The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[bambialways4ever]

The thing I notice on it, when going to buy something, is that it will ask for your password to log in again that first time. Make sure to have that ready or you will lose time and maybe the slot you want.
We didn't use it much this trip, mainly because my wife has DAS, but we did buy ILL$ for FoP and MMRR just to make sure we got them at the time we wanted and intermixed DAS return times so we get things done quickly and she can come back to rest in the afternoon.
I notice that RotR disappears quickly, while FoP is much more available, even after park entry but certainly later in the day. We still have afternoon slots open mid-day.

This is helpful, thanks. We will be utilizing DAS too, and due to the reasons for needing it will need to rest in the afternoon. It's good to know with intermixing you were able to accomplish a lot and do this.

 

[twodogs]

That’s what I thought. I just don’t understand how this is working for ppl when it’s crowded? I’ve tried it on 3 different trips with the strategies. I finally stopped paying for it. I usually can only get like maybe 2-3 rides in before times are way later in the day. So then I am just waiting around for my lightening lane time. Am I missing something? Have ppl had success during busy times?

Do not just look at the time offered in the app or “no longer available”. Refresh for better times. We went the week of Christmas and got many more LLs than that. But were wiling to stop for 5 minutes and all refresh on our phones to get a better time. Almost always got a substantially better time.

 

[LSUmiss]

Do not just look at the time offered in the app or “no longer available”. Refresh for better times. We went the week of Christmas and got many more LLs than that. But were wiling to stop for 5 minutes and all refresh on our phones to get a better time. Almost always got a substantially better time.

I did that during thanksgiving with no luck .

 

[wisblue]

That’s what I thought. I just don’t understand how this is working for ppl when it’s crowded? I’ve tried it on 3 different trips with the strategies. I finally stopped paying for it. I usually can only get like maybe 2-3 rides in before times are way later in the day. So then I am just waiting around for my lightening lane time. Am I missing something? Have ppl had success during busy times?

One way it works is for people who take a midday break and return to the park or park hop later. You can get one or two LL rides in the morning and then start taking times for later.

Or, if you can’t be at the park at opening, like on an arrival day or when participating in Run Disney events, you can stack times for later in the day.

 

[LSUfan4444]

That’s what I thought. I just don’t understand how this is working for ppl when it’s crowded? I’ve tried it on 3 different trips with the strategies. I finally stopped paying for it. I usually can only get like maybe 2-3 rides in before times are way later in the day. So then I am just waiting around for my lightening lane time. Am I missing something? Have ppl had success during busy times?

We have only been using it in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and only on days we decide we can't or won't rope drop. For our last week trip, we bought it three days and probably only used it 2-3 times each day as well but it was never about quantity of attractions for us to dictate it's value, it's about an overall time savings so if I am rope dropping, I don't need it that day. If I am using evening extra hours, I don't need it that day. We've just accepted we won't even do Flight of Passage because I am not willing to rope drop there or risk an over inflated morning standby time. To us, Hollywood Studios has become a half day park on multiple days with each day focusing on a different area. One day is a later arrival GE using ILLs and G+ and another day is a rope drop knocking out ToT and RNR.

 

[Chuck96]

I understand the 2/day limit for ILL$. If I am attending DAK with no hopping, I assume I can't pay for FoP twice with EE undergoing renovation. So I just eat the other opportunity. I'm okay if that is the answer, but my kid loves FoP. If I can throw him on it twice, I'd consider it.

 

[Thomasboys]

When staying on-site and the 7a window opens up to book LL and the ILL, which one do you want to do first? For example, at Hollywood Studios does it make the most sense to get your ILL first and then your lighting lane selection? Or one person in your party to work on one and the other to work on the other one? Do I need to train my husband??? He's a good sport about learning Disney strategy for our trips. Last year when we had to get ROTR virtual queue he took instruction well...hahahaha!

 

[Orsino]

It depends if you want Slinky or not. If not, then there is less worry, but if you are:
Conventional wisdom is to do both at the same time.
If not able to do that, then do Slinky first, followed by ILL.

 

[Thomasboys]

One more LL question -- any good insight as far as order to go for things in each park? Specifically AK, MK, and Epcot? Does the order for which LL to snag typically follow most ride strategy?

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I understand the 2/day limit for ILL$. If I am attending DAK with no hopping, I assume I can't pay for FoP twice with EE undergoing renovation. So I just eat the other opportunity. I'm okay if that is the answer, but my kid loves FoP. If I can throw him on it twice, I'd consider it.

No, I don’t think you can pay for the same attraction twice.

 

[KTwiegs]

One more LL question -- any good insight as far as order to go for things in each park? Specifically AK, MK, and Epcot? Does the order for which LL to snag typically follow most ride strategy?

we are going in two weeks and trying to learn as much about genie+ as we can too, I will say the all ears channel on youtube has the BEST videos about genie+ i have learn so much from them and feel a lot more confident about using it now.

 

[GBRforWDW]

One more LL question -- any good insight as far as order to go for things in each park? Specifically AK, MK, and Epcot? Does the order for which LL to snag typically follow most ride strategy?

I did try to buy myself a later time after I bought the ILL$ for FoP and it would not let me select myself since I already had a time. I could have selected someone else in the party and used their magic band I guess.

 

[ckelly14]

Some help would be appreciated:

Heading to WDW in April. Only 4 days for the parks and I have 2 park reservations for HS as my son is a big Star Wars guy.

Perhaps I should pick one day to hop to HS instead and plan a late night there give the "stackability"?

 

[Brian4891]

Just an FYI. I’m here this week and for the most part have had a good experience with all the genie plus stuff. For the rides that move quickly at the 7am opening, it is pretty tough to nail down the time that you want. The time you initially click on is not necessarily the time you are going to end up with. This was especially the case for me on RIse of the Resistance.

