POLL: How are people feeling about Genie+

[elsbit]

The cost for my family of 5 is a harder pill to swallow for me, particularly considering how much they jacked up the hotel room costs. It makes me feel staying on property is not worth it anymore, and I LOVE staying in the bubble. I I had really been hoping that there would be something free tossed in for resort guests The "perk" of 7:00 a.m. is not enticing for me. I am one of those type a Disney planners that really enjoys planning our trip and having a spreadsheet but the reason why I do that is so I don't have to worry about planning a single thing while there. I hate the idea of having to do this every single morning if we want to get our perk. Especially because Florida is not our normal time zone, so it will feel like getting up at the *** crack of dawn. That is not vacation vibes for me.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Anything that REQUIRES me having to have my phone in my hand to do something "beneficial" for the supposed enhanced enjoyment of my vacation does NOT sound appealling. The additional irk of having 4, 5 , 8 people STOP in their tracks because somebody needs to check the phone should be addressed.
I only use MDE for mobile ordering- I like that.

 

[The Mayor]

This is from another site reporting on the Disney Parks You Tube Channel. Appears the masses are unhappy but I doubt this will translate into any changes by Disney.

Now that the dust has settled, fans are making their feelings clear. Of the three announcement videos, the reactions (quantified by likes vs. dislikes) are over 70% negative for two videos (the full overview and the digital overview). The third (the initial announcement) is close behind, at around 67% negative.
This is relatively unheard of as most Disney Parks videos have overwhelmingly positive reactions. For comparison, the reactions to the video highlighting the divisive changes to the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland are 95% positive.

 

[Eastern]

I guess that DISers as a group could make a point to not buy the new FPs. Not spend that extra money.

I don't plan on spending extra for FPs. I'll ride what is available. If nothing is available for free, I will do less trips. I will stop buying those expensive park tickets that get you a shortened day, IF your park pass reservation is even available. I can accept the change without having to be a part of it.

I did not buy the FPs that were offered to CL guests during that trial. I thought the cost was ridiculous. My trips were fine without them.

 

[North of Mouse]

Just another money grabber - changes mean benefiting Disney - not guests! Long time (1972) Disney lover and guest, but we haven't gone since Covid, and may never return at the rate Disney is upping prices on every level, and making changes that is nothing like the Disney we loved. Oh, for the late 80's and 90's of Disney!!

 

[georgina]

I guess that DISers as a group could make a point to not buy the new FPs. Not spend that extra money.

I don't plan on spending extra for FPs. I'll ride what is available. If nothing is available for free, I will do less trips. I will stop buying those expensive park tickets that get you a shortened day, IF your park pass reservation is even available. I can accept the change without having to be a part of it.

I did not buy the FPs that were offered to CL guests during that trial. I thought the cost was ridiculous. My trips were fine without them.

I don't think most dissers will boycott G+. i think I would probably buy it at least at MK with so many rides there. $15 for a day's worth of FP is not a bad deal, but I will wait to see reviews of how it is working before I commit.

I don't think I would have bought CL FP either, but then I am too cheap to stay CL and am offsite mostly last few years. Onsite generally not worth it for me. Everyone has their preference for spending, save hundreds offsite vs spending $15 pp for G+?

 

[Grasshopper2016]

I don’t like it but I will 100% be using it. My biggest issue is with the additional fee for the tier 1 rides. Not cool, Disney. Not cool.

Exactly. I didn't vote in the poll because there wasn't an option for:

Don't particularly care for it (though it's better than nothing at all), but will no doubt end up paying for it anyway.

 

[cheryl.UK]

How long will it be before the cost is date dependent like day ticket prices...

 

[Disney mac]

This is just another perk for the entitled wealthy and elite. As someone who could afford it, I still won't out of principle. When I go on vacation, the idea of having to wake up early and be attached to my cell phone and a screen just sounds awful. I think my time at Disney is rapidly approaching an end. Shame, right after I paid off my 3 DVC contracts.

 

[Shula]

We were there with our extended family in May. 16 of us, my husband and I have AP's but everyone else bought 7 day hoppers for $608. I can't imagine telling my family they now need to tack on another $15/day so we can all get the same fast passes, and that doesn't include Lightning Line. Enough already Disney! I'm with earlier poster, the cost of hotels is outrageous now but yet I will pay them because I want to be in the bubble. They could have made Genie a benefit of onsite guests only to justify the price of onsite. Just hubby and I are headed back 9/30 for the anniversary. Our AP's expire in January and we are not renewing this time, we'll be taking a break from WDW for awhile.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

The Genie+ reminds me of the old paper fast passes. You get a fast pass, use it, get another. Except now you're not running from ride to ride to get a paper fast pass, you can do it on the phone. I'm not sure how I feel about having to pay for it, especially when it comes to the upgrade of the most popular rides. But I never liked choosing FP 60 days in advance and I always felt like I got a lot less FP that way.

