News Genie+ launches 12/8. Cmon everybody, here we gooooooo!

[Stormy]

https://www.latimes.com/business/sto...s-top-ten-tips

From the article:
"Starting Dec. 8, park visitors can use a new feature on the Disneyland App called Genie, which uses algorithms and wait-time data to create an itinerary that can help you squeeze in your top choices for rides, attractions and restaurants during your visit. If you pay an extra $20 a day, you can upgrade to Genie+, which also lets you use the new expedited “Lighting Lanes” installed at 19 of the most popular rides in Disneyland and California Adventure."

Genie goes 'live' day after tomorrow. Looks like no major changes vis a vis WDW version.

Crazy time to launch it, during the most hectic time of the year, but hey, what do I know?

[Fenix]

Just to make sure I understand this correct. I pay $20/pp to be able to book rides on the app like the old Max Pass. And a couple rides if I want a fast pass, I have to pay up to $20pp additional? And can book 2 rides of those premium rides throughout the day. $80 extra for my family of 4 to cut the line on RotR, on top of $80 for the Genie thing. Not including park admission of course.

[Beavis]

Dang... a week too late for me. Just got back. I hate the idea of paying for fastpass. But I hate standing in queues even more.

[Mr Wiggins]

A reader's poll on today's MiceChat Disneyland Update:

____________________

"Is paid access to Disney attractions a good thing?"

Good . . . . . . . . 7%
Not Sure . . . . 14%
Bad . . . . . . . . 79%
____________________


11,342 votes as of this posting.

[Stormy]

Just to make sure I understand this correct. I pay $20/pp to be able to book rides on the app like the old Max Pass. And a couple rides if I want a fast pass, I have to pay up to $20pp additional? And can book 2 rides of those premium rides throughout the day. $80 extra for my family of 4 to cut the line on RotR, on top of $80 for the Genie thing. Not including park admission of course.

I think you've got it. $20 for Genie+ (G+) to be able to get a LL pass (formerly MaxPass). BUT you only get one 'go round' per ride. So a total of 19 LL/MP, one for each ride. If you want to ride a G+ ride a second time, you have to ride standby. That's a BIG change from the old MP, but the same as at WDW.

'Extra charge' ILL (Individual Lightning Lane) rides, price will vary but at WDW they 'top out' at $15.00 pp and I'd hope DLR will be the same. Although I've seen articles saying top will be $20 I'm hoping they're wrong. If there's something on the DL website with prices, I haven't found it yet. The three ILL rides at DLR are RotR, WS, RSR and out of the three the only one I'd even be tempted to pay $20 (once!) to ride would be RotR, but only because I've never ridden it before. I've never ridden WS either, but it sounds like a glorified Buzz Lightyear so I'll pass on paying for it.

[merlinjones]

Newsflash: Santa Mickey delivers coal to your stocking.

[Fenix]

I think you've got it. $20 for Genie+ (G+) to be able to get a LL pass (formerly MaxPass). BUT you only get one 'go round' per ride. So a total of 19 LL/MP, one for each ride. If you want to ride a G+ ride a second time, you have to ride standby. That's a BIG change from the old MP, but the same as at WDW.

'Extra charge' ILL (Individual Lightning Lane) rides, price will vary but at WDW they 'top out' at $15.00 pp and I'd hope DLR will be the same. Although I've seen articles saying top will be $20 I'm hoping they're wrong. If there's something on the DL website with prices, I haven't found it yet. The three ILL rides at DLR are RotR, WS, RSR and out of the three the only one I'd even be tempted to pay $20 (once!) to ride would be RotR, but only because I've never ridden it before. I've never ridden WS either, but it sounds like a glorified Buzz Lightyear so I'll pass on paying for it.

Thanks, wow that's some really big changes to digest. Only 1 go round per ride kind of stinks, maybe more than I realize right now. I had the former MaxPass system mastered. So you can't get a fast pass for Radiator Springs anymore without paying extra, damn. Really curious to see how this shakes up standby waits etc. I had Disneyland mastered by the end of 2019, but feel like a beginner all over again. Hope it's an overall improvement, I don't mind paying more if my experience is better, but I'm not sold this will be as good as it was before COVID hit.

[Eagleman]

A reader's poll on today's MiceChat Disneyland Update:

____________________

"Is paid access to Disney attractions a good thing?"

Good . . . . . . . . 7%
Not Sure . . . . 14%
Bad . . . . . . . . 79%
____________________


11,342 votes as of this posting.

It is going get more INTERSTING
This New pay-to cut in line Service..........and this on top of
Already Price and Admission
IMO This is not good..........But this is Di$ney
And pay experience !

[jbapples]

They should have named the individual lightning lanes something else this is gonna confuse a lot of people.

