Disney Genie, Genie+ officially introduced along with confirmed details of how it will work

[MickeyLuv'r]

Is there anyone who has gone recently that did not purchase Genie+ at all and would care to share their experience with me? Still trying to sort through all the options. If it helps our trip is our going to have two people, just me and my wife.

On the flip side can anyone tell me their experience if it caused you to be on your phone a lot during the day with Genie+? I'm not too hung up on the $30 it would cost us, it's more so I don't want to have to be on my phone a lot. Call me old fashioned but I think that is really where my problem boils down to

Semi-recent.

We did not buy G+ for Epcot. I did buy ILL for Rat in Epcot. My experience might not match others though...it took over an hour to get my ticket at GS for some reason, and that was a mid-day arrival. That was also during Flower Fest though, so I accepted sampling of a few foods was going to be part of our day. The park looked nice, but the topiaries weren't quite as exciting as prior years.

Rat, TT, and Soarin' had solid waits. Next day, we arrived for EE- but Epcot opened a few min before it was officially supposed to open- AND my ticket did not work, so we got held up a bit. By the time we got to Rat on 2nd day, wait was pretty long. I think we waited about 45-50, which is not something we'd normally do. Curiously, that was also extra hours night in Epcot. So we rode Rat a third time that night and only waited like 5-10minutes! Again, say the PM 2 extra hours were the best part of going to WDW right now. (Only stayed deluxe the min nights we needed.)

Otherwise, Imagination had some wait, but probably only 10-15min. Soarin' had a decent wait during reg park hours. For TT, we now mostly do single rider. I don't care about designing a car. In the morning, SE had a wait, but nothing when we went on it. Nemo was walk-on. the first day, we made a point of seeing Harmonious. I agree with what others have said. Illuminations was long-overdue for an update, but Harmonious is not a great replacement. The prior fireworks could be seen form whole lagoon and beyond. Now much of the show is like the one at Universal in that if you can't see the screen, you miss most of it. The music also isn't as cohesive. It was okay, but not a must-see like prior shows were. (Illuminations/Wishes/HappilyEA)


When we did use G+, I did a little refreshing. Taking the first G+ you see is often a mistake- except if you get SDD or GGCRewind. If you get either of those, book INSTANTLY.

Before your visit, play around with G+. That will give you a baseline of how G+ offerings jump around, and trends of how quickly waits grow. Though you can't really trust what you see, it at least gives you a baseline. when you actually go to book, times jumpt way more than that.

With FP+, you could book, then modify. So it paid to keep looing. With G+, if you don't book, refreshing sometimes = watching times slip further and further away from you. It is a bit of a sinking feeling

 

[crazy4disney]

Is there anyone who has gone recently that did not purchase Genie+ at all and would care to share their experience with me? Still trying to sort through all the options. If it helps our trip is our going to have two people, just me and my wife.

On the flip side can anyone tell me their experience if it caused you to be on your phone a lot during the day with Genie+? I'm not too hung up on the $30 it would cost us, it's more so I don't want to have to be on my phone a lot. Call me old fashioned but I think that is really where my problem boils down to

I used it this past November. I felt i was on my phone more than i was with FP+. With FP+ after our 3 or even the 2nd to try & move up the 3rd etc. The phone times were quick a few refreshesto see what was available & choose. Genie to me is nothing like that seems like you are constantly looking for something worthwhile or closer to your next time slot.

 

[mattpeto]

I believe he is saying 7 days before your vacation.

Still not great, mind you, but it would save you from having to wake up and plan this madness during your vacation.

Bing. Better than when you are there…

 

[mikejs78]

On the most recent Disney Dish, @lentesta read a current guest survey that asked guests if they preferred Genie+ or Universal Express Pass.

 

[George]

On the most recent Disney Dish, @lentesta read a current guest survey that asked guests if they preferred Genie+ or Universal Express Pass.

Bad question. Set the bar too high. They need to figure out what people prefer genie plus over. I think the next comparison will be "colonoscopy".

 

[Jrb1979]

Bad question. Set the bar too high. They need to figure out what people prefer genie plus over. I think the next comparison will be "colonoscopy".

Yes Genie+ is bad but limiting sales is a step in the right direction for fixing it.

 

[Chi84]

On the most recent Disney Dish, @lentesta read a current guest survey that asked guests if they preferred Genie+ or Universal Express Pass.

That’s not very clear since Universal’s Express Pass is free for certain deluxe resort guests. Did the survey mention any free version or state what the cost would be?

 

[Jrb1979]

That’s not very clear since Universal’s Express Pass is free for certain deluxe resort guests. Did the survey mention any free version or state what the cost would be?

My guess is how it's used. If Disney went to Universal's system I highly doubt resort guests would get it free as there as too many rooms to do that.

Personally I would love Express pass over Genie+ mainly due to the simplicity of it.

 

[Chi84]

My guess is how it's used. If Disney went to Universal's system I highly doubt resort guests would get it free as there as too many rooms to do that.

Personally I would love Express pass over Genie+ mainly due to the simplicity of it.

