Do you guys remember FastPass? Who am I kidding? It hasn’t been that long, and I know any past Disney World or Disneyland visitor remembers FastPass+.
And then what happened?
The Pandemic…. everything shut down. And as Disney opened up they kept (and are still keeping), traditional offerings unavailable to guests.
FastPass was one of those. but we aren’t blind! Us Disney experts KNEW this would turn into some paid version of FastPass.
Enter Disney’s Genie Plus service.
But I am getting away from myself here, honestly because there is a free version of the Disney Plus service.
Let’s start there as we go through this ULTIMATE guide on Disney Genie Plus with a bit of humor and sarcasm. Ready to smile?
Disney Genie 101
What is Disney Genie? And more importantly, what is Disney Genie Plus?
Simply put, it’s a new way to help save time and money while at the parks.
You can use it to make dining reservations, and choose your ride experiences and overall daily itinerary.
Know that Genie+ or Lightning Lanes are not must-haves to have a fun and successful day at Disney World. Actually, the use of this new system is known to be frustrating and not user-friendly.
Disney Genie vs Disney Genie Plus
There are two versions of the service: a free version and a paid version called Disney Genie Plus.
The free version gives you access to pick what you want to accomplish in the parks and provides suggestion on how to do it.
That’s called Disney Genie.
The paid version is called Disney Genie Plus. This is the one you want if you are looking to save time and spend money! And that’s what we are all about here, right?
You use Genie Plus, as we used to use FastPass reservations. We will get more into it!
Disney Genie Plus Overview
With the pandemic and everything that came with it, we all want to know what is happening with Disney World.
Genie Plus is a new feature as part of the MyDisneyExperience app. You can find it in the app in the “In Park” tab.
What does this mean? You no longer have to go to the kiosks or guest relations to make your FastPass selections. You can do it all from the app, whether in the park or not.
Oh, and you have to pay for it daily, per person.
How do I get Disney Genie Plus?
Things have changed a bit since June 2022, so be careful where you get your most up-to-date information.
The only way to add Disney Genie Plus is the day of.
This is how it works: you have your Disney park tickets and park reservation for a specific day. This is very important.
Starting at 12 am the day of your park visit, you can go into the My Disney Experience app and add Genie +.
My method is to either add it at 12 am if I am awake, or I wake up by 6 am to add it and select my first ride at 7 am.
I will discuss the best method shortly.
How Do I Buy Disney Genie Plus?
The day you go to the park and want to use Genie +, you can add it using the My Disney Experience App and whatever card you have linked.
You can also add another card. You must do this before 7 am to make the most of Genie Plus.
Disney Genie+ will also vary in price based on the day you are at the park.
Similar to theme park tickets, throughout the year, prices may be lower on less busy days and higher during peak periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For example, on less busy days, prices will be $16 per guest per day, $39 on some of the more crowded dates, and somewhere in between on other dates.
What Are The Individual Lightning Lane Purchases?
At this point, we should know two things for certain:
Genie is the free service Disney provides through the My Disney Experience app that allows you to select what you want to do and plan your day.
Genie Plus is a paid service that allows you to make ride reservations and skip lines.
Now, let’s add a third definition here.
Lightning Lane – previously known as the FastPass lane- is the physical line you get on when you have a ride reservation.
Ok, so what are individual lightning lane purchases?
Not all rides are included in Genie Plus. Though the selection is decent, a few rides, such as the Seven Dwarves Mine Train, are not included.
Some rides have lightning lanes that are purchasable individually and are not an option through Genie+.
Do You Need To Purchase Genie+ To Purchase Individual Lightning Lane passes?
No, you don’t need to have Genie+ to purchase an individual lightning lane pass. You can do this the day of.
However, I recommend getting Genie+ if you purchase anything over individual lightning lane passes. The reason is that Genie+ gives you the flexibility to get so much done and wait in line for those rides that are not included.
How do the Lightning Lanes work at Disney World?
The lightning lanes at Disney World are the physical lanes you wait on. You can use these lanes either by having a reservation for the ride using Genie+ or by purchasing the individual lightning lane options for that ride.
When Can I Reserve?
You can make your selections for lightning lanes the day you are going to use them beginning at 7 am.
You will want to log into your account and the My Disney Experience app.
Starting at 12 am, you can add Genie Plus to your tickets. You will then be able to reserve rides at 7 am.
What Attractions Are Included In Genie+?
Below are the rides that are included when you add Genie+ to your park ticket.
MAGIC KINGDOM Genie +
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Splash Mountain
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
EPCOT Genie +
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: SPACE – Green
- Mission: SPACE – Orange
- Soarin’
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS Genie +
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Jr. Dance Party
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – Returning December 19, 2021
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Toy Story Mania!
