The big G+ rides at HS gone by 1:07!

[mac_tlc]

This is like a perfect case study for an economist! They have a monopoly. They have clearly not got the right balance between price, supply and demand which is all the more difficult when there is no competition. They have pitched the price at just about affordable, especially in the context of a Disney holiday. But that means they have sold too many (presumably to make it profitable enough) and the demand is now too high and people are unhappy even at that price. They need to decide what they are doing here. Strikes me that this should be a very premium product - really elite level. Very expensive. Limit demand. And give everyone a chance in the standby line. Or frankly, just go back to Fast Pass One. That worked really well and still does at Disneyland Paris.

From the current TWDC perspective, it’s an easy solution. G+ pricing will go up. I would bet by the start of the summer season. The question is, will it be a nominal increase to $20, or more like $25 or $30?

mac_tlc

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Depressing thread. I pre-booked G+ for two people, three days for $95. Depressing to read that it's less than magical and yet something I still feel I have to have for any hope of getting the big rides in.
I don't see how Disney thinks they can take something that was free, make us pay for it, and offer less instead of more. My trips are usually a party of six, so three FPs were all we ever got. But they were free and pre-booked, so no hassle to book during the actual vacation, and I rested easy knowing we had our must-do rides in the bag. This next trip will be a party of two, which would mean a lot more FPs under old system, but it sounds like same old three if we're lucky. And I have no idea if we'll get the rides we want
The only thing that might make some sense is if Disney miscalculated what percentage of guests would buy it. Like, given how $$$ expensive tickets are, how many will elect to add another ~12%? Well, turns out half do, which might be twice as many as the current system can tolerate.

 

[Garyjames220]

To be fair, it’s a glitch I’m sure will be fixed. The rest of it still sucks and is unfixable in my opinion.

i wonder how much longer they will take to fix it

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Depressing thread. I pre-booked G+ for two people, three days for $95. Depressing to read that it's less than magical and yet something I still feel I have to have for any hope of getting the big rides in.
I don't see how Disney thinks they can take something that was free, make us pay for it, and offer less instead of more. My trips are usually a party of six, so three FPs were all we ever got. But they were free and pre-booked, so no hassle to book during the actual vacation, and I rested easy knowing we had our must-do rides in the bag. This next trip will be a party of two, which would mean a lot more FPs under old system, but it sounds like same old three if we're lucky. And I have no idea if we'll get the rides we want
The only thing that might make some sense is if Disney miscalculated what percentage of guests would buy it. Like, given how $$$ expensive tickets are, how many will elect to add another ~12%? Well, turns out half do, which might be twice as many as the current system can tolerate.

Depressing thread. I pre-booked G+ for two people, three days for $95. Depressing to read that it's less than magical and yet something I still feel I have to have for any hope of getting the big rides in.
I don't see how Disney thinks they can take something that was free, make us pay for it, and offer less instead of more. My trips are usually a party of six, so three FPs were all we ever got. But they were free and pre-booked, so no hassle to book during the actual vacation, and I rested easy knowing we had our must-do rides in the bag. This next trip will be a party of two, which would mean a lot more FPs under old system, but it sounds like same old three if we're lucky. And I have no idea if we'll get the rides we want
The only thing that might make some sense is if Disney miscalculated what percentage of guests would buy it. Like, given how $$$ expensive tickets are, how many will elect to add another ~12%? Well, turns out half do, which might be twice as many as the current system can tolerate.

I’m sorry
we did have a really good day with it and did like 8 things. But it’s so inconsistent. I think the other thread here to “lower your expectations” hits the nail on the head. I do hope you have a great trip!

 

[Delirium]

When an article states that Genie+ “glues visitors to their phone for the entirety of their day” you know that the author has an agenda because that is simply not true.

How so? I see it as the opposite. Quite frankly, I think the majority who are trying to defend Genie+ and/or pass it off as a good thing, are the ones who have an agenda.

Just my opinion, but we're at the 'putting lipstick on a pig' stage right now.

 

[wisblue]

How so? I see it as the opposite. Quite frankly, I think the majority who are trying to defend Genie+ and/or pass it off as a good thing, are the ones who have an agenda.

