Why Everyone Hates Genie+ in Disney World

Genie+ was probably the biggest change in Disney World in 2021 - and it's VERY confusing. There are a lot of rules, inventory goes quick, and you have to pay for it. Lots of guests are frustrated (understandably) so Molly is headed to Hollywood Studios to use the service during the busiest week of the year.
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[@jstamets]

I go on vacation to get AWAY from schedules and stress. This is just the opposite.

[@Anvilarm07]

I totally understand where you are coming from, but you'll be waiting in line anyway. Why not spend a few minutes booking your next ride? I think the key is getting comfortable with the tech, and Molly's videos help with that.

[@KB-vl2kx]

@@Anvilarm07 wait in line or pay extra to book a pass, wait in a shorter line and spend more money on extortionately priced and poor quality snacks..!!

[@jstamets]

​@@Anvilarm07 And all the extra fees. It's just that Disney seems to want to constantly add little reminders that this isn't magic anymore. Any one of them is not a big deal, but taken together, it's a constant barrage of little hassles on what is supposed to be a "magical" vacation. Just not my cup of tea...

[@jeanettesmith765]

@@Anvilarm07 I think many of us are just not going to pay extra money. Most of us are tech savvy.

[@garynelson960]

Knowing you have to wake up before 7, while on vacation just to give Disney extra money to compete with everyone for lighting lane, makes this whole thing a hard no for me.

[@notdavea5778]

I agree. At least with fast pass you could book them 60 days before your visit if you were a resort guest. Once those were used you could “fiddle faddle” if you chose to get more if they were available. This system is not an improvement.

[@ilovefreedoom]

This, TBH. I am so over Disney's nickel-and-diming everyone and everything. Hello Universal!

[@thepstheps1880]

Yeah but the alternative is standing in line for 3+ hours. We stood in line for 4 hours to ride Avatar in Animal Kingdom. And four hours for Space Mountain. 😫😫😫

[@thepstheps1880]

@@ilovefreedoom Universal is awesome !!!!

[@notdavea5778]

@@thepstheps1880 this is what I don’t understand. In the times I have visited wdw pre covid I have never queued that long for anything ever. Fast pass was a bonus, but standby was never close to the times we now see posted? Are there more people attending or is the system broken?

[@ramonas4328]

So basically instead of enjoying the park you're literally at, you have to spend many many minutes staring at your phone just to plan an experience you should already be able to enjoy? Got it!

[@nituhamid6328]

Molly was by herself and has experience, still it was so hard. How are families with no experience going to do all this? Sounds stressful.

[@tbone7083]

Let's consider what Disney does: They raise park entrance prices every year. They make you pay to PARK your car on their theme park parking lot. They make you pay for Genie plus a benefit that was free. They make you pay for Magic bands another item that was free. They discontinued the Magical Express from the airport so now you have to pay for your way there. There are probably several others that I didn't mention. Soon they will charge to watch the fireworks at night. If you didn't pay DON'T LOOK UP! : )

[@Marchant2]

There comes a time when the cost isn't worth it. If Disney hasn't crossed that line, they're awfully close to doing so.

[@angeldogg9]

They do make you pay for fireworks well if you want a seat that isn't cramped with tons of others that is, they have expensive fireworks packages for both epcot and MK that is very limited and usually booked out for 3 months In order to even attempt to get these reservations you have to a disney resort guest and really on it every single morning

[@angeldogg9]

@@Marchant2 they have crossed it and at least right now people still spend that money mostly because Fear of missing out and there is very little to do with covid lockdowns I for see attendance up for the parks for the rest of 2022 and the 50th gimmick. but people will begin experiencing all of these post covid changes in the park feeling miserable and having vacation remorse and years before these people book vacations back to disneyworld in the future If covid restrictions begin to lift across the world by the fall I see attendance dropping by 2023 and people canceling disneyworld for a few years

[@monicahorn1]

@@angeldogg9 I've said almost exactly the same thing. The full effect of these changes will take place after the 50th. Park attendance will drop! No one will want to spend thousands of dollars for the kind of experience Molly shows us in this video.

[@rhaenyralikesyoutube6289]

At this rate, the bathrooms won't be free. But hey, if you pay this "extra," fee you too can go into a better bathroom stall. 🙄

[@marianneprice2418]

Looks like Genie + forces you to spend your whole day on your phone. Hate it.

[@angeldogg9]

Also the app is horrible to navigate

[@bassjasinski]

Wait till Disney starts pushing ads to users in the app lol, a user sees a ride time open up and they go to reserve the slot only to have an ad pop up.

[@cab8866]

We weren't. Used it Christmas Day at MK.

[@ryan71100]

We were on our phones the entire day trying to find rides and times that worked for us, we hated it!

[@Wendys_World]

We should all petition Disney to bring fastpasses back. Even if they charge you for it. Atleast you could do the planning in advance. And then just enjoy your day without trying to plan everything last minute.It's no fun to watch the clock all day. Have to get up way too early then be on a strict schedule all day. And look at phone all day. I had to bring a charger for my phone and wait in a gift shop while it changed. .

[@oweng7987]

It’s completely killed off the last few specks of magic. Going to Disney with Genie+ is like spending a day at the DMV.

[@angeldogg9]

Haha comparing genie+ to the DMV what a perfect analogy

[@skqesq]

Nailed it. Vacations are supposed to be carefree and relaxing. Nothing about something compared to a trip DMV is enjoyable. I hope someone's reading the comments about this major fail.

[@tmoore1144]

Actually going to the BMV my last few times was easy and quick. And actually cheaper than Disney too.

[@fasttony6012]

Lmao! That nails it!!!

[@airybrook]

@@angeldogg9 DMV costs a whole lot less.

[@ingej003]

I really miss the days when one could go to a disney park and just wander. Entertainment has been curtailed, fastpasses aren't included in the exorbitant ticket price anymore, and it seems like having your day planned down to the minute is almost a requirement. When I go to a park, I really want to put my phone away and just enjoy the ambiance and experience of exploring what the park has to offer on my own, visiting attractions as I happen across them. I guess I have to accept that disney just isn't for me anymore. Speaking as a former CM edit: I still don't see what was so wrong with the original FP system that it needed to be gutted and replaced...classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". It was easy to understand, convenient, and it worked. Technology really ruins everything doesn't it? Never thought I would feel that way, but here we are.

