

 

[penel3]

Folks sharing their disappointment and being upset are completely valid. I am not trying to deminish that..

but is anyone else out there like me who is feeling more positive about these changes? We already used maxpass at Disneyland so this extra $ for genie isn’t a big deal. I really feel like this will make the experience better for how my family and I enjoy the parks.

as for the up charge rides.. that kinda bums me out but then again I just treat it like other things at the parks that I don’t afford. And I feel fairly confident in my abilities to use the free virtual que or stand by line.

Im just looking to see where my positive minded folks might be or am I all alone?

I’m staying positive…..and avoiding a lot of the disboards post lately because I’m so tired of the negativity. I used to always come here because I knew how happy and excited my fellow dis’ers would be……but not anymore. My trip is next week, and I cannot wait!! I am beyond excited to be in my happy place for the second time since Covid-19 started. You are not alone Katyringo, I am here and I see you!!!!!!

 

[luv2cheer92]

I’m staying positive…..and avoiding a lot of the disboards post lately because I’m so tired of the negativity. I used to always come here because I knew how happy and excited my fellow dis’ers would be……but not anymore. My trip is next week, and I cannot wait!! I am beyond excited to be in my happy place for the second time since Covid-19 started. You are not alone Katyringo, I am here and I see you!!!!!!

Same for me. The negativity on here has not been enjoyable. Not saying that people aren't entitled to their opinions, it's just making my happy place not as happy.

 

[ezma]

Yes, I’m ok with it. We are lucky, we are able to afford the upcharges. And after the mess of our vacation last month, I’m happy to it for something that lets me limit my wait in crowds so I don’t need to get a DAS. I’ve never needed a DAS for my anxiety-driven sensory issues until this year, and hope to never need it again.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

I've been going to WDW on the average every 2 years or so, since 1991. I went twice as a kid in the 70's too.
WDW has ALWAYS been expensive. In 91, there was no FP of any kind. In 76, you needed a TICKET BOOKLET. Anytime something new arises, the "Disney if pricing us out of a vacation" cries start up.
WDW is magic, but it is also a BUSINESS. I for one do not mind the Genie + announcement. I look forward to not have to fret about FP reservations 2 months in advance. If I want to ride an attraction and do not have the $ for the Lightening Lane surcharge, I'll wait in the line like I did in 91 and 94 and 95, and EVERTIME I have gone. If it's too expensive for you, don't get it. There were years I really wanted to go to WDW, but we couldn't swing it, so we saved and waited a year (or 2).
I am excited for the change, and as a new DVC owner ( finally), I am anxious to see the system and to get back to my favorite place in world.

I remember the ticket booklet.. Just like going to the regional fair.
I don't mind the Genie thing. I'd like to do RoR on our Jan trip but if I can't get a BG then so be it. I also hope they don't go back to ADR 180 days out. It seems that people book who really have no intention of using them and just cancel - I'd rather make the reservation the same day. But that is just us. I'm really looking forward to our next trip.

 

[ezma]

Yes, I’m ok with it. We are lucky, we are able to afford the upcharges. And after the mess of our vacation last month, I’m happy to it for something that lets me limit my wait in crowds so I don’t need to get a DAS. I’ve never needed a DAS for my anxiety-driven sensory issues until this year, and hope to never need it again.

Just because a family can afford it, doesn't make it a good value. Especially since they are eliminating perks such as Magical Express, Fast passes, etc. that used to be free and they are still increasing their prices for resorts, dinner and admission far beyond inflation. But they market it to the gullibles like it is a new "great deal". Who are they kidding?

 

[lynch34]

You are missing the bigger point.

Disney used to let customer service drive revenue. Now they squeeze every penny out of everyone. The mindset change has moved so much over the last decade it’s sad to us that knew a different place.

The genie is out of the bottle alright and it stinks. It’s just another place.

 

[raidermatt]

For the people who like and used MaxPass, didn’t it include all the rides? Or was it just tier 2 type rides like this new Genie+?

Yes, it included all rides with FastPass. As someone else pointed out, there were some rides at DL which did not have FP but did at WDW. However, these were generally not attractions which would be in the top two premier attractions. So it is a good bet the attractions which will not be included in Genie+ will be attractions that were included or would have been included in MaxPass.

And of course this also makes it a good bet that attractions that did not have FP at DL will have it added in the near future.

 

[FCDub]

No disappointment because it’s a big world out there. I’ve never understood people who only vacation in one place. You’re purposely missing a lot of awesome things out there. When something stops being appealing to me, I have no issues going to a new place.

 

[SuzErwin]

At least with maxpass photos were included, so even if you didn’t get in many rides you could get value from the photos.

Not really. PhotoPass is nowhere as extensive and available at DLR as it is at WDW. It made sense to include it in DLR MaxPass and now Genie+ as a way to get the mostly local guests to sign up for it, but it wasn't a huge value add.

Yes, it included all rides with FastPass. As someone else pointed out, there were some rides at DL which did not have FP but did at WDW. However, these were generally not attractions which would be in the top two premier attractions. So it is a good bet the attractions which will not be included in Genie+ will be attractions that were included or would have been included in MaxPass.

