Rumored Changes to G+

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I can't tell you the amount of times I am standing in line and people are talking about genie plus and don't even understand how to use the app they have. I have helped a few people get times. Some didn't even know you can modify with it.

 

[Tom_E_D]

I can't tell you the amount of times I am standing in line and people are talking about genie plus and don't even understand how to use the app they have. I have helped a few people get times. Some didn't even know you can modify with it.

It's not terribly surprising that people don't know how to modify LLs. That wasn't a feature of Genie+ when it came out and many people know about Genie+ from watching videos or reading blogposts that came out in the early days. And it isn't terribly obvious how to do it by just looking at the Tip Board either.

 

[Brian Noble]

I teach computer science at a reputable* university; I typically teach senior-level electives. My students are talented, engaged, and highly motivated. We work very hard to write clear, direct project specifications. We have refined those specifications over years to clarify anything that might have been unclear in earlier versions.

Even among this group it is common to miss some important instruction or another. Given that experience, I just can't get worked up over the idea that most people do not know about the nooks and crannies that super-users might use to get one or two extra low-wait rides on a theme park attraction. It's not realistic to expect that anyone who doesn't treat this as a somewhat-obsessive hobby will do that. And for most people, it's fine. They get to experience some attractions with low wait, and they have good days.

There's a broader question here, which is some combination of FOMO and what I think of as a zero-sum fallacy. Many of us have some idea that of Some Guest gets extra G+ rides, that means other Guests have less fun. That's only true if I equate how much fun I have with how many highly-popular attractions I experience, or think that if I don't get to experience the Shiny New Attraction my visit to the park is pointless.

I've had many days where I just followed my nose, did things that had little or no wait, saw a bunch of shows, and enjoyed the atmosphere of the parks. Those days are fantastic.

-------------------
*: Opinions of The Ohio State University alumni notwithstanding.

 

[ramee]

Thank you for the helpful tips. Now I know about the possible :17 drops and how you can’t book at 9am.

If I’m spending extra to skip lines, I don’t want to miss out on the chance to skip the lines. So I have to know which rides are priority and when they typically sell out.

But it’s vacation. I don’t want to do a lot of criss-crossing the parks to be able to skip waiting in lines according to whatever returns times you happen to get. The walking and waiting would about even out? So that’s where “modify” would help in pushing them back if you aren’t near?

So using Epcot as an example, I’d have to book Remy at 7am. What if I end up with an evening time? Wait until 11am to book Frozen, it’s sold out. I’d have to wait in line to ride. Test Track could also be sold out and now I have at least 2 hrs of waiting in line during my day.

By the time I’m able to book anything else in Future World, I’ll be ready to go to World Showcase and I can’t utilize being able to tap in and rebook the less popular rides that were normally half hour + waits but could have been under 10.

Oh and I’d want to work in Guardians which will probably be more money $LL and who knows where I’ll be when I’d have to trek back for the return time.

What am I missing? Do I need to 7am book Frozen, stay on site ($) and EE Remy, walk to Test Track for maybe a 40 minute wait by then(?), and hope the Frozen return time is before I’d pass Norway in my touring and not have to back-track? Then maybe I could save the rest of the Future World to use Genie on for after World Showcase on the way out.

After typing that all out, it does seem too complicated.

 

[ramee]

I teach computer science at a reputable* university; I typically teach senior-level electives. My students are talented, engaged, and highly motivated. We work very hard to write clear, direct project specifications. We have refined those specifications over years to clarify anything that might have been unclear in earlier versions.

Even among this group it is common to miss some important instruction or another. Given that experience, I just can't get worked up over the idea that most people do not know about the nooks and crannies that super-users might use to get one or two extra low-wait rides on a theme park attraction. It's not realistic to expect that anyone who doesn't treat this as a somewhat-obsessive hobby will do that. And for most people, it's fine. They get to experience some attractions with low wait, and they have good days.

There's a broader question here, which is some combination of FOMO and what I think of as a zero-sum fallacy. Many of us have some idea that of Some Guest gets extra G+ rides, that means other Guests have less fun. That's only true if I equate how much fun I have with how many highly-popular attractions I experience, or think that if I don't get to experience the Shiny New Attraction my visit to the park is pointless.

I've had many days where I just followed my nose, did things that had little or no wait, saw a bunch of shows, and enjoyed the atmosphere of the parks. Those days are fantastic.

-------------------
*: Opinions of The Ohio State University alumni notwithstanding.

For those that don’t go as often, maximizing a strategy to make the money worth it has always been sought after. And that would mean being able to ride most of the rides you wanted to…at an amusement park…with rides.