[@karenwoolsey5650]

We loved to just wander around, especially taking our time down Main Street (MK and Disneyland). Even the store windows are beautifully themed and decorated, they are worth looking at at appreciating. But I don't see how something as relaxing and immersive as that can happen any more. 🥺 Planning a trip to Disney and not being able to enjoy the things that make it magical seems pointless.

[@delaunfifield3490]

What was wrong with the original FP system as far as Disney is concerned is that it was FREE !!! With Bob Cheapek at the helm, Disney will be nothing but a "nickel and dime" hell hole for the foreseable future....Universal Here I come!!

[@angeldogg9]

Yeap now especially during the busier days if you want anything to drink or eat at any park but epcot during festivals you have to use mobile ordering because they are short staffed mobile ordering is a mess Have to use your phone for Just about everything at the parks and it broken

[@lorendacombs579]

@Coolgamer2000s same here! Guess I'd just stay up and go with no sleep for especially mk

[@kristinaschmidt7343]

Agree

[@hanC21317]

All I can say is… yikes. I miss those paper FastPasses that come out of the little machine. They were a cute collectible, user-friendly and the system worked incredibly well here in Disneyland. Such a shame you’ve gotta spend your whole dang day on your phone to navigate the parks now. :(

[@SuperNuclearUnicorn]

I still have some of my fast passes from when I visited Disneyland in 09 lol

[@danip3270]

Same

[@KatieGrady1997]

This is the worst. I never thought anything would keep me from my love of Disney, but Genie+ has actually made me consider not returning to the parks.

[@jeanettesmith765]

Yes. My family just returned and were disappointed for the first time in our lives.

[@akwrathall]

😭😭😭 I am feeling the same way!

[@seven471]

Life long visitor and I am done unless they change it. Me and my kids have both mourned the death of Disney

[@djk5v]

I think my frustration is that because of the service the standby lines are longer, so then you’re more tempted to pay. Then you pay, and the slots aren’t available. Which means you still have to do standby for some lines, making you more frustrated that you paid.

[@lydiaorcales3254]

Exactly! So not worth it.

[@Kellysocal1]

What if you did want to stay in a park from rope drop to closure just to use the pay to play products????

[@justinskidmore9677]

This is why it’s a con

[@tbone7083]

I've gone to WDW dozens of times but as a senior citizen I have zero desire to walk around all day looking and playing with my cell phone just to access decent ride times. I agree with other comments that Universal will soon overtake Disney when they open Epic Universe unless they make the mistake that Disney has done with overpricing and cell phone dependency.

[@wholenessunleashed]

I'm haven't hit the golden years yet but I do have two toddlers and feel that I'm in the same boat. When creating this nonsense app they forgot two important sectors of the market, seniors and those with small children! Excuse me but isn't that who Disney is SUPPOSED to be catering to? Unfortunately it's become Disney World - Millennials Only!

[@jilldaubresse5873]

@@wholenessunleashed They want seniors and parents of young children to spend their time SHOPPING and EATING. That's where the real money is made. Ha.

[@wholenessunleashed]

@@jilldaubresse5873 Unfortunately, we follow a Keto diet and are minimalists. Shopping and eating are exactly where we will NOT be spending our money!

[@WaltKristiWorld]

THIS. Exactly this. I'm an older millennial and even I don't want to walk around messing with my phone all day. No thank you. It was like this with Fastpass too, but at least that was free 🤣

[@audrabartholomew9630]

Universal will not surpass Disney anytime soon. We went last week and it was so overcrowded, the staff was rude and the food was terrible.

[@jjboohoo9641]

when i go to a park i dont want to be glued to my phone

[@MR-or6yv]

I don't understand why Disney feels the need to break something that worked. It wasn't perfect, but even at the busiest times of the year, we had some wonderful trips. Now, it seems that they nickel and dime you and in exchange you sit with your head buried in your phone, have a less enjoyable time, and without the extras that used to actually make the trip magical. WIthout Fast-pass and extra-magic hours, it just doesn't seem worth it anymore. I want to go back, but I can't imagine doing that until this craziness goes away.

[@blaster-zy7xx]

You are absolutely right! BUT there is a shred of logic to it. First and for most for Disney, the crowds are huge, so why give something away for free if they can charge money? I know it is frustrating but that's the real world. Second, I was an annual pass holder and in the previous system, I worked the fast pass system to my advantage. But that comes at the expense of those who are novices at the system, such as international visitors that come once in a lifetime. With the new paid system, at least those once in a lifetime visitors can opt to pay extra money to go on the fancy rides. I'm a local, so now, I'll just come another time and hit it when it isn't so crowded.

[@vanillabean1215]

Money.

[@espo221b]

@@blaster-zy7xx if the system worked I could see your point. But lots of people are spending 15$ and are STILL unable to get on all of the rides. The system is broken.

[@penelopepitstop762]

I too was pro Fast Pass+, but apparently a lot of people didn’t like it. I will not buy Genie+. Free fast passes were what set them apart from other amusement parks.

[@blaster-zy7xx]

@@penelopepitstop762 I agree with you. I liked it because I knew how to work it. Universal Express is just too expensive, but it sorta works because most people don't buy it and the lines move pretty well anyway. PS Love your avatar name. You are probably about my age.

[@pattisvintageshop6813]

Just what I want to do on my vacation....be attached to my phone all day. Used to go to Disney a lot. I'm not sure I will ever get back. This whole Genie + seems like a horrible way to try to have fun. If I want to be stressed I'll just stay home and save dollars. I find it incredibly sad.

