Anonymous wrote:Genie is not that hard. If you understand the concept of making reservations for dinner you can understand the concept of Genie. And it works extremely well.

The Disney employee entered the chat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been putting off Disney until my kids are old enough to remember and enjoy it because I only plan on doing it once more. We are big amusement park enthusiasts and definitely planners, but the last time I was at Disney pre-COVID it all required too much staring at the phone to enjoy. Sounds like it’s even worse now.

I feel like when I go to other parks, it’s enough to avoid the peak times, come up with a general game plan for the popular rides, and hit up the food lines in advance of usual meal times. Disney requires all of this and ongoing active management throughout the day. They’ve taken a lot of the happiness and spontaneity that makes a magical trip.

what other amusement parks do you all like? we've done DW and DL and Universal hollywood - looking for other parks.

My kids like Hershey a lot. It's close and there isn't a lot of advance planning that you need to do. If you have the money to swing it, Universal Orlando is pretty awesome if you get the unlimited express pass.

Thanks! We need to get to Hershey. Is it worth doing their fast pass esque option? We did spring for unlimited express at universal Hollywood- really makes a ton of difference.

IMO it was far more complicated pre-covid. They are finally bringing back the dining plan but you can still only book that 60 days out. We've gone many times and we hate standing in line. I think the longest line we've waited in (wasn't on purpose, the ride went down and we didn't notice) was 30min. Usually we wait a max of 5-10min. Stack your Genie+ passes for late morning/early afternoon when you'll actually need them. Get them early and hit the must do ride(s) first.

I've never had to be on my phone very long while at Disney either. Only when I'm booking a new pass after we scan into the first (which takes maybe 2min tops), quickly checking ride times (again like 1min to scan nearby rides) or ordering food for pickup (maybe 5min). If you're on your phone longer you're doing it wrong lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been putting off Disney until my kids are old enough to remember and enjoy it because I only plan on doing it once more. We are big amusement park enthusiasts and definitely planners, but the last time I was at Disney pre-COVID it all required too much staring at the phone to enjoy. Sounds like it’s even worse now.

I feel like when I go to other parks, it’s enough to avoid the peak times, come up with a general game plan for the popular rides, and hit up the food lines in advance of usual meal times. Disney requires all of this and ongoing active management throughout the day. They’ve taken a lot of the happiness and spontaneity that makes a magical trip.

what other amusement parks do you all like? we've done DW and DL and Universal hollywood - looking for other parks.

My kids like Hershey a lot. It's close and there isn't a lot of advance planning that you need to do. If you have the money to swing it, Universal Orlando is pretty awesome if you get the unlimited express pass.

We enjoyed Universal a lot but it does not compare to Disney. Way fewer rides and many of them are just screens/motion simulators. The Harry Potter stuff was very cool. But it just doesn't take that long to see all of it. Their upscale hotels are nicer than Disney's, I'll give them that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been putting off Disney until my kids are old enough to remember and enjoy it because I only plan on doing it once more. We are big amusement park enthusiasts and definitely planners, but the last time I was at Disney pre-COVID it all required too much staring at the phone to enjoy. Sounds like it’s even worse now.

I feel like when I go to other parks, it’s enough to avoid the peak times, come up with a general game plan for the popular rides, and hit up the food lines in advance of usual meal times. Disney requires all of this and ongoing active management throughout the day. They’ve taken a lot of the happiness and spontaneity that makes a magical trip.

what other amusement parks do you all like? we've done DW and DL and Universal hollywood - looking for other parks.

My kids like Hershey a lot. It's close and there isn't a lot of advance planning that you need to do. If you have the money to swing it, Universal Orlando is pretty awesome if you get the unlimited express pass.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been putting off Disney until my kids are old enough to remember and enjoy it because I only plan on doing it once more. We are big amusement park enthusiasts and definitely planners, but the last time I was at Disney pre-COVID it all required too much staring at the phone to enjoy. Sounds like it’s even worse now.

