The Genie Usage, Tips and Strategy ONLY Thread

[js]

Thanks for starting this, DisneyKidds!
I am headed back the second week in November. Expecting Jersey week and the federal holiday to really pump up the midweek crowds. Gleaning info to create a successful touring plan for our party of 10 is my goal

See you on Main Street! We head out November 11-20! Cannot wait and will start packing tomorrow!

 

[LSUfan4444]

To each their own but I don't see value in Genie+ in using like FP+ and using it for 3 rides. If it was free I would be all for it. Since I am paying for it, I want to use for 6 to 7 rides a day.

On what 6 or 7 attractions? Look at the return windows right now on an overall crowd level of 3. You're still waiting with G+. The attractions that have a short return windows right now under like 25 minutes. Eventually, using it all morning will cause you to hit a snag and you'll have to wait hours for that headliner. You can't G+ your way out of that. It's inevitable.

 

[Dis Dragon]

9 am, Fri Oct 22, TP crowd level 1
Safari 11:10 am - thats it...everything else has availability within the hour

It's not even worth having the conversation about G+ value at Epcot or AK, because it isn't there. Hopping to HS is the only value that could be taken from these parks. And even at that, the late second pull time at Epcot takes away from that.

 

[jo-jo]

This may like a really dumb question......but do you have to do all this on your phone? In the past with FP, my DD from her home would get into my account and book rolling fast passes. Is there any online way of using Genie plus?

I have an AP, it there a way to practice before getting there? Maybe with DD sitting next to me, she can walk me through it.

 

[LSUfan4444]

It's not even worth having the conversation about G+ value at Epcot or AK, because it isn't there. Hopping to HS is the only value that could be taken from these parks.

I think there is value to be found in rope dropping from HS to Epcot if you can snag a 2pm test track. Using the 120 rule you can grab a Soarin as well at like 1pm and potentially walk in with a G+ for Soarin and Test Track and ILLs for FEA, Remy or both and just use standby for everything else. You'll also have the 11am window to book something in HS.

I wouldnt use it at Epcot if I was starting my day there but hopping to, maybe.

AK, no way right now but I need to see what happens to the waits once Everest goes down in January (when our trip is)

 

[LSUfan4444]

do you have to do all this on your phone?

Unfortunately, yes.

I have an AP, it there a way to practice before getting there? Maybe with DD sitting next to me, she can walk me through it.

Yep..make a park reservation (for any park) on a day you know you two will be together and you can basically see the entire system.

You can even see how it works without a park reservation in the app as well but having that park reservation will give you a slightly different look on how to actually buy the genie plus

 

[snikki]

This may like a really dumb question......but do you have to do all this on your phone? In the past with FP, my DD from her home would get into my account and book rolling fast passes. Is there any online way of using Genie plus?

I have an AP, it there a way to practice before getting there? Maybe with DD sitting next to me, she can walk me through it.

It is app only.

 

[ZeeWP]

I'm starting to worry that G+ may not be worth it on busy days just because all the good rides may be done by mid-day, allowing you to only get one or two real time savers. I think aside from ILL$, If I can't get 2 good and one decent G+ LLs, then I don't think it will be worth the money.

I'll just have to be patient and see what happens during Tgiving and Christmas.

 

[jo-jo]

Unfortunately, yes.


Yep..make a park reservation (for any park) on a day you know you two will be together and you can basically see the entire system.

You can even see how it works without a park reservation in the app as well but having that park reservation will give you a slightly different look on how to actually buy the genie plus

thank you. I feel stressed having to learn something else for a vacation. I know I don't have to use and just do standby lanes. But with my DH using a scooter for the first time, part of me is wanting to use it just for the shorter distances that he would have to drive inside rides. I'm talking about you Little Mermaid.

 

[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

They weren't lying when they said prices will change.

On what 6 or 7 attractions? Look at the return windows right now on an overall crowd level of 3. You're still waiting with G+. The attractions that have a short return windows right now under like 25 minutes. Eventually, using it all morning will cause you to hit a snag and you'll have to wait hours for that headliner. You can't G+ your way out of that. It's inevitable.

You aren't waiting in line so it's a big savings. Why use G+ for a headliner. Why not do it during early entry? Here is my plan. At 7am I book my first LL for Test Track for park open. Then at early entry ride Soarin. With that both headliners age done and use G+ for everything else that day. That plan can be used at every park.