[@brittanymcintyre1795]

Wanted to also mention that the whole time my family and I were planning our trip, we all mentioned multiple times how much we miss the simplicity of planning a Disney trip. I know it has gotten more and more complicated over the years, but 20 years ago when my dad took us all he had to do was buy our tickets and call to make dining reservations if he wanted to. We got to do all the coolest stuff and were much less stressed than we would be now. I feel so bad for older people who maybe have been going to Disney for decades and aren’t as savvy with their cell phones or technology. If you were to just buy a ticket to Disney right now, you couldn’t even get in the parks. You need a park pass reservation. Is there a certain favorite restaurant you want to dine at? Reservations booked up 2 months ago. Want to ride some of the newest rides but can’t wait in crazy long lines? Sorry, you’ll need your phone (and an external battery to recharge it 3x throughout the day) and an extra $15+ per person per day. Want to ride Remy’s Ratatouille? Better have that phone, because it’s only a virtual line. Even if you’re able to get in the virtual line, hope they’re able to get to your group if the ride is down for 4/5 of the day like it was for us. 🙄

[@smileycindy]

Yeah, long gone are the days when you walked into the parks and just waited in line for the attractions based on what you saw next when you walked around... The amount of walking from one end to the other all day long to get from one booking to the next is equally insane.

[@blaster-zy7xx]

@@smileycindy Those days are gone now, but for a while, right after reopening Disney had lower reservations available and no fast pass system at all, just low crowds. It was really great to go to Disney and ride everything with a zero to 10 minute maximum waits, BUT there were no shows and most of the little kiosks and snack carts were closed. We have pictures of us wearing masks outdoors and we were almost the only ones on the entire street, Talk about surreal!

[@skqesq]

Exactly this. I've gone my whole life, since I was 3 years old (I'm now 42). I just went with my parents in July and they were miserable with all the hoops you have to jump through just to try to enjoy the parks. There is no magic in this madness.

[@erinmarie615]

I agree so much with this and have said the same thing myself. I feel bad for grandparents who just want to take their grandkids to Disney! Everything is so complicated now. Makes me sad cause I had so many great Disney memories as a kid with my family and now I see families in the parks looking stressed and miserable.

[@chrismcdowell7138]

Well stated! You use to go to the Disney parks to get away from the insanity. Disney is now part of that insanity.

[@amyandaugust]

I was so disappointed with Genie+ on our recent trip. It was so difficult to get things done. Especially at Hollywood Studios it was a waste of money. If they had started charging for the old fast pass + system that would be easier to take. Staying on site should give you priority. It costs a ridiculous amount of money. I understand it wasn't local friendly, but there were other ways they could have solved that issue I think. I was a first time out of town passholder for 2019-2020 and the way purchasing hotels and things works for passholders was atrocious. The whole thing is a big mess now. I'm hesitant to even plan another Disney trip. It's getting too expensive for a less enjoyable experience. I had so many wonderful trips with Fast Pass+. It was a wonderful system for out of town guests staying on property. I went into my trip with an open mind after watching a bunch of your videos, but my experience was not good/similar to yours... I appreciate this video showing how it's developing at the more difficult parks. Anyway thank you for this video and all your content!!

[@Atheenah]

100% agree here. I’m a DVC member and I have come to conclusion that while Molly is an excellent teacher on all this Genie+ nonsense but, she goes alone. It’s much different for wait times, pricing, if you are a single guest. If we go we are 4-6 ppl. The cost of one fancy ride for all of us could have been a meal or two, souvenirs, drinks. This expense on top of the rising park ticket prices are laughable. I’m sure Chapek is the one laughing. Additionally I don’t find having to have my phone out constantly attractive on a very costly vacation. Fast pass was one and done.

[@catpat4754]

It's sad. We have to compete against other guests to have a kind of normal day :/ This is not a fun experience...

[@meganregan8812]

My goodness! How is anyone EVER supposed to enjoy their very EXPENSIVE vacation with their family if you are constantly having to schedule your every move! Disney has lost me at all of the price hikes and Genie + nonsense. I cant imagine paying $5,000 ( our trip in Feb 2020 cost), 2 plane rides and over crowded buses and Skyliner rides just to be stressed out at finding rides to schedule. Thank you, Molly for opening my eyes and saving me a ton of money and stress!

[@adultmoshifan87]

This Genie+ scam has GOT TO be what ruins Disney to the point where they actually start giving customers what they want and stops all this overcharging! No company is too big to fail.

[@nickmoney]

Universal charges $120 per day for same thing with three biggest rides excluded and nobody says anything. People just dwell on losing Fast Pass for free that made most experiences worse

[@nickmoney]

@@mzpbnj8812 You know the deluxe resorts that include it cost a small fortune as well? So you're still paying a lot for it being "free".

[@GrandTheftLogan]

@@nickmoney What the hell are you on about? Animal Kingdom Lodge, the cheapest deluxe resort right, is currently $381 per night. Hard Rock Hotel, a Premier level resort at Universal Orlando, is $379 per night and you get complimentary unlimited express passes for every person in your party. You Disney marks are the absolute worst. At least get your facts straight before getting on your knees for Bob Chapek.

[@nickmoney]

@@mzpbnj8812 Would you pay 120 per day for it as regular guest though?

[@nickmoney]

@@mzpbnj8812 So without staying at deluxe resort at Universal then you'd not pay for Express pass since it's $120 per person per day. That's way worse than $15 a day per person for Genie Plus that's it's equal service. For a local season pass holder going 15 extra is nothing just to guarantee what they could want to do. Once again, it's not perfect but it's vast improvement on Fast Pass monster.

[@Buford.TJustice]

I really, really really miss Fastpass.

[@kimreilly2397]

When I went in november I used genie + one day, at MK. It was absolutely horrible. We only were able to get a few rides we wanted. I think I wouldn't mind paying for this if I could ride the same things multiple times. We're definitely a thrill seeking group so it was super difficult for us to have a good day with genie +

[@AC-sp3ik]

I know y’all have been angry and covered in bubbles before- You can only laugh after the fact. Molly’s a Saint for dealing with this every day!

