Total novice questions

[Pilsy]

Please humor a newbie and tell me how to do this stuff or where to find straight-forward instructions. I can't afford to go down the rabbit hole of a subreddit or Disboards right now. Thank you!!

1. I purchased Memory Maker, and I can't figure out how to link it to my app. I only bought that and the tickets on Sunday. Is there some kind of waiting period?

2. Once I'm eligible to make dining reservations (presumably Feb. 17th since our tickets are valid for April 18 - 21), do I just do that in the app?

3. How do I purchase Genie+? Do I have to wait until closer to the days I'm visiting the parks?

4. Is there a basic guide for using Genie+? If so, where do I find it? 

[huskymom]

Feb 7, 2023 10:05:15 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Please humor a newbie and tell me how to do this stuff or where to find straight-forward instructions. I can't afford to go down the rabbit hole of a subreddit or Disboards right now. Thank you!!

1. I purchased Memory Maker, and I can't figure out how to link it to my app. I only bought that and the tickets on Sunday. Is there some kind of waiting period?

Did you buy it under the same account/email? I’m not sure!

2. Once I'm eligible to make dining reservations (presumably Feb. 17th since our tickets are valid for April 18 - 21), do I just do that in the app? I find it easiest on the computer in MDE but either works. if there’s a more hard to get reservation, plan for it near the end of your trip and try to book that first.


3. How do I purchase Genie+? Do I have to wait until closer to the days I'm visiting the parks?
it’s different then when we were there but I think you can’t buy it until midnight for the day of?

4. Is there a basic guide for using Genie+? If so, where do I find it? 
Look on YouTube for videos. I think I likely watched Touring Plans channel (I always subscribe to their planning website but if it’s your first time it might be too much)

.

[mrsslocombe]

1. Use this tool: disneyworld.disney.go.com/link/

2. Yes you can do it in the app, but I think it's easier on a computer, especially if you are trying to snag a hard to get reservation. If you have specific places in mind we can probably tell you the order to do them in, so you prioritize the ones that are harder to get. Also, a LOT of spots open right before your dates, as people change their plans, so if you miss out on one, there's still a good chance you can get it.

3. You have to pay for Genie+ each day, starting at midnight day of.

4.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbD9NvDfSh0

There are two different Genie + strategies: A. Maximize # of lightning lanes or B. Prioritize Certain Rides

Strategy A-you just book whatever is available first, that way as soon as you swipe, you can book your next Lightning Lane. This may allow you to "get your money's worth" but you will be using those lightning lanes on less popular rides and might have to wait in the standby line longer for the more popular rides.

Strategy B-you prioritize the more in demand rides (Slinky Dog Dash, Peter Pan, etc). The first spot available might not be until 4pm, which means you can't book your second Lightning Lane until 2 hours AFTER the park opens. You may only get 3-4 Lightning Lanes this way in a given day, BUT you will at least cut down the wait time on those MUST DO rides.

Both strategies are valid, it just depends on what you would rather do. If you are rope dropping OR planning on staying late, you can potentially avoid Strategy B (I have done it, because I am insane and have spreadsheets).

[Pilsy]

huskymom, mrsslocombe, thank you both!

[huskymom]

Please reach out if you have more questions! I think I posted a detailed trip review last April - I am also insane and love spreadsheets and this kind of thing is right up my alley. We won't go back for awhile so I will miss the planning fun!

[Pilsy]

Feb 7, 2023 19:13:28 GMT -5 huskymom said:

Please reach out if you have more questions! I think I posted a detailed trip review last April - I am also insane and love spreadsheets and this kind of thing is right up my alley. We won't go back for awhile so I will miss the planning fun!

<3 Thank you so much!! I will totally hit you up. 

[Jalapeñomel]

I posted in my thread below but tell me how I can get on Ride of the Resistance. It’s the one ride we are desperate to get.

Disneyland not world.

[konapoppy]

Feb 8, 2023 9:24:36 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I posted in my thread below but tell me how I can get on Ride of the Resistance. It’s the one ride we are desperate to get.

Disneyland not world.

If you are desperate do LL. Genie + doesn’t cover this ride.

[Jalapeñomel]

Feb 8, 2023 9:40:09 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Feb 8, 2023 9:24:36 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I posted in my thread below but tell me how I can get on Ride of the Resistance. It’s the one ride we are desperate to get.

Disneyland not world.

If you are desperate do LL. Genie + doesn’t cover this ride.

We will spend whatever is needed to get on it! 

[konapoppy]

Feb 8, 2023 10:42:05 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Feb 8, 2023 9:40:09 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

If you are desperate do LL. Genie + doesn’t cover this ride.

We will spend whatever is needed to get on it! 

Definitely do LL.

[mrsslocombe]

Jalapeñomel, in addition to getting the LL-the ride breaks all the friggin time. So keep an eye on the app-if you happen to be in the area when the ride goes down and comes back up, you can sometimes jump on line and beat the crowd.

[Patsy Baloney]

I’ve never been to DL, but I’ve read that lines there do not get as insane as Disneyworld. I feel like I’ve seen the longest wait is usually are 45-ish minutes. I don’t think you’ll have any problem getting on Rise and DL, especially with LL.

[wesleycrusher]

Feb 7, 2023 13:04:08 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

There are two different Genie + strategies: A. Maximize # of lightning lanes or B. Prioritize Certain Rides

Strategy A-you just book whatever is available first, that way as soon as you swipe, you can book your next Lightning Lane. This may allow you to "get your money's worth" but you will be using those lightning lanes on less popular rides and might have to wait in the standby line longer for the more popular rides.

Strategy B-you prioritize the more in demand rides (Slinky Dog Dash, Peter Pan, etc). The first spot available might not be until 4pm, which means you can't book your second Lightning Lane until 2 hours AFTER the park opens. You may only get 3-4 Lightning Lanes this way in a given day, BUT you will at least cut down the wait time on those MUST DO rides.

Both strategies are valid, it just depends on what you would rather do. If you are rope dropping OR planning on staying late, you can potentially avoid Strategy B (I have done it, because I am insane and have spreadsheets).

We just got back from the parks, and we used Genie + at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.  At Magic Kingdom, we used strategy A, because there are so many rides and we used a bunch- like we would be in future world and be able to go from one ride to the next with no wait using Genie +.  At HS, we used strategy B (we only got 3 rides- we would a have gotten 1-3 more, but we went back to hotel in the afternoon and also watched Fantasmic)

[konapoppy]

Feb 8, 2023 11:19:09 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

I’ve never been to DL, but I’ve read that lines there do not get as insane as Disneyworld. I feel like I’ve seen the longest wait is usually are 45-ish minutes. I don’t think you’ll have any problem getting on Rise and DL, especially with LL.

The wait can definitely be 2 hours at Disneyland. Plus it goes down. Smugglers is closer to 45 min IME.
LL is the best approach for sure, especially since it goes down.