Disney Genie – All You Need to Know!

DISNEY GENIE, GENIE+. INDIVIDUAL LIGHTING LANES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO LIGHTNING LANE MULTI PASS AND LIGHTNING LANE SINGLE PASS. 

We’re currently working on a new article to break this down. In the meantime, check out Disney’s page for the new Lightning Lane program.

Disney Genie

If you’re going to a Disney World park, you’ll want to use Genie. You’ll also want to decide on whether to use Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes or not. This article will cover these options. We’ll also go into detail on how to use them and cover frequently asked questions.

Though Disneyland will also have the new app, there will be some differences. So keep in mind that we’re dealing with Disney World here, unless Disneyland is specifically mentioned.

DISNEY ANNOUNCEMENT: “…Guests at Walt Disney World will now purchase Disney Genie+ service based on how they want to visit. Guests will be able to select either a single-park option or a multiple-parks option, subject to availability. With this update, prices may now be lower at some Walt Disney World theme parks compared to others. Guests will continue to be able to purchase Disney Genie+ service through the My Disney Experience app on the day of their visit.”

You can visit Disney World’s Genie page here for updates.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about:

• Disney Genie
• Genie+
• Individual Lightning Lanes
• Genie+ and DAS (Disability Access System)
• Tips from our readers

What are Disney Genie, Genie+ and Individucal Lightning Lanes?

Disney World has added Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ to their My Disney Experience app. In part, this replaced the old Disney Fastpass+ system which will not be coming back. In addition, Disney has added the option of purchasing Individual attraction selections which we’ll talk about below. So guests will be able to choose to go on rides using the following queue options:

• Standby queue – This is the regular queue with no time shortening methods used. No additional fees.
• Disney Genie+ – This is a paid option available for some rides which will shorten your wait time. What was once called the FastPass+ lines will now be referred to as the “Lightning Lanes“. This does not include any of the rides/attractions in the Individual Lightning Lane category below. It currently includes 48 rides throughout the parks. Genie+ allows you to schedule a ride that has a Lightning Lane, enabling you to skip the standby queue and go into what should be a much shorter line.
• Individual Lightning Lane – This is an additional paid option to use the Lightning Lanes for highest demand rides. It should shorten your wait by a lot. You can buy up to 2 rides a day. They are in demand and can sell out fast.

Is the change from Fastpass to Genie a good or a bad thing?

Of course, we’re not thrilled about the extra fees, but we were hoping it will work better than FastPass+.  The feedback we’re seeing is very mixed, and mostly leaning towards the negative.

Given that each ride is subject to limited availability, just as it was with FastpPass+, we’re hearing that with the new procedures guests are not getting the rides they want. They’re also not getting the quantity of Genie+ reservations they’d hope to get. We’re hearing that guests are getting somewhere around 3-4 Genie+ rides per park day, and some have figured out how to get a maximum of 6. However that number does depend on crowds. We’re also hearing from some guests that they were unable to get the Genie+ for the most popular rides.

Still, something is better than nothing. If you can shorten your wait time for a few rides in a day, that can add up.

On the plus side, Disney Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane is a part of the My Disney Experience app. So if you already have that app, you’ll be ahead of the game. You’ll just need to update the app before your visit.

Here’s some of what you need to know.

First check out which rides and attractions are currently part of the various programs.

Remember this is subject to change. Here is the current info as of 1-13-2024:

Do you have to use Disney Genie or Genie+?

No. Attractions still have the traditional standby queues they’ve always had (or virtual queue in the case of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance). But with Genie and Genie+, you should be able to save a lot of time. They also allows convenience and some other perks.

Also, keep in mind that you can buy Genie+ or the Individual Lightning Lane Option. You can buy one of them, or both of them. They don’t have to be bought together.

What is Disney Genie?

Disney Genie is a free planning tool that you’ll find in the My Disney Experience app. According to Disney it’s designed to help you plan and maximize your park time so you’ll have more fun. You can see what a couple of the screens can look like below!

Genie has a personalized itinerary feature that allows you to plan your park day. It will allow you to tell Genie what you want to do with your day, and it will map out an itinerary just for you. Some things Genie allows you to input and plan for includes:

• Specific attractions you wish to try.
• Interests you have like Disney princesses or villains, Star Wars, etc.
• Dining and “foodie” experiences.
• Entertainment you’re interested in.

It will also allow you to do the following:

• Make Dining reservations.
• Get on restaurant wait lists.
• Check-in at restaurants.
• Use Mobile Ordering for some dining locations.
• Join virtual queues for some attractions.
• Get help from a virtual assistant.
• Track current and forecasted wait times for rides and attractions.
• Park Hopping planning. You can tell Genie when and where you plan to park hop, and it will take this into consideration as it creates your plans and suggestions.