[@angeldogg9]

Thrill seeking and WDW not many Thrill rides there so I see why you would have trouble finding Thrill

[@plato363]

Old enough to remember when going to Disney was actually fun

[@SeedMoney8432]

Everytime I look at Genie+ I just imagine Bob Chapek turning into the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase sitting in his chair saying with a evil laugh…”EVERYONE’S GOT A PRICE FOR GOING TO DISNEY WORLD MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

[@adultmoshifan87]

I’m hoping it blows up in his face. Action Park’s bad business practices went back to bite them eventually!

[@pwhite2579]

You did a great job explaining everything however the system WDW has set up is way too complicated for what they are trying to achive. Sounds like a money grab on their part not to make it easier on the park goers.

[@bjv2851]

The worst part of it is waking up everyday at 7 am and also spending the day checking the phone for times instead of just enjoying the park.

[@michaelschroeck2254]

I still think Disney should have just adopted universal’s express pass. Different tiers. A free perk of staying at a deluxe resort. And the idea of paying the $15 and not getting a ride you want because the spots sell out?! I’m not spending the money for that.

[@nicoleelbin9701]

Yet that's just it. Disney wants your money. Genie + is merely a money-making scheme for them.

[@patrickdaly5988]

Going to WDW since 92. I’m done with the place. The years of cuts, up charges, price hikes and lack of investment have finally broken the spell for me. Which is sad because I used LOVE it.

[@tiffanyblack89]

If they are selling this at an additional fee, there should be plenty of return times available. Why would I pay for this service and then not be able to use it because the return times are sold out

[@StarViewer68]

This is just ONE of my reasons for not buying Genie Plus! If there’s a good chance that I won’t get to ride my ride choice with a short wait time AND that I’m not refunded the $15, that money can go to something I know I’ll enjoy, like a Dole Whip 🍦

[@bathman1234]

There should be a timer showing how long Molly sat somewhere waiting for Lightning lane times to arrive. We used 2 in 5+ hours at HS over Thanksgiving.

[@yaffarealbeauty6089]

I still think should have option to book 3 in advance like fast pass. Then you know you at least have that and don’t have to look at your phone all day. Especially for busy times!

[@karlakeaton7099]

This really seems like a nightmare to use. I'm super stressed about our upcoming trip.

[@Killercutsvideo]

How was the trip?

[@wendykieffer9567]

This genie plus gives me a migraine. My family decided that we will not be buying this during our trip.

[@blairglass4230]

We're planning our first trip in several years and this is making me dread it. Hats off to AllEars for their helpful coverage, but "fiddlefaddling" is NOT how I want to spend my vacation. I actually enjoyed creating strategic park plans in the past, but a huge benefit of that was that most of the planning was done in advance. I can't see my family taking well to me a) being unavailable to speak/hang out at the parks because I'm stressed out by all the on-the-go strategizing and refreshing b) ordering them around the park with them having very little say so into what we do and when since we'll be at the mercy of what's available. All this and this trip is already projected to cost 2-3 times more than our last trip did. Yaaaay.

[@angeldogg9]

If I were you I would seriously wait at least until 2023 the 50th celebration is nothing special just a way to sell merchandise and themed desserts By then guardians Moana water experience and tron should finally be open giving some much needed updates to these parks. Because of covid and disney being 1 of a very few places you can go to have fun without all the headaches of foreign travel and such The lines are still insane even this weekend which has historically been known to be a dead time of the year I'd wait for a year or 2 for everyone visiting to realize disney is not worth anymore and the crowds to die down For The Meta VR to catch on so there's less and less people attending these out dated parks

[@marianneprice2418]

Couldn't agree more. Loved planning it out in advance. Then just work the plan the day of. I'm staying home for a while and see what develops out of this.

[@jostreet214]

This comment really hits all my gripes about Genie+!! We did Genie+ one day in Magic Kingdom in Dec 2022 and it was a terrible experience. I was literally in tears by the afternoon, and a kind cast member sympathized with me and brought us a pack of popcorn. It is not fun for a family of 5 to be at the whim whatever LL is available as the park is so big; and we can't drop everything and run from Big Thunder to Buzz Lightyear because that's what's available. I would even be willing to pay for Genie+ if I could plan ahead like the former FastPass system allowed. As is, you can't plan out your day and if you try to navigate the park logically you may only get a few rides in for the whole day.

[@corinnemcleod1804]

I hate how this new system has you glued to your phone, you gotta get up at 7 to book, and your constantly having to use your phone through the day. One of the things I loved about going was putting away the cell phone and the stress and just enjoy yourself.

[@amyrobinluest5019]

If people actually rolled over in their graves- Walt Disney would be doing somersaults! I seriously don’t think he would approve of this insanity.

[@stuffingtonjfluffypantsiii]

So much for wanting to go on vacation to unplug

[@astrospeech]

This is insanity and horrible customer experience. Even last summer, trying to get into Rise of the resistance was awfully stressful and really was a huge distraction from a vacation. We did get on but I remember when Disney was known for excellent customer experience. So sad to see how bad it’s gotten even 6 months later.

[@ageoflove1980]

Yeah I really wanted to visit Disneyworld, since I'm from Europe I've only been to Disneyland Paris a couple of times. But this seems like a total nightmare. Having to set your alarm at 7 am just so you can book a fastpass for one single ride with an upcharge of $15 per person to even be able to use that function in the app... Yeah I'm not going to pay thousands for flights and hotel nights for that... It just seems like a constant source of stress to try to "get into rides" with some extremely convoluted system and if you fail you'll get punished with a stand by queue that lasts for hours because all the people that beat you to it get to go first... When I write it down like that it almost sounds like some sort of Ancient Greek Underworld torture story where your supposed vacation becomes a hellish exercise. I'll just go to a luxury resort with a huge pool with lounge chairs, getting umbrella drinks, maybe enjoy the beach a bit and watch a Disney movie with my family after a nice dinner. Think that will be a far better Disney holiday, probably even a lot cheaper too.

[@danip3270]

I live 2 hours from the WDW parking lots but haven’t gone down lately. I’ve been wanting to get back to Europe soon, after I get my passport renewed (I accidentally let it expire during COVID). How has Disneyland Paris been? Are their lines and fast passes decent?