I feel like when I go to other parks, it’s enough to avoid the peak times, come up with a general game plan for the popular rides, and hit up the food lines in advance of usual meal times. Disney requires all of this and ongoing active management throughout the day. They’ve taken a lot of the happiness and spontaneity that makes a magical trip.

what other amusement parks do you all like? we've done DW and DL and Universal hollywood - looking for other parks.

Anonymous wrote:Pay wall. won't pay for WaPo

https://wapo.st/3T4fEw7

This is a shared link - there should be no paywall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will never go. I am not shelling out thousands of dollars to stand in line and have a stressful vacation trying to maximize our thousands.

100%. We've done other things instead.

Ok. Thanks for sharing.

Putting aside how expensive they are, Disney vacations are like all vacations - not everyone enjoys the same things. I have a friend who vacations at the same beach house every year, and her perfect day involves sitting all day on the beach. My idea of hell is bringing my own linens, making up beds on vacation, and sitting in the hot sun with sand all over the place for a week. Does that make her wrong about her vacation? Of course not. But I don't understand why people feel superior about their vacation choices. There's no single way to have fun. I'm not a lay-on-the-beach person, but that doesn't mean that beach vacations can't be amazing for others.

This. Don't yuck my yum and I won't yours.

I’ve been putting off Disney until my kids are old enough to remember and enjoy it because I only plan on doing it once more. We are big amusement park enthusiasts and definitely planners, but the last time I was at Disney pre-COVID it all required too much staring at the phone to enjoy. Sounds like it’s even worse now.

I feel like when I go to other parks, it’s enough to avoid the peak times, come up with a general game plan for the popular rides, and hit up the food lines in advance of usual meal times. Disney requires all of this and ongoing active management throughout the day. They’ve taken a lot of the happiness and spontaneity that makes a magical trip.

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to understand how all this works too. The YouTube. Videos on the Disney site weren’t that helpful. Can anyone link to an article/video/blogger who explains this new system well.

Are the Disney magic bands no longer a thing at all?

If you’re on fb join smart moms plan Disney. People ask so many questions and give thorough responses. A lot do trip reviews so it’s good to get an over view of other people’s days.

This blogger and their fb site are pretty digestible in terms of the basics:

https://wdwprepschool.com/

It’s a lot, but if you are in to it it can be a lot of fun. Used to be more fun / affordable pre Covid, but still fun and some what adaptable to your own budget in terms of what to do / spend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will never go. I am not shelling out thousands of dollars to stand in line and have a stressful vacation trying to maximize our thousands.

100%. We've done other things instead.

Ok. Thanks for sharing.

Putting aside how expensive they are, Disney vacations are like all vacations - not everyone enjoys the same things. I have a friend who vacations at the same beach house every year, and her perfect day involves sitting all day on the beach. My idea of hell is bringing my own linens, making up beds on vacation, and sitting in the hot sun with sand all over the place for a week. Does that make her wrong about her vacation? Of course not. But I don't understand why people feel superior about their vacation choices. There's no single way to have fun. I'm not a lay-on-the-beach person, but that doesn't mean that beach vacations can't be amazing for others.

Anonymous wrote:We will never go. I am not shelling out thousands of dollars to stand in line and have a stressful vacation trying to maximize our thousands.

100%. We've done other things instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to understand how all this works too. The YouTube. Videos on the Disney site weren’t that helpful. Can anyone link to an article/video/blogger who explains this new system well.

Are the Disney magic bands no longer a thing at all?

Mammoth Club youtube channel.

+1 or All Ears.

Here is an explanation on Mammoth Club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y025nDeq0VM&t=2842s

Another from All Ears

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVAysC5C4fk&t=8s
Just look for the most recent videos because Disney changes the rules from time to time. AllEars have a bunch of videos on how to use

And Magic Bands (or Magic Band Plus) are still at thing.

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to understand how all this works too. The YouTube. Videos on the Disney site weren’t that helpful. Can anyone link to an article/video/blogger who explains this new system well.

Are the Disney magic bands no longer a thing at all?

Mammoth Club youtube channel.

Pay wall. won't pay for WaPo