Disney Genie announcement

[rmclain73]

So I have now seen three videos on youtbue where people have used the free version of Genie and it seems like a complete disaster. It does not do a good job at all with coming up with suggestions based on what you tell it you want to do .

 

[Disturbia]

So I have now seen three videos on youtbue where people have used the free version of Genie and it seems like a complete disaster. It does not do a good job at all with coming up with suggestions based on what you tell it you want to do .

You need to know and have a plan of your own. Genie is just trying to maybe minimize a bit of your park runaround but trying to disperse crowds and inflate times to temp you to spend$$$$

 

[LSUfan4444]

So I have now seen three videos on youtbue where people have used the free version of Genie and it seems like a complete disaster. It does not do a good job at all with coming up with suggestions based on what you tell it you want to do .

Yeah...Ive seen the same, it just routes guests to the closest attraction with the shortest wait...regardless of whether it was something the user wanted to do or not.

 

[LSUfan4444]

The optimized on the fly touringplans app is a much better product right now and they have been doing a head to head with two people in the same park at the same time and they're blowing Genie away

 

[HopperFan]

I still have no idea if I'll use G+ in November. Most likely not, based on this week. I definitely will not use the free one, and I'll throw $ at the ILL$, if anyone really wants to ride (but we've all been before and will again, so other than Remy, probably won't do that either)

I go Nov 1 - 5 days at WDW -1 day, maybe 2 at Universal. Just son and I.

Reading everything I can on what is happening now, what they are adjusting and wow ............. it is SO much to take in. They took what was a simple straight forward system and made it so complicated. And we are the regulars ... imagine the new people OR they'll do what this is set up for ... follow along like sheep where Disney wants them to go, spend at restaurants that need more guests etc.

TODAY, I am with you. Likely ignore the Genie - def not giving it any input on my likes etc. I am thinking Genie+ for MK and skipping it at other parks unless I see wait times will eat our day. Throw some money at Ratatouille for sure, maybe Rise. Only because I haven't been on either one. I'm okay not doing everything, we'll be back in January.

My usual excitement about a trip is a bit tempered but I'm going to be flexible and go with open mind. But I feel like by January the system will get lots worked out so I'm not going to get too invested yet.

 

[cm8]

We’re here now and it’s crazy! I was able to secure a boarding pass at 7 am and we’re in group 75. Our ETA was 1:20… They have now changed our virtual time 3 times!! They keep pushing our groups out for people paying for LL access. This is not okay. Our new boarding time is now 3:40 I didn’t plan to stay in Epcot all day because we’re doing the AH BB tonight and I need my rest before tonight!

 

[leeniewdw]

That stinks, but I don't think it's surprising that paid reservations are taking a priority. But it's definitely good to know!

 

[DisneyFive]

Process to refresh Genie+ to see alternative available times?

Here's how I do it.

1) Find the attractions you want a G+ for
2) Click on "Book Experience" for that attraction
3) Hit the "x" in the top left corner. (This backs you back out, and will then hold the attraction at correct location on your phone screen)
4) Now you can simply keep clicking on the "Tip Board" tab on the top left of the screen. This will refresh the G+ return time each time you click it.
5) When you find a return time you are satisfied with, then go through the process to fully book it by clicking "Book Experience" and follow the prompts

Dan

 

[CWTC]

They keep pushing our groups out for people paying for LL access.

This is not surprising and frankly is what I would expect: it’s not actually that different from when there were SB and FP lines when SB would be held to push FP through.

 

[mab2012]

I burned $15.98 and verified that it does in fact work this way - if you wait 2 hours without being eligible some other way, you can make another, and if you cancel or let expire any of your outstanding G+ reservations, no matter when they were made, you can immediately make another.

I think this way is actually easier to explain to guests. Two simple rules:

- If you use, cancel or let expire an existing reservation, you can make another
- If 2 hours pass of non-eligibility, you can make another

Thanks so much for this. It's the question I've been asking for a few days, but this is the first answer I've seen that's based on actual testing, rather than guessing.