With the way return times are going G+ will not be worth it if you aren't rope droppers.

 

[snikki]

ROTR sold out at 9:01 am today. Apparently no 9 am refresh.

 

[leeniewdw]

Does anyone have thoughts about which parks to "pair" when park hopping and using G+? We have 3 days (really 2 ½), so we definitely have to hop. But I can't get a feel for what makes sense.

Also -- I just switched one of our park reservations in MDE and noticed for our 3 days in Feb, they actually have park hours listed in the park reservation part. But if you go to the "regular" park hours menu choice, they end on 12/31. Obviously things are all subject to change, but I noticed these hours in the reservation area are longer than what TP predicts.

 

[Jrb1979]

ROTR sold out at 9:01 am today. Apparently no 9 am refresh.

I'm expecting a price increase very soon. They already have increased prices on some other rides already

 

[hdrolfe]

I am going next week, we won't get to Epcot until at least 4 since we are only landing in early afternoon. I don't plan to get anything for Epcot, not that I could since we'll be travelling and it doesn't seem to work from Canada. I'm not too worried, wait times seem ok and we can always single rider TT. Then we have HS, MK, AK, and I might do the ILL$ for one or two rides at those parks but don't see the value to Genie+. I am hoping we'll be able to use the 30 minutes early entry to ride Slinky, 7Dwarves & FOP, so I don't have to pay for any of those. Then we go back to HS & MK, and I will get Genie+ for those depending on how our first days there go. I do not have park hoppers this trip. I am hoping I don't need to pay for the + but expect to pay at least once for RotR, FOP, 7DMT and possibly Space (kiddo's favourite ride).

Any way! that's the plan... but I'll continue watching here and the wait times according to Disney and Touring Plans for a couple more days... we arrive Monday.

 

[hdrolfe]

I'm expecting a price increase very soon. They already have increased prices on some other rides already

Where can I see the prices? I'm trying to figure out how much they will cost when we are there and didn't know any have changed yet. I'm in Canada so the app doesn't seem to give me all the options yet.

 

[rmclain73]

I think it is becoming very clear that Genie+ will only be one tool to help get though lines the quickest. You cannot rely only on Genie+ to shorten your time waiting each day. Early park hours and rope drop are still very important. Your best bet seems to get there early and just wait standby while picking up the occasional LL and buying the IALL for park headliners.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I think it is becoming very clear that Genie+ will only be one tool to help get though lines the quickest. You cannot rely only on Genie+ to shorten your time waiting each day.

100% agree. There's no way to G+ your way out of waiting. It comes down to how to use standby to determine how, where, how long you wait and what you do while you're waiting,

 

[LSUfan4444]

Why not do it during early entry?

This works IF you're truly at the front of the RD crowd and to do so, you must be a resort guest to take advantage of early entry. And while that isnt a bad strategy, you're still waiting except now, you're waiting to get in the park. Not that your strategy is a bad one but what I am saying is, you can arrive when the park opens for resort guests and not HAVE to worry about being one of the first couple hundred at an attraction.

 

[TinkSassy]

I need a ROTR and Slinky Dog strategy. I'm off site in 2 weeks - I have one day that someone is joining me and we are trying to do HS in the morning with a hop to Epcot. With off site I've figured out G+ is useless to me in the morning as the times are gone before I'm even given access (and I don't see that changing). Does anyone see a strategy to get a line pass for either of these 2? Any tips on being off site and getting a shorter wait for ROTR or Slinky?

We are rope dropping (but as day guests). Can I say I really wish not all parks were open 30 minutes early to resort guests EVERY day?

 

[Wood Nymph]

8:45 am, Fri Oct 22, TP crowd level 4,
SDD G+ return time at 7:35 pm, Smugglers Run 3:05 pm, RNR 11:25 am, ToT 11:10, TSMM, 11am Star Tours 9:50

This is exactly why I don't think Genie+ will work for us on our HS day. We usually just stay at HS for a few hours in the morning, go back to the resort (Beach Club) to swim, and then go into Epcot for dinner. We want to do Smuggler's Run and SDD but don't want to hang around for a late LL. Right now I am planning to buy ILL$ for RotR and MMRR and rope drop the other rides we want to do.