I’d love to have a more balanced day to enjoy other things, so all the waiting in line would force you to sacrifice some rides.


Edited: general you. Just piggybacking off of that thought in your post. I haven’t read this whole thread.

 

[sadiecatie]

Thank you for the helpful tips. Now I know about the possible :17 drops and how you can’t book at 9am.

If I’m spending extra to skip lines, I don’t want to miss out on the chance to skip the lines. So I have to know which rides are priority and when they typically sell out.

But it’s vacation. I don’t want to do a lot of criss-crossing the parks to be able to skip waiting in lines according to whatever returns times you happen to get. The walking and waiting would about even out? So that’s where “modify” would help in pushing them back if you aren’t near?

So using Epcot as an example, I’d have to book Remy at 7am. What if I end up with an evening time? Wait until 11am to book Frozen, it’s sold out. I’d have to wait in line to ride. Test Track could also be sold out and now I have at least 2 hrs of waiting in line during my day.

By the time I’m able to book anything else in Future World, I’ll be ready to go to World Showcase and I can’t utilize being able to tap in and rebook the less popular rides that were normally half hour + waits but could have been under 10.

Oh and I’d want to work in Guardians which will probably be more money $LL and who knows where I’ll be when I’d have to trek back for the return time.

What am I missing? Do I need to 7am book Frozen, stay on site ($) and EE Remy, walk to Test Track for maybe a 40 minute wait by then(?), and hope the Frozen return time is before I’d pass Norway in my touring and not have to back-track? Then maybe I could save the rest of the Future World to use Genie on for after World Showcase on the way out.

After typing that all out, it does seem too complicated.

Starting this out with a big YMMV, but on my last two trips (my only visits during Genie+ days), at EPCOT I would book Remy immediately at 7am. When I say immediately, I mean I watched the seconds tick down on my watch and tapped immediately at 7:00. I got Remy within 15-20 minutes of park open, meaning I could book my next ride then (not having to wait two more hours). I always have a game plan for top rides I don’t want to miss and go for those first - I know I can’t ride everything.

Knowing even just little details, not every in and out, can help - like that you can generally tap in 5 minutes before your window actually opens (meaning you’re another 5 minutes earlier in getting those available LLs), and that having fast fingers at 7am can help set your whole day up for success

 

[Brian Noble]

For those that don’t go as often, maximizing a strategy to make the money worth it has always been sought after.

I disagree. As far as I can tell, most people who show up at WDW, whether they go often or not, are just looking to have a good time. More rides == more fun is not universally held.

 

[Minnie1222]

So using Epcot as an example, I’d have to book Remy at 7am. What if I end up with an evening time? Wait until 11am to book Frozen, it’s sold out. I’d have to wait in line to ride. Test Track could also be sold out and now I have at least 2 hrs of waiting in line during my day.

In reality, I've always been able to get a morning slot for Frozen or Remy with the 7 A.M. drop. We've ridden Frozen and Remy in the same day on multiple occasions with G+.

Genie+ is not the same as FastPass. The highly popular rides can still be available on the day of.

If someone is doubtful about G+, but still wants Remy, Frozen, and Test Track in the same day, they should stay on site and rope drop from the IG.

 

[phillyteamhater]

For those that don’t go as often, maximizing a strategy to make the money worth it has always been sought after. And that would mean being able to ride most of the rides you wanted to…at an amusement park…with rides.

I’d love to have a more balanced day to enjoy other things, so all the waiting in line would force you to sacrifice some rides.


Edited: general you. Just piggybacking off of that thought in your post. I haven’t read this whole thread.

I am this to a T. This is my 4th ever visit. I went when I was 10 with no fp and 3 parks, 16 when I did research even than and had all our plans to work with paper fast pass and we got on everything over 4th of July week. Went in 2012 on my honeymoon and still saw everything with paper fast pass. I try to game plan and am trying to learn as much to see as much as I can. This is a new experience for me as well with now having parents who are senior citizens as well as my own kiddo. I still plan to try and rope drop and do genie+ because my daughter will probably be a teenager until we make it back. I know it's a vacation but disney is about its rides and shows to me and probably more character time this visit but for people like me who aren't fortunate enough to go every year or even every other year and spending probably a quarter of my salary on 1 vacation with staying at a value resort. I want to know any and all tricks for genie.

 

[ramee]

I disagree. As far as I can tell, most people who show up at WDW, whether they go often or not, are just looking to have a good time. More rides == more fun is not universally held.

Well, yes, you go with having a good time in mind or you don’t go. Waiting hours in lines doesn’t equal fun.

I was trying to get an idea of waits the other day. A mix of rides and attractions at HS estimates 730 326 minutes of waiting (on touring plans). That’s not taking into account all the of the rides because I know you can’t do everything offered in a day.

