Disney Genie announcement

[bookgirl]

Do we know if this is correct?
I've read both ways. That resort can book LL at 7 and everyone else when they get in the park. And I've read, everyone can book LL at 7 and only resort guests can book the paid LL at 7.

Don't know. I went back but it had already been 24hrs since the IG story so it's gone. Since TA got trained last Friday I would imagine dates will be announced soon. Once the dates are public we should get the details.

 

[Marionnette]

I have seen several people say they think they will purchase G+ for certain parks, but not for others. Could anyone explain why G+ would/wouldn't be helpful in the different parks?

I don't remember which parks have fallen into which category, except I know several have said they likely wouldn't purchase G+ at HS. That is confusing to me since the lines at that park seem to be so much longer than at others. But is the general idea that there are fewer rides there so you wouldn't be able to use it as much?

It's a function of the number of high-volume attractions in each park vs. the number of attractions that didn't really require a FP- at all.

Take for instance AK. There are currently 17 attractions in AK. Two of them will be IA$ attractions, leaving 15 that could potentially be pegged as G+. Of those 15, 10 were FP+ attractions. Of those 10, you have 3 shows where FP+ was not really necessary (FotLK, Winged Encounters and Feathered Friends in Flight), the Animation Experience at Conservation Station, which didn't really need a FP+ in the past and ITTBAB where a FP+ only got you out of the hot, stuffy pre-show area a few moments faster than non FP+ holders.

That leaves Dinosaur, Kilamanjaro Safari, EE, Kali RR and Triceratops Spin. Five attractions that you might need a G+ for. (Note: some rumors have Na'Vi as a IA$, while others are listing Safari instead).

So, 5 attractions that you might need a line-skipping pass for, in the park with the lowest daily attendance. Which is why many feel you won't need a G+ for this park.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I don't think local(ish) AP holders will be using this. We stay at the campground, we might only spend a half day at a time in the parks. It stinks we will never have "Fast Pass+" quick lines again, but I can't justify the cost either. But I do agree staying on site is less and less benefit.

 

[cakebaker]

I hope all the complaints here are indicative of how the general public feels about staying on site and it not being worth it anymore. I'm not one who's really complaining- I think the EMH's in the evening for Deluxe/DVC are going to be a great perk, especially with Genie+ and IAS. But...the more trouble they have filling their resorts, the more perks they'll add and while they've got me already, I will always take more! Maybe include Genie+ with a resort stay, a few freebies tossed in...more EMH evenings....any of those will do!

 

[gharter]

I hope all the complaints here are indicative of how the general public feels about staying on site and it not being worth it anymore.

The people here are a very small subset that go to WDW and DL.
I suspect our concerns are not indicative of the general public.

 

[Nick6300]

I'm not a fan of NRJ so it would please me tremendously if they pick that one though it might make the Genie+ worthwhile to me if they do so as having 2 of FoP/EE/KS on the plan would at least make me consider it. If only 1 of those 3 is on the Genie+ plan I'll just utilize the standby lines instead. Of course I'll want to read about others experiences first, if possible, to see if the new system makes the selection of those exceptionally difficult.

I think many of us prefer Safari over NRJ (and a lot of other rides over NRJ). I still ride NRJ just because I ride just about everything at least once per trip. But I agree, please pick the Pandora counter part for LL as a 2nd to FoP. I'd assume RD is about to become more competitive, but in the past, getting on FoP at the front, allowed everything else to follow NRJ, Safari, EE, Kali, Dino to be low waiting. If FoP and 1 of the other 3 possibles is a LL, I see no sense for us personally to do G+ given how few attractions are left, EE having SR, Dino skippable for us. Kind of like that for us for EP, less attractions with longer lines vs. MK/HS.

 

[bookgirl]

The people here are a very small subset that go to WDW and DL.
I suspect our concerns are not indicative of the general public.

I agree. I've talked to and helped people who either know I do Disney a lot (or they are the friend/family of someone I know).

Tourist's like them make up the majority of guests and they do not nitpik stuff like the folks on this board LOL They tend to be a lot more pragmatic and in many ways accepting of the 'restrictions' or 'rules' per say.

That being said. I know that all this is affecting the way I look at vacationing at Disney. I'm not mad or happy specifically about any of the changes, but it does factor in to my future plans.

 

[Nick6300]

We all keep talking about the headliners, but I've been pondering the other rides. The whole reason FP, then FP+ were put in place was because of three hour lines for Peter Pan. Dumbo won't be as bad since they've doubled the capacity, but some rides are going right back to the horrible wait times I remember from years ago. I understand the whole planning vs. spontaneous issue, and hated knowing that there was no way I could get a pass for some rides at short notice. My family operates on "Let's go to Epcot next Tuesday," not sixty day out planning. But if Disney had asked me how I would solve the problem, my answer would not have been, "Make me pay through the nose for only one pass at a time. I'm sure that will fix everything."

But it fixes Disney's perceived revenue growth problems (although parks & experiences revenues increased quite a bit this past qtr.). If the lines continue to get more congested, they can/will increase the price of tickets, AP, G+, LL, and issue more high priced parties.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

1. The way crowds wander and pulsate through a park, what they do and when they eat and where they go, is dynamic, but not optimal.
2. There is probably a solution where everyone gets to do everything they want to do in the most efficient way (measured by how long a person has to wait to accomplish what they want to do, and how many of the things they want to do they can achieve).
3. Seems like Genie+ will be an attempt to achieve greater, more efficient outcomes, for more and more guests
4. It follows then that park experiences will be better, not worse, once it is rolled out
5. And it also follows that there is a price to pay for that level of efficiency - and and even higher price for greater efficiency
6. Guests can decide if it is worth it, and if they will pay

 

[cakebaker]

The people here are a very small subset that go to WDW and DL.
I suspect our concerns are not indicative of the general public.

