chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I also wouldn't be surprised if the premium very front and center spots become pay-per-view on those shows.
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Disney Genie/Genie+ On Their Way to Anaheim
- Thread starter Californian Elitist
- Start date
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Good of you to acknowledge that. So many WDW-centric fans just can't wrap their minds around that reality.
Wendy Pleakley
Well-Known Member
I used Genie+ twice during my visits over the past two weeks, once on a quiet Monday and once on a busier Saturday.
If you're willing to pay, it's a better system than the old one. Between less usage overall and the once per ride restriction, you get a lot more out of it.
On the Monday, almost any G+ selection was valid immediately. A few like Midway Mania had an hour or so later return time, and this was later in the day. Popular attractions like Space Mountain didn't sell out.
Saturday was similar. Return times were a little later but I think I still used G+ on almost every attraction available. By the end of the night I was using it for Haunted Mansion or Star Tours just because I could, not because it was particularly beneficial.
I didn't necessarily need it on the Monday. Wait times were fine. I also devoted just over two hours to riding Rise twice. I think I used it six times. It still saved me a solid three hours waiting in line which is not bad. On the Saturday I felt it was more beneficial.
This will impact how I approach the parks on future trips. While $20 isn't much in the grand scheme of things I'm still not ready to pay it each and every day. I might use it on weekend days when it's crowded and then on weekdays focus on non-G+ attractions.
G+ is a system that works better than the old one for those who use it. I like that this will most likely benefit the infrequent visitor versus the regular visitor who won't pay an upcharge for their frequent visits.
If you're willing to pay, it's a better system than the old one. Between less usage overall and the once per ride restriction, you get a lot more out of it.
On the Monday, almost any G+ selection was valid immediately. A few like Midway Mania had an hour or so later return time, and this was later in the day. Popular attractions like Space Mountain didn't sell out.
Saturday was similar. Return times were a little later but I think I still used G+ on almost every attraction available. By the end of the night I was using it for Haunted Mansion or Star Tours just because I could, not because it was particularly beneficial.
I didn't necessarily need it on the Monday. Wait times were fine. I also devoted just over two hours to riding Rise twice. I think I used it six times. It still saved me a solid three hours waiting in line which is not bad. On the Saturday I felt it was more beneficial.
This will impact how I approach the parks on future trips. While $20 isn't much in the grand scheme of things I'm still not ready to pay it each and every day. I might use it on weekend days when it's crowded and then on weekdays focus on non-G+ attractions.
G+ is a system that works better than the old one for those who use it. I like that this will most likely benefit the infrequent visitor versus the regular visitor who won't pay an upcharge for their frequent visits.
chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
No doubt this system is better for infrequent visitors.
We have Believe Keys and have used some form of Genie + (even if it’s just one individual lightning lane) on about half of our visits since it came out. Not that I’m an infrequent visitor but when you only go once every 3 weeks or so it still makes sense to buy it (on the right kind of trip) to make the investment you have already put in on the keys worth it.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I disagree.
A system that allowed me to wait in a shortened line for Space Mountain as many times as I could arrange in a single day is clearly and infinitely better than one that limits me to doing the same thing once per day.
Also better? A system where I pay once and I get access to all rides; not one where I get access to *most* rides except for a few that I can *only* purchase a la carte.
A system that allowed me to wait in a shortened line for Space Mountain as many times as I could arrange in a single day is clearly and infinitely better than one that limits me to doing the same thing once per day.
Also better? A system where I pay once and I get access to all rides; not one where I get access to *most* rides except for a few that I can *only* purchase a la carte.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Yeah but how many people are doing that? The vast majority of infrequent visitors would prefer quicker lines for all of the attractions IMO. Of course, if Lightning Lane ends up taking the same amount of time as the old Fastpass lines then you’d be right. Might be too soon to tell. If less people buy it and lines are shorter for infrequent visitors then I can’t see how it’s not a win for them.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
It's all about relative value. I have no doubt that there are many people who were just fine doing each attraction once, saving time for each; however, if you're looking at wait times objectively, you'd save more time/get more value out of, say, doing Space Mountain twice rather than doing Space once and then doing Haunted Mansion, based on average wait times each attraction had throughout the day. While I'm sure there were plenty of people who were limiting themselves with FP/MP to doing each attraction one and done already, without Disney forcing them to be so, I can't be the only person who used it repeatedly to do the rides I liked most more frequently.
In addition to comparing to what Disney used to offer, I'm also comparing what Disney offers to what other parks offer. I've bought paid line-skipping from many Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks, and frankly I would prefer their model over what Disney has now. You want to have upcharge line-skipping? Fine. But do it right-i.e., hike up the price and let me use it however I want. No arbitrary limitations, just truly reserve as you go (or do like CF/Knott's where you literally just walk in the queue whenever).
