Presidents Day week -Genie+ everyday?

[Howl's Owls]

Hi all!
Australian family of four, with 6yo and 11yo boys.

We'll be finishing off a long North America trip in Disneyland, from early afternoon 17/2/25 to late afternoon 21/2/25 (international flight from LAX at 8:35pm).

We'll buy 5 day Parkhopper tickets as it's a once-in-a-lifetime visit, but the day we arrive and leave will only be partial days.
President Day itself is likely to be very crowded, and we'll be tired from an early flight and timezone change (only -2hrs… but the flight's at 7:15am ). I won't be wanting to min/max rides and get the ($120/day!) benefit of genie+ that first day. And we should have been able to ride all the Genie+ rides in the 3 full days, so the value doesn't seem there for the last day either- I imagine we'll just want to redo our favourites that last day.

Would it make sense to just buy Genie+ at the park on the full days?
Is there any real risk of Genie+ selling out for the Tues/ Wed/ Thu?

And what low-effort, high-crowd appropriate activities would be good on that first day? Are they likely to run some parades & evening shows on the 17th as it's a public holiday, even though it's a Monday in winter?

All thoughts appreciated!

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

Just FYI that week is “ski week” or mid-winter break for a lot of Northern California schools (and maybe some other areas) and it is usually busy all week. I can’t advise on whether Genie+ will sell out but I personally would buy it in advance. But I always buy it in advance whenever I visit.

 

[joseph821]

Hi all!
Australian family of four, with 6yo and 11yo boys.

We'll be finishing off a long North America trip in Disneyland, from early afternoon 17/2/25 to late afternoon 21/2/25 (international flight from LAX at 8:35pm).

We'll buy 5 day Parkhopper tickets as it's a once-in-a-lifetime visit, but the day we arrive and leave will only be partial days.
President Day itself is likely to be very crowded, and we'll be tired from an early flight and timezone change (only -2hrs… but the flight's at 7:15am ). I won't be wanting to min/max rides and get the ($120/day!) benefit of genie+ that first day. And we should have been able to ride all the Genie+ rides in the 3 full days, so the value doesn't seem there for the last day either- I imagine we'll just want to redo our favourites that last day.

Would it make sense to just buy Genie+ at the park on the full days?
Is there any real risk of Genie+ selling out for the Tues/ Wed/ Thu?

And what low-effort, high-crowd appropriate activities would be good on that first day? Are they likely to run some parades & evening shows on the 17th as it's a public holiday, even though it's a Monday in winter?

All thoughts appreciated!

Definitely buy the LL/Genie + plus for your each of your 5 day park hoppers - BUY IT When you purchase your tickets ahead of time.
President's Day week is a holiday for some schools across the USA so it will be might be busy at times but not packed. The local LA and OC schools will not be off. There might be Fantasmic at DIsneyland on President's Day, World of Color at DCA for the whole week. Not sure about fireworks.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Yes, that whole week will likely be busy, but I would not buy Genie+ in advance. Since two of your five days are partial days, I would skip Genie+ for those days and buy it each morning upon park entry for the other three days. I don't see spending the extra $240 for your family as necessary when you will already get three days using Genie+. It will not sell out at all probably and certainly not early in the day, and I'm assuming you will plan to hit the parks at least in the morning time on your full days. As for what to do on your partial days, go on the rides that aren't offered on Genie+, meet some characters, do a little shopping and eating, and check out what musical entertainment happens to be available for the day. I'm not sure that fireworks will run on the holiday Monday, but probably the projections show on Main Street, the Castle, and It's a Small World will be shown. World of Color may be shown in DCA if it's not undergoing a refurb.

 

[twodogs]

One thing to consider is a possible price increase for G+ between now and your trip. Disney can and does increase prices without warning, and I would consider this. While I agree that spending the extra money for G+ on your two partial park days is painful, if you add it to your ticket at the time of ticket purchase (you have to buy it for all days of the ticket), you lock in that price. If you wait to buy it each day, you risk that they increase the daily price x 4 people x 3 days…

I do think you will get all that you want done with a 5 day ticket, even with G+ on only the 3 full days. So you may take your chances. Disney has historically done ticket price increase in the fall, so something to think about also, as far as when you buy your tickets.

G+ does sell out on very busy days. We always go in October, when it is OBB and when there is a national holiday with a lot of kids and parents “off” school and work. G+ sells out during this time, often by mid morning. I have not been during President’s day, so I don’t know how the crowds compare, but I am certain it will be very busy, and you will be happy to have G+ for your full days! Lastly, PH are a must here (IMO) since the parks are so close together!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Not saying Genie+ never sells out, but it is rare. It is more likely to occur during October (which may be the busiest time of year for Disney these days) or December but has happened during other times of the year though not February so far I think. From what I have read, Genie+ at Disneyland sell out has occurred fewer than 10 times since it was introduced. If you arrive in the park at opening, there should be no concern at all. Arriving early is also best for maximizing its usage. Even if you arrive at the park a little later in the morning, it is unlikely to have already sold out for the day at that time of year (February).

Genie+ is subject to demand pricing. You are guaranteeing the cheapest per day price by pre-buying with your tickets. But again, if there are other things in the parks that interest you besides what is offered on Genie+, then partial park days are good days to skip the purchase and save a few bucks. You are unlikely to equal the cost of 5 days Genie+ pre-purchased today with 3 days purchased in the parks next February even with demand pricing and the possibility of a price increase between now and the time you visit.

 

[Howl's Owls]

Thank you all! Lots to think about there...
We would be trying to get to the park early morning - maybe not rope drop... but definitely early
Another factor is that the 6yo won't be able to ride everything unless he has a massive growth spurt (and might find some of the others too scary to repeat), while the big kid would be fairly confident riding as a single rider (for second or third times through), as long as he could queue with a parent.
Looks like it's time to crunch some numbers!

Would a reasonable worst case on-the-day price be $40pp? $5 base increase and $5 demand loading?

 

[RunnerMom71]

Are you staying on property? If so the biggest advantage you have is Early Morning / Rope Drop

What you may want to seriously consider is doing a 4 day tix w/ Hopper + Lightning Lane OR a 3 day ticket option ahead of time (buy before Oct 11th when they've been doing price increases the past few years). It's VERY easy to add on additional days to your tickets the night before. You may only want to do 4 days in the park honestly and the very last day you're there chill out, enjoy the hot tub at your pool, leisurely lunch in DTD / last minute shopping etc before you have to leave mid day for LAX for your international flight.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Something to think about, Genie+ includes PhotoPass, if that changes anything for you. You might want to do character meet and greets on days with PhotoPass (The photographers are amazing). If you have days without Genie+, than ride all of the non-Genie+ rides/other things, and save the Genie+ rides for the days you have Genie+.

 

[Howl's Owls]

Thanks for the heads up re historic price rises this month!
I hadn't thought about character photos - my eldest was 3 when we went to Tokyo Disney, and found them magical. Not sure how the 6yo will view them - he's a practical little dude. Good tip!
No disney hotels - the trip's already costing us a fortune. Hopefully worth it though, as we're unlikely to come back to Disneyland California. Tokyo is far easier to visit for Aussies!