Disney Dish Podcast: Genie+ Failure, Universal Express, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Genie+ Criticisms and Changes

• 🎯 Genie+ is facing significant criticism, with many guests finding it too complicated and expensive compared to Universal Express Pass.
• 💡 New changes announced for June 9th include limiting Genie+ sales to day-of purchases only, requiring guests to stay up until midnight to secure it.
• ⚠️ The app has failed to move crowds to less popular attractions, as guests paying for Genie+ expect access to the most popular rides.
• 📉 Disney parks are experiencing a lack of new, high-capacity attractions, exacerbating issues with ride downtime and long standby lines.
• 📈 Downtime on popular rides like Frozen, Remy, and Rise of the Resistance significantly impacts guest experience and capacity.

Guest Feedback and Comparisons

• 💬 Surveys reveal that guests prefer Universal Express Pass for its flexibility and lack of constant phone monitoring.
• 🌟 Guests highlighted that Universal's Express Pass is superior to Genie+ and Lightning Lane in every way, offering flexibility without the need to wake up early or be glued to a phone.
• 🏨 The comparison is further emphasized by Universal's inclusion of Express Pass with deluxe resort stays, a benefit Disney has not replicated.

Noise Levels and Guest Experience

• 🔊 Listeners report incredibly high music volume levels during park shows like Harmonious and Enchantment, making it difficult to discern melodies or lyrics.
• 🎧 This excessive noise pollution is a concern for guest health and safety, with experiences similar to needing closed captioning for live events.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Franchise

• 🎬 The discussion shifts to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise, including the original film, its sequel "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," and the home video "Honey, I Shrunk Ourselves."
• 🎢 The popularity of the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure" attraction led to its cloning in international Disney parks.
• 🎥 A new sequel, "Shrunk," starring Josh Gad and Rick Morannis, is in production and expected to be released on Disney Plus in 2024.
• 🎤 The possibility of a charity single featuring Rick Morannis, Dave Thomas, Geddy Lee, and Josh Gad singing "Take Off" is proposed.

Future Park Development and Challenges

• 🚧 Disney faces pressure to build more high-capacity attractions to compete with Universal's upcoming Epic Universe park.
• 🏗️ The retheming of Splash Mountain to "The Princess and the Frog" is discussed, with concerns about the timeline and potential thematic clashes with Frontier Land's historical setting.
• 💡 There's a strong anticipation for major ride announcements at D23 to address the capacity deficit and stay competitive.