The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[Boardwalk III]

This was me! Lol. Genie was a total bust for us today in HS. After everything booked up on LL at 3 then standby became super long the rest of the day everywhere. Our only luck came at the last hour when we got to ride ROTR and MFSR standby. (An hour or so for Rise and 20 minutes MFSR).

But honestly, it was incredibly frustrating and there’s no way really to predict it and I’m not sure we could have prevented it. Our first LL was as early as we could get for SDD (1 pm) and then it was closed/filled for the day at 7 am. We made our next LL at 11 and that wasn’t until later. Then it snowballed from there….
I don’t personally see how this system can work for large crowds. It just doesn’t work.

We head home tomorrow after being here for 11 days. Most of our party are not early risers so I tried the double stack on 5 days (getting up at 7am and booking 1st attractions starting in the 10:30-11:30 AM timeframe). Worked just OK on one or two slightly slower days at MK and DHS, but the other 2 were just too crowded and we could only get a couple of decent attractions in, before return times were well into the evening when we had conflicting dinner plans. On the busy days we only got 3-4 attractions done through Genie+. So far I’m not a fan

 

[wilkydelts]

Does G+ carry over into the Extended Evening Hours at MK or Epcot or do the times just end at the normal close hours?

 

[coolbrook]

Does G+ carry over into the Extended Evening Hours at MK or Epcot or do the times just end at the normal close hours?

No, just the regular park hours. We were at MK during extended hours last week. Waits were very low.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I used Genie+ In November 7th, it was Sunday of a marathon weekend, so MK wasnt packed to the gills, but there was definitely a decent crowd.
we were doing a half day, visiting MK after having lunch at the Polynesian, it was 3 adults and a 2-year old, so our ride priorities were just fantasyland, and I got genie+ as practice for future trips.
we rode-
peter pan
small world (Winnie the Pooh was selected but the attraction went down)
dumbo
little mermaid
winnie the pooh
barnstormer

we also went on the carousel, but there is no LL for that.

I feel like it DID save us time, particularly on Peter Pan, where the posted wait was 100 minutes, and we waited about 15. Most of the other rides had posted waits of 30-45 minutes, and we waited maybe 5 minutes.
I was a pretty big FP+ user, and this system took some getting used to. Once I understood it, it was mostly fine, but I found it pretty glitchy, the tip board and “my day” boards sometimes were blank, other times didn’t like to load, I ended up closing the app and reopening it quite a bit.
also, you’ll be on your phone A LOT. I found myself on the app much more than I ever was with FP+
also, I’m sure others have reported this, but the grace period return time was definitely in effect on our day, we arrived late to our first 2 attractions (and had to wait almost 5 minutes to get to the tapstile at Peter Pan) and didn’t even have to plead our case, the touch points were just green.

what I liked- the ability to book LLs very close to the same time, the hour rule on FP+ was pretty annoying. It is nice to have LL availability into the afternoon. It was fairly crowded, and we were still able to get new LL’s, we could have had more rides if we were so inclined.

what I didn’t like- i get why you can’t pick your time, but having to sit there at 7am waiting for a time that works (1:30 or later) was pretty tedious, it would be nice to be able to just see afternoon if you wanted (I suspect this will never happen because its how they keep times open). Its probably much more fun if you are planning a full day. I also found the app kinda glitchy, but that’s Disney IT for you ( I find myself much less forgiving of Disney's IT when I am paying for it) I also think regular genie is so useless it basically bullies you into paying for the + but that’s a post for another day.

 

[SuperJ]

I've tried to read through the thread as much as I can, but I haven't found an answer to this. How does it work with ADRs? I see that you can't choose the times you are offered for an ILL or LL reservation. Does the system "know" if you have an ADR and so it won't offer you times during your ADR? Or does it just give a time and, if it doesn't work for you because of your ADR, you're stuck taking something else that does work or possibly just missing out entirely?

If anyone wants to help weigh in on our planning/strategy, we are going to MK, HS, and Epcot during Christmas week. Planning on purchasing Genie+ for MK and HS only. HS on Christmas day. At MK, we have a 3pm ADR. At HS, we have an 11:35am ADR. We are staying onsite. We also are bringing dogs (whole story) so, I will be leaving parks twice each day, probably around noon and around 5, to go back to the hotel to walk the dogs, which further hurts our LL time abilities (though I am aware I will just need to miss some rides, but I'm trying to push for dog walking times to be character meet times for the little one. ha.).

