Will Disney Genie make travel planners obsolete?

Will Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ make travel planners obsolete? Your friendly neighborhood Disney Travel Agent weighs in.

The new Disney Genie service, coming this fall, is like having me on your shoulder - or, in your pocket. This intuitive system learns your preferences and updates your itinerary in real time. This is included with your My Disney Experience account and is 100% complementary.

There is also a new pay-to-play option "Genie+" that will be implemented which gives you the freedom to bypass standby queues and get to the front of the lines. This is where things get confusing, there has been a whole lot of information coming out about this new system and everyone is learning about it together.

What I want to discuss is... will the intuitive design of Disney Genie eliminate the need for a professional Disney Travel Planner? And the answer is... resoundingly, no!

Now knowing that the regular Disney Genie is completely free, those add-on services offered by many travel agents will likely decline in sales. BUT - there are agents, like myself, that do this level of detailed planning for free as well.

I would absolutely encourage my clients to use Disney Genie and Genie+. I can help them get to their destination using my resources as a TA to find them the best offers, assist in determining their priorities, and I will use my real life experience to provide honest and unbiased recommendations. But as much as I want to, I can't be with them at all times... But Genie can. If inclement weather is afoot or a popular attraction has technical difficulties, Genie will reimagine your day with alternative selections to make sure you still get the most out of your visit. If you and your party wish to be entirely ride focused, Disney Genie will update you on forecasted and current wait times so you are maximizing your day. Yes, the free version of Genie does this (not just Genie+).

This is not an adversity for travel agents, but an incredible tool to provide a higher level of experience for their clients. Genie+ will only be valid for the dates of your vacation, but my services are with you from your initial booking. And my itinerary services are completely free, and like the Genie, I can also guide you day to day for the length of your vacation as needed.

Am I worried as a travel agent about Disney Genie? Absolutely not. The Genie can't book cruises, and the Disney hotline will place you on hold for hours. Without using a travel agent, you'll be talking to someone different each time. Disney relies on their agents as much as our clients do. Professional Disney travel agents are key, and there is so much we have to offer.

This was a fun topic! Comment your thoughts and don't forget to check out the SERVICES page to find out how you can receive a free Disney vacation quote from yours truly. See ya real soon!