Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[nickys]

No in the morning, you buy the Hopper Genie+ choice. It covers all scenarios.

Yes you can do that. But if you don’t know whether you’ll be hopping that day or not, you risk paying more than you need to.

So the choice is:
- buy it for all parks and perhaps spend an extra $8-$10 per person
or
- buy it for your first park and then buy it for your second park if you do decide to park hop to and queue for a partial refund at park closing time

It’s not complicated in itself but it does take away some of the spontaneity that getting rid of park reservations was meant to help with. It’s an added decision to makE.

Of course there is the third option of not buying it for the second park, which I guess is the most likely option if you make the decision to park hop after dinner. But if you decide at lunchtime “I’m going to hop over to DHS” it’s more of a PITA. Even more so if someone else paid for it in the first place, which is usually the case with our family where we do different things some days and decisions like that are made on the spur of the moment because we can.

 

[SamusAranX]

You watch…when/if people flood in October - stupidly - you’ll see $38 in magic and ONLY $24 at dak

Which was the “busy” price for both last year

It’s the Amazon Prime Day effect.

Change the base price from 599 for that TV to 899 for prime day and list it “on sale” for 599

 

[dreday3]

And if I buy the all 4 but don't hop to a second park or hop but don't use Genie +, can I get my money back?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yeah.
I don't want to do that.

I'm not even angry, I just think it's a dumb move amongst more dumb moves. Especially when all signs say attendance is dropping.
But people trying to justify to me why I should be fine with it is just amusing to me.

You can feel however your want - I do think there are positive aspects for people that only do one park a day and may want to add it to AK or Epcot as they get now hard to get sufficient value (if you figure an hour of park time is worth about $12-$15) at the current pricing

Obviously also benefits to Disney and for people in some situations it can be a negative, but overall I see it a net positive

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And if I buy the all 4 but don't hop to a second park or hop but don't use Genie +, can I get my money back?

Probably if you got to guest relations

 

[dreday3]

You can feel however your want - I do think there are positive aspects for people that only do one park a day and may want to add it to AK or Epcot as they get now hard to get sufficient value (if you figure an hour of park time is worth about $12-$15) at the current pricing

Obviously also benefits to Disney and for people in some situations it can be a negative, but overall I see it a net positive

Of course I can.

But when posters make inferences that I (or someone else) just don't have the mental capacity to understand the workings of Genie +, I find it amusing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It’s the Amazon Prime Day effect.

Change the base price from 599 for that TV to 899 for prime day and list it “on sale” for 599

It’s worse…that’s just price gouging

They will attempt to restrict products, sell them for more, then Promote them as needed because of the restrictions

It’s getting Ponzi scheme country


Bob just doesn’t get it…nobody wants his product right now…and he’s trying to sell to his stock lords that’s NOT the case

 

[Jenny72]

The bottom line is that this is one more decision on top of a lot of other decisions. It used to be "genie or no genie". Now there is another decision to make. Is it earth-shattering? No. I can even understand why they made the change. But it's one more little calculation on top of a lot of other calculations. One more decision to make at 7 in the morning as we see what all the various prices are.

 

[mattpeto]

Of course I can.

But when posters make inferences that I (or someone else) just don't have the mental capacity to understand the workings of Genie +, I find it amusing.

Definitely not saying that.

I get where you are coming from a flexibility perspective.

 

[Dranth]

You think CaptainAmerica is going to igore this post or call you fringe?

We know it's going to be one or the other at this point, right?

... I guess he could surprise us with a "you just don't get it" and then try to paint a picture that convinces you you're wrong or stupid.

Again though, under the current system you pay top dollar for G+ no matter what. Only go to AK that day and the longest line is a 5-minute wait, oh well, you shelled out $20-$25 a person because you thought you may go to MK later. It's happened to me a couple of times.

Under the new system if you buy the all-park version, it is the EXACT same as right now. You can still end up in a situation where you didn't need it because you didn't end up hopping to a new park.

That is the part I don't get. Why be upset because we might be in a situation that already happens with the current version? How is it any different? How is leaving it the same going to improve this particular problem?

The buying for one park, then deciding you want a second park, upgrading to the all-park version and then having to hunt down a refund is the only downside to this new system and it is something they are going to need to address eventually.

If it happens often enough, they will be forced to shell out the money to eventually automate it as that will be cheaper than dealing with endless guest recovery.

 

[nickys]

Yeah.
I don't want to do that.

I'm not even angry, I just think it's a dumb move amongst more dumb moves. Especially when all signs say attendance is dropping.
But people trying to justify to me why I should be fine with it is just amusing to me.

I agree. Except the last bit. Because I find people,trying to tell me that what I might do is just “fringe behaviour” and therefore irrelevant is as annoying as **** Like someone telling me what I should do on vacation.

 

[nickys]

Definitely not saying that.

I get where you are coming from a flexibility perspective.

I don’t think they meant you. I didn’t either!

 

[Chip Chipperson]

It's a problem for an extraordinarily narrow subset of guests.

People who don't park hop will be fine.

People who plan to park hop will be fine.

People who don't buy Genie+ will be fine.

This is only a problem for people who 1) do buy Genie+, 2) don't plan to park hop but then 3) change their minds and decide to park hop on an impulse midday.

