The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[katyringo]

Okay another interesting thing:

Because my Everest this morning converted... I am allowed to buy Everest again even though it's open now and I can use my converted pass for it. I won't pay again but interesting.

 

[maryj11]

Booked genie for our day today. Thank goodness I did, it’s packed here! Started this morning at 7:00. First I booked Rise then went for Slinky. Slinky was booked! So I bought MMRR and checked for TOT. As I refreshed I got lucky and a Slinky popped up Yay! We did get TOT later with no problem.
So definitely keep refreshing a bit for Slinky Dog or others.

 

[Mango7100]

Just back from a Thanksgiving week trip. Used G+ in MK and DHS with pretty good success. Overall, I was surprised by how many passes I was able to get throughout the day during a very busy week. My main complaints are as follows:

1. Lack of a change/modify button. This is HUGE in my opinion. It was incredibly frustrating to see a time pop up for a ride we wanted, but by the time you cancel your other pass, the time would be gone. You basically have to not be holding something and continue to refresh until you get what you want.

2. I felt like I was constantly on my phone, even more so than with FP+. I disliked having to keep track of the 2 hour windows and be ready to keep booking throughout the day.

3. Offsite is at a huge disadvantage for booking ILL$. It is basically impossible to get either ROTR or Remy if not onsite. Both were sold out consistently ahead of park opening. Not a huge deal for Rise since standby is offered, but frustrating for Remy since the only other choice is to start the day at Epcot with a park pass (which my family never does).

Agree that the inability to modify is a big deal. We would have LLs and see a more desirable time pop up, but I was always too afraid to cancel and change in fear they would be gone by the time we completed all the steps. Then you are stuck with nothing

 

[goofynut41]

when can I buy Genie+ and lighting lanes? I arrive in a week I tried now but it says I have to call?

 

[GBRforWDW]

when can I buy Genie+ and lighting lanes? I arrive in a week I tried now but it says I have to call?

You could buy it each morning if you weren't adding for your entire trip. If you're an AP holder, this is your only way

Otherwise, you should be able to upgrade tickets in the MDE app.

 

[goofynut41]

You could buy it each morning if you weren't adding for your entire trip. If you're an AP holder, this is your only way

Otherwise, you should be able to upgrade tickets in the MDE app.

I have military tickets and its says I have to call, anybody else have military and can get genie+?

 

[kevind2112]

Sorry if this was answered previously. I tried to look but could not find an answer.

My wife and I are staying on property starting on Dec 23. Our kids and their significant others are joining us on the 26th, but are staying off property. We all have park hopper tickets, but ours came with the room package while our kids got theirs from a reputable 3rd party ticket seller. We are also all linked together on the MDE app.

Two questions:

1. Would I be able to book their RotR passes along with ours at our 7:00am window?
2. Would I be able to book their first regular park Genie+ reservation along with ours at 7:00am?

I know they could not do it on their own, as they are not staying on property, but if we make the reservations for them, do you think we could pull this off?

Thanks!

 

[seashell7290]

I have military tickets and its says I have to call, anybody else have military and can get genie+?

It’s not available for advanced purchase but midnight the night before park reservation you can do it add it. Used my salute tickets a few weeks ago like this.

 

[katyringo]

Sorry if this was answered previously. I tried to look but could not find an answer.

My wife and I are staying on property starting on Dec 23. Our kids and their significant others are joining us on the 26th, but are staying off property. We all have park hopper tickets, but ours came with the room package while our kids got theirs from a reputable 3rd party ticket seller. We are also all linked together on the MDE app.

Two questions:

1. Would I be able to book their RotR passes along with ours at our 7:00am window?
2. Would I be able to book their first regular park Genie+ reservation along with ours at 7:00am?

I know they could not do it on their own, as they are not staying on property, but if we make the reservations for them, do you think we could pull this off?

Thanks!

