The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[dmunsil]

dmunsil has already said he did the cancel thing a few weeks ago.

Yes - I have an AP and a willingness to throw $15 at Disney. I might go ahead and do it again just to confirm, but at this point I have literally no reason to think it's changed since I tested it. I tested it several weeks after the change that removed the best stacking tricks, FWIW.

Edit: Disney changed the rules at some point in the last few weeks. Cancelling any reservation other than the one you most recently booked does nothing.

 

[ComeToSocialize]

My fear is i am not going to get a great SDD LL time and be able to get a good Rise time.

There's no perfect solution to this, and it depends on how "important" each ride is to you. But, in my opinion, if your main goal is to maximize odds of getting on SDD, ROTR, ToT and RnRC before 230pm:

Buy ROTR at 7am, book RNRC through G+ for something like 10am, Rope drop SDD, and then standby ToT. With that plan, you don't even have to be that lucky on the app or have a 2nd person, and you should be able to get SDD done by 10am, ride RNRC through G+, do ROTR whenever your time slot was, and have plenty of time to standby ToT.

Trying for SDD G+ and then ROTR ILL at 7am is the "higher risk, higher reward" solution but you might theoretically end up with time slots after 230pm with that gameplan if your app crashes or something. Buying ROTR is the key, as long as you get that before 2pm you can easily standby the other 3 in 6 hours if you're prepared to get there at 830.

 

[NJlauren]

There's no perfect solution to this, and it depends on how "important" each ride is to you. But, in my opinion, if your main goal is to maximize odds of getting on SDD, ROTR, ToT and RnRC before 230pm:

Buy ROTR at 7am, book RNRC through G+ for something like 10am, Rope drop SDD, and then standby ToT. With that plan, you don't even have to be that lucky on the app or have a 2nd person, and you should be able to get SDD done by 10am, ride RNRC through G+, do ROTR whenever your time slot was, and have plenty of time to standby ToT.

Trying for SDD G+ and then ROTR ILL at 7am is the "higher risk, higher reward" solution but you might theoretically end up with time slots after 230pm with that gameplan if your app crashes or something. Buying ROTR is the key, as long as you get that before 2pm you can easily standby the other 3 in 6 hours if you're prepared to get there at 830.

thanks! I going to ask my daughter which is more important to her ROTR or SDD and which ever she picks I’ll go for at 7, and either stand by or skip the other!

thanks for all the help!

 

[AndreaDM]

Going in 10 days for first trip with Genie+. Taking 2 kids, almost 3 and 5 for their first trip so touring differently than I normally would. I am buying Genie+ only for one day at MK and am confused as to the best strategy for maximizing rides with minimal waits. We won't be park hopping but will be at MK all day, staying onsite and utilizing early entry. What should be our plan of attack? Book rides for later in the day, or start using Genie+ right off the bat. Should we go straight to Peter Pan and book something else? We also want to make sure to get Jungle Cruise but I see those return times are later in the day. I am also trying to minimize park criss-crossing. Ahhhh this is stressing me out!

 

[GBRforWDW]

Going in 10 days for first trip with Genie+. Taking 2 kids, almost 3 and 5 for their first trip so touring differently than I normally would. I am buying Genie+ only for one day at MK and am confused as to the best strategy for maximizing rides with minimal waits. We won't be park hopping but will be at MK all day, staying onsite and utilizing early entry. What should be our plan of attack? Book rides for later in the day, or start using Genie+ right off the bat. Should we go straight to Peter Pan and book something else? We also want to make sure to get Jungle Cruise but I see those return times are later in the day. I am also trying to minimize park criss-crossing. Ahhhh this is stressing me out!

If you are doing ETPE, then yeah, I would go straight to Peter Pan. For Genie+, if you're on and ready right at 7, you should get a morning time for Jungle Cruise. It takes some refreshing and waiting a few minutes before you see afternoon times.

Unfortunately, it's hard to get rides in order around the park and within the time frame you're there unless you plan your rides for afternoon, but even then nothing is guaranteed since you have to take the time offered or wait for a time that works, but that ends up messing with the cool down time.

 

[AndreaDM]

If you are doing ETPE, then yeah, I would go straight to Peter Pan. For Genie+, if you're on and ready right at 7, you should get a morning time for Jungle Cruise. It takes some refreshing and waiting a few minutes before you see afternoon times.

Unfortunately, it's hard to get rides in order around the park and within the time frame you're there unless you plan your rides for afternoon, but even then nothing is guaranteed since you have to take the time offered or wait for a time that works, but that ends up messing with the cool down time.

Thanks! But should I get an afternoon JC time and then try to get more before that time, one every 2 hours? Is that possible? Booking one way out and then booking other, easier to get ones for earlier in the day?

