The Pro-Genie App discussion thread - speculate how the app could make your trip next trip great!

[monstermash23]

I know the rumors seem to say otherwise, but I have a hard time believing that there won't be some perk to on site guests in all of this. They build hotel after hotel, DVC after DVC, and they have to fill them. Logic says that if they are charging for FP, people are going to start staying offsite to save money on accommodations to make up the difference in their budget. I don't *think* Disney wants guests staying offsite (although the end to the DME also surprised me in this regard). But I'd expect offsite to start looking more and more attractive, especially for those staying at the moderate and value levels, because let's be honest, without the convenience of walking to any of the parks, there's not a whole lot of difference between staying onsite and using Disney transportation and staying offsite and using an Uber - except that staying offsite is cheaper and Uber is arguably more efficient.

I think and hope you are right. I was surprised with the way they handled the extra hours perk adjustments (giving to deluxe and DVC), so histoircally speaking what you said should be the most accurate prediction. I’m also hopeful we can still plan ahead (as I fall squarely into the prefer to plan in advance category) but that’s more personal preference then logistical and that might go away given the rumors. I’d be happy to adjust to that part though. Disneyland was an easy adjustment for us with Maxpass, against planning FP+ 60 days out.

 

[monstermash23]

The bolded is they key for me. I’m hopeful we will be getting something more elevated than FP+. If so, I’ll be happy to pay.

I think the point the comment you’re referencing here was trying to make is: there is currently a looooooooong thread on this topic with plenty of people expressing how unhappy they are with these potential changes. I’m happy a thread was started where those of us who are fairy excited are able to hash out some of the potential benefits.

Fair enough, thank you for pointing that. I’ll bow out and put my comments in the other thread.

 

[_19disnA]

No idea what this supposed new app does and from glancing over the prior comments, don't seem like anyone else knows either. We go on vacation to relax, enjoy our time and be spontaneous. Apps that require you to spend more time with your nose glued to your phone isn't our idea of a vacation. Most apps seem to be viewed by companies as a potential revenue generator.............ummmm no thanks, I do just fine visiting Disney without it.

 

[snowwhite84]

Fair enough, thank you for pointing that. I’ll bow out and put my comments in the other thread.

No worries, I’m active on that other thread as well! Lots of good, varying perspectives going on.

ETA the thread if you’re interested:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-return-or-replacement.3846652/

 

[JETSDAD]

My hope (please please please) is that there will still be a free FP component even if there is also a paid option. For instance, if they keep a certain amount of inventory for those willing to pay, or FP inventory opens up within x minutes of the current time to release FP's remaining after those who wish to pay have done so. Something like that I'd be fine with and it would likely still favour the hardcore FP users. If it is all paid and then just recommendations for which SB lines to get into that will be annoying.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

I know the rumors seem to say otherwise, but I have a hard time believing that there won't be some perk to on site guests in all of this. They build hotel after hotel, DVC after DVC, and they have to fill them. Logic says that if they are charging for FP, people are going to start staying offsite to save money on accommodations to make up the difference in their budget. I don't *think* Disney wants guests staying offsite (although the end to the DME also surprised me in this regard). But I'd expect offsite to start looking more and more attractive, especially for those staying at the moderate and value levels, because let's be honest, without the convenience of walking to any of the parks, there's not a whole lot of difference between staying onsite and using Disney transportation and staying offsite and using an Uber - except that staying offsite is cheaper and Uber is arguably more efficient.

I agree, and that is why I believe there will be some no-charge "wishes" with Genie, based upon whatever components Disney chooses (type of hotel, length of stay, DVC, AP, etc). This might just be wishful thinking on my part, but in any case, I "wish" they would just go ahead and release the Genie now.

 

[snowwhite84]

My number one hope is there is at least SOME element of being able to pre plan. I need to know in advance if I need to get my family out the door at 7am for FoP rope drop!

 

[Rich Bastien]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but when do you guys foresee the app actually becoming available or at very least when do you guys foresee a detailed description.

I know no one really knows, just seems a good conversation starter.

My guess is Disney is aiming for October 1 so look for an official start date to be announced any day, for it to be rolled out in October 2021 and "unexpectedly" not work right away, and maybe by the end of 2022 for it to function as Disney says it will.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

My guess is Disney is aiming for October 1 so look for an official start date to be announced any day, for it to be rolled out in October 2021 and "unexpectedly" not work right away, and maybe by the end of 2022 for it to function as Disney says it will.

