IMO what would make things easier is to buy a ticket and go in the park just like we did for the first 50 years. Yeah, it gets crowded but that’s to be expected. I’ve been to WDW more than once when it’s been elbow to elbow and I’ve also been there a couple of times when it’s been nearly deserted. Just depends on when you go. With all these ‘reservation’ choices Paychek has taken the magic away! Get rid of the greedy moron.
This is a smart move by Disney and I agree with others that this should be made permanent. Of course I would love to see fast pass return. Another question I have is early magic hours Available for those staying at luxury resorts?
Disney is becoming stingy ! We were there this week and it was horrible ! We didn’t even use all our days and returned home . Zero trams available for any parks. Lines hours long . Removing fast pass definitely a negative move . Removing the Very Merry Christmas party as it was definitely a negative move. We will be vacationing elsewhere from here on out .
We visited after thanksgiving weekend. The Genie + is terrible!! Bring back the fast pass!!!! I was with a computer engineer and he couldn’t even figure out how to use the genie+ App. The interfacing is terrible for users. Super confusing and trying to figure out how to get our whole party together. Also when our phones died and we couldn’t even use the App! I was wondering why it was so cheap and it’s because none of the rides we wanted to use it for were available on it, you have to buy those individually!! Come on Disney, Do Better
Genie + is horrendous. App was so glitchy, but given that it’s also so hard to figure out it took the whole first day of using it to learn it and to figure out the glitches.
Day 2 we were fully aware of the glitches and how they were affecting our ability to ride rides.
3+ hours with multiple staff at multiple locations plus chat and IT support, nobody took much responsibility and nobody had any real solutions. Finally we got some extra anytime use passes to make up for the frustrations so we went on our way. Still disgruntled but also happy to finally be able to get on a ride without all the genie+ hassle.
Disney needs to make a good video explaining how to use it the basic app. Then a second for how to use the app with genie +.
It also needs an option for booking an attractions later and not just in the next time slot. We booked the most popular attractions first but treking all over the park left us exhausted and really took up much of the saved time from not standing in line. Being able to book an attraction in another zone of the park in the evening would have allowed us to finish up one side of the park before headed to the other. 100% disappointed.
Oh, and they don’t respond to my chats anymore. Though it’s not a huge loss since they were never helpful anyway.
These changes should be permanent because the new system with genie + and lightening lane is terrible. I was excited about visiting Disney until this change happened.
The whole Disney experience is terrible. It used to be sort of relaxing, crowded, but controlled and less rudeness and anger. There was a real benefit to morning extra hours for people staying at the resorts, but they have built so many more and added thousands of rooms, that by the time you get through the gate WDW has opened to the public and the race to the first ride is on. Maybe Disney should look at another park in the US, Texas, Maybe, or south America. Too much stress for too much money.
We visited Hollywood Studios in early November and were completely disappointed with the experience. First, at 7:01am, Slinky Dog was already sold out of Lightning Lane passes and Rise of the Resistance didn’t have availability until 8pm that evening, despite Genie+ showing availability at 2pm. We also paid for Runaway Railway and though it showed 11:45am availability, we could only book for 7:30pm. Also, all of the extra Star Wars activities (Like Savi’s and Olga’s) were booked solid. In Star Wars area, it was so crowded and very difficult to tell where anything was located.
From our arrival at the park at 8:30am to 11:45am, we had only ridden one ride total, and that was with our Lightning Lane selection.
All other standby lines were over 60mins long (Rise of the Resistance standby was 3 hours long by 9am park opening). We didn’t know about the 120min rule until after our visit, and we were instructed by cast members not to book our next pass until after our tickets were scanned the second time in the ride.
Of course, no booking times were accurate throughout the day.
We spent our day walking all around the park in the hot sun only to find long waits and nothing to do to pass the time. There was no place to sit and cool off, and all the restaurants were booked too.
My kids were exhausted and disappointed, and waiting until 7-8pm when our next Lightning Lane was available (booked early am after our first ride) and our Railway and Rise of Resistance passes were available, was impossible. By 1pm, we had had enough.
Luckily, Guest Services took care of us and refunded us in full. The park wasn’t at capacity the day we visited and the crowds were “light” (from what we were told would be expected the week of Thanksgiving), and I couldn’t imagine what those guests experienced!
The extra 30 mins of park hours needs to be available for resort guests all year long, not just during busy seasons. And Genie+ needs an overhaul. Accurate booking times need to be displayed instead of teasing guests with earlier times than what’s actually available.
Why anyone would choose to go to WDW at a major holiday is beyond me. It will ALWAYS be crowded and on Christmas Day you can’t even walk in the Magic Kingdom. I go on “off” days and always have a magical time. I do agree the Genie+ is a total failure. Bob Chapek is only interested in how much money he can squeeze out of park goers, but people will keep going and complaining. If everyone would just give up and stop going for one year, they would kick him out and make the right changes.
I’m so stressed about my upcoming trip!! This was supposed to be a fun exciting trip for my son. Now I’m having nightmares about a freaking genie app and can we really enjoy ourselves after spending so much money to be there??? Last time for us at Disney anything. It’s starting sound not worth it!
Come on Disney please explain why this is sooo much better than maxpass. I hoped staying at the resort would be easier but maybe not. 🤔
It’s the new Disney. Pay much more for way less. The magic is gone. It’s been replaced by greed. WDW was always miles ahead of competing theme parks and now the greed is impossible to ignore. How anyone can be happy about paying for things ( fast pass ) that used to be free is beyond me.
Comments for Disney Makes MAJOR Changes to Early Theme Park Entry and Disney Genie+
Chris
Both of these changes should be made permanent, would make things a lot easier.