[Captain Andy]

They should have named the individual lightning lanes something else this is gonna confuse a lot of people.

Honestly, I found it odd that they scrapped the iconic “FastPass” branding, a name which has inspired so much merch and knock-offs and phrases and dances. They could have just called it “FastPass 2.0,” kept the signage, and made a tiny Lightning Lane entrance?

But what do I know.

[Quentin]

I think you've got it. $20 for Genie+ (G+) to be able to get a LL pass (formerly MaxPass). BUT you only get one 'go round' per ride. So a total of 19 LL/MP, one for each ride. If you want to ride a G+ ride a second time, you have to ride standby. That's a BIG change from the old MP, but the same as at WDW.

'Extra charge' ILL (Individual Lightning Lane) rides, price will vary but at WDW they 'top out' at $15.00 pp and I'd hope DLR will be the same. Although I've seen articles saying top will be $20 I'm hoping they're wrong. If there's something on the DL website with prices, I haven't found it yet. The three ILL rides at DLR are RotR, WS, RSR and out of the three the only one I'd even be tempted to pay $20 (once!) to ride would be RotR, but only because I've never ridden it before. I've never ridden WS either, but it sounds like a glorified Buzz Lightyear so I'll pass on paying for it.

If you’ve never ridden RoTR, then don’t buy lightning lane. It bypasses the well themed interior queue that honestly makes the experience that much better. It’s worth waiting through for your first ride so you don’t miss the build up.

[Fenix]

If you’ve never ridden RoTR, then don’t buy lightning lane. It bypasses the well themed interior queue that honestly makes the experience that much better. It’s worth waiting through for your first ride so you don’t miss the build up.

Great tip thanks! So you have to do standby now to experience what you're describing?

[Flarson]

I thinks after the rush in the first few weeks/months of bloggers paying for it so they can post about it, we can hope that the number of people using it will drop down to make the standby lanes more bearable than the old fastpass days. I foresee Disney getting a lot of money from out of towners that have the 3 day pass and willing to drop the amount of money so they can make it through the rides. Which explains the difference between DL and WDW - WDW you have to add it everyday and they have a 10 day pass so needed the daily amount to be lower to make it more appealing.

[Stormy]

If you’ve never ridden RoTR, then don’t buy lightning lane. It bypasses the well themed interior queue that honestly makes the experience that much better. It’s worth waiting through for your first ride so you don’t miss the build up.

Thank You for the heads up!!!!!

[merlinjones]

Genie's taking us over, sideways, and under (on a Magic Carpet ride).

[Stormy]

Thanks, wow that's some really big changes to digest. Only 1 go round per ride kind of stinks, maybe more than I realize right now. I had the former MaxPass system mastered. So you can't get a fast pass for Radiator Springs anymore without paying extra, damn. Really curious to see how this shakes up standby waits etc. I had Disneyland mastered by the end of 2019, but feel like a beginner all over again. Hope it's an overall improvement, I don't mind paying more if my experience is better, but I'm not sold this will be as good as it was before COVID hit.

I agree. My 'other main beef' with G+ is that due to motion sickness there are a few G+ rides that I cannot do. So, in essence, I'm paying more per ride and getting less 'bang for my buck' than other guests.

[Blurr]

Just got back from a two day trip to Disneyland (12/3 and 12/4). Very, very happy that we dodged this bullet.

[JoFi]

Lines have been "okay" without ANY form of fastpass. (I was a Maxpass stan, so me admitting lines really were better without it is a thing.) Even RotR was only awful during certain times of day. Pre-pandemic, with fastpasses, lines were often 90-120 minutes on the popular stuff. Without any fastpasses, they seemed to get to 60-75, but hover around there for the most part (and often were under an hour). RSR, WB, and RotR somtimes creeping up higher. I wish we could have seen what happened if no form of fastpass at all came back for just a while longer.

- signed a former Maxpass lover

[zugzug15]

Lines have been "okay" without ANY form of fastpass. (I was a Maxpass stan, so me admitting lines really were better without it is a thing.) Even RotR was only awful during certain times of day. Pre-pandemic, with fastpasses, lines were often 90-120 minutes on the popular stuff. Without any fastpasses, they seemed to get to 60-75, but hover around there for the most part (and often were under an hour). RSR, WB, and RotR somtimes creeping up higher. I wish we could have seen what happened if no form of fastpass at all came back for just a while longer.

- signed a former Maxpass lover

we rode ROTR on saturday. Sign said 95 minute wait. Actual wait was around 40 min. I wouldn't be surprised if they have been keeping the posted times artificially high to curb expectations once this new system is live... "See its still only 95 minutes even WITH genie+!"

[Quentin]

Great tip thanks! So you have to do standby now to experience what you're describing?

Correct, the lightning lane queue will skip the well themed interior queue. Standby is a must do for your first ride.