The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[jojomoore]

The stacking and being able to overlap make the strategy SOUND really fun. BUT BUT, on busy days, will there be enough passes to make it worth it?

I worry that during Thanksgiving break next year, if I get G+, I will be able to use it only for SDD and that's it. by the time the two hour passes, all the good ones (MFSR, ToT, RRC) will be gone. So basically it will be the same cost as Rise to ride SDD.

I am probably getting overly anxious too soon...

We usually travel Thanksgiving too. and I have the same concern. we went in 2019 during TG week or actially the 7 days prior to TG and there were no fastpasses available day of. I am wondering if rope dropping SDD is the best way to go. I think i will try to stalk the tip board in MDE this year during thanksgiving week to see if i can gain any insight.

 

[heapmaster]

So we're doing HS today and decided to sleep in. We bought ROTR and MMRR at 7am ($15 & $10). Our first LL ride was Slinky at noon but it's been broken all day. So here's our current slate of attractions at 12:15pm:

12:15 to close- anytime LL
12:25pm TSM
1:15pm ROTR
1:55pm ToT
2:20pm MMRR
3:15pm RnR (after tapping in to TSM)

We walked on Startours in roughly 15 minutes thru standby line. RnR is our next target so will update when we add. For people that like arriving late...this stacking thing could be amazing.

also, once we were given the recovery fast pass for Slinky, we were immediately able to make another LL reservation...almost resetting the clock

When did you book the other G+ rides, at the 7am mark or later on?

 

[Lsyves]

Can someone point me to a post that explains what stacking is? I’m not following

 

[JakeAZ]

Can someone point me to a post that explains what stacking is? I’m not following

Having multiple LL's lined up so you can use them sequentially later in the day. Basically picking a ride with later return times (like slinky) earlier in the day and then using the 120 reset clock to your advantage by picking from the later times available, without using your first LL yet.

Instead of booking one, using one, booking another one....

 

[CWTC]

Were you then able to then book your next G+ at 11 am (2 hours after HS opens where your first FP was booked) or at 12 pm (2 hours after Epcot opens where you had your park reservation)? I've seen differing accounts.

11 am. We booked TT as our next (for 830pm) and were allowed to double stack at 1 pm (TSMM for 330) so we briefly had 3 LL and 1 IA$ at once.

 

[PepperjackDragon]

Can someone point me to a post that explains what stacking is? I’m not following

Once you book a LL you are no longer eligible to book another. If you go 2hrs bring inelligble they let you make another. Then if you use one you can book again.
At MK I am confident that at least having two is the only efficient use of Genie+. The most popular rides will always be 1-2 hrs in advance, but the small rides will have availability now-30min. You will eventually have to use it on a big ride and wait the 2hrs. Best to get it going quickly before crowds build and have the ability to secure a popular ride and use the 2nd to ride smaller rides in the gap so you aren’t wasting your time in peak hours.

However, I just don’t see any real value in it for the other parks unless you are park hopping and stack your second park, imo.

For a ride challenge if Someone was up to the challenge:



AK until 1pm
HS 2-5/530
MK 630/7-10

Edited to swap HS and MK for an extra hour

animal kingdom early with plans to just SB all but one AK (if possible pick up a 1020am Navi or safari prior to park open, if not just SB all of them early) start stacking HS and you could probably Race through HS with triple stacked and then-if you timed your last HS with first MK just right go into MK making your Fourth LL.

 

[moorish]

11 am. We booked TT as our next (for 830pm) and were allowed to double stack at 1 pm (TSMM for 330) so we briefly had 3 LL and 1 IA$ at once.

Awesome, thanks! We're planning on an Epcot late morning/early afternoon and then HS in the evening and this was my only remaining question about how stacking would work in this situation.

 

[dischris11]

I wonder if it is worth buying genie+ for MK on the day we arrive even though I don’t expect to get to the park until after 1. I have a 3, 5, and 8 year old so I’m not keen on waiting in long lines with them. But we have boo bash tickets the next night so maybe we can ride most rides then. Of course the kids will be half asleep then…

 

[DisneyFive]

HS to MK park hopping with Genie+ today Saturday Oct 24th

so the basic plan then how it played out.

we have done everything we wanted 2-3 times this week without Genie EXCEPT slinky dog and splash. So the idea was to early entry HS pick up a genie plus for Slinky then triple stack for a 2pm MK arrival.

It worked. I’ll give the final results then a few tips from my experience. Not a pro, just my first time using it but maybe it will be helpful.

