Disney Genie and Genie+ at Walt Disney World

[dreday3]

We also don't go for that long - don't think we have ever done more than 5 nights (usually 3-4) so more focused ... But (so far) to at least once a year for that shorter period, and then do other vacations each year to other places that are more actual "vacation"

We do one big vacation a year - that's what works with my job. Maybe a long weekend somewhere close too same year.

So wherever we go, we stay a while.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What is genie+ like? Is it a good experience or are people glued to their phones all day? Genuinely curious because I haven't been to WDW since pre Genie+. Been a while since it's been out too, and just never looked into it.

Tokyo Disney just announced a free fastpass basically. I guess they're testing the waters, but it's unfortunate that free fastpass is long gone in the states.

As to the question of what G+ is like ... We found it to be very efficient when we used it. We got way more use out of it and for more in demand rides than with FP+. Especially combined with park hoping and stacking for your 2nr park, you can really get a lot done....

BUT it did take some more on the fly project management and did feel like in my phone more - just checking for how return times are looking to prepare for when the time came we could book our next,etc .... Definitely felt like had less "stop to smell the roses) moments

For our next trip it is looking like low crowds so likely won't get it, but even if crowds were higher we would likely only get it for some days and those would be the go, go, go days and the other days would be the slower park days to take them in and do shows and things like that

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What is genie+ like? Is it a good experience or are people glued to their phones all day? Genuinely curious because I haven't been to WDW since pre Genie+. Been a while since it's been out too, and just never looked into it.

Tokyo Disney just announced a free fastpass basically. I guess they're testing the waters, but it's unfortunate that free fastpass is long gone in the states.

It can be very good if you manipulate it the right way

But you are phone glued

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We do one big vacation a year - that's what works with my job. Maybe a long weekend somewhere close too same year.

So wherever we go, we stay a while.

Honest question: do you go anywhere else?

 

[dreday3]

Honest question: do you go anywhere else?

Honest question: did you read any further? or before?

Of course we do. I don't talk about it here because this is about Disney.

I have to laugh that when people assume no one travels anywhere else because they talk about their Disney trips on a Disney board. I also belong to cruise boards, facebook groups for different vacation spots. We travel to some horror conventions. We even belong to a camping group, but I book cabins instead.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Honest question: did you read any further?

Guess I didn’t?

But this can be fun…without looking: are you a “one outta three?”

 

[Purduevian]

It can be very good if you manipulate it the right way

But you are phone glued

I feel like this was also true of FP+ for me... Only difference is on G+ my phone glue starts about an hour and a half after park opening (usually when I tap into my first LL). vs ~2 and a half hours on FP+ (after tapping into my 3rd FP)

 

[dreday3]

Guess I didn’t?

But this can be fun…without looking: are you a “one outta three?”

I don't know what that means.

Our next trip in the works is Lima, Peru. It's a big one, so will take smaller trips around the US for next couple years while we save for it.
If you really want to hear about my other vacations, I can email you all about them.

To pass my time until Lima (or whatever next destination we have planned), I watch a lot of YouTube walking tours of it and the smaller day trips we can take while there.
I also read/post on this board even when we don't have trips planned for Disney because I like to.

 

[Chi84]

We travel to some horror conventions.

 

[GhostHost1000]

It wasn’t needed on Memorial Day weekend, hoss

Agreed. I was surprised how low the crowds were. They did pick up a little after Memorial Day weekend however

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't know what that means.

Our next trip in the works is Lima, Peru. It's a big one, so will take smaller trips around the US for next couple years while we save for it.
If you really want to hear about my other vacations, I can email you all about them.

I ask for my own stupidity research/curiosity

Blame Disney…they track customers by “baskets” that they fall into

So how often do you end up at Disney parks? The “frequent” are nuts like me…the next step is “3 years”…then the “seldom” comes after

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Agreed. I was surprised how low the crowds were. They did pick up a little after Memorial Day weekend however

Not surprising…little bit of a summer travel bump.

But it ain’t crowded…still

 

[dreday3]

I ask for my own stupidity research/curiosity

Blame Disney…they track customers by “baskets” that they fall into

So how often do you end up at Disney parks? The “frequent” are nuts like me…the next step is “3 years”…then the “seldom” comes after

We'd been going every 3 to 4. Then we went in 2021 and back in 2023 because 2021 was a bit weird.
Now we are back to every 3 or 4 again.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Not surprising…little bit of a summer travel bump.