1. No
2. Yes

 

[katyringo]

Buying LL for Everest was completely unnecessary today. I used it, but then was able to ride 4x in a row using single rider and standby is currently at 10mins.

what do you all think? All wait times in the park are low right now except Pandora...at 65mins. My Disney gut is telling me that is inflated to keep the crowds away from Pandora.. should I go get in line for FOP? It's 5:25 and park closes at 7. The only thing left on my must list is the tree of life lighting ..

 

[mickey916]

Buying LL for Everest was completely unnecessary today. I used it, but then was able to ride 4x in a row using single rider and standby is currently at 10mins.

what do you all think? All wait times in the park are low right now except Pandora...at 65mins. My Disney gut is telling me that is inflated to keep the crowds away from Pandora.. should I go get in line for FOP? It's 5:25 and park closes at 7. The only thing left on my must list is the tree of life lighting ..

Little late in responding but I'd say go for it.

 

[katyringo]

Little late in responding but I'd say go for it.

It's at 80 mins now and I don't wanna risk it!

 

[mickey916]

It's at 80 mins now and I don't wanna risk it!

Wonder if you could see the Tree of Life and then hop in line right before closing?

 

[princesswahooey]

Wonder if you could see the Tree of Life and then hop in line right before closing?

That's what I would do! If you're in line when they close, you can still ride!

 

[katyringo]

That's what I would do! If you're in line when they close, you can still ride!

I could have but I'm dead lol. I did ride Everest a couple more times in the dark.

 

[katyringo]

To recap my genie+ and $LL use in animal kingdom:

I paid and booked for FOP. But I didn't try to rope drop today. I woke up at 7, booked it for noon and then went back to sleep. I got to the park about 930-10.

I also paid for Everest which was completly unnecessary. 1. Waits dropped significantly after about 4pm and I used single rider line to ride over and over again.

when I went to book my first Genie+ I wanted to get Navi River. But the times weren't going later. So I went back to sleep and booked it around 9am for an 11am return time .

the next one I booked was The Safari. I don't remember exactly when I booked it but I do remember watching the times until it got where I wanted iit. But then it went down during my return time and I got a multiple experience one. I ended it up using it on safari later.

I used a genie+ for Dinosaur. The standby was only 20 mins.

I used a genie+ for lion king. I arrived about 15 mins before the show. The standby was kinda long but I don't see any value in genie+ for this.. it doesn't give you better seats.. just in the theater sooner.. idk.

so after that there really isn't anything else worth a genie+ in AK. I did the animation thing first show this morning. Walked right in. Also I came in later in the morning but looking at the wait times at open today... genie+ helped me most because I came to the park later. The waits for everythjng stayed really low until about 9am this morning and then dropped down again about 4pm.

you don't need genie+ for AK. Rope drop FOP and Navi and then work your way around the park. Save Everest for the evening. I think you could do a whole day with no $LL or genie+

This also concludes all parks for me and here are my biggest things:

the free genie is useless and annoying. The my day page drives me nuts because it puts reccomdationd into my day and I just want to see what I have booked. I did like adding things like shows I wanted to see (kite tails is super fun BTW) to that page. It just felt cluttered. I also do not like that when you book something it puts your time on the my day page but not the tip board. The ride will say you have this booked but will display the next genie+ time not the time you have booked. That's on the my day page. It confused me a couple of times.

Genie is 100% useful in DHS even if you can "only" get 2-3. Use it in combo with rope drop. I personally think it's better to get quick return times then book SDD for way out into the evening. Folks who book Late ones can't book another until 11- but if you had an earlier return time- say 930- then when you scan in you will be able to book a second right then- not at 11.

I feel like the only necessary $LL is Rise.

Remy's virtual que is now Just a call back to get in a long-ish standby line. Priority is going to $LL

if your party can utilize single rider do so.

the 7am wake up kinda stinks. Stacking for later morning and evening only works if the return times are getting further out which I only say really happen in DHS and MK.

final thought: cast members are still learning too. My whole Everest turned multiple expirence confused many of them and I got 4 different answers about how it's used.

will I used Genie+ again? Yes. And I'll probably continue to add it to our whole ticket because honestly it was handy sometimes. However with the whole family (4 of us) we would be much more selective of those $LL. I would probably only use it for Rise. Maybe SDMT if I didn't get it rope dropped.

