Trip Review / Genie + 3/26-3/28

[lauren170]

Epcot - 3/26

Overall it was a very enjoyable day. The only issue we had with the new system is, when at 7am my husband was booking ILLs for Ratatouille we found out our kids weren't linked on his account, so we only had 2 ILLs and no way to add the kids after the fact. We decided to rope drop it instead, but of course there is no way to cancel the ILLs.

Here's what we got done in a day (with a slow moving 3 year old)

• Rope drop Ratatouille (35 min wait)
• Genie + Frozen Ever After 8:30-9:30am
• Breakfast in Norway
• Meet Anna / Elsa (15 minute wait)
• Genie + Turtle Talk (was a waste of Genie + since there was no stand-by wait anyway)
• Genie + Test Track by refreshing app during Turtle Talk. My 8 year got to go twice with rider swap

That night we had dinner at Space 220. I'd give the experience 2 stars - our meal for 2 adults and 2 kids and 3 drinks came out to $329. It's a hard-to-get reservation but the place was basically empty at 8:40pm (the last seating). The food was not that good - mediocre wedding food at best.  


Hollywood Studios - 3/27

The park was crowded, but we got to do most of what we wanted to. The only thing we missed out on was Tower of Terror (and Slinky dog, but we had done that on our last trip)

• ILL: Rise of the Resistance - my 8 year old got to go 2 times with rider swap. We didn't get the ILLs when we tried at 7am because we paused for literally a second during checkout, but after I went to rebuild the day with Genie and it offered it to me in that flow for a 10:30am!
• Met Olaf 3 times because that's what my 3 year absolutely loved (standby wait was 5 minutes each time)
• Genie + Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway
• Frozen Show
• Genie + for Alien Swirling Saucers
• 1:10 Hollywood & Vine to see Mickey & Minnie

Magic Kingdom 3/28

IF doing early entry for resort guests, you go to the right at the Starbucks before the castle. We missed that turn, which cost us valuable time as the lines for every attraction filled.

Rope Drop - by the time we got past the castle Peter Pan's wait was 60 minutes and Small World was 20 minutes. So we did the

• Carousel 
• Ariel
• Had Waffles at Sleepy Hallow - my favorite!
• ILL: Seven Dwarfs - 8 year old got to go twice since we booked this for all 4 of us and my 3 year can't ride
• Genie + Space Mountain - Now this is where I messed up our day I think! I booked for all 4 of us even though my 3 year old can't ride. I figured I'd let my husband and 8 year old use our bands to go twice and I'd take my 3 year old on the railroad or other low key/short line attraction. The Railroad was not running, and everything, and I mean everything had waits of 40 minutes to an hour. By 11am when we could book the next Genie + all the return times were for around 3 pm or later.
• Finally managed to get a Genie + time for the 3 year old to see See Mickey
• We watched the parade and then decided to go swim instead. It was hot, extra crowded, and the lines we long for everything and there were no times for Genie + at all for at least 3 hours. 

Overall, Genie + was fine for us at Epcot and Hollywood Studios, but we got way less done in a day at Magic Kingdom with it then we would have with Fast Passes.  I do miss planning in advance as well, definitely had to be refreshing during the shows and such.

Also, besides the buses, not a mask in sight - anywhere. We are home but TBD if we catch covid from this trip.

[meganew]

Haha, we were in the same place for 3/27 and 3/28! I wonder if we walked by each other (and 40,000 other people) lol.

I’m happy to hear that Rise of the Resistance had more LL options later in the day because I’m really hoping to do that on Thursday. They were completely sold out by the time my phone refreshed at 7:01.

[genet313]

Would you mind sharing details about the princess meet? We’re you able to take pictures with Anna and Elsa or just distanced?

[lauren170]

Mar 29, 2022 22:48:55 GMT -5 genet313 said:

Would you mind sharing details about the princess meet? We’re you able to take pictures with Anna and Elsa or just distanced?

There is a rope but you can take pictures and talk to them. They spent 1-2 minutes each talking to my 3 year old.

[lauren170]

Mar 29, 2022 19:21:00 GMT -5 meganew said:

Haha, we were in the same place for 3/27 and 3/28! I wonder if we walked by each other (and 40,000 other people) lol.

I’m happy to hear that Rise of the Resistance had more LL options later in the day because I’m really hoping to do that on Thursday. They were completely sold out by the time my phone refreshed at 7:01.

Did you get the LL for Rise of the Resistance? 

[mrsslocombe]

Mar 29, 2022 22:48:55 GMT -5 genet313 said:

Would you mind sharing details about the princess meet? We’re you able to take pictures with Anna and Elsa or just distanced?

