Will we be zig-zagging all day with Genie +?

[Jchoma]

We are going to WDW the week before Easter, staying onsite (POR). We’ve done spring break trips before, but FP and good itineraries helped us avoid long waits. So now I’m learning about genie plus, and it just feels like we won’t have as much control or choice over how the days unfold. From what I’m reading, some people love genie + and others, not so much. I want to keep an open mind and be a smart planner but it feels like so much of genie + comes down to chance…am I missing something? I’d really appreciate any input on these questions below so we can be prepared.

1) How is it possible to avoid zig-zagging across the park as you book your LLs throughout the day? This was one reason I loved FP…we could map out a loose itinerary based on times we wanted to be in a certain area. With Genie, I’m so worried I’ll have to just take what’s available throughout the day here & there.
2) I plan to log in at 7 to book LL each morning. No issue there. But since a LL time is just assigned
and it sounds like you pretty much have to take it, what happens if it you really can’t make that time work? Example: what if you want a mid-day break, but the first LL you book at 7am for a popular ride is only available at 1pm? Can you keep refreshing to see alternate times?
3)What has your experience with Genie + been and what tips have you learned to really maximize it?

 

[GBRforWDW]

We are going to WDW the week before Easter, staying onsite (POR). We’ve done spring break trips before, but FP and good itineraries helped us avoid long waits. So now I’m learning about genie plus, and it just feels like we won’t have as much control or choice over how the days unfold. From what I’m reading, some people love genie + and others, not so much. I want to keep an open mind and be a smart planner but it feels like so much of genie + comes down to chance…am I missing something? I’d really appreciate any input on these questions below so we can be prepared.

1) How is it possible to avoid zig-zagging across the park as you book your LLs throughout the day? This was one reason I loved FP…we could map out a loose itinerary based on times we wanted to be in a certain area. With Genie, I’m so worried I’ll have to just take what’s available throughout the day here & there.
2) I plan to log in at 7 to book LL each morning. No issue there. But since a LL time is just assigned
and it sounds like you pretty much have to take it, what happens if it you really can’t make that time work? Example: what if you want a mid-day break, but the first LL you book at 7am for a popular ride is only available at 1pm? Can you keep refreshing to see alternate times?
3)What has your experience with Genie + been and what tips have you learned to really maximize it?

All good questions! As a beginner, and we all are with Genie+, there's definitely a learning curve to try and figure out how to use it to your advantage. We used it a lot over Christmas and definitely felt a sense of zigzagging.

1. The worst parks for zigzagging are Magic Kingdom and Epcot mostly due to size of parks. Magic Kingdom could be resolved by stacking your LLs in one land/area throughout the day while doing standby in other parts of the park up until then. Epcot was tricky for us due to dining reservations and Candlelight Processional.

2. For various reasons, I knew we wouldn't get to the park until closer to noon each day, so at 7am, I was refreshing until I got afternoon times for the rides I wanted to book. This made it easier to afternoon stack, but also hard because you're tied to those times once you get them. You can cancel, but if you wait too long you throw off your next selection time.

3. I liked using Genie+, but I really appreciated the ILL$ that were lowered to G+ Christmas week. I felt like that really helped with availability. I think there are 2 ways of utilizing G+. You can either maximize by getting the most passes or Optimize, using it to your advantage. I think you can optimize G+ in MK and DHS by charting a path based on later return times. In MK, I would grab a late afternoon Jungle Cruise first at 7, then at 11, Peter pan for the time that's available, but hopefully it's several hours away from the JC time. Then throughout the day, grab Pirates, big thunder, splash and haunted mansion as available, but hopefully in somewhat of an order so as not to backtrack. You can do most of the rest of the park via standby.

For maximizing, choose a really early return time for your first ride. Maybe don't go for the top ride of the park. You can usually get a return within 30 minutes of park opening if you are on right at 7 and selecting the second best ride. Then grab passes with near return times after especially rides close to you. If you can do early entry and do the top ride before park opening, then selecting second best ride won't be an issue.

 

[Jchoma]

All good questions! As a beginner, and we all are with Genie+, there's definitely a learning curve to try and figure out how to use it to your advantage. We used it a lot over Christmas and definitely felt a sense of zigzagging.

1. The worst parks for zigzagging are Magic Kingdom and Epcot mostly due to size of parks. Magic Kingdom could be resolved by stacking your LLs in one land/area throughout the day while doing standby in other parts of the park up until then. Epcot was tricky for us due to dining reservations and Candlelight Processional.

2. For various reasons, I knew we wouldn't get to the park until closer to noon each day, so at 7am, I was refreshing until I got afternoon times for the rides I wanted to book. This made it easier to afternoon stack, but also hard because you're tied to those times once you get them. You can cancel, but if you wait too long you throw off your next selection time.

3. I liked using Genie+, but I really appreciated the ILL$ that were lowered to G+ Christmas week. I felt like that really helped with availability. I think there are 2 ways of utilizing G+. You can either maximize by getting the most passes or Optimize, using it to your advantage. I think you can optimize G+ in MK and DHS by charting a path based on later return times. In MK, I would grab a late afternoon Jungle Cruise first at 7, then at 11, Peter pan for the time that's available, but hopefully it's several hours away from the JC time. Then throughout the day, grab Pirates, big thunder, splash and haunted mansion as available, but hopefully in somewhat of an order so as not to backtrack. You can do most of the rest of the park via standby.

For maximizing, choose a really early return time for your first ride. Maybe don't go for the top ride of the park. You can usually get a return within 30 minutes of park opening if you are on right at 7 and selecting the second best ride. Then grab passes with near return times after especially rides close to you. If you can do early entry and do the top ride before park opening, then selecting second best ride won't be an issue.

 

[Jchoma]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for these great tips!