The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[ckelly14]

From my understanding, if you are staying on property, as long as you have completed mobile check-in, you should be good to go at 7am.

Thanks

 

[LuckyEmblem]

Thankful for all the advice in this thread. Both nervous and excited to use Genie for the first time this weekend. I'm sure the 'excited' part will wear off once those ILL purchases start adding up

 

[baseballgal]

Trying to make sure I understand all the rules I have been reading the past few weeks so a scenario question:
If I am staying on site, can I book...
1) Slinky Dog at 7am using Genie+
2) ROTR ILL at 7:01ish
3) Remy ILL at 7:02ish for later that evening? Or will I need to be going to Epcot as my first park to book Remy
Then, I understand I cannot start booking regular LLs until 11 or after I use the one for SDD, whichever is first? I can no longer pick a second selection at 9.

 

[CJK]

Trying to make sure I understand all the rules I have been reading the past few weeks so a scenario question:
If I am staying on site, can I book...
1) Slinky Dog at 7am using Genie+
2) ROTR ILL at 7:01ish
3) Remy ILL at 7:02ish for later that evening? Or will I need to be going to Epcot as my first park to book Remy
Then, I understand I cannot start booking regular LLs until 11 or after I use the one for SDD, whichever is first? I can no longer pick a second selection at 9.

Yes, all of that is correct. You can book Remy ILL at any time of day. You don't have to have Epcot booked, and can just park hop to it.

 

[pigletto]

Ok so coming from Canada there has been just an absolute ton of trying to figure out and follow the ever changing guidelines and requirements for travel. I’ve been really focused on that and making ADRs and planning park days and getting park reservations etc.

Now that that’s all worked out can anyone recommend a comprehensive YouTuber , blogger, place to go read an overview regarding all the Genie + strategy?

I think this thread will be awesome when I start to have specific questions but right now it’s overwhelming and I think I need to just start with an overview. It can’t be as confusing as I’m making it right ?

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I agree with @g-dad66. The difficulty I've found with the existing threads, which I've watched since the beginning (but admittedly have skipped pages at times), is that there's no post at or near the start of the thread that's updated when something changes OR that I can point someone to when they ask a question that's been answered before. So I agree that something with the basic steps as well as answers to the questions that come up over and over (can I book for everyone in my F&F list at one time, can I buy G+ and book LL/ILL$ before I arrive at WDW) would be great. Also what the issues are with buying G+ for people with different types of tickets - do you have to buy G+ for all those with MYW tickets in one transaction, then buy G+ for the ones who have APs in a separate transaction? - I honestly don't know what the answer is for that one, despite pretty much keeping up with these threads so far, but I know it was a problem at some point!

DH and I are APs DSs had individual tickets staying on DVC points. All in friends and family list.
Booked G+ each day we used around 650am and was able to book G+ and all rides for everyone at once. Park reservation was required.
After completing mobile check in you can book for arrival day. I wasn't able to however since I started at the Dolphin and the reservation wasn't recognized even though it was in MDE.
Yes lines are backed up at tap ins. Late arrivals were allowed in however I think it's because of the confusion. We turned green 10 minutes after window. I believe window is 5 minutes before and 15 after.
Make sure you cancel G+ reservation because if it expires you will not be eligible to get another for that ride.
Easiest thing to check eligibility for next G+ is to try to book one. You will see the eligible time. This worked on iPhone not Android. At this time iPhone seems less glitchy.
Suggest you turn wi-fi off before booking hard to get G+.
SDD goes the fastest by far. ILL$ for RotR does too.
G+ worked best for us at MK and DHS.

