As a pass holder we love going at night 90% of the time. Before Covid we would just go and have dinner, maybe do a ride or just get steps in walking the park. We just enjoyed going and not having to be an adult. Now it’s a pain, planning ahead getting a reservation. The spontaneity is gone and with it a bit of the magic.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Reservations are definitely a pain, if only because you've constantly got to be thinking a month ahead, keeping track of your current reservations, and needing to remember to make new ones after you use the previous ones.

@larrykramer2761

5 ай бұрын

I wish I could do that. I live an hour away (with no traffic) so I have to plan for the whole day. Doesn't make sense for us just for a couple hours.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

@@larrykramer2761 Same (but 95 minutes). And because of traffic, it’s impossible to leave any earlier than about 6-7 PM or it’ll take us twice as long to get home.

@toddreis1963

5 ай бұрын

I disagree with your thought on the reservations. My wife remembers the days when you’d stand out in the area waiting to get in and it was a mess. Sometimes you couldn’t get in at all. I think the reservation idea should stay in play. If you plan your vacation correctly you can be guaranteed to get in the park. There is so much going on in that convention area all the time.. so idk, plan well and you should be able to get into the park. I do agree with monitoring the lightening lanes or a second check point is a great idea..people skipping or crossing those lanes is not being policed at all by cast members..

@fsj197811

5 ай бұрын

I much prefer Galaxy's Edge at night, it's so pretty. But! Even if you have a pass parking is still going to cost, what, 35 or 40 dollars? I find having to make a reservation a turn off as well. No 'oh let's just go' anymore.

Disneyland used to offer one early morning entry with the purchase of a 3 day or more ticket when you stayed at a good neighbor hotel. They need to bring that back!!!

@MelissaAndAlex

5 ай бұрын

And it was an hour not the silly 30 min thing!

@DcBjørnson

5 ай бұрын

Those were the good times

@joephillips5594

5 ай бұрын

I remember those days!

Genie plus? Lightning lanes? Reservations? Empty venues? OMG the magic is certainly gone. We grew up in So Cal back in the 60's and my parents took us every summer. They still had the ABCDE paper tickets then To beat the crowds we went about 4pm and stayed till they closed at midnight. It was special. Even went there with my high school grad class. Classic rides like the Mad hatter, tea cups, the Jungle boats and the iconic Matterhorn...and later the haunted mansion and Pirates. Amazing. When you walked into that place it truly was the magic kingdom. No more. Walt Disney wouldn't believe it.

We just recently went to universal and I was so impressed with their employees. A lot of them were a lot more friendly than what I've encountered at Disneyland recently. I feel like the cast members need to be paid more and have their morale boosted so that they are in a better mood. I heard one cast member say "if you're hoping for magic, don't even bother!" to blue bayou walk ins. She was genuinely grumpy! Especially when they tell people to keep checking back for a chance. We had a reservation but I do know they sometimes take walk ins. So yeah, maybe it's an unpopular opinion but the cast members attitudes need to change.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

We've encountered a few grumpy CMs, but they aren't all like that. I can't say I've paid any particular attention to Universal's team members, but their theme parks are surpassing Disney, especially in Orlando.

@larrykramer2761

5 ай бұрын

they pay them too much already. it's a minimum wage job. That's why they cut costs everywhere else because the employees cost too much.

@Crabtopus515

5 ай бұрын

@@larrykramer2761they pay cast members the lowest amount they legally can, which is why 11% of them are homeless. Maybe don’t blame the people actually working and look at Bob igers 40 million dollar salary, which is 535x what he pays his average employee

Genie plus/lightning lane is absolutely broken. Amazing how FastPass and MaxPass worked fine but lightning lane is a mess. The procedure is terrible...

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Exactly this. MaxPass was paid. Granted it was just a digital upgrade for the old FastPass. But it worked just fine. The only thing that makes these two programs different is the mentality behind how to handle the lines.

@talax2633

5 ай бұрын

@@SoCalDisneyDad There are actually a few differences between MaxPass and Genie+. 1) MaxPass was a paid option, but you could still get regular fastpasses for free, and thus you were still competing with everyone in the park for the fastpasses. Genie+ is the only way to get Lightning Lanes now (plus the Individual LL). 2) Maxpass you could get multiple rides on the SAME attraction during the day, Genie+ is one specific attraction per day per person. I.e. you can only ride Space Mountain once per day with Genie+, while with Maxpass you could ride it multiple times a day with Maxpass, if tickets were available. 3) Maxpass had a 1.5 hour maximum wait before you could get another Maxpass, Genie+ is 2 hour wait. 4) Genie+, because it is paid only, seems to prioritize the LL a bit more than Maxpass. 5) You were able to add Maxpass to your annual pass for a one time fee (at least certain types of annual passes). For Genie+, if you want it with an annual pass, it's a purchase for each day you want to use it. There are also differences between Genie+ in DL and in WDW as well (when you can first book your first LL, whether you can choose a return time, etc.). Please note that original FastPass, FastPass+ (in WDW), and MaxPass all gave those users priority over standby. FastPass and Maxpass was typically around 4 fastpass users to 1 standby user ratio, unless it was busy, and they could raise it to 10 fastpass to 1 standby, or ever higher at worst times. Genie+ seems to be AT LEAST 4 to 1, but seems to go higher more quickly (just from my experience at both parks.) All in all, Genie+ in MANY ways is inferior to what Maxpass gave you.

