No the Magic isn’t gone but it’s at 25%

[ForWhomTheMouseTolls]

Probably somewheres between Athens, GA and Tuscaloosa, AL?

Rude

 

[mercuryvenus]

I think the rides get prioritized - I just think they are missing in the crowd control, kiosks, janitorial, characters, shows, transpo, trams, and other experiences. CM staffing isn't just at the parks of course - there is the whole hotel and restaurant side of things too. I think most things are getting more "normal" at least between my Jan and May experiences.

Most of the things you mentioned are back.

 

[john7994]

Most of the things you mentioned are back.

yep, that was my observation a few weeks ago. Or, at least as "normal" as can be these days.

 

[heresabe]

ok, that could have been what i was hearing, but Mears isn't offering luggage i believe, please correct me if i'm mistaken

You are correct. Guests are responsible for retrieving their own luggage at the airport.

 

[2goofykiddos]

Wow this thread has really taken off. So since it looks like capacity hasn’t changed but some of the availability of LL rides have, I wonder if more people are buying Genie now since its summer and that is causing the difference. That also makes me wonder if they will cap it more now that you can only buy it the day of. But then it just becomes more stressful to obtain and puts you in a competitive frame of mind, which is not magical at all.

 

[mmackeymouse]

This was posted from Len Testa, who runs touring plans, about the state of the parks.

"I know from sources that Genie (the itinerary app) numbers are terrible, as are Genie+ numbers. With Genie, it's functionality. With Genie+, it's some variation of the poor implementation and the "nickle and dime" philosophy.

Money is the reason why they don't fix the problem. Revenue is up, and that is by far the primary metric they're concerned with. If it's going to cost $25 million (or whatever) to fix the Genie+ software and take your dev team a year away from doing anything else, and it's not going to increase revenue, they're not going to do it. They'd rather use the money to build a restaurant, bar, or food kiosks, because those generate revenue. Or buy back shares, which increases the stock price.

I mean, the park reservation system is absolutely useless for guests for around 360 of the 365 days in a year. And we know that there are days when Disney artifically closes off one park's reservations, far below the park's available capacity, just to direct people to the other parks for balance. So not only is the reservation system a no-benefit burden to guests, but it's actually used to force guests away from their first-choice park, even when that first choice should be an option.

You might be thinking "But the visitors who spend that money today and leave dissatisfied, won't be back in five years." And that's absolutely not the concern of today's management."

That's awful. And sad. And I have no doubt it's true.

 

[pahoben]

If you believe the rumours about the alleged stacking changes coming soon then they’ve definitely got something in mind for it to help attraction availability last longer into the day.

They intend to start stacking multiple people in same ride seat? Biggest person on bottom?

 

[mom2rtk]

If you believe the rumours about the alleged stacking changes coming soon then they’ve definitely got something in mind for it to help attraction availability last longer into the day.

Yes. Additional rationing. Oh goody.

 

[mom2rtk]

This was posted from Len Testa, who runs touring plans, about the state of the parks.

"I know from sources that Genie (the itinerary app) numbers are terrible, as are Genie+ numbers. With Genie, it's functionality. With Genie+, it's some variation of the poor implementation and the "nickle and dime" philosophy.

Money is the reason why they don't fix the problem. Revenue is up, and that is by far the primary metric they're concerned with. If it's going to cost $25 million (or whatever) to fix the Genie+ software and take your dev team a year away from doing anything else, and it's not going to increase revenue, they're not going to do it. They'd rather use the money to build a restaurant, bar, or food kiosks, because those generate revenue. Or buy back shares, which increases the stock price.

I mean, the park reservation system is absolutely useless for guests for around 360 of the 365 days in a year. And we know that there are days when Disney artifically closes off one park's reservations, far below the park's available capacity, just to direct people to the other parks for balance. So not only is the reservation system a no-benefit burden to guests, but it's actually used to force guests away from their first-choice park, even when that first choice should be an option.

You might be thinking "But the visitors who spend that money today and leave dissatisfied, won't be back in five years." And that's absolutely not the concern of today's management."

Not the least bit shocked by any of that. But dang it’s hard seeing it so bluntly put.

 

[pahoben]

Mr Chapek-Mickey called and said Genie+ doesn't work, there is trash in the park, and many of the CM's are undertrained. Okay, give me a minute. Yes, I have it! Start stacking people in ride seats and lay off more CM's.

You are a genius Mr Chapek.

 

[DCLMP]

Wow this thread has really taken off. So since it looks like capacity hasn’t changed but some of the availability of LL rides have, I wonder if more people are buying Genie now since its summer and that is causing the difference. That also makes me wonder if they will cap it more now that you can only buy it the day of. But then it just becomes more stressful to obtain and puts you in a competitive frame of mind, which is not magical at all.

I wonder why they don't do what DL does and not make it available until you enter the park. Being familiar with the system from DL I did very little research before our trip two weeks. I've been busy planning our European cruise. I'm glad for that I think reading these threads would have stressed me out.

