Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[esskay]

"You know what guys, everyones saying Genie+ is too complicated. So lets change it. We'll addd a new Genie+ Pro Max Ultra option which lets you use it in all parks, but we'll make it the same price as MK when it first launches, people surely wont be confused by that. Also, instead of announcing it as a future addition, lets drop it on people in say, 4 days...I doubt ANYONE who's in the middle of a vacation when it goes live will get confused at all. Oh and once its running, we can just go ahead and up the price by $40 a day, people wont mind even though they'll only be going to 2 parks."

~ The Board

 

[Jenny72]

Maybe we're just super easygoing (although no one has ever called me that, haha), but we started every morning not knowing which park we'd end at. A lot of times we ended up back at the same park we started at. I wouldn't have known which genie+ to buy. Fortunately, I don't have plans to return for a while. But it would have been an annoyance on our trip if this were in place.

 

[Chi84]

What do international guests have to do with anything?

"Not dining in a park" goes to my point further. We're only talking about people who park hop without planning to park hop. Someone who leaves a park to go eat at a resort would not fall into that category.

We did Topolino’s breakfast, then went to MK. Since we were in a Skyliner resort, we had a choice of DHS or Epcot in a flash that evening.

 

[Dranth]

I was ready to be mad about this and was at first, but the more I think about it, why?

It isn’t that complicated and really boils down to 2 scenarios for 95% of visitors:

• You have a single park ticket – in this case you buy G+ for the park you are visiting. Done. If Disney has any common sense, they will also update the App at some point to only show G+ for the park people have a ticket for that day.
• You have a park hopper – You can buy the bundle and it works just the same as it currently does so you can go to any park you want and G+ works or you can buy one park individually. If you know you are going to hop, just get the bundle and you don’t have to worry about buying another park.

If you are a G+ hater and never use it, this doesn’t change anything for you. If you do use it for single parks, it potentially saves some money if you want to use it in AK or EPCOT. If you use it and are a park hopper, nothing changes, you just buy the bundle version.

 

[MrPromey]

I guess I'm quite literally the only person who likes this?

Before the change, I wouldn't have bought Genie+ at Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Now I will.

Nope, executives at Disney like it, too.

They found a way to get money out of you they couldn't get before and they're just as happy as you (for some reason are) about that.

Congratulations to you both!

 

[Chi84]

Wha...???

Leaving a park, going to a resort to eat, then deciding what park to close out the night happens all the time (at least when parks are open later). Do you park hop? Because you're doing it wrong.

You’re the definition of a “fringe” guest and you know it. Can I join your “exceedingly narrow subset?”

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Until we see how this is implemented, it's not really possible to tell whether it'll be a positive in terms of allowing some to take advantage of G+ at lower costs, and maybe moving crowds around a little, or negative by making G+, on the whole, more expensive.

That being said, I am surprised that they are even considering (let alone adopting) changes that make things more complicated.

The goal appears to be monetizing on a specific group(s) that we’re savvy…

And they tend to be high spending, vocal, and cranky…
…I happen to be their shop steward

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Leaving a park, going to a resort to eat, then deciding what park to close out the night happens all the time (at least when parks are open later). Do you park hop? Because you're doing it wrong.

You’re the definition of a “fringe” guest and you know it. Can I join your “exceedingly narrow subset?”

Once again, that's not the question.

Someone who plans to have dinner at a resort and then hop to a second park is NOT going to have any issues or confusion with this system. They're going to buy the "all parks" option when they buy Genie+ in the first place, and it's going to work just like it does now.

We're ONLY talking about the people who do not plan to park hop so they buy a one-park Genie+, but then decide to park hop at the last minute. THAT is what I'm saying is rare.

We did Topolino’s breakfast, then went to MK. Since we were in a Skyliner resort, we had a choice of DHS or Epcot in a flash that evening.

Oh my God.

IT DOESN'T MATTER which park you picked of DHS or Epcot. In the morning, you would have bought the "all parks" Genie+ and you'd be covered.

It looks like @TheMaxRebo is the only one who doesn't have a hard time understanding this.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Wha...???

Leaving a park, going to a resort to eat, then deciding what park to close out the night happens all the time (at least when parks are open later). Do you park hop? Because you're doing it wrong.

Oh thank god it’s not me!!!

I thought I’ve been doing it wrong since the 90’s

 

[Jenny72]

Well, we had park hoppers and ended up not hopping on half our days. That's just what my kids wanted. But we didn't know that at the start of the day. So I wouldn't have known which genie+ to buy. Maybe they figure you just buy the multi-pass anyway and eat the cost. What's another $30.

 

[Chi84]

Once again, that's not the question.

Someone who plans to have dinner at a resort and then hop to a second park is NOT going to have any issues or confusion with this system. They're going to buy the "all parks" option when they buy Genie+ in the first place, and it's going to work just like it does now.

We're ONLY talking about the people who do not plan to park hop so they buy a one-park Genie+, but then decide to park hop at the last minute. THAT is what I'm saying is rare.


Oh my God.

IT DOESN'T MATTER which park you picked of DHS or Epcot. In the morning, you would have bought the "all parks" Genie+ and you'd be covered.

It looks like @TheMaxRebo is the only one who doesn't have a hard time understanding this.

But it’s so uncomplicated

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Once again, that's not the question.

Someone who plans to have dinner at a resort and then hop to a second park is NOT going to have any issues or confusion with this system. They're going to buy the "all parks" option when they buy Genie+ in the first place, and it's going to work just like it does now.