Barb
IMO what would make things easier is to buy a ticket and go in the park just like we did for the first 50 years. Yeah, it gets crowded but that’s to be expected. I’ve been to WDW more than once when it’s been elbow to elbow and I’ve also been there a couple of times when it’s been nearly deserted. Just depends on when you go. With all these ‘reservation’ choices Paychek has taken the magic away! Get rid of the greedy moron.
John
This is a smart move by Disney and I agree with others that this should be made permanent. Of course I would love to see fast pass return. Another question I have is early magic hours Available for those staying at luxury resorts?
T
Disney is becoming stingy ! We were there this week and it was horrible ! We didn’t even use all our days and returned home . Zero trams available for any parks. Lines hours long . Removing fast pass definitely a negative move . Removing the Very Merry Christmas party as it was definitely a negative move. We will be vacationing elsewhere from here on out .
Donna
I agree, its the way it used to be.
Sasha
We visited after thanksgiving weekend. The Genie + is terrible!! Bring back the fast pass!!!! I was with a computer engineer and he couldn’t even figure out how to use the genie+ App. The interfacing is terrible for users. Super confusing and trying to figure out how to get our whole party together. Also when our phones died and we couldn’t even use the App! I was wondering why it was so cheap and it’s because none of the rides we wanted to use it for were available on it, you have to buy those individually!! Come on Disney, Do Better
Glen
When will Disneyland start the early entry again?
Anna
Genie + is horrendous. App was so glitchy, but given that it’s also so hard to figure out it took the whole first day of using it to learn it and to figure out the glitches.
Day 2 we were fully aware of the glitches and how they were affecting our ability to ride rides.
3+ hours with multiple staff at multiple locations plus chat and IT support, nobody took much responsibility and nobody had any real solutions. Finally we got some extra anytime use passes to make up for the frustrations so we went on our way. Still disgruntled but also happy to finally be able to get on a ride without all the genie+ hassle.
Disney needs to make a good video explaining how to use it the basic app. Then a second for how to use the app with genie +.
It also needs an option for booking an attractions later and not just in the next time slot. We booked the most popular attractions first but treking all over the park left us exhausted and really took up much of the saved time from not standing in line. Being able to book an attraction in another zone of the park in the evening would have allowed us to finish up one side of the park before headed to the other. 100% disappointed.
Oh, and they don’t respond to my chats anymore. Though it’s not a huge loss since they were never helpful anyway.
Deepak Saini
These changes should be permanent because the new system with genie + and lightening lane is terrible. I was excited about visiting Disney until this change happened.
Robc
The whole Disney experience is terrible. It used to be sort of relaxing, crowded, but controlled and less rudeness and anger. There was a real benefit to morning extra hours for people staying at the resorts, but they have built so many more and added thousands of rooms, that by the time you get through the gate WDW has opened to the public and the race to the first ride is on. Maybe Disney should look at another park in the US, Texas, Maybe, or south America. Too much stress for too much money.
Kelly
We visited Hollywood Studios in early November and were completely disappointed with the experience. First, at 7:01am, Slinky Dog was already sold out of Lightning Lane passes and Rise of the Resistance didn’t have availability until 8pm that evening, despite Genie+ showing availability at 2pm. We also paid for Runaway Railway and though it showed 11:45am availability, we could only book for 7:30pm. Also, all of the extra Star Wars activities (Like Savi’s and Olga’s) were booked solid. In Star Wars area, it was so crowded and very difficult to tell where anything was located.
From our arrival at the park at 8:30am to 11:45am, we had only ridden one ride total, and that was with our Lightning Lane selection.
All other standby lines were over 60mins long (Rise of the Resistance standby was 3 hours long by 9am park opening). We didn’t know about the 120min rule until after our visit, and we were instructed by cast members not to book our next pass until after our tickets were scanned the second time in the ride.
Of course, no booking times were accurate throughout the day.
We spent our day walking all around the park in the hot sun only to find long waits and nothing to do to pass the time. There was no place to sit and cool off, and all the restaurants were booked too.
My kids were exhausted and disappointed, and waiting until 7-8pm when our next Lightning Lane was available (booked early am after our first ride) and our Railway and Rise of Resistance passes were available, was impossible. By 1pm, we had had enough.
Luckily, Guest Services took care of us and refunded us in full. The park wasn’t at capacity the day we visited and the crowds were “light” (from what we were told would be expected the week of Thanksgiving), and I couldn’t imagine what those guests experienced!
The extra 30 mins of park hours needs to be available for resort guests all year long, not just during busy seasons. And Genie+ needs an overhaul. Accurate booking times need to be displayed instead of teasing guests with earlier times than what’s actually available.
Swim2sea
Why anyone would choose to go to WDW at a major holiday is beyond me. It will ALWAYS be crowded and on Christmas Day you can’t even walk in the Magic Kingdom. I go on “off” days and always have a magical time. I do agree the Genie+ is a total failure. Bob Chapek is only interested in how much money he can squeeze out of park goers, but people will keep going and complaining. If everyone would just give up and stop going for one year, they would kick him out and make the right changes.
Y
I’m so stressed about my upcoming trip!! This was supposed to be a fun exciting trip for my son. Now I’m having nightmares about a freaking genie app and can we really enjoy ourselves after spending so much money to be there??? Last time for us at Disney anything. It’s starting sound not worth it!
Come on Disney please explain why this is sooo much better than maxpass. I hoped staying at the resort would be easier but maybe not. 🤔
beautiful gorgeous
I’m not paying for it, Bob Cheapskate!
DonB
It’s the new Disney. Pay much more for way less. The magic is gone. It’s been replaced by greed. WDW was always miles ahead of competing theme parks and now the greed is impossible to ignore. How anyone can be happy about paying for things ( fast pass ) that used to be free is beyond me.
Comments are closed.