But it ain’t crowded…still

Very true. Disney Springs was pretty crowded on the weekend evenings but it’s a lot cheaper to go there

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I feel like this was also true of FP+ for me... Only difference is on G+ my phone glue starts about an hour and a half after park opening (usually when I tap into my first LL). vs ~2 and a half hours on FP+ (after tapping into my 3rd FP)

I found fastpass+…which sucked…fell into two categories:
1. The lazy 3 and outs (guilty)…that never bothered to try. Also the most vocal complainers since. Lazy
2. Those that tell tales of “all those fastpasses” that tried to use it like old and spent a lot of time getting throwaway ones and going on their phones

 

[Chi84]

I found fastpass+…which sucked…fell into two categories:
1. The lazy 3 and outs (guilty)…that never bothered to try. Also the most vocal complainers since. Lazy
2. Those that tell tales of “all those fastpasses” that tried to use it like old and spent a lot of time getting throwaway ones and going on their phones

Please don't label people who like different things "lazy." There were many times we had other things to do and were fine with three. In many ways, Walt Disney "World" and the parks included were designed more for the way we use them than the ones who pound rides. I know what you mean, but maybe choose a less insulting term.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We'd been going every 3 to 4. Then we went in 2021 and back in 2023 because 2021 was a bit weird.
Now we are back to every 3 or 4 again.

Ok…our travel patterns do influence our Disney fandom. Just interesting to see where we all fall. Myself included.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Please don't label people who like different things "lazy." There were many times we had other things to do and were fine with three. In many ways, Walt Disney "World" and the parks included were designed more for the way we use them than the ones who pound rides. I know what you mean, but maybe choose a less insulting term.

Ok…I will withdraw “lazy”…I was lazy on the 3 and outs…but I’ll own it.

But what all of we 3s did…and it has to be owned…is allow Blue Ocean Bob to devalue the product…the park ticket in this case:

When plus was unveiled - an elaborate excuse to get wifi paid for - the daily ticket was I think like $78 and up?
When it ended…it was $104-$150 ish?

So pre-fast pass…the expectation - traditional - was somewhere around 7-9 attractions on average per day.

When plus went in…ops started tossing the number 6 around. We 3s sunk that expectation even lower.

You follow? Less value. Not a subjective term in this case. And it was for everyone as crowds swelled with no new capacity. Because Bob gleaned he didn’t need it and tossed around nonsense terms…
We are all connected in the great circle of life, simba.

And yes…that lead to the bad universally hated genie. It gives license to largesse.

But we don’t agree and yet I find my self loving you ANYWAY?!?

 

[Chi84]

Ok…I will withdraw “lazy”…I was lazy on the 3 and outs…but I’ll own it.

But what all of we 3s did…and it has to be owned…is allow Blue Ocean Bob to devalue the product…the park ticket in this case:

When plus was unveiled - an elaborate excuse to get wifi paid for - the daily ticket was I think like $78 and up?
When it ended…it was $104-$150 ish?

So pre-fast pass…the expectation - traditional - was somewhere around 7-9 attractions on average per day.

When plus went in…ops started tossing the number 6 around. We 3s sunk that expectation even lower.

You follow? Less value. Not a subjective term in this case. And it was for everyone as crowds swelled with no new capacity. Because Bob gleaned he didn’t need it and tossed around nonsense terms…
We are all connected in the great circle of life, simba.

And yes…that lead to the bad universally hated genie. It gives license to largesse.

But we don’t agree and yet I find my self loving you ANYWAY?!?

Food is an example of something with objective value. But I’m not going to argue, so . . .

 

[dreday3]

Ok…our travel patterns do influence our Disney fandom. Just interesting to see where we all fall. Myself included.

When it comes to Disney fandom - I am a big Disney Parks fan, but that's really it.

I do enjoy the classic animation (Cinderella, Pinocchio etc., plus newer like Tangled, Encanto), but I'm not really super into the shows, movies, I will watch some, but only once available to stream ( I do like to discuss them though because I just like to discuss things). We only buy merchandise while on vacation and even then, not a ton. Only things related to the parks.

We do have Disney + but I rarely watch it at all and my husband watches the Marvel and Star Wars stuff.

But I love the parks. And hopefully they will always stay in our 3 to 4 year rotation.