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

[roctavia]

I was curious about the Universal Express Pass so I looked it up. On March 1st and 2nd--I chose those dates because I will be at WDW then--the unlimited pass (you can reride attractions at will) is $129.99. I guess that doesn't include tax, but I didn't go further, so I didn't see.

If WDW charged $130 for a front-of-line pass with unlimited rerides (excluding, say, RotR and FoP, which you could use the pass only once for) and limited the number of passes it sold, these would sell out. I would probably buy this for DHS for one day of my trip, but hardly for every day. It costs a heckuva lot more than G+ but the convenience it offers is a heckuva lot more.

Will Disney go to a system like this? Maybe. Maybe G+ is their method of paving the way for something a lot more expensive. Knowing Disney, though, their unlimited express pass will cost 3x what Uni's does and it won't come with a deluxe hotel stay like it does at Uni. Maybe a deluxe club-level stay, assuming a CL room will cost $1,500/night, although I may have underpriced that.

There is no leveling of the playing field if WDW keeps charging for G+ or whatever system it will have. Because as soon as there's an extra cost, the playing field is automatically not level, since there are people--imagine that!--who actually can't afford to add another $15.98/person/day to their trip cost.

There was kind of a level playing field for RotR when it first opened--the mad rush to, in a sense, win the RotR daily lottery. There were innumerable complaints about this, but unless you didn't have a smartphone, which has become a necessity at WDW, the playing field was as level as it could possibly be. Whoever you were, you had the same chance as anyone else of getting or not getting a RotR BG.

Now this has been replaced by the mad rush at 7 am to pay, and if you aren't staying at a WDW resort, the playing field for you is not only not level, you're probably completely out of luck. How this has made anything easier or more appealing for anyone, I do not know.

But I suspect that all the "Disney, you have to raise the price" commentary on the DIS is fueling Disney's plans to raise the price of G+. DISers, please, don't tell Disney they should raise the price on their resorts. Have you looked at rack rate lately? Sheesh. Unbelievable. And few discounts. No bouncebacks. Still no new AP sales. And let's not forget there's all but no housekeeping lately.

I definitely don't think raising the price is going to fix anything, honestly... it will just make people more angry. It might decrease attendance eventually, but there will still be people willing to pay it. I think disney has enough hard core fans/people that even if they had an express pass like option, at $150-$200 it would probably still sell out in seconds and be a mad rush to get it.... and then people would be mad that it sold out in 5 seconds. Charging more isn't a good answer, unless disney really just wants people who have lots of money and not families or middle class America. It's already a stretch for a lot of middle class families to go, without any perks/ up charges.

I hope they can find a few ways to make G+ a little more functional for people/more flexibility to adjust or modify times so it's not fully screwing up daily schedules.

 

[lowlight]

I definitely don't think raising the price is going to fix anything, honestly... it will just make people more angry. It might decrease attendance eventually, but there will still be people willing to pay it. I think disney has enough hard core fans/people that even if they had an express pass like option, at $150-$200 it would probably still sell out in seconds and be a mad rush to get it.... and then people would be mad that it sold out in 5 seconds. Charging more isn't a good answer, unless disney really just wants people who have lots of money and not families or middle class America. It's already a stretch for a lot of middle class families to go, without any perks/ up charges.

I hope they can find a few ways to make G+ a little more functional for people/more flexibility to adjust or modify times so it's not fully screwing up daily schedules.

You are definitely right. There isn't a shortage of people willing to pay, which means they can't price themselves out of the problem, because they will just create secondary problems like you said- either running out of Genie+ if they limit it and charge high amounts, or bogging it down with so many users if they don't limit it and charge high amounts. People are angry either way. I'm definitely not smart enough to figure a way out for them, but I think they've dug themselves a hole (filled with gold) with Genie+ they can't get out of.

 

[jknc]

If you haven’t heard Universal sent out surveys asking what people thought about the Genie service. Kinda funny. Seems they’re looking to build their own, or capitalize on Disneys mistake.

 

[MMSM]

But $50 per person for a family of 4 - $200 a day for 5 days. An extra $1000. Double (either 10 days or $100) it then $2000. Double both etc etc. There will be a point. And I don't think they can go too high with it - that is to say, they can just keep going until demand drops off. Universal don't seem to have this problem.

Universal charges over $100 for just the "Express Pass" during April Break. However, that is for every ride and no limits and pre-selections. They also provide that free when you stay at a Premium Resort. Those resorts are over $700 during peak season. I have never done Universal because I still feel magic with Disney, but I have looked at it several times. I would pay that amount to include my express passes. I stay Deluxe with Disney, so the price is comparable for rooms during this time, and not too many perks. If they up the price for Genie+ then they need to add more. For example, if you charge upwards to $50-100 like previous poster mentioned you best get more than just Genie+ one selection at a time. Unfortunately, we live in a world where companies don't want to admit mistakes. I think Disney knows that this is not the best roll out but will never go back and admit they made errors. The only time I saw them do this was when they brought the Ohana noodles back!

