Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[JoeCamel]

"The Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) Disney Genie and Genie+ technologies which are used in theme parks, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, are the focal point of a lawsuit filed by a California-based theme park tech firm.

Glendale, California-based Agile Journeys LLC filed a lawsuit Dec. 2 with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Fort Myers Division.

The suit alleges patent infringement of one of Agile Journeys' patents in relation to Disney's digital personalized itinerary tech, Disney Genie and Disney Genie+. The latter is a paid version released in 2021 that provides add-ons such as ride time reservations.

Agile Journeys alleges Disney infringes on Agile Journeys' patent published in 2002, dubbed "Method and Apparatus for Providing Visitors with a Personalized Itinerary and Managed Access to Attractions," which describes a personalized itinerary system for attraction visitors. The lawsuit alleges Agile Journeys has been damaged by Disney.

"Disney has infringed and continues to infringe (literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents), directly, indirectly, and/or through subsidiaries, agents, representatives or intermediaries, one or more claims of the [patent] by making, using, testing, supplying, causing to be supplied, selling and/or offering for sale in the United States the Disney Genie system, including the Disney Genie App," alleges the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges Disney was aware of the existence of Agile Journeys' technology dating back to 2002. It alleges Agile's patent co-inventor William Gibbens Redmann was in contact with Disney representatives regarding the technology. The patent's other co-inventor is Michael Anthony Eaton.

The lawsuit contains alleged emails between Redmann and Disney representatives regarding having a discussion over the technology.

The lawsuit also alleges that Disney attempted to patent its own system multiple times, which the lawsuit alleges included applications that were "rejected" or where Agile's patent was cited when being reviewed.

"Notwithstanding Disney’s knowledge of [Agile's patent], Disney has knowingly or with reckless disregard willfully infringed the [patent]. Disney has acted despite an objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement of the [patent]. The objective risk that Disney infringed the [patent] was known or so obvious that it should have been known to Disney," alleged the lawsuit.
Steven Gautier Koeppel, attorney at Ft. Myers-based Yeslow & Koeppel PA, represents Agile Journeys LLC, according to the documents. Disney did not have an attorney listed in the documents as of Dec. 5.

The lawsuit requests a jury trial and seeks:

▪A judgment that Disney infringed on one more more claims of the patent
▪A judgement and order requiring Disney to pay Agile Journeys "enhanced damages" for the infringement
▪A judgement and order requiring Disney to pay Agile Journeys royalties going forward

Neither Disney, Redmann, Eaton or Koeppel could be reached for comment."

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2022/12/05/florida-california-disney-theme-park-lawsuit.html

Ohhh, Steve is going to have a good year

 

[Joel]

Disney did not have an attorney listed in the documents as of Dec. 5.

I sure hope they're able to find some!

 

[Disstevefan1]

"The Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) Disney Genie and Genie+ technologies which are used in theme parks, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, are the focal point of a lawsuit filed by a California-based theme park tech firm.

Glendale, California-based Agile Journeys LLC filed a lawsuit Dec. 2 with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Fort Myers Division.

The suit alleges patent infringement of one of Agile Journeys' patents in relation to Disney's digital personalized itinerary tech, Disney Genie and Disney Genie+. The latter is a paid version released in 2021 that provides add-ons such as ride time reservations.

Agile Journeys alleges Disney infringes on Agile Journeys' patent published in 2002, dubbed "Method and Apparatus for Providing Visitors with a Personalized Itinerary and Managed Access to Attractions," which describes a personalized itinerary system for attraction visitors. The lawsuit alleges Agile Journeys has been damaged by Disney.

"Disney has infringed and continues to infringe (literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents), directly, indirectly, and/or through subsidiaries, agents, representatives or intermediaries, one or more claims of the [patent] by making, using, testing, supplying, causing to be supplied, selling and/or offering for sale in the United States the Disney Genie system, including the Disney Genie App," alleges the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges Disney was aware of the existence of Agile Journeys' technology dating back to 2002. It alleges Agile's patent co-inventor William Gibbens Redmann was in contact with Disney representatives regarding the technology. The patent's other co-inventor is Michael Anthony Eaton.

The lawsuit contains alleged emails between Redmann and Disney representatives regarding having a discussion over the technology.

The lawsuit also alleges that Disney attempted to patent its own system multiple times, which the lawsuit alleges included applications that were "rejected" or where Agile's patent was cited when being reviewed.

"Notwithstanding Disney’s knowledge of [Agile's patent], Disney has knowingly or with reckless disregard willfully infringed the [patent]. Disney has acted despite an objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement of the [patent]. The objective risk that Disney infringed the [patent] was known or so obvious that it should have been known to Disney," alleged the lawsuit.
Steven Gautier Koeppel, attorney at Ft. Myers-based Yeslow & Koeppel PA, represents Agile Journeys LLC, according to the documents. Disney did not have an attorney listed in the documents as of Dec. 5.