You used to be able to use FP/MP however you wanted, assuming there was availability and I will continue to gripe about the way they have changed the system until the day I die or the day they change it back. There's nothing stopping me at Knott's from riding Ghostrider all day long if I buy Fastlane. There's nothing stopping me from riding Goliath at Six Flags all day long if I buy Flash Pass and there's reservations available. But the alleged best company is now only going to let me ride each thing once and then keep certain experiences a la carte when it all used to be included and you could use it however you wanted, assuming slots were available? There's no other way to spin it but as a downgrade.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I think the a la carte lightning Lanes are a huge win for infrequent visitors. Especially at DL where they do not need to be booked in advance. For example, before you had to run to RSR first thing in the morning or get get a fast pass early in the day. Otherwise you were waiting in a 90 minute line. Now you can stroll in anytime you want and ride almost instantly.
Genie + is kind of a wash in that lines are bit shorter than the old FP system (at least I think… for now) but you re paying for it. With that said another $80 for a family of 4 to make the day more convenient is nothing for a tourist or infrequent visitor to ensure they get the most bang for their buck.
Wendy Pleakley
Well-Known Member
It's a balancing act. While I would have liked to do certain attractions more than once, so would everyone else. With this system, even in the final park hours one could get good selections.
You don't have to worry about doing Space or Indy right away. You can ride them at a time that works for you, with less chance they'll sell out.
Return times were consistently sooner than they were in the past. I never encountered the scenario where I would book something four hours in the future and hope other options would still be available once the two hour wait was up.
Mickeyboof
Well-Known Member
Please explain- why are any of us BUYING this “service?” Its a weak reincarnation of a successful, and free, predecessor. Free. It was free. Why pay for it now? If we keep paying that little $7 to ride space mountain faster, then $7 becomes $10 which becomes $15 and then what? How happy will you be paying $20 for a ride? $30?
Will Rise be a better ride when it hits $30?
Also, when did Disney start blatantly calling things “services” and “products?”
Fastpass was a energetic word that explained itself almost immediately. It became a household word, practically graduating to a common verb! On the most simple of premises, why would anyone buy into something called “DISNEY GENIE SERVICE.”
Will Rise be a better ride when it hits $30?
Also, when did Disney start blatantly calling things “services” and “products?”
Fastpass was a energetic word that explained itself almost immediately. It became a household word, practically graduating to a common verb! On the most simple of premises, why would anyone buy into something called “DISNEY GENIE SERVICE.”
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Because we re already invested and don’t want to wait 70 minutes for Big Thunder?
Mickeyboof
Well-Known Member
Is waiting less for Big Thunder really truly worth giving them more money? Really?
It’s a pretty rough place Bob is about to take the company, if we keep voting YES with our money.
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mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Yes. I have two young kids. I’m exhausted.
But like I said earlier I don’t buy it every trip and now due to Genie +s impact on the park experience, I’ll have to weigh if renewing the pass is worth it depending how the next 6 months go.
I don’t like it but I have a 3 day trip coming up, haven’t visited in 15 years and likely won’t visit for a long while after.
I’d like to see as much as possible so yes it’s worth it to me.
Mickeyboof
Well-Known Member
Okay, okay. Disneyland is your land after all. Keep feeding the monster!
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
No no no. I won’t do what’s convenient for my family to avoid spending 5% on top of the thousands I already spend to try to make a point that will never be made.
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I’m feeding the monster by buying a ticket and attending.
I’m buying a product I deem worthy enough for the price. Of course I’d rather it was free, I still believe it should be free. But like hotel parking charges etc sometimes you just have to pay.
It’s a personal “no” for me. I’m not giving them an extra red cent to ride rides quicker, when it was free for decades, and especially after paying a boatload of money to enter the park. It’s laughable to me. A comedy show.
One of my problems is the ride experiences, as you alluded to… They’re the same rides as they’ve always been. So why would I pay an extra fee to ride something quicker when it was free yesterday? The rides aren’t going anywhere. If I don’t experience RSR or Rise during my trip, it’s no big deal to me. There will be a next time. So I’ll just try again then. I’ve ridden these rides hundreds of times.
Mickeyboof
Well-Known Member
it’s currently 1:00p at Disneyland USA. You can either ride Big Thunder in about 30 minutes for no extra cost whatsoever… or pay $20 to ride at 2:10. Ride only once, 60 minutes from now. What a deal, ha!!!
For $20, all the effects better be working (I’m looking at you, fog blast effects!!). For a family of four, that’s $80.
$10 to ride Radiator Springs Racers in 60 minutes. So, a family of four, $40 to ride in 60 minutes. $40!!!!!!!!!!!!
If your family does both, that’s $120!
For $20, all the effects better be working (I’m looking at you, fog blast effects!!). For a family of four, that’s $80.
$10 to ride Radiator Springs Racers in 60 minutes. So, a family of four, $40 to ride in 60 minutes. $40!!!!!!!!!!!!
If your family does both, that’s $120!