Yesterday, we got LOADS of new details about the new Disney Genie digital service that’s coming soon to the Disney World My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps.
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We learned more about the features of the app, as well as additional paid options that offer guests access to “Lightning Lanes” (which will replace FastPass+) on Disney Parks attractions.
Disney Genie on its own (which will be free for all guests to use) will give guests new tools to help them forecast future wait times, have a virtual assistant on hand 24/7, make personalized parks itineraries, and more. Guests will be able to use the service to map out their days at the parks. Guests will tell Disney Genie about their preferences, and the service will organize a day customized around those.
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An additional paid service, called Genie+ will let guests access the “Lightning Lane” for various attractions — this service will cost $15 per person, per day at Disney World, and $20 at Disneyland. Beyond that, guests can also pay additional fees for additional Lightning Lane access to more popular rides.
©Disney
Disney Parks Chairman Josh d’Amaro recently spoke to CNN Business about how this new digital service would benefit guests. He said, “You tell Genie what you are interested in specifically — whether that be an attraction, a food, a character — and Genie’s going to come back to you and tell you how to make the most of your day.”
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D’Amaro did confirm that guests who didn’t want to use Genie didn’t have to — nothing will change in the parks. Standby lines at attractions will still be available to everyone, and virtual queues will still stay in place for rides that have them.
He said, “We’ve had 60 years of experience in theme parks. So we know exactly how people are behaving, how the attractions are behaving. We know exactly how to optimize a day. So with technology advancing, we’re able to take all that information and all of that data that our industrial engineers have and serve it up in a very convenient way to our guests.”
We’ll continue to keep you updated on Disney Genie and answer any questions you may have, so stay tuned!
Learn MORE about Disney Genie here.
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So, maybe the Disney engineers could use their 60 years of experience and advancing technology, and make the experience of all visitors more enjoyable, not just those who choose to live their lives on a smartphone.
I come to Disney to get away, not drag my outside life into the park.
MagicBands were a smart technology addition. I don’t even mind paying for a MagicBand. But it doesn’t require you giving it all your attention and having it tell you where to play.
I have to believe that someone, somewhere is going to be watching their computer and say, “Check this out.”, while he pushes a button and directs all those Genie watchers into another part of the park. Sort of like herding sheep.
🙄 Optimize my day? Really? That’s what it’s for? SMH
Shame on The CEO of Disney!!! It already cost a small fortune to take a family to Disney and now they want more from us ,so we can wait in a shorter line. I think I will not be going back to Disney. 😡
I think if we read in between the lines what he actually means is Disney knows how to capitalize on making more profit! Sorry Disney you’ve gone too far! My family will opt for a relaxing beach vacation in the future!
“We’ve had 60 years of experience in theme parks. So we know exactly how people are behaving”. But they knew nothing nor care about how the people feel. Instead they have capitalized on people’s behavior in order to cash in and Nickel and Dime them where ever and whenever they can. The app may “make the most of your day”, but it will cost you “the most of your money”.
Can’t judge the benefits of spending the extra $15.00 per day BUT the CEO better promote Genie or he will lose his job. Spent nine days at WDW in July cast members were not liking the mobile ordering (at least ones I spoke with) and were very reluctant to say a word. If the Genie optimizes your daiky visit (as it states) then one may be able to get more done in a day and have more r and r non-park days. Just guessing – no real info yet as no one has used. I would appreciate one go round on RotR per trip so others could get in the queue. Or let those that have not had their time in the a.m. queue and those that have ridden on their current trip in the p.m. queue. How would this be done?? It is Disney and they have 60 years of experience as noted in this article. I bet they could figure it out.
Awful. The cost to be there is already asinine and this just makes it worse. We are also late risers and every if we caved and bought one we’d have to get up at 7am in some cases just to reserve a spot? It’s garbage.
Of course he is thrilled with Genie! Another way to rob the public and to prevent the attendance of middle America that Disney considers riffraff! Forget Disney!
No moderation forthcoming. You live in fear of Disney. Did you forget you are an American who is entitled to free speech?
We are canceling all our future plans to go to Disney. Unfortunately we can’t cancel this trip or we would. I just hope they don’t start the service until after our trip.
What part of “stress free” doesn’t Disney understand? Fluff it up all you want but it’s still all smoke and mirrors!
Cash grab
D’Amaro made it clear, they have 60 years of experience and they will tell you how and when you can enjoy their park! And you will pay more for the privilege. Also remember, Mr. D’Amaro does not have 60 years of experience, Walt and the original management team, sadly gone now, had the experience and vision of what a magical theme park was about. Current management is blinded by profit and pleasing stockholders. #Just another theme park.
Remember, folks – Disney knows how to optimize YOUR day to THEIR advantage. I’d be very careful about using Genie and will definitely continue to use my Disney day optimization program of choice.
i will not be using the genie to plan my trip, watching the cellphone and the battery dying and need to be recharging every time, plus more money to fork out.. already paid $4000 for a week trip from calif, air fare, hotel, food, special event, etc..free spirited…
I think the biggest problem with Genie+ is that it’s so complicated. I think they should actually charge more for Genie+ (Say $20-$25 a day) and included all the rides- even the ones they wanted us to pay for separately. Then eliminate the virtual queues for any and all rides. Then there will only be two choices- standby or paid for lightning lane. Some people will still complain about paying for the reorganized fastpass but at least the system would be less confusing and stressful.
Disney has been around that long not the CEO. Now I can understand the charge as I paid for the Max Pass at Disneyland. But to carhe more for certain rides? No! This group of execs take more and more benefits away from its customers. I’m pretty sure your years with Disney did not teach you that.
The CEO and all these other leaders should be ousted, this is nothing but big brother trying to be in control of your every move and its ruining disney. we will have no part of this blatant money grab…and being told we cant wait in a standby line if we choose (like ratatouille) is a crime against guests and just taking away freedom. this isn’t disney world anymore its chapek world and he belongs at walmart. hes nothing but a dictator and same goes for all the minions in charge under him.
Su, my understanding is that guests can only get one Boarding Pass for ROTR per day.
Drew, you won’t be required to use Disney Genie during your trip. Everything in My Disney Experience is optional. You can set up a MagicBand like you have in the past and use that as your main piece of technology rather than using a smartphone. I understand where you’re coming from; you would miss out on the “enhancements” that smartphone users may get from using these features.
We will not b using genie for our trip to Disney world I am not going to b checking my smart phone to c what we need to do next and already it’s very expensive to go to Disney and pay big money to stay there and eat and etc. it’s just another way to get more money and we r not stupid to think other wise there is no way to justify that to us and to pay to park your car when we r staying at a Disney resort is another money grabber among other things Walt Disney didn’t create Disney for this to happen shame on the powers that b for during this they have plenty of money and keep lining their pockets
The condescending manner of DISNEY EXECUTIVES is disgusting.
Only can DIDNEY can tell you something that was once FREE, is better now that it costs $15 per day, per person!!!
What is going to be the ratio of Genie + guests, Lightning guest and standby lines, admittance unto the rides???
How many Genie+ tier 1 selections are you guaranteed a day?