The Disney Genie also creates a personalized tip board that’s created based on your specific interests and agenda.

What is Disney Genie+?

Genie+ is a paid service you will access through the My Disney Experience app. Genie+ replaces the retired FastPass+, though not every ride that had FastPass+ will be included in the Genie+ deal. Genie+ also has additional perks that FastPass+ did not have (see below). It seems that the main goal of Genie+ is to have you spend less time in lines.

Here’s how Genie+ is used:

On the day of your visit, for certain attractions you will be able to schedule the use of the Lightning Lanes (subject to limited availability). The app will show you the time slots available for attractions, and you will choose one. Now you’ll be able to use the Lightning Lane instead of using the Standby queue for that attraction.

A couple rules for Genie+:

• Park Hopping rule: If you have a Park Hopper ticket and plan to go to another park, you can choose an attraction there.
• One time rule: Once you’ve used your Genie+ for a specific ride, you can’t use it again that day for that ride. You can go on it again, but you’ll need to use the standby line. So if you use Genie+ for Soarin’ and you want to go on Soarin’ again, you’ll have to use the Standby line.

In theory, Genie+ only allows you to choose one attraction at a time (with a hitch – see below). So Genie+ will allow you to choose the next available time to arrive at certain available attractions or experiences. You can make a Genie+ reservation when the following occurs:

1. You have used the Genie+ pass you reserved.
2. Your first return time has ended
3. 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one.

There’s a complicated twist. Disney made a weird rule!

It’s a little challenging to understand. But it’s possible to have multiple Genie+ reservations at a time if you follow the above rules, plus another below.

You can get multiple reservations if the first Genie+ Lightning Lane you reserve is later in the day. Then you can book another Lightning Lane before it.

But remember these rules:

• You can only book after 120 minutes have passed since you booked the first one.
• The 120 minutes can only start once the park is opened.

So, suppose you get up at 7 am to book your first Genie+ reservation. You book Jungle cruise for 2 pm. Suppose the park opens at 9 am. After 120 minutes beyond 9 am at 11 am, you can book another Genie+ ride before Jungle Cruise. Let’s say you’ve chosen Mad Tea Party. Now you have two Genie+ reservations.

If you try to make a reservation before you’re allowed to, Genie+ will tell you that it’s too soon. It will tell you when you’re eligible again to make your next reservation.

Once you use your original Genie+ reservation, from there on you can only book at a time.

If you’d like to get more information on how to get the most number of Genie+ ride reservations, check out this article on the Disneytouristblog.com. It’s the third in a series with links to their other Genie+ articles.

How much does Genie+ Cost?

The pricing varies based on crowd conditions, dates, etc. To see how much it will cost for today, you can log in to the app My Disney Experience, and follow the directions below to purchase Genie+. The app will tell you how much Genie+ is for that day. You can also choose “Change Day” to see the price on other days. While it used to be a straight $15 price for the day, it’s currently gone as high as $29, depending on the day.

Is Genie+ worth the cost?

We’re hearing mixed reactions. Personally, we feel it is worth it. Anything to help shorten time in lines is valuable during a Disney World vacation. Clearly Magic Kingdom has the most Genie+ eligible rides, Followed by Hollywood Studios. If your budget allows for only one or two days of Genie+, those are the parks we’d choose. But since you’re spending quite a lot on a Disney World vacation, you may wish to budget for all of your park visits.

When can you book your first Disney World Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction?

Guests with Genie+ can book their first Lightning Lane attraction at 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the day of their visit. You won’t have to be in the same park you’re booking for, which allows for park hopping. We think you’ll need to be on Disney property though, either in a resort or a park.

How do you buy the Disney World Genie+ for the day?

How do you book your Genie+ Lightning Lane passes?

Here’s More on what you get with Genie+:

Lightning Lanes: This will help you spend much less time in lines. Rides that are included in this are Haunted Mansion, Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Attractions are subject to limited availability so having the Genie+ doesn’t guarantee you will get on every ride/attraction that has Genie+.

Audio Experiences: This includes some behind the scenes audio tours. A nice perk!

Photo Features: The Disney Genie+ app will give you photo features which Disney describes as “augmented reality lenses for those visiting Walt Disney World Resort.”

PhotoPass Photos: Guests will receive free digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos. These apply to photos taken in the park on the day of your purchase of Genie+.

What don’t you get with Genie or Genie+ in Disney World?

You don’t get to use the Lightning Lanes for all of the highest demand attractions. For those you must pay extra, and you’re limited to two of those a day (see below for details).