 

[seelyt2]

I'd be in the happier camp if they would've included PhotoPass for WDW in with Genie+.

 

[vincep]

What if you've spent a nice leisurely night out? The next morning you've immediately got to be on your phone at exactly 7am for one fast pass? That's pretty terrible. As you spend that ride thinking I've got to get on my phone to get my next ride. And you'll be lucky if you get two fast passes that you really want much later in the day.

The free fast pass was ideal not only because it was free but because I would be sure of getting on my 3 favorite rides in each park without the burden of having to be on my phone at 7am.

The two Bobs hate each other so much they keep making one disastrous decision after another let alone using their customers as their personal ATMs. Look at the Scarjo debacle. The two Boobs royally messed that one up. I can't believe I'm cheering on a woman making 20 million a film to make 40 million. But that's the astonishing ineptitude of Disney today. And none of this covid nonsense. They manage to give themselves 10s of millions during this period while continuing to underpay those working in the parks. And giving guests so much less. 3 hours for a holiday party when it used to be 5 just a couple of years ago? I don't know about you but 3 hours in the park is nothing especially when they've got to get rid of the day guests so that gives you even one hour less.

 

[Kickstart]

I'm between Neutral and Don't like it.
If there was a option for "Don't like it, but will likely use it an see if I change my mind" - I would have voted for that.

I think the concept of Genie is great, and they did need to do something to address how the FP+ system was a little too rigid. FP+ definitely favored those staying longer and preferred planning ahead of time (which was us, but I did feel bad for those who would go to WDW without properly planning)

If G+ was free (included in the price of park admission) AND included the top tier rides - I would be in the love it camp.
I'd also be OK if it was free OR it included the top tier rides.

I assume Disney did a lot of research and pilot testing before rolling this out, so I'm really surprised they seemed to have missed the mark so badly here. I wonder if their imagineers suggested it be free and/or include all tiers, but then finance people got involved and screwed it up?

and...
Throw in the ability for on-site guests to get two LL reservations initially at the beginning of the day (instead of just one), or...
Allow on-site guests the ability to book one LL per day at 30 days prior (instead of booking all three)... and I think we'd have a fantastic system.

Limiting the tiers for LL and the IAS "pay-per-ride" is very un-magical in my opinion.
Not having a better on-site stay advantage (7am vs 8am start doesn't cut it IMO), makes it harder to justify the cost of staying on-site.

 

[Biggen]

No issue with paying $15/person/day if it means less line waiting. Sign me up.

 

[Kickstart]

No issue with paying $15/person/day if it means less line waiting. Sign me up.

I think the concern is that's a big if.

For on-site guests who stay longer, it's going to mean more time waiting in line or potentially a lot more than $15 pd/pp for the IAS LL.

It' also not very magical:

• It will be obvious who paid for G+ / LL access vs. who decided not to (or for those it wasn't in their budget) - we're already seeing posts on this board how Disney only cares about the wealthy
• Paying per ride for top tier IAS LL feels like being nickel and dimed - or I should say "ten and twentied"

I will say it does give the impromptu guest (or the non-planner) a more equal playing field for acquiring a LL spot - but not including the top tier rides in G+ is still a major deficiency IMHO.

 

[DisneyGuy]

Neutral at the moment - I'll pay it, and will pay for the top tier rides as well - IF it enhances our time/day in the parks, it's a great benefit. If it proves to be a waste than we probably won't do it again. Disney World has been overcrowded for a long time and there no longer is a good "off season" to go - it's just simply crowded at all times unless you get lucky. If Genie+ makes it easier to see/do most the rides/attractions than it's a great benefit - we'll see.

 

[Marrila]

Neutral, but I dropped an on-site night today. And I may drop another.

 

[vincep]

And don't forget shortly before covid Iger was able to drop 71 friggin BILLION DOLLARS on Fox when they already had Star Wars!
Their cuts and pulling of perks(but you do realize you pay for them? There is no such thing as a free perk.) is inexcusable.
OK I'll give them gross mismanagement. But they still obscenely enrich themselves while giving a poorer experience to their 'guests.'
Iger and Chapeck must think they're Marie Antoinette.

 

[Disney mac]

I think the timing is what has made this infuriating for most. Many people have used looking forward to going to Disney as something to look forward to as something to mentally get through Covid, especially people like myself with children with compromised immune systems. Now, as people are looking forward to the 50th and a trip back to Disney, it feels like a kick in the honeypot. And it feels like it’s time to move on from Disney as it is now acting like that carnival that comes to town. They want us to think of them as a pay for each ride. This cheapens the brand IMO and makes it look like they are chasing Universal. The next time a disney movie tries to teach “fairness” and “equality”, they will come off as the hypocrites they are.