Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ information. Coming this fall

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Direct from Disney

Disney has announced the new Disney Genie and Genie+ options with the new Lightning Lane options. Similar to how Maxpass at Disneyland was.

 

There will be more information coming soon.

 

Coming this fall to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, Disney Genie is a complimentary and convenient new digital service designed to create the best Disney day for our Guests. We’ve been listening to Guest feedback – they want planning to be easier, they want more flexibility and they want better tools to help you make the most of your visit – and that’s exactly what Disney Genie is here to do. We’ve made significant investments in this cool new technology, which guides Guests through our theme parks with tips that can help them reduce time in lines, discover magic around every corner and take the guesswork out of “what’s next.”

Built right into the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps, Disney Genie service will maximize your park time for our Guests, so they can have more fun. It includes a personalized itinerary feature that will quickly and seamlessly map out an entire day. From specific attractions, foodie experiences and entertainment, to general interests like Disney princesses, villains, Pixar, Star Wars, thrill rides and more – Guests just tell Disney Genie what they want to do and it will do the planning for them.

Here are a few more features:

 

Get Itinerary Updates from Morning to Night: Disney Genie will continue to update the Guest’s itinerary throughout your day, so they can be more spontaneous and go with the flow.

 

Find Favorites at a Glance: Guests can create their very own personal tip board to instantly see their favorites. It will display current AND forecasted future wait times, helping Guests predict when they might experience quicker entry to attractions.

 

Enjoy More Flexibility and Fun: Disney Genie brings existing planning features together in one place. Guests can join a virtual queue at certain attractions, make dining and experience reservations, mobile order food at many locations, get help from a virtual assistant and more.

 

For even more convenience and flexibility, there are two other options for enjoying our theme parks, through a queue we are introducing called the Lightning Lane entrance that also saves Guests time in line:

 

Disney Genie+ service (available for purchase): For the price of $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort, Guests can choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. Guests can make one selection at a time, throughout the day – from classics like Haunted Mansion to thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (attractions subject to limited availability). This convenient option is the next evolution of the fan-favorite Disney MaxPass service from Disneyland Resort. Disney Genie+ will also include Disney parks-themed audio experiences and photo features to capture your memories – augmented reality lenses for those visiting Walt Disney World Resort and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day if you are visiting Disneyland Resort.

 

Individual attraction selections (available for purchase):Guests can schedule a time to arrive at up to two highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance – like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park (subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+). Pricing will vary by date, attraction and park.

Lightning Lane selections will be made on the same day of the Guest’s visit and can be used across multiple theme parks, great for those who love the Park Hopper option. Attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue, or a virtual queue at certain attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – to maximize flexibility.

While the FASTPASS, FastPass+ and Disney MaxPass services will be retired, we’re incredibly excited about the flexibility and choices Disney Genie service provides. Guests can choose from all of our new options, a mix of them or none at all, and continue to have a great experience no matter how Guests decide to plan their best Disney day.

 

We are also making some enhancements to our Disability Access Service (DAS) program, including new options to enroll in the program pre-arrival and for DAS participants to select arrival windows for attractions directly in the app. These options will be available in addition to our existing, in-person DAS program. Visit our Services for Guests with Disabilities page on DisneyWorld.com and Disneyland.com for more details.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Lol. I love how they’re afraid to say what a Fastpass for a good ride will cost. Greedy b*stards. 

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

2 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Lol. I love how they’re afraid to say what a Fastpass for a good ride will cost. Greedy b*stards. 

TCD

I imagine pricing will be determined in real time in the app using algorithms based on crowd size and location, date, time, and whether Chapek has met his quota triggering bonus and restricted stock grants.  

[lightbikes 73]

3 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Lol. I love how they’re afraid to say what a Fastpass for a good ride will cost. Greedy b*stards. 

TCD

Blood suckers - this will be brutal for the average family for 4 - 

 

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

Some companies are paying $15 an hour, Disney has plans to get to that pay.  So if a cast member wants to enjoy a park all he/she will need to do is work an hour.  But if the family wants to come also it will take more hours.  

Wonder how much time a visitor will need to put in to be able to afford WDW? 

I understand many families save for years to have a Disney vacation, gonna take more years.

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

14 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 Greedy b*stards. 

TCD

Good description

[keith_h 420]

It sounds like the return of ticket books in virtual form. For no additional cost Genie will direct you to the A, B and C ticket rides. Pay $15 and you get access to the D ticket rides and pay an unknown amount for access to the 'E' rides. 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

21 minutes ago, keith_h said:

It sounds like the return of ticket books in virtually useless form. For no additional cost Genie will direct you to the A, B and C ticket rides. Pay $15 and you get access to the D ticket rides and pay an unknown amount for access to the 'E' rides. 

I fixed it. 

Imagine taking the kids to WDW in the 1970's under that system....

DAD:  "ok kids, want to ride the Carousel of Progess, If you Had Wings, or the train?"   

KIDS:  "no Dad!!  We want to ride Space Mountain!!!"

