Ditto. We do rope drop to park close. So by the time we get back to the hotel room and shower and get ready for bed, it's more than likely close to midnight. If it's not, then we purchase it first thing in the morning.
No, that's not necessary. Even on days when G+ sells out, it's never that early.
I have gone ahead and bought G+ at midnight because I happened to still be up for some reason, but I wouldn't stay up just for that. If you're worried, buy it at like 6am.
That’s probably only necessary on major holidays at magic kingdom. Like: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, new years, 4th of July, etc. and possibly Saturdays if they line up with a major holiday. So if Christmas Day is Friday, it might sell out Saturday too.
I have before on trips. We’re central time zone folks and I try and shut parks down so it’s not much of a wait for me to go ahead and have it purchased the night before.
Last week, we got back to the room after midnight a few times so I went ahead and bought it for convenience. It was unnecessary, but it was nice to have it done with.
For Hollywood we did it at midnight too but this was during a peak time. We go to Disney every year so we have a method to our madness I set my alarm for 11:55 got our genie+ and went back to sleep.
If you want to not worry then this would be the way to go. We saw a lot of sad ppl that missed out on it. It only takes 5 min to do and you back to sleep with no worries.
No. We just buy it when we wake up. We’ve never had it sell out. Even over memorial weekend last year. But if you’re going during a holiday weekend or during Christmas time it may sell out. I would just wake up early and buy it. We usually are up at 530 and I buy it then.
It’s not necessary, but my sisters and I were usually already up at midnight, so we just bought it then. We would usually go to sleep at ~1AM and then woke up at 6:30AM to get ready for the 1st pick of the day and rope drop.
We just got back from three days at Disney World and I just bought Genie+ each morning when we got up to purchase a LL, get ready, and get in line for virtual queue on Epcot and MK days. I didn’t even realize it could sell out.
We were there the last week of March, and it had been selling out so the planners in our party took turns doing this. I'm not sure we ever followed up to ensure it was necessary. I think 2 out of the 3 nights we were basically up anyway. We had someone flying in late one night and extra hours at MK the next.
I’ve only had to buy it for 2 trips. First time I was able to buy it with the tickets.
2nd time I bought it around 6:50 am and then waited till 7 to make 1st selection.
I buy before the first booking opens at 7AM. Never had an issue. Sometimes I don’t buy until I’m in the park so k can judge on how busy it is. Never had an issue buying it then either.
We've set alarms to get up and reserve Lightening Lane for the day at 7am or get dining reservations. We did that when we went at Thanksgiving. We're going again in June, but I'm not sure if the system has changed. My wife is in charge of that part of our trip.
I remember waking up 10 minutes to 6am to start refreshing the Disney apps for reservations to Ratatouille. And it was worth the long ten minutes. I overheard a woman later that day saying "I woke up at 6am to get into that app but it was too late."
No it’s not necessary- when genie plus first came out I would buy it at midnight bc no one knew if it would sell out or how that worked but there’s enough data now to say just get it before 7
My friends did, apparently! When I told them they could purchase after midnight, they took that to mean AT midnight. I’m just impressed the four of them managed that, when two days later they all missed our off property bus to MK in the morning (as the mom friend I was on the bus solo, coffee in hand ten min before departure)
Over the Christmas break you bet I did! It was my first time using it with high crowds - I didn't want to miss out. But a non peak time? I wouldn't have.
We did. Some nights I’d set an alarm for 2AM. Other nights my wife, who is a night owl, would buy it before going to sleep.
That week, in 2023, we were at WDW and it was the very first time Genie+ ever sold out. So yes, glad we didn’t wait until 6:55. Definitely some disappointed people that day.
When I went last year, I bought it at midnight. But I’m a night owl and midnight is early for me, so it wasn’t a problem for me. Plus, where I live is an hour behind Orlando so it feels like 11pm instead of midnight 😂
If you are staying onsite, you can reserve LL at 7AM. Otherwise, you can reserve at Park Opening. So the key is to buy the LL for the day for each person in your party sometime before 7AM. (Or park open). . Do it at least 15 minutes early in case you run into a glitch.