Personally, I think it comes down to ease of use. Even if the system could be written to keep track of when a user should and should not be able to immediately rebook (and that's a non-trivial problem, especially when you start getting into situations with more than two passes outstanding, or cancellations), it would be way too confusing for most users.

That said, if the power users start min-maxing the heck out of the system and are grabbing most of the capacity, Disney might do something to cut back on that kind of thing. They have in the past.

Maybe, but I think it's ultimately self-limiting. If there's lots of availability, there's not really any reason to care. And if there's not, waiting for two hours to "gain" a slot is likely going to push return times so late that you're not going to be able to rebook it anyway.

So basically, if your next reservation is almost but not quite 2 hours in the future, it's very useful to wait a little longer, let the 2 hours elapse, get another reservation, then immediately use your reservation, and get another.

Agree completely. I think the "sweet spot" will usually be two concurrent passes. (Maybe three, on a quieter day, or if you're arriving late.) Aim for late morning with the first, make sure you book a second before tapping in, and then you're set to go with two for the rest of the day.

 

[Disturbia]

I'm so surprised so many trying to use Genie+ like FP+ by trying to book their 3 most important rides each day. Booking rides at your 2nd park first makes no sense. Doing that you're most likely only getting 3 LL a day. Why pay $15 for only 3 rides.

If you’re only there for a limited time in the evening and Test Track and Soarin are must dos

 

[Disturbia]

Prices went up! $3 more for FOP. Another poster posted:


Jrb1979:
MMRR up $2 today to $10
Avatar up $3 to $14
Frozen and Remy each up $2 to $11
7DMT up $2 to $12
SM up $2 to $9

 

[Jrb1979]

If you’re only there for a limited time in the evening and Test Track and Soarin are must dos

From how long standby wait times have gone up by 11 am you aren't likely going to get much done in your first park. As time goes on Genie+ might not be worth it for park hoppers.

 

[BridgetR3]

I typically go busy weeks and I can easily see it costing us $100-150 just to ride ROR or Rat each time if we choose ILL$. The prices will continue to go up until Disney finds their breaking point like they just did with the Christmas parties.

EDITED TO ADD - there are four people in my group.

 

[Sjm9911]

Here's how I do it.

1) Find the attractions you want a G+ for
2) Click on "Book Experience" for that attraction
3) Hit the "x" in the top left corner. (This backs you back out, and will then hold the attraction at correct location on your phone screen)
4) Now you can simply keep clicking on the "Tip Board" tab on the top left of the screen. This will refresh the G+ return time each time you click it.
5) When you find a return time you are satisfied with, then go through the process to fully book it by clicking "Book Experience" and follow the prompts

Dan

That dosent work on my phone, what phone do you have?

 

[DisneyFive]

That dosent work on my phone, what phone do you have?

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

 

[Sjm9911]

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Ok, i have an andriod.

 

[Moneypenny]

Question - we are a party of three - 2 with AP's and 1 with park hopper tickets. Can one person purchase ILL$ for all three people?

I did online chat this morning because we have the same situation and our trip is in 2 weeks. I can't buy Genie+ now for AP holders because we have to wait until day off. I can add it now in MDE for the park-hopper holder, but only for the whole trip, which I don't want. MDE also shows a message that I can only purchase Genie+ for members of my party with the same ticket type and other ticket holders would have to purchase their own through their own account. I specifically asked the chat CM if I could buy Genie+ for all of us day of, and he said yes. He really didn't seem to understand what I was asking, though, and just kept mentioning the "great extras" they are giving to AP holders. So, I'm afraid I'm going to be sitting in our resort room at 6:30 am trying to figure out how to get everyone Genie+...

 

[g-dad66]

So I have now seen three videos on youtbue where people have used the free version of Genie and it seems like a complete disaster. It does not do a good job at all with coming up with suggestions based on what you tell it you want to do .

Do you remember when FP+ first came out, and it made suggestions for what 3 FP+ you should pick? It was equally irrelevant.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I am training my wife as we speak LOL

I think I gave my wife a headache trying to explain all this yesterday. No matter, given that she doesn’t even know how to turn the entertainment system on to watch TV at home she was never a candidate to do Genie bookings.