Something needs to change to DAS (the disability service)! For those who don't know, this service is mainly for guests who can't wait in lines for long waits for multiple reasons. When using DAS, you get a call back time that equals the amount of time you'd wait in the current line, but you can spend that time relaxing elsewhere. But when you come back to get into line, they just send you through Lightning Lane, which there are many times that it can be a 30+ minute wait. You may not think that's a lot, but the whole point of DAS is again, for people who CAN'T wait for long periods, and usually more than 15 mins can cause issues for that guest. And again, this is after we've already waited for the full time (or more as you get an hour time to come back after the minimum) we would have if we were in the standby line, now to have to wait even longer due to high LL volume... DAS needs a seperate line!!!

If I had my way I would've changed Splash Mountain to have a Bambi theme. I think it's a better theme for critter country, and I think the three drops would've broken up those iconic scenes nicely. Especially ending with the jump down the waterfall to escape the fire. It could've looked brilliant and had a strong pro environment sentiment. But I also know Bambi is one of Disney's least popular properties, so I know they never would've done it.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Bambi was one of my first Disney movies ever! It's always got a special place in my heart, but I don't think it gets watched much these days. I'm pretty sure my kids have never seen it. That would have been a great idea! I still can't get over there being no hills in the Bayou and yet we have a big mountain. It totally breaks the immersion for me.

@hazelleblanc8969

5 ай бұрын

Damn...that would have been amazing.

I agree with all 12, that’s why we are not renewing our passes that expire next week. It will be a long time before I come back and I am local.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

That’s sad to hear, but it’s also not the first time I’ve heard it, which is sad in its own right.

I was disappointed when I spent mostly all afternoon looking for postcards and put it in the mail box at the park, to find out they do not stamp them anymore. The magic has definitely gone down.

\Whwn I visited for my birthday in September, I was making a purchase in the store over by Grizzly peak and a 2nd cast member(not the one ringing up my order) Told me the phone was for me and handed me a corded phone, I was so confused and frankly I havent used a corded phone in 15+ years. BUT it was amazing! On the phone was GOOFY singing me happy birthday!! This is one of those "free' disney magic things that should be done more often :) It cost Disney nothing and made my day!

I agree on archaic bag check. I come to the parks with my wallet, phone, and hat but have to wait in lines while security checks 60 backpacks, 40 purses, and 150 strollers.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

They used to have a bag-free line, but they got rid of it. And now, though I didn't mention it, if you try to walk past the person in front of you whose bag is huge and is taking forever, the security guard practically yells at you if you put up any resistance to their "return to your spot in line." I understand the safety aspect, but this person has 15 pockets and a stroller and I can be walking through the scanner right now.

@larrykramer2761

5 ай бұрын

They should limit the size of bags and/or make them be see through. Or better yet just get rid of the check. It's ridiculous. If you really wanted to sneak something through it wouldn't be that hard. It's just safety theatre.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

@@larrykramer2761 I don’t like the clear bag thing. My wife gets embarrassed any time she has to take clear bags to ball games and she needs lady products. It’s not a good solution at all. At WDW, you can literally just walk through with your bags and the scanner can tell the different between your keys and a gun or knife. I don’t know how, but it can.

@aiver.a

5 ай бұрын

They need to bring the check scanners from Walt Disney world to Disneyland! People just walk through them and they scan your belongings. Takes less time

@blue81blue81

5 ай бұрын

Got no problem w the bag checks/security measures. Required at most events these days. It's a pain in the ass but necessary. There's evil in the world folks...in case you haven't noticed.

I appreciate how thorough and analytical you always are, thanks!! I hope someone at Disney watches this😁🤞🏼

But you can’t just “walk on” with Genie plus. You have to pick a time. I feel like that’s fair and good for people that like to plan. I think the real crime at Disney parks is the mediocre food and lack of a decent cup of coffee. Love the videos, though. Nothin but love. 🤙🏽

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

You do have to pick a return time, but while you're waiting you're doing other things, so it's not a real "wait." The coffee thing doesn't bother me since I don't drink it. 😂 But from what I hear, their coffee is not all that great, and it's all just the same bland stuff at every restaurant unless you fork over for the few specialty beverages floating around (or go to Starbucks).

@just_inhawaii

5 ай бұрын

@@SoCalDisneyDad yeah. I get it. Hopefully they come up with something similar to the old fast pass system again. 🤙🏽

@benmonroe_the_1

5 ай бұрын

Yeah, essentially just having Starbucks stinks. At least the Cocoa Puffs Cold Brew is decent.

@kcomeaux2

5 ай бұрын

Omg, agree with you on the coffee! All coffee options are abysmal and too weak

As someone who has never been to but plans to go to WDW in the next few years, I really enjoyed hearing the comparisons. The details you covered are not something I have heard any other vlogger cover before.

I get why some are frustrated with Genie+. For me, it’s an absolute must. I live out of state and only visit once a year, so I want to maximize my time/value when I’m at the parks. If reservations and Genie+ were limited in a way where they actually reduced crowds and wait times, I feel like guests would be happier. But that’s not lining The Mouse’s pocket, so, we continue to pay to play. 🤷‍♀️

I don't know, I feel just get rid of lightning lane all together. I remember right after covid, everything was standby only. The lines looked deceptively long. However, everything moved sooooo much faster. I enjoyed my time at the park a million times more not being prioritized over lightning lane.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Completely agree. But the reason I said it can’t happen is more of a business side of things than it has guest experience. Provost Park Pass did a recent video explaining Disney and the Stock Market and Genie+ was his case product without outright saying it. And he explained, very well, that there’s no going back.

