The Disneyland Genie+ Manipulation

 A conversation I overheard in the Blue Bayou restaurant bathroom last September:

An older lady, with daughters who just left, was talking to a stall. "We're here for the day, but we're not doing any rides. Couldn't figure out Genie +." A second lady comes out, "Yeah, I couldn't figure out Genie + either." The first lady, referring to the app, "We finally got it open, but I didn't have my glasses on, so instead of selecting Splash Mountain I hit Space Mountain. Well, I'm not doing that! I'll be dizzy for a week!"

In the last year I've been to Disneyland quite a few times and got to experience the park before and after the introduction of Genie+. I was there the week the program rolled out, though rather haphazardly. Admittedly I never used the program once during any of the visits, though tempted a couple times just to see how well it works. Instead my experience is that of countless hours in the standby lines, and witnessing the constant manipulation Genie+.

Soarin' over the World/California in DCA is the worst. If you're in the standby line with a promised wait time of 30 or so minutes and one of two theaters go down, that line's wait time immediately jumps to 120 minutes. I've experienced this twice. The first time was the first day of Soarin' over California for the Food and Wine festival. The line was so short! Going right to the door entering the building, though the listed time was 115 minutes before shortly jumping to 120. What happens is Lightening Lane, which the previous Fastpass lines were called, get priority. It felt like 150 to 200 people would pass before 4 to 6 standby people would be allowed through to the theater ride. It's demoralizing. Dehumanizing. And I vowed in that moment to never buy Genie+. The line for the Standby was momentarily shut down to prevent people from entering, creating a pay to play atmosphere, and this is after the exuberant cost of the entrance fee. I was mad, really mad, and even mad instagrammed the experience, which I later deleted out of reckless guilt. But still! It was a horrible experience. When the second theater opened again all returned to normal. It was still horrible. (Can't believe I waited twice, though, but it was out of sure frustration, stubbornness, and a need to see what happens). 

One of the frustrating things is witnessing the manipulation of standby wait times. One time Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had a 30 minutes standby wait time, which turned out to be less then 10 minutes. I went on Indiana Jones after reopening due to technical stuff, listed wait time was 45 minutes. I got on in less then 15.  Rise of the Resistance is usually slightly inflated as well. The key for this ride is to watch the movement of the line outside, and then see how long the standby line is. There are times the listed wait time would be 70 minutes, and I'd be on the ride in 45-55 minutes. Didn't happen all the time, but it happened a few. 

There was a trip where my Mom and I were tempted to try out Genie+, and then we listed the rides we wanted to do that day: Mark Train, the Train, Rise of the Resistance, Pirates, Jungle Cruise... we realized the rides we wanted to do weren't included on the base Genie+, and the rides that are in the program we already did when the lines were good.

So I have no feedback on how the program itself works, only that I didn't want to figure it out, didn't want to stare at my phone all day, and wanted to be spontaneous. I hate being tied down. But one thing's for certain, Genie+ has ruined things. I don't like looking at wait times and wonder if the leadership is trying to manipulate me into purchasing a product. Knowing them I am being manipulated. It leaves a gross feeling. I got to experience the parks before the implementation of Genie+, and they were awesome. Without the two merging lines, the regular line would flow so smoothly, alleviating standing still for too long. Those were the good days. Unfortunately Genie+ is creating a great monetary increase, record profits despite the reservation system, so thanks to that the program is here to stay. 

It's not fun feeling like a numbered chattel instead of a valued costumer. Disney is ridiculously expensive. 

Sarah

P.S.  I've been sick this last week. Feeling a lot better. Not quite 100%, but it's so nice to be improving and out of danger. Only lost my smell for 3 hours instead of the typical 2-4 days. That was an improvement. Also, went through hot and chill without having a fever which was weird, and my sister-in-law, along with her friend, experienced the same thing. So whatever thing is going around here has some interesting symptoms.

 

5 Reasons Why Soarin' Over California is the Best Version

Soarin' Over California is my favorite Disney ride, so maybe I'm starting this blog a little biased.  It's so relaxing. Peaceful and fun at the same time.  The rolling movements. The scents. And seeing the scope of California's beauty is an added bonus.