I don’t like the prospect of having to compromise even more after seeing the wait times, so was really hoping Genie could help. But it doesn’t seem like a guarantee.

Edited to fix minutes. 730 was total minutes. lol. 326 is certainly better but maybe 2 hrs wait total would be ideal. If I could get quick return times, genie could make that happen. Thank you to the posters who offered their experiences.

 

[Jrb1979]

Well, yes, you go with having a good time in mind or you don’t go. Waiting hours in lines doesn’t equal fun.

I was trying to get an idea of waits the other day. A mix of rides and attractions at HS estimates 730 minutes of waiting (on touring plans). That’s not taking into account all the of the rides because I know you can’t do everything offered in a day.

I don’t like the prospect of having to compromise even more after seeing the wait times, so was really hoping Genie could help. But it doesn’t seem like a guarantee.

I hear that complaint a lot about waiting in lines. I get that nobody likes waiting in line but at every other park that's part of going to a theme park.

My question is how do you manage at Universal or any other park? Those parks unless you pay big bucks you waiting in long lines.

 

[ramee]

I hear that complaint a lot about waiting in lines. I get that nobody likes waiting in line but at every other park that's part of going to a theme park.

My question is how do you manage at Universal or any other park? Those parks unless you pay big bucks you waiting in long lines.

I wait in line. I know that’s par for the course. I’ve been to Hershey the most and use to 40+ minutes waits. The 2 times I’ve been to Universal, I had the express pass. That was nice. I guess Genie doesn’t feel like a secure enough option for the money.

 

[feesh]

But this is really terrible. I’m fine with paying for better access. I’m fine with AP holders/ DVC owners/ on-site visitors/deluxe resort visitors/concierge visitors getting an additional benefit If that ever happens. What I think really stinks is saying well in order to get the maximum benefit you have to know to check at 1:17 for this ride or whatever time for whatever drops and you have to know to refresh a lot to get better times or better rides. And that maximum benefit is still not that great. Like the 80% should just be happy they get anything? Stop complaining simpletons, you got space mountain and dumbo and the barnstormer? I personally get the maximum benefit/I understand the system. I’m all for tiered access. But tiered access shouldn’t include knowing how to “game” the system in order to get a maximum benefit. A good system wouldn’t be dependent on the ability of patrons to exploit it.

Do you really feel it's exploiting the system though? The knowledge is there for anyone and makes various levels of "in the know" guests feel like they get value. Yes some complain about it not being perfect for them, but again, what is perfect for everyone?

Compare it to couponing at the grocery store. Some people go nuts with things like price match, multiple credit cards, grabbing deals from multiple sources, stacking offers etc. I always try and make a half concerted effort to save where I can, but its certainly way less than some can manage. But that is all the effort I feel like putting in - the value seems like it might drop off for me beyond that. But good for those that do go to the extreme. I don't feel like they are exploiting a system that needs to be fixed because its not fair to me.

 

[Disneychick13]

Do you really feel it's exploiting the system though? The knowledge is there for anyone and makes various levels of "in the know" guests feel like they get value. Yes some complain about it not being perfect for them, but again, what is perfect for everyone?

Compare it to couponing at the grocery store. Some people go nuts with things like price match, multiple credit cards, grabbing deals from multiple sources, stacking offers etc. I always try and make a half concerted effort to save where I can, but its certainly way less than some can manage. But that is all the effort I feel like putting in - the value seems like it might drop off for me beyond that. But good for those that do go to the extreme. I don't feel like they are exploiting a system that needs to be fixed because its not fair to me.

It’s because it’s a paid system. The virtual queues aren’t equitable - I mean most people probably don’t know that you have to sync up your clock and be on exactly at 7 to get one in the morning. So they are at a disadvantage. Yes, they can scour message boards to find out how to do it but why do that if you don’t know you would have to do that? Even though it’s not equitable and I have an advantage bc I’ve done it so many times, it doesn’t matter bc it’s a free system. Just like the coupon example. I didn’t pay to get the coupons; they are out there and available if you choose to use them. If I pay for a coupon and then I have to know the tricks to actually use them I’d be a little irritated. It’s the paid aspect that is the important part.

 

[clarker99]

It’s because it’s a paid system. The virtual queues aren’t equitable - I mean most people probably don’t know that you have to sync up your clock and be on exactly at 7 to get one in the morning. So they are at a disadvantage. Yes, they can scour message boards to find out how to do it but why do that if you don’t know you would have to do that? Even though it’s not equitable and I have an advantage bc I’ve done it so many times, it doesn’t matter bc it’s a free system. Just like the coupon example. I didn’t pay to get the coupons; they are out there and available if you choose to use them. If I pay for a coupon and then I have to know the tricks to actually use them I’d be a little irritated. It’s the paid aspect that is the important part.