For HS, which seems to be the trickiest park, we are hoping, if within our budget, to purchase ILL for ROTR and trying to get our first LL for SDD (one of us will try on the app for ROTR and the other will be trying for SDD right at 7am). I am aware from the thread that may not be possible so, if that fails, plan is to rope drop SDD and TSMM at early entry and then either get in line for or purchase MMRR. Assuming LL for SDD fails and we have to go with plan B, we will probably take a LL ToT or MFSR first, then try for the other. We have a child too small for RnR so we will probably go single rider or try for a late LL, but assuming those will be long gone.

At MK, we are not planning on making any ILL purchases. We are planning on making a LL reservation at 7am (maybe PP if we can get it. if not, we're still debating what to prioritize) and then hoping to rope drop SDMT at early entry (along with everyone else) and then head to SM (or save it until the end of the night). After that, we'd just be doing LL on what we can find.

Finally, Epcot is our last park day and we're planning on trying to get Rat virtual queue at 7am, then early entry Frozen. No Genie+ or ILL purchases if we can help it. After that, maybe test track, but likely taking it easy enjoying food from the holiday kiosks and doing the Olaf scavenger hunt.

 

[Selket]

My 2 young adult children are traveling with me and I always did their fast passes. They've never used the app and do not have Disney accounts. For them to use Genie+ and make their own selections:

1. do they need to make accounts?
2. Can they pay for Genie+ or ILL$ by putting a credit card on the account or is it charged to our onsite room?
3. Will I still be able to see their account and get passes for them - say if I wake up early?
4. I could in theory buy Genie+ just for one of them for the day or ILL$ and not the rest of us right?

We usually split up as the day goes on so I'm guessing they will end up in another park than me and will want to be able to make their own selection. Or probably they'd rather me spend all that time on the phone doing it for them - haha!

 

[jade1]

So you quadruple stacked

Probably coming to WDW soon.

 

[mixtli]

On November 12, I booked 7DMT ILL$ for 4 for a return time of 11h15-12h15. We were supposed to have Covid tests( required 72 hours before our flight back to Canada) at 7H30 but got delayed until 11h45. I was afraid of losing the ILL and it in fact disappeared from the app around 12h30. We arrived at 7DMT around 13h30 and explained the situation to the Cast Member who let us through without any problem after scanning our magic bands. It seems that the reservation was still showing on his screen.

 

[Disturbia]

The problem is if MMRR goes down. Then the times are a mess. I was told all the magnetic rides, MMRR, Remmy and rise have problems everyday. When I went, we disnt do rise, but the other two were broken down everytime we were there, and it messes up any and all planning. I would do those early, that way if it does break down ot will not be at 730 at night for a return time.

MMRR took 3 times to book at 7:10 am (booked ROTR and SDD first, two people were booking from separate devices). I kept getting an error message. We had a 10-11 am LL booking, but the ride went down and didn’t come back up until after noon. In addition to the anytime pass for our group, we were issued an MMRR pass for 2. With our infant, 3 people could ride.

 

[GBRforWDW]

On November 12, I booked 7DMT ILL$ for 4 for a return time of 11h15-12h15. We were supposed to have Covid tests( required 72 hours before our flight back to Canada) at 7H30 but got delayed until 11h45. I was afraid of losing the ILL and it in fact disappeared from the app around 12h30. We arrived at 7DMT around 13h30 and explained the situation to the Cast Member who let us through without any problem after scanning our magic bands. It seems that the reservation was still showing on his screen.

Glad you were able to still get on mine train. Sounds like a rough morning prior to heading to the park though. Yikes.

 

[Disturbia]

My 2 young adult children are traveling with me and I always did their fast passes. They've never used the app and do not have Disney accounts. For them to use Genie+ and make their own selections:

1. do they need to make accounts?
2. Can they pay for Genie+ or ILL$ by putting a credit card on the account or is it charged to our onsite room?
3. Will I still be able to see their account and get passes for them - say if I wake up early?
4. I could in theory buy Genie+ just for one of them for the day or ILL$ and not the rest of us right?

We usually split up as the day goes on so I'm guessing they will end up in another park than me and will want to be able to make their own selection. Or probably they'd rather me spend all that time on the phone doing it for them - haha!

