The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[abbiesmomma]

I would recommend reading the first posts in the 'Everything Genie' thread. It details samples of different ways to approach getting LL reservations.

I would also recommend using Thrill-Data.com. You can look up individual attractions and see how long LL reservations are lasting.

I have read it and also looked at Thrill Data... the piece that makes this day particularly difficult is that it's a busy week plus parties all around it, and I've not found not a ton of information about people's experience with days like that... I know there are two basic strategies of either stacking or refreshing for nearby times/rides... So my question is more how to decide when you pivot from what strategy to the other or is one better than the other for a day like this.

 

[wiggy500]

I have read it and also looked at Thrill Data... the piece that makes this day particularly difficult is that it's a busy week plus parties all around it, and I've not found not a ton of information about people's experience with days like that... I know there are two basic strategies of either stacking or refreshing for nearby times/rides... So my question is more how to decide when you pivot from what strategy to the other or is one better than the other for a day like this.

I went to MK on a day like that with a 7 / 10 level crowd in October. In my case I did an afternoon Jungle Cruise LL for the first one and did a quicker return with the second (Buzz). In Magic Kingdom you get to do more lightning lanes if you can work in some quick returns. But you don't want to let the priority ones get too late or they will vanish on you. I ended up bouncing back in forth between the priority and the non-priority ones. Let's say you get a Jungle Cruise LL before 11 like you want. For the second LL I would be looking for a quick return nearby and if I'm not satisfied check off one of the priorities. The day will be busy, so it's possible the quick returns may not be super quick for those second tier rides.

Something I found helpful before the trip was going on the app and seeing the available Genie Plus times two hours after open. I'd imagine what choice I would make if I was in that situation.

 

[g-dad66]

Going to MK on 11/12 as a surprise short trip for DD's 21st birthday (end of Jersey week, Saturday, between MVMCP parties... SO not an ideal date but her birthday is when it is!!!) . First time back at MK since 2019, and I am trying to get a crash course Genie+ since we've just got one day to 'get it right', lol. I've read all the strategies and watched all the videos and feel like I've got a fair grasp on how it works... but I'm not sure of the best strategy during a fairly busy day. Staying onsite so we will rope-drop and then close out the park at 11pm (all adults, no littles). We've been multiple times over the years so it's not a first/only type trip but there are still some things we'd like to accomplish.

Priorities:
Meet Mickey & Minnie
Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan
3 Mountains
7DMT (will save this for last ride/end of night)

My thought is to try to snag a hopefully early return (9-10am) LL#1 for either Meet Mickey or Jungle Cruise at 7 am, hit PP at Rope Drop 1, then Splash at Rope Drop 2, then try to grab either Mickey or Jungle Cruise for LL#2 after tapping into LL#1 which hopefully won't have too long of return times by then... then move on to the other mountains...

I think my biggest concern is not being sure how to know what strategy to employ after getting the first 2-3 things done?? On a busy day is it better to just go with what's available/nearby so you don't get locked out by the 2 hour return window as much? Or is it better to take the 'sure thing' of getting on the ride and stack them up for later in the day?? I'm trying to be a 'flexible planner' but I don't know how to pivot if the return time windows are not co-operative after multiple refreshes.

Help.

Both Mickey & Minnie Greet and Jungle Cruise LLs have been going very fast, so you will need to be quick on the draw at 7:00 am to get an early return time for either one of them. I would definitely recommend getting the Greet LL first, because it might be gone by the time you are eligible for LL#2.

You should be able to get Jungle Cruise as LL#2, and after that, you will just have to decide what your priorites are. Probably you should go for Space as LL#3 and Big Thunder as LL#4, given that those are your priorities.

I think your plan to do Peter Pan during EE, and then Splash as soon as Frontierland opens is solid. You can probably do Big Thunder after Splash without much wait.

 

[leeniewdw]

Hi everyone. We're just 2 weeks out from our trip and wanted to make sure my strategy for 7am makes sense.

At this point I think I'll be the only one on MDE at 7am, but perhaps by day 2 DH will help at 7am. We're traveling with our adult kids+SOs and they surely can manage MDE even having never used it, but I'm not sure I want to rely on them at 7am when they are in different rooms, etc.

Arrival Day (should be in DHS before noon, hopping to AK late afternoon):
7am:
#1 : SDD
#2 : RotR ILL$
#3 : FoP ILL$

Day 2: EPCOT (hopping to DHS in afternoon)
7am if we do NOT RD:
#1: Remy
#2: GoG VQ (or should #1/#2 be reversed?)
#3: GoG ILL$

Day 2: EPCOT (hopping to DHS in afternoon)
7am if we DO RD Remy:
#1: GoG VQ
#2: GoG ILL$
#3: Either TT or a ride in DHS (not sure we need to ride TT, but someone in our group may want to)

Day 3: AK (unsure of park to hop to)
7am: (probably won't RD)
#1: FoP
#2: Safari or Everest
#3: Depends on ILL$ they want to revisit and where
I'm not really worried about this day as it will be a revisit for whatever parks we choose to go to

We've got MK covered as we're attending the MK AH on 1/9. We may need to wedge Splash in the first 2 days since it'll be closed for refurb by the time the AH event happens, so we may choose to hop to MK on Day 1 after AK closes (since the hours were extended). TBD on that.

 

[CJK]

Hi everyone. We're just 2 weeks out from our trip and wanted to make sure my strategy for 7am makes sense.

At this point I think I'll be the only one on MDE at 7am, but perhaps by day 2 DH will help at 7am. We're traveling with our adult kids+SOs and they surely can manage MDE even having never used it, but I'm not sure I want to rely on them at 7am when they are in different rooms, etc.

