The whole system is virtual queues all over again. You have to be on your phone at a certain time to go mad tapping away and hope you have the chance to ride an awesome favorite. Only difference is, now you have to pay extra for that chance. Never would have thought this would be the result of Rise of the Resistance being built.
Disney Genie was never designed for the park guest. It was designed by Disney Park Management to control park guests in the parks. Requiring park guests to constantly use their cell phones to control guest activities is a genious technique to keep park guests busy and think they are in control of their park day. What Disney does not want to do is expand ride and or show access because of the cost and lack of control.
A park guest can no longer plan their park day in advance of their trip as they could under the old system.
My next holiday already paid for is the last one I am spending in Disney World on property, moving over to Universal.
So fed up with Disney the constant price hikes and rip off’s double charging you and things that were included are now an extra charge, and still the price goes up. Not looking forward to this holiday as I used to. I can assure you I am not using the Genie + System I go on holiday to get away from using a mobile phone or laptop. Disney forget it.
So not the Most magical place on earth, BUT Certainly the most frustrating and expensive. Please Please remove this board for goodness sake.
Disney Genie+ is a horrible system. Prior to visiting, I thought that the system would be worthwhile and came into it believing that. But, after using the system, I can say it is horrible.
First, you need to wake up at 7am on vacation in hope of getting certain rides. I do not think that is fun on vacation, that seams like work.
Second, you are tied to your phone all day instead of being present in the moment. So much for telling kids to get off their phones and enjoy the vacation when parents are tied to their phone constantly for mobile food, checking in for dining, genie+, check-out in stores. This leads me to the next problem…
Third, I have seen so many people freaking out because there phones are dying and they won’t be able to access the system any more. So, cast members are “advising” guests to purchase the fuel rods otherwise they can’t pick up their mobile food order or continue genie+ use. This exact scene unfolded in front of me not once, not twice, but four times in a single day.
Fourth, if you do not plan to go to the parks first thing in the morning, say you have a 9:30am breakfast ressie, you can’t pick your time like you could on the free fast pass system. You have to wait until the virtual lines fill up and you get an appropriate time. So, you can’t pick a ride at first and the longer you wait the less rides you can choose during the day.
Fifth, the entire system is not user friendly and we did experience many many glitches. And, many of the glitches could not be helped by cast members. For instance, it said I did not have a ticket to get into the park even though I had a park reservation and purchased genie+ for the day. By the time this was fixed, several rides were already sold out and the cast members could not do anything about it. I lost the chance to purchases ROR or to get several rides offered on genie+ because of a Disney glitch and Disney couldn’t help. So, if Disney cast members can’t help, who can?
Sixth, you can’t really plan a day out with genie+. We found ourselves walking from one side of the park to the other and back again. I definitely got my steps in.
I do have to say, Universal express pass is the more magical approach.
The system really led to more frustration than anything.
Why is Universal’s system better?
1) It’s more expensive.
People already complain about the cost of Genie+, BUT
a) they aren’t getting value for their money – 60 minute LL wait vs 80 minute stand-by is no bargain
b) not all rides are included (ie. the most popular ones) again, pay more for those
Universal Express gets you in quicker BECAUSE not everybody is buying it because it’s so expensive.
2) You don’t have to be on your phone all day to use it. People go on vacation to unplug and unwind. Disney turns this into the absolute opposite.
You left out the best part about Universals Express Pass. You don’t get a return time for the attraction you want to ride. Whenever you feel like going on a ride you just show them your ticket and go. No return time necessary. It’s a beautiful thing.
We went to Disney World when there was no Fast Pass or Genie system in place last spring and it was great, everyone waited in standby lines and they actually moved at a reasonable pace, we were in Disneyland/DCA the week Genie started and it was a total joke, standby lines were stalled while the LL and PPR lines were pushed through because there wasn’t enough space in the queue to hold all the people trying to use genie+.
Universal Studios has done it right by creating an insane fee for their Express system that if you are willing to pay for it, you can see both parks in one day in Orlando. I may cringe at the cost up front, but by the end of the day, I’m smiling because of the great experience. Disney’s Genie experience might be $15, but you are lucky to use it 1 or 2 times during the day for rides that you could have just waited in line for. Also, being on your phone refreshing times is really annoying. And even though it was cheaper than Universal, paying per ride for the top attractions, while I at the park just gets under my skin. Personally, I would pay double for Disney World, if they capped the park at 40-50% capacity.
Comments for Fans Voice Frustrations With Disney Genie, Call It “Stupid, Unfair”
Phoebe L Ho
The whole system is virtual queues all over again. You have to be on your phone at a certain time to go mad tapping away and hope you have the chance to ride an awesome favorite. Only difference is, now you have to pay extra for that chance. Never would have thought this would be the result of Rise of the Resistance being built.