[@ageoflove1980]

@Coolgamer2000s Yeah and like I said, I'm from Europe so the jet lag isn't going to help either.

[@notdavea5778]

@@danip3270 I went early December. Christmas can be busy, but the queues were fine, nothing longer than 30 minutes, some less. The parks were busy , well spread out. Entertainment and parades were on. No fire works and not enough restaurants open yet, but we had a good vacation and plenty to do. The studios didn’t have much to offer, waiting for marvel section to open and the rock n roller coaster will reopen as iron man. There will also be the new web-slinger attraction. All the fast pass queues were mollys fancy rides tm. But few people were using that service.

[@notdavea5778]

I travelled from uk to Japan. I always thought it was expensive, but for the cost of a wdw moderate hotel stay for 14 nights we stayed in Japan in luxury accommodation and added 4 days at Tokyo Disney on the end. We didn’t stay in a Disney hotel, but stayed at the Hilton, which on the monorail loop. It was an amazing experience. Still a very busy park, but free fast pass was still available and I have to say it was our most Disney experience. Japanese people are the kindest and friendliest. Just a suggestion 🙂

[@davidrawlings8380]

I went to Disney World in 1995. I'd love to go back, but the thought of having to book rides throughout the whole day sounds absolutely miserable. Plus, I'd be flying over from the UK and all these extra costs are really off putting. Shame on you Disney.

[@brandond8197]

So you basically need to be on your phone a lot during these parks if we want genie plus. So dumb.

[@TheJohnsonBunch]

The baby excited about "Bubbles" while Molly is stressed was absolutely adorable

[@tajacobson1]

Unfortunately when we were there so many of the wait times were very elevated on the app, so it made it look like Genie plus was a necessity but when we got in the actual line for attractions the wait was considerably shorter than posted. Example Snow White mine ride posted at 120 minutes on genie plus, 75 minutes on the sign at the ride...actual wait time 25 minutes!

[@penelopepitstop762]

Thank you for sharing that! I’ve been hearing that a lot. I’m a nerd and I like to occasionally look at the wait times. They weren’t too bad, but I noticed when Genie+ (and international travel opened up again) that the wait times drastically jumped. Some have said the times are inflated to make people think they need it.

[@sproutamc]

This is what I had heard, but in my experience, the opposite was true. People would run to rides with low wait times but then the line would be longer that the stated wait time.

[@kayzeefivesixace]

I’ve read they do this for crowd control

[@youmarc11]

Hate the whole idea. Have to pay a fortune just to get in then I have to "fight" and pay to get on rides?

[@chuc98]

As an annual passholder, there’s not really a reason for me to even consider paying for Genie+. Having said that, I also refuse to pay for something that used to be included at no additional charge. They could AT LEAST give us one included and then beyond that charge but it seems like money, not guest experience is most important now-a-days at Disney Parks.

[@angeldogg9]

Yeah as a pass holder you should be give like a genie plus day once a month.

[@amandavalpey1521]

🙈 I’m frustrated just watching this. I live in CO. We have visited Disney every year with our kids for the past 9 years, and my next door neighbor has gone nearly every year for the past 20 years, since her kids were young. She went to Disney a few weeks ago and said that she will probably never go again. 😳 For the first time this year, we booked other vacations and are not likely to go back to Disney as a family. I know the parks are packed lately, but I am curious how many of those people will be like my neighbor and feel they are done as well. ??

[@slipton9797]

We used to do to Disneyland a couple times a year and WDW every other year or so. We just went to Disneyland over the holidays and Genie+ was terrible and honestly, the park has lost a lot of the magic. For the first time, we were happy to leave and not excitedly planning our next trip. Next year the only Disney trip we have planned is a Disney cruise. Otherwise, we are going other places.

[@amandavalpey1521]

@@slipton9797 💔

[@delaunfifield3490]

I think the longer this keeps up, the more people will be like you and your neighbor...Disney RIP 2020

[@monicahorn1]

It will take a year, maybe two. But over time, more and more people will experience Genie+ frustration. They will decide not to go back. They will tell their friends and family their bad experience and so prospective new 1st timers will decide WDW isn't worth it. Park attendance will begin a steady decline. It's bound to happen. Causing frustration and anger in a large segment of your customer base is not a good business model.

[@delaunfifield3490]

@@monicahorn1 I COMPLETELY AGREE with you! Genie will DEFINITELY drive people away sooner rather than later....

[@ArmySatcomGuy]

Appreciate you guys posting a video critical of this terrible system.

[@mollyoreilly9670]

Thanks, Molly and everyone behind the scenes!! Another informative video!

[@aimee2234]

Disney is nickel and diming everyone. I wanted to go again (I've been a lot) but won't until they bring the dining plan back, change these ridiculous extra hours for "Deluxe" resort members and let us really park hop. We pay to park hop!

[@kathleenmary1000]

Such a complicated cluster. Thanks for the 'real time' walk through. The only thing worse than wasting time with this inefficient, frustrating system, is willingly spending hundreds of dollars on this inefficient, frustrating system. Sad.

[@djnfbrhkelkondwvb6853]

When I went to the park over Christmas we just had an assigned person to book all the rides throughout the day every 2 hours for the afternoon. Then we showed up around 3 and had a bunch of rides lined up for the evening

[@bridges24]

I just wanted to say your videos are incredibly informative about Genie+ and you keep it fun too! Keep it up.

[@Molbyone]

'Molly spends her whole day fiddle faddling with her phone'. One of the biggest issues with Genie + is that they don't ever cut off sales for the service, so you can buy Genie + and have little to no availability for any of the rides in whatever park you are in.

[@TrackerRoo]

That's my problem with it. You pay per person with no idea about availability ahead of time. So you pay, spend half the day fiddle faddling, to save waiting in what, two lines on a bad day? Not seeing the value in it

[@TheGipper4prez]

Such a good point.

