Everything Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane - Please Read Posts 1-7

[CarolynFH]

Thank you. Has this been confirmed since ticket prices increased last week? This is the first time we've had a ticket price increase since Genie+ was introduced and people are reporting various scenarios. Just trying to find out for sure so we can keep posts on page 1 updated and current.

I've read a couple of posts reporting this - but no confirmation from Disney officially.

 

[AmyMac1109]

Hello! Hopefully this is the right spot to ask this question-

My family and I will be in WDW April 15-21. We are staying onsite and have 4 day park hoppers. We have already picked which days we will be in the parks and made reservations for those parks. We did NOT buy G+ though, because after reading through everyone's experiences on here and a few other reviews elsewhere, we decided it wasn't worth it for certain parks (EPCOT and AK, mainly). We decided to buy separately for DHS and MK, which my understanding cannot be done in advance, only day of. Which is fine. We have no issue with that because the cost savings for this family of 5 not buying G+ for 2 days ($160!) is worth the hassle of having to buy each of those 2 other days. However, as I was making my final payment to my travel agent yesterday and asking her to add Memory Maker, I mentioned that the cost savings for that was worth buying in advance, unlike G+ which we decided to buy day of for only certain parks. She advised me that with the recent changes to G+ (not allowing advance purchase to one day tickets holders and APs ), she was anticipating that they may start limiting day of G+ purchases on certain busy days, presumably as a line control method, and by not buying in advance for my entire trip, I was risking G+ being sold out for day of purchases on the days I wanted. She had no specific basis for this concern, only that it was her best educated guess given her experience.

Anyone have insight into this? Or does anyone else have a similar concern? I really don't want to pay $160 if I don't have to. That's a sitdown meal somewhere. But, I'll pay it if there is a chance I won't be able to get G+ on the two days I want it. Though, the recent comments about having to pay the ticket price increase when adding G+ in advance to already booked packages is giving me some pause. But, one issue at a time...

 

[GBRforWDW]

Hello! Hopefully this is the right spot to ask this question-

My family and I will be in WDW April 15-21. We are staying onsite and have 4 day park hoppers. We have already picked which days we will be in the parks and made reservations for those parks. We did NOT buy G+ though, because after reading through everyone's experiences on here and a few other reviews elsewhere, we decided it wasn't worth it for certain parks (EPCOT and AK, mainly). We decided to buy separately for DHS and MK, which my understanding cannot be done in advance, only day of. Which is fine. We have no issue with that because the cost savings for this family of 5 not buying G+ for 2 days ($160!) is worth the hassle of having to buy each of those 2 other days. However, as I was making my final payment to my travel agent yesterday and asking her to add Memory Maker, I mentioned that the cost savings for that was worth buying in advance, unlike G+ which we decided to buy day of for only certain parks. She advised me that with the recent changes to G+ (not allowing advance purchase to one day tickets holders and APs ), she was anticipating that they may start limiting day of G+ purchases on certain busy days, presumably as a line control method, and by not buying in advance for my entire trip, I was risking G+ being sold out for day of purchases on the days I wanted. She had no specific basis for this concern, only that it was her best educated guess given her experience.

Anyone have insight into this? Or does anyone else have a similar concern? I really don't want to pay $160 if I don't have to. That's a sitdown meal somewhere. But, I'll pay it if there is a chance I won't be able to get G+ on the two days I want it. Though, the recent comments about having to pay the ticket price increase when adding G+ in advance to already booked packages is giving me some pause. But, one issue at a time...

Day of sales are the only way APs can get Genie+, so I really doubt this would happen.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Hello! Hopefully this is the right spot to ask this question-