 

[Haagen Dawgs]

But $50 per person for a family of 4 - $200 a day for 5 days. An extra $1000. Double (either 10 days or $100) it then $2000. Double both etc etc. There will be a point. And I don't think they can go too high with it - that is to say, they can just keep going until demand drops off. Universal don't seem to have this problem.

People spend thousands more for an inferior hotel and pool experience than they could/would get offsite. $1,000 is peanuts and something with a real benefit in comparison.

 

[DisneyFive]

People spend thousands more for an inferior hotel and pool experience than they could/would get offsite. $1,000 is peanuts and something with a real benefit in comparison.

$1000 is peanuts? Even at $10,000 like our trip last summer, $1000 extra is not peanuts. It's adding "insult to injury" Keep in mind it's $100+ per person per day. If you wanted to pay for something like Express Pass, and at minimum wanted to just visit each park once, that would be $2000+ for our family of 5. The economics just don't work. The more exclusive you make FP+, G+, or whatever you want to call it at WDW, the more the majority of guests suffer due to being stuck in standby-only lanes.

Dan

 

[DG-12]

Yes agree. The only way Genie+ works is if there is limited demand. Universal charge over $100 don't they? I think Disney will go that way. The people who pay for this product want top value - they will pay big bucks.

Here’s the rub when people are comparing the Universal charge versus the Disney Genie+:
-You can buy an annual pass at Universal for around $500, no blackout dates, no park reservations. If you buy from Universal, you get early entry as well. (Some of the passes also include express after 4:00 pm)
—-For our family of four- we could have passes for $2000, compared to $3600 (DVC price). Which we have to make park reservations for, have limited options for reservations etc….
——Just in pass savings alone we could pay for Express Pass for a week.

-If you pay for Express Pass you just walk on. I don’t have to be on my phone all day. It’s FAR easier
-Universal has two options for express pass. One allows unlimited rides per day and one is single entry to attractions.
-If you pay for a deluxe hotel (we’re booked in June for $600/night) everyone gets Express Pass. Disney Deluxes are often that price and include zero perk
-The AP hotel discounts are far deeper than Disney.
-The parks are immaculate, the cast members have been wonderful, my kids love many, many things about the Universal Parks.


I guess my point is- Disney had a model. They decided to go a different route and make the system convoluted, complicated and frustrating.
The Universal system is awesome and easy to use.

 

[Haagen Dawgs]

$1000 is peanuts? Even at $10,000 like our trip last summer, $1000 extra is not peanuts. It's adding "insult to injury" Keep in mind it's $100+ per person per day. If you wanted to pay for something like Express Pass, and at minimum wanted to just visit each park once, that would be $2000+ for our family of 5. The economics just don't work. The more exclusive you make FP+, G+, or whatever you want to call it at WDW, the more the majority of guests suffer due to being stuck in standby-only lanes.

Dan

Compared to lodging at Disney it is. You commented on my earlier post and saving $6,000 by staying offsite for a superior room and pool makes $1,000 much easier to swallow when I actually save hours not standing in line. If people are willing to pay what amounts to a 100% or more for a “similar” product just for lodging, they likely won’t balk at $1,000 to bypass lines.

After your prior post, I was curious about a value resort vs its contemporary lodgings offsite. In this case, the rooms are interchangeable, but the pools are worse offsite. Still, you would save $2,000 and be able to apply $1,000 of that to skipping lines…again, something with real value.

Moderate and Deluxe resorts, the savings is far more considerable with the same or superior product offsite saving $4,000 to $12,000 a week compared to Disney. People pay this premium in droves so I expect these same people to be willing to pay $1,000…a fraction of that…for something with real value. YMMV.

 

[wisblue]

IMHO comparisons between WDW and Universal are pointless if for no reason other than that Universal can do things that Disney can’t because it doesn’t draw anywhere near the same crowds.

It‘s also a significantly different experience that some people prefer and some don’t.

For a lot of people it isn’t a choice between going to WDW or going to Universal. It’s a choice between going to WDW or going somewhere else with Universal not one of the options.

We enjoy going to Universal for a day now and again, but we wouldn‘t take a trip to Florida with going to Universal as our main destination.

 

[Haagen Dawgs]

IMHO comparisons between WDW and Universal are pointless if for no reason other than that Universal can do things that Disney can’t because it doesn’t draw anywhere near the same crowds.

It‘s also a significantly different experience that some people prefer and some don’t.

For a lot of people it isn’t a choice between going to WDW or going to Universal. It’s a choice between going to WDW or going somewhere else with Universal not one of the options.

We enjoy going to Universal for a day now and again, but we wouldn‘t take a trip to Florida with going to Universal as our main destination.

I’m grabbing the popcorn once the third gate opens at Universal, but I tend to agree with you on the current state of affairs.

 

[DG-12]

I’m grabbing the popcorn once the third gate opens at Universal, but I tend to agree with you on the current state of affairs.