[@wholenessunleashed]

That's why my idea is better and much more simple. Base Ticket + (Optional) Upgrade. Upgrade options: "All Rides with Height Restrictions - $X, "Specialty Rides" - $xx, "Fancy Rides" - $xxx, "No Limits Pass" - $xxxx. Limit - 1 ride per pass, additional rides subject to Standby Line. Upgrades limited in number and on a first come first served basis or starting at X time in the morning until tickets run out. Simple for everyone!

[@Molbyone]

@@wholenessunleashed I'd be happy with being able to purchase x number of lightning lane 'experiences' with no time frame associated with them. It would essentially be closer to the Universal Express Pass, but with a tiered 'pack' of line skips. IE 100 bucks or something would get 6 (or so) line skips to use whenever you want. It would be much less complicated for the guest to use and Disney wouldn't have to deal with refunding lightning lanes for closed rides.

[@TheGipper4prez]

@@Molbyone that is a MUCH better system. You can even do wait times on the skip lines so you can see which ones are gonna be the fastest. Because I would guess everyone would do the "skip the line passes" on popular rides so figuring out what time of day to use them is ideal.

[@coolcarly25]

This whole situation just makes me... sad. 😭

[@LEWIS1992]

Yey, let's have everyone staring at their phone for their entire time in the theme park... So fun!

[@moe9730]

Thank you for this video! I’ve been watching so many videos but not from this perspective. To actually see what it looks like on a phone truly helped me understand how it works.

[@AntonvonGütwrench]

Bloody hell that's confusing. Not to mention folks have to spend so much time on their phones. What a mess...

[@KB-vl2kx]

This just reaffirms my commitment to UA parks over Disney.

[@EPiche09]

Doesn’t seem very fun, I’d like to see how Molly does with a family with her.

[@TrackerRoo]

You think Molly would let a little thing like family hold her back?

[@scottyballgame985]

Umm... yes

[@TrackerRoo]

@@scottyballgame985 Molly be like: You're slowing me down kids, I need to get coffee and hustle to Slinky Dog see you when I see you *lowers sunglasses* If I see you

[@vanillabean1215]

I'm dying to find a video with people trying Genie+ with a family.

[@notdavea5778]

I know. I get irritated when people are on their phones all the time and not talking. Can you imagine doing this without mollys experience with children in tow who just want to have fun with mum and dad and ride rides!?

[@Marchant2]

I was planning a week long trip to Disney. But after hearing about all this nickel and diming, I'm making other plans. Additionally, the crowds are a huge turn off.

[@anadennehy740]

I was in lightning lane and my dad started pointing something out to me. I almost waved him off, while trying to make our next reservation, and then realized how ridiculous that was! The point is to be with family, experiencing cool rides and having fun. Instead, we were stressed with each other and I definitely snapped at my poor family. Not doing a Disney trip again if Genie+ is involved.

[@redheads604]

imagine having to stare at your phone all day in addition to having to min/maxing with an excel spreadsheet when planning a vacation at WDW. Disney magical experience indeed....

[@p.o.frenchquarter]

This truly looks like more work than work -- and about as enjoyable! And the topper is that most are p!ss!ng away their vacation days and maxing out their credit cards to do it!

[@jilldaubresse5873]

Disney could march people through a warehouse while staring at their phones, constantly refreshing and refreshing. Ugh - I'd rather BE at work.

[@wakeywarrior]

It’s appalling. We are people who do rope drop and leave lunchtime. With Fastpass we had a nice relaxing morning. Now everyone flocks to extra morning half hour to ride the paid for attractions, the Genie+ is useless for rope droppers who like to leave at lunchtime, and the whole thing is an ill thought out rip off. It was so bad, with 75 min+ waits for mine train at the start of extra morning hours and inability to ride many rides afterwards, that we are switching to Universal next Christmas. And I’m a DVC owner.

[@parkdigwig3447]

Yup. DVC here. Might do the same or just skip parks all together and just hang out at the pool. Eat only at the room and just enjoy the sun. Disney’s worst nightmare- Don’t spend anything while there.

[@JuniperMB]

Yes. I ended up changing my Thanksgiving WDW stay to a Universal one. I will still go back a few more times to use my WDW AP but this Genie + is too much for an out of state visitor like me. I'm spending too much already for the room and transportation. Genie + adding even more cost for crazy confusing lotteries to get a shorter line in a few rides a day is too much.

[@wakeywarrior]

@@parkdigwig3447 agree. I’m going to Vero with my points next Xmas and Universal. Then I’ll go to Hilton Head. I intend to eventually transition to using the DVC for winter sun. I can’t see us going back to the parks as they stand. I was also appalled at the amount of broken down time of the attractions, and the state of Epcot. Blog Mickey shows they are not even getting on with the building. Total rip off.

[@jeanettesmith765]

Yes. My family just got home from our every other year trip. We have decided we are going to the mountains on our next vacation!

[@vicki9463]

I’m the same, when I last went in nov 2019 for my honeymoon, my husband and I did rope drop so we could relax a bit in the afternoon or go to another park. Was hoping to go back in a couple of years when our son is 3 but there is no way I am travelling from the uk to not really be able to ride anything. I can’t stay the whole day in the park with a young toddler, so our half day would probably mean riding 1 thing with this system, as let’s face it a 3 year isn’t going to wait in line for hours, not worth the money or effort now.

[@Arthus850]

Bob Chapek recently said that they are making changes going forward, and most of those changes will be centred around pleasing their customers, working with them instead of against them. I’m holding him to that, and I hope one of these changes includes getting rid of Genie+

[@rhaenyralikesyoutube6289]

Dear Bob, Get rid of Genie plus, stop the woke pandering in your shows/movies, stop nickel and diming us on literally everything, and bring back the magic we all grew up with. Sincerely, Your Disgruntled Customers

[@nicoleelbin9701]

He's lying. They only care about profit. Not quality nor guest experience. If they get rid of Genie+ then *maybe* I'll believe him.

[@apooh3051]

The reason why Disney is so outrageously expensive is because they can raise their prices and people are STILL paying for them. Disney will continue to raise their prices everywhere and dropping services to save money in order to maximize profit. Until they see a drop in attendance, this is how it's going to be. I've stopped going to Disney at 2015. The experience is not how it's used to be. No longer fun and magical.