DAD:  "sorry kids, that's just for rich people.  But hey, how about we ride the Peoplemover with our eyes closed?  It'll be just like Space Mountain!" 

[geoffdaddy 33]

Correct me if I'm wrong though... the ticket books were done at a time when the gate tickets were both separate and REALLY CHEAP. 

 

EDIT: Ticket prices at WDW at opening were $3.50 a person minimum. Even accounting for inflation that is seriously cheap by today's standards.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

I have a webinar tomorrow that will hopefully explain in further details. 

However from all the things I have access too now here is what I "Think" this will be. 

Under Fastpass we had Tier 1 and Tier 2 rides. Tier 2 I think will all be included in the Genie Lightning Lane access. Tier 1 rides will be the ones with the option to buy your 2 passes ahead of time and be the ones you pay for to ride. 

So for example DHS
Tier 1 could be Rise of the Resistance (this will be one as it is in some examples), Slinky Dog (maybe), And Rockin Rollercoaster (i never get that name right. this is also a maybe to me) 
Tier 2 would be everything else. 

MK Example 

Tier 1 Seven Dwarfs (this will be one), Space mountain and Splash mountain (both maybes)
Tier 2 everything else. 

Standby lines or boarding passes for everything still. 

Also I have seen this in a few places

 

Food for thought:

Cost of "skipping the line" in various parks.

Universal: $70

Six Flags: $60-90 (Varies by location.)

Cedar Point: $110

Dollywood: $50 (Only available for eight uses per day.)

Legoland: $15 (Three uses.)

SeaWorld: $15 to $65. (Varies with season.)

Disney World: $15

[lightbikes 73]

Eight of our family (including us) hope to be at the Fort together for the first time since COVID hit the planet.  For us to do this $15/day is $120.00.   Even if we only do it for each park once, that $480.00 US.  On top of our tickets and campground cost.   I sure hope the Canadian dollar takes a major jump before January !!!

 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

4 hours ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

I have a webinar tomorrow that will hopefully explain in further details. 

However from all the things I have access too now here is what I "Think" this will be. 

Under Fastpass we had Tier 1 and Tier 2 rides. Tier 2 I think will all be included in the Genie Lightning Lane access. Tier 1 rides will be the ones with the option to buy your 2 passes ahead of time and be the ones you pay for to ride. 

So for example DHS
Tier 1 could be Rise of the Resistance (this will be one as it is in some examples), Slinky Dog (maybe), And Rockin Rollercoaster (i never get that name right. this is also a maybe to me) 
Tier 2 would be everything else. 

MK Example 

Tier 1 Seven Dwarfs (this will be one), Space mountain and Splash mountain (both maybes)
Tier 2 everything else. 

Standby lines or boarding passes for everything still. 

Also I have seen this in a few places

 

Food for thought:

Cost of "skipping the line" in various parks.

Universal: $70

Six Flags: $60-90 (Varies by location.)

Cedar Point: $110

Dollywood: $50 (Only available for eight uses per day.)

Legoland: $15 (Three uses.)

SeaWorld: $15 to $65. (Varies with season.)

Disney World: $15

Good information.  One thing to note though about the examples of other parks.  I can only speak from experience of Dollywood's pass, which they call Time Saver.  For your $49, you get 8 uses, but they don't restrict you for the best rides.  For instance, the Lightening Rod typically has the longest standby wait times of any ride in the park, and if you wish you can use all 8 of your Time Saver uses on that ride.  Imagine if you could spend $49 and ride Rise of the Resistance 8 times in a row?  Or 3 or 4 times, then Toy Story and/or Rock n roller.  So it's not a fair comparison to compare the price at other parks to Disney's $15 which seems to be much more restrictive and watered down.  (I know you aren't making that comparison, but others are.  It is valid though to compare other parks to Disney's program once we fully understand the average daily cost for the Genie program when you add in premium attractions). 

One other thing I noticed they are now doing at Dollywood as of last month when we visited.  In the park app, when viewing ride wait times, I noticed it offered us 1-Time use Timesaver passes for Lightening Rod for $15.  The wait time was around 2 hours, so I could see that being appealing to a lot of people, and some quick income to Dollywood.  Will not be surprised to see Disney implementing something along those lines to not only bring in more revenue, but for help in managing crowd control. 

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

4 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

Good information.  One thing to note though about the examples of other parks.  I can only speak from experience of Dollywood's pass, which they call Time Saver.  For your $49, you get 8 uses, but they don't restrict you for the best rides. 

<<snip>>

Will not be surprised to see Disney implementing something along those lines to not only bring in more revenue, but for help in managing crowd control. 

I think Cedar Point is per day on top of admission at $110 to $160 depending on which level you want.  I also agree it is to help with control plus the $$.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Just finished the webinar. Not a ton of new information like dates and pricing most are hoping for. The way I understand the core of this though is pretty much what I wrote before. 