All of this is dependent on the variables in people’s day to day life.
We used to live in Pennsylvania and probably would not have planned a Florida trip around Universal. We had Disney AP’s and basically never left property.
Moved to NC. It’s an easy drive from here and it’s easier to make a long weekend trip to Universal.
We’ve been multiple times to Universal since last June but haven’t gone back to Disney. We’re headed to Disney in June for our trip to burn DVC points. But essentially, the money used to go to Disney now goes someplace else. Would I plan a week at Universal, no. (It’s not like there’s a shortage of other things to do beyond Disney either though, to fill a week)

 

[Haagen Dawgs]

All of this is dependent on the variables in people’s day to day life.
We used to live in Pennsylvania and probably would not have planned a Florida trip around Universal. We had Disney AP’s and basically never left property.
Moved to NC. It’s an easy drive from here and it’s easier to make a long weekend trip to Universal.
We’ve been multiple times to Universal since last June but haven’t gone back to Disney. We’re headed to Disney in June for our trip to burn DVC points. But essentially, the money used to go to Disney now goes someplace else. Would I plan a week at Universal, no. (It’s not like there’s a shortage of other things to do beyond Disney either though, to fill a week)

Same. My wife and I did Universal in 2019 and flew as it was just the two of us. This April, we are driving with the Rugrats for Disney and the oldest and I will spend a day at Universal. The fam spending some days at the Marriott World Resort. The pools and water park there are amazing. You are right, so much to do. Sea World, Discovery Cove and Universal next once the youngest is a bit older.

 

[Westerner]

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?

The original G+ announcement said that $15 was the introductory price so it may go up.

 

[Westerner]

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.

There is no proof that G+ is worth the money, works well, or works as advertised. At this point, the only people arguing it does are people that:

Never bothered to take advantage of what FP+ offered..... or
Work for Disney in some capacity

There have been many lucid observations about G+ made in this thread, some pro, and most con. But I take offense at the above implications from you (italics added) that posters who've anything good to say about G+ are Disney corporate shills. Please stop.

 

[revdon64]

there's more demand than ever and that makes lines grow. you can stand in those lines if you like.

Or for $15 a day per person you can skip a couple or three of the lines and for another $15+$7 you can do ROTR and MMMRR without a line. that's the value proposition, take it or leave it.

What you can't do is ride all the rides without long waits. That is impossible.

And what Disney could have done is raise ticket prices across the board and offered no line shortening system. They didn't do that. they tiered it so it's pay to get more.

Except that there have been documented experiences in this very thread that explain how people have paid to get more and didn't.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I guess this may just be an issue of overcrowding in general. The big ticket attractions they have added, especially in AK and HS, are so advanced, maybe it has really created an overwhelming attendance. It might be Covid. Whilst it would have decreased international tourism, it has surely increased domestic demand and especially amongst Floridians. If trapped, amazing to have a world class tourist destination at your finger tips. But also, I would imagine staff cuts must matter. If you have one fewer member of staff on a small ride, it can in theory double the wait time - if they have to do every task. Safety, load, unload, start the ride. On bigger rides, this can be even bigger. It is hard to know. Do we have attendance figures?

I do feel that the bolded above has been true for the past several years. Disney invested in some jaw dropping tech, and spent fortunes to build new rides and lands; the result is irresistable attractions. Since we started going in 2007, the upgrade in the ride quality has been pretty breathtaking, IMHO. When you can experience something incredibly unique and unprecedented like FOP, it was inevitable that the parks would be mobbed.

Unfortunately, the downside of all this is that we are actually in a competition with our fellow Disney guests. Personally, the main reason I come to these boards is to learn how to "beat the crowds." Planning a Disney vacation increasingly involves strategizing, anticipating, information gathering...like some kind of military campaign. That was true long before G+ and ILL.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Now this has been replaced by the mad rush at 7 am to pay, and if you aren't staying at a WDW resort, the playing field for you is not only not level, you're probably completely out of luck. How this has made anything easier or more appealing for anyone, I do not know.

But I suspect that all the "Disney, you have to raise the price" commentary on the DIS is fueling Disney's plans to raise the price of G+. DISers, please, don't tell Disney they should raise the price on their resorts. Have you looked at rack rate lately? Sheesh. Unbelievable. And few discounts. No bouncebacks. Still no new AP sales. And let's not forget there's all but no housekeeping lately.

In reference to the bolded...you have to stay at a Disney resort to get LL selections?? Someone please explain.

 

[Haagen Dawgs]

In reference to the bolded...you have to stay at a Disney resort to get LL selections?? Someone please explain.

You can book RotR at 7am if on-site…park opening for everyone else. Essentially, you can pay thousands more to pay for an $ILL for RotR or you can save thousands to wait 90 minutes to ride it. The $ILL will be sold out for offsite guests by the time the park opens.

 

[Meglen]

In reference to the bolded...you have to stay at a Disney resort to get LL selections?? Someone please explain.

ILL and Genie + you can book ILL at 7am on site so you are at a great disadvantage for being off-site for say Rise.

 

[susustudios]

The need to get rid of it and just let everyone do standby.

Sounds good to me. Express pass seems to work at Universal, but however Disney's implementing this is obviously not working. I remember everything being standby, apart from a few rides it worked well