It’s pretty stressful to keep looking at the phone and having to juggle other things that only parents have to. I would seriously delegate esp. if they’re adults and splitting up; you will run out of battery literally and figuratively just trying to communicate the plans (I’m the one taking and sending screenshots and answering the same damn question for the 100th time).

I’m not 100% on the logistics but I’m sure they can have their own accounts and buy on their own and still be linked on your friends and family list.

This discussion might be relevant:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/friends-family-without-own-mde.3843776/

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

My 2 young adult children are traveling with me and I always did their fast passes. They've never used the app and do not have Disney accounts. For them to use Genie+ and make their own selections:

1. do they need to make accounts?
2. Can they pay for Genie+ or ILL$ by putting a credit card on the account or is it charged to our onsite room?
3. Will I still be able to see their account and get passes for them - say if I wake up early?
4. I could in theory buy Genie+ just for one of them for the day or ILL$ and not the rest of us right?

We usually split up as the day goes on so I'm guessing they will end up in another park than me and will want to be able to make their own selection. Or probably they'd rather me spend all that time on the phone doing it for them - haha!

My adult "kids" (21, 26) will be using my MDE log-in if they want to make their own G+ (I'll be paying for the 4 of us). They would use my account back in the FP+ era. It just seemed easier to have them use my account when they started making their own selections as wanted at ages 15 and 20. (Dh also uses my account.)

If/when they begin traveling on their own, they'll get their separate MDE accounts and we'll move forward that way, linking them as Friends & Family.

 

[coolbrook]

I've tried to read through the thread as much as I can, but I haven't found an answer to this. How does it work with ADRs? I see that you can't choose the times you are offered for an ILL or LL reservation. Does the system "know" if you have an ADR and so it won't offer you times during your ADR? Or does it just give a time and, if it doesn't work for you because of your ADR, you're stuck taking something else that does work or possibly just missing out entirely?

If anyone wants to help weigh in on our planning/strategy, we are going to MK, HS, and Epcot during Christmas week. Planning on purchasing Genie+ for MK and HS only. HS on Christmas day. At MK, we have a 3pm ADR. At HS, we have an 11:35am ADR. We are staying onsite. We also are bringing dogs (whole story) so, I will be leaving parks twice each day, probably around noon and around 5, to go back to the hotel to walk the dogs, which further hurts our LL time abilities (though I am aware I will just need to miss some rides, but I'm trying to push for dog walking times to be character meet times for the little one. ha.).

For HS, which seems to be the trickiest park, we are hoping, if within our budget, to purchase ILL for ROTR and trying to get our first LL for SDD (one of us will try on the app for ROTR and the other will be trying for SDD right at 7am). I am aware from the thread that may not be possible so, if that fails, plan is to rope drop SDD and TSMM at early entry and then either get in line for or purchase MMRR. Assuming LL for SDD fails and we have to go with plan B, we will probably take a LL ToT or MFSR first, then try for the other. We have a child too small for RnR so we will probably go single rider or try for a late LL, but assuming those will be long gone.

At MK, we are not planning on making any ILL purchases. We are planning on making a LL reservation at 7am (maybe PP if we can get it. if not, we're still debating what to prioritize) and then hoping to rope drop SDMT at early entry (along with everyone else) and then head to SM (or save it until the end of the night). After that, we'd just be doing LL on what we can find.

Finally, Epcot is our last park day and we're planning on trying to get Rat virtual queue at 7am, then early entry Frozen. No Genie+ or ILL purchases if we can help it. After that, maybe test track, but likely taking it easy enjoying food from the holiday kiosks and doing the Olaf scavenger hunt.

Sounds like a solid plan.

 

[Luisfba]

When I was tracking the SDD LL times when G+ first launched they were selling out but not as quickly as now. I figured it would work out great for my arrival day where I could log in and see return time and grab something when they were showing at or after 6pm.

But now they are fully selling out within 1 minute. Will be very tough to target a specific time range I think. I may need to jump in, maybe wait about 15-20 seconds after 7.. and cross my fingers.

Question - the time shown when you fist select to go get the LL is not going to be the time I get right? Meaning, I shouldn’t just refresh u til I see 6.. then start the process.

also, is it safe to assume that even if I click to get the LL it may be gone by the time I confirm payment? Any idea at what point in the selection process it’s locked in that I have a LL?