[rjpete 8]

It was never a solution to a problem that the Fast Pass system provided, it is just a new way to get money from the AP holders.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I can't get any answer anywhere, but my biggest concern is that it seems to be based on having to use a guest-provided smartphone to use the system. I REALLY hope that they revamp the FP kiosks to use the system with a card or Magic Band. I HATE using my phone in the parks, and have gone so far as to telling Guest Services and CMs that I don't have one. In the three or four times I've tried, I have NEVER even been able to get my phone to recognize the RoR queue. I've tried all the tricks. It merely goes from not time, not time, not time, not time..... full.

It really started rubbing me the wrong way, when we started dining out again and restaurants wanted us to use our phones to see the menu, and when we went to Disney, them trying to say we had to use mobile order, or using our phone to get a text for seating. I want a menu, I want a beeper to be called to my table, and I want to order in person.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

2 hours ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

I can't get any answer anywhere, but my biggest concern is that it seems to be based on having to use a guest-provided smartphone to use the system. I REALLY hope that they revamp the FP kiosks to use the system with a card or Magic Band. I HATE using my phone in the parks, and have gone so far as to telling Guest Services and CMs that I don't have one. In the three or four times I've tried, I have NEVER even been able to get my phone to recognize the RoR queue. I've tried all the tricks. It merely goes from not time, not time, not time, not time..... full.

It really started rubbing me the wrong way, when we started dining out again and restaurants wanted us to use our phones to see the menu, and when we went to Disney, them trying to say we had to use mobile order, or using our phone to get a text for seating. I want a menu, I want a beeper to be called to my table, and I want to order in person.

I feel the same way, but the days of enjoying Disney without a smart phone are gone. The TCD gang is about to sail again on DCL very soon. Currently on the ships, everything is on the app. No paper Navigators, no paper menus, and you have to join a virtual queue to get a time to disembark on Castaway Cay.  And did they upgrade the ship wifi?  Of course not. Unfortunately, no amount of complaining to guest services is going to change any of this. The elimination of all the printed materials is a huge money saver.  And those savings are not passed on to the consumer- the executive bonuses will be obscene again this year. 

TCD

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

8 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I feel the same way, but the days of enjoying Disney without a smart phone are gone. The TCD gang is about to sail again on DCL very soon. Currently on the ships, everything is on the app. No paper Navigators, no paper menus, and you have to join a virtual queue to get a time to disembark on Castaway Cay.  And did they upgrade the ship wifi?  Of course not. Unfortunately, no amount of complaining to guest services is going to change any of this. The elimination of all the printed materials is a huge money saver.  And those savings are not passed on to the consumer- the executive bonuses will be obscene again this year. 

TCD

Hmmmm, stuff like this just makes me go into passive aggressive mode and play dumb old person. If and when I go back and have tickets, I'll just have to go to guest services and find out how to use this Genie+ thing without a smart phone. That's how we got RoR boarding passes.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

12 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I feel the same way, but the days of enjoying Disney without a smart phone are gone. The TCD gang is about to sail again on DCL very soon. Currently on the ships, everything is on the app. No paper Navigators, no paper menus, and you have to join a virtual queue to get a time to disembark on Castaway Cay.  And did they upgrade the ship wifi?  Of course not. Unfortunately, no amount of complaining to guest services is going to change any of this. The elimination of all the printed materials is a huge money saver.  And those savings are not passed on to the consumer- the executive bonuses will be obscene again this year. 

TCD

I bet when you return to the cabin in the evening, there will be a QR code on your bed to scan and see pictures of towel animals. 

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

2 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

I bet when you return to the cabin in the evening, there will be a QR code on your bed to scan and see pictures of towel animals. 

Lol. Someone should go back and see how many of the jokes you have made in the past have become realities.  A DCL bean counter would love this idea. 

TCD

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

3 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

I bet when you return to the cabin in the evening, there will be a QR code on your bed to scan and see pictures of towel animals. 

Um... that is (sadly) brilliant.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

2 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Lol. Someone should go back and see how many of the jokes you have made in the past have become realities.  A DCL bean counter would love this idea. 

TCD

Wait, what?  All these years you thought I've been joking?  I don't joke.  These are prophesies. 

Sure, the massage parlor and casino hasn't been built yet.  But give it time.  If you have seen the stuff Disney is broadcasting these days, you know it's not all that far fetched anymore.   

[lightbikes 73]

12 hours ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

Hmmmm, stuff like this just makes me go into passive aggressive mode and play dumb old person. If and when I go back and have tickets, I'll just have to go to guest services and find out how to use this Genie+ thing without a smart phone. That's how we got RoR boarding passes.

I go into dumb old person on a regular basis and not just at WDW.   I am so with you on wanting to hold a damn menu, trying to order on line when I want to make a substitution or deletion of some ingredient, change my reservation time by 15 minutes, etc.  I am terrified of having to use the Genie+ thing to try and book SFA !!!!!   And the whole idea of a "virtual queue makes my head explode !

[disneylitch......Debbie 61]

Another money making ploy for Disney.  Disney has basically removed the perks of staying on property.  They think they are doing us a favor by allowing to enter 30 minutes early.  Big deal!!!!  What happened to the late night extra magic hours?????  That was a great perk for staying on property.

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

bettcha my flip phone won't make the cut