As I said when this covid thing gets over I am pretty much sure that I am taking a Disney cruise instead. One other I will keep saying if Walt Disney Himself knew how Disneyparks are raising prices he would be rolling in his grave right now.
The genie pass pay to play is a joke. We tried it one day probably would not again. Paying for something that was free sucks and it’s forcing long lines which were not there before except on a few rides. Did not get in rise of the resistancebecause we didn’t want to pay another 20 bucks and it’s impossible to get in with less then a 90 min wait. The parks are still fun but we used to go multiple times per year and now it will be a long time before we come back. Also 4.50 for a soda is a joke. I agree with the Walt rolling in his grave comments. Disney is becoming only for the rich.
Yes, the parks are only for the rich now, but that’s just how it is. Disney doesn’t feel like they owe their “magical” experience to everyone, just those that can pay the soaring prices. They manage their theme parks to maximize revenue. The non-rich can still watch Disney+ and buy the merch online. I wish sodas were only $4.50…they’re $6.00 at Disneyland.
Rise of the Resistance was $20 per person on 12/10 and those passes were sold out before 5pm. If people are willing to pay it to the point that they sold out, then they’re going to keep charging and pushing that price as high as they can go.
Do you have a source on that $25 price for Genie+ at Disneyland? Everywhere I look, including Disney’s official website, it’s still the announced prices of $20 at Disneyland and $15 at WDW.
We lucked out and went to Disneyland before they started this Genie madness. Without the faster line options, the stand-by wait was always less than 45 minutes, usually around 30 for the big rides. And that was during Thanksgiving break! We only waited 1.5 hrs for Rise of the Resistance!
We were also there Thanksgiving week and you are correct, the lines were not bad because there was no fast pass, Genie Plus, or Lightening Lane. We even got lucky the last day they had the ROR queue lottery and got stand-by for which only 40% of people are called. We got a text at 6:30pm to get to the ride, and walked right on without waiting a single minute. FOR FREE. That will never happen again!
What do you mean “wasting no time in changing prices accordingly”?? – Disney always said individual LL attractions would have variable pricing based on demand. It launched on a Wednesday. Now it’s the weekend. This isn’t “wasting no time in changing prices” – this was always the plan.
Wow! Price increase already! It just started. Stop paying ridiculous prices and they will bring them down (maybe). Who knows anymore with Disney, they are out for every penny they can get from customers. Is it really worth putting out another forty eight to eighty bucks for a maybe 2 minute ride for a family of 4?
As Lifelong Disneyland fan. I am disgusted by all of this…they have made the park basically for the rich. I will not be renewing my annual pass as this was the last straw!
You’re wrong on the prices for Genie +
$20 for Disneyland not $25
And
$15 for WDW not $20
As a passholder and someone who lives near one of the parks I refuse to buy Genie +. I was a sig plus holder before the pandemic and the max pass was included. But not anymore… now you have to pay Al la cart for the more popular rides. Sorry but I’m my opinion that’s a bunch bullarcky and money grab!
Depending on how much the cost of the pass increases next year. Probably won’t renew just be a universal passholder…. They treat their pass holders very well!
As a company, Disney doesn’t want low spending customers… it wants high spending customers (and they will keep trying to price out the many low spending customers to have fewer, but more profitable customers). Sorry Charlie… Disney parks are for rich people not a public service.
Almost glad we moved from so calif 10 years ago and gave up our annual passes. Being born in Newport Beach I got to enjoy the original Disney before money became their only aim in life. Don’t plan to ever go to any Disney parks again.
Thanks to Greedy Pachek the prices will continue to rise until people finally wake up and say NO MORE. Greedy is destroying the Disney resorts. Get rid of this greedy maniac NOW!
I’m wondering how this LL joke affects the DAS pass? The disability access is meant to not make the disabled stand in long lines but if the fast pass lane is really long and they stick you in that lane it defeats the purpose of have the DAS pass. I read in their policy and it states they must give alternative entrance if the return time is too long. I hope they still stand by that
Most queues at Disneyland are disabled-friendly. No need to cut the line, since you can comfortably wait with everyone else, as wheelchairs can access the entire queue (most attractions). Being disabled doesn’t mean you get priority, only accomodation. If the queue is accessible to your wheelchair, you are accommodated.
Speaking as an old DVD fan, Genie+ may be a hit, but Lightning Lane just has “Disney Limited Edition DVD” written all over it.
Now, all we need is the equivalent “Character artwork on disk” for the public to cause the idea to blow up in their face, and the guy responsible to lose his job over it.
(It’s too much to hope for Chapek.) 🙁
And if it does…please don’t blame it ALL on the Galactic Starcruiser, like the SW fans inevitably will.