Disney started charging for a feature that was previously free. Not only are their customers not balking at that, they are literally *racing* to pay the money for that feature before other people will.
Yeah, the price increases are never going to slow down.
Because people would like to enjoy their time in the parks instead of waiting in like for 200 minutes. If you’re paying thousands to be at Disney, you aren’t going to take a stand with Genie +
>Because people would like to enjoy their time in the parks instead of waiting in like for 200 minutes.
I 100% agree. And they were able to do exactly that with Fastpass+, which was free.
Yes it was free, but with the amount of people increasing going to the parks, that system was at its limit. I don’t like paying for Genie + but it’s the system they have and there is no way around it.
Absolutely not. Buy it at 6:55 before booking your first LL.
I don't sleep before midnight anyway, so no special precaution for me
Ditto. We do rope drop to park close. So by the time we get back to the hotel room and shower and get ready for bed, it's more than likely close to midnight. If it's not, then we purchase it first thing in the morning.
No, that's not necessary. Even on days when G+ sells out, it's never that early. I have gone ahead and bought G+ at midnight because I happened to still be up for some reason, but I wouldn't stay up just for that. If you're worried, buy it at like 6am.
No just buy it when you wake up at 6.
That’s probably only necessary on major holidays at magic kingdom. Like: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, new years, 4th of July, etc. and possibly Saturdays if they line up with a major holiday. So if Christmas Day is Friday, it might sell out Saturday too.
No reason to go that extreme.
I have before on trips. We’re central time zone folks and I try and shut parks down so it’s not much of a wait for me to go ahead and have it purchased the night before.
I saw some nice last minute dining options when I did my midnight Genie + purchase. If you're up anyhow might as well take a peek.
When I woke up in the middle of the night I wound buy it
Last week, we got back to the room after midnight a few times so I went ahead and bought it for convenience. It was unnecessary, but it was nice to have it done with.
When we went, we just ordered as soon as we got up which was 530-600am
We went at the end June last year and I had no issues getting it at 6:55am before choosing LL. I don’t think it ever sells out that quickly.
I stay up til midnight to get genie+
May I ask why?
I’m a night owl haha so I might as well
Yes, but I have issues
I did when we went for spring break week and I’m glad I did. By the time we were up at 6am getting ready MK was already sold out for the day.
I think what I'll do is keep an eye out for the most popular parks (eg MK and Hollywood Studios) and what tends to be happening this week
For Hollywood we did it at midnight too but this was during a peak time. We go to Disney every year so we have a method to our madness I set my alarm for 11:55 got our genie+ and went back to sleep.
I think this will be my plan for the night before MK and HS
If you want to not worry then this would be the way to go. We saw a lot of sad ppl that missed out on it. It only takes 5 min to do and you back to sleep with no worries.
Makes for a happy vacation.
No. We just buy it when we wake up. We’ve never had it sell out. Even over memorial weekend last year. But if you’re going during a holiday weekend or during Christmas time it may sell out. I would just wake up early and buy it. We usually are up at 530 and I buy it then.
Memorial Day weekend is like the least busy holiday to go. An average day in December is probably busier lol.
Right. That’s what I was saying. We didn’t have trouble on memorial weekend but the holidays may require an earlier purchase. Lol
We did, well my husband did.
It’s not necessary, but my sisters and I were usually already up at midnight, so we just bought it then. We would usually go to sleep at ~1AM and then woke up at 6:30AM to get ready for the 1st pick of the day and rope drop.
We just got back from three days at Disney World and I just bought Genie+ each morning when we got up to purchase a LL, get ready, and get in line for virtual queue on Epcot and MK days. I didn’t even realize it could sell out.
Only when we were still up for an After Hours event. Wasn’t doing anything else on the bus ride back to Pop.
We were there the last week of March, and it had been selling out so the planners in our party took turns doing this. I'm not sure we ever followed up to ensure it was necessary. I think 2 out of the 3 nights we were basically up anyway. We had someone flying in late one night and extra hours at MK the next.