When Soarin' Around the World came out I was excited, hoping for the best, but was ultimately disappointed by the updated ride.  Would Soarin' Over California become a distant memory, a fragmented remembrance of a favorite experience?  Rides come and go at Disneyland. The parks are ever changing.  I still miss the rocket ride that replaced the People Movers, but it was removed over structural problems and whatnot.  That was such a fun ride! And it was always breaking down, adding exuberance to the ride when it did work.  And I miss the People Movers. There's just no winning.

When it was announced Soarin' Over California was coming back last June for a month I was excited, and sad I'd miss it, but glad that there was a chance it could be brought back in the future.  Then it was expanded to July, when I did get to go, and I rode it at least 4 times. (Soarin' Over California ultimately went through August, turning a one month return into three.  That's just how awesome this ride is.  And all the message boards and comment sections online praised this old favorite while bemoaning the new, making me realize I'm not the only one who loves this classic ride.)

5 Reasons Why Soarin' Over California is the Best Soarin' Ride

1. Soarin' over California is a celebration of Nature.  Sure, California has many landmarks, and you see the Golden Gate bridge right off the bat, but California has such a vast range of natural wonders.  When the river scene comes on, and it feels like your feet is going to touch the water, it's pure magic.  Throughout the ride you see Oceans, Waterfalls, Mountains, and Deserts. It's all rejuvenating, and it feels like a journey, the sort of things you'd want to soar over.
2. Authenticity! Soarin' Over California feels authentic. They're real scenes. It feels like you're cutting into true moments. Whereas Soarin' Around the World is such a CGI fest it just feels like an interactive movie.
3. Subtle transitions that flow from one scene to the next.  Soarin' Over California just cuts between each scene. No fanfare. No gimmicks. This style of transition adds to the flow and gentleness of the ride.  Around the World transitions with dirt being flown up, kite/bird/plane zooming in and swishing across the screen, flashes of light.  I guess they're trying to make the ride more exciting, but I think it disrupts the flow.
4. Better scents. Around the World does have a nice flower scent, but I'm okay not smelling the grass.  But with Soarin' Over California you have the smell of Pine, the ocean, and the oranges!  I'd love a candle with that orange scent. 
5. No tall buildings in a majority of scenes.  The only way to experience Soarin' Around the World is in the middle section of seats. The curvature of the screen makes the Eiffel Tower and other tall objects bend if you're on the side. It's awkward.  Because Soarin' Over California is more nature focused, the scenes don't have tall objects that get distorted by the screen, therefore making it a better experience for more riders in the theater.

Don't get me wrong, I still like Soarin' Around the World, but it doesn't spark the same joy Soarin' Over California brings.  In my humble opinion it's just a better experience, one I miss every time I visit California Adventure.  And, come on, for a park called "California Adventure" shouldn't Soarin' Over California be a staple? It's the most California part of the park!  Especially since so much of the park is getting rebranded.  It would have been cool if each Soarin' ride was different, highlighting the areas in which each Soarin' ride was based. Soarin' over France. Soarin' over Japan. Soarin' over Florida.  That would be so neat.  And yet there is a California version that's still very much loved, yet it gets brushed aside.

Disneyland and California Adventure During the Holiday Season and other Doodads

Last November I visited Dinseyland and California Adventure right at the start of the parks Holiday Season.  My Mom and I were there two and a half days.  On the first day, a half day, my Mom and I drove down from Las Vegas and headed into California Adventure around 5 pm.  We choose C.A. as our half day because we visited the parks last May and spent a considerable amount of time there, and single park tickets vs hopper tickets are cheaper.  I would have loved more time in C.A., but I'm lucky for anytime at all.

In California Adventure they had the park decorated and booths lining the street all the way to the new Pixarland serving food and whatnot.  Nice festive atmosphere.

 Before heading to Pixarland we had to eat.  It's a long drive from Las Vegas.  One of my favorite places to eat is Flo's V8 Cafe, but they changed the menu!!!  They used to have this roast beef sandwich with horseradish aioli sauce and caramelized onions.  Sooooo gooooood.  But they don't have it anymore.  Other menus around the parks have been changed up as well, and not for the better.

Radiator Springs Racers was shut down while we were eating, but it opened up when we finished, and the single rider line was completely open.  We practically walked onto the ride, which was awesome.

