Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[themerebear6453]

This is a random thought by someone who isn't following this thread.

I've become accustomed to Genie + even before our next trip. It is just part of what Disney is today, and we are planning on using it in our next visit even though I am strongly opposed to it.

What does that mean? I don't know, but it feels significant.

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

Did anyone else watch the Allears video where Molly attempted to get every MK LL in one day? It was pretty impressive actually. Not possible with kids of course but I was shocked she got them all.

 

[JoeCamel]

You're a lemming blindly supporting something you're "strongly" against?

IDK, you asked,

18 something in Celebration cubeville?

 

[Jeff4272]

Did anyone else watch the Allears video where Molly attempted to get every MK LL in one day? It was pretty impressive actually. Not possible with kids of course but I was shocked she got them all.

Yeah. It was a blogger special.

Tom Bricker posts are great too. If you want to get up at 6:30 and do it by yourself.

Which said nobody ever

 

[James J]

Yeah. It was a blogger special.

Tom Bricker posts are great too. If you want to get up at 6:30 and do it by yourself.

Which said nobody ever

Again, not actually a problem for some including myself. Yet to use Genie+ (will find out next month) but when we're at WDW and have flown across the Atlantic to get there, we're usually up by 6:30-7am as we want to make the most of our trips.

You need to remember that not everybody wants to sleep all morning. I understand the core of your issues but you have to realise by now that everyone vacations differently?

For example, we generally hit a park around opening and will stay there until around 1pm. Then we either go back to our resort and chill for a few hours before dinner, or maybe hop to another park/resort/Disney Springs for a bit. I know others have explained how they do WDW in this thread so there is no one-size fits all way to do it.

 

[Disney4Lyfe]

Again, not actually a problem for some including myself. Yet to use Genie+ (will find out next month) but when we're at WDW and have flown across the Atlantic to get there, we're usually up by 6:30-7am as we want to make the most of our trips.

You need to remember that not everybody wants to sleep all morning. I understand the core of your issues but you have to realise by now that everyone vacations differently?

For example, we generally hit a park around opening and will stay there until around 1pm. Then we either go back to our resort and chill for a few hours before dinner, or maybe hop to another park/resort/Disney Springs for a bit. I know others have explained how they do WDW in this thread so there is no one-size fits all way to do it.

One thing that seems to be getting lost, during medium to busy times, if you wanted to get on all the headliners. You have always needed to Rope Drop or stay till close. As long as I have been going (20ish years) you could never really wake up at 10am and get everything done before dinner. This seems no different, just more complicated.

 

[G00fyDad]

Again, not actually a problem for some including myself. Yet to use Genie+ (will find out next month) but when we're at WDW and have flown across the Atlantic to get there, we're usually up by 6:30-7am as we want to make the most of our trips.

You need to remember that not everybody wants to sleep all morning. I understand the core of your issues but you have to realise by now that everyone vacations differently?

For example, we generally hit a park around opening and will stay there until around 1pm. Then we either go back to our resort and chill for a few hours before dinner, or maybe hop to another park/resort/Disney Springs for a bit. I know others have explained how they do WDW in this thread so there is no one-size fits all way to do it.

Is Jeff still griping about people that get up early? There are people that got up early way before LEGACY fastpass. I have always gotten up around 6am every time we have ever gone to Disney. Getting up at 7am is of course just ONE of his myriad of issues with G+ just because he likes to sleep in. You can explain to him that everyone vacations differently until you're blue in the face. He'll just call you a liar, or an apologist, or a Disney shill.

 

[Purduevian]

One thing that seems to be getting lost, during medium to busy times, if you wanted to get on all the headliners. You have always needed to Rope Drop or stay till close. As long as I have been going (20ish years) you could never really wake up at 10am and get everything done before dinner. This seems no different, just more complicated.

There actually was a system for the few (including Jeff) to get on all the headliners if you were willing to shell out big $$ (not VIP tour money, but big $$).

If you stayed at a club level room, and paid for the extra 3 FP+ @90days out, it was very possible to get through all the headliners between 10am and dinner. I believe tiers were gone these extra 3.
I never used it, but I'm surprised Disney hasn't brought some form of advance LL purchase for club level guests back.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Is Jeff still griping about people that get up early? There are people that got up early way before LEGACY fastpass. I have always gotten up around 6am every time we have ever gone to Disney. Getting up at 7am is of course just ONE of his myriad of issues with G+ just because he likes to sleep in. You can explain to him that everyone vacations differently until you're blue in the face. He'll just call you a liar, or an apologist, or a Disney shill.

