Possible update to Genie+

[Smugpugmug]

Epcot and AK are both wonderful parks, but they will never be as attractive to visitors as the MK. Pandora, Remy, etc. certain pull in some people, but what's the first park most people think of when someone mentions Walt Disney World?

Having lower Genie+ prices for Epcot and AK seems like a logical move to me and should indeed increase attendance some.

(I don't know what to make of DHS. Galaxy's Edge is wonderful, but what am I missing that makes it nearly as valuable as the MK?)

I don't disagree with any of that. I go to Epcot more than any other park but I never buy Genie+ there. I just think these parks need way more rides to make Genie+ worth the money. AK has SO much expansion space. Epcot has an abandoned pavilion that they can put an attraction into. The Japan pavilion still has the fully built structure where an attraction was supposed to be (so does Germany).

HS used to be the definition of a half day park before Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge. That park has attractions people are willing to spend money to skip the lines for. Epcot and AK certainly have rides like that but not enough of them.

 

[Jrb1979]

Basically people don't like G+ for one of two reasons. It's not free and it can feel time consuming. Personally I was there with 3 kids, we had to stop frequently anyway so for us it wasn't that bad. I didn't think it was overly priced, we paid 23 I believe in March. We also got to do everything we wanted to do so personally I'm not annoyed with it. I would like for there to be more planning before arrival but other than that it felt fine to me and my family.

Then again we're in a unique situation where we were stopping more often that most people probably.

The price has never bothered me as that's normal across most parks now. In fact I find that it's cheap. Most parks charge more than $100 per person.

 

[starlite_]

I can't speak for others, but outrage isn't what I'm feeling. Disappointment, maybe frustration, are more accurate for me personally. I think it's possible to dislike a change like this without it amounting to "outrage for the sake of outrage."

You're right that Genie+ prices will keep increasing, and also that it makes sense for Epcot and DAS to be priced lower. So in that sense it's a good change (unless you're wanting to do a Epcot/DAK day in which case you'd pay the same rate as you would for a DHS/MK day).

But I think this just points to further price increases in general, which I think many people are tiring of, as well as another complication of the system. Thus the negative feedback.

That's fair I guess. I think I simply view price increases as a fact of life. No use getting worked up about it imo.

 

[DLgal]

Another update to Genie+.

It looks like Disney IT is putting in place measures to cut off third-party access to booking VQs and G+.

Wait, what? This was a thing? Unbelievable.

 

[tjkraz]

Another update to Genie+.

It looks like Disney IT is putting in place measures to cut off third-party access to booking VQs and G+.

Now do dining reservations.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

Another update to Genie+.

It looks like Disney IT is putting in place measures to cut off third-party access to booking VQs and G+.

What does this mean exactly? I am curious because when I go to Disney, my Disney travel agent usually logs onto my MDE to do my VQ and initial LL selections so I can sleep in a bit. What are they changing?

 

[Jrb1979]

What does this mean exactly? I am curious because when I go to Disney, my Disney travel agent usually logs onto my MDE to do my VQ and initial LL selections so I can sleep in a bit. What are they changing?

That's not changing. What they are changing is blocking apps like standby skipper to be used.

 

[tjkraz]

(I don't know what to make of DHS. Galaxy's Edge is wonderful, but what am I missing that makes it nearly as valuable as the MK?)

Not quite sure what descriptor to use but I think it's the sheer number of lower capacity, high demand attractions. RNR, TOT, Falcon, Slinky, Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania...most people want to be able to ride all of those attractions in a single day. And all can see their standby lines swell to 45 minutes or more.

At EP, the list is only Test Track and Remy...maybe Frozen (I'm deducting a few points because it's fairly kid-centric). Other attractions either have modest demand (Mission Space) or such high capacity that lines are rarely long (Nemo, Spaceship Earth, even Soarin.)

At AK, many people's must-dos are limited to the safari and Everest. Navi River is popular, but probably not a Genie seller because it kinda sucks. Actually could say the same for Dinosaur and Kali River.

