MAJOR changes to Genie+!

[PalmettoPath]

Im waiting for the

"genie will be able to purchase at 4.30am for Disney hotel guests and 9am for off site guests" Disney never ever sleeps now i think about it those amazon things will probably go off at 4.30

"Adds mickey voice" Hey gang its me mickey mouse its 4.30am wana buy the genie? be quick ahuh limted spaces.....dont want to get line ahuh magic awaits"

That's awesome. So many great uses for Hey Disney. G+ alarm, lol, classic.

 

[meremac]

I had initially only purchased base tickets on undercover tourist for our trip in September. I had originally planned to just buy G+ for the two MK and DHS days. Instead, I definitely just panic-bought G+ for the five-day trip.

You're not alone. Yesterday, I reached out to every client traveling this year who hasn't added Genie+, and every response I've received so far is to go ahead and add it. People who were planning on adding it for just MK and HS don't want to risk a huge price increase (I mean, if the price increases enough, it's possible that people will end up paying the same price for just one or two days as they would for five days under the current pricing structure). Plus, nobody wants to deal with the uncertainty of potentially having to stay up late and get up early and/or the risk of not being able to get it at all. I think there's going to be a significant bump in the sale of pre-arrival Genie+ between now and June 7. And ironically, this just means that MORE people will have Genie+ for the next few months, as people who weren't planning on purchasing it for every day are now doing so.

 

[SeasonneRose]

You're not alone. Yesterday, I reached out to every client traveling this year who hasn't added Genie+, and every response I've received so far is to go ahead and add it. People who were planning on adding it for just MK and HS don't want to risk a huge price increase (I mean, if the price increases enough, it's possible that people will end up paying the same price for just one or two days as they would for five days under the current pricing structure). Plus, nobody wants to deal with the uncertainty of potentially having to stay up late and get up early and/or the risk not being able to get it at all. I think there's going to be a significant bump in the sale of pre-arrival Genie+ between now and June 7. And ironically, this just means that MORE people will have Genie+ for the next few months, as people who weren't planning on purchasing it for every day are now doing so.

More people may have it in the coming months but it has a finite end date of december 31.

 

[meremac]

More people may have it in the coming months but it has a finite end date of december 31.

Well, technically January 13, but yes, there's a finite end date. A bump in pre-arrival sales could still significantly impact the functionality of Genie+ during upcoming busy summer months, though.

 

[SeasonneRose]

Well, technically January 13, but yes, there's a finite end date. A bump in pre-arrival sales could still significantly impact the functionality of Genie+ during upcoming busy summer months, though.

People who were already adverse to buying it aren’t going to now. It’ll only be a bump in people who were on the fence about it. It’s just a possible pain point for the summer.

 

[meremac]

People who were already adverse to buying it aren’t going to now. It’ll only be a bump in people who were on the fence about it. It’s just a possible pain point for the summer.

Agreed. There's a small contingent of people who were never going to buy it, and this won't change that. But the number of people on the fence about Genie+ is much larger than those vehemently opposed to it. Plus, there's a significant contingent of people who were planning to only buy it for one or two days OR who weren't planning to purchase it for everyone in their party. At least from my perspective, those are the people who are electing to just add it to every day and for every person right now. I mean, in less than 24 hours, I've added it for literally every single one of my clients who were in that boat...and this is for the entire rest of the year, not just summer. In the short-term, this increase of Genie+ purchases could potentially overload the system even more than it currently is, particularly during busy times.

 

[EmilyGahr]

Question - if I buy tickets now with Genie+ can I then change the ticket dates to 2023 dates (and pay whatever price difference there is) and still keep Genie+ advance purchase?

 

[meremac]

Question - if I buy tickets now with Genie+ can I then change the ticket dates to 2023 dates (and pay whatever price difference there is) and still keep Genie+ advance purchase?

That's a really good question. I have a couple of clients who currently have 2022 packages with Genie+, but due to scheduling conflicts, they know they want to move to 2023 once those packages are available. I have no idea if they'll be able to keep Genie+.

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

UK authorised Ticket site says

Will your Walt Disney World Resort booking be affected by the recent Disney Genie+ changes?

Bookings on deposit - If you have paid a deposit for tickets that include Disney Genie+, you must pay your balance with us by 31st May 2022 to secure the Disney Genie+ element of your ticket. You can pay your balance by logging into your customer account in the top right-hand corner of our website using your order number and email address. If you are unable to pay your full balance before this date, your tickets will automatically be exchanged for standard Disney Magic Tickets and this will be reflected in your remaining balance.

Bookings paid in full - If you have paid in full for tickets that include Disney Genie+, you will be unaffected by the current changes. You do not need to do anything or contact us.
Please note that if you need to amend the start date of your tickets after June 7th, you will be reissued with tickets that do not include Disney Genie+ and will be refunded the price difference.

Hotel + ticket packages - Any 2022 and 2023 hotel + ticket bookings that include Disney Genie+ will retain this service, whether paid in full or secured by deposit. New reservations made up until June 7th can also include Disney Genie+. 2022 reservations can be amended in the future without losing Disney Genie+. 2023 reservations will lose Disney Genie+ if hotel or start date is amended.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this causes you. As a contracted partner of Disney we are bound by their terms and changes to their product and services. This is a change that is affecting all Walt Disney World customers worldwide and out of our control.

