Have Disney Parks Become Too Complicated in 2022?

Park Reservations, Disney Genie +, Lightning Lanes, Premiere Access Pass, Park Hopper time rules, and steep price increases. Insert the “mind-blowing” emoji here…followed by an eye roll.

There is A LOT to think about these days when you’re planning your Disney Trip, the day before you go, and once you’re already in the Parks.

Sadly, gone are the days we could just roll up to Disneyland or Walt Disney World Parks on a random Tuesday in the middle of the month and experience few crowds, no reservations, could hop between the Parks freely, and just get your FastPasses for whatever ride you wanted, when you wanted.

It makes us wonder if a trip to the Disney Parks has become too stressfully complicated these days? It doesn’t mean we don’t still value and love our trips, but the increased rules and policies have now caused us to have a lot to think about and plan out in advance.

Although there has been an increase in vocal frustration over Disney Park policies and new passes and such in place, from what we can tell in our own experience, it really isn’t causing a drop in attendance at the Parks.

Reservation slots are sold out way in advance, and even with this new reservation system, we are still seeing large crowds and long wait times at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Parks.

There has been much debate over the new Genie + system as well as the Premiere Access Pass, which is essentially the new kind of FastPass system you have to pay for… short lines and an enhanced Disney World experience seem to be a novelty for those who can afford it now, particularly in Disneyland Paris.

We don’t know if the days of the past will ever return. It seems Walt Disney World Parks just seem to keep getting more and more crowded, and more policies keep coming into place to try to “update or upgrade” the systems, which we think worked pretty dang good before.

What do you think? If you have tried Genie +, do you prefer it over the traditional FastPass system? Have Park reservations enhanced your experience? Let us know.