7am: SD booked for 1043am
8:15- arrive to park
8:30-910: MMRR then MFSR
9:10-11:00 Plenty of time left for a quick toy story
and saucers. Frozen song along.
11:00- book 1:35pm splash mountain
(considered a noon toy story but
wanted to let kids rest)
11:15 Slinky dog
11:16 book splash at 1:35pm (later changed
to 2pm, must have gone down)
11:30 Hotel bus: worst wait of the day by far
1:16. Book Jungle cruise (daughter request

2pm arrive at MK

here I will just list the LL I got and what they changed to after getting the rides

LL0: Slinky

A1: splash 2pm
B1: thunder mountain 2:20pm
C1: Jungle Cruise 2:50pm

A2irates of Car 3:25
B2: Peter Pan 5pm (had to refresh 5 times to get it here)
C2: Pooh 4pm

A3: Ariel 4:30
B3: Haunted Mansion 7pm
C3: Mad Tea 4:25

A4: Buzz at 815
C4: small world (we also worked small world in but can’t remember which ride I booked it after, did it right before Pan. Something seems slightly off in the transition order actually but very close to how it went down.)

This was the busiest day yet. Everyone of the rides was showing 60+ between 2-5pm when we rode, a few looked to be overestimated but some looked like underestimates. Really long and slow lines.

From 530ish (requested West wing so got delayed-huge mistake imo)-815 we ate at BOG and watched enchantment. I had a dilemma here, I couldn’t book things far enough out about because all except for Haunted Mansion were within 20-40min away and we were eating. Only had stuff like Barnstormer left to get and they just weren’t going to book up in advance. To keep the triple stack LL going I just booked and then canceled and rebooked later. I ended up pushing haunted mansion back until 9pm on purpose. We could have easily risen every G+ Via the triple stack but ended up shopping after eating, rode Mine train and called it the end of the trip.

Frankly it worked amazingly well and really made an excellent last day. However it wouldn’t work as well in HS because they just don’t have enough rides so they get booked pretty far out early on. Might be possible though if you were at AK and triple stacked for a jump to HS, but I doubt it. However it works so well jumping to MK it turns MK into a 1 or at MOST 1.5 day park. If one rope dropped FOP and paid ROTR and for MMR and evening rode Seven Dwarves it might be possible to complete all three parks (Genie+ and ILL rides only) in a single day, assuming smooth transportation especially once they allow hopping prior to 2pm. A stretch but I think it may be possible.

honestly if you add this to a 10 day trip I really don’t think the parks can sustain you for that long at this pace. Will either have to underutilize Genie+ or ride everything 5-10 times. Will edit later with my tips from experience.

This is really fascinating. Normally I can follow this stuff pretty good, but there are some things I don't understand... I'm confused

When did you book your Big Thunder Mountain G+?

So you were able to book another G+ after you use any of your stacked G+ attractions? So using your nomenclature, after each A1, B1 and C1 as soon as you tapped in for each of those you could book another G+ and keep rolling those 3 G+ into 3 more?

So you had 3 G+ booked at MK and just kept rebooking each so you always had 3 G+ the rest of the day? If true, this is a major hack and really fully utilizing the system!

Dan

 

[JakeAZ]

I wonder if it is worth buying genie+ for MK on the day we arrive even though I don’t expect to get to the park until after 1. I have a 3, 5, and 8 year old so I’m not keen on waiting in long lines with them. But we have boo bash tickets the next night so maybe we can ride most rides then. Of course the kids will be half asleep then…

Are you going to have access to the Genie app while traveling to stack reservations? If so, I would do it. You can have a really enjoyable entry as you prep for Boo Bash and if the kids aren't waiting in early lines, they may be more refreshed for later.

The only thing is if you get delayed while traveling....

 

[wisblue]

LOL!
I’ve been studying this more than some exams I’ve taken.
I’m so glad that when we started taking our DD’s 21 years ago that everything was more simple. You’d stick your park ticket into the fastpass ticket machine, get your fastpass return ticket and move on with your day. So easy!

That part of the paper FP system was easy, but power users knew about the 2 hour rule and discovered that the return times weren’t enforced. So, strategies for maximizing the use of that system were developed. The vast majority of guests in the park were blissfully unaware of these strategies and enjoyed their days in the parks by using FPs the simple way, if they used them at all.

What you’re seeing with stacking is the Genie+ version of special strategies, and in that regard it isn’t any more complicated. If anything it’s simpler because the steps can be accomplished on your phone and not by sending someone across the park to harvest the paper FPs.