My family and I will be in WDW April 15-21. We are staying onsite and have 4 day park hoppers. We have already picked which days we will be in the parks and made reservations for those parks. We did NOT buy G+ though, because after reading through everyone's experiences on here and a few other reviews elsewhere, we decided it wasn't worth it for certain parks (EPCOT and AK, mainly). We decided to buy separately for DHS and MK, which my understanding cannot be done in advance, only day of. Which is fine. We have no issue with that because the cost savings for this family of 5 not buying G+ for 2 days ($160!) is worth the hassle of having to buy each of those 2 other days. However, as I was making my final payment to my travel agent yesterday and asking her to add Memory Maker, I mentioned that the cost savings for that was worth buying in advance, unlike G+ which we decided to buy day of for only certain parks. She advised me that with the recent changes to G+ (not allowing advance purchase to one day tickets holders and APs ), she was anticipating that they may start limiting day of G+ purchases on certain busy days, presumably as a line control method, and by not buying in advance for my entire trip, I was risking G+ being sold out for day of purchases on the days I wanted. She had no specific basis for this concern, only that it was her best educated guess given her experience.

Anyone have insight into this? Or does anyone else have a similar concern? I really don't want to pay $160 if I don't have to. That's a sitdown meal somewhere. But, I'll pay it if there is a chance I won't be able to get G+ on the two days I want it. Though, the recent comments about having to pay the ticket price increase when adding G+ in advance to already booked packages is giving me some pause. But, one issue at a time...

Anything can change but I don't anticipate this changing. Disney wants as many guests as possible to purchase Genie+ as each one is additional funds to them. Personally I would save the $160 and add it to the days you wish, when you are in the parks.

 

[Westerner]

Hello! Hopefully this is the right spot to ask this question-

My family and I will be in WDW April 15-21. We are staying onsite and have 4 day park hoppers. We have already picked which days we will be in the parks and made reservations for those parks. We did NOT buy G+ though, because after reading through everyone's experiences on here and a few other reviews elsewhere, we decided it wasn't worth it for certain parks (EPCOT and AK, mainly). We decided to buy separately for DHS and MK, which my understanding cannot be done in advance, only day of. Which is fine. We have no issue with that because the cost savings for this family of 5 not buying G+ for 2 days ($160!) is worth the hassle of having to buy each of those 2 other days. However, as I was making my final payment to my travel agent yesterday and asking her to add Memory Maker, I mentioned that the cost savings for that was worth buying in advance, unlike G+ which we decided to buy day of for only certain parks. She advised me that with the recent changes to G+ (not allowing advance purchase to one day tickets holders and APs ), she was anticipating that they may start limiting day of G+ purchases on certain busy days, presumably as a line control method, and by not buying in advance for my entire trip, I was risking G+ being sold out for day of purchases on the days I wanted. She had no specific basis for this concern, only that it was her best educated guess given her experience.

Anyone have insight into this? Or does anyone else have a similar concern? I really don't want to pay $160 if I don't have to. That's a sitdown meal somewhere. But, I'll pay it if there is a chance I won't be able to get G+ on the two days I want it. Though, the recent comments about having to pay the ticket price increase when adding G+ in advance to already booked packages is giving me some pause. But, one issue at a time...

I think it is more likely that Disney will raise the price of G+ rather than limit the number of people who can buy it day of.

 

[Brian Noble]

Anyone have insight into this?

Sounds like your agent is trying to goose their commission.

I think it is more likely that Disney will raise the price of G+ rather than limit the number of people who can buy it day of.

This would be my guess too.

 

[HeiHei2018]

When Guardians of the Galaxy opens at Epcot, do we think it’s a safe assumption that Frozen will move to regular G+? I wasn’t willing to spend $9 just for FEA, but $15 for FEA, Soarin, and others has me considering pre purchasing G+ for all days.

 

[Chiasgirl]

When Guardians of the Galaxy opens at Epcot, do we think it’s a safe assumption that Frozen will move to regular G+? I wasn’t willing to spend $9 just for FEA, but $15 for FEA, Soarin, and others has me considering pre purchasing G+ for all days.

My guess is that GotG will be a virtual queue for the first while. (Just like Remy and Rise were when they opened.) I don’t think Disney wants a monstrous standby line. If this is the case, I anticipate FEA and Remy staying $LL.

 

[HeiHei2018]

My guess is that GotG will be a virtual queue for the first while. (Just like Remy and Rise were when they opened.) I don’t think Disney wants a monstrous standby line. If this is the case, I anticipate FEA and Remy staying $LL.