All head of the line systems aside. The best tip for anyone is to get to the park at rope drop. Aside from being able to get on rides before the mobs arrive, the parks at rope drop is truly a different, and I think better, experience.

 

[Jeff4272]

Is Jeff still griping about people that get up early? There are people that got up early way before LEGACY fastpass. I have always gotten up around 6am every time we have ever gone to Disney. Getting up at 7am is of course just ONE of his myriad of issues with G+ just because he likes to sleep in. You can explain to him that everyone vacations differently until you're blue in the face. He'll just call you a liar, or an apologist, or a Disney shill.

Ha....Yes i am still complaining about it........please let me know if you agree or disagree with these points?

1) with FP+, you could book 3 rides for the afternoon and do standby for the rest while not overlapping with my dining reservation.....so i wouldn't have to wake up my family at 6:30am EVERY day on my vacation

2) you tell me your estimate, but my estimate is that 90% of the people dont rope drop (MK averages 58k people per day, my guess is 6k rope rope)........so why would you want to disadvantage 90% of your guests?

 

[Jeff4272]

There actually was a system for the few (including Jeff) to get on all the headliners if you were willing to shell out big $$ (not VIP tour money, but big $$).

If you stayed at a club level room, and paid for the extra 3 FP+ @90days out, it was very possible to get through all the headliners between 10am and dinner. I believe tiers were gone these extra 3.
I never used it, but I'm surprised Disney hasn't brought some form of advance LL purchase for club level guests back.

I did this 2 times and it was worth every penny. The best parts were, there were no tiers and you could pick any time you wanted

It was $50 pp, per day with a 3 day minimum (if i remember correctly) and it was AWESOME

So if you think of it compared to Genie (-), you'd get 6 ride skips for $50, including 4 of the top rides at each park (1 from regular FP+ selection and 3 from the purchase with no Tiers) while booking 90 days in advance and choosing your return times.........Vs LL/Genie (-) equivalent that would cost you $15 for Genie + $15 per ride for the 2 LL so a cost of $45 and thats it your fingers are fast enough at 7am to get both ILL's and the Top Genie selection and not being able to pick what time you get

No brainer


Dont know why WDW wouldnt go back to this model

 

[Ayla]

Again, not actually a problem for some including myself. Yet to use Genie+ (will find out next month) but when we're at WDW and have flown across the Atlantic to get there, we're usually up by 6:30-7am as we want to make the most of our trips.

You need to remember that not everybody wants to sleep all morning. I understand the core of your issues but you have to realise by now that everyone vacations differently?

For example, we generally hit a park around opening and will stay there until around 1pm. Then we either go back to our resort and chill for a few hours before dinner, or maybe hop to another park/resort/Disney Springs for a bit. I know others have explained how they do WDW in this thread so there is no one-size fits all way to do it.

One thing you don't seem to realize is there are a lot of vacationers from the West Coast. They don't want to get up in what feels like the middle of the night to them to buy Genie+.

 

[G00fyDad]

One thing you don't seem to realize is there are a lot of vacationers from the West Coast. They don't want to get up in what feels like the middle of the night to them to buy Genie+.

Well we don't need them on OUR coast anyway.


Obviously kidding. TBH, I had not thought of that before. I suppose that would be a bit of an issue for those people.

 

[Vacationeer]

Honestly I'm excited to try out the new systems. Not excited to pay for G+ or all the other increased costs. In a major role reversal I had to convince* DH to make this splurge. He was 100% against on principle. There is potential for this new system to flow better for us though. FP+ grew increasingly frustrating. Even staying onsite and knowing drop times, there were many aspects that stunk. Tiers, strict schedules, existing ADRs, ride closures, park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable time, criss-crossing parks, etc. By 2019 FP+ had worn out its welcome with all the convolution. The peak had passed.

So next trip (Halloween) we're staying DVC, plan on hitting am/pm EMH's, not buying any individual LLs but getting G+. Our last visit was Sept 2021 right before all the new changes with the 50th. My hope is we can knock out some good rides early, take long 4hr nap/pool breaks midday, and stack some G+ for evenings. We'll rely on ropedrop, pmEMH and first G+ selection for harder rides, and shuffle where the wind takes us for the rest. That last part is what will make or break G+ for us. I'm willing to give it a shot.