 

[Figment1990]

When I was tracking the SDD LL times when G+ first launched they were selling out but not as quickly as now. I figured it would work out great for my arrival day where I could log in and see return time and grab something when they were showing at or after 6pm.

But now they are fully selling out within 1 minute. Will be very tough to target a specific time range I think. I may need to jump in, maybe wait about 15-20 seconds after 7.. and cross my fingers.

Question - the time shown when you fist select to go get the LL is not going to be the time I get right? Meaning, I shouldn’t just refresh u til I see 6.. then start the process.

also, is it safe to assume that even if I click to get the LL it may be gone by the time I confirm payment? Any idea at what point in the selection process it’s locked in that I have a LL?

This is a great question and one I hadn’t thought of. I too need slinky in the evening. But with how it “sells out” in seconds I suppose I should click as soon as I can and hope it bumps out while I’m booking? Or Ike you said, wait like 5-10 seconds?

my guess is that for ILL$ they have to ”hold” the time you selected or at least give you a confirmation before you pay. Because you cant cancel.

if someone as screenshots or a link to a video showing booking screens I would appreciate it.

and when booking these I know it’s useful to have your selections set up to have them appear at the top. But to confirm, we do this from the tip board right? Or is it in “my day”? Any other tips? Booking my first g+ tomorrow….

 

[g-dad66]

and when booking these I know it’s useful to have your selections set up to have them appear at the top. But to confirm, we do this from the tip board right? Or is it in “my day”? Any other tips? Booking my first g+ tomorrow….

It's in My Day.

Click on Get Started with Disney Genie. When you get to My Top Picks, select only the one attraction that you want to book at 7am tomorrow. It will then stay at the top of the Tip Board.

After booking, deselect it and then select the one you will be going for next, etc.

You will have to re-do this process for each day that you plan to do a 7am booking.

 

[Mango7100]

Here is our Genie experience fromWednesday 11/17…
7am—booked Safari for 830-930 at AK
9 am—tapped into Safari and booked Jungle Cruise for 215-315
Made a mistake. 945 realized we need a later Jungle Cruise time due to lunch plans so cancelled and rebooked for 355-455. That reset my 120 minute rule to being able to book at 1145 now.
1145–booked PP for 435-535
230–booked HM for 515-615
Tapped into Jungle Cruise at 355–posted wait was 120 and we waited 30 min. Could not book again until 2nd tap point. Booked Small World for 455-555 after 2nd tap.
Booked Buzz for 540-640 after tapping into PP. PP posted was 35 and waited 10
Booked Pirates for 715-815 after tapping into HM, HM posted was 40 and waited 10
Booked Carpets at 710-810 after tapping into Buzz. Buzz posted was 35 and waited 10
Could have booked Big Thunder for 830 after tapping into Pirates but decided not to. Pirates posted was 25 and waited 5.
Carpets was a walk on so it didint help but we rode it 3 times without getting off during the fireworks.

A lot more rides have 2nd tap points now..more than I remember before. You can’t book until the 2nd tap. Also I found I had to delay some of my stacking pre entry to find a time that worked. I booked HM 45 minutes later than when I could start because all the times for everything we wanted were too early. So I had to keep refreshing and waiting until we found times that worked and so were weren’t running from one side of the park to another the whole time. Really wish you could select a time instead of taking what is given.

So all in all we used 7 LL at MK from 4-830 and 1 LL at AK in the morning.

 

[kmsimone]

Thanks to everyone posting their experiences.

 

[PennyW]

On arrival day, if we plan to get to a park by 1pm, would it be better for that park to be HS or AK as far as utilizing Genie+ and ILL? This will be on a '4' TP crowd calendar day.

HS musts are RoTR, MMRR, Slinky, ToT, RnRC, TSMM.

AK musts are FOP, Safari, Everest, Na'vi.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[wisblue]

It's in My Day.

Click on Get Started with Disney Genie. When you get to My Top Picks, select only the one attraction that you want to book at 7am tomorrow. It will then stay at the top of the Tip Board.

After booking, deselect it and then select the one you will be going for next, etc.

You will have to re-do this process for each day that you plan to do a 7am booking.

You can do it on the Tip Board too by clicking on “edit selections”.