I appreciate everyone on these boards because it helped me so much. I've had an amazing trip. I am at MK in the morning before my flight and my only priority there is coffee, the castle, and a ride on the people mover.

 

[JoJoGirl]

To recap my genie+ and $LL use in animal kingdom:

I paid and booked for FOP. But I didn't try to rope drop today. I woke up at 7, booked it for noon and then went back to sleep. I got to the park about 930-10.

I also paid for Everest which was completly unnecessary. 1. Waits dropped significantly after about 4pm and I used single rider line to ride over and over again.

when I went to book my first Genie+ I wanted to get Navi River. But the times weren't going later. So I went back to sleep and booked it around 9am for an 11am return time .

the next one I booked was The Safari. I don't remember exactly when I booked it but I do remember watching the times until it got where I wanted iit. But then it went down during my return time and I got a multiple experience one. I ended it up using it on safari later.

I used a genie+ for Dinosaur. The standby was only 20 mins.

I used a genie+ for lion king. I arrived about 15 mins before the show. The standby was kinda long but I don't see any value in genie+ for this.. it doesn't give you better seats.. just in the theater sooner.. idk.

so after that there really isn't anything else worth a genie+ in AK. I did the animation thing first show this morning. Walked right in. Also I came in later in the morning but looking at the wait times at open today... genie+ helped me most because I came to the park later. The waits for everythjng stayed really low until about 9am this morning and then dropped down again about 4pm.

you don't need genie+ for AK. Rope drop FOP and Navi and then work your way around the park. Save Everest for the evening. I think you could do a whole day with no $LL or genie+

This also concludes all parks for me and here are my biggest things:

the free genie is useless and annoying. The my day page drives me nuts because it puts reccomdationd into my day and I just want to see what I have booked. I did like adding things like shows I wanted to see (kite tails is super fun BTW) to that page. It just felt cluttered. I also do not like that when you book something it puts your time on the my day page but not the tip board. The ride will say you have this booked but will display the next genie+ time not the time you have booked. That's on the my day page. It confused me a couple of times.

Genie is 100% useful in DHS even if you can "only" get 2-3. Use it in combo with rope drop. I personally think it's better to get quick return times then book SDD for way out into the evening. Folks who book Late ones can't book another until 11- but if you had an earlier return time- say 930- then when you scan in you will be able to book a second right then- not at 11.

I feel like the only necessary $LL is Rise.

Remy's virtual que is now Just a call back to get in a long-ish standby line. Priority is going to $LL

if your party can utilize single rider do so.

the 7am wake up kinda stinks. Stacking for later morning and evening only works if the return times are getting further out which I only say really happen in DHS and MK.

final thought: cast members are still learning too. My whole Everest turned multiple expirence confused many of them and I got 4 different answers about how it's used.

will I used Genie+ again? Yes. And I'll probably continue to add it to our whole ticket because honestly it was handy sometimes. However with the whole family (4 of us) we would be much more selective of those $LL. I would probably only use it for Rise. Maybe SDMT if I didn't get it rope dropped.

I appreciate everyone on these boards because it helped me so much. I've had an amazing trip. I am at MK in the morning before my flight and my only priority there is coffee, the castle, and a ride on the people mover.

Thank you so much for your detailed reports! I’m headed down next week and your information has been incredibly helpful. Safe travels home!

 

[maryj11]

1. No
2. Yes

If they all have their tickets linked on their MDE why wouldn’t they be able to buy the ROTR at 7:00 as long as it’s all the same day?

 

[OhhBother]

Deleted, as I found the info I needed. Thanks.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Little things like this, and things like the way the Genie gives out itinerary, make me think of Disney as one of those micromanaging bosses. They are trying REALLLLLLLY hard to control the crowds the way THEY want to the minutiae detail.