 

[ZeeWP]

I tested this; you effectively lose the stack. The system is not, I don't believe, tracking how many outstanding LLs you have. It's just following simple rules:

- If you book a G+LL, your booking ability goes away and a 2-hour timer is set
- If you use, cancel or let expire any G+LL your booking ability returns and the timer is stopped and reset
- If the timer runs out, your booking ability returns

That's it. The concept of "stacking" is just a consequence of applying those rules. If you use a LL and your ability to book comes back, then use or cancel another one, nothing changes - you already have the ability to book.

In order to keep your "stack" you have to book another G+ reservation after using, canceling or letting expire any reservation or after your timer runs out. If you forget and use the next reservation, you've lost a booking opportunity.

Best explanation of the stacking! Thanks for simplifying it.

 

[ZeeWP]

We usually travel Thanksgiving too. and I have the same concern. we went in 2019 during TG week or actially the 7 days prior to TG and there were no fastpasses available day of. I am wondering if rope dropping SDD is the best way to go. I think i will try to stalk the tip board in MDE this year during thanksgiving week to see if i can gain any insight.

I know Christmas and spring break is slightly different but I will stalk those, too, because as people become more "experts" things will become clearer later on. By the time Thanksgiving next year hopefully everyone will know what they are doing! haha

 

[StarrySkye21]

I have our trip coming up in 3 weeks and this is giving me all sorts of anxiety. I’m pretty tempted to skip G+ and just stick to a TouringPlan and rope drop. But as this is a big once-in-a-lifetime trip, I don’t want to ruin it by waiting in lines all day watching people woosh by us in the LL’s. But I also don’t want to ruin the experience by purchasing G+, losing sleep, stressing about the order to get ride passes while comparing it to park maps, and finally running all over the parks to tap into rides in one different land after another.

Ugh where’s my Tums?

 

[ZeeWP]

I have our trip coming up in 3 weeks and this is giving me all sorts of anxiety. I’m pretty tempted to skip G+ and just stick to a TouringPlan and rope drop. But as this is a big once-in-a-lifetime trip, I don’t want to ruin it by waiting in lines all day watching people woosh by us in the LL’s. But I also don’t want to ruin the experience by purchasing G+, losing sleep, stressing about the order to get ride passes while comparing it to park maps, and finally running all over the parks to tap into rides in one different land after another.

Ugh where’s my Tums?

Are you a Planner or a Pantser?

If you are a planner, I would go with touringplans. At least you know what you are getting into.

If you are a "fly by the seat of their pants" type, then I would do the G+. you can get what you get, and not worry or stress over it. If you think you will stress, then you are more of a planner than pantser I think, in which case I would go with the touringplans.

 

[Tom_E_D]

I have our trip coming up in 3 weeks and this is giving me all sorts of anxiety. I’m pretty tempted to skip G+ and just stick to a TouringPlan and rope drop. But as this is a big once-in-a-lifetime trip, I don’t want to ruin it by waiting in lines all day watching people woosh by us in the LL’s. But I also don’t want to ruin the experience by purchasing G+, losing sleep, stressing about the order to get ride passes while comparing it to park maps, and finally running all over the parks to tap into rides in one different land after another.

Ugh where’s my Tums?

Perhaps by the time you go, TP will have adapted their plans for those who will be doing Genie+. Tell TP when you want to enter the park, what you want to ride, and that you want to minimize walking, and perhaps it will tell you what G+LL's to book as you're going through your day. It may be optimistic to assume they'll be able to do it all optimally in just three weeks, but you can shift the planning burden to the program. And even if it's less than perfect, it will likely be less stressful than figuring it all out yourself. You don't have to buy TP or G+. If you can afford G+, you can probably afford to buy TP also.

 

[Sjm9911]

**Sorry for this long play-by-play! I hope it's helpful to see how G+ worked for our group.**

We used Genie+ at MK on Friday with a group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids). So far, I definitely prefer FP+ but obviously it's new and I don't know what I'm doing yet. I will add here that we often go at Christmas time, I'm used to crowds and I can count on one hand the number of times I've waited in a line over 30 minutes. But this trip it happened a LOT.

At 7 am, I made a G+ reservation for Jungle Cruise at 10:30.

We decided to RD 7DMT at park opening. We waited at the entrance of Fantasy land and they did not let us in until 8:30 on the dot. Everyone rushed towards 7 dwarves, only to be told that the ride was "experiencing delays". When I heard the cast member say that, I was like I am absolutely not sitting in a line all morning so we changed gears and went to Space Mountain. This cost us valuable time of course, and the wait was already 20 minutes by the time we got there.