We somehow managed to have a lot of fun thanks to me. My family was oblivious to my 7 am stress. You're right it does put you in a competitive frame of mind. My kids are 19 and 17 so it was most likely our last family trip with all of us. We had to basically bribe our 19-year-old to come. I was extremely motivated to be successful and I was, but I'm in no hurry to do that again.

 

[mom2rtk]

I wonder why they don't do what DL does and not make it available until you enter the park. Being familiar with the system from DL I did very little research before our trip two weeks. I've been busy planning our European cruise. I'm glad for that I think reading these threads would have stressed me out.

We somehow managed to have a lot of fun thanks to me. My family was oblivious to my 7 am stress. You're right it does put you in a competitive frame of mind. My kids are 19 and 17 so it was most likely our last family trip with all of us. We had to basically bribe our 19-year-old to come. I was extremely motivated to be successful and I was, but I'm in no hurry to do that again.

I think that would help. But what Disneyland has that Disney World does not is a large concentration of great attractions in a small area of space. That’s some thing Disney World does not seem to be interested in fixing.

 

[DCLMP]

I think that would help. But what Disneyland has that Disney World does not as a large concentration of great attractions in a small area of space. That’s some thing Disney World does not seem to be interested in fixing.

That is something that takes time to fix. WDW parks are spread out. They did add two new rides to Epcot and Tron is coming. Disney is slow at building attractions, but they are pretty amazing once they are finished.

 

[john7994]

I think that would help. But what Disneyland has that Disney World does not is a large concentration of great attractions in a small area of space. That’s some thing Disney World does not seem to be interested in fixing.

How does one fix that? You want more rides in a smaller space - not getting what you are saying.

 

[mom2rtk]

That is something that takes time to fix. WDW parks are spread out. They did add two new rides to Epcot and Tron is coming. Disney is slow at building attractions, but they are pretty amazing once they are finished.

As long as they keep closing things every time they open something new, then they aren’t serious about increasing capacity. As long as they keep taking five years to build anything new, then they’re not serious about increasing capacity.

 

[mom2rtk]

How does one fix that? You want more rides in a smaller space - not getting what you are saying.

More net new attractions. So regardless of which park you go to there are actually options available for a program like Genie plus. It is for the same reason that fast pass plus had to be tiered in Disney World but not at Disneyland.

 

[DCLMP]

As long as they keep closing things every time they open something new, then they aren’t serious about increasing capacity. As long as they keep taking five years to build anything new, then they’re not serious about increasing capacity.

Covid played a big part in the recent delays. They have added a lot in the last 10 years. Pandora and Galaxy's edge were two huge projects two new rides at Epcot, and, slinky dog. I get the negativity about genie plus, but now it seems people just want to be negative about everything. Maybe if things aren't being built fast enough for you you go too often.

 

[RamblingMad]

More net new attractions. So regardless of which park you go to there are actually options available for a program like Genie plus. It is for the same reason that fast pass plus had to be tiered in Disney World but not at Disneyland.

You can do more in less time at DL because you don't have to deal with the transportation. And park hoppers make sense as it's not that far of a walk between parks. I've walked between parks simply to eat and then gone back. I remember watching fireworks at DL and then walking across for world of color.

 

[mom2rtk]

Covid played a big part in the recent delays. They have added a lot in the last 10 years. Pandora and Galaxy's edge were two huge projects two new rides at Epcot, and, slinky dog. I get the negativity about genie plus, but now it seems people just want to be negative about everything. Maybe if things aren't being built fast enough for you you go too often.

Eh. Maybe. Universal managed to open a first rate coaster in the middle of Covid. And they've been moving along on an entirely new park. Disney had a reputation for slow walking projects, even before Covid.

We tend to go once a year. Is that too much?

You can do more in less time at DL because you don't have to deal with the transportation. And park hoppers make sense as it's not that far of a walk between parks. I've walked between parks simply to eat and then gone back. I remember watching fireworks at DL and then walking across for world of color.

Sure the proximity is helpful. But mostly it's about having nearly as many attractions in 2 parks as WDW has in 4. And we generally don't travel between parks at WDW. We get single park tickets because we stay in the parks all day, preferring not to give up transportation time. Like you, we always get hoppers when we go to DLR becuase it's almost like one big park. But even without them, there's plenty per park to keep Genie+ working better.

 

[john7994]

As long as they keep closing things every time they open something new, then they aren’t serious about increasing capacity. As long as they keep taking five years to build anything new, then they’re not serious about increasing capacity.

I don't think its only just replacement, total draw and park distribution needs are at play
Alternatively just in Florida, going by openings from a different point of view since things aren't static and serially focused on one ride at a time, I wouldn't say Disney is standing still either -
Toy Story Land with SDD 2018
Galaxy's Edge and Smugglers, and RoTR 2019
Skyliners Added 2019
Riviera Resort Opened 2019
... and the bothersome pandemic too I suppose ...
50th Anniversary Overlay at 4 Parks 2021
Remy's and Paris Expansion 2021
Galactic Starcruiser 2022 (not a ride, but not trivial either)
GoTG 2022
Tron 2022? (Ride Testing in Progress)
Moana World of Water 2022?