The lawsuit requests a jury trial and seeks:

▪A judgment that Disney infringed on one more more claims of the patent
▪A judgement and order requiring Disney to pay Agile Journeys "enhanced damages" for the infringement
▪A judgement and order requiring Disney to pay Agile Journeys royalties going forward

Neither Disney, Redmann, Eaton or Koeppel could be reached for comment."

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2022/12/05/florida-california-disney-theme-park-lawsuit.html

Disney should cease and desist Genie+ and ILL immediately!

 

[CaptinEO]

My first time at WDW since Genie+. Havent gone to Epcot yet but so far I feel Genie+ is good for MK.

Animal Kingdom I don't see the point so didn't buy it. People can easily do all the rides with plenty of time to spare.

Hollywood Studios was a madhouse. We didn't get Genie because we have SW:GE at Disneyland and only wanted do the unique rides and shows.

I think of all the parks I've seen so far Hollywood Studios suffers the most from Genie+. It seems every ride and show has Lightning Lane there.

 

[DCBaker]

Genie+ news on modifying Lightning Lane selections -

 

[LittleBuford]

Genie+ news on modifying Lightning Lane selections -

This is a big improvement. I don’t understand why this functionality wasn’t there from the outset given that FP+ already had it.

 

[DCBaker]

Some additional notes on the change -

Will the timeframe for when Guests are able to book their next selection change if their original selection is modified?
No. Guests are able to make another Lightning Lane selection with Disney Genie+ service once they redeem their current selection, once their full arrival window has passed, or after 120 minutes has passed from the original booking (or 120 minutes after the published park opening time, whichever is later).

Are Guests able to modify a Lightning Lane selection made with Disney Genie+ service for an available experience at another park?
With this new functionality, Guests may modify selections for the park in which the original selection was made. If a Guest wishes to make a selection at a different park, they should first cancel their selection, and then proceed to make a selection at the other park.

Can Guests modify individual (a la carte) Lightning Lane selections?
No. The ability to modify selections only applies to experiences offered through Disney Genie+ service.

Walt Disney World Guests Will Soon Be Able to Modify Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections

Daily news, rumors, and photo-reports from all of Central Florida's theme parks, water parks, minor attractions, and more!

www.orlandoparksnews.com

 

[Jrb1979]

This is a big improvement. I don’t understand why this functionality wasn’t there from the outset given that FP+ already had it.

IMO they didn't want Genie+ to work like that. I feel they set Genie+ up this way to direct crowds better. They also are trying to get away from planning out their spreadsheets.

 

[brettf22]

Genie+ news on modifying Lightning Lane selections -

Let’s hope their servers are ready for the increase in refresh-refresh-refresh traffic.

 

[DCLcruiser]

Let’s hope their servers are ready for the increase in refresh-refresh-refresh traffic.

I doubt it will be an issue. Last week, every LL was for now...1:30 PM! So, refreshing just got you 1:35 PM. There were only a select few LL for later in the day, which happened in the AM (for PM entrance) on very popular rides like SDD.

 

[TQQQ]

Genie+ news on modifying Lightning Lane selections -

One in a row..........Now lets see if they can fix the rest of the crappy problems

 

[GhostHost1000]

One in a row..........Now lets see if they can fix the rest of the crappy problems

Like the whole concept?

 

[gorillaball]

I doubt it will be an issue. Last week, every LL was for now...1:30 PM! So, refreshing just got you 1:35 PM. There were only a select few LL for later in the day, which happened in the AM (for PM entrance) on very popular rides like SDD.

And that will be true for maybe 3-4 days, when it will become increasingly not true until about 10 days from now when it will be a big issue. If you were to cancel (under existing system) in the 10 seconds until you booked something else it would be gone.

 

[arich35]

When will this be implemented? First day is tomorrow

 

[DCBaker]

When will this be implemented? First day is tomorrow

Disney has said within the next week or so - the change will happen when the app is updated.

 

[SpectroMagician]

Here is a better idea, bring back the old fastpass system that rewarded people who stayed on site.

 

[esskay]

Here is a better idea, bring back the old fastpass system that rewarded people who stayed on site.

Disney reads that as "The guests clearly want Genie Plus LightningLane Ultra Max XL Pro"

I do agree though, the whole system is junk, Fastpass+ was a nice middle ground. Genie+ is just a mess.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I'm now on my second WDW vacation using Genie+. I've also used it for a Disneyland vacation. The system works well in Disneyland for three main reasons:

• More rides per park (with a larger distribution of high demand rides)
• It's not added where it doesn't belong (Tea Cups, shows, etc)
• You can only use it upon entering the park.

 

[GhostHost1000]

It’s almost comical how Iger is getting so much praise online from this change like he had anything to do with it or even knows about it.

Half the problems Disney is in is a result of Iger’s setup but will throw Chapek under the bus for it all while he becomes a savior. Brilliant strategy.

 

[G00fyDad]

It’s almost comical how Iger is getting so much praise online from this change like he had anything to do with it or even knows about it.

Half the problems Disney is in is a result of Iger’s setup but will throw Chapek under the bus for it all while he becomes a savior. Brilliant strategy.

But the other half are Chapek's. Iger was no saint and I disliked him from the start but Chapek really held the puppy's head under the water during his time in the office.