@AuroraMist01

5 ай бұрын

​@@SoCalDisneyDadyeah I've come to terms LL is here to stay. I'm giving in to purchase Genie + here on out. I was getting tired of the standby neglect lol

I’m more than happy to pay for Genie+ and LL. People with annual passes are there all the time. Try traveling and spending money on airlines and hotels. You better believe I’ll pay more not to wait in super long lines. Annual pass holders will be there multiple times and get their chances to do everything. As much as you go for your annual pass, you get to go super cheap in the end. I’m sick of annual pass holders complaining.

I was also upset at first when I heard you have to pay for genie plus and as a past annual pass holder it does seem unfair to have to pay additionally to not spend your day in lines. That being said, we no longer have annual pass and have been to the parks 3 times in the past 2 years and love that genie plus is exclusive and you get your money’s worth for the extra 💰 spent. Maybe a compromise would be Disney including genie plus rides and no extra charge on annual pass holder days a few days a month or certain days of the week, etc?

#12 is so true. I thought it was just me who felt that way, so I am glad to hear you say it. We were at Disneyland a couple of weeks ago and I felt the nostalgia of the park, but didn't feel 'magic.' I don't know if there is any other way to say it.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

It is hard to put into words, but it does just have a different feel to it these days. The “specialness” of Disney is fading. Some of its cost cutting, but it’s not all that.

Thank you for your honesty regarding the genie lightening lane situation. We appreciate you being so candid. Hope to see you in the park!

@vegasdisneytravelers3289

5 ай бұрын

Loved the whole video and agree 100% with your thoughts. We agree re reservations as Las Vegas residents who are close by. Agree with the security situation. Compliments to you on your videos!

Liked seeing the picture of best western so I can show my daughter just how close our hotel will be to Disneyland. For a person who has spent ALOT of time at disneyworld those walking distance motels on harbor boulevard are a real revelation!

The "You must buy an upgrade if you want to ride anything" is why I don't have any enthusiasm to go to amusement parks. Something you forgot to mention when saying how 'cheap' the fast lane (whatever) pass is at Disneyland is that they have the most expensive tickets just to get in the gate.

I agree with the lightening line problem! It’s really bad and some people can’t spend an extra $120 for family of 4 when they are already spending a lot. Plus it’s not fair for little kids to have to wait sooo much longer in the regular line while a TON of other people go on ahead .They really do treat regular line like second class citizens.

Thank you for your videos! So helpful and fun to watch 😄

Yay Traver! I was so excited to see you made a dedicated video to answer my question ☺️ I completely agree - especially with the changed you would make to Genie +. Thank you for always listening to what your viewers want to see from you!

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for suggesting it! It was a fun one, and I was thinking about the Genie+ point for awhile. I almost made a video about that at the beginning of the year, but it so appropriately fit in here, so once again, Thank you!

@ashleyread2680

5 ай бұрын

@@SoCalDisneyDad absolutely! Well said and well though out! I’d love to see a video on your ideal day in Disneyland if you were able to completely skip lines and not have to wait for food ☺️

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

@@ashleyread2680 Your wish is my command. Come back Friday. 🤣 Friday’s video isn’t quite what I’d call the “perfect day” because we were rushing too much, but it’s as close to what you’re asking for as I’ll likely do for a little while. Might do the more laid back approach in June sometime.

Last time I was at Disney me and my 5 year old son were there later and as we were getting into line for Snow White a cast member waved us over and let us go into line through the exit, we were so charmed! My son also got a incredicoaster pass for our next trip because he was a hair too short!

I love your videos. You helped me plan our trip earlier this month and I watch every time you load to plan next year.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Omg yes!! They need a Lion King themed ride! Or even I always thought maybe a Aladdin magic carpet ride, a thrill ride through the cave of wanders 👍

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

The Aladdin ride would be great for a space like the Fantasyland Theater if they want to repurpose that land for something else. Not saying they are. Don’t know what they’re doing with it now. But that would be a good place for it in Fantasyland.

@karennovak7810

5 ай бұрын

It’s always surprised me that with Aladdin released in ‘92 and then 2 sequels right after, that Disneyland doesn’t have anything to show for it there

@maiyang1987my

5 ай бұрын

@@karennovak7810 For reals! It would be an great addition to Fantasyland or even at the Adventureland

Hello, I'm an annual pass holder and I come from North California. I actually reallyyy LOVEEE GENIE PLUS! I don't come to the park often, and when I do it's usually a BIG HUGE VACATION TRIP and I spend hundreds of dollars at Disneyland kindly , I promise I'm not entitled, I am just trying to enjoy as many rides as I can get on since I don't go often only every couple of months!!! I also save up for a long time for my phew trips a year. Sorry that you disagree ☹️ I REALLY LOVE GENIE PLUS and I purchase it every time I go so my trip can be worth it, and I'm glad they have it. You are very lucky that you go often, if I lived close to the park I would gladly wait in line because i can just go next time often. GENIE PLUS IS AMAZING!!!! And I hope it never goes away 😂😏😬

@GusPetchPI

5 ай бұрын

I’ll back you up on this. I think it’s a bit unfair to label Genie+ purchasers as “entitled.” They’re simply people who have purchased a product that provides good value for them, and they’re using it. And boy does it provide good value as far as I’m concerned. That’s my advice to anyone spending a day in the park (pass holder or no, big party or small): Get Genie+!