 

[shoegal9]

I'll pay to skip the line for Tron and Guardians only. The rest I will pass and either wait standby (if reasonable) or skip altogether. But that is easy for me to say because I live in South Florida, I'm a DVC member, and I go to WDW like 10 times a year for both weekends and long trips. For me, if I go to a park and its nuts, then I go on a couple rides, grab some cocktails and do something else. Those who really save up $$$ for infrequent trips are a different story- and if they cannot ride something simply because they cannot afford it- then that sucks. As long as standby lines remain an option- then it is what it is. But to force someone to pay to ride, or take their chances on being ALLOWED to enter a line, is NOT okay when they have already paid for a park ticket.

I do, however, think it will be cool if it has the capability to surprise you with things while in parks or on property in general. Please Disney- just move me right up to the top of the Trader Sam's waitlist. I'll take it.

 

[RescueRanger]

I’m one of the few who is looking forward to the Genie app, even if it includes a paid FP option.



Honestly, it fits better with the way our family enjoys the parks. Like everyone, our goal is to ride the bear rides and spend as little time as possible in line.



Revisit the parks an average of every 18 months.



Between the kids school and sports schedules, our vacation dates are limited to the busiest or hottest times of the year. It seemed inevitable for us to be doomed to line misery.



We’ve resigned ourselves to using the Rope drop and late night strategies combined with FP+ and a touring plan to get us through. It works but on our last pre-Covid visit, we struggled to sustain the excitement we were accustomed to. It seemed we either needed to accept our fate or save $$$ for a VIP tour.



We’re really excited about all the new rides and entertainment at the parks but we know that everyone else is excited too.



The Genie app gives us back 2 things - spontaneity and time. What it takes away is our ability to go every 18 months. We’re going to have to push that out to pay for LP+ upgrades.



I realize that not everyone is excited about this change but for us, this may make our next trip better than the one before.

So, how long have you worked for Disney? How does one go about joining Disney’s social media influence team? I will withhold my final judgment until I see what all the Genie entails. However, if it is a strictly pay to play system, I will probably sell all of my DVC points and never go again. If there is some form of free picks for resort guest, it may change my mind. We shall see.

 

[Gabby01]

I don’t need FP either way so I’m mostly just curious. It would be cool if I could ask the genie questions like “Where’s the nearest place to buy coconut patties”—never did find any on my last trip!

 

[DisneyKidds]

It is called the Genie app because it grants you 3 wishes, all 3 of them are free Fastpasses - but maybe only for guests staying at Deluxe resorts ... Wishful thinking?

*Poof*

Ten thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck! Here are you Magical free fast pass Wishes for Philharmagic, Carousel of Progress, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. Enjoy!

Bwada..da…..dada, Bwada..da….dada..
You Ain’t…..Ever…Had a Friend Like…..Me!!

 

[Heather07438]

WDW is built on guest experience. I doubt after years planning the new system they overlooked it would make everybody miserable.

 

[AllisonsMunecas]

I am hoping there is a free fastpass component, but also a paid fastpass component. On my trip to Tokyo Disneyland, we had paid fastpasses that came with our package (I think I opted for 12 of them), and it made our trip so much less stressful and a lot more efficient. Yes, the package was more expensive, but it was totally worth it to us. I understand that not everyone can or is willing to pay extra for that, so I do hope they still allow folks free ones, but I would be glad to fork over the $$ to make my trip less stressful and allow me to enjoy more. This is assuming with a paid fastpass, there would be a little more than an hour window that you could arrive to your attraction.

 

[glocon]

I commend you on being able to jump for joy when Disney decides to potentially offer less for more money. How could I have been so stupid….this is obviously the only approach that’s right

I don’t think she meant it’s the only approach, or that she was jumping for joy. Just that maybe we need to wait and see what it is and give it a chance.
People generally don’t like change, and on the Dis we really don’t like it. But we adjust and figure out how best to make things work for us. And we share our strategies.
We have some information but not all of it, and until we know more let’s try to hope for the best.

 

[monstermash23]

I don’t think she meant it’s the only approach, or that she was jumping for joy. Just that maybe we need to wait and see what it is and give it a chance.
People generally don’t like change, and on the Dis we really don’t like it. But we adjust and figure out how best to make things work for us. And we share our strategies.
We have some information but not all of it, and until we know more let’s try to hope for the best.