 

[CarolynFH]

DH and I are APs DSs had individual tickets staying on DVC points. All in friends and family list.
Booked G+ each day we used around 650am and was able to book G+ and all rides for everyone at once. Park reservation was required.
After completing mobile check in you can book for arrival day. I wasn't able to however since I started at the Dolphin and the reservation wasn't recognized even though it was in MDE.
Yes lines are backed up at tap ins. Late arrivals were allowed in however I think it's because of the confusion. We turned green 10 minutes after window. I believe window is 5 minutes before and 15 after.
Make sure you cancel G+ reservation because if it expires you will not be eligible to get another for that ride.
Easiest thing to check eligibility for next G+ is to try to book one. You will see the eligible time. This worked on iPhone not Android. At this time iPhone seems less glitchy.
Suggest you turn wi-fi off before booking hard to get G+.
SDD goes the fastest by far. ILL$ for RotR does too.
G+ worked best for us at MK and DHS.

@scrappinginontario, this post might be helpful for the pinned thread!

 

[GatorChris]

I'll definitely be doing G+ for the MK, and then for AK because it's a Saturday. But I'm at Epcot on a Friday. There doesn't seem to be a lot of rides there. Would it be worth it for Test Track and Soarin? Seems like skipping those lines would be nice.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

@scrappinginontario, this post might be helpful for the pinned thread!

The thing I'll try is to see if the on site resort reservation makes any difference with allowing me to book everyone together.
We did have 2 separate park reservations, 2 AP and 3 theme park tickets and that was fine.

From our experience the best strategy was to book the first G+ at 7am for the time we were entering the park (didn't use EE) and roll from there. Once you tap, book the next. If you book a later G+ at 7am,, then book the next G+ 2 hours after park opening. I mention this because I see 11am mentioned a lot but that's assuming a 9am park opening.

I didn't park hop so can't help with that.

I will say though since the app behavior changed on arrival day and disallowed stacking, I didn't try any strategies on the fly and just went with the flow. Others may discover a better way to use.

Happy to help with any questions I can.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I'll definitely be doing G+ for the MK, and then for AK because it's a Saturday. But I'm at Epcot on a Friday. There doesn't seem to be a lot of rides there. Would it be worth it for Test Track and Soarin? Seems like skipping those lines would be nice.

A lot depends on the crowds and yes it's nice to skip the lines or if you are on a tight schedule. We didn't get G+ on our EPCOT or AK days.

TT has single rider that moved fast and Soarin moves pretty quickly so standby is not terrible. Other than those and Frozen nothing else requires G+.

We also did the late hours for deluxe guests and the park was empty, everything was a walk on.

The past few days the Thanksgiving crowds left but wait times were still long for standby in DHS and MK.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Now that that’s all worked out can anyone recommend a comprehensive YouTuber , blogger, place to go read an overview regarding all the Genie + strategy?

I like to read Tom's strategies over at http://www.disneytouristblog.com. he's been fine tuning his articles, just search for genie+ strategy and you should be able to find the information you're looking for.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

After completing mobile check in you can book for arrival day. I wasn't able to however since I started at the Dolphin and the reservation wasn't recognized even though it was in MDE.

Were you able to book ILL$ the next day (and subsequent days) at 7:00? Or did the system still not recognize your Dolphin reservation? If you were, did you do anything to get the system to recognize it? We will be staying at the Swan later this month. We're arriving at night, so we're not going to the parks on arrival day. But I'm hoping to purchase hard-to-get ILL$s at 7:00 the next morning. And I'm very concerned about reports of the Genie system not recognizing a Swan or Dolphin reservation, even though it is still showing in MDE.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Were you able to book ILL$ the next day (and subsequent days) at 7:00? Or did the system still not recognize your Dolphin reservation? If you were, did you do anything to get the system to recognize it? We will be staying at the Swan later this month. We're arriving at night, so we're not going to the parks on arrival day. But I'm hoping to purchase hard-to-get ILL$s at 7:00 the next morning. And I'm very concerned about reports of the Genie system not recognizing a Swan or Dolphin reservation, even though it is still showing in MDE.

I couldn't get ILL$ that first day for RotR and it was sold out by 9am. G+ was OK since it's open to everyone at 7am.

