No Genie +

[Bossy22]

I’ve heard everyone saying how to use genie + and how awesome it is. It honestly may be out of our budget for our summer trip (we may try for 1 or 2 days). For 5 of us it’s just very pricey! Has anyone went lately that thinks DL is doable without it. We enjoy all the genie + rides but we do ALL the rides. Is it possible to enjoy DL and do rides withoutGenie +?

 

[gelatoni fan]

It is absolutely possible to enjoy the parks without Genie+. The best way to avoid long wait times without Genie+ is to prioritize those attractions in the first and last couple hours of the day.

For example, it becomes very important to get on Midway Mania at the end of the first hour of DCA opening or else you will have to wait in that line for like an hour. I like to rope drop Web Slingers, do Guardians if it's short (Cars Land otherwise) and then head over to Pixar Pier before the crowds get there.

At Disneyland a lot of rides end up having short waits towards the end of the day. I like to rope drop Peter Pan and then do 3-5 other rides in Fantasyland in the first hour, saving Tomorrowland for nighttime. Autopia is the one Genie+ ride you want to try to do in the middle of the day rather than the morning or evening.

 

[Bossy22]

Thanks, we always have prioritzed the mornings but as our kids were younger we never really prioritized the nights except for on our last day. We will definitely need a change of mindset to remember the last couple of hours.

 

[DLgal]

I agree with prioritizing the late night hours. We were at DCA last night, a Saturday at the tail end of what had been a VERY crowded week. The park closed at 10. By 9, several parts were like ghost towns. We walked from Webslingers to Radiator Springs racers at like 9:15 and never saw another person. Carsland was SO quiet. Luigi's and Maters were literal walk ons.

The same thing happens at Disneyland after fireworks until the midnight closing. It's really quite blissful.

Plus, the parks are just SO much more beautiful at night. Nighttime is where it's at. We are locals and our preference is to arrive around 3 or 4 PM and stay late.

 

[Bossy22]

By the lack of responses is it safe to think that most of you do not think it is viable? Thanks DLgal for the tips on night time (I am definitely reevaluating our usual routine!!!)

 

[disneycat321]

Are you doing PH or 1 park tickets?

Can your group use single rider?

It's definitely doable if you're ok with possibly not getting to ride every single thing. I agree that first thing in the morning and late at night are the best times for the headliners.

One unfortunate consideration - when I went over President's Week, there were a lot of ride closures that would have impacted me much more severely if I hadn't had G+. When I rope dropped DCA, Incredicoaster, TSMM, and Goofy's were all down, and Monsters Inc went down shortly after. When I rope dropped DL, Space was down. I've read lots of reports on here about rides being down at rope drop recently. It makes that rope drop strategy iffy sometimes, and you'll need backup plans.

 

[disneycat321]

I agree with prioritizing the late night hours. We were at DCA last night, a Saturday at the tail end of what had been a VERY crowded week. The park closed at 10. By 9, several parts were like ghost towns. We walked from Webslingers to Radiator Springs racers at like 9:15 and never saw another person. Carsland was SO quiet. Luigi's and Maters were literal walk ons.

The same thing happens at Disneyland after fireworks until the midnight closing. It's really quite blissful.

Plus, the parks are just SO much more beautiful at night. Nighttime is where it's at. We are locals and our preference is to arrive around 3 or 4 PM and stay late.

This is totally fascinating to me, because back in the day the crowds rarely diminished that much at night. Maybe it's because there were more local APs back then and they boosted the evening crowds?

 

[DLgal]

This is totally fascinating to me, because back in the day the crowds rarely diminished that much at night. Maybe it's because there were more local APs back then and they boosted the evening crowds?

My theory is that because local APs can't come as often, they are far more likely to come early and get as much done as possible and maximize their time. There is also a distinct lack of young children after about 7pm, as compared to the early morning hours. Again, I think this is largely locals who arrived early whose kids are tapped out by dinner time.

The very late hours at DL (after fireworks until closing) have always been low crowds. Especially the hour between 11 and midnight. Almost everything is a walk on at that hour.

As of right now, the lack of nighttime shows at DCA means people hop over to DL for the 9pm fireworks and so after about 8:30, DCA gets very quiet. I'm sure that will change once World of Color comes back.

 

[MonocularVision]

I will second that the last few hours can be absolutely awesome.