The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[gottalovepluto]

Thank you for answering! Unfortunately A. I just saw this now and B. Slinky Dog went down as we were waiting to ride! Since it was the end of the day they gave us a fast pass to use tomorrow at Epcot, but it’s not good for Soarin or Test Track.

Wow… just… wow…

 

[jenniferahardin87]

2 adults going 3/6 (so excited), here is the plan i came up with so far - trying to wrap my head around G+

trying to get a late start to the day to allow for some sleeping in & not being rushed. also trying to do this in order of the park but i feel i have enough time to zig zag a bit if G+ windows work out that way

if going by the below, suggestions on what times i should try to book the ILL$ for Remy & Frozen?

7am - book ILL$ for Remy & Frozen, and G+ for Test Track
arrive to park during window given for test Track
ride test track with G+
12pm or after 2nd tap at TT - book G+ for soarin
ride mission space orange stand by
ride soarin with g+
2pm or after 2nd tap at soarin - book G+ for living with the land
ride living with the land w/ G+
ride Remy with ILL$ during that window
ride Frozen with ILL$ during that window
watch harmonious

 

[CarolynFH]

Do LL selections get cancelled if i cancel my park res to book a different park? For example, park res for Epcot but book HS LL's for park hop.. but decide want to head to HS earlier than 2 and there are passes still available. Is it possible to cancel Epcot and grab HS, without losing the LLs?

No, your LL selections won’t be canceled. Just be sure to cancel your park reservation for Epcot and rebook for DHS before you go.

 

[Doingitagain]

We have a group of nine. What is the strategy? Can someone book ILL for the whole group while someone else books another ILL for the whole group while someone else books Genie+LL for the whole group? Not sure we will do that, but want to know if it is an option.

 

[g-dad66]

We have a group of nine. What is the strategy? Can someone book ILL for the whole group while someone else books another ILL for the whole group while someone else books Genie+LL for the whole group? Not sure we will do that, but want to know if it is an option.

Yes, that can be done.

 

[Sydnerella]

Has anyone had the security code issue over the last few weeks? This is where you try to buy an ILL ride, only to be told you need to enter a security code first, from an email that was just sent to you? That sure slowed me down in November. Hoping it has improved since then!

Me too on Thanksgiving week - I was in a password/verify loop for 12 minutes as I watched all of the G+ passes go bye-bye and could do nothing about it! My first magic kingdom tears of frustration! That poor young man at GET Didn’t know what to do with me but did take care of me after I waited in a very long line with others who had same issue. Unfortunately that was one line out of many that week.

Man I hope that problem has been fixed!

Between this issue, heavy crowds, Disney “fixing” the double and triple stack hack mid-trip, ROTR/TT/HM break downs, my in-laws staying at the Swan - My Thanksgiving 9 day trip regarding booking of LLs was a big ‘ol cluster.

GET has a long list of issues/fixes for me which I confirmed on a recent IT phone call - my account is laden with guest issues and accommodation notes.

 

[MaveDatthews]

If I want to book an ILL for later in the day but at 7 am the times available are all in the morning, do I just wait until a later time eventually comes up? Basically does it default to only giving you the next available time? Thanks!

 

[JackJack55]

If I want to book an ILL for later in the day but at 7 am the times available are all in the morning, do I just wait until a later time eventually comes up? Basically does it default to only giving you the next available time? Thanks!

This is also my issue for an upcoming July trip where I will be at a conference during the day, and my family will wait to go into the parks with me in the evening. Do we just keep on refreshing until return times are way later in the day? Unfortunately I’m afraid by the time I wait until 2 hours after my first selection, everything else may be gone.
I’m already planning on sitting in the back row of the conference room stalking MDE

 

[wisblue]

If I want to book an ILL for later in the day but at 7 am the times available are all in the morning, do I just wait until a later time eventually comes up? Basically does it default to only giving you the next available time? Thanks!

For the paid ILL (known on here as ILL$) you can select your time.

See the sticky thread about everything Genie + and Lightning Lane for details.

 

[Runnsally]

Just had my first GP/LL experience. Overall, worked better for us ($ aside) than FP+ as much easier to ride the more sought after attractions and the waits in the LL were really short. A few thoughts…

- the system underscores the huge capacity problem at WDW; next available by 11am was often early evening (with average crowds)

- GP is way underpriced at $15pp - would expect it to be $30ish before too long; otherwise too many users

- really need to aggressively refresh to find earlier times to make GP worth it (the lack of a modify function is a killer in this regard)

- impressed that at least thus far, WDW has resisted the temptation to increase LL availability and LL wait times

- the fact that the time you select is often not the time you are offered on the confirmation screen is incredibly frustrating

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

2 adults going 3/6 (so excited), here is the plan i came up with so far - trying to wrap my head around G+

trying to get a late start to the day to allow for some sleeping in & not being rushed. also trying to do this in order of the park but i feel i have enough time to zig zag a bit if G+ windows work out that way

if going by the below, suggestions on what times i should try to book the ILL$ for Remy & Frozen?