Could this horrid system get any worse?!!!!
Bob
Disney Genie was never designed for the park guest. It was designed by Disney Park Management to control park guests in the parks. Requiring park guests to constantly use their cell phones to control guest activities is a genious technique to keep park guests busy and think they are in control of their park day. What Disney does not want to do is expand ride and or show access because of the cost and lack of control.
A park guest can no longer plan their park day in advance of their trip as they could under the old system.
Mason
Genie+ controls what guests do? Might as well rename it People’s Republic of Disneyland/Walt Disney World.😂😂😂😂
Julian H
My next holiday already paid for is the last one I am spending in Disney World on property, moving over to Universal.
So fed up with Disney the constant price hikes and rip off’s double charging you and things that were included are now an extra charge, and still the price goes up. Not looking forward to this holiday as I used to. I can assure you I am not using the Genie + System I go on holiday to get away from using a mobile phone or laptop. Disney forget it.
So not the Most magical place on earth, BUT Certainly the most frustrating and expensive. Please Please remove this board for goodness sake.
Renaissance
Disney Genie+ is a horrible system. Prior to visiting, I thought that the system would be worthwhile and came into it believing that. But, after using the system, I can say it is horrible.
First, you need to wake up at 7am on vacation in hope of getting certain rides. I do not think that is fun on vacation, that seams like work.
Second, you are tied to your phone all day instead of being present in the moment. So much for telling kids to get off their phones and enjoy the vacation when parents are tied to their phone constantly for mobile food, checking in for dining, genie+, check-out in stores. This leads me to the next problem…
Third, I have seen so many people freaking out because there phones are dying and they won’t be able to access the system any more. So, cast members are “advising” guests to purchase the fuel rods otherwise they can’t pick up their mobile food order or continue genie+ use. This exact scene unfolded in front of me not once, not twice, but four times in a single day.
Fourth, if you do not plan to go to the parks first thing in the morning, say you have a 9:30am breakfast ressie, you can’t pick your time like you could on the free fast pass system. You have to wait until the virtual lines fill up and you get an appropriate time. So, you can’t pick a ride at first and the longer you wait the less rides you can choose during the day.
Fifth, the entire system is not user friendly and we did experience many many glitches. And, many of the glitches could not be helped by cast members. For instance, it said I did not have a ticket to get into the park even though I had a park reservation and purchased genie+ for the day. By the time this was fixed, several rides were already sold out and the cast members could not do anything about it. I lost the chance to purchases ROR or to get several rides offered on genie+ because of a Disney glitch and Disney couldn’t help. So, if Disney cast members can’t help, who can?
Sixth, you can’t really plan a day out with genie+. We found ourselves walking from one side of the park to the other and back again. I definitely got my steps in.
I do have to say, Universal express pass is the more magical approach.
The system really led to more frustration than anything.
Marvin
Why is Universal’s system better?
1) It’s more expensive.
People already complain about the cost of Genie+, BUT
a) they aren’t getting value for their money – 60 minute LL wait vs 80 minute stand-by is no bargain
b) not all rides are included (ie. the most popular ones) again, pay more for those
Universal Express gets you in quicker BECAUSE not everybody is buying it because it’s so expensive.
2) You don’t have to be on your phone all day to use it. People go on vacation to unplug and unwind. Disney turns this into the absolute opposite.
Michele
You left out the best part about Universals Express Pass. You don’t get a return time for the attraction you want to ride. Whenever you feel like going on a ride you just show them your ticket and go. No return time necessary. It’s a beautiful thing.
Julian H
Also at Universal staying on their premium property you get your express pass included in your holiday.
Universal all the way, Disney has lost its way.
Bill
We went to Disney World when there was no Fast Pass or Genie system in place last spring and it was great, everyone waited in standby lines and they actually moved at a reasonable pace, we were in Disneyland/DCA the week Genie started and it was a total joke, standby lines were stalled while the LL and PPR lines were pushed through because there wasn’t enough space in the queue to hold all the people trying to use genie+.
Richard
Universal Studios has done it right by creating an insane fee for their Express system that if you are willing to pay for it, you can see both parks in one day in Orlando. I may cringe at the cost up front, but by the end of the day, I’m smiling because of the great experience. Disney’s Genie experience might be $15, but you are lucky to use it 1 or 2 times during the day for rides that you could have just waited in line for. Also, being on your phone refreshing times is really annoying. And even though it was cheaper than Universal, paying per ride for the top attractions, while I at the park just gets under my skin. Personally, I would pay double for Disney World, if they capped the park at 40-50% capacity.
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