I don’t understand how these people are ok to pay for admission and then fork up more money to pay to ride rides. These people are just brain dead. Makes no sense and the worst part is that these Disney enthusiast’s don’t call out this out and just report the news. They have all this attention to force the message out to as many people as possible to not buy this service etc. It’s mind boggling and disappointing what has become!
Ever play an app game, and be nagged for “Bonus passes” to get special rewards every day?
Ever had YouTube nag you for a “YouTube TV” paid subscription?
Do you feel pressured that you “have” to buy HuluPlus without commercials?
There’s a current marketing delusion that our Internet-privileged Uber Generation is just itching to pay extra for exclusive perks on velvet-rope Plus subscriptions over and above our existing mobile accounts, and BOY, did Bob fall for that one hard.
Now, the trick is in getting him to land for that one…Even harder.
I was there this weekend and they easily gave 10x priority to lighnting lane. Fastpass was metered pretty well to where it really didn’t noticeably affect the stand-by lines, but lightning lane caused every single ride to have excessively long lines. Radiator Springs Racers was the worst – I timed one person from the time they scanned in to the time they got off the ride, it was 9 minutes total while the stand-by line was 115 minutes. Every few minutes they would make an announcement to the stand-by line that their wait was going to be longer than the app stated and a lot of people would just get out of line entirely. When we got to the front, the issue was glaringly obvious because for every 30 lightning lane holders they would only allow one family from stand-by to go through. The a la carte system is awful, and this line in particular had a never-ending stream of 30-50 lightning lane people who were being catered to because of all the bad PR they received this past week with the app crashing. Obviously they want people to say good things about genie+ but I didn’t see a single person in that line that wasn’t absolutely pissed off about the lightning lane priority level. Additionally, they would use the app wait times to divert groups of people to a particular ride because every 10 minute posted wait would become 60 minutes within a few minutes. They’ve been doing crowd control tactics for years with parades and performances so it’s not that surprising, but seeing it in action with people running across the park to get in a shorter line or entire families abandoning a line because another line had a shorter wait time was so surreal. I was there in July and it was amazing- short lines and accurate app wait times without any technical issues. I won’t be going back for a long time now that they are using this system.
Comments for Despite Malfunctions, Disneyland Issues Price Increases for Lightning Lane
Adam
They will push it as far as they can. Spring Break: $18
Amber Lasater
As I said when this covid thing gets over I am pretty much sure that I am taking a Disney cruise instead. One other I will keep saying if Walt Disney Himself knew how Disneyparks are raising prices he would be rolling in his grave right now.
Ron Britvich
If Walt Disney were still living to see what they are doing to his creation, he’d go back to rolling in his grave.
Jennifer
The genie pass pay to play is a joke. We tried it one day probably would not again. Paying for something that was free sucks and it’s forcing long lines which were not there before except on a few rides. Did not get in rise of the resistancebecause we didn’t want to pay another 20 bucks and it’s impossible to get in with less then a 90 min wait. The parks are still fun but we used to go multiple times per year and now it will be a long time before we come back. Also 4.50 for a soda is a joke. I agree with the Walt rolling in his grave comments. Disney is becoming only for the rich.
Brandon P.
Yes, the parks are only for the rich now, but that’s just how it is. Disney doesn’t feel like they owe their “magical” experience to everyone, just those that can pay the soaring prices. They manage their theme parks to maximize revenue. The non-rich can still watch Disney+ and buy the merch online. I wish sodas were only $4.50…they’re $6.00 at Disneyland.
DHaw
Rise of the Resistance was $20 per person on 12/10 and those passes were sold out before 5pm. If people are willing to pay it to the point that they sold out, then they’re going to keep charging and pushing that price as high as they can go.
Stephen
Do you have a source on that $25 price for Genie+ at Disneyland? Everywhere I look, including Disney’s official website, it’s still the announced prices of $20 at Disneyland and $15 at WDW.
Samantha
It’s incorrect. You’re right, WDW is $15 for Genie+ and DL is $20.
Phoebe L Ho
You can’t shame the shameless. Just vote with your wallets.
Kristi Salazar
We lucked out and went to Disneyland before they started this Genie madness. Without the faster line options, the stand-by wait was always less than 45 minutes, usually around 30 for the big rides. And that was during Thanksgiving break! We only waited 1.5 hrs for Rise of the Resistance!
Lisa
We were also there Thanksgiving week and you are correct, the lines were not bad because there was no fast pass, Genie Plus, or Lightening Lane. We even got lucky the last day they had the ROR queue lottery and got stand-by for which only 40% of people are called. We got a text at 6:30pm to get to the ride, and walked right on without waiting a single minute. FOR FREE. That will never happen again!
Brandon Pl.
What do you mean “wasting no time in changing prices accordingly”?? – Disney always said individual LL attractions would have variable pricing based on demand. It launched on a Wednesday. Now it’s the weekend. This isn’t “wasting no time in changing prices” – this was always the plan.