And of course this also makes it a good bet that attractions that did not have FP at DL will have it added in the near future.

The attractions in Fantasyland that don't have FP will not have it added because there is zero room. If DL could have added FP to Peter Pan's Flight, they would have - the queue is very, very, long - but it's an attraction built in 1955. There's barely enough room for one queue.

 

[fisher12]

Will you really need to get up at 7am to grab your Lightening Lane passes or otherwise lose out? I doubt Disney would put a limit on the number of people who can pay for a ride. Paying for rides (on top of admission) actually seems like the ideal situation for them. If Disney knows someone wants to ride Peter Pan but plans to leave the park soon and the projected wait is still over 60 minutes, why wouldn't Disney try to offer them a "spontaneous" LL pass to immediately skip the line?

 

[Heather07438]

We worked the heck out of the FP+ system but there were many aspects we did not enjoy.

• Now we can switch park days much easier and without sacrificing the quality of our FPs.
• Less criss-crossing the park, just choose our next g+ closer to where we are now and make our way around at whatever pace we just decided now. Not months ago lol.
• If we want to spend 3 hours in Tomorrowland today, go for it!
• Don't wanna run over to DINOsaur during our spontaneous stop at Nomad Lounge. No more!
• No longer need to follow a time map we had to choose months in advance.
• If there's a cooldown where we can stack g+ I'm going to be in love. We can leave the hot crowded park midday and come back dinnertime for a bunch of easy rides before the fireworks.

It was tedious having to chart our whole trip out especially when last minute things messed it up anyway. 180 day ADRs & 60day FP+s meant losing flexibility to enjoy WDW as we pleased in the moment. One strategy we ended up with was planning 2 days in each park just to make life easier trying to plan Tier 1s and less zigzagging... alot more expensive than this system.

I also feel like onsite and DVC has even more value now. It gives us other decent options to hit the LP+ rides without paying. Sounds like they listened about crowds and EE & pmEMH has been thinned out. Same with the parties. There's a very good chance our trips see little to no budget increase while our experience actually improves. If I have to give up 1 ADR to fund it, fine.

 

[kanerf]

Perhaps in the same way that they used to offer free dining certain times of the year they will offer free Genie+ at times. That might soften the blow a bit. As for me, inflation, what else is new?

 

[Imamom2]

Folks sharing their disappointment and being upset are completely valid. I am not trying to deminish that..

but is anyone else out there like me who is feeling more positive about these changes? We already used maxpass at Disneyland so this extra $ for genie isn’t a big deal. I really feel like this will make the experience better for how my family and I enjoy the parks.

as for the up charge rides.. that kinda bums me out but then again I just treat it like other things at the parks that I don’t afford. And I feel fairly confident in my abilities to use the free virtual que or stand by line.

Im just looking to see where my positive minded folks might be or am I all alone?

I am feeling positive and looking forward to our November trip. I listen to / watch all The Dis podcasts and Pete and the crew have been talking about fast pass changes for months. I think it could have been worse. Like you, we do what we can afford and skip what we can’t. I still feel we have options. Looking forward to first hand reports once Genie begins. I expect it will be in place by Oct 1st.

 

[tinkerhon]

Folks sharing their disappointment and being upset are completely valid. I am not trying to deminish that..

but is anyone else out there like me who is feeling more positive about these changes? We already used maxpass at Disneyland so this extra $ for genie isn’t a big deal. I really feel like this will make the experience better for how my family and I enjoy the parks.

as for the up charge rides.. that kinda bums me out but then again I just treat it like other things at the parks that I don’t afford. And I feel fairly confident in my abilities to use the free virtual que or stand by line.

Im just looking to see where my positive minded folks might be or am I all alone?

Well, I am absolutely POSITIVE that I would not spend $150 for my family of three to ride RoTR -- (if that is indeed the PP)
$150 is a really nice dinner-

 

[kappyfamily]

Folks sharing their disappointment and being upset are completely valid. I am not trying to deminish that..

but is anyone else out there like me who is feeling more positive about these changes? We already used maxpass at Disneyland so this extra $ for genie isn’t a big deal. I really feel like this will make the experience better for how my family and I enjoy the parks.

as for the up charge rides.. that kinda bums me out but then again I just treat it like other things at the parks that I don’t afford. And I feel fairly confident in my abilities to use the free virtual que or stand by line.

Im just looking to see where my positive minded folks might be or am I all alone?

Couldnt agree more! We loved Max Pass and was hoping this would come to WDW. We will try Lightning Pass one time and see how we like it, if not, we wont do it again!

 

[Heather07438]

Well, I am absolutely POSITIVE that I would not spend $150 for my family of three to ride RoTR -- (if that is indeed the PP)
$150 is a really nice dinner-

Most people won't because they already got a BG for free or rode at some point. Unlikely to spring $50 for another in that case. I think it's a good option actually, especially for people stressing about their $10k trip and still being shut out. At least there's a back up. I don't think the paid option will commonly be used.

Side note- RotR had BGs available all the way up to 30 minutes before park closing today