Having now experienced it I’m even more in agreement with you on this. I personally loved FP+, and used it to get far more than the 3 initial rides on some (not all) days.They wanted to monetize the system. FP+ was perfect for us too (for the reasons you stated) and I would have preferred if they just charged for it.
That said, I've used Genie+/ILLs on four trips now and it's still possible to have a pretty great time at WDW without the navy seals on a mission thing. Two things are non-negotiable under the new system though; you need to start early and you need your phone. The second of these two is society-wide and will never change. I have some hope that the 7 am start may get modified somehow along the way.
On our last trip (just two of us) we were able to do everything we wanted - I calculated that it cost us around $200 more in total to do what we used to do free with FP+.
How well Genie+ works for you depends very much on how you like to vacation - the same was true for FP+. It's hard for people to think outside their own experience, which is why people end up accusing others of being lazy (on vacation lol), wasting money, wasting time, etc. None of these systems is the end of the world; it's just up to the guest to decide if and to what extent they want to use them and whether or not they make a WDW vacation no longer worth it. The answers will be different for everyone.
I don’t know about replacing, but I know there are currently new IT people that are contractedI don't know if there's much to back up the claim, but I heard Disney apparently was replacing IT workers with contractors. Apparently they are contracted for 18 months and sort of explain some unmagical things about Genie.
Not likely. FP+ is dead and buried. Advanced booking is a thing of the past. Zigzagging across the park is here to stay.Ok the 2 nighttime shows are going away and one being replaced by the previous better one, how much longer until FP+ returns? Asking for a friend
Wouldn't surprise me. Disney has a history of this. There are very few inhouse IT CM's.I don't know if there's much to back up the claim, but I heard Disney apparently was replacing IT workers with contractors. Apparently they are contracted for 18 months and sort of explain some unmagical things about Genie.
Which I'm sure played at least a small part in getting something else added, even if just a M/G.and splash mountain to be removed soon
The phone part I understand. The days of leaving my phone in the safe at the resort are done. I can live with that.
They just need to find away to modify this system to make the 7am start unnecessary. Maybe they hold back availability to later times or something.
I'm surprised there isn't a way to "pay extra" to pre reserve a LL for rides like RotR.
The biggest problem is booking an expensive vacation and having no guarantee that you will get ride all the headliners without a 3 hour wait. With FP+ that was all handled long before we arrived.
We all agree the pricing is getting ridiculous, but you can't judge the value if you don't know for sure what you will get to do.
Expecting all resort guests to get out of bed at 7am doesn't seem like a good business model for a vacation resort.
Is there ever a wait for this? Every time we have gone to see Ariel it has been very quick.Ariel's Grotto added to the Lightning Lane line-up at Magic Kingdom
Ariel's Grotto added to the Lightning Lane line-up at Magic Kingdom
Ariel's Grotto added to the Lightning Lane line-up at Magic Kingdomwww.wdwmagic.com
Pre-pandemic, yes.Is there ever a wait for this? Every time we have gone to see Ariel it has been very quick.
No there isn't. You can say that for a lot of the attractions that are on Genie+. Outside of the top rides in each park Genie+ is rarely needed.Is there ever a wait for this? Every time we have gone to see Ariel it has been very quick.
I haven't been back in post pandemic times so i only have pre-pandemic to pull from and we never had a wait. So I guess the right answer is it depends.Pre-pandemic, yes.
On this holiday weekend, the price for Genie+ is back at $29 today - the last time it was this high was January 3rd.
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Just when I start to think they're on the right track...On this holiday weekend, the price for Genie+ is back at $29 today - the last time it was this high was January 3rd.
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