@disneylandlux

5 ай бұрын

I’m exactly like you - we have Magic Keys and we fly and stay in hotels and every trip costs a fortune so we are really happy to save some time. Every day at Disney is so expensive anyway - so Genie plus is a life saver.

I was just thinking where is my daily/weekly video of disneyland then boom here it says. Im grateful for your hardwork in these videos!

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

I’ve switched back to Monday, Wednesday, Friday for my sanity. 🤪 Doing 5 videos a week requires about 70 hours/week of work.

The fastpass thing is completely wrong. They prioritized fastpass users back then too. Perhaps not as much as they do now, but they definitely let more fastpass users through. Radiator Springs racers, you could easily get back then 5 fastpass to 1 standby or even worse.

Have you ever asked Molly in DCA (she’s on the bike with mail)if she has mail for you? It was Disney Magic!

Great video ❤ broad perspective and very constructive without being too negative. I’m visiting in April for the first time and your channel has been my saving grace!!

What a great list. Disney needs to step up. My one complaint is the lack of lighting at night. Compare Christmas time to any other time of year. The rest of the year, nighttime is bland. They have so many cool water features that could be brought to life at night. Plus, you can barely see the island it's so dark. With today's technology of LED lighting, they can program color changes to suit the time of year and different holidays.

20:00 that’s sad. A cm gave my daughter an ice cream when we went to Aulani for her birthday a couple of years ago. That made her so happy. She still talks about it.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Now that you mention it, we did have a cast member, about 2 years ago maybe, that gave Benjamin a free cookie on his Birthday from the Jack Jack Cookie Num Nums (and those aren't small or cheap cookies). She heard him ask for it and I either told him no or that we'd get him a snack later, or something, and she walked over with one and gave it to him. That's probably the last time I remember getting some Disney magic. You used to be able to get free birthday desserts at the sit-down restaurants, but those are gone now.

@ZannaRussell

5 ай бұрын

Re: birthday pin, etc. cheaters - this is why we can't have nice things. 😢

I just visited Disneyland and DCA for the first time last week and wore a first-time visitor button throughout the day at each park. Only a small number of cast members acknowledged me as a first-timer. Definitely agree with you that some guests may have abused the buttons, and so cast members now just choose to ignore them. I did want to say thank you, Traver! Prepped for my trip by watching your videos. Keep up the great work!

Last year when I there for my birthday I was giving a cupcake at a quick service restaurant Also a cast member played Happy Birthday on a trash can as I was waiting to get on a ride. It was awesome

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

I'm glad to hear the magic is still there for some people. We didn't get any birthday perks this year (or last year). We used to get desserts at the sit down meals for special occasions, but even that hasn't happened recently.

The bag check is so real. My friend and I were at Disney yesterday and we never bring bags. We got stuck behind this lady and her family bc the zipper on her bag was jammed. My friend asked if we could walk by bc we had no bags and the cast member said no with a not so great attitude. So we stood there behind this lady for like 5 minutes while she tried to open her bag. Our entire line stopped bc they wouldn’t let ppl without bags through. There needs to be a no bag line bc we waited for almost 20 minutes just to get through security when we could have just walked through and gotten on the tram in seconds. Terrible system lol

@SoCalDisneyDad

4 ай бұрын

It really is. They used to have a no bag line too. I don’t know why they got rid of it.

I really agree with the nickel and diming we haven't been in so long because of the price of it. We used to try to go every other year we have been since early 2020 because we can't afford to pay for all the extras that we would need to pay for

I hope you’ll keep us informed if you see LL lanes starting to get better or worse as the new DAS changes roll out.

I was really frustrated with trying to meet characters this time. Every time we tried to meet a character they were just about to go on a break but “check back in 30 minutes”. We tried 3 times to meet Iron Man. I guess for characters that have lines to meet, a virtual cue might be nice or something. I’m not sure. I know everyone wants to meet the characters, but I don’t like having to be pushy to stop the ones roaming. I waited for a turn to take a picture with Jack Sparrow and a lady jumped in front of me and then he left after a photo with her. It almost seems like if you have manners you get overlooked. If you are willing to run to lines and push people out if the way, you’re fine 😂.

New Ride Idea #1: A rollercoaster experience, themed as Izma's Secret Lab, from The Emperor's New Groove. This could involve an omni-mover like system, but with varying speed and intensity at points. New Ride Idea #2: UP! - Adventure to Rainbow Falls. Riders would be in seats around the edge of the house. This would be a ride akin to Sorin, but set in the world of UP. You would sail out of the city. Up through the clouds and into a storm. You would arrive at Rainbow Falls, and be confronted by the dog fighters. There would be an exciting chase and an escape. Finally, you sail back home to just outside the starting city for landing and ice cream (sold just outside the ride). New Ride Idea #3: Encanto. This would be an interactive fun house-like "ride" with all the Disney magic.