 

[Brian4891]

Going in 10 days for first trip with Genie+. Taking 2 kids, almost 3 and 5 for their first trip so touring differently than I normally would. I am buying Genie+ only for one day at MK and am confused as to the best strategy for maximizing rides with minimal waits. We won't be park hopping but will be at MK all day, staying onsite and utilizing early entry. What should be our plan of attack? Book rides for later in the day, or start using Genie+ right off the bat. Should we go straight to Peter Pan and book something else? We also want to make sure to get Jungle Cruise but I see those return times are later in the day. I am also trying to minimize park criss-crossing. Ahhhh this is stressing me out!

I was in Magic Kingdom last week and used Genie+ there twice. I do not find the stacking strategy to be as useful at that park as it is in Hollywood Studios. I used the "Use and get a new one" strategy and had a lot of success with it.

On our first day there I got Jungle Cruise at 7am for a 9:30am - 10:30am window. We got to the park at 9am and went on Pirates (had planned on heading straight to Thunder Mountain but it was down) with no wait as soon as they opened Frontier Land. Then we went on the Magic Carpets quickly just to kill 5 more minutes before our Jungle Cruise window opened.

As soon as we tapped into Jungle Cruise, we got another LL for Haunted Mansion for 10:30 - 11:30. While we waited for that window to open we went on Small World which only had a 15 minute wait.

After tapping into Haunted Mansion, we got another one for Winnie the Pooh good for 12:30 - 1:30. Ate lunch while we waited for that window to open.

We followed this process all day long, basically using our LL's on things with more than 30 minute waits and filling in the rest of the time with things with minimal waits.

Almost all of the Hollywood Studios attractions LL return times move several hours into the future making it a good park for stacking. This is not the case at Magic Kingdom where the return times stay fairly close to the booking time. Magic Kingdom also has a lot of attractions with low waits that you can fill the time with while you are waiting for your lightning lane. Also not the case at Hollywood Studios where most of the attractions have long standby waits.

 

[mickey916]

I was in Magic Kingdom last week and used Genie+ there twice. I do not find the stacking strategy to be as useful at that park as it is in Hollywood Studios. I used the "Use and get a new one" strategy and had a lot of success with it.

On our first day there I got Jungle Cruise at 7am for a 9:30am - 10:30am window. We got to the park at 9am and went on Pirates (had planned on heading straight to Thunder Mountain but it was down) with no wait as soon as they opened Frontier Land. Then we went on the Magic Carpets quickly just to kill 5 more minutes before our Jungle Cruise window opened.

As soon as we tapped into Jungle Cruise, we got another LL for Haunted Mansion for 10:30 - 11:30. While we waited for that window to open we went on Small World which only had a 15 minute wait.

After tapping into Haunted Mansion, we got another one for Winnie the Pooh good for 12:30 - 1:30. Ate lunch while we waited for that window to open.

We followed this process all day long, basically using our LL's on things with more than 30 minute waits and filling in the rest of the time with things with minimal waits.

Almost all of the Hollywood Studios attractions LL return times move several hours into the future making it a good park for stacking. This is not the case at Magic Kingdom where the return times stay fairly close to the booking time. Magic Kingdom also has a lot of attractions with low waits that you can fill the time with while you are waiting for your lightning lane. Also not the case at Hollywood Studios where most of the attractions have long standby waits.

very helpful post!

 

[wisblue]

I was in Magic Kingdom last week and used Genie+ there twice. I do not find the stacking strategy to be as useful at that park as it is in Hollywood Studios. I used the "Use and get a new one" strategy and had a lot of success with it.

On our first day there I got Jungle Cruise at 7am for a 9:30am - 10:30am window. We got to the park at 9am and went on Pirates (had planned on heading straight to Thunder Mountain but it was down) with no wait as soon as they opened Frontier Land. Then we went on the Magic Carpets quickly just to kill 5 more minutes before our Jungle Cruise window opened.

As soon as we tapped into Jungle Cruise, we got another LL for Haunted Mansion for 10:30 - 11:30. While we waited for that window to open we went on Small World which only had a 15 minute wait.

After tapping into Haunted Mansion, we got another one for Winnie the Pooh good for 12:30 - 1:30. Ate lunch while we waited for that window to open.

We followed this process all day long, basically using our LL's on things with more than 30 minute waits and filling in the rest of the time with things with minimal waits.

Almost all of the Hollywood Studios attractions LL return times move several hours into the future making it a good park for stacking. This is not the case at Magic Kingdom where the return times stay fairly close to the booking time. Magic Kingdom also has a lot of attractions with low waits that you can fill the time with while you are waiting for your lightning lane. Also not the case at Hollywood Studios where most of the attractions have long standby waits.

I think stacking at MK is used most effectively by people who take midday breaks or are hopping to MK from another park, especially from DAK or Epcot where G+ is less useful.

 

[NJlauren]

I think this has probably be answered but I can’t seem to find it.

If I have a 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 LL booked and I booked them at 9 and 11 and 1, can I book a 4th LL at 3? My next 2 hours window?
does this make sense?
If I booked my 2-3 at 1 can I book a 4th LL when I tap into this LL?