Arrival Day (should be in DHS before noon, hopping to AK late afternoon):
7am:
#1 : SDD
#2 : RotR ILL$
#3 : FoP ILL$

Day 2: EPCOT (hopping to DHS in afternoon)
7am if we do NOT RD:
#1: Remy
#2: GoG VQ (or should #1/#2 be reversed?)
#3: GoG ILL$

Day 2: EPCOT (hopping to DHS in afternoon)
7am if we DO RD Remy:
#1: GoG VQ
#2: GoG ILL$
#3: Either TT or a ride in DHS (not sure we need to ride TT, but someone in our group may want to)

Day 3: AK (unsure of park to hop to)
7am: (probably won't RD)
#1: FoP
#2: Safari or Everest
#3: Depends on ILL$ they want to revisit and where
I'm not really worried about this day as it will be a revisit for whatever parks we choose to go to

We've got MK covered as we're attending the MK AH on 1/9. We may need to wedge Splash in the first 2 days since it'll be closed for refurb by the time the AH event happens, so we may choose to hop to MK on Day 1 after AK closes (since the hours were extended). TBD on that.

You'll definitely want to do GoG VQ first on day 2. Ideally, another family member would help you book at 7am, but definitely do the virtual queue first. GoG ILL$ is not so urgent. Have a great trip!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

At this point I think I'll be the only one on MDE at 7am

Tell your husband and your adult children that they're Charmin soft.

 

[subtchr]

I agree with switching 1&2 on day 2.

And for the last day, grab a safari before FoP. Safari times jump later pretty quick, and you should still have a good choice of FoP slots.

 

[leeniewdw]

Thank you everyone for your help and jokes!

 

[disneylover102]

The Guardians VQ fills up almost instantly so you’ll definitely need to do that first. If the time you get for Remy isn’t good enough you can modify and keep checking for a better time

 

[Disturbia]

Today the 1 pm VQ is still available due to everyone leaving and bracing for the weather (it’s an exception during holiday season).

Also I would definitely have 2 people trying to grab different things esp on a sold out HS day. My phone kept freezing for SDD while my spouse grabbed ROTR LLI$.

 

[Miffy]

Today the 1 pm VQ is still available due to everyone leaving and bracing for the weather (it’s an exception during holiday season).

Also I would definitely have 2 people trying to grab different things esp on a sold out HS day. My phone kept freezing for SDD while my spouse grabbed ROTR LLI$.

I don't know if this is true for everyone, but I had much better luck getting ILL$--and not having the screen freeze or the app crash--when I turned off Wi-Fi and used my cell service (AT&T).

 

[Disturbia]

I don't know if this is true for everyone, but I had much better luck getting ILL$--and not having the screen freeze or the app crash--when I turned off Wi-Fi and used my cell service (AT&T).

It was Spring Break. After the first week of Jan, things should slow down until MLK weekend.

 

[Jrb1979]

Today the 1 pm VQ is still available due to everyone leaving and bracing for the weather (it’s an exception during holiday season).

Also I would definitely have 2 people trying to grab different things esp on a sold out HS day. My phone kept freezing for SDD while my spouse grabbed ROTR LLI$.

I not so sure it's due to weather. The bookings aren't as full as usual. There is still lots of availability.

 

[Chuck96]

I abused the Modify Plan feature mercilessly this past week. I won’t lie, paying $25 for Genie+ was painful, even when I was only buying for three. But had two great days with it (and two wasted days [only two rides used, based on schedule]), thanks to relentlessly checking to improve times (usually to the left, when lucky, or to the right to more effectively stack). I lucked into two Remys (which I absolutely would not wait more than 40 min for, though the ride is cute). Modify Plan obviously works better with less people in the party (since you need less spots), but it made that crazy price seem less painful. Never got to VQ Guardians (since we never began at Epcot), but we just paid for it. Crass, but effective. The ILLs (at least Guardians and Flight) lasted an hour or more every day, so that was nice.

 

[Disturbia]

I not so sure it's due to weather. The bookings aren't as full as usual. There is still lots of availability.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled (people slept at airports). Roads have massive car pileups up north. Wait times (except HS) aren’t too bad (vs recently).

Lots of ADR cancellations (I saw Fantasmic Sci fi available for lunch and Dinner on the same day; Ohana, Oga’s).

 

[wilkydelts]

Modify Plan obviously works better with less people in the party (since you need less spots), but it made that crazy price seem less painful.

This is incorrect, Genie+ is not tied to group size. The slot being shown available so to everyone regardless of group size.

 

[Disturbia]

This is incorrect, Genie+ is not tied to group size. The slot being shown available so to everyone regardless of group size.

we are a party of 5 and many times I would click something that had just appeared and then get an error on the booking screen (you don’t see the error below unless you clicked Genie+ when the LL was available; it’s usually grayed out in the tip board).

A CM told me that it’s probably because the cancellation was from a smaller party. I saw this error a few times during spring break (very annoying):

 

[DLRExpert]

we are a party of 5 and many times I would click something that had just appeared and then get an error on the booking screen (you don’t see the error below unless you clicked Genie+ when the LL was available; it’s usually grayed out in the tip board).

A CM told me that it’s probably because the cancellation was from a smaller party. I saw this error a few times during spring break (very annoying):

View attachment 727279

Reason is you were to slow and someone else booked it before you

 

[disneylover102]

Sometimes it is a cancellation from a smaller party. When I went to WDW with my family back in May I would click on a sooner time and for the larger party it would change to a later time but if I reduced the party it would go back to the sooner time. But yes, it is very commonly because you were too slow and someone else got it first

 

[Disturbia]

I agree it could be either. So party size and speed matter.