The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[3gr8boys]

To whoever moved my original question: I'm disappointed that my stand alone original thread got thrown into this massive thread. I didn't want to be a part of this and that's why I didn't pose my question here. This thread is too big to navigate.

I totally understand the frustration. While it may not qualify as "plans" that you can use, I did share some thoughts after our April trip regarding Genie+ that may contain some helpful tidbits. (It was a standalone thread for a couple of days with some good back and forth questioning/commenting but then was pulled into the "Here Now & Just Back" thread.)

https://www.disboards.com/threads/h...-including-park-hopping.3807247/post-63923788

(FWIW It would have been a pain to worry about adding Genie+ everyday instead of having it attached to tickets ahead of time.)

 

[Gentry2004]

I was planning to just buy it the days I wanted it (MK and DHS) but this is still frustrating because it means more users online trying to buy it with me when many of them would have preferred buying it in advance. And I definitely was planning to just buy it at 6:45am - not midnight.

 

[maui2k5]

Something good - something frustrating... So last year we had some issues with our trip at the Yacht Club and we ended up getting a complimentary 5 day park hopper pass plus a deluxe club level for 5 nights. (trip this year is in early Aug @ Poly). Having seen the news today about adding Genie+ needing to be purchased daily starting June 8th, I thought why not buy it now in advance while I can.

However, I was informed by Disney special reservations that complimentary tickets cannot add G+ in advance and must be purchased each day starting at 12am. While this is a first world problem (I know - I have free tix and room so I should not complain), but the whole G+ process is frustrating for probably the majority of guests compared to FP+.

Would be better to allow booking of G+ the day prior as to not until midnight. Seems not very considerate to guests to think they only need sleep between 12am-6am. With G+ limited and may sell out, it would cause most people to stay up late to buy G+ so they do not have to both buy & book at 7am (and risk not getting G+).

 

[Tom_E_D]

I am wondering if it will only be available now at 7, they have to know that midnight to purchase and 7 am to book is going to be a huge issue for people.

There are other possibilities. I wonder if going to the MaxPass system, where you had to have entered a park before you could buy it, will be considered. Genie + was supposed to have been based on MaxPass, after all. They could still do ILL separately at 7:00 (or another time) in order to give those staying "onsite" their onsite advantage.

 

[SLThomas318]

Someone in one of these threads had said to be careful what we wish for.... Disney could def. make things worse in an attempt to "fix" genie+.... I'm afraid this is worse!

I feel like Disney trips are getting more and more absurd.... when are they going to realize that this new system just doesn't work for the Disney World parks?!?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I do wish we had a thread just for plans people executed. It’s a lot to read through these massive threads when your trying to come up with a plan.

I’m leaving for a trip in 2 weeks. I would love to post what we do with our party of 7 to help people out, but I’m not even sure the correct place for it. This thread or the Here Now/Just back one? And then it gets lost In the questions.

Here Now and Just Back. The majority of posts on that thread are sharing exactly what you're looking for if you want most recent experiences, go to the final pages.

These threads were created as many had the same questions you do and other valid threads were getting lost as there were so many standalone threads sharing their experiences.

If you have specific questions about your personal trip, creating a thread asking questions about your trip in the 'Theme Park Plans' sub-forum is the place for that. Many people frequent that board who love to help people plan their trip and answer their questions.

 

[MainMom]

I’m so glad I‘m flying home on June 8th and purchased G+ in advance. I can’t even imagine the app trying to handle the buying of g+, booking g+ rides, booking ILL$, and VQ. It already glitches enough as it is.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm pretty confident Disney will make ample opportunity for all who wish to purchase Genie+ to purchase it. They've never sold out yet so I'm pretty sure they won't in the future either as it's money in their pockets.

 

[elgerber]

I'm pretty confident Disney will make ample opportunity for all who wish to purchase Genie+ to purchase it. They've never sold out yet so I'm pretty sure they won't in the future either as it's money in their pockets.

I agree with others that I think a price increase is coming, and the subject to availability wording in todays announcement, pretty much says it can sell out.

 

[TheBigErn]

Here Now and Just Back. The majority of posts on that thread are sharing exactly what you're looking for if you want most recent experiences, go to the final pages.

These threads were created as many had the same questions you do and other valid threads were getting lost as there were so many standalone threads sharing their experiences.

If you have specific questions about your personal trip, creating a thread asking questions about your trip in the 'Theme Park Plans' sub-forum is the place for that. Many people frequent that board who love to help people plan their trip and answer their questions.

Some threads get too big. Good information might be located on page 50 of 210 but nobody will find it. The moderators need to re-think this policy.

 

[glocon]

Some threads get too big. Good information might be located on page 50 of 210 but nobody will find it. The moderators need to re-think this policy.