I went to GET in the park and they took my info for both the reservation and my phone settings and escalated to IT. After that I was good.

We jumped on the standby line at park close. FWIW, while on line for GET, I was listening to the issues people were having and didn't hear one recovery offered and there were some people trying hard. I remember the old days where the CMs handed out FP/FP+ for almost anything.

You may want to try calling Disney IT before you go to check it for you. I know there is a different number for them if you search the boards and hopefully not a 2 hour wait!

Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[JakeAZ]

1) Slinky Dog at 7am using Genie+
2) ROTR ILL at 7:01ish

Depending on when you are going, you may have to decide which one of these is more important, or employ 2 people trying at the same time (one for Slinky and one for Rise). We were there last week and getting both by one person was impossible.

 

[Snow L]

Can someone let me know if this scenario is hypothetically doable?
7am: Book SDD for 3pm
11am: Book Barnstormer for 11:30
11:30: Ride Barnstormer
11:35 Book Little Mermaid for 12pm
Basically what I want to know is if I have an LL I haven't used (SDD), but then book and ride my next LL (Barnstormer), can I immediately book my next LL (Little Mermaid) or will I still be restricted to the 2 hour wait?

 

[BrotherCraig]

Depending on when you are going, you may have to decide which one of these is more important, or employ 2 people trying at the same time (one for Slinky and one for Rise). We were there last week and getting both by one person was impossible.

I didn't have any issue and I just got back from there on Friday. I booked SDD right at 7 AM and ROTR ILL$ right after it. Then booked Mickey Railroad ILL$. No issues. You do have to be quick and have your people lines up in the app that is for sure. Very successful day with Genie+ when we went to HS. Had 4 or 5 rides lined up in My Day. Rope dropped ToT - 7 minute wait. Hit every ride but Rockin' Rollercoaster that day.

 

[JakeAZ]

Can someone let me know if this scenario is hypothetically doable?
7am: Book SDD for 3pm
11am: Book Barnstormer for 11:30
11:30: Ride Barnstormer
11:35 Book Little Mermaid for 12pm
Basically what I want to know is if I have an LL I haven't used (SDD), but then book and ride my next LL (Barnstormer), can I immediately book my next LL (Little Mermaid) or will I still be restricted to the 2 hour wait?

Getting SDD for a specific time is a total crap shoot. If you delay while waiting for times to climb, you risk missing out or getting a really late time.

No, you won't be able to grab another LL after tapping into, in your example, Barnstormer. You will have to wait until 1pm to book again. This "loophole" was closed last week.

 

[BrotherCraig]

Can someone let me know if this scenario is hypothetically doable?
7am: Book SDD for 3pm
11am: Book Barnstormer for 11:30
11:30: Ride Barnstormer
11:35 Book Little Mermaid for 12pm
Basically what I want to know is if I have an LL I haven't used (SDD), but then book and ride my next LL (Barnstormer), can I immediately book my next LL (Little Mermaid) or will I still be restricted to the 2 hour wait?

Park hopping? Barnstormer is over at MK. I don't recall choosing times. Just took what it was given. Maybe I am reading this wrong - strong possibility.

 

[Snow L]

Getting SDD for a specific time is a total crap shoot. If you delay while waiting for times to climb, you risk missing out or getting a really late time.

No, you won't be able to grab another LL after tapping into, in your example, Barnstormer. You will have to wait until 1pm to book again.

Yes, I would be park hopping, but the times are just made up to get to my actual question, which you answered about grabbing another LL. I was under the impression I wouldnt be able to do that either, but I just read a touring plans blog article that stated otherwise.

 

[BrotherCraig]

Yes, I would be park hopping, but the times are just made up to get to my actual question, which you answered about grabbing another LL. I was under the impression I wouldnt be able to do that either, but I just read a touring plans blog article that stated otherwise.

The TP blog is correct with the updated rules.