Great point. Remy had virtual queue for 3+ months (Oct 1-Jan 9). But wasn’t $LL available for Remy even when there was virtual queue? I don’t know what will happen since GOTG will be the first ride to open after G+.

 

[AmyMac1109]

Day of sales are the only way APs can get Genie+, so I really doubt this would happen.

Anything can change but I don't anticipate this changing. Disney wants as many guests as possible to purchase Genie+ as each one is additional funds to them. Personally I would save the $160 and add it to the days you wish, when you are in the parks.

I think it is more likely that Disney will raise the price of G+ rather than limit the number of people who can buy it day of.

Thank you. It seemed to me like they wouldn't want to stop day of sales and piss off all of the APs. But who knows? It does seem more logical that they would increase the price as a way to limit sales without reducing their income stream. And if that's the case, so be it. I doubt they'll increase it so much that I would lose the entirely of the $160 savings by not buying for all days. And least I hope not.

Sounds like your agent is trying to goose their commission.

Yeah, I questioned whether this might be the case in my original post, but deleted it because I really didn't want to think that about my agent. She's been amazing the past two years (dealing with my endlessly rescheduled trip from March 2020) and it seem silly over what amounted to a commission on $320. But maybe every $$ counts to her. Who knows.

Anyway, thank you all. You have convinced me to save my $160 and just buy day of for those two days. If it costs a little more for those 2 days, oh well. I think I'll still see a savings overall.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I anticipate Remy moving to standby/Genie+ LL selection. I don't see Disney having 3 paid ILL$ in one park but I've been wrong before!

 

[elgerber]

Great point. Remy had virtual queue for 3+ months (Oct 1-Jan 9). But wasn’t $LL available for Remy even when there was virtual queue? I don’t know what will happen since GOTG will be the first ride to open after G+.

Yes, Remy was both at first. We had both on our day in October, purchased an ILL and a virtual queue slot. I expect Guardians will be the same, and one of the others will move to regular Genie +

 

[MMSM]

Why do you think that during Christmas they moved some of the ILL to LL on Genie+. Do you anticipate they may do it during Easter?

 

[Westerner]

Why do you think that during Christmas they moved some of the ILL to LL on Genie+. Do you anticipate they may do it during Easter?

Probably to encourage people to try G+. Having SM, EE, MMRR and Frozen made G+ more attractive during that period. Personally I doubt they will do it during Easter, I don't think it's as big of an event at WDW.

 

[Brian Noble]

I really didn't want to think that about my agent.

I doubt it's conscious, TBH, but people are influenced by these sorts of incentives even when they don't realize it.

 

[crazymomof4]

I was trying to download the My Disney Experience app on my Android phone this evening. Does anyone know why it would say, "Your device is not compatible."? It was the Android version.

I have the same problem "device not compatible". My phone is 2020 version, Android 10. Disney says need Android 8 or above. Did you figure it out? We leave Sat and it's Thurs!!

 

[GBRforWDW]

Why do you think that during Christmas they moved some of the ILL to LL on Genie+. Do you anticipate they may do it during Easter?

Mainly because Thanksgiving was a disaster for G+. I'd like to think they'll do the same thing for other holidays/busy times, but even with the massive crowds reported during February, it hasn't changed.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

My guess is that GotG will be a virtual queue for the first while. (Just like Remy and Rise were when they opened.) I don’t think Disney wants a monstrous standby line. If this is the case, I anticipate FEA and Remy staying $LL.

I find it hard to believe Disney won't jump on the ILL right away for GotG. I'd expect it to be like Remy was for awhile, where they had VQ for pseudo-standby, and ILL for the LL access. And ILL will start out pretty high, and people will pay it for a chance to ride.

 

[T'Lynn]

Why do you think that during Christmas they moved some of the ILL to LL on Genie+. Do you anticipate they may do it during Easter?

They did! I just read that Space Mountain, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Frozen are moving to G+ from 2/25 thru 8/7

 

[Westerner]

They did! I just read that Space Mountain, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Frozen are moving to G+ from 2/25 thru 8/7

Well whaddaya know! FYI, EE is down right now, otherwise this is the same as they did over the holidays.