In fairness Disney inflation has far outpaced real inflation over the last 40 years, so that's probably why people feel that way.
Personally I would say no because the last thing Genie+ needs is for even more people to be using it. Alongside not enough ride capacity in the service, one of Genie+'s main issues that has been outlined many times on these forums is that TOO many people are using it.
I would be fine with paying more for a better experience. Right now, I'm not convinced that Genie Plus is a better experience. I'm not even sure that it's an experience that is equal to what FP+ was. Looking at Thrill Data, average wait times at WDW in 2022 (where G+ has existed the entire time) are up beyond what they were in 2019 (when FP+ existed). If Genie Plus was supposed to improve the overall guest experience, I would say it missed its mark.
I was thinking the other day that they should completely trade systems. I feel like WDW would do better with a higher priced system that is included in their deluxe hotels that fewer people get and that Universal would do better with a lower cost alternative more accessible to all guests.
But wasn't the goal of Genie/Genie Plus to level the playing field? And if it is so much better than FP+ (which allegedly contributed to longer standby waits), shouldn't those wait times have decreased or at least leveled off?
Having a cheaper Express pass (cheaper than the one time use one), especially one that is obtainable for most people, would defeat the purpose of the Express pass in my opinion. Look at Genie+ as an example.
This is one thing that been poking at me for a while so figure why not throw it out there. Disney clearly Identified that they were selling themselves short at one point, and decided to capitalize on that. The market usually dictates how high a price increase they're able to stomach, the problem here is that the market has yet to push back as a whole. Sure the hardos on these boards may push back, but we are a pimple on the butt of Disney, it would take a lot more to throw them off their game. As a share holder, if there is money on the table Disney should be doing whatever they can to rake it in. On a personal note i would love for prices to come down, or go up high enough that the crowds start to taper off. I just can't back anyone who is upset with a company for doing everything within their power to make more money.
Don't forget Disney is still understaffed, which i believe is directly contributing to slower ride turnover. There are a lot of factors on the park level that no one is talking about. I get that people are upset with Genie, but there is a lot to consider over the past few years, that are still affecting the day to day at Disney parks
Well said, the only thing i would add is that Disney is using Genie to attempt to move crowds around the park and disperse congested areas, that part looks like it is going to take a lot of data logging before it becomes successful. FP+ was great for people who knew how it worked, and how to game the system aka hardo fans of the parks, so i believe Disney also wanted to level the playing field so that when a one off guest went home, they would still promote the parks for getting as much out of them as possible
That's an interesting thought. I would be okay if they both had the same system (although for Disney they couldn't include it with all their Deluxe resorts as that is too many rooms but maybe select resorts or a price break if you are staying in the deluxe resorts). I think it works well at Universal as there is a limit to the number of passes sold and therefore it doesn't impact the standby lines too much. Additionally when you get the pass you don't feel that you wasted your money as you can get on many more rides in a much shorter amount of time. It is almost the best of both worlds for the companies.
I agree they probably were selling themselves short but the problem now is they just raised prices and simultaneously they cut back what you get for the raised price. The restaurants have worse food than they did a decade ago, you pay for fastpasses but have longer to wait and get on fewer rides than you did before, the perks for staying on-site at Disney are so reduced they are laughable.
There was a great video someone posted here from youtube on the implementation of the fastpass system, its goals and then how Disney essentially screwed it up. It is worth a watch as it is very informative (
Right on the money. Just let us have our 3 rides with FP+ and we'll be happy campers. We don't enter the parks until afternoon and at MK and HS, every standby line is an hour+. I couldn't even use G+ if I wanted to, which I don't, because I don't even have a smart phone. Those phones must be smart if they get people to stare at them for hours every day.
I say this a lot, but value is subjective there is clearly many who still find value in what Disney is offering. There are many who would pay more to get more, but the reality of the situation is that there are also many who are willing to pay more to get less, and until scale starts to swing the other way for the masses, nothing is going to change. Disney has a supply and demand problem like so many others currently
I agree that's what they are using Genie+ for. My issue goes all the way back to the original FP. They have spent all this money trying to create systems to deal with the lack of capacity instead of actually creating capacity.
More attractions would ultimately add more visits you wouldn’t have 1 without the other
Disagree. If they are on the level as Dumbo or Buzz Lightyear it would add capacity to the parks but wouldn't be a huge draw that adds that many more visitors. IMO Disney needs to be more like the regional parks in adding new attractions yearly.