Also, you may have seen that Disneyland Genie+ allows unlimited PhotoPass downloads. This is not the case with Disney World. Sadly they have not included this perk in the Florida parks.

Can Genie+ availability for specific rides run out on a day I visit?

Yes, unfortunately Genie+ reservations are subject to availability, so they can become unavailable. However, don’t give up! You might want to keep trying. Though they’re not showing up as available when you check, they could become available later on in the day.

What happens with Genie+ if the ride you’ve booked goes down?

Since you can only reserve any Genie+ ride once in that day, can you reserve it again? Yes, you should be allowed to book the Lightning Lane again for this again.

When and where can you buy Genie+?

Genie+ for the day of your visit: You must buy Genie+ each day you want it, on the day of your visit. Guests with valid tickets are able to buy Genie+ on the day of their visit, starting at 12 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. This can be purchased through Disney Genie in the My Disney Experience app.

Annual Pass members should also be able to buy Genie+ the same way, on the day of their visit, each day they visit. We’re hoping that eventually Disney will create an Annual Pass option with Genie+ added to it, but we don’t know yet.

Can Disney World run out of Genie+ add-on passes for any given day?

We were originally told by Disney that they should not run out of Genie+ add-ons. This means that anyone with a valid park ticket should be able to buy Genie+. However, on February 19, 2023 Genie+ sold out and became unavailable to buy for the rest of the day. So, yes, Disney World can run out of Genie+ passes, but so far, it’s unusual for it to happen.

When can you start booking rides & attractions with Genie+?

You will be able to make your first Genie+ ride reservation starting at 7 a.m. on the day you’re visiting. This is true even if you bought your pass earlier.

Do I need to buy a Genie+ pass for a child under 3 years old?

No. Children under 3 years old are not required to buy admission tickets to the parks. So, they won’t be required to have a Genie+ pass. They can go on any ride they qualify for with you.

The “Individual Lightning Lane” Option

As mentioned above, some high demand attractions are not included in the Genie+ deal. This leads us to this “Individual Lightning Lane” option available for a fee. Prices will vary by attraction, date and park. So if you’re visiting during a peak crowd time, you can expect to pay more for the Individual Lightning Lane reservations.

Can Individual Lightning Lane reservations run out of availability for specific rides on the day I visit?

Yes, unfortunately Genie+ reservations are subject to availability, so they can become unavailable. However, don’t give up! You might want to keep trying. Though they’re not showing up as available when you check, they could become available later on in the day.

Do you need to buy Genie+ to buy an Individual Lightning Lane pass?

No. You can buy this alone. You do not need to purchase Genie+ to get this option.

How many Individual Lightning Lane passes can you buy?

Guests can buy up to 2 Individual Lightning Lane passes each day. This is for high demand attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom,  Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in Epcot, and Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios.

How does the Individual Lightning Lane reservation work?

Guests can schedule a time to arrive at each of the two rides. As with Genie+, Disney is allowing these reservations to be made in more than one park, for those who are park hopping. Unfortunately, Genie does not automatically show recommendations for rides in the second park. You’ll need to find the ride you want to book.

You can buy the Individual Lightning Lane passes within the Genie app on the Tip Board or on the My Day itinerary.

Can I buy both Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane passes?

Yes, you can use both Individual Lightning Lane passes and Genie+ ride reservations. You can use both programs at once. They are considered separate.

When can I buy Individual Lightning Lane passes?

Guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort get to purchase these the day of their visit at 7 am Eastern Standard Time.

Guests staying off-site get to buy these once the park opens, and they must be at the park. You do not need to be in the park that you’re scheduling your Lightning Lane for.

Can I cancel or change my Individual Lightning Lane reservations?

Nope. Once you’ve made these reservations, they can not be modified or cancelled. If you can’t use them or if you want to use them on a different ride, you’re out of luck.

How do I buy Individual Lightning Lane passes?

DAS (Disability Access Service) and Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

If you’re looking for information including the new changes related to the DAS (Disability Access Service), visit here. Disney has added additional services to those who have the DAS.

If you have a DAS, you may not need to use the Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes. Most people have reported back that the DAS works well without those options. However, some people use both to gain even more options and to minimize waiting times.

Genie+ Tips, experiences and observations from our Readers:

TIP FROM BRIAN BERRYHILL:
Brian had great success and rode 15 rides in one day using Genie+.  He also rode Seven Dwarves 2 times. He loved his Genie+ experience and felt it was worth every penny. He went with a family of 0 and was not staying on Disney property, so he didn’t get the corresponding Genie+ perks. Here’s his advice and exactly what he did: