Disney Genie service deeply unpopular among fans before it has launched

As always with a Disney article, the comments do not disappoint. While there are a few reasoned folks amongst the masses, it's largely filled with people pining for the good old days (as they remember them) and reinforces for me that leading the Disney parks has to be one of the most thankless jobs imaginable.

Disney isn't immune to the staffing issues in the service and entertainment issue associated with the pandemic. Why that would surprise anyone at this point, I have no idea. If you're going there expecting the A+ crew and a perfect experience, well...you're probably going to end up writing a letter just like that one because that's not happening anywhere right now.

When I have a bad experience at someplace I've visited over 100 times, I always try to resolve the issue by e-stalking the CEO of the multi-billion dollar media company owner.

Rip Ride Rockit > Six hour wait for a Figment popcorn bucket

https://www.clickorlando.com/theme-parks/2022/01/14/imagine-waiting...happening/

Universal Orlando social media team > Rip Ride Rockit

And here I thought I was crazy for waiting an hour in the cold for cinnamon bread.

BrettV said:

Six hour wait for a Figment popcorn bucket

Yeah, and somehow, people are walking out with 30 of them - their eBay accounts are about to be cushy.

If what you're trying to sell on eBay is not in fact scarce, you can't sell it for much of anything.

Should be looking to sell them to other people in line. How much is not wasting 5-6 hours in line worth it to you. Though people who are willing to wait in line for 6 hours for popcorn may well not understand the economics involved.

Not scarce, yet...

Just look at the amount of watchers on these things, already - at the prices they're asking. It's shocking, but not surprising.

Figment Popcorn Buckets - eBay

Well, people think that presidents control gas prices and inflation, too, so I guess I'm not that surprised.

1. Still not worth it, even for the resell.

2. Asking doesn't meaning getting. (I can post anything on ebay for any price, let me know if they actually move or it's just speculation - but it's Disney stupidity, so yeah, they'll probably sell)

3. If you can't get to Disney to get one yourself, then it's VERY scarce to you...like non-existent in your world.

4. My absolute favorite attempt to cash in.

5. The president doesn't control anything. (insert bladder joke because, you know, he's old and stuff)

This is all Bob Chapek’s fault.

Definitely not worth my time, even for the resell. When I buy stuff, I never do it with the intent to sell it off, ever. It's for myself or a gift. I even have a set of the Haunted Mansion ones that were a Halloween party exclusive a few years ago that I just put on a shelf. People were selling them off for $90+ each, but it wasn't worth my time.

The amount of people that are watching those auctions, though, there is enough interest that even with a lowball offer, they're bound to sell, and it's just crazy to me. You would also think that just because someone asks a price, doesn't mean they'll get it - but there used to be Disney "personal shoppers" that would go and buy things using their pass discount, sell it to someone at retail, and charge a "shopping fee" plus gas and shipping, to bring the price somewhere up around double on some things. I think people's justification is that it's still cheaper than traveling all the way there to get something they forgot?

Lord Gonchar said:

4. My absolute favorite attempt to cash in.

I like this one better

Well, people think that presidents control gas prices and inflation, too, so I guess I'm not that surprised.

Two weeks ago, I announced the largest-ever release of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase the supply of oil to help bring down prices. And I met with our friends around the world. Other countries joined us. And those savings are starting to reach drivers. Now, today, the average price you’re paying here in Kansas City is below $2 a gallon, $3 dollars a gallon. It’s down to $2.90 a gallon, 20% down from — cents (down) from — a month ago. Nationally, prices are down 7 cents a gallon and continue to fall. We’re making progress. We’re going to keep at it to ensure the American people are paying their fair share for gas — not being gouged for gas.

Mic drop

https://mobile.twitter.com/HorrorNightsORL/status/1482063049418850310

Waiting for that popcorn bucket might literally be the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

I just don't get it. I consider myself "pretty into Disney" and just spent $60 ordering custom t-shirts for my next trip (with semi-inside jokes and references) but I've never seen anything in a Disney parks shop that I was willing to pay any kind of markup on. It's already 150% more than what you'd pay outside the parks and I already feel like they're gouging me. If it's not some kind of emergency (ponchos when it's pouring) or a souvenir, I wouldn't even pay that.

What am I missing?

(I'm sure people would say the same thing about going to Disney in the first place or coaster enthusiasm, so maybe it's just a "different strokes for different folks" kind of thing?)

Yes, even presidents who think that presidents control gas prices are, maybe not stupid, but obviously pandering to people who think it's true.