We're ONLY talking about the people who do not plan to park hop so they buy a one-park Genie+, but then decide to park hop at the last minute. THAT is what I'm saying is rare.


Oh my God.

IT DOESN'T MATTER which park you picked of DHS or Epcot. In the morning, you would have bought the "all parks" Genie+ and you'd be covered.

They’re gonna have a problem because by buying the “all parks”…they’re assuming they may be overcharged

Not only that…they just said they’re dropping the stupid reservations down…this totally counteracts that…

Just stupid.

You need a beer…or a keg…as it were…

 

[Dranth]

Well, we had park hoppers and ended up not hopping on half our days. That's just what my kids wanted. But we didn't know that at the start of the day. So I wouldn't have known which genie+ to buy. Maybe they figure you just buy the multi-pass anyway and eat the cost. What's another $30.

Well, on the other hand, if they don't make the changes they just annouced your only choice would have been the most expensive, all park option we have now.

This gives you the option if you do know to maybe save some money.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Maybe they figure you just buy the multi-pass anyway and eat the cost.

I'd rather have the choice between cheap Animal Kingdom and expensive 4 Parks than be forced to buy the 4 Parks when all I want is Animal Kingdom.

 

[dreday3]

Once again, that's not the question.

Someone who plans to have dinner at a resort and then hop to a second park is NOT going to have any issues or confusion with this system. They're going to buy the "all parks" option when they buy Genie+ in the first place, and it's going to work just like it does now.

We're ONLY talking about the people who do not plan to park hop so they buy a one-park Genie+, but then decide to park hop at the last minute. THAT is what I'm saying is rare.


Oh my God.

IT DOESN'T MATTER which park you picked of DHS or Epcot. In the morning, you would have bought the "all parks" Genie+ and you'd be covered.

It looks like @TheMaxRebo is the only one who doesn't have a hard time understanding this.

No, I get it.

But if we hopped to Epcot or AK, I wouldn't need to buy a Genie + most of the time. But I'd be forced to buy the all 4 park pass just to cover in case we decide to hop to DHS or MK where we would probably use it. That's what people are saying. So now I have to know what park I'm hopping to when I first purchase and if I don't then I have to re-purchase, or whatever, if I'm hopping where I need Genie +.

On top of the fact I'm already paying for hopping!!!

 

[Tha Realest]

Ask yourself- why now? Why so suddenly? Why on that date? And why when they’ve been taking drastic measures to get people in the parks?

Next earnings call is Aug 8. I’m sure the new guy will be be able to deftly spin those numbers.

 

[Splash4eva]

Call me skeptical but i would love to know how many people spend full days at AK or Epcot w/o hopping elsewhere where now those people would need to buy a multiple park Genie and Disney portraying this as a way to “save” money

 

[mattpeto]

Once again, that's not the question.

Someone who plans to have dinner at a resort and then hop to a second park is NOT going to have any issues or confusion with this system. They're going to buy the "all parks" option when they buy Genie+ in the first place, and it's going to work just like it does now.

We're ONLY talking about the people who do not plan to park hop so they buy a one-park Genie+, but then decide to park hop at the last minute. THAT is what I'm saying is rare.


Oh my God.

IT DOESN'T MATTER which park you picked of DHS or Epcot. In the morning, you would have bought the "all parks" Genie+ and you'd be covered.

It looks like @TheMaxRebo is the only one who doesn't have a hard time understanding this.

This really changes nothing if you were buying with Genie+ and using it with the Hopper. Pick the All Parks option, it's going to be the same as the MK one. Same price you were going to pay...

If you aren't hopping or not going to MK, this change will save you some money.

What are even we talking about?

If you hate the whole Genie+ system, this doesn't change a thing for you.

The irony is the people here acting like this is the most complicated thing ever probably enjoyed 180 days away to select ADRs and 7 am 60 days prior to select their FP+ for a whole trip. (tHaT wAsN't coMPLicateD thoUgh) ; note - it was free at least we can admit that.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

No, I get it.

But if we hopped to Epcot or AK, I wouldn't need to buy a Genie + most of the time. But I'd be forced to buy the all 4 park pass just to cover in case we decide to hop to DHS or MK where we would probably use it. That's what people are saying. So now I have to know what park I'm hopping to when I first purchase and if I don't then I have to re-purchase, or whatever, if I'm hopping where I need Genie +.

On top of the fact I'm already paying for hopping!!!

Current way: You have to pay for 4 parks, whether you hop to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or no park at all.

New way: You may choose to pay for 4 parks if you want to, or just a single park if you're certain you won't need a second.

How is that anything other than an upgrade?

If you're certain of your plans, things just got cheaper. If you're uncertain of your plans, you're right back where you started in the first place. You're no better off, but you're no worse off either.

Call me skeptical but i would love to know how many people spend full days at AK or Epcot w/o hopping elsewhere where now those people would need to buy a multiple park Genie and Disney portraying this as a way to “save” money

Most people don't park hop.

 

[nickys]

What do international guests have to do with anything?

"Not dining in a park" goes to my point further. We're only talking about people who park hop without planning to park hop. Someone who leaves a park to go eat at a resort would not fall into that category.

I’m saying a lot of international guests don’t have to make their decisions about planning to park hop because our tickets are automatically park-hoppers. So we can decide “let’s go to Epcot this evening” as we’re eating dinner. And I suspect some AP holders do too.