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

[hlrubin507]

In spite of the changes we still loved our time at Disney 2 weeks ago.! I'm happy to pay for the vacation we had and did not regret spending the money.

Like you, I'm more choosy about extra cash grabs so I cancelled our PH's (they're a nice to have but honestly did not miss them even once) and used that money to purchase G+ 3 days. In the end I came out ahead money wise and we had an amazing trip!

Sorry, what is a PH?

 

[MainMom]

Sorry, what is a PH?

Park Hopper

 

[ElsasFan]

I’m not an expert in this, but hoping someone here has experience with G+ and rider switch/child swap? I find it helpful to Google articles or blogs with the basics, and then come here for a deeper dive. Maybe post your question in the “all things genie plus” sticky and see what comes up? Good luck!

Good idea about posting in the "all things genie plus" sticky. I don't think rider swap would be applicable, because the kids are way big enough to ride the rides or sit out by themselves (11 and 13)--they just don't like them. With FP+, it was fairly simple to not "waste" a FP+ on them by booking them on something they would enjoy. Re-rides for those who do like the faster rides is an option, but not much fun for the people who are always sitting out.

 

[ElsasFan]

In theory, I think it can be done. At least in the morning in Magic Kingdom. I've actually been thinking about doing this with Space Mountain and something like Speedway for my upcoming trip. Here's what I would do.

Start by booking the more popular ride, Space Mountain for the three older people. I'd refresh or wait a few minutes if you can't get the morning time slot you're looking for. Let's say you get 10:45 a.m.

Then start looking start looking for Buzz Lightyear for the other two. If it's not late enough, either wait a while or refresh. Eventually you'll end up with a time slot that at least overlaps your 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Space Mountain. When you do, book it.

Maybe it's not just Buzz Lightyear you look for for the younger two. Maybe you're also checking on Tomorrowland Speedway and Pooh as well. That would just increase your chances of lining everything up.

After that first ride everybody is on the same schedule again and booking lightning lanes together. In my mind it would work out great. Not sure if that does a whole lot for you.

Actually, if you were park hopping this might be pretty easy to pull off by booking in the second park at 7 a.m. You can't book before 2 p.m. in the second park, meaning you have a decent chance at getting a 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. time slot for the more popular ride and you'll get it for sure for the less popular ride.

That does make sense, perhaps it would work. Since we haven't been with the new system, I don't have a comfort level for what other options would be available. I guess I feel like everything is going to be gone right away! I'll start looking at the availability in the mornings and see if it looks likely that it would work out. Thank you, this is helpful.

 

[pixiedust2u]

I wish for like 1 month

Good idea about posting in the "all things genie plus" sticky. I don't think rider swap would be applicable, because the kids are way big enough to ride the rides or sit out by themselves (11 and 13)--they just don't like them. With FP+, it was fairly simple to not "waste" a FP+ on them by booking them on something they would enjoy. Re-rides for those who do like the faster rides is an option, but not much fun for the people who are always sitting out.

just add this scenario to yet another that genie+ doesn’t accommodate. Travelers that include different age demographics or ride preferences are out of luck I guess. Trying to coordinate LL, then of course the mess of everyone’s 2 hour window being at different times sound like a nightmare

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Good idea about posting in the "all things genie plus" sticky. I don't think rider swap would be applicable, because the kids are way big enough to ride the rides or sit out by themselves (11 and 13)--they just don't like them. With FP+, it was fairly simple to not "waste" a FP+ on them by booking them on something they would enjoy. Re-rides for those who do like the faster rides is an option, but not much fun for the people who are always sitting out.

Oh right! I wasn’t thinking about that (their ages). You are so right, that kinda stinks. I’d recommend to email guest services- the more they hear, I hope the more they modify the product. Good luck with your planning!

 

[Westerner]

I wish for like 1 month

just add this scenario to yet another that genie+ doesn’t accommodate. Travelers that include different age demographics or ride preferences are out of luck I guess. Trying to coordinate LL, then of course the mess of everyone’s 2 hour window being at different times sound like a nightmare

I think the big issue is trying to coordinate return windows for different rides/people in your party. With the unpredictability of return times I don't know where to start.

Coordinating next booking time I can see a way: everybody books at same time, then wait 2 hours and do it again, i.e. utilizing the stacking strategy rather than tap & go.

 

[Disturbia]

With different age groups we mix up the rides and prioritize a few big kid rides (ROTR, SDD, RnRC rider switch) and one younger kids ride (MMRR) and standby another toddler ride (TSMM) so its a decent mix and our 2 year old can get out of the stroller and go to shows in-between. If our teen still wants to ride say TOT than one of us waits with her at the end of the day. Star tours is a priority over MFSR because our 5 year old doesn't like MFSR, but loves Dinosaur.

We don't rope drop, but you can probably do the same thing and move TOT to the am.

 

[Figvention]

Word.

To your mother… bad 80s flashback

 

[Figvention]

There have been a bunch of threads on that. Reduced entertainment options is probably a factor. IMO a big one.

No one really knows the answer. But other factors could be:

• Lower bandwidth for everything - rides, shops, dining - due to Disney (and everyone else) having a hard time hiring staff
• Staff that have been hired are not as well trained as in the old days
• An imperfect system with Genie+ that was rolled out too early or maybe even fundamentally flawed at its core
• More guests coming to the parks
• Disney' park reservation system being flawed in how many people that are allowing in

The big question is how many of these things are fixable and how many are not?