I suspect this is very true, but I can always hope!

 

[ChipNdale8887]

I hope all the complaints here are indicative of how the general public feels about staying on site and it not being worth it anymore. I'm not one who's really complaining- I think the EMH's in the evening for Deluxe/DVC are going to be a great perk, especially with Genie+ and IAS. But...the more trouble they have filling their resorts, the more perks they'll add and while they've got me already, I will always take more! Maybe include Genie+ with a resort stay, a few freebies tossed in...more EMH evenings....any of those will do!

I'm wondering how much of the General Public will even use Genie+ and Lightning Lane. It still boggled my mind when fastpass was around how many people waited in the standby lines for rides that you could easily get fast passes for but instead of using it and understanding it they just waited in a 30-50 minute line.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

But it fixes Disney's perceived revenue growth problems (although parks & experiences revenues increased quite a bit this past qtr.). If the lines continue to get more congested, they can/will increase the price of tickets, AP, G+, LL, and issue more high priced parties.

Agree with this.

Also - IMO Disney had by and large fixed the issue of unbearably long waits with the original FP system. FP+ was a step back IMO. I liked it well enough and used it...but SB lines really went up in my experience.

Seems Genie+ is going back to the original day-of FP system - but now you pay. Which sucks, but it is what it is. I will pay (probably).

 

[ChipNdale8887]

Seems like Genie+ will be an attempt to achieve greater, more efficient outcomes, for more and more guests

I think its main purpose even just the Genie App is $$$. You could always check wait times in the MDE app. I don't think Genie+ and Lightning Lane will be any different. It's only about $$$.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm wondering how much of the General Public will even use Genie+ and Lightning Lane. It still boggled my mind when fastpass was around how many people waited in the standby lines for rides that you could easily get fast passes for but instead of using it and understanding it they just waited in a 30-50 minute line.

It always amazed me too and that you'd get dirty looks as though you were somehow line cutting- that they not only chose not to use it, but didn't even realize how it worked of if it even existed. I expect Genie will be much the same. I guess for some people, it just takes too much effort to figure it out and standing in line isn't anything they mind doing.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

Agree with this.

Also - IMO Disney had by and large fixed the issue of unbearably long waits with the original FP system. FP+ was a step back IMO. I liked it well enough and used it...but SB lines really went up in my experience.

Seems Genie+ is going back to the original day-of FP system - but now you pay. Which sucks, but it is what it is. I will pay (probably).

I honestly think the problem with wait times is with the capacity, there just isn't enough to do. Year over year disney rethemes old rides and doesn't add any more capacity or things to do. They tear down old rides and build new ones over top of them. The only solution to long wait times is park expansion or raising prices. You can see which path they have chosen. Universal has chosen rapid growth and has built more and more hotels and a new water park and is planning a new whole park. Long term growth and planning. Disney on the other hand has redone existing rides and focused on the 50th anniversary, what happens after that will be interesting.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I honestly think the problem with wait times is will the capacity there just isn't enough to do. Year over year disney rethemes old rides and doesn't add any more capacity or things to do. They tear down old rides and build new ones over top of them. The only solution to long wait times is park expansion or raising prices. You can see which path they have chosen. Universal has chosen rapid growth and has build more and more hotels and a new water park and is planning a new whole park. Long term growth and planning. Disney on the other hand has redone existing rides and focused on the 50th anniversary, what happens after that will be interesting.

??

But this isn't even remotely true. Fantasyland, Pandora, Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge are all new lands. There are new restaurants and hotels as well.

 

[Nick6300]

I agree with you - I'd never go in August. But I'm pretty sure the numbers are there.

To your larger point, though, I think Disney has been hoisted by their own petard here. We've been trained for 20 years that there's a better way to get on rides than standing in a long line for an hour or more. And we've come to expect this better way to be included in the cost of our ticket.

So with people getting angry or upset, Disney really has no one to blame but themselves. They cultivated this mindset for a long time.

Granted storms and the eve of the 50th is attributing some (in addition to the kids returning to school), the recent severe drop off in crowds would motivate me to go. Boarding Groups avail. later in the day on a Fri. I go at this time every year because many people don't want to melt in the sun/drown in the rain.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

??

But this isn't even remotely true. Fantasyland, Pandora, Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge are all new lands. There are new restaurants and hotels as well.

??

But this isn't even remotely true. Fantasyland, Pandora, Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge are all new lands. There are new restaurants and hotels as well.

In most of these areas weren't rides and attractions torn down to build these lands?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Wh

I'm wondering how much of the General Public will even use Genie+ and Lightning Lane. It still boggled my mind when fastpass was around how many people waited in the standby lines for rides that you could easily get fast passes for but instead of using it and understanding it they just waited in a 30-50 minute line.

Same. I can see a lot of people not using it. I’m 50/50 here.

People with small children who can’t or won’t do headliners or bigger rides. Why pay for G+? Especially when you can just do an IAS if mom and dad really want to do FOP or space.

Those with long trips. I can see them using it for 2-3 days and winging the rest.

This could all go either way.

I know it’s not on the same level but I’m curious on the number of people who buy these add ons at other parks like universal, six flags, etc.

 

[Cabius]

??

But this isn't even remotely true. Fantasyland, Pandora, Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge are all new lands. There are new restaurants and hotels as well.

WDW has continued to add capacity, but most of the lands you've named replaced lands or attractions that were there before, so not a pure net add in capacity.

But more broadly: Disney has invested in capacity, which generates more demand, which generates longer lines...