Disney Says ‘Unexpected Enhancements’ Are to Blame for Guests’ Issues With Genie+

Disney Genie+ launched last year as the paid replacement to FastPass+, and fans have been mixed on the system ever since. While some Guests have had great luck in the theme parks using Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane purchases to save time waiting in line, others have found it difficult to justify the cost, especially when dynamic pricing was introduced.

On top of confusing changes to the system, (and the initially confusing nature of some rides being included in Genie+ while others are Individual Lightning Lane purchases, and the lineup having the ability to change before your next trip), Genie+ is not without its technological glitches.

RELATED: Disney Genie+ Variable Pricing Was Just Lowered for the First Time

Amid another round of Genie+ issues (this morning Guests at Walt Disney World were having a difficult time using Genie+/Individual Lightning Lanes while the system was temporarily down), one Guest shared a comment from Disney’s support that referred to the downtime as “unexpected enhancements.”

@DrL_DDS took to Twitter to share a screenshot of the chat log, following 30-minutes he spent attempting to join one of Disney’s virtual queues:

Spent 30 minutes fighting with the @WaltDisneyWorld app this morning trying to join the virtual queue.

Apparently system glitches are now known as "unexpected enhancements."@LenTesta pic.twitter.com/52Vr5htB2F

— Dr. L (@DrL_DDS) October 28, 2022

Within a couple of hours it seems the system was back up and running but this was certainly not the first time a technical glitch has interrupted Guest use of Genie+ (and it likely won’t be the last.) Today’s glitch (and subsequent comment of “unexpected enhancements”) follows Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s latest interview during WSJ Tech Live 2022, where he discussed how guaranteeing a memorable Guest experience is the reason for the theme park reservation system.

In past interviews, Chapek also praised Genie+ as a success, and noted that such measures as pauses on Annual Pass sales and the theme park reservation system are in place to ensure that out of town Guests are able to enjoy the Parks, guaranteeing that they will be able to enter and not be overwhelmed with crowds.

RELATED: Individual Lightning Lane Prices Increase Alongside New Variable Genie+ Pricing at Walt Disney World

Of course, there have been plenty of days where the Parks are extremely crowded even with the reservation system. And, for as useful as Genie+ is when it works, Guests will surely continue to notice when the system is down or not worth the value, especially with variable pricing in place.

We will continue to monitor any updates to Disney Genie+ and share more information as we have it here on Disney Tips.