*He always buys Photopass $180/trip. Bargained with DH to do a group share instead to fund Genie+, lol. No per capita $ increase here for Bob C here at least

 

[Ayla]

Honestly I'm excited to try out the new systems. Not excited to pay for G+ or all the other increased costs. In a major role reversal I had to convince* DH to make this splurge. He was 100% against on principle. There is potential for this new system to flow better for us though. FP+ grew increasingly frustrating. Even staying onsite and knowing drop times, there were many aspects that stunk. Tiers, strict schedules, existing ADRs, ride closures, park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable time, criss-crossing parks, etc. By 2019 FP+ had worn out its welcome with all the convolution. The peak had passed.

You realize Genie+ is the same/worse in many of the aspects you listed as issues with Fastpass+, right?

You can't schedule your times, so if it conflicts with an ADR, you're SOL. Criss crossing the park will still be an issue, as well as strict schedules (no rescheduling for Genie+, it's cancel only), tiers, ride closures (planned or not), park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable times, etc.

There is no pre-planning with Genie+.

 

[Jeff4272]

Honestly I'm excited to try out the new systems. Not excited to pay for G+ or all the other increased costs. In a major role reversal I had to convince* DH to make this splurge. He was 100% against on principle. There is potential for this new system to flow better for us though. FP+ grew increasingly frustrating. Even staying onsite and knowing drop times, there were many aspects that stunk. Tiers, strict schedules, existing ADRs, ride closures, park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable time, criss-crossing parks, etc. By 2019 FP+ had worn out its welcome with all the convolution. The peak had passed.

So next trip (Halloween) we're staying DVC, plan on hitting am/pm EMH's, not buying any individual LLs but getting G+. Our last visit was Sept 2021 right before all the new changes with the 50th. My hope is we can knock out some good rides early, take long 4hr nap/pool breaks midday, and stack some G+ for evenings. We'll rely on ropedrop, pm EMH and first G+ selection for harder rides, and shuffle where the wind takes us for the rest. That last part is what will make or break G+ for us. I'm willing to give it a shot.

*He always buys Photopass $180/trip. Bargained with DH to do a group share instead to fund Genie+, lol. No per capita $ increase here for Bob C here at least

"Tiers, strict schedules, existing ADRs, ride closures, park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable time, criss-crossing parks, etc. By 2019 FP+ had worn out its welcome with all the convolution."

If you think FP+ was bad for these things, wait until you get ahold of Genie (-)

1) Genie (-) has tiers also, its called ILL's....the top 2 rides at each park are separate cost...at least with FP+, you had access to them without an additional cost

2) strict schedules - I think you will be dying for a schedule once you get SDD return time of 7:40pm on your first selection and realize you'll now have committed since 6:30am until park closing just to get your first selection

3) better hope your Genie (-) selection doesn't overlap with your Topolinios reservation because you cant try and replace it without losing it (even if there was availability)

4) Rides closures are worse now b the ILL line s insanely long when a ride reopens....forget standby if that happens

5) Park hours are MUCH worse (far fewer hours now) and dont forget, you only get 30 mins instead of 2 hours for EMH....and you dont get evening EMH unless ur in deluxe

6) Genie (-) is the WORST for criss crossing parks....its 100x worse than FP+

7) don't discount all the time you will need to spend on your phone too.....you will have to refresh for 20-30 mins to get your second selection


There is not one single aspect of Genie(-) that is better than FP+, NOT ONE!!!!!!

 

[G00fyDad]

You realize Genie+ is the same/worse in many of the aspects you listed as issues with Fastpass+, right?

You can't schedule your times, so if it conflicts with an ADR, you're SOL. Criss crossing the park will still be an issue, as well as strict schedules (no rescheduling for Genie+, it's cancel only), tiers, ride closures (planned or not), park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable times, etc.

There is no pre-planning with Genie+.

Which is why they should retool this G+ disaster to allow 60+ day planning for 3 LL and and both ILL's for on-site guests and 30 day for 3 LL and both ILL's for off-site. Just adding that one small feature would sooth many people. (Maybe not one of us here but many other people.)

