BREAKING: Walt Disney World Introduces Date-Based Variable Pricing for Genie+ Service

[BamaGuy44]

Sure! This has been the case, when, exactly?

This is a popular, and normally reasonable line of thought.

However there is nothing to back it up. Look no further then the insanely priced Halloween and Christmas parties. There is no meaningful cap on attendance, and the price point is legit outrageous, and it just doesn't matter.

What makes you think they don't cap the attendance for the parties? MNSSHP sold out very fast this year and the crowds are nothing like a normal park day. They could sell a LOT more of those tickets if they weren't capping it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

However there is nothing to back it up. Look no further then the insanely priced Halloween and Christmas parties. There is no meaningful cap on attendance, and the price point is legit outrageous, and it just doesn't matter.

That's an apples to oranges comparison to what is being spoken about.

The parties and any after hours events are priced similar to park tickets because they are admission into the parks. People may say "omg that pricing is nuts" and that is very true. However it's for park time. While maybe not as prevalent in today's times it wasn't all that uncommon for people to not purchase a park ticket for MK and instead use MNSSHP (as well as MVMCP) in lieu of that park ticket.

When people compare Universal's pricing structure of their get ahead of the line system it's priced quite high..on par or much more than park admission. Our experience with Silver Dollar City was similar. For example the park ticket was $99/per person for the day we went and the unlimited Trailblazer pass (akin to Universal's Unlimited) was $83/per person for the day we went.

What do you think would lead to people purchasing in a less indiscriminate way? Charging a quite low ratio to park admission for a get ahead of the line system or charging a high one?

 

[set88]

I think this will have a significant impact on those still willing to buy Genie+ on EPCOT and Animal Kingdom park days. Those are the first parks people will decide not to buy them at in order to balance costs.

I hope you're right, because looking at the EPCOT G+ stats the past few days, they've been awful. No chance of getting even 2 of the 3 headliners, making it completely useless.

 

[cakebaker]

Sure! This has been the case, when, exactly?

This is a popular, and normally reasonable line of thought.

However there is nothing to back it up. Look no further then the insanely priced Halloween and Christmas parties. There is no meaningful cap on attendance, and the price point is legit outrageous, and it just doesn't matter.

I don't think the parties are insanely priced. They aren't for me because of the crowd levels, but that was even more true before Covid. However, let's say they doubled the price of the parties and the crowd levels dropped- I'd probably buy. There is a price point where that will happen, it's inevitable. They just haven't found it yet.

They have for me on resort rates and I'm pretty spendy when it comes to WDW. They've removed every single perk to staying Deluxe, especially with After Hours coming back along with any meaningful room discounts. AH easily wins of the crowded evening hours. So for us, reducing the cost of our resort and adding on the cost of After Hours saves us money. If I'm willing to stop staying Deluxe, I have no doubt there are a lot of others as well. Enough for them to stop increasing the price or add back some incentive? Who knows, time will tell.

And even if you're right and there simply is no point in which they'll see a reduction in sales- They'd be stupid not to charge more.

 

[DISness Casual]

I'm a tad bit confused. The article states that the Genie+ can only be purchased on the day of your visit. Does that mean you can no longer have it as part of your hotel/ticket package when you initially make reservations?

 

[focusondisney]

Sure, If the goal was guest satisfaction.

Which we know, is more money, more money. Not guest satisfaction.

 

[Jrb1979]

I'm a tad bit confused. The article states that the Genie+ can only be purchased on the day of your visit. Does that mean you can no longer have it as part of your hotel/ticket package when you initially make reservations?

They stopped that back in June. You can no longer pre purchase Genie+.

 

[lugnut33]

What makes you think they don't cap the attendance for the parties? MNSSHP sold out very fast this year and the crowds are nothing like a normal park day. They could sell a LOT more of those tickets if they weren't capping it.

They only cap attendance based on staffing level, not out of the kindness of their heart.

 

[DISness Casual]

Gotcha. I had made my reservations beforehand with the Genie+ included for a November trip so was a little confused. Thanks!

 

[Kingoglow]

I'm thinking of the Halloween and Christmas parties in particular - those prices are insane and yet they sold out. That may be a surprise even to Disney.

Disney pricing is all over the place.
A LTO holiday party ticket is over $150 for 4+ hours of quality entertainment. Meanwhile, at the gift shop, a t-shirt sells for $80.00.People buy them both. A front of the line experience could be priced higher.

 

[BamaGuy44]

They only cap attendance based on staffing level, not out of the kindness of their heart.

Up to a point I'm sure you're right. But they've always been sold as limited crowd events. Over the years they've become less limited for sure.

 

[bullcat_02]

So glad I bought my G+ for my vacation back in June.