It looks like character meet and greets will be returning to "normal" (hugs, autographs) around April 18 or earlier. 


disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/03/disney-character-greetings-returning-to-u-s-sites-this-spring/

[genet313]

Apr 1, 2022 14:59:06 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

Mar 29, 2022 22:48:55 GMT -5 genet313 said:

Would you mind sharing details about the princess meet? We’re you able to take pictures with Anna and Elsa or just distanced?

It looks like character meet and greets will be returning to "normal" (hugs, autographs) around April 18 or earlier. 


disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/03/disney-character-greetings-returning-to-u-s-sites-this-spring/

Damn we miss it by one day! So silly to do this right after spring break for so many elementary school kids and “peak” character meet age.

[huskymom]

How much earlier did you arrive to rope drop before the early entry time?

[sent]

Mar 29, 2022 17:12:52 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

IF doing early entry for resort guests, you go to the right at the Starbucks before the castle. We missed that turn, which cost us valuable time as the lines for every attraction filled.

I can't stand the thought of having to be on my phone so much for Genie + and the other thing. I've decided we're going to do the early rope drop for resort guests each day and make the best of it. This tip will be helpful, thank you. 

[meganew]

Apr 1, 2022 7:09:16 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

Mar 29, 2022 19:21:00 GMT -5 meganew said:

Haha, we were in the same place for 3/27 and 3/28! I wonder if we walked by each other (and 40,000 other people) lol.

I’m happy to hear that Rise of the Resistance had more LL options later in the day because I’m really hoping to do that on Thursday. They were completely sold out by the time my phone refreshed at 7:01.

Did you get the LL for Rise of the Resistance? 

We did, and it was so worth it. I mean, it would have been great to not have to pay another almost $50 to ride one ride when I already paid a few hundred to be in the park, but I’m glad I didn’t spend 140 minutes waiting in line. Also, ROTR was down at rope drop both days we went, so I’m not sure if that strategy would have paid off.

[meganew]

Apr 2, 2022 0:52:14 GMT -5 sent said:

Mar 29, 2022 17:12:52 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

IF doing early entry for resort guests, you go to the right at the Starbucks before the castle. We missed that turn, which cost us valuable time as the lines for every attraction filled.

I can't stand the thought of having to be on my phone so much for Genie + and the other thing. I've decided we're going to do the early rope drop for resort guests each day and make the best of it. This tip will be helpful, thank you. 

I was worried about this too, but honestly I wasn’t on my phone much at all. I would book the new ride as soon as we scanned for the previous ride, or when the two hour mark came up. The waits were insane the whole week we were here, we wouldn’t have been on half the rides if we didn’t do genie+. It sucks though because it’s going to be an extra $400 by the time we add it all up.

[mrsslocombe]

Apr 1, 2022 21:18:16 GMT -5 huskymom said:

How much earlier did you arrive to rope drop before the early entry time?

We were there about 45 minutes before early morning hours. We were able to go through security right when we arrived (and waited very little time to get through)

At MK, they funneled everyone either to a second rope in Tomorrow Land, or you could walk back toward the Tea Cups and wait there. They dropped that rope right at early opening time. During our trip, Adventure & Frontier Lands didn't open until normal park hours. 

At AK, Epcot, and HS we were allowed to walk right to whatever ride line we wanted and got in line. At all three parks they opened the rides early and we were able to get on before the park even officially opened. 

At HS, Rise of the Resistance wasn't open and they wouldn't even allow people to queue, but we could walk right onto Smuggler's Run and it was nice to be able to walk around the Star Wars area with barely anyone in it.

If riding Remy is a priority (and you don't want to pay for LL)-enter through the back entrance, which is right next to France. It cuts out a very long walk and you will get there way before the people at the main gate. 

[huskymom]

Apr 2, 2022 10:54:42 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

Apr 1, 2022 21:18:16 GMT -5 huskymom said:

How much earlier did you arrive to rope drop before the early entry time?

We were there about 45 minutes before early morning hours. We were able to go through security right when we arrived (and waited very little time to get through)

At MK, they funneled everyone either to a second rope in Tomorrow Land, or you could walk back toward the Tea Cups and wait there. They dropped that rope right at early opening time. During our trip, Adventure & Frontier Lands didn't open until normal park hours. 

At AK, Epcot, and HS we were allowed to walk right to whatever ride line we wanted and got in line. At all three parks they opened the rides early and we were able to get on before the park even officially opened. 

At HS, Rise of the Resistance wasn't open and they wouldn't even allow people to queue, but we could walk right onto Smuggler's Run and it was nice to be able to walk around the Star Wars area with barely anyone in it.

If riding Remy is a priority (and you don't want to pay for LL)-enter through the back entrance, which is right next to France. It cuts out a very long walk and you will get there way before the people at the main gate. 

Thanks! Some is the parks open so early next week, so I don’t want to be there so early ( like AK at 7 and HS at 7:30!!) so we’ll see.

We are at Beach club so will def rope drop remy on our epcot day. Then might go back to the pool for a bit ha.