I would love a simple system, but the way we choose to vacation at WDW would not make it worth buying a hugely expensive express pass. We are fine with 3 rides a day because we do so many other things besides going on rides. I don't see paying hundreds of dollars to skip the line in our circumstances - it's not that we're cheap, but the value wouldn't be there. Right now, it's between Disney coming up with an acceptable version of a skip the line system and us finding a different place to vacation. (I'm currently researching cruises.) I'm sure others feel differently and that's certainly understandable. I'm just talking about our particular circumstances - standing in 1 to 2 hour long lines is just not an option for us.

 

[arich35]

I would hate if there was no type of fastpass unless you are paying way too much

 

[Jrb1979]

I would love a simple system, but the way we choose to vacation at WDW would not make it worth buying a hugely expensive express pass. We are fine with 3 rides a day because we do so many other things besides going on rides. I don't see paying hundreds of dollars to skip the line in our circumstances - it's not that we're cheap, but the value wouldn't be there. Right now, it's between Disney coming up with an acceptable version of a skip the line system and us finding a different place to vacation. (I'm currently researching cruises.) I'm sure others feel differently and that's certainly understandable. I'm just talking about our particular circumstances - standing in 1 to 2 hour long lines is just not an option for us.

Then there is my family. We would never pay for Disney tickets just to do 3 rides a day. I don't go an amusement/theme park for a laid back vacation. I have places like Myrtle Beach and Put-in Bay for that.

 

[lentesta]

Bad question. Set the bar too high. They need to figure out what people prefer genie plus over. I think the next comparison will be "colonoscopy".

Heh. Even accounting for prep time, the colonoscopy inconvenience is over in 36 hours, with only a $35 co-pay.

 

[lentesta]

That’s not very clear since Universal’s Express Pass is free for certain deluxe resort guests. Did the survey mention any free version or state what the cost would be?

Here are the relevant screencaps from the survey I referred to.

 

[DisneyCane]

The paid line skip system at WDW should be done one of two ways. Either:

A) Make it very expensive, limit inventory and make it one guaranteed use per ride per day at any time (I think this is like UO express pass but I've never used it or even looked into it).

B) Make every Lightning Lane a la carte and purchased at entry to the queue with variable pricing based on current usage (payment method tied to account charged at tap in). A sign would say how long the LL wait is along with the cost for each person to enter the LL. The price would go from reasonable if almost nobody was using it to insane if there was a lot of usage and if enough people were willing to pay the insane price and the LL filled to capacity people would not be able to enter until some of the queue cleared out.

Personally, I think choice B would be the best system for Disney to maximize revenue while guests would have a simple to understand and use line skip system. You would walk up to RotR, see a standby wait of 120 minutes and a LL with a wait of 20 minutes for a cost of $25 per person. You decide if the $25 is worth saving 100 minutes. If it is worth it to you then you tap in and your credit card gets charged.

 

[Patcheslee]

My guess is how it's used. If Disney went to Universal's system I highly doubt resort guests would get it free as there as too many rooms to do that.

Personally I would love Express pass over Genie+ mainly due to the simplicity of it.

If Disney ever chose a very that was similar to Express i.e. go whenever, I'd suspect they would limit it to included with stay for club level resort guests only.

 

[Chi84]

Here are the relevant screencaps from the survey I referred to.

Thank you. And those are pretty much exactly the responses I would have given.

 

[crazy4disney]

Heh. Even accounting for prep time, the colonoscopy inconvenience is over in 36 hours, with only a $35 co-pay.

Im going next month and have a $50 copay. Must be partners with Disney

 

[George]

Heh. Even accounting for prep time, the colonoscopy inconvenience is over in 36 hours, with only a $35 co-pay.

Huge variation between hospitals with regards to themeing quality as well, which could muck with results. Maybe the BMV wait system where you take the little paper number and can’t hear your number when it’s called is better. It oftentimes ends with you paying for something that it seems like you shouldn’t have to pay for as well.

 

[CAV]

Here are the relevant screencaps from the survey I referred to.

But they take those answers and twist them from what the survey taker meant to what Disney wants them to say.

Disney question: Would you like the ability to make a fast pass on the day of you visit?
Guest thought: Yes. Planning 60 days in advance is a hassle. Id like to pick my three fast passes on the day I am in the park.
Disney thought: They want to pay extra for something we used to give them for free. And we dont have to make it as good as the previous version.

 

[Thepuma]

I would love a simple system, but the way we choose to vacation at WDW would not make it worth buying a hugely expensive express pass. We are fine with 3 rides a day because we do so many other things besides going on rides. I don't see paying hundreds of dollars to skip the line in our circumstances - it's not that we're cheap, but the value wouldn't be there. Right now, it's between Disney coming up with an acceptable version of a skip the line system and us finding a different place to vacation. (I'm currently researching cruises.) I'm sure others feel differently and that's certainly understandable. I'm just talking about our particular circumstances - standing in 1 to 2 hour long lines is just not an option for us.

Sorry, I just don't believe anyone would ever be happy paying $500+ for a family of four and only getting on 3 rides.