Disney CEO Claims Genie+ is Helping Prevent Theme Park Ticket Price Hikes

Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Disney CFO Christine McCarthy appeared to argue that the increase in additional costs of a Disney Parks day is actually helping keep the actual Theme Park Ticket low during the Q2 2022 earnings webcast on May 11.

Related: Genie+, Lightning Lane Financial Success Despite Guest Backlash

Over the past year, Guests of the Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort have seen an increase in extra costs added to their daily tab–or what the Disney executives referred to as the “average per capita ticket revenue.” The most notable difference is the complimentary FastPass+ System being replaced by the Genie+ and Lightning Lane systems which charge per person per ride.

According to The Walt Disney Company’s Q2 Earnings Results press release,

“Guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue, higher average daily hotel room rates and an increase in food, beverage and merchandise spending. The increase in average per capita ticket revenue was due to a favorable attendance mix and the introduction of Genie+ and Lightning Lane in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.”

Mr. Chapek elaborated further in the Q&A section of the webcast, stating the increase in the amount of money people are spending at the Disney Parks on food, merchandise, and elevated hotel rates and Guests’ willingness to pay for services like Genie+, is actually helping keep the cost of Disney Theme Park Tickets from increasing while also boosting revenue.

Related: Disney CFO Reaffirms Park Reservation System is Sticking Around

“We’re very very encouraged by the continuation of the trends that we’re seeing in terms of the number of people, for example, that sign up for Genie plus,” he said. “Plus, the willingness to come to our Parks with our balance reservation–which really helps us sort of manage our price per day, if you will. So, that domestic yield strategy has structurally allowed us to increase that per capita meaningfully without having to rely solely on raising ticket prices and we don’t see any end in sight for that.”

Related: Disney Spent $1 Billion to Cancel Contracts, Get Content to Disney+ Faster

On May 11, inflation in the United States of America was reported hitting a high of 8.3%. But neither Chapek nor McCarthy suggested that price increases due to inflation were on the horizon.

While the Disney Genie Service is a complimentary part of Guests’ Disney experience at its base level, Disney Genie Plus, Genie Lightning Lane, and Individual Lightning Lane are new extra-cost line-skipping opportunities for rides at Disneyland Park, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disneys Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney California Adventure such as Space Mountain, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Expedition Everest, Toy Story Mania, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Remys Ratatouille Adventure. Disney Genie automatically offers Guests an Individual Lightning Lane Selection based on preferences.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney news as more information comes to light.