[Side note: My biggest frustration is that in the past, we almost always RD Space Mountain, and did a later FP for 7 dwarves. Usually we walked right on Space Mountain at RD and could even ride twice. This whole LL thing means that everyone goes to either of those two rides so they don't have to pay for it and it makes the RD lines so much longer. Ugh. Need a new strategy here I guess.]

Anyway, after SM, we did SB for Buzz LIghtyear, 5 minute wait. Then SB for the race cars, 10 minute wait. Then we walked over to Adventure Land to hit Pirates, which said it had a 15 minute wait. Well, by the time we got there it was increased to 45 and I was just feeling like I did not want to wait in a 45 minute line after we had paid for Genie + so we abandoned that plan and went on the Magic Carpets. Even that ride, which is usually a walk-on, was 15 minutes.

I was under the impression that you could make another G+ reservation at 9 am, 2 hours after the first reservation. This did not happen, it would not let me make one until 11 am (2 hours after park opening) or after using my first G+. That really made me frustrated. In the future, I would book my first G+ earlier than 10:30 so I could book the next one sooner.

At 10:30, hopped onto Jungle Cruise. Made a G+ reservation for IASW at 11:15. Ate lunch at Pecos Bills first.

While in line for IASW, made a G+ reservation for Barnstormer at 11:45. While in line for that, made a G+ reservation for Haunted Mansion but couldn't get one until 3:10.

After Barnstormer, did Country Bear Jamboree and Tiki Room (SB). Got some Dole Whips. Waited in a 45 minute SB line for Thunder Mountain. During the wait in line, our 2 hour window hit so I was able to make another G+ for Peter Pan at 5:55 pm even though we hadn't used our Haunted Mansion one yet. After Thunder, used our G+ for Haunted.

Walked over to Tomorrow Land and hit up Carousel of Progress. Headed back to Fantasy Land and ate dinner at Pinocchio's Haus. Our 2 hour window hit again, so I made another G+ for Pirates at 6:10. I was surprised that G+ let me do that, so I simultaneously had G+ reservations for Peter Pan at 5:55, and Pirates at 6:10.

After dinner, rode Peter, booked it across the park to do Pirates.

Oh, I should add that 7 Dwarves was actually down for several hours. We had decided to pay for LL, and we had a reservation for that sometime around 12 pm and it was back up shortly before our LL was set.

So it looks like 6 G+ reservations altogether. On a typical FP+ day, I probably would have gotten more at MK. I also would have had my day meticulously planned out so I think we would have waited in fewer lines. But when I look back on my day, I can see where the mistakes were and what to do differently next time. My current opinion is that it's NOT better than FP+ AND I had to pay for it, so I am feeling a little crotchety and "back in my day" about the whole thing.

This was exactly what i said before it came out, everyone at rd would go to the rides that cost $$$. And thanks for the rest. Exactly what didnt want to do, criss cross the park. At least you did it smart and made the most of the area where you were good job. Im not looking forward to next week, and i should be because we will be at disney on vacation. We like rides, and 2 years ago we could pretty much bang out the whole park by 2 pm. Oh well, maybe i will get a new appreatioation of the parks. I do have tom sawyer island on my to do list. I may even being and leave a paint brush behind.........

 

[Disturbia]

Walked over to Tomorrow Land and hit up Carousel of Progress. Headed back to Fantasy Land and ate dinner at Pinocchio's Haus. Our 2 hour window hit again, so I made another G+ for Pirates at 6:10. I was surprised that G+ let me do that, so I simultaneously had G+ reservations for Peter Pan at 5:55, and Pirates at 6:10.

Wow. Thanks for sharing all the details. This really amazing. So maybe the system doesn’t see the later pass and only checks if you rode prior to the current time. edit: thought you rode pirates twice.

we will also be there next week and I haven’t started packing yet (no one is seriously excited)

 

[CWTC]

Wow. Thanks for sharing all the details. This really amazing. So maybe the system doesn’t see the later pass and only checks if you rode prior to the current time

we will also be there next week and I haven’t started packing yet (no one is seriously excited)

The system has let me make multiple overlapping passes- no big for us because we feel like we reasonably know what can be done in what time frame. But for the first timer? Allowing overlapping windows seems like a huge problem: the system says I can do soaring at 3pm and TSMM at 315 so I’ll book it. Yeah we know better but…

 

[Disturbia]

Can someone point me to a post that explains what stacking is? I’m not following

Nothing explains it better than:

https://allears.net/2021/10/21/how-can-you-stack-multiple-disney-genie-reservations/