 

[Ursula J]

Thanks, Disney, I hate it. Genie+ is already awful, a ridiculous money grab that creates problems rather than solves them. I'll stick with early entry and rope drop.
What I hate most about it is the feeling that you *need* to have it--watching people sail past you makes you feel like you're missing out, but buying it just perpetuates it.

 

[leeniewdw]

I hope you're right, because looking at the EPCOT G+ stats the past few days, they've been awful. No chance of getting even 2 of the 3 headliners, making it completely useless.

Is there a thread that's discussing the recent G+ experiences? I thought I was 'watching' those threads but don't see them. We'll be in WDW in a month and realized we're there for a busy weekend. We already have G+ for all our days booked in advance and want to make sure I'm prepared (both technology wise and mentally, lol).

EDIT: Found it

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

I was actually considering trying out Genie+ on my next trip, but now I’m not. Especially if it’s more than $15.

 

[DVC92]

Just another money grab!

 

[focusondisney]

Wow. I thought they probably wouldn't raise the prices this year, but can't say it's shocking. Unfortunately, I would have to say that this is a small enough price increase that it is highly unlikely to cut down on the number of people who buy Genie+ this holiday season... therefore, it's unlikely that this change is actually going to benefit guests by improving capacity. I'm pretty confident this will not be the last price increase we see - they just can't do it drastically at one moment. I imagine they will keep increasing the price of Genie+ UNTIL significantly less people buy it.... and at that point, the service will improve for those willing to spend the money.

I will say - I STRONGLY prefer price increases to capping capacity and making buying Genie+ essentially a stressful lottery for those willing to stay up until midnight and race to purchase... just like getting ADRs or SDD. I would rather know I CAN get Genie+ if I want to budget for it than have each day be a stressful "what if I can't get it today." Of course, price increases also make significantly more sense for Disney, and I'm not going to blame them for not leaving money on the table. People have proven this year that they are willing to pay whatever Disney asks. Until that's no longer true, prices will go up.

Also wouldn't be shocked to see Disney go back to offering Genie+ as a discounted whole stay add-on at some point. People may ultimately spend more money buying it for days they don't need it, but they'll FEEL like they saved money. The exact same racket that the dining plan is.

I agree with pretty much everything you,said. Although, with so many people buying, even at the increased cost, you’ll still have the “will I get the rides I want“ stress every day.

$50 is probably pretty close, and we'll be there within a couple of years unless they come up with a different system. Universal's pass is $100+ per day and people pay it. If Disney offered something similar with no booking times, no 7 am BS, no rides selling out of passes at 9 am... I don't know how much people would pay, but it would be a lot.

Agree. Personally, I’d rather pay more upfront & know I can get the rides I want, when I want them. We’re a mid 60s couple, have APs & visit a couple of times a year. We don’t do parks open to close & don’t do most coasters. We’d much rather do a few hours & hit all our favorites paying more for an express pass type program than pay less & have to wait hours between rides & not even get all that we want. Sorry. I guess we add to the problem.

Genie+ will likely eventually end up there. Disney honestly probably should have just started with a system more like Universal's than start with this low price and gradually increase it. People are going to balk at Genie+ going forward (at least for a while) because "it used to be only $15!!" It never should have been $15. It should have been much higher with much higher benefit or not existed at all.

People will complain about paying a higher price, like they did when Genie+ replaced fastpass. But that didn’t stop them from buying it. I don’t think this increase will either.

 

[Genie+]

Not surprising as G+ is near its 1 year anniversary. Disney Parks regularly start with a lower price then jack it up. I’m happy it didn’t make the jump like the Picture Package at StarWars Hotel, going from introductory price of $99 to $400 in one swift ascent.

Standby times this Sept climbed significantly over last Sept. Higher attendance? Maybe, but surely not having Genie+ and ILLs last year helped.

I am surprised that nothing was tweaked to improve the system. Maybe that is because they’re waiting for January ‘23 when nobody has pre-purchased Genie. If some tweaks come then I’d also expect the ceiling to be raised to $25.

Would you consider G+ at $17-$25 a day IF it came with a modify button?

 

[DaviVascaino]

Not surprising as G+ is near its 1 year anniversary. Disney Parks regularly start with a lower price then jack it up. I’m happy it didn’t make the jump like the Picture Package at StarWars Hotel, going from introductory price of $99 to $400 in one swift ascent.

Standby times this Sept climbed significantly over last Sept. Higher attendance? Maybe, but surely not having Genie+ and ILLs last year helped.

I am surprised that nothing was tweaked to improve the system. Maybe that is because they’re waiting for January ‘23 when nobody has pre-purchased Genie. If some tweaks come then I’d also expect the ceiling to be raised to $25.

Would you consider G+ at $17-$25 a day IF it came with a modify button?

maybe.
however, I woudl rather than increasing more if that means no rides would sell out.

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

call me cynical. But I think Disney want less people to buy it. Then when the smash the price up again they have reason to justify its worth.