For the Paid LL, after you first select the time you want, there are a few more pages to click through. There’s a select your party page, credit card card payment page, and I think one other. This process takes about 10 seconds if you’re quick. During that time, things change. I had originally clicked on a 2pm Rise of the Resistance. By the time I was all done, the time I had been assigned was 6:30. This was fine and I adjusted our schedule to make it work, but just throwing it out there so people can be prepared that there is not much certainty when it comes to the hot attractions.

For the regular genie plus attractions that you do not pay extra for it’s a bit simpler. Since there is no credit card (you already paid for genie plus) there is only one page to click through after selecting your time. For Slinky Dog this morning I clicked on a 7pm time and got assigned a 7:30-8:30 time slot.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Anyone have tips for managing G+ with a large (4 families/18 people total) party? Normally I would manage all the plans for everyone, but I understand I can only have 12 people in my party for G+. So just wondering if anyone has experience with splitting into 2 groups and trying to coordinate? I'm thinking it will be pretty difficult and possibly not worth the effort. Thoughts?

ETA: This would be for a day at DHS in March (spring break time)

 

[wisblue]

Some help would be appreciated:

Heading to WDW in April. Only 4 days for the parks and I have 2 park reservations for HS as my son is a big Star Wars guy.

Perhaps I should pick one day to hop to HS instead and plan a late night there give the "stackability"?

There‘s something to be said for that approach.

With 4 full park days we like to visit each park at least once. Now with park reservations we make a reservation in each park and use early entry, park hopping, Genie+, and IALL to do all of our favorite things (and more). We also usually have a break outside the parks in between our first and second park.

For a trip we have planned in late March, our rough plan is:

Day 1- MK, hop to Epcot (Harmonious)
Day 2- DHS- early and late, probably with midday break.
Day 3- DAK, hop to MK (Fireworks)
Day 4- Epcot (lunch at Via Napoli, our favorite), second park will be decided day of based on what we feel like.

Generally I’ll get one, or maybe 2 Genie+ LL at the first park and then start making them for late afternoon and early evening at the second park. Because there are more of our favorite attractions at MK and DHS than at Epcot and DAK, most of our LL reservations will be at those two parks. We’ll also probably use IALL for ROTR, FOP, and Remy to avoid early rushes and long lines for those.

 

[Donna M]

Are we locked into a time if we buy ROTR and they move the time out from when we initial grab it? We are only doing a half day at HS so can´t be stuck with a late afternoon slot if I thought I was choosing an early one. I know you can´t cancel, but what if they don´t give you what you initially asked for?

What would be the best strategy for SSD, ROTH, and Smugglers Run along with whatever else we can get into the morning using rope drop?

 

[wisblue]

In my experience, the time for ROTR doesn’t change after you buy it. The time you are able to buy may change from what you select, but if you elect to purchase that is the time you get.

For example, on the Tip Board the time shown will presumably be the earliest return time available at that time. If you click on that time, you will be offered the chance to choose a return time. By then the earliest available return time might be later than what you clicked on. Then when you select a time to purchase, and proceed from there, the time offered might be later than what you chose. But, if you then click to purchase the time offered, and proceed to payment, you should get that time.

The important thing is to always check what time is being offered and not to assume that you will get what you first clicked on.

If you pay and the time you get isn’t something you can use, I would go to one of the Guest Experience Team umbrellas and see if they can help you get a different time or five you a refund.

 

[wisblue]

What would be the best strategy for SSD, ROTH, and Smugglers Run along with whatever else we can get into the morning using rope drop?

The best strategy depends on things like (1) if you are staying onsite and are willing and able to get to early entry on or shortly after 7:30 (for a 9 AM opening), (2) whether you are willing to wait in a crush of people to be one of the first to one of the most popular attractions, (3) which attractions are your highest priorities, (4) how much of the day you intend to spend in the park, and (5) your tolerance for standing in a longer (over 30 minutes) standby line or two.

I’m not trying to make this more complicated than it has to be, but the best strategy isn’t the same for everyone. We have approaches that work well for us, but some people have completely different styles and priorities.

At DHS our approach is:

(1) At 7 AM get a LL for SDD for the earliest time possible and an IALL for ROTR for about 10:30. It might take at least two people trying to get both of those. ROTR is my first priority because I want an earlier time to provide a cushion for the frequent breakdowns. If I can’t get a good time for Slinky I would default to MFSR, the second most popular G+ attraction at DHS.

(2) We get to the park close to 7:30 and go to Sunset Boulevard to queue up for TOT. The number of people that go that way is a tiny fraction of the early entrants, so the wait there is much less crowded. Some members of our group will go to Starbucks while I get a spot in line and they join me after they get their drinks.

(3) Once they open the attractions we are usually on the first elevator on TOT. When we get off there we go directly to RNRC (if it’s running) and do that quickly. Getting through both TOT and RNRC usually takes about 20 minutes.

(4) After exiting RNRC we go back up Sunset Blvd. If we don’t plan to get an IALL for MMRR we check the line there to see if we want to wait. After that we would focus on SDD, MFSR, and TSMM, depending on what our first LL return time is.

With early entry and LL it should be possible to do all of the major ride attractions with maybe 1 wait of over 30 minutes.

Maybe some parts of this approach will work for you, but it could be adapted to use EE for SDD or one of the GE attractions and LL for RNRC and TOT. I just like avoiding the big crowds as much as possible before the park opens and Sunset Boulevard is the best for that.

 

[Thomasboys]

Can you use Genie+ to do the same ride more than once throughout the day? Or do you only get each attraction once? For example, if you were to get a LL for TSM from 11-12p and then later in the day when you can get another LL, can you get another TSM for 4-6 (for example)?