 So glad Pixarland didn't remove Mickey.  That would have been tragic.

 I didn't ride the updated Incredibles roller coaster.  Not enough time, and I get motion sick on more intense rides.  There's this bracelet band thing that presses against a pressure point on the wrist that's suppose to help with motion sickness.

I should look into that.

 That night we rode Radiator Springs, Little Mermaid, and Soarin' Around the World.  The line for Guardians of the Galaxy was pretty long, so next time.

 I was in California around the time the fires were going on Northward.  When I saw this pin I had to do a double take.  Is that a magnificent sunset?  Or a wildfire going crazy?  Well, Mickey seems happy.

 Love this tree.

 The Rain Forrest Cafe and ESPN is permanently closed to make way for a new hotel.  We stayed in a nearby hotel and walked over.  The security lines are light up this way, and taking the monorail into the park avoids the lines at the park gates.  The monorail is a fun way to enter Disneyland.

 Must admit, the Storybook Land ride is one of my favorites.

All the tiny things are so cute.

 Out of all the pictures I took around the parks, it's sad that this is all I have of New Orleans Square.  Still one of my favorite areas.  Love listening to jazz music or that pirate band that sometimes play.  Kinda makes you want to do a little soft-shoe.  Not kinda, it does. :0)

 Festive It's a Small World all lit up and the projection show.

 The new(ish) Fantasy area is peaceful at night.  It was fun cranking the Hunchback of Notre Dame music box, which I didn't get a picture of.  But it's a fun little thing you can check out.

 The Music Cabinet in the Penny Arcade off Main Street U.S.A.  When I was in Germany last October we visited a music cabinet museum, and it was amazing. A serious highlight.  It's nice that Disneyland has a music cabinet that plays Disney tunes.

 View of the Matterhorn from the monorail exit.

 I may have ridden Big Thunder Mountain Railroad three times . . .

 Bryce Canyon at Disneyland.

I've never been to the real Bryce Canyon.  Need to change that sometime.

 My favorite ride when I was a kid: Splash Mountain.

 Found on the path between Frontierland and Fantasyland.

You can hear the clinking of a miner.

 It was hard finding sweets that were pure chocolate.

Jolly Holiday Bakery.

 Changing History on the Pirates of the Caribbean.

 Where I saw the Holiday fireworks.  A little far from the castle, but I was right in front of a walking path and just ahead of Main Street, so I could turn around and look at the animated light projection on the buildings.

 Vintage postcards on the Christmas tree.  This one looks familiar.  I think I've mailed this particular one in the past through postcrossing from a vintage postcard book.

Now it's January 7th, so this is all finished.  The first Monday in 2019.

Experiencing A Little Disney Magic

 I've been back from California a week, which doesn't seem possible, because it seems longer.  My Mom and I took my two nieces on a 10 day trip, counting travel days.  This trip was originally scheduled for November to take place after my third niece was born, but the trip got bumped to early February.

We wanted something fun to do with the nieces that allowed Michael and Krista some one-on-one time with my nephew and third niece, and to create fun memories with my 5 and 6 year old nieces.

By the way, at the end of the year I'll have another nephew or niece because my sister-in-law Lindsay is now pregnant!  5 nephew and nieces!

 We got to Disneyland Sunday night, February 5th.  We were hoping to get there sooner so we could head into California Adventure, wishing to see the last day of the Lunar New Years festival as we wouldn't have another chance, and then see the Remember Dreams Come True firework show, my favorite fireworks show of all time, anywhere, which was just brought back and is only being shown on weekends.

We got to Anaheim much later than we hoped.  The timing couldn't justify using one of our 5 day entries for only a couple hours.  Instead we watched the firework show in the gap between both parks.

(Off topic, but I just realized how German "Anaheim" sounds, and thanks to Wikipedia I just found this: "Anaheim was founded by fifty German families in 1857 and incorporated as the second city in Los Angeles County on March 18, 1876.")

Honestly I was bummed we didn't go into the park that day, but hindsight is better than foresight, and I'm glad in retrospect we made that decision.

Halfway during the firework show the rains came and there was quite a downpour.  They kept up with the fireworks regardless, and even though I wish I could have heard the music it was a pretty good show.