Em
Wow! Price increase already! It just started. Stop paying ridiculous prices and they will bring them down (maybe). Who knows anymore with Disney, they are out for every penny they can get from customers. Is it really worth putting out another forty eight to eighty bucks for a maybe 2 minute ride for a family of 4?
Diane
As Lifelong Disneyland fan. I am disgusted by all of this…they have made the park basically for the rich. I will not be renewing my annual pass as this was the last straw!
Error
You’re wrong on the prices for Genie +
$20 for Disneyland not $25
And
$15 for WDW not $20
As a passholder and someone who lives near one of the parks I refuse to buy Genie +. I was a sig plus holder before the pandemic and the max pass was included. But not anymore… now you have to pay Al la cart for the more popular rides. Sorry but I’m my opinion that’s a bunch bullarcky and money grab!
Depending on how much the cost of the pass increases next year. Probably won’t renew just be a universal passholder…. They treat their pass holders very well!
Jayson
As a company, Disney doesn’t want low spending customers… it wants high spending customers (and they will keep trying to price out the many low spending customers to have fewer, but more profitable customers). Sorry Charlie… Disney parks are for rich people not a public service.
James Harper
Almost glad we moved from so calif 10 years ago and gave up our annual passes. Being born in Newport Beach I got to enjoy the original Disney before money became their only aim in life. Don’t plan to ever go to any Disney parks again.
Barb304
Thanks to Greedy Pachek the prices will continue to rise until people finally wake up and say NO MORE. Greedy is destroying the Disney resorts. Get rid of this greedy maniac NOW!
Natasha
I’m wondering how this LL joke affects the DAS pass? The disability access is meant to not make the disabled stand in long lines but if the fast pass lane is really long and they stick you in that lane it defeats the purpose of have the DAS pass. I read in their policy and it states they must give alternative entrance if the return time is too long. I hope they still stand by that
Brandon P.
Most queues at Disneyland are disabled-friendly. No need to cut the line, since you can comfortably wait with everyone else, as wheelchairs can access the entire queue (most attractions). Being disabled doesn’t mean you get priority, only accomodation. If the queue is accessible to your wheelchair, you are accommodated.
EricJ
Speaking as an old DVD fan, Genie+ may be a hit, but Lightning Lane just has “Disney Limited Edition DVD” written all over it.
Now, all we need is the equivalent “Character artwork on disk” for the public to cause the idea to blow up in their face, and the guy responsible to lose his job over it.
(It’s too much to hope for Chapek.) 🙁
And if it does…please don’t blame it ALL on the Galactic Starcruiser, like the SW fans inevitably will.
Over this
I don’t understand how these people are ok to pay for admission and then fork up more money to pay to ride rides. These people are just brain dead. Makes no sense and the worst part is that these Disney enthusiast’s don’t call out this out and just report the news. They have all this attention to force the message out to as many people as possible to not buy this service etc. It’s mind boggling and disappointing what has become!
EricJ
Ever play an app game, and be nagged for “Bonus passes” to get special rewards every day?
Ever had YouTube nag you for a “YouTube TV” paid subscription?
Do you feel pressured that you “have” to buy HuluPlus without commercials?
There’s a current marketing delusion that our Internet-privileged Uber Generation is just itching to pay extra for exclusive perks on velvet-rope Plus subscriptions over and above our existing mobile accounts, and BOY, did Bob fall for that one hard.
Now, the trick is in getting him to land for that one…Even harder.
No Shortage of Issues with LL
I was there this weekend and they easily gave 10x priority to lighnting lane. Fastpass was metered pretty well to where it really didn’t noticeably affect the stand-by lines, but lightning lane caused every single ride to have excessively long lines. Radiator Springs Racers was the worst – I timed one person from the time they scanned in to the time they got off the ride, it was 9 minutes total while the stand-by line was 115 minutes. Every few minutes they would make an announcement to the stand-by line that their wait was going to be longer than the app stated and a lot of people would just get out of line entirely. When we got to the front, the issue was glaringly obvious because for every 30 lightning lane holders they would only allow one family from stand-by to go through. The a la carte system is awful, and this line in particular had a never-ending stream of 30-50 lightning lane people who were being catered to because of all the bad PR they received this past week with the app crashing. Obviously they want people to say good things about genie+ but I didn’t see a single person in that line that wasn’t absolutely pissed off about the lightning lane priority level. Additionally, they would use the app wait times to divert groups of people to a particular ride because every 10 minute posted wait would become 60 minutes within a few minutes. They’ve been doing crowd control tactics for years with parades and performances so it’s not that surprising, but seeing it in action with people running across the park to get in a shorter line or entire families abandoning a line because another line had a shorter wait time was so surreal. I was there in July and it was amazing- short lines and accurate app wait times without any technical issues. I won’t be going back for a long time now that they are using this system.
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