Having a higher price for “premium” ride pass systems is better for regular guests. If you price the skip the line pass at $150 or more, like Universal, then very few people purchase it. The fewer guests purchasing the pass, means less effect on “regular” visitors.

We’ve been to WDW many times and last week we finally made it to DL/DCA. We had a great time and noticed many differences, but the two that bothered me were 1. the amount of line jumping/budging for almost every attraction. People saying, “my mom’s up there” or “my kids are up there.” In WDW this is a huge no no and can get you kicked out of the line (or even the park) but at DL/DCA the cast members either don’t care or don’t notice. 2. The restaurants/shops in Downtown Disney don’t take Disney gift cards. I understand why, but after being in Disney Springs so much, this was an unwelcome surprise. That being said, we loved our time in Walt’s park and would still go back.

Just got back from Disneyland, and the old saying "you get what you pay for" applies. We had Genie Plus, and it's worth its weight in gold. We saved hours not waiting in line. My time is worth the extra money.

I’m going to disagree with the Universal comment about still waiting 30 mins with their version of fast pass. We went during Veterans Day weekend and bought the Universal express passes. We didn’t wait more than 5 mins for any lines even that had 60 min+ standby waits. Totally worth it

@SoCalDisneyDad

4 ай бұрын

I was referring more to Orlando. You don’t even need Express at Hollywood 95% of the time.

Disney also needs to separate the DAS and the LL.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

That’s very true. That was the primary problem we had with Peter Pan this last week. It was posted at 35 minutes. Took us about 58 in the end because of a constant stream of DAS/Wheelchair return. You’ll see that on Friday’s video.

@ohplezz

5 ай бұрын

Yes, there are a lot of scammers who use das now as their free fast pass system.

@NekoVamp13

5 ай бұрын

I heard Universal requires medical proof for their disability program, and while that can cause some issues in itself (depending how much eveidence they want to require, or if it can just be like a certified Doctor's letter stating why you need the service), I think that may need to be what Disney goes to, because right now, disabled people aren't getting their needs met. Disneyland is a bit more difficult since part of the DAS service is for mobility needs, since most of the cues aren't accessible, and anyone can just rent a scooter, (which sounds like you may have experienced on Peter Pan), so it may be something they have to change to an actual reservation service with medical proof, rather than the first-come-first-served renting they're doing now. It's not an easy fix because there will be people who abuse it, but meanwhile, people like me suffer because of being forced to do LL...

I went 2 days ago, purchased genie+, rope dropped Indiana Jones, Jungle cruise, Pirates. Went to Rise, it was down. I was "saving" my lightning lane passes for later in the day. We did LL on Runaway Railway, followed by Buzz Lightyear and Thunder Mountain. Thank goodness we did those 3! By afternoon, could not LL Pirates, Indiana Jones, Runaway Railroad, space Mountain, (Bobsleds were closed for renovation), we had waited in line for Small World to pass time for our LL to be valid on Runaway RR. So, only things available for LL were Autopia, Small World, and Smugglers Run, which we just did single rider anyway. I find Genie+ is truly just line cutting for the privileged.

I’m with you on the DL security situation. Still using wedding rental tents instead of permanent structures, and no signs to help people prepare for the process. Very amateurish.

We went in June of last year for my daughter's 7th and the Magic was still prevalent. She proudly wore her pins (first visit and birthday) and was greeted quite often by CM's and characters. She was so taken aback by being singled out and told "Happy Birthday" by Anna and Elsa that she didn't wear her pins the next day at DCA ;) We had custodial staff come over and chat with use while we were sitting in DD just relaxing. Had a waiter at out Dessert Party for World of Color tell our kids that he was now one of their "Uncles" or "Tito" and he was pretty busy since they were filming some commercial behind us that he had a small role in. We didn't experience line cutting much if at all. The only real drag was the stupid wait for Radiator Springs Racers for Standby, that was miserable and while most of us enjoyed the ride, I'll certainly not be doing that as a group again.

I think the biggest mistake that people make with genie plus is 1) buying it in advance and 2) using it with a park hopper and 3) wasting LL during the magic hour. During that magic hour after rope drop, the lines are low enough that the strategy should be to ride as many rides as you can without having to use genie plus, then use it later on to ride those bigger rides again. Don't waste a LL on a ride that's a 20 minute wait or less!! If the wait times stay low, then you may not need to purchase genuine plus that day at all. Also, stack those lightning lanes for those bigger rides immediately in the morning because the lightning lane return times will get pushed further and further up back as the park gets busier. This is the reason why I don't use genie plus with the hopper because you can not reserve a LL unless you are in that park. So, by the time you hop and get to the 2nd park, all the LL are pushed back too late, and you will get stuck applying the 2 hour rule. Not to mention rides like radiator springs racers will be completely sold out by then.

@SoCalDisneyDad

4 ай бұрын

You can reserve lightning lanes for the other park. It’s just a pain to do it. You have to completely reconfigure the “My Day” in the standard Genie app to the other park and then it will let you book over there. It should be a lot simpler to do. But it even takes me a little bit to figure it out every time.