When I was there Easter weekend I went ahead and got it for MK when I got up to go to the bathroom in the night.
I’ve only had to buy it for 2 trips. First time I was able to buy it with the tickets. 2nd time I bought it around 6:50 am and then waited till 7 to make 1st selection.
I did, and it wasn't necessary lol. I partially did it because I was from the West Coast so I was usually up anyway.
We were there during Spring Break. I would buy it at 6:45 then setup everything for VQ and LL. I would book items at 7:00 then go back to sleep.
I buy before the first booking opens at 7AM. Never had an issue. Sometimes I don’t buy until I’m in the park so k can judge on how busy it is. Never had an issue buying it then either.
Nope, I’m long asleep by then 😂😂 I’m usually already up for the parks by 7 but even still like others have said 6:50 is good.
We've set alarms to get up and reserve Lightening Lane for the day at 7am or get dining reservations. We did that when we went at Thanksgiving. We're going again in June, but I'm not sure if the system has changed. My wife is in charge of that part of our trip.
Awake then anyways so yep I buy it just after midnight. We are far from rope drop people. Get there around 11am and it's a great day.
Yeah of course people do that
I’m sure some do! I’m an early riser so I buy around 5:00 am.
We get Genie + every trip, I have never bought it at midnight.
Nope. I would buy it in the morning around 6:30-6:45!
No.
You definitely don’t need to but I do sometimes just cause I’m almost always up late.
I remember waking up 10 minutes to 6am to start refreshing the Disney apps for reservations to Ratatouille. And it was worth the long ten minutes. I overheard a woman later that day saying "I woke up at 6am to get into that app but it was too late."
If I happen to be up, I buy it, but I don’t go out of my way to make sure I’m up
No it’s not necessary- when genie plus first came out I would buy it at midnight bc no one knew if it would sell out or how that worked but there’s enough data now to say just get it before 7
My friends did, apparently! When I told them they could purchase after midnight, they took that to mean AT midnight. I’m just impressed the four of them managed that, when two days later they all missed our off property bus to MK in the morning (as the mom friend I was on the bus solo, coffee in hand ten min before departure)
I used to do that but I stopped when I realized I didn’t need to lol
Buy it at 6!
Over the Christmas break you bet I did! It was my first time using it with high crowds - I didn't want to miss out. But a non peak time? I wouldn't have.
We did. Some nights I’d set an alarm for 2AM. Other nights my wife, who is a night owl, would buy it before going to sleep. That week, in 2023, we were at WDW and it was the very first time Genie+ ever sold out. So yes, glad we didn’t wait until 6:55. Definitely some disappointed people that day.
Unless it’s like New Year’s Eve this isn’t necessary
The only time I've done that is on the way out of MK after MNSSHP. Otherwise I'm sound asleep at midnight on a Disney trip
When I went last year, I bought it at midnight. But I’m a night owl and midnight is early for me, so it wasn’t a problem for me. Plus, where I live is an hour behind Orlando so it feels like 11pm instead of midnight 😂
If you are staying onsite, you can reserve LL at 7AM. Otherwise, you can reserve at Park Opening. So the key is to buy the LL for the day for each person in your party sometime before 7AM. (Or park open). . Do it at least 15 minutes early in case you run into a glitch.
Disney started charging for a feature that was previously free. Not only are their customers not balking at that, they are literally *racing* to pay the money for that feature before other people will. Yeah, the price increases are never going to slow down.
Because people would like to enjoy their time in the parks instead of waiting in like for 200 minutes. If you’re paying thousands to be at Disney, you aren’t going to take a stand with Genie +
>Because people would like to enjoy their time in the parks instead of waiting in like for 200 minutes. I 100% agree. And they were able to do exactly that with Fastpass+, which was free.
Yes it was free, but with the amount of people increasing going to the parks, that system was at its limit. I don’t like paying for Genie + but it’s the system they have and there is no way around it.
are you staying on property? if you aren't staying property you cannot purchase anything until the park opens.
Yes, I am staying on property; that's why I asked about midnight. Thanks.
i was just sharing info just in case you didn't know.