I think what Scrapping is trying to say is look at the most current pages of the threads she mentioned. They really do have good info about the most current experiences. You definitely are not alone with your questions.

 

[robinb]

I had this happen this morning also. I used the chat feature and they told me what to do. It sounds like it’s a known issue? Here’s their response:
View attachment 669622

This worked very easily for me. The chat was very fast and efficient.

Shoot! I wish I had seen your post before now. The same thing happened to me last week and again today. Out of 4 days trying to fork over money to Disney I was only successful twice!

I was on my phone at 6:45 this morning and tried to but G+ for 25 minutes. The button to buy it was unresponsive. I was able to get an ILL for Rise just fine, but the regular G+ was impossible. Until, at 7:11 when the second drop happened I tried to grab a 9:30 Slinky and the payment went through even though I tried through the regular “Buy G+” link just seconds before. But … I did not know that doing it that way only purchases G+, not the LL. You have to go back to the tip board and get a LL. By the time I realized I didn’t have a LL for Slinky, it was all the way into afternoon. Instead, I grabbed a Smugglers Run for 9:30 which turned out to be for 11:50. The Studios were Messed up today so I knew I would only get 2 rides in with a return time so late.

I talked to a guest relations person under the blue umbrella and she told me about needing to go back out to the tip board after purchasing G+ by selecting a return time. She also advised me to buy G+ at 6:00 am. Right.

 

[Jrb1979]

I'm pretty confident Disney will make ample opportunity for all who wish to purchase Genie+ to purchase it. They've never sold out yet so I'm pretty sure they won't in the future either as it's money in their pockets.

What if they do both. Raise the price and cap sales? The problem with Genie+ is too many people have it.

 

[choirguy]

Trying to plan for our upcoming trip Memorial Day weekend to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and new to the Genie + system. I understand that we can book our first pass at 7am outside the park (we are staying at Fort Wilderness), then 120 minutes after park opening for the next one.
Can I continue to book every 120 minutes while still outside the parks? Trying to have a morning at the campground but want to continue to book passes for the afternoon and early evening, and didn’t know if I needed to be in the park to book after the first one.

 

[CJK]

Trying to plan for our upcoming trip Memorial Day weekend to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and new to the Genie + system. I understand that we can book our first pass at 7am outside the park (we are staying at Fort Wilderness), then 120 minutes after park opening for the next one.
Can I continue to book every 120 minutes while still outside the parks? Trying to have a morning at the campground but want to continue to book passes for the afternoon and early evening, and didn’t know if I needed to be in the park to book after the first one.

Absolutely! You don't have to be inside the park to book your rides. We often lounge at the pool all day, and continue stacking rides for the evening! Have fun!

 

[choirguy]

Absolutely! You don't have to be inside the park to book your rides. We often lounge at the pool all day, and continue stacking rides for the evening! Have fun!

Thank you!
Trying to get some time at the campground since it will be such a busy weekend, and that sounds like the best plan for us to still get a few passes for the evening.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

What if they do both. Raise the price and cap sales? The problem with Genie+ is too many people have it.

Have to disagree with the 'too many people have it' comment. Way less people use G+ during a typical day than used FP+. The biggest issue I have with G+ (besides paying extra for it) is that it doesn't include all the attractions. Pulling out the top 4-8 attractions from the parks makes it way less useful. It would work much better if all the previous FP+ attractions were included, but with ILL profits, that's not going to change. Hopefully, they keep it at just 1 per park as it will be most of the summer.

 

[Jrb1979]

Have to disagree with the 'too many people have it' comment. Way less people use G+ during a typical day than used FP+. The biggest issue I have with G+ (besides paying extra for it) is that it doesn't include all the attractions. Pulling out the top 4-8 attractions from the parks makes it way less useful. It would work much better if all the previous FP+ attractions were included, but with ILL profits, that's not going to change. Hopefully, they keep it at just 1 per park as it will be most of the summer.

Yes less people use G+ then FP+. The difference is they are giving out less G+ compared to FP+. Look at how short the waits are for G+ compared to FP+

 

[SLThomas318]

Maybe I'm the minority, but I don't expect to just walk-on the ride... I think a 10-15 min wait is reasonable. I understand they over-did it with FP+ and handed those things out like hot cakes, but isn't there a happy medium some where?

 

[MaC410]

Yes less people use G+ then FP+. The difference is they are giving out less G+ compared to FP+. Look at how short the waits are for G+ compared to FP+

Are they actually shorter though? (honest question since I don't have first hand experience yet) Was watching a stream last night and every Lightening Lane line they were on was pretty backed up and took longer than I've ever waited on a Fastpass line for those rides.