Magic bands are sooooo much better at WDW than DL. Two key features I missed are: 1. Use as room key. No losing the card or using up the phone's battery life. 2. Automatically upload ride photos to your photo book. None of this write down the number and navigate through the system to find your photo.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

#1 I don’t know why they haven’t done already and they keep claiming it’s coming. (That and paying with it), but I’m not holding my breath. #2 is a bit more complicated given the RFID scanning necessary. I remember WDW had a whole bunch of tech installed to make this possible. (It also tracks you, if I recall, which is a bit invasive, but I believe they use that data to determine ride popularity and traffic). They are lower concerns as most guests don’t use them, but definitely worth bringing up all the same!

@veronicareitherreese6671

5 ай бұрын

@SoCalDisneyDad #1 - The hotel said no the tech wasn't installed yet. Bummer. #2 - Should have done both at the same time if Disney wants to sell ride photos. Oh well.

Total agreement on 2nd validation point! Just flew back today. A large group jumped in on Ariel behind us, and a few of us spoke up. They felt quite entitled.

This is a very interesting video, which i didn't think would be relevant to my one and only upcoming visit, however some of the negatives have highlighted some of the issues i may need to be aware of for my trip.

I think an Aladdin ride would be awesome. To ride on carpet over Agrabah, encounter the Genie and Rajah. It would be awesome to have a whole land of Agrabah.

Disneyland needs to go back to being as good as it was in the 2010s

Omg the frenzy at Disneyland is wild! I’ve only been once, but I was definitely not prepared for that level of…let’s go with “passion” 💀💀 I thought someone was going to get hurt!

Park ticket price, Annual Passes, Reservation System, Genie Plus, Lightning Lane, & Stupid DEI infecting the Most Magical Place on Earth!!!

Many valid points, Traver. Did they get rid of the free Fastpass merely because they were missing a revenue opportunity, or were there so many people using it, it lost its effectiveness? BRING BACK THE PEOPLEMOVER!

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

It came from the Chapek era, and he was all about removing free stuff and pushing the cost off onto the customer. Iger actually reversed some of these things, like free parking is back at Disney hotels in Orlando (not that that helps here). But Genie+ is not something they can just undo. It's here to stay.

IMHO, one word - Reservations. What the heck is up with that? It simply means that Management can figure out how many CMs they can send home as early as possible throughout the day. Nothing to do with what would mostly benefit Guests. Nope! It's what Disney Management benefits from because most of them are unqualified to run a paddle-boat let alone a Disney ride. So, the reservations system does the job of incompetent Leads/Managers. We had APs and FAPs for over 30 years. We have not had FAPs for the past 3 years. FAP Guests especially used the magical "spontaneity" variable so they could say to their neighbor, Hey Bob and Jean, you want to go to EPCOT? Sure! That has gone. Why? The requirement for reservations!

Also mad respect for you for speaking the truth on some of these issues that need changed. A lot of other content creators will say nothing even remotely criticizing.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Disney doesn’t pay me or give me anything. I have no reason not to. Doubt that would change even if they did. The vast majority of things I say on the channel are positive towards Disney. It’s still my favorite theme park. But they need to be aware of how the public feels. Not that the powers that be actually watch my videos. A few cast members? Yes. I’ve seen their comments. But I doubt I’m even on Disney’s radar yet.

I absolutely agree with you that Disney doesn’t have money to spend right now, but I differ with you about Chapek’s blame for Disney being where they are. Chapek was trying to moderate Disney, and was undercut at every turn…

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Some of it was Iger’s fault early on, too. The undercutting. Because Iger wasn’t ready to let go. I’ll give you that. But Chapek only cared about the bottom line. Most of the magic disappeared, free perks were taken away, all under his watch.

Lots of good ideas for some much needed improvements at Disneyland!

Completely agree on the special moments/magic- I feel like the cast is generally not as stoked seeming as they used to be, so they may need to overhaul employee experience

This was a great video and I completely agree with all these. It just makes sense!

Multiple times, especially Space Mountain, I’ve watched CM’s hold up Genie plus to dump hundreds of stand-by in, even though Genie plus line was backed up. They still don’t use it properly. I’ve seen the Genie plus line also get longer than stand-by, usually Monsters INC, that should never happen.

Great video Only thing I’d say is at least for me at USH they also heavily favor express pass users Like if mummy is an hour normally you obit wait 10 maybe 15 mins if the express line is long. At least from my experience So at least from what I’ve seen all parks now just want the people paying to skip the line to have the best experience.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

I think it’s still a pretty normal 50/50 split at Universal. What makes the line so short is it costs $150 and a lot fewer people buy it so their lines are shorter. When we used Express at Orlando, we still had to wait 30 minutes in some cases. But it beat 90 minutes by a long shot. At Disney, it’s not unusual for Smugglers to get a 90 minute wait, but there’s almost no one in the standby queue. Instead, the lightning lane is so backed up that they’re letting in 4 standby guests for every 96 lightning laners.

When we waited 2 hrs in line for Radiator Springs they announced that LL guests get priority seating every 15 minutes. A woman on a scooter in the standby line was about to pass out due to the heat and was taken out. We had out of town guests so single rider wasn’t an option for us at the time. We had already spent so much money on tix that LL was too much for us. I agree that they should go back to the 50/50 system.

