Thoroughly enjoyed the respectful discussion on this topic. I’m also a non social media participant (DIS is my singular exception!
) and it is because of this content, value and connection -even when opposing views are aired- that I return. Grateful for this community always.
I’d like to add a recent personal experience (right before the Genie launch) which I think may highlight some of the positive aspects of Genie+ for occasional travelers.
DH waited over two hours in line for WebSlingers on our trip over Thanksgiving so our whole fam could experience it for the first time together. In that time, me and the kids waited 30+ minutes for Monsters, had our family’s first lunch at Pym’s, and saw Iron man for the first time greeting at the Avengers Headquarters!! Totally awesome! And totally lacking our husband/father.
It was a week day. I don’t think I can possibly describe how fast I would’ve paid $7 a person to have my DH see the look on our kids faces when they first glimpsed the GIANT pretzel I sat before them…..rather than having him wait apart from us ANOTHER 45 minutes before he texted to join him in line for the pre show.
What was that time worth to me? Yup. Definitely $7 a person. Kind of like what that extra bag fee is every time we travel home from DLR with more junk, uh, souvenirs, than I ever thought we’d come home with in the first place….AGAIN.
lol. And totally kidding. DH and I are the real culprits!!
So right, wrong, or indifferent, value will always be subjective. Did we love MP and work it for all it was worth every visit? YES!
Do we love that Genie+ cut off the love-fest with its one-ride-a-day cap? NO!
Do we get why they made the changes they did? YEAH, I GUESS…with the full-on tween eye roll.
My point is, in a world of continual and never ending charges for a family vacation these days (your bag is a half pound overweight, surcharge for more leg room on the airplane, baggage fees, parking fees, pet boarding fees) the one thing I will always choose to pay for is the “PhotoPass of Life”…where either parent or loved one doesn’t have to miss out, even if it means no more extra duffle of souvenirs!!