 

[SeasonneRose]

Agreed. There's a small contingent of people who were never going to buy it, and this won't change that. But the number of people on the fence about Genie+ is much larger than those vehemently opposed to it. Plus, there's a significant contingent of people who were planning to only buy it for one or two days OR who weren't planning to purchase it for everyone in their party. At least from my perspective, those are the people who are electing to just add it to every day and for every person right now. I mean, in less than 24 hours, I've added it for literally every single one of my clients who were in that boat...and this is for the entire rest of the year, not just summer. In the short-term, this increase of Genie+ purchases could potentially overload the system even more than it currently is, particularly during busy times.

At the end of the day, it’s a short term problem IF a problem at all.

 

[snikki]

Agreed. There's a small contingent of people who were never going to buy it, and this won't change that. But the number of people on the fence about Genie+ is much larger than those vehemently opposed to it. Plus, there's a significant contingent of people who were planning to only buy it for one or two days OR who weren't planning to purchase it for everyone in their party. At least from my perspective, those are the people who are electing to just add it to every day and for every person right now. I mean, in less than 24 hours, I've added it for literally every single one of my clients who were in that boat...and this is for the entire rest of the year, not just summer. In the short-term, this increase of Genie+ purchases could potentially overload the system even more than it currently is, particularly during busy times.

It shouldn't overload the system if they truly cap sales. It will just make the numbers for same day G+ purchases that much smaller.

 

[meremac]

It shouldn't overload the system if they truly cap sales. It will just make the numbers for same day G+ purchases that much smaller.

That's a good point!

 

[SeasonneRose]

Question - if I buy tickets now with Genie+ can I then change the ticket dates to 2023 dates (and pay whatever price difference there is) and still keep Genie+ advance purchase?

I would guess no. Otherwise people would try and game the system. You’ll likely have to cancel and refund genie+ if the change falls after june8.

 

[SeasonneRose]

It shouldn't overload the system if they truly cap sales. It will just make the numbers for same day G+ purchases that much smaller.

Yep. And they’re not going to just cap sales - prices are going to rise. And not insignificantly. That will slow down demand more than anything.

 

[snikki]

Yep. And they’re not going to just cap sales - prices are going to rise. And not insignificantly. That will slow down demand more than anything.

Yup a big price increase is coming and maybe even dynamic pricing.

 

[SeasonneRose]

Yup a big price increase is coming and maybe even dynamic pricing.

I think they’ll keep $15 and advance booking for deluxe and DVC. Everyone else will be day off with dynamic pricing. And they’ll use some coy marketing ploy like “starting at only $30 day” when in reality it’ll be more in the $50 day range.

 

[CalOilerGurl]

I just don't understand why Genie+ can't be capped AND open to advance purchase.

Exactly. Considering they have already required us to make a park reservation in advance so we are definitely going to that park that day - why not be able to purchase it at the time of making the park reservation.

So now, let me get this straight - on my vacation I have to set an alarm to wake up at midnight to purchase G+ and then set another alarm to wake up before 7:00 am to get ILL G+ selection. ok. Sounds like a nice time.

 

[NickC]

As much as everyone complains about the changes, they continue to fill the parks. Til people vote with their wallet nothing will change.

We were on the fence. It's not encouraging to read about some of the changes. But, we went in with an open mind to see for ourselves. Ultimately, we decided that too much has changed so we will just wait and see before we plan another trip. I would imagine that a lot of people are in a similiar situation. They've made so many memories at WDW and don't want to give it up, but have to make a tough choice. This newest change to G+ doesn't seem like a step in the right direction to motivate us to go back. I am on these boards hoping to see some course correction. Time will tell.

 

[SeasonneRose]

Exactly. Considering they have already required us to make a park reservation in advance so we are definitely going to that park that day - why not be able to purchase it at the time of making the park reservation.

So now, let me get this straight - on my vacation I have to set an alarm to wake up at midnight to purchase G+ and then set another alarm to wake up before 7:00 am to get ILL G+ selection. ok. Sounds like a nice up

Exactly. Considering they have already required us to make a park reservation in advance so we are definitely going to that park that day - why not be able to purchase it at the time of making the park reservation.

So now, let me get this straight - on my vacation I have to set an alarm to wake up at midnight to purchase G+ and then set another alarm to wake up before 7:00 am to get ILL G+ selection. ok. Sounds like a nice time.

becauae the advance purchase is going to be a benefit for deluxe guests.

 

[NickC]

So now, let me get this straight - on my vacation I have to set an alarm to wake up at midnight to purchase G+ and then set another alarm to wake up before 7:00 am to get ILL G+ selection. ok. Sounds like a nice time.

Yeah, that doesn't sound fun.
I think the worst part is, even with all that, we still are not guaranteed to get what we want. Of course, with FP+, we might not be guaranteed to get FoP, for example, but at least we had a few months to come up with a plan to do RD or late night or hopping or....
Last month, we would be on the bus to the parks making plans because of the LL return times that we got. It was difficult to make a solid plan on short notice.