I think the reaction of our grown-adult kids to the Genie announcement was what surprised me the most, and is perhaps the most telling.
Background: DH and I had 2 great Disney trips in the late 80s, prior to having kids. Our firstborn visited the first time when he was just 7 mo old. 3 more kids came. Multiple visits at all different ages. Totally raised in the "Disney cult"- movies, merch, music, etc etc. Never visited a mall without going to the
Disney Store. We were "that" family of Disney Apologists who briskly defended anyone who questioned "why do you go to Disney soo much?" We referred to Universal as "the Dark Side". LOL Our plan was to continue to make Disney Parks vacations a big part of our retirement years. Were going to buy a camper and join the Ft Wilderness "regulars"! Figured our kids could stay at the resorts and "the old folks' (us) could meet up with them in the parks!
The changes that have resulted in a slow chipping away at we knew to be our "Disney vacation experience" didn't go unnoticed, we more or less quietly accepted it. But the past few years (started before Covid) have seen things change to a different degree. The cumulative loss of DME, Free MagicBands, Free FP+, and other perks for staying onsite like EMH (the *real* EMH), and now the announcement of
Genie+ have created an *awakening* of sorts. I'm hearing my kids say things I NEVER EVER thought I'd hear them say. My Disney-Princess-Forever daughter, age 21 said, "Feels like a money-grab to me and it's disappointing. If Genie is up and running when we go in Oct, we'll see how it goes with our 2 park days. If the Disney Parks experience that we know and love is significantly impacted then I don't see a reason to go back."
Our kids (ages 21-32) are also excited about Epic Universe. DS29 said he'd like to try a Universal-only family trip! This just blows my mind!!
I keep thinking to myself, If these corporate decisions are turning off EVEN MY KIDS then...... this is real!!..... I can totally believe many of the thousands voicing their displeasure with Disney Parks and saying "I'm done!" are
serious this time. I don't think all the complaining is a bluff this time.
Whether or not Disney cares about all this or not, I cannot say. It's been said that we (repeat guests) are not the focus of the future as far as corporate is concerned. That's fine if that's true. If we decide to not make Disney Parks a part of our future, we're not doing it to make a statement. Its just our vacation dollars don't have the same value as they used to in WDW and DL.