Just my opinion, but we're at the 'putting lipstick on a pig' stage right now.

Because it is totally false that you have to have your face glued to your phone all day if you use Genie +.

I see this board as a place for people to get advice on how to get the most out of their Disney visits. I do have an agenda; I want to use my knowledge and experiences visiting WDW to give others tips they might be able to incorporate into their plans. I don’t see that the constant complaining by some on this board expressing their opinions that WDW has become a terrible place to visit helps anyone. It seems like there are other boards, including some on this site, to air out those complaints.

As I’ve said in other threads, if you have your face in your phone all day you are doing something unnecessary or incorrect, or you’re doing something that has nothing to do with Genie+.

 

[mom2rtk]

As I’ve said in other threads, if you have your face in your phone all day you are doing something unnecessary or incorrect, or you’re doing something that has nothing to do with FP+.

Especially since FP+ doesn't exist any more.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

doesn’t sound very good this system at all, what a carry on just to get a time and even once you pick the time it may not even be that time, not very magical

To be fair, it’s a glitch I’m sure will be fixed. The rest of it still sucks and is unfixable in my opinion.

 

[itf]

This is like a perfect case study for an economist! They have a monopoly. They have clearly not got the right balance between price, supply and demand which is all the more difficult when there is no competition. They have pitched the price at just about affordable, especially in the context of a Disney holiday. But that means they have sold too many (presumably to make it profitable enough) and the demand is now too high and people are unhappy even at that price. They need to decide what they are doing here. Strikes me that this should be a very premium product - really elite level. Very expensive. Limit demand. And give everyone a chance in the standby line. Or frankly, just go back to Fast Pass One. That worked really well and still does at Disneyland Paris.

It's also a classic prisoner's dilemma isn't it? Nobody gets G+, everyone has a level playing field. A few people get G+ those people benefit. Everyone gets G+, everyone loses (bar the mouse).

 

[MMSM]

Looked right now. (1130am). All genie LL for headliners are gone for HS. We are going in April for Easter.

 

[Disturbia]

At least for me, and several others that were at guest relations, even after we booked and paid and it showed booked in our MDE app, when we checked it later while walking to the ride, the time had changed to hours later and was now during our Brown Derby reservation. It’s such a complete mess. I’m glad I screenshot the different times because the CM wasn’t believing me at first.

Did you screenshot the booking screen? The initial time shown (as an option) changes but whatever is displayed on the booking screen is what you are booking. If that becomes unavailable then you would get an error message.

 

[Disturbia]

Looked right now. (1130am). All genie LL for headliners are gone for HS. We are going in April for Easter.

This is a consequence of not limiting sales. Now the lines will be really long.

 

[lowlight]

Did you screenshot the booking screen? The initial time shown (as an option) changes but whatever is displayed on the booking screen is what you are booking.

No, the actual screen it shows on- I think it's called "my plans" or "my day". It was a few weeks ago so I don't remember the wording, but it says "booked" with a green check mark and says arrival window (for example) 1130AM-1230PM. It showed the right time for an hour or so, and the next time I looked at it, it had changed. The lady in the line next to me overheard me and we began talking, it happened to several people in line. It happened at different parks on different days, so it wasn't exclusive to any of that. Disney made it right, I give them credit, but it was such a drag.

 

[Disturbia]

No, the actual screen it shows on- I think it's called "my plans" or "my day". It was a few weeks ago so I don't remember the wording, but it says "booked" with a green check mark and says arrival window (for example) 1130AM-1230PM. It showed the right time for an hour or so, and the next time I looked at it, it had changed. The lady in the line next to me overheard me and we began talking, it happened to several people in line. It happened at different parks on different days, so it wasn't exclusive to any of that. Disney made it right, I give them credit, but it was such a drag.

Wow! That would drive me crazy, we usually have ADRs to work around as well.
I’m sure the CMs would not believe it unless many people came up to them with that issue. I’ve had some weird things happen on my phone and I now screenshot everything for proof And take down the name of the CM (or take a photo of them; CMs have asked me to tell them the name of the CM I spoke with, which is ridiculous).

