Not excited for this trip at all…

[cgattis]

Curious to know if LL was approximately the same wait as FP+, all things considered?

Yes, it seemed to be. It was just that the app was so ridiculous to use to actually get any. I did not, however, expect to wait 45 minutes in the Remy VQ that I waited 6+ hours to join. As another poster said somewhere else, why not just call them back later?? And the ILL$ were pretty quick—again, if the app didn’t screw you out of getting them.

 

[cgattis]

Was it this week you were there?

Yes but we’ve been Thanksgiving week before (along with Presidents Day, Memorial Day, spring break, and fall break) and it was never the chaos that was this week. Ridiculous.

 

[Jrb1979]

Its not going to be easy to find a replacement but honestly I was starting to get priced out anyway (big family and we almost always stay at the Swan or another Epcot resort) so the timing isn't that bad.

I hate that argument. There is so many parks out there. I get it they aren't Disney but a lot of them are great. People have to give them a chance.

 

[Bullseye]

Actually, from my perspective planning used to be pretty darn easy. You logged in at 7am ONCE, 60 days before the trip, and booked at three rides per day that your family wanted and that didn't conflict with meal reservations. Every ride was part of the same system, so it was a "one-stop shop." 4th/5th etc rides booked same day all followed the same basic system: tap in, book a ride, and you can modify if you need to. If you don't get to do much more than you three rides--no worries, at least it was free. I recognize some people didn't love the system, but planning was not nearly as hard as playing the 7am finger dash for ILLs, virtual queues and Genie +, then if you got a time that didn't work, no way to modify without cancelling and losing what you got, then remembering to check in every 2 hours on the dot (plus afternoon VQ time if you missed the morning), then strategizing if it is better to take a less-than-ideal one versus staying to refresh in the hopes they drop more inventory. Yeesh. The 7am wake-up call every day alone sounds like hell to me--I hated it on DHS day for ROTR, and that was just ONE day.

Right on girl! I loved knowing what rides I reserved months ahead of time. I would have rather they kept FP+ and just charged for it so you still had some assurances and knew what you were doing. Now you're just tossed into the mix with everyone else at 7am.

 

[TB'sWidow]

I’m here now and I agree with pp who complained about the crowds etc. It is extremely crowded. We too find that genie plus is not worth it.
We did purchase LL for Remy and Rise of the resistance and just waited in the stand by lanes for the rest. Wait times vary and not consistent.
We also had an issue transportation wise , since we are staying at Pop Century and the only transportation to Epcot and Hollywood studios is the skyliner which I am afraid of heights so it was a challenge to find ways to get to those parks

 

[RNTeacher]

We also had an issue transportation wise , since we are staying at Pop Century and the only transportation to Epcot and Hollywood studios is the skyliner which I am afraid of heights so it was a challenge to find ways to get to those parks

Is there not bus service at Pop Century?

 

[tano]

I hate that argument. There is so many parks out there. I get it they aren't Disney but a lot of them are great. People have to give them a chance.

We're going to focus on Universal with Seaworld as filler for this Christmas trip and rest of 2022. I'm not sure if enough people know this but the "fun" pass for Seaworld (valid now through end-2022 with very limited blackout dates) cost me just 85$ pp. That's significantly less than a one DAY ticket to WDW. It was a pleasant surprise for me!

The difficulty I mentioned is not going back to a place where I have great memories with my family. But I'll get over it.

 

[Jrb1979]

We're going to focus on Universal with Seaworld as filler for this Christmas trip and rest of 2022. I'm not sure if enough people know this but the "fun" pass for Seaworld (valid now through end-2022 with very limited blackout dates) cost me just 85$ pp. That's significantly less than a one DAY ticket to WDW. It was a pleasant surprise for me!

The difficulty I mentioned is not going back to a place where I have great memories with my family. But I'll get over it.

You will be able to make new memories at the new parks you go to. SeaWorld is a great park. Love listening to the screams of people on the coasters.

 

[TB'sWidow]

Is there not bus service at Pop Century?