I’m aware of what she meant.

Sarcastic remarks from myself withstanding, of course i’m hoping for the best here. And for the record, I think some people mistake the negativity I convey as if I (or others) are here to only bash Disney. That isn’t the case at all. I care very much for Disney. I love what they have offered us for over 30+ years and have happily gave them our money for unforgettable experiences. I’m attached to the magic, the nostalgia and everything in between. Have been for a long time. I’ve adjusted many times to their decision making and changes, and mostly have done so happily. But like watching a family member making bad choices, it is that level of care that prompts me to take the approach where I express my concerns in a negative way (call it Disney bashing or whatever anyone wants) on a public forum like this. I mean we could write pages and pages about what we love regarding Disney right? But I’m here to learn and consume info regarding changes and how it impacts for future trips, primarily. And in that light, I’m worried that Disney’s potential new cost cutting culture is taking shape and running rampant. I’m worried that the guest experience is not front and center as it used to be. I’m worried that they are getting into the habit of giving us less while we spend more. I’m worried that new cast members will never know the old Disney and the standard that many are used to in terms of hospitality from them. I don’t know where the line gets drawn (meaning when does it become too much and I stop going) but my deep care and love for Disney and our history with it is what drives me to speak out on a public forum in this way, in hopes that other people feel the same way and collectively speak out as well, and that ultimately at the end of the road it all provides useful feedback for Disney to logistically draw from (whether that last part actually comes to fruition or not is probably unlikely I guess, but still).

Of course I’m hoping for the best with a Disney offering (and I’m assuming others are too that mirror my take on this) and want the best for my future trips. And of course if we decide to continue going, then we will adjust again just like we always have. I hope I’m wrong here regarding my assumptions with the current facts and rumors that are out. I said I would take the negative perspective out of this thread and I will, but wanted to make that very clear first and foremost. This is a public forum to discuss Disney. Some people want it to be purely positive talk. Some people want to express their opinions. There is room for both in my eyes.

 

[StuckInKS]

I would be ok with it if it offers 1 pass per person per day for those staying on-site. An additional 1 pass per person per day if you are staying at a moderate and 1 more if you are at a deluxe or DVC. I would add an additional 2 passes per day for AP holders. This would mean that if you are DVC with an AP and already giving WDW a good chunk of change every year, you get 5 passes per person per day.

Big no on the AP extras (you must be AP). We have had APs twice (we live far out of state) and both years we ended up paying less overall even though our APs were not discounted for being local (regular APs < two sets of 10-day tickets) and we were able to do much more because we weren't limited to 10 days per trip. Oh, I believe we also got 30%-40% off rooms, 20% discounts on all merch and some food, which was amazing. APs already gets a lot of benefits and in no way should get more FP perks than everyone else.

 

[Liquidice]

Big no on the AP extras (you must be AP). We have had APs twice (we live far out of state) and both years we ended up paying less overall even though our APs were not discounted for being local (regular APs < two sets of 10-day tickets) and we were able to do much more because we weren't limited to 10 days per trip. Oh, I believe we also got 30%-40% off rooms, 20% discounts on all merch and some food, which was amazing. APs already gets a lot of benefits and in no way should get more FP perks than everyone else.

There aren't that many people that are both AP holders and DVC Members though to get you 5 FP's per day (based on the original post saying Value gets 1, Moderate gets 2, and Deluxe/DVC gets 3 and APs get 2).

I think if they did a certain number of "free" Fastpasses for different categories, AP's should be included since many AP holders are local and don't really stay on site, so they don't use the 30-40% off rooms.

Shouldn't there be some sort of perk for them? Maybe instead of 2, just 1? That wouldn't give them more FP perks than everyone else, it would be the same.

We'll see what they do, but I wouldn't have any issue if APs got some sort of FP benefit.

 

[Heather07438]

People are getting bent out of shape over details that have yet to be confirmed. Not enough information has been released to understand how the system works as a whole. I don't like the way WDW sometimes manipulates things either (for instance shortening park hours to sell more EMMs and DAHs), but we've mostly always been able to choose offerings worth what we spent. Very little is understood about what is included, how it operates, alternatives, etc. I need to know that before letting my blood pressure boil.