And that should be enough of a problem for WDW executives to consider it a problem. Visiting a theme park shouldn't be that complicated for ANY subset of guests. Either the company is losing potential revenue by not making it as simple as possible to upgrade to the multi-park option mid-day because guests either won't be aware of the option to request a partial refund, OR some guests will choose not to upgrade because of the hassle of having to waste time requesting the upgrade, OR guests who aren't aware of the partial refund option but decide to bite the bullet and pay twice to make themselves or their kids happy will be ripped off by the company pinching pennies on an obvious IT fix to the issue. If there's no money in the budget to roll out the fix then they shouldn't be rolling out the change, either. It's horrible customer service from a company that stakes its reputation on providing great customer service.

 

[MrPromey]

Again though, under the current system you pay top dollar for G+ no matter what. Only go to AK that day and the longest line is a 5-minute wait, oh well, you shelled out $20-$25 a person because you thought you may go to MK later. It's happened to me a couple of times.

Under the new system if you buy the all-park version, it is the EXACT same as right now. You can still end up in a situation where you didn't need it because you didn't end up hopping to a new park.

That is the part I don't get. Why be upset because we might be in a situation that already happens with the current version? How is it any different? How is leaving it the same going to improve this particular problem?

The buying for one park, then deciding you want a second park, upgrading to the all-park version and then having to hunt down a refund is the only downside to this new system and it is something they are going to need to address eventually.

If it happens often enough, they will be forced to shell out the money to eventually automate it as that will be cheaper than dealing with endless guest recovery.

For me it's because I think someone would have to be stupid* or in extreme denial to not see where Disney is going with this.

Yes, if they freeze pricing as it is now, this won't be a problem. Do you think Disney's plan is to do that? Do you think this was really just about selling more G+ at lower prices to people in Epcot and AK?

*I don’t think anyone here is stupid, btw, so I'm betting it's more on the coping end of that spectrum.

 

[the_rich]

For me it's because I think someone would have to be stupid or in extreme denial to not see where Disney is going with this.

Yes, if they freeze pricing as it is now, this won't be a problem. Do you think Disney's plan is to do that? Do you think this was really just about selling more G+ at lower prices to people in Epcot and AK?

I'm not 100% sure because his hasn't been implemented yet. But I think it's possible because they will still be making more money this way by selling more. Plus it will help push people to those parks.

 

[Dranth]

For me it's because I think someone would have to be stupid or in extreme denial to not see where Disney is going with this.

Yes, if they freeze pricing as it is now, this won't be a problem. Do you think Disney's plan is to do that? Do you think this was really just about selling more G+ at lower prices to people in Epcot and AK?

They will make more money now by offering cheaper options for Epcot and AK as few people buy it currently for those parks. Combine that with the endless and ridiculous chase of being a growth company and worshipping at the alter of quarterlies, yes, more money now is a good thing and a good reason to do it.

Now, having said that, there is a zero percent chance they don't raise prices down the line but that was going to happen no matter what because again, got to beat that y/y comp or you are punished by the street.

With that in mind, why not take the win with more options and cheaper ones at that if you happen to be someone who uses G+ at those parks?

 

[SamusAranX]

Bear in mind, when this was originally announced it was $15 a day with maybe a LL for a high demand attraction such as GotG or RotR. Beginning of this thread, some said it was reasonable, in defense of it being “unlimited” and despite it no longer being a free add on.

Now some are “defending” the same 4 park product being at close to double the price, which is probably going to go up on peak days, plus your LL for the high demand ones unless you want that 2 hour wait for Mine Train.

The longer you continue to say “this is fine” and pay up, the more it’s gonna happen.

 

[dreday3]

They will make more money now by offering cheaper options for Epcot and AK as few people buy it currently for those parks. Combine that with the endless and ridiculous chase of being a growth company and worshipping at the alter of quarterlies, yes, more money now is a good thing and a good reason to do it.

Now, having said that, there is a zero percent chance they don't raise prices down the line but that was going to happen no matter what because again, got to beat that y/y comp or you are punished by the street.

With that in mind, why not take the win with more options and cheaper ones at that if you happen to be someone who uses G+ at those parks?

It's only a win for those who don't hop. Or hop but only plan to use Genie + at one park. It's a loss for people who hopped and used Genie + at both parks when Epcot and AK are involved.

The rest of you can pay cheaper genie prices for DHS, AK and Epcot. Hoppers have to purchase the all 4 pass on top of paying for hopping unless we specifically know what park we want to hop to. And if we will use Genie +.

Previously, we all paid the same. And we got to use it at 2 parks because we already paid for hopping!!!

Gah!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Of course I can.

But when posters make inferences that I (or someone else) just don't have the mental capacity to understand the workings of Genie +, I find it amusing.

I don’t think anyone doubts your mind.

But I do think you may just be giving them too much benefit of the doubt.

This is really grasping at straws/margins

I can’t shake what yutz chapek said when this was rolled out: “introductory price”

Over and over again.


What’s that indicate? They already promised what they’d make off this. Didn’t even have any concept of the Covid travel bump combined with their prices increases. They’ve gutted their market. For how long will be determined by their response. This ain’t gonna help.

They’ve written checks their bodies can’t cash.

It’s pretty comical

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Do you think this was really just about selling more G+ at lower prices to people in Epcot and AK?

Not for a second…

This is a badly worded attempt to Raise the ceiling by dragging the floor up.