 

[Vacationeer]

I did this 2 times and it was worth every penny. The best parts were, there were no tiers and you could pick any time you wanted

It was $50 pp, per day with a 3 day minimum (if i remember correctly) and it was AWESOME

So if you think of it compared to Genie (-), you'd get 6 ride skips for $50, including 4 of the top rides at each park (1 from regular FP+ selection and 3 from the purchase with no Tiers) while booking 90 days in advance and choosing your return times.........Vs LL/Genie (-) equivalent that would cost you $15 for Genie + $15 per ride for the 2 LL so a cost of $45 and thats it your fingers are fast enough at 7am to get both ILL's and the Top Genie selection and not being able to pick what time you get

No brainer


Dont know why WDW wouldnt go back to this model

Always wanted to try this! Sounds fabulous. We considered Club Level at Gran Destino but a free food offer won out that trip. Totally would've gotten that package if we went the CL route. That's some of the cost equation though... it's the more expensive room plus that extra $50 each/day.

 

[Disstevefan1]

"Tiers, strict schedules, existing ADRs, ride closures, park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable time, criss-crossing parks, etc. By 2019 FP+ had worn out its welcome with all the convolution."

If you think FP+ was bad for these things, wait until you get ahold of Genie (-)

1) Genie (-) has tiers also, its called ILL's....the top 2 rides at each park are separate cost...at least with FP+, you had access to them without an additional cost

2) strict schedules - I think you will be dying for a schedule once you get SDD return time of 7:40pm on your first selection and realize you'll now have committed since 6:30am until park closing just to get your first selection

3) better hope your Genie (-) selection doesn't overlap with your Topolinios reservation because you cant try and replace it without losing it (even if there was availability)

4) Rides closures are worse now b the ILL line s insanely long when a ride reopens....forget standby if that happens

5) Park hours are MUCH worse (far fewer hours now) and dont forget, you only get 30 mins instead of 2 hours for EMH....and you dont get evening EMH unless ur in deluxe

6) Genie (-) is the WORST for criss crossing parks....its 100x worse than FP+

7) don't discount all the time you will need to spend on your phone too.....you will have to refresh for 20-30 mins to get your second selection


There is not one single aspect of Genie(-) that is better than FP+, NOT ONE!!!!!!

Oh yea, criss crossing parks!! I never liked that and apparently worse with G +
This system will continue to evolve.
Who knows, "in response to guest demand" we may end up with a super expensive express pass system like Universal has..

 

[Vacationeer]

You realize Genie+ is the same/worse in many of the aspects you listed as issues with Fastpass+, right?

You can't schedule your times, so if it conflicts with an ADR, you're SOL. Criss crossing the park will still be an issue, as well as strict schedules (no rescheduling for Genie+, it's cancel only), tiers, ride closures (planned or not), park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable times, etc.

There is no pre-planning with Genie+.

"Tiers, strict schedules, existing ADRs, ride closures, park hours and events not confirmed in reasonable time, criss-crossing parks, etc. By 2019 FP+ had worn out its welcome with all the convolution."

If you think FP+ was bad for these things, wait until you get ahold of Genie (-)

1) Genie (-) has tiers also, its called ILL's....the top 2 rides at each park are separate cost...at least with FP+, you had access to them without an additional cost

2) strict schedules - I think you will be dying for a schedule once you get SDD return time of 7:40pm on your first selection and realize you'll now have committed since 6:30am until park closing just to get your first selection

3) better hope your Genie (-) selection doesn't overlap with your Topolinios reservation because you cant try and replace it without losing it (even if there was availability)

4) Rides closures are worse now b the ILL line s insanely long when a ride reopens....forget standby if that happens

5) Park hours are MUCH worse (far fewer hours now) and dont forget, you only get 30 mins instead of 2 hours for EMH....and you dont get evening EMH unless ur in deluxe

6) Genie (-) is the WORST for criss crossing parks....its 100x worse than FP+

7) don't discount all the time you will need to spend on your phone too.....you will have to refresh for 20-30 mins to get your second selection


There is not one single aspect of Genie(-) that is better than FP+, NOT ONE!!!!!!

I won't know for sure until we visit. What I imagine and what happens could be 2 totally different things, lol. But I'm thinking that focusing on the hardest rides at ropedrop, pmEMH and 1st G+ selection we could try to do balance what's closer by with nearer time available. Also might have better flexibility with changing park days or using our hoppers as long as the nuisance park reservation system behaves.