 

[DisneyFive]

Thanks! But should I get an afternoon JC time and then try to get more before that time, one every 2 hours? Is that possible? Booking one way out and then booking other, easier to get ones for earlier in the day?

This is specific to MK, since it has so many attractions... Personally, I plan to book G+ as early as possible and keep getting new G+ options throughout the day.

At 7am, if you were to book a G+ for later in the day, you are giving up a LOT of prime time to be snagging G+'s for lots of attractions.

Dan

 

[wisblue]

thanks! I going to ask my daughter which is more important to her ROTR or SDD and which ever she picks I’ll go for at 7, and either stand by or skip the other!

thanks for all the help!

See the thread I started yesterday about getting LL for both SDD and ROTR.

You might be able to benefit from the “7:10“ pattern by making the ROTR reservation first and then trying for a SDD LL a few minutes later as more times appear.

If you can’t get an acceptable time for SDD that way you can go to a backup.

 

[Brian4891]

I think this has probably be answered but I can’t seem to find it.

If I have a 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 LL booked and I booked them at 9 and 11 and 1, can I book a 4th LL at 3? My next 2 hours window?
does this make sense?
If I booked my 2-3 at 1 can I book a 4th LL when I tap into this LL?

Yes you have it right. You can book your 4th LL at 3 since it has been 2 hours since you last booked one.

Yes to your other question as well. As soon as you tap into the the last one you booked, regardless of where it falls in your schedule for the day, you can make a new one.

 

[NJlauren]

Yes you have it right. You can book your 4th LL at 3 since it has been 2 hours since you last booked one.

Yes to your other question as well. As soon as you tap into the the last one you booked, regardless of where it falls in your schedule for the day, you can make a new one.

perfect!!! Thank you

 

[LarryBoy]

My wife will be at MK Saturday and are planning to use G+ for that day. I would say that our top must do attractions that are on LL are JC, BTMRR, HM, and PotC. We will probably just try to book a LL as early as possible at 7AM and then get another when we tap in and so on. That being said which one would you try to grab first? I'm thinking Jungle Cruise because the stand by tends to be long all day and the LLs fill up quicker. Also is it correct that I can only have more than on LL if I wait two hours past an existing LL? So if I tap in, have an LL, before the two hours I can just book one?

 

[NJlauren]

See the thread I started yesterday about getting LL for both SDD and ROTR.

You might be able to benefit from the “7:10“ pattern by making the ROTR reservation first and then trying for a SDD LL a few minutes later as more times appear.

If you can’t get an acceptable time for SDD that way you can go to a backup.

Totally check this out! Thank you!!

 

[DisneyFive]

Yes you have it right. You can book your 4th LL at 3 since it has been 2 hours since you last booked one.

Yes to your other question as well. As soon as you tap into the the last one you booked, regardless of where it falls in your schedule for the day, you can make a new one.

Just so I'm clear, to your second point, is this what you are saying? (I edited your response a little)...

"Yes to your other question as well. As soon as you tap into the most recently booked LL, regardless of where it falls in your schedule for the day, you can make a new one."


Also, in NJlauren's case...

Let's say it's 1:30pm. When she taps into either the 2-3 or 3-4 LL's, it won't allow another LL to be booked right? That would happen with the 4-5LL, or 2 hour window, whichever comes first?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Brian4891]

Just so I'm clear, to your second point, is this what you are saying? (I edited your response a little)...

"Yes to your other question as well. As soon as you tap into the most recently booked LL, regardless of where it falls in your schedule for the day, you can make a new one."


Also, in NJlauren's case...

Let's say it's 1:30pm. When she taps into either the 2-3 or 3-4 LL's, it won't allow another LL to be booked right? That would happen with the 4-5LL, or 2 hour window, whichever comes first?

Thanks,
Dan

Correct. Her most recently booked LL prevents her from making another LL. In order to make a new one she either has to tap into that most recently booked LL or wait the 120 minutes.

In NJLauren's scenario, she said she booked the 2-3 window at 1pm. Therefore the 3-4 and 4-5 windows were booked prior to that. At 1:30pm, it has been greater than than 120 minutes since she booked the 3-4 and 4-5 windows so those bookings are now completely irrelevant. Now at 2pm when she taps into the LL that she created at 1pm, she is free to make a new LL. All of her restrictions have been cleared at that point.

 

[snikki]

For arrival day at MK does this make the most sense:

7 am - book JC for an afternoon time. I’ll have to refresh a bit but hoping for around 2 pm.

Around 8 am - take off for Orlando. Land around 10:30

11 am - book PP for afternoon/evening

Hope to be in the park around 1.

 

[nicko]

1. Have Genie + purchased and set SDD at the top of your tip board before 7:00.

How does one "set SDD (or any specific ride) at the top of your tip board"? I'm using the App on Android and I can't see how to do that. I see the list of attractions for a park on the Tip Board tab but they are shown in alphabetical order.