[@randomhobbies6595]

I miss Morgan and Molly together in the parks!

[@plato363]

An idea for Disney executives, get rid of physical parks and rides and make everything virtual. Forcing consumer to sit on their phone. Let’s just cut out the middle and the costs

[@blaster-zy7xx]

OK, I think it is hilarious that the term "fancy rides" is now used by many others in the vlogosphere to refer to the Genie extra charge rides. And I saw on this video that you put a TM on the name! HAHAHA. THAT'S GREAT! Congratulations for adding a new unofficial popular name to our collective Disney lexicon.

[@scottyballgame985]

So basically... Disney genie is an epic failure.. got it

[@fredguerin5395]

And Disney have the nerve to tell us that they implemented Genie after listening at us……thanks Mr Chapek, we have cancelled our Christmas vacations 15K that stayed in our pockets.

[@chade.7948]

You’re video is just perfect. As much as I love the place, after our June trip I’m never going back.

[@HaydenProntoHussey]

The issues with Single Rider on Rock n Roller Coaster it that is seats 2 across so you need a odd number group in the main/Genie+ line to get a slot. so not much chance to get on. When I was there in Nov it took me 20 min in main line but Single rider was 60 mins. Test Track works better as it is 6 in car (3 across) so more chance to get a spare seat.

[@marym4462]

I think people over complicate things. You don’t spend your whole day on your phone trying to get lighting lanes. Once you have a ride selected there is a waiting period, during this time you do not have to look at your phone. Molly constantly looks at her phone and tell us about wait times through the parks more than the normal person because it’s her job and she wants to keep us informed. I went in October & November & had an amazing time & didn’t have an issue with the app. Thank you Molly for your detailed and entertaining videos!

[@kellyn7184]

Just left HS today. Genie+ was awful. 7am Got Slinky at 12:55pm. At 11am booked toy mania and then almost everything was full for Genie+ except shows… finally got sky tours at 7:40pm. Only able to get three all day. Also rockin roller coast was closed all day.

[@hollyb6885]

My family was planning on going to WDW later this year but we’re gonna wait until the kinks are worked out of this whole Genie, Genie plus, lightning lane fiasco.

[@Sal-ec4yf]

Disney has said that Genie+ “will never sell out” so that implies they’ll keep selling it whether or not there is available inventory of rides on any given day. I don’t want to pay $15 and find out I can only get a LL for Figment. If you’re offsite you can you book at 7 am? It was bad when you couldn’t get a FP but they were free so you figured “okay, I didn’t get lucky, “in this case, you pay and then you can’t get the access and you think “WTF I got ripped off. I just paid $15 for essentially nothing” is it safe to assume that since 180-240 minute standbys are common now that “park capacity” isn’t being limited anymore. Right now it looks like if I were in your shoes I would have paid $124 or more, put in time getting rides from 7 am to park close and you got on, what 5 or 6 rides? That breaks down to $20-25 PER RIDE. Not counting the literal HOURS you spent getting those rides. That’s pretty pricey IMHO

[@Kimdor83]

We are headed to WDW in 3 weeks and I'm studying these video like crazy. Really looking forward to the 'perfect' day video at Hollywood studios. Thanks Molly :)

[@steveglave35]

I disagree with your assessment that it was just as hard to get on rides with Fastpass+ during peak times. In July 2018 as as Disney rookie I was able to get fastpasses for every single ride we wanted when we booked ours 60 days out. The only issue I had was geting Flights of Passage for one of our days at AK, but since we had planned for 2 days at that park we were able to snag it for our second day. The ability to book 3 rides between park opening and 1p.m. is something that does not seem possible using Genie+, but we were able to do it daily for the 8 days we visited in 2018. I hate the idea of paying for Genie+, but it would be a lot better if you could book 3 attactions 60 days out like you could with Fastpass+

[@barbarac3879]

Totally agree with you. No matter when we went, we always had the ability to book 3 Fastpasses per day. That is much better than what is happening now, especially if you have a larger family; Molly can get a single but how about 4 or 5?

[@ashtonlange4616]

Me and my son did 5 days from 12/20-12/24 and when were in Hollywood on 12/22 slinky dog was down, rise was down most of the day, and so many of the +LL were gone so quick it did not make the purchase of + worth it. We skipped all of the Star Wars land and Toy Story land because they were either down or had such long lines it was not worth it.

[@ashtonlange4616]

Btw, We were in the parks the same day Molly haha

[@penelopepitstop762]

We went last February before all this and it was great! Many rides were walk on! Since we were able to ride all the new stuff, we decided when we go again we will skip HS since it’s now the most crowded park.

[@alyssamariag]

Omg, I go next week and I'm hoping that new Perfect Day video premieres before our HS day! I've been watching all these videos and literally feel like I'm studying for an exam. It's so much info...but Molly and the AllEars team having been doing such a good job covering all the updates & making me feel prepared. I'm eternally grateful. :)

[@CB-uo1et]

Same! I love watching their perfect day videos, especially the newer ones which incorporate strategies for doing a mix of genie+/fancy rides/neither in the parks. I also feel like I’m studying for an exam, but I told my roommate that I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve studied so much for this, I just need to take the exam already!! 😂

[@christineschmidutz5057]

Too much info. Couldn't retain it all for our trip and I felt frustrated & tied to my phone. Also struggled to fit shows in around the ride times & standby combo

[@notdavea5778]

You have always needed to read books to plan a wdw vacation. I am a seasoned wdw fan and visited multiple times, but I am afraid I don’t I will get the same experience any more and will spend my money else where. I live in the uk and so far Paris Disney is not to complicated and of course there is always Japan, which in my experience is the best version

[@alyssamariag]

@@CB-uo1et My test is finally tomorrow and I’m ready to pass!! 🤣

[@CB-uo1et]

@@alyssamariag I’m so excited for you!! I hope you have a wonderful time! My exam is 11 days away and I’m so ready for it lol 😂

[@hollysmith7943]

I’d like to see a video on how it would be for a Disney resort guest having access to Early Entry, going at rope drop during a non-peak season, and whether or not Genie+ would be worth the cost to purchase. Thanks for all the info!