Hi, Thank You for this video, (I think!) We are coming over from the UK as we had such a great trip in DIsneyworld last Christmas, we came for three weeks and was planning another three week vacation to Disneyland, we also went to Hawaii last year which is quite far from the UK but what Hawaii didn't have was that Disney magic that we experienced, we could still change our trip to go either back to Hawaii maybe Maui or somewhere else entirely. We did have our hearts set on Disneyland but we would be so disappointed if there was no magic. We didn't get lightning lane at Disneyworld, we went on everything at least once, saw the fireworks, the parades, it was not needed, we were there from rope drop til close, it was so much fun. Clare and Susan from the UK.

i personally don't see the issue with genie plus and lighting lane. its not that the buyers of genie plus are entitled ,its more like we saw the waiting time and would rather not wait so we buy the the lightning lane to get on faster , we honestly just want to ride more rides quicker. I'm not saying some people don't overdo it but if i pay $20 a person to get on racers , then yeah i should be able to get on the ride faster then the others who didn't purchase lighting lane. if it wasn't meant to be that way then Disney should fix that but I'm sure that is how they intended it to be. if people don't like the wait times just purchase lightning lane.

You have the best videos you have everything I need to know for tips on what I should do at Disney land

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

I watch a couple of Disneyland vloggers; Provost, Best Life and Beyond, and my favorite SoCal Disney Dad. What I’ve picked up is no annual pass holder likes LL. If I lived close enough to be an AP, I would probably hate LL too. I get it. But for a family that goes to Disneyland once a year (at most) Genie + is a must. I wasn’t aware how Disneyland prioritizes the lines. In no way does my family feel entitled while using it. We’re just trying to maximize our short time at the park because we wont be back until next year. Thanks for the video.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

I like Genie+ when I’m using it. And I do want to clarify that I didn’t mean ALL people who use it are entitled. Not at all. I don’t get a “holier than thou” attitude when I buy it, thinking I’m better than any other guests. Though I do take A LOT of enjoyment bypassing the line. I only implied that the loud few who rant and rave and complain are who Disney caters too. These loud few make up less than 2% of all Genie+ users. But the squeaky wheel gets the grease as they say. It’s always a few who ruin it for the many. In this case, it’s a few people who can’t wait 10 minutes when the standby is 60 because they think they deserve to walk right on. How dare they even have to wait at all. They think LL should walk them straight onto the ride without stopping.

The Reservations. I like the lines call me crazy. But I do. I would also change all the phone use. You're at Disneyland ENJOY it and stay OFF the phone.

I appreciate your comments. However, I disagree on one item. I believe that the Genie+ purchasers SHOULD get to the rides much, much faster. That's the whole point. I live in Kansas, so when I go to Disney it's very special and rare. We are locked into just a few days to get all the rides and attractions done. If we can't skip the lines, it simply isn't possible. We pay all that extra money so that we have that privilege. We save our money all year so that we can have a couple of special Disney days. If the people in the standby line don't like it, they can save up money and purchase Genie+. That may sound harsh, but it's the reality that Disney has forced on us. I wish it was free, like it used to be, but that ship has sailed. So, that means you have to find a way to make it work within the expensive confines of the system. My daughter was a cast member at Disneyworld. She explained how important it is to get the Genie+ people on the rides, since they have paid extra for it. Anyway, I didn't mean to ramble. Thanks for all your hard work putting your videos together. I find them very helpful.

I mean, you could do a whole Lion King land… multiple attractions, shows, meet n greets. It would be sick.

We went Sunday. Very disappointed in the percentage genie/standbye for ride entrance. With two little kids we didn’t want to zig zag all over the park with genie. Having known what I know now, it’s a must on top of the $1,000 we paid just to walk in.

because you paid for it you do deserve something. they should make genie+ free and go back to the old fastpass 50/50 split

I definitely feel like I HAVE to buy genie + when we go or we will not get nearly as much done. It stinks. Would love to not feel like we have to spend 180 bucks extra just to get a fair shake at the rides.

I disagree with you about genie plus. Because Disneyland is filled with 50% season passholders this gives a chance for people like myself that don’t get to visit but once every couple years a chance to ride the rides. I believe what could be done is season passes need to cost much more money to cut down on season passholders and then there wouldn’t need to be a genie plus.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

My problem isn't with Genie+, it's with the treatment of non-Genie+ guests. Whether it's a 90/10 split or a 95/5 split, or a 50/50 between the two lines isn't going to persuade passholders to buy Genie+. The fact is, we can't afford it on the regular. But the Genie+ line has 50 people in it as opposed to the standby with 400 people in it. That's the real benefit (I obviously made those numbers up). Lightning Lanes are shorter lines and that's all the benefit that's needed. Disney treating standby like they don't matter at all is demeaning and doesn't leave a good taste in the mouth of anyone who didn't buy Genie+ And the key to having fewer passholders is actually not to raise the prices, but to remove the monthly payment system. If you required all passholders to pay upfront instead of $100/month or whatever it costs, there'd be a HUGE drop off of passholders. I also believe that removing the monthly payment method would eliminate a lot of the really whiny and entitled passholders we call "passholes."

@claudiailopez

5 ай бұрын

Genie plus also a problem for me

@ravetricks8529

5 ай бұрын

@@SoCalDisneyDad. Great points. I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work.

Disney has lost almost all of its charm. Not what Walt envisioned. Was a pass holder for years..no more.

Genie, lightning lane, etc... Face it people, Disneyland is there for one purpose and one purpose only: To get your money. Those additions make them a LOT of money so there's no way they'll ever get rid of them. Parking is gross especially if you just want to show up for a few hours and not spend the entire day there.