No there is no bus service to Epcot or Hollywood studios. It was very frustrating to figure a route to get to Epcot by the Disney transportation system not to mention how long it took to transfer.

 

[shawthorne44]

I’ve been trying to learn and play around with this Genie+ and I’m just not sure I’m getting it. It seems fine for people that can stay from early entry all the way to close, but I have a son, even at 13, who is usually done by dinner time and would rather get back to the resort to swim. I will encourage us to do early entry every day. We’ve always used this strategy in the past and were usually always able to knock one side of the park out with minimal waits.

One idea, and it is the same one we will try, go early entry and leave at lunch time. Then go back at dinner time until close or bedtime. If you look at the wait time charts, the low times are in the first hour and some hours before close. You can even casually eat both lunch and dinner outside the parks without the scheduling silliness.
The reason we are going to try that is because like you we can't stay until close. 3pm is the norm. I am an early-bird and love early entry. But, those at-close wait times are attractive. I've also noticed that we get a second wind about 7pm when it is too late to go back to the parks.

 

[hou2009]

Oh thank you so much. I literally printed this out as you made it very clear. Clearer to me than the videos I've watched. I think I get overwhelmed quickly. Very kind of you to help.

Google all ears Molly and watch her videos using Genie+ in the parks. Very helpful.

 

[RNTeacher]

No there is no bus service to Epcot or Hollywood studios. It was very frustrating to figure a route to get to Epcot by the Disney transportation system not to mention how long it took to transfer.

Oh my gosh! I did not realize there was no other included transportation. We have a family member afraid of heights. Good to know to not book there.

 

[DVCjj]

Google all ears Molly and watch her videos using Genie+ in the parks. Very helpful.

Will do. Never heard of her. Thank you.

 

[imbelle]

Oh my gosh! I did not realize there was no other included transportation. We have a family member afraid of heights. Good to know to not book there.

Riveria is the same. There are bus stops for HS and Epcot but no buses, only Skyliner. My sister was paranoid about getting stuck on the Skyliner so we had to find our own way to those parks.

 

[bobdacat]

Just don't use Genie+, we have no plans of using it, will be going old school when we go stand by line and rope dropping.. I can't stand looking at my phone all day. Stop and look around and enjoy the parks, so much is missed these days looking at our damn phones, not just talking about WDW.

 

[SkyGuy]

No there is no bus service to Epcot or Hollywood studios. It was very frustrating to figure a route to get to Epcot by the Disney transportation system not to mention how long it took to transfer.

Art of Animation sometimes offers busses to Epcot and Hollywood Studios during busier times. It’s not that far of a walk from Pop. I’m not sure how you’d check before walking over there, though.

 

[quandrea]

Just don't use Genie+, we have no plans of using it, will be going old school when we go stand by line and rope dropping.. I can't stand looking at my phone all day. Stop and look around and enjoy the parks, so much is missed these days looking at our damn phones, not just talking about WDW.

This is our plan. I’ve been hundreds of times. If I don’t get to ride something, we’ll catch it on the next go around.

 

[gharter]

Right on girl! I loved knowing what rides I reserved months ahead of time. I would have rather they kept FP+ and just charged for it so you still had some assurances and knew what you were doing. Now you're just tossed into the mix with everyone else at 7am.

Completely agree. Loved knowing that we had 3 rides guaranteed each day (unless they were down).Used Genie + on our last trip. It works, but not a fan as it just seems clunky compared to how FP+ worked. Maybe it won't seem that way after I use it a few more times.

 

[VAlegacy]

I recommend you cancel. Honestly, its what Chapek and Disney want. The same or more profits from less guests.

 

[BrotherCraig]

I just got back from WDW and had zero issues using Genie+. I thought it was great. Hated having a phone in front of me the whole day but I did like not waiting in lines and getting on almost every ride I wanted to. Again, zero issues. Look forward to another Disney trip in June.

We booked last minute in Dec 2016 and didn't care for the FP+ system since we booked last minute. We missed out on some stuff because of being last minute.