[@hotzie]

going to the disney parks nowadays seems more like work than fun!

[@jeanettesmith765]

It is! Unless you are like Molly and live in the area and can go any time you want.

[@danarussell4246]

My spouse and I use to go to Disney every year for like 12 years in a row. Like one of the other people commented, I don't want to spend my entire day playing with my cell phone to book rides. We were really looking forward to taking our granddaughter in a few years but Disney has ruined what use to be a great vacation. Hopefully the new CEO can change some things back.

[@benspellman1118]

People need to not use Genie+ so it becomes a failure and disney moves away from it. As long as people pay for it disney will count it as a success and continue doing it

[@andynacey3833]

I live in the UK and been going to DisneyWorld for the last 25 years and enjoyed every trip, But i can not see the point of ever going back to what looks like a very stressful holiday. All i can see in todays Disney Vlogs are people constantly looking down on the phones missing out on what should be the Happiest place on Earth... I feel so sad...

[@parkdigwig3447]

1995…the halcyon years. You probably wouldn’t recognise it now as it was easy to navigate the parks back then.

[@mike9147]

On vacation and still tied up with your phone all day, how sad. Universal Studios is sooo uncomplicated. They haven't changed anything, and you DON't need a cell phone to eat and ride.

[@johngoebel9442]

Dang, we were in Hollywood Studio the same day! 🤦‍♂️. Sorry we missed Molly 🤬. Would have loved to see her. As my daughter says…”Molly doesn’t lie”!!

[@charleneknottsrubini2220]

PHENOMENAL video! I can’t believe how many tips you have in here.

[@Perrygallo]

Just visited for a week and, aside from the atrocious cold weather and incomprehensible crowds, this Genie system ruined the magic. Goodness me Disney are making this FAR more complicated than it needs to be. Initially I was excited by the new Genie+ / LL scheme, as its slots sounded like a callback to the old FastPass kiosks and tickets, but it was anything but. Basically, you cannot enjoy WDW anymore without a smartphone. We spent virtually every minute planning on the app what we were going to do next, rather than living in the moment and enjoying it. And yes as others say, you have to get up at 7am to ensure you have a hope. Mercifully we were at Grand Floridian, so well-positioned to get around but still (Polynesian our traditional choice but we were falsely informed of its' "closure" and subsequent unavailability - yet another inconvenience).

[@Perrygallo]

I think it is such a shame that Disney is encouraging everybody to stare down at their screens and conduct everything from their phone. We don't all need these 'day planner' functions, we don't all want to mobile-order our quick-service. Seeing all the crowds on their phones is depressing, and having to plan your day in advance just means you are missing the old joys of walking in and not knowing what you would find yourself doing. It was stressful and chaotic, and to travel all the way from the UK (as my family have done annually since 1974) it is a great shame to see this and will probably be a considerable while before we return, hopefully when this gets sorted out.

[@fuzziepeaches56]

Watching you do this has just cemented for me that I won't be bothering with genie +. Especially in parks like HS that only have a handful of rides anyways. What a nightmare of a system.

[@FLOWERSANDSLOTS]

As a FORMER passholder New England gal who went to Disney 4 times per year and stayed at Deluxe (usually either Yacht Club or Boardwalk.......... I'm so glad I let our AP's expire) I HATE DISNEY!! They have done everything possible to turn me away and not want to return. Too many terrible changes and charging more. Their controlling vacation plans, MS required to "master" the system and minimum $200k annual salary too afford is disgusting. I was a pro at managing a vacation at Disney PRE COVID and happily did so. My last trip was January 2020 and I was really upset with the massive construction EVERYWHERE and lack of attention to many details (dirty and ripped furniture at Grand F, walkways not clean, etc. ) Buh Bye Disney.

[@WalterRiggs]

Genie+ makes me want to go to Universal Studios. Hey Disney! I don’t want to plan my day AT the park. I want to use my employer’s time to do that BS so when I’m on vacation, I’m on vacation.

[@paolitchas]

So stressful! it is either you have it or rotten waiting in line...

[@joannebush4491]

Too confusing don’t want be on my phone when I’m in the park. Love Disney but probably will not go back

[@edwinperez249]

Disneyland: pay the full ticket Disneyland: you want an upgrade to be in the rides $15 more. Disneyland: you want prestiges rides antoger $15 So now you have to pay if you want to have fun of some sort

[@TammySkipperTV]

This is such a great video to show what it's really like using this system - but also my biggest frustration as the planner for our family which is feeling like I'm on my phone ALL the time.

[@jvmbmc]

The having to pay for Genie + and the amount of time you will need to spend on your phone is what makes this terrible.

[@slipton9797]

I would love to see a video where Molly and the team do a genie+ day as a group of 4. I have to think that getting attraction times with fiddle faddling (TM) is easier for 1 than it is for 4. And it would let people see what it is like to go with the fam, since most people don’t go solo.

[@iluv2cheer176]

Agreed, or what of only part of your party wants the ride, I don't see it being as easy for large groups to fiddle faddle, unless Disney truly doesn't care about the ticket numbers going into lightning Lane and they focus on number of groups which I really can't see being the case!

[@amandavalpey1521]

True! But first we should make them hand over $5,000 to also get a true read on the level of frustration and “fun” they are having. 🤣

[@stephanie5872]

It actually doesn't matter. It's just like with old paper fastpass. It gives next available, regardless of party size. I've confirmed myself and Molly did try it and cover it in a previous video

[@konichiwa3744]

Try a group of 7. My family could never find 7 dwarves. But for my 3 family I could have reridden. It was true of fastpass and this system is new ui old pass system. I hate the ui. Only like pinning rides you want to do.

[@konichiwa3744]

Basically no way they don't cap hourly attendance forcing large family to only get end of park day for 7d

[@JasonMAlexander]

My brain hurts!!!