Doing Disney?

 If you scan the posts on this blog, you might see the ones saying that I wrote a book called Doing Disney, which tried to be a guide for people who "do Disney" in the same way that we do -- a week at a time, every year or two.  Who might want to make the most of their time in Disney World, and maybe take advantage of a few little hacks, nothing too extraordinary or secret, that might allow them to get a little more out of that week.

I updated the book (before it was published by Theme Park Press) a few years ago, shortly after FP+, Memory Maker and My Disney Experience became things.  And we recently visited again, in early August of 2021 (this year), and I thought, a lot has changed with the pandemic and the lack of FastPasses, the reduced window for dining reservations, the requirement of park reservations, and the virtual queuing system for the Star Wars land's flagship ride, Rise of the Resistance.

So I launched into writing a revised Doing Disney edition taking these changes into account.  And as I was revising, Disney announced Genie!  And Genie Plus!  These things will replace the My Disney Experience app, as near as I can tell, and they will introduce paid FastPass, known as "Lightning Lane."  So now you get to pay something around fifteen dollars a day per guest in addition to your already-expensive ticket in order to get on the rides.

And not only that, but "premium" rides will have another charge associated with them.  Does that not sound great?  As far as I could tell, these rides will include Seven Dwarves Mine Train (?), Frozen (?), Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage, at least.  (The reason for the question marks by the first two is because those rides are good, but they're hardly even the best rides in their respective parks so why do they get labeled as "premium" or whatever they're labeling them?)

Do the math.  A family of four, spending six days in the parks, will now pay an extra sixty dollars a day, $360.00 total, to get Lightning Lane access.  Not unlimited access either, as far as I can tell (though I could be misinterpreting this).  You still have to reserve your FastPasses.  You can buy Genie Plus starting at midnight the day before your park visit.  You can reserve your rides starting at seven am the day of your visit.  

When are we supposed to sleep?

Why not just raise the price of the ticket $15.00?  Is this for all those park visitors who are paying a hundred bucks for a day for the privilege of walking around the parks, spending money on food and merchandise, and getting to see parades and fireworks?  

Honestly, this is ridiculous.  If this is what Bob Chapek is all about, please get rid of him sooner than later.  Because in my somewhat informed opinion, these cash grabs are a recipe for disaster.  

Shame on you, Disney.  Shame.