They need to pay their CM's properly so they can be properly staffed with people who are happy to be there. Then they need to change EE back every day at both parks, include some of the good neighbor hotels (make a deal with the Marriot Group, etc.). Finally it needs to be an hour. Period. This alternating parks, 30 minutes early nonsense is useless. I also agree that Genie+ is a scurge and shouldn't have been implemented by Marketing over the objections of the Imagineers and Park Operations teams.

Because I can… I would pay 2k if I could go whenever I want! For me Disney isn’t a plan, it’s an urge.give that back

4. We experienced the same mad dash during rope drop at Disney World too unfortunately both at magic kingdom for seven dwarfs mine train and at Epcot for Remys.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

That’s odd. Last couple of times I’ve gone, it’s been very organized and calm. Cast members leading a single file line to the attractions.

@motrya0304

5 ай бұрын

I think the single file system is only at HS. We also saw the mad dash at MK.

I can't be the only one that sees little to no value in Autopia. It takes up SO much real estate and the space could be better used. Like Tomorrow Land could better benefit from TRON if we are going to be future oriented

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

The trouble is, as I mentioned in the video, any replacement of Autopia would require the removal of the Disneyland Monorail. The monorail track is too ingrained in that area. Nothing, except a similar track-based car ride could replace Autopia without also removing the Monorail.

I think the Disneyland forward project like you mentioned is holding up a lot of the improvements right now. Security, Tomorrowland projects ete…. As things are going to change maybe even area of security will change…. But I agree with lots of these things you mentioned. We do pay for genie plus… we are out of state can’t go often so we feel that since we paid extra our wait shouldn’t be long. I dislike though that I feel like I have to pay it because like you said standby stinks now! Just a way for them to make money.

Omg!!!! You are so right they are missing a Lion King ride

Convert the PeopleMover track to ... Incredibles pods. Boom!

I hate genie plus. I feel max pass was great. But it’s priced too low so too many people can get it. And as far as them prioritizing it, that’s not entitlement. You literally do deserve to be priority because you paid for it

Does anyone know if Goofys Kitchen is closed from 28 March 2024? There are no reservations times available - even though the days are open.

Thanks. I’d add a droid racers Star Wars ride if I could. I guess Star tours kind of has a droid racing scene, but I would update it

I agree on everything you said! I would only add one other thing and that is getting rid of the turnstiles! Not plus size friendly, even my husband had difficulties and he’s not that big.

Fill the empty buildings! I agree with that so much. Also, I think all of tomorrow and needs updating badly. Autopia gets so much real estate and it's awful, my kids don't even like it. It should be themed for the future but it is themed for 50 years ago. That whole area just seems neglected.

13:45 shhheeeesh I thought that was you at first...LOL.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

🤣😂 I wish.

Very interesting vlog, and i agree with all 12 of these topics. Especially the reservation system. Its just not fair when you have to make reservations ahead of time. I mean things happen at anytime. You can get into a car accident the day of, or get drastically sick all of a sudden. And if you absolutely cant show up you get penalties??!!. I just dont think thats right. Back in the day you were able to just go whenever you want and if you decide not to go you never had to worry about any penalty

What we need are less entitled magic key holders 😵‍💫. genie plus is a money grab, but it’s not the genie plus customers’ fault if they get preferential treatment

I would get rid of both parks and just combine Disneyland and California adventure because having two parks is a scam to consumers

I think with a lot of the changes mentioned and the standby guests being treated poorly they are tolerable maybe one day every year but going often to Disneyland I need more luxury and pampering than that. I work too hard to feel like a vacation is “ survival “

Hello socal disney dad. Love your videos. My question is Do you know what stores or areas in disneyland offer or have the Penny press/press coin machine? Do you know how much it is? Thank you so much.

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

They’re in most of the shops I think. Not sure on price. If it’s supply your own penny, it’s 50 cents. But I know some places (maybe mostly WDW, not Disneyland) have done $1 penny presses, but the penny is already in the machine on those ones. And they’re usually automatic, too, not hand crank. I would plan for both scenarios just to be safe. But I think Disneyland is mostly all the hand crank variety.

They should do a 3 to 2 ratio or something of the sort. Half the car lightning and half the car standard line. I think it also depends on the cast member there too. Universal is very good at making sure they make it as even a mix as possible. Purchasing wise, universal fluctuates per day and season. I dont buy it, i stay on site at one of the 3 hotels that give it to you on your key card lol

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

The free Express Pass is an Orlando hotels thing. We don’t have that offer out here in California. There are only two hotels in close proximity to the park, neither owned by universal, and they don’t offer any special perks (except close walking distance and free shuttle).

@katrinasheerer-scentsystar5205

5 ай бұрын

@SoCalDisneyDad yea! I found that out when planning last year for our upcoming DL trip. We decided to opt out of the fast pass cause we have been to orlando universal far too many times that we felt it wasnt necessary. But you are 100% right i forgot about universal hollywood for a moment lol Also! Quite interestingly, we are flying from Pittsburgh!!! First time to DL so I have been studying by watching allllll your videos!!

@SoCalDisneyDad

5 ай бұрын

@@katrinasheerer-scentsystar5205 Awesome. Hope you have a great visit.