Answer is zero because people keep ringing the register. It’s generational, once they push all us old people away (who knew of the good days) the machine will be filtered out of the system.

The scientific term is nominalization by exposure, much more effective than people give it credit for!

 

[HydroGuy]

Answer is zero because people keep ringing the register. It’s generational, once they push all us old people away (who knew of the good days) the machine will be filtered out of the system.

The scientific term is nominalization by exposure, much more effective than people give it credit for!

Zero are fixable?

No ability to hire more people to increase bandwidth of services and thus decrease wait times?

No ability for CMs to gain more experience and start building the tribal knowledge they had before COVID?

No ability to fix any of the problems with Genie+?

Hmmm. I would say those can be fixed.

 

[Disturbia]

Zero are fixable?

No ability to hire more people to increase bandwidth of services and thus decrease wait times?

No ability for CMs to gain more experience and start building the tribal knowledge they had before COVID?

No ability to fix any of the problems with Genie+?

Hmmm. I would say those can be fixed.

I think he means its fixable but why would Disney spend any money knowing there are suckers like us willing to keep paying for it.

ps. I was looking at a Disney store t shirt that read 'you've never met a friend like me'. Would that count as offensive language now?

 

[Westerner]

I think he means its fixable but why would Disney spend any money knowing there are suckers like us willing to keep paying for it.

You've got a point. But I think the $ILL times shifting after payment is something Disney should fix pronto, it could blow up on them. Imagine a family that traveled a long way to WDW, saved all year, booked Oga's 6 months in advance for dinner 6pm, kid has his heart set on it, big Star Wars fans, they are staying at Poly, then they try to book RotR at 7am and time shifts to 6pm after payment, they go to blue umbrella, somebody cops an attitude, things get testy and CM's manager tells them tough luck. They cry to a reporter who has an axe to grind against Disney - they exist. Reporter sniffs around and finds more stories like theirs. Not a good look for Disney.

 

[Disturbia]

They cry to a reporter who has an axe to grind against Disney - they exist. Reporter sniffs around and finds more stories like theirs. Not a good look for Disney.

Well said. Fortunately for us kids are Nintendo fans, so the future is still bright.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think he means its fixable but why would Disney spend any money knowing there are suckers like us willing to keep paying for it.

ps. I was looking at a Disney store t shirt that read 'you've never met a friend like me'. Would that count as offensive language now?

You've got a point. But I think the $ILL times shifting after payment is something Disney should fix pronto, it could blow up on them. Imagine a family that traveled a long way to WDW, saved all year, booked Oga's 6 months in advance for dinner 6pm, kid has his heart set on it, big Star Wars fans, they are staying at Poly, then they try to book RotR at 7am and time shifts to 6pm after payment, they go to blue umbrella, things get testy and CM's manager tells them tough luck. They cry to a reporter who has an axe to grind against Disney - they exist. Reporter sniffs around and finds more stories like theirs. Not a good look for Disney.

Yes, that is part of what I mean. Even if you take the stance that Disney does not care as long as people are showing up - which I doubt - Disney is incurring out-of-pocket costs with trying to fix, after the fact, all the problems created by their system. They have to staff people who are dealing with angry customers - live at the parks and on the phone. Dealing with lots of angry customers increases turnover. Those have costs for Disney. Not to speak of the negative publicity and damage to their brand.

If the management has buried their head in the sand - which has happened before at Disney before Iger - then you may be right they have no plans to fix anything. However, I suspect that they are trying hard to fix these things.

 

[Disturbia]

Hopefully they fix things. I really feel they should allow the 3 tier pre booking 2 Genie+ and 1 LLIA 10 days in advance (and a choice of same day) at say 10 pm (vs 7 am booking)

 

[Westerner]

Yes, that is part of what I mean. Even if you take the stance that Disney does not care as long as people are showing up - which I doubt - Disney is incurring out-of-pocket costs with trying to fix, after the fact, all the problems created by their system. They have to staff people who are dealing with angry customers - live at the parks and on the phone. Dealing with lots of angry customers increases turnover. Those have costs for Disney. Not to speak of the negative publicity and damage to their brand.

If the management has buried their head in the sand - which has happened before at Disney before Iger - then you may be right they have no plans to fix anything. However, I suspect that they are trying hard to fix these things.

Disney has smart tech and analytics people working for them who are no doubt aware of the G+/$ILL issues and ways to fix them. Whether executives are listening or prioritizing them is an open question.

 

[Disturbia]

AK is back to 7:30 pm (change from 8:30); just 3/31 (apparently there is an event (springtime surprise run) for which they need the parking lot for).

 

[Captain Morgan Sparrow]

Today SDD was gone before the clock struck 6:01.

I hope its spring break crowds, but this is just as competative as ROTR during the VQ lotto!

 

[jbish]

Today SDD was gone before the clock struck 6:01.

I hope its spring break crowds, but this is just as competative as ROTR during the VQ lotto!

Unfortunately this is pretty common, but especially this week as Spring Break is in full force. According to Thrill Data, SDD did pop up again at 7:10, but hasn't since (as of 8:20 am). So for anyone looking, definitely try refreshing around 7:10 and again around 7:20. There are sometimes a few that pop up.