I never experienced this particular issue when we used Genie+ in Nov. We did have one time where ROTR showed 11 am, but we had Oga’s at 11:25 am so it pushed it to 9-10 am on the final booking screen and we just took it (we were doing rider switch and it takes over an hour and half and we had to rush to get ready to get into the parks; Gondola waits are 40 mins at the CB hub (50+ mins from AOA)).

 

[jknc]

Just an interesting reaction… you said “and several others at guest relations”…..

When we were at HS on 2/15. (Posted earlier about crazy wait times), as we were leaving at about 1:45pm, We noticed a long long line at guest services, with several “Disney ropes” guiding the line. I said to my DW, “when you need line control ropes at your guest services location, that is not good”.

mac_tlc

I was at HS twice this week. The lines across the park for customer relations were long. Everyone complaining about G+.

 

[chaoskids]

They need to increase the LL that are available to FP+ levels. Better to wait in a 10-15 LL line that not be able to get one at all.

 

[wisblue]

Especially since FP+ doesn't exist any more.

Typo noted and corrected.

That must be a leftover slip from years ago when posters on this board insisted that FP+ was going to be so unpopular that it would bring down the Disney Company.

In those days, anyone suggesting that FP+ would be more useful for many guests, maybe even a majority of guests, than the previous paper FP system drew allegations of being part of a paid Disney PR Team.

The more things change...

 

[Disturbia]

Because it is totally false that you have to have your face glued to your phone all day if you use Genie +.

I see this board as a place for people to get advice on how to get the most out of their Disney visits. I do have an agenda; I want to use my knowledge and experiences visiting WDW to give others tips they might be able to incorporate into their plans. I don’t see that the constant complaining by some on this board expressing their opinions that WDW has become a terrible place to visit helps anyone. It seems like there are other boards, including some on this site, to air out those complaints.

As I’ve said in other threads, if you have your face in your phone all day you are doing something unnecessary or incorrect, or you’re doing something that has nothing to do with Genie+.

At some point Genie+ becomes unavailable, but you’re still checking wait times. I felt more anxious throughout the day to keep checking things (forgot to set 2 hr timer, which should be an automatic clock displayed on the screen) and 6:45-7:30 am every day is a nightmare on HS days. We knew it was going to be like that so we reduced HS to only one of 7 park days. If kids use your phone for games, the battery drains real fast as well and I had to keep charging it despite taking afternoon breaks.

We forgot to use the AR feature and it’s pretty cool. At Star Wars land baby Yoda pops up in pictures (didn’t learn about that until later) . We all made genie faces And screen shot them. I’ve could never access where those photos got stored otherwise.

 

[wisblue]

At some point Genie+ becomes unavailable, but you’re still checking wait times. I felt more anxious throughout the day to keep checking things (forgot to set 2 hr timer, which should be an automatic clock displayed on the screen) and 6:45-7:30 am every day is a nightmare on HS days. We knew it was going to be like that so we reduced HS to only one of 7 park days. If kids use your phone for games, the battery drains real fast as well and I had to keep charging it despite taking afternoon breaks.

We forgot to use the AR feature and it’s pretty cool. At Star Wars land baby Yoda pops up in pictures (didn’t learn about that until later) . We all made genie faces And screen shot them. I’ve could never access where those photos got stored otherwise.

Using your phone to check wait times is something you would be doing under any system, including standby only. It sure beats having to walk to an attraction or one of the couple of wait time boards in the park to see the posted wait times.

 

[lowlight]

Using your phone to check wait times is something you would be doing under any system, including standby only. It sure beats having to walk to an attraction or one of the couple of wait time boards in the park to see the posted wait times.

I'll give an example. You can make a new selection at 2 hours, or after you tap into the second entry tap in the line. Well, if this 2 hours happens when you're on a ride, or if you do after your 2nd magic band tap in before getting on the ride, you basically have to stop, spend a few minutes finding a new selection, and book it right away. You are holding up people behind you, and with kids, it's a nightmare to hold them still while you find a new ride that fits into your schedule and isn't on the other side of the park...again. There's virtually no wait from the second magic band tap in on the LL rides and the time you get on the ride, so at times, I was trying to book a new ride while on the ride so I didn't hold up the line. Maybe I did it wrong, I'm no expert on G+, and neither will be all the older non-techy people who use it.