 

[Mle8308]

Nah. They would get far more people going for it at $5. $20 is enough to make people angry, not willing to pay for more than one ride.

Can you imagine how long it would make some of the standby lines for the more popular rides? Though they could make a limit per hour. They would have to! I say get rid of it all and go back to standby lines only.

 

[Mle8308]

That's not changing. What they are changing is blocking apps like standby skipper to be used.

Isn't that what Standby Skipper does? You give them access to your MDE and they book G+. I could very well be mistaken, I don't know a lot about it. I do remember SS was giving free access in the beginning to test and build a client base. How else does SS book if not by using MDE information? Genuinely curious.

 

[Jrb1979]

Isn't that what Standby Skipper does? You give them access to your MDE and they book G+. I could very well be mistaken, I don't know a lot about it. I do remember SS was giving free access in the beginning to test and build a client base. How else does SS book if not by using MDE information? Genuinely curious.

That's how it did work. Today's update to MDE now blocks them from booking LL. It's Disney's way of not allowing SS to work.

 

[Mle8308]

That's how it did work. Today's update to MDE now blocks them from booking LL. It's Disney's way of not allowing SS to work.

So then would a TA be blocked, too?

 

[Jrb1979]

So then would a TA be blocked, too?

I don't think so as it's not the same. SS was a program that scanned Genie+.

 

[Mle8308]

I don't think so as it's not the same. SS was a program that scanned Genie+.

Thank you! Guess SS is a company that was short lived. Disney always wins!

 

[ElyseInWonderland]

Disney can't find the time/money to fix their HORRIBLE glitchy and slow website from 2003 (OR fix their issues in the app) but when they figure out a way to squeeze even more money out of each individual guest, it's all-hands-on-deck for their IT team.

It's getting harder and harder for me to defend the Disney parks

 

[fatmanatee]

Isn't that what Standby Skipper does? You give them access to your MDE and they book G+. I could very well be mistaken, I don't know a lot about it. I do remember SS was giving free access in the beginning to test and build a client base. How else does SS book if not by using MDE information? Genuinely curious.

I'm not sure what that one is specifically but I've heard of another app/site that would guarantee you an early BG for VQ attractions. Not at all surprised that Disney would cut it off.

 

[crvetter]

So then would a TA be blocked, too?

I don't think so as it's not the same. SS was a program that scanned Genie+.

I think the big difference is a TA isn't blocked because they are logging into the account directly. SS had you join their family and friends which is how they booked it for you. I am assuming they used the API that Disney had exposed on their website to effectively search/refresh/book all via API calls and not the GUI.

A TA is almost certainly not doing that but just booking the same way as you or I. So Disney would have no way to track that. Now if you have them become family and friends of yours and they book with their login it could be problematic.

 

[Mle8308]

I'm not sure what that one is specifically but I've heard of another app/site that would guarantee you an early BG for VQ attractions. Not at all surprised that Disney would cut it off.

Me either, and I don't have a problem with that!

 

[crvetter]

I'm not sure what that one is specifically but I've heard of another app/site that would guarantee you an early BG for VQ attractions. Not at all surprised that Disney would cut it off.

Thank you! Guess SS is a company that was short lived. Disney always wins!

I for one actually think killing this service is a good thing. It is a bit egregious to have a service instantly be booking without going through the GUI to do so. I don't have an issue if they searched and sent an alert to say it was available (similar to the dining) but made you book yourself.

I don't think in this case it has anything to do with Disney greed because killing it or keeping it around didn't cost them money. Though it certainly does seem like bad optics to keep a service around like this.

 

[Mle8308]

I think the big difference is a TA isn't blocked because they are logging into the account directly. SS had you join their family and friends which is how they booked it for you. I am assuming they used the API that Disney had exposed on their website to effectively search/refresh/book all via API calls and not the GUI.

A TA is almost certainly not doing that but just booking the same way as you or I. So Disney would have no way to track that. Now if you have them become family and friends of yours and they book with their login it could be problematic.

Thank you, too! Makes sense. I was not sure how SS got access to MDE (never really looked into it). And I agree it is not a bad move on Disney's part.