7am - book ILL$ for Remy & Frozen, and G+ for Test Track
arrive to park during window given for test Track
ride test track with G+
12pm or after 2nd tap at TT - book G+ for soarin
ride mission space orange stand by
ride soarin with g+
2pm or after 2nd tap at soarin - book G+ for living with the land
ride living with the land w/ G+
ride Remy with ILL$ during that window
ride Frozen with ILL$ during that window
watch harmonious

I'd build my G+ selections around the ILL purchases and prioritize Remy over Frozen. Book Remy ILL first and then go in and select your first G+ attraction. Those two actions will dictate your park touring plans. Just remember on G+, if you don't like what you see at first, keep refreshing and refreshing and refreshing.... for more options/different times.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

2 adults going 3/6 (so excited), here is the plan i came up with so far - trying to wrap my head around G+

trying to get a late start to the day to allow for some sleeping in & not being rushed. also trying to do this in order of the park but i feel i have enough time to zig zag a bit if G+ windows work out that way

if going by the below, suggestions on what times i should try to book the ILL$ for Remy & Frozen?

7am - book ILL$ for Remy & Frozen, and G+ for Test Track
arrive to park during window given for test Track
ride test track with G+
12pm or after 2nd tap at TT - book G+ for soarin
ride mission space orange stand by
ride soarin with g+
2pm or after 2nd tap at soarin - book G+ for living with the land
ride living with the land w/ G+
ride Remy with ILL$ during that window
ride Frozen with ILL$ during that window
watch harmonious

Also, my comment comment about booking your ILL$ assumes you're on a disney onsite resort guest. If you are staying off site your ILL$ will be purchased at park open.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

So many pages and tips...great stuff.

May I ask...for a Genie+...how to you secure them for later in the evening? Is there a tip or method? for example if I am going to MK after 5pm I know I can buy a SDD and SM LL$ if I want to...but in the morning how do I get a PP or a Buzz for after 5pm?

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Not really a way to practice, but here's a video on buying an individual lightning lane pass:

And a Genie+ pass:

There's 6.5% tax on this service! sad.

 

[peteykirch]

So many pages and tips...great stuff.

May I ask...for a Genie+...how to you secure them for later in the evening? Is there a tip or method? for example if I am going to MK after 5pm I know I can buy a SDD and SM LL$ if I want to...but in the morning how do I get a PP or a Buzz for after 5pm?

Unless you are hopping into MK after going to a park earlier in the day, your only option would be to keep refreshing the Tip Board to get a time that works for you as they get filled up.

If you start at Epcot, and hop to MK in the afternoon/evening any Genie+ selection will automatically be pushed out to the first available one from 2PM onwards.

 

[jenniferahardin87]

Also, my comment comment about booking your ILL$ assumes you're on a disney onsite resort guest. If you are staying off site your ILL$ will be purchased at park open.

Yes staying at Caribbean beach sorry should have mentioned. Can I book both ILL$ at once or is there a cool down period for these as well

 

[wisblue]

So many pages and tips...great stuff.

May I ask...for a Genie+...how to you secure them for later in the evening? Is there a tip or method? for example if I am going to MK after 5pm I know I can buy a SDD and SM LL$ if I want to...but in the morning how do I get a PP or a Buzz for after 5pm?

If you want PP and Buzz for an arrival after 5 PM, keep an eye on return times for PP first. It will get out to 5 PM much earlier than Buzz. You don't have to refresh the app constantly because, once the initial wave of LL selections are made, the return times will move out more slowly, but steadily.

Of course, LL return times move out faster on more crowded days, but you should be seeing return times for PP to be approaching 5 PM sometime by late morning. Return times for Buzz are usually not much more than an hour or so out from the current time.

 

[Turksmom]

Yes staying at Caribbean beach sorry should have mentioned. Can I book both ILL$ at once or is there a cool down period for these as well

No cool down, you can book both at once.

 

[Brian4891]

2 adults going 3/6 (so excited), here is the plan i came up with so far - trying to wrap my head around G+

trying to get a late start to the day to allow for some sleeping in & not being rushed. also trying to do this in order of the park but i feel i have enough time to zig zag a bit if G+ windows work out that way

if going by the below, suggestions on what times i should try to book the ILL$ for Remy & Frozen?

7am - book ILL$ for Remy & Frozen, and G+ for Test Track
arrive to park during window given for test Track
ride test track with G+
12pm or after 2nd tap at TT - book G+ for soarin
ride mission space orange stand by
ride soarin with g+
2pm or after 2nd tap at soarin - book G+ for living with the land
ride living with the land w/ G+
ride Remy with ILL$ during that window
ride Frozen with ILL$ during that window
watch harmonious

This plan will definitely work, but if you want to save a few bucks, it may be worth considering skipping Genie Plus at Epcot.

You are already paying for Remy and Frozen. The only other ride in the park that gets a high wait time is Test Track. There is nothing else that you will really be using Genie+ on in that park. It’s 4pm as I write this and Soarin is at 15 minutes. So you have to ask yourself, is it worth $15 per person to skip the line for test track?

 

[jenniferahardin87]

This plan will definitely work, but if you want to save a few bucks, it may be worth considering skipping Genie Plus at Epcot.

You are already paying for Remy and Frozen. The only other ride in the park that gets a high wait time is Test Track. There is nothing else that you will really be using Genie+ on in that park. It’s 4pm as I write this and Soarin is at 15 minutes. So you have to ask yourself, is it worth $15 per person to skip the line for test track?

I already paid for it when I booked my ticket, not knowing which park I was going to choose. So, I’ll use it at every line to feel I got my money worth