Disney parks are a paid system. People spend thousands of dollars on tickets and show up and use paper maps. I have also seen families walk up to tron and guardians and be baffled it is a virtual queue and are turned away. I have seen annual pass holders get turned away bc they didnt make a reservation. People that didnt know FP+ existed when staying on resort pre-covid.

I can't feel sorry for any of those people. Seriously, if you choose pay for something, figure it out.

 

[Disneychick13]

Disney parks are a paid system. People spend thousands of dollars on tickets and show up and use paper maps. I have also seen families walk up to tron and guardians and be baffled it is a virtual queue and are turned away. I have seen annual pass holders get turned away bc they didnt make a reservation. People that didnt know FP+ existed when staying on resort pre-covid.

I can't feel sorry for any of those people. Seriously, if you choose pay for something, figure it out.

Hey! Don’t knock the paper maps. I love the paper maps! Even knowing the parks well, I still pick up my paper map

 

[sadiecatie]

Disney parks are a paid system. People spend thousands of dollars on tickets and show up and use paper maps. I have also seen families walk up to tron and guardians and be baffled it is a virtual queue and are turned away. I have seen annual pass holders get turned away bc they didnt make a reservation. People that didnt know FP+ existed when staying on resort pre-covid.

I can't feel sorry for any of those people. Seriously, if you choose pay for something, figure it out.

Honestly, I think the majority of people do this - they don’t even think to research before a trip, it’s just a trip. These boards are a microcosm of similarly minded people - even those who aren’t “power guests” or whatever you want to call it are at least looking into the basics and asking questions before a visit.

I’m not saying one is right or wrong, just my perceptions from the super-researcher side of things - most people I know wouldn’t do any sort of preparatory research (which is why I’m the “cruise director” for any trips we take with friends or extended family - they know I’ll plan everything and they can just show up and have a great time).

 

[Jrb1979]

Honestly, I think the majority of people do this - they don’t even think to research before a trip, it’s just a trip. These boards are a microcosm of similarly minded people - even those who aren’t “power guests” or whatever you want to call it are at least looking into the basics and asking questions before a visit.

I’m not saying one is right or wrong, just my perceptions from the super-researcher side of things - most people I know wouldn’t do any sort of preparatory research (which is why I’m the “cruise director” for any trips we take with friends or extended family - they know I’ll plan everything and they can just show up and have a great time).

I agree with what you are saying. IMO there is different levels of research for vacation, especially when it comes to theme parks in general. Compare how much research is needed to visit Universal compared to Disney. For Universal you basically just need to know the most popular rides and when you should ride them.

Disney is much more complicated. You need to not only what go ride but which ones you need to book, what ADRs to book at eat park. You basically need a spreadsheet to plan out your day. I'm surprised so many like vacationing that way.

 

[Suger Mag]

I agree with what you are saying. IMO there is different levels of research for vacation, especially when it comes to theme parks in general. Compare how much research is needed to visit Universal compared to Disney. For Universal you basically just need to know the most popular rides and when you should ride them.

Disney is much more complicated. You need to not only what go ride but which ones you need to book, what ADRs to book at eat park. You basically need a spreadsheet to plan out your day. I'm surprised so many like vacationing that way.

LOL ....this is actually my favorite part of vacation planning. I make a spreadsheet with tips and plans for all my trips and a WDW is one of the most satisfying, as it has so much to plan. For me it is therapy and a way to relax, allows me to obsess and look forward to an upcoming trip. My husband loves having it all planned out. Occasionally tells me a brewery or record/comic shop he wants to visit.

 

[Minnie1222]

Compare how much research is needed to visit Universal compared to Disney. For Universal you basically just need to know the most popular rides and when you should ride them.

Disney is much more complicated. You need to not only what go ride but which ones you need to book, what ADRs to book at eat park. You basically need a spreadsheet to plan out your day. I'm surprised so many like vacationing that way.

Why can't one approach Disney parks the same way as Universal? Just pick the rides you want and get on them via Standby, VQ, Genie+ and/or iLL. You have multiple options to get on a ride at Disney, but only Standby or Express at Universal. Let's skip VIP tours for now since a typical guest wouldn't be interested in these.

I agree the Express Pass system is superior, but it would cost probably $500/person at Disney. Most guests wouldn't be excited about that.

ADR has always been easy to get, even before the pandemic. Guests spend a lot of time booking, but they cancel many at the last minute, too. The Quick Services are better at Disney, mainly because they're quick.