is Genie+ worth it if you can't stack?

[Princesca]

We're traveling with three kids under 6 so our plan is to be out of the parks by around 6 PM each day. That prevents us from being able to stack G+ selections for after dinner, which is, I've read, the best way to get value out of Genie+. We've only got one day at HS, so I'm thinking about at least doing an ILL$ there for RotR, maybe suggesting we do G+. But I'm hoping the rest of the days we can get by without it.

 

[Smugpugmug]

It would probably be difficult to not stack at HS since the Lightning Lanes there sell out really fast compared to other parks. HS was the only park that I did the stacking method for on my May trip and it worked out really well. I didn't find stacking to be necessary at the other parks but others may have different opinions about that.

 

[Anna131517]

What do you plan on doing at HS? A lot of children 6 and under are too short or too easily scared for a lot of HS rides. You don’t really need it for the Frozen Sing Along, Muppets 3D, Disney Jr, or the shows. The line for Astro Orbiters probably won’t be awful. However, if people in your party want to do the more popular rides like ToT, SDD, Rock n Roll Rollercoaster, MMRR, or Smugglers Run then Genie+ could be useful. You could just get it for the people who can and will ride the harder to get rides. Little kids have no idea what they’re missing out on as long as they’re doing something.

 

[Princesca]

What do you plan on doing at HS? A lot of children 6 and under are too short or too easily scared for a lot of HS rides. You don’t really need it for the Frozen Sing Along, Muppets 3D, Disney Jr, or the shows. The line for Astro Orbiters probably won’t be awful. However, if people in your party want to do the more popular rides like ToT, SDD, Rock n Roll Rollercoaster, MMRR, or Smugglers Run then Genie+ could be useful. You could just get it for the people who can and will ride the harder to get rides. Little kids have no idea what they’re missing out on as long as they’re doing something.

I'm guessing that most of what we would do at HS is the 'tame' stuff and the shows. The adults will want to do MFSR and RotR, but I'm not sure if the kids will want to do SDD and the adults will skip that if the kids aren't into it. I was hoping we could just get an ILL for RotR (which is the big must-do for the adults) and leave the rest to chance.

 

[Princesca]

At HS, I can see us wanting to do: Alien Swirling Saucers, Beauty and the Beast (maybe), Disney Jr, not sure if we'll risk Frozen given it seems like a viral nightmare (we are cruising after this week so as cool as it is, I don't think any of us are going to be keen on being shut indoors with a lot of people singing at the top of their lungs). MMRR, Muppets, MFSR, TSMM.

That's probably it.

 

[Philsfan77]

We don't stack at Magic Kingdom and still find it beneficial there with 2 kids (4 and 2). I don't find it necessary at Animal kingdom with our kids ages. We hit there at rope drop and are usually out by 1-2pm. Doesn't sound necessary for your situation at HS if you're skipping SDD and sticking to tame stuff (probably cancels out Tower of Terror as well and Rock N roller Coaster). Hit up Mickey and Minnie at rope drop and then hit the other 2 toy story rides when you get to the park and then head to Starwars for your Rise time or MFSR. MFSR will be the only one you'll get a semi long wait for in that scenario IMO. I wouldn't buy Genie+ for that one ride.

 

[Princesca]

We don't stack at Magic Kingdom and still find it beneficial there with 2 kids (4 and 2). I don't find it necessary at Animal kingdom with our kids ages. We hit there at rope drop and are usually out by 1-2pm. Doesn't sound necessary for your situation at HS if you're skipping SDD and sticking to tame stuff (probably cancels out Tower of Terror as well and Rock N roller Coaster). Hit up Mickey and Minnie at rope drop and then hit the other 2 toy story rides when you get to the park and then head to Starwars for your Rise time or MFSR. MFSR will be the only one you'll get a semi long wait for in that scenario IMO. I wouldn't buy Genie+ for that one ride.

Thanks! For MK, do you find it useful just given one day in the parks, or even with two? We're spending two days there so I was hoping that would make it doable without G+.

 

[coasternut22]

Watch the YouTube channel Earscouts. His videos are the best tutorials on G+. In his
latest video, he got lightning lanes for all available HS rides (except for one and not Rise) by 3pm on a busy day (Christmas eve). It’s absolutly worth getting G+ even if you leave by 6pm.

For a family like yours, it’s great at MK and here’s why. You have little kids who will want to ride the low tier attractions like Buzz, Dumbo, Barnstormer, Little Mermaid, etc. between 11am-3pm, those rides will have 15-30 minute waits, but the G+ return times will be almost immediate or immediate with refreshing. You can knock out 5-6 low tier attractions in a row without waiting. Use G+ for a longer wait ride like Jungle or Peter at park opening. Grab another by 11. Then starting mid day, knock out the lower tier attractions when their waits are the highest. Between 3-6pm you can get a couple more selections in. In total you’d have about 8-10 in all which makes the price well worth it.

 

[Anna131517]

It would be beneficial in MK but you can get by without it. Again, little kids are happy with anything as long as they don’t have to wait. There’s a splash pad area around barnstormer. They’ll love Tom Sawyers Island. They’ll enjoy the people mover, Aladdin’s flying carpets, the carousel, etc. so yes Genie+ would make it easier but you can still have a great time without it. The festival of fantasy parade and the enchanted tiki room may also be big hits.

 

[Juliet25]

G+ was only worth it for us at MK. At HS during spring break, we booked SDD and by the time we could book the next ride nothing but the walk on rides were left. Total waste of money for that park.

 

[Philsfan77]

Thanks! For MK, do you find it useful just given one day in the parks, or even with two? We're spending two days there so I was hoping that would make it doable without G+.

If doing 2 days, you might not need it honestly. I still would lean towards it there just due to the ages of your kids though. Our mindset was a 5 minute wait was better than a 20-25 minute wait with our little guys. Maybe do it for your first day and see what you get accomplished, and then might not be necessary for 2nd day there.