 (My Mom and nieces)

 It rained on and off on Monday and Tuesday.  Before the trip I looked online and saw there would be rain.  My Mom was disappointed, but I was glad and told her rain equals lower line wait times, which held out to be true.

The temperatures stayed nice as well.

 (Though it seems strange writing this knowing how bad the rain has been this last week in California with flooding and sink holes.  Hope everyone in Cali is doing okay.)

 (Waiting in line for Alice in Wonderland.)

I regretted not going on Alice in Wonderland last November 2015, so I wanted to make sure this time we went at least once.  Did you know California's Disneyland is the only one that has Alice in Wonderland?  They don't have it in the other parks, unless I missed something, but I believe it's a Cali exclusive.

Anyhoo, when we got to the end of the line the ride shut down due to a technical issue.  Everyone in front of us left, but we decided to wait it out.  It was interesting watching the employees and mechanics go over things, turning the sound and lights off and then on again.  The ride was down about 40 minutes, and when it started again we were the first on the ride.

It's one of the better kid rides, and longer than Peter Pan.

 The Main Street Electrical Parade!  Yes, it was nostalgic.  And No, I didn't see it on Main Street.  Ironic when considering the blog post I wrote a while back talking about the importance of the Main Street parade being back on Disneyland's Main Street.

We watched it in Fantasyland, which was less crowded, and we had an amazing spot.  Later in the week I did see the beginning of the parade on Main Street while eating a late dinner at the Jolly Holiday, so it was seen from a distance.

Around the Alice portion I left with my 6 year old niece to go on Indiana Jones and Thunderbolt Mountain.  We had an hour to do both rides before the park closed and made it on both.

Talking about Indiana Jones, it was my niece's first time going on the ride.  I specifically told her nothing about it so she would be completely surprised.  She loved it, and said it was like going down a river.  I never thought about the ride like that, but river rafting comes to mind and that totally makes sense.  Indiana Jones is like river rafting without the water.

 Thank you for bringing back the original World of Color!!!

So good!!!

And so much better than the 60th anniversary whatever that was.

 The Disneyland Band was exceptional.  They're seriously amazing.

But it's Disneyland, big surprise, right?

 I built this little guy at the Star Trader store.  Cute, right?

 By the end of the week a bit of the Guardians of the Galaxy update to the Tower of Terror peeked through.  Seriously looking cool.  I hope it's fun.  Am I sad to see Twilight Zone go?  Not really, as the ride at Disney World is far superior.  Man, I screamed so much riding that version.  The Tokyo Disney Sea version has the cursed monkey antiquity theme, which is cool, so I think it's neat that there's going to be, at this time anyway, so many different versions of this ride.

 Our last day, Friday the 10th, turned out nice.

We did early entry into California Adventure and rode Soaring Over the World a couple times with prime front center seating both times.  (That ride is so awesome!!!!!)  Got fast passes to Radiator Spring Racers, as it was down that first hour.  Ate at the Rain Forest Cafe.  And by the late afternoon the rains started.

A lot of people seemed prepared with ponchos and umbrellas.

My Mom was doing photo stuff at the Kodak store while I took the nieces to peek in on the Tangled melodrama and then ride the Buzz Lightyear blasters.  My 5 year old niece didn't want to go on Star Tours again, so I got two more rides on that with my 6 year old niece via fast passes both times, with different segments on both.

We wore ponchos that I got off Amazon before the trip, which was originally intended for Splash Mountain, though we didn't use it on that ride.  Good thing we had the ponchos.  Both the firework show and Electrical Parade was canceled.

Though, a note about Splash Mountain.  My 5 year old niece was super excited that she was finally tall enough to ride that ride.  For months she exclaimed, "I'm tall enough to ride Splash Mountain!" like it was a badge of honor.  Man, she was prepared wearing her jacket fully zipped up, hoodie over her head.  She walked in line prepared like that.  I sat behind her, she was in front, and when we came down the huge drop she let out a cry at the bottom through big sobs, "That was so scary!!"  It was hilarious and sad all at the same time.  She liked it, but will never go on Splash Mountain again.

And check it out!  2 weeks and 2 days after getting this fun Disneyland balloon it's still floating!  You have no idea how happy this makes me.  So happy.  I'm just amazed this balloon survived the trip home!

P.S. The replaced Aladdin musical is better than Frozen.