ANIMAL KINGDOM Genie +
- Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King
- DINOSAUR
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Naʻvi River Journey
- The Animation Experience
What Attractions Are Included For Individual Lightning Lane Purchases?
These rides have lightning lanes but are not included if you upgrade your ticket to Genie+.
MAGIC KINGDOM Individual Lightning Lane
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain (After 8/7, currently part of Genie+)
EPCOT Individual Lightning Lane
- Frozen Ever After – (After 8/7, currently part of Genie+)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – (After 8/7, currently part of Genie+)
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS Individual Lightning Lane
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – (After 8/7, currently part of Genie+)
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
ANIMAL KINGDOM Individual Lightning Lane
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Expedition Everest – (After 8/7, currently part of Genie+)
How much do Individual Lightning Lanes cost?
The cost of the individual lightning lanes ranges from $10-$15, depending on which ride you are reserving.
Remember, you do not need to have Genie+ to purchase these individual lightning lanes.
The price changes based on the attraction and the day you are visiting. Disney has value and peak seasons.
Here are the average costs for the Individual Lightning Lane selections:
- Seven Dwarves Mine Train (Magic Kingdom) –$11
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios) – $15
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Epcot) – $14
- Avatar: Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom) – $12
Do I Need Genie+ At Walt Disney World?
While it’s not required, Genie+ can definitely help you make the most of your time at Disney.
Remember that you can only book one Genie + reservation every 2 hours, so it’s important to plan.
If you’re unsure which attractions you want to Genie+ for, ask your travel agent for suggestions. Or read ahead, as I will make suggestions.
With a little planning, Genie+ can help you enjoy a magical day at Disney!
When Can I Start Making Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections?
You can start reserving your rides at 7 am sharp. And I highly suggest starting at 7 am or you’ll not get the most of your Genie+.
When can I make additional Genie+ Lightning Lane selections?
You can make additional selections after you’ve used a reservation or every two hours.
Cosmic Rewind Lightning Lane or Boarding Group
Starting in May, the Cosmic Rewind boarding groups began. This is a new Disney ride located in Epcot. Not to be missed.
But you will also be able to purchase an individual lightning lane (LL) for Cosmic Rewind.
Boarding Groups are the free, more congested option. While Lightning Lane is the paid version.
LL will be the easier, more convenient option. And it will ensure you get on the ride.
You can also try to do both. The boarding group for the set of reservations is usually decided by 7 am, but if you don’t get it, make sure to try again at 1 pm.
How Many Rides Can I Book with Genie Plus?
If you are wondering how many Genie plus passes per day, that’s a good question! Disney says that most guests can get on 2 to 3 rides per day with Genie+.
Park Hopping and Genie +
You can purchase Individual Lightning Lanes at the same park, different parks, or even both parks as only as you have a park hopper ticket.
The app knows when you will be able to enter, so it won’t book your ride before this time!
Guides For Genie+ At Each Disney World Park
I want to provide high-level tips for each of the Disney parks and how to use Genie +, but a few warnings/tips before we get into these.
#1 – these are opinions. I am sure people will disagree, which is completely ok! Read a few opinions and go with what makes sense. But I have implemented every single thing I’ve written on this blog.
#2 – Like anything, this process might not work for you depending on many things, like the crowd levels at the park. Please keep that in mind as you plan.
#3 – For any park, add Genie + to your ticket before 6:45 am and reserve your first ride at 7 am.
#4 – Use the lists above of the rides eligible to decide what you want to reserve.
Magic Kingdom Genie +
Genie + is a must for Magic Kingdom if you want to maximize your time there.
Your first two reserved rides should be Peter Pan’s Flight and Jungle Cruise. Try to get the earliest reservations possible.
Then set a timer and ensure you’re reserving every two hours.
After that, reserve as you please.
Epcot Genie +
I don’t suggest Genie + for Epcot; honestly, I would use that money on an individual lightning lane for Cosmic Rewind.
Hollywood Studios Genie +
Genie + at Hollywood Studios can make sense, depending on what rides you want to accomplish. It was nice not waiting in line for Slinky Dog Dash or Toy Story Mania.
Your first pick should be Slinky Dog Dash and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror right after.
Animal Kingdom Genie +
I don’t suggest Genie + for Animal Kingdom, either. I would use that money on an individual lightning lane for Cosmic Rewind.
Reserving Rides for Genie Plus Step by Step
Open your My Disney Experience App.
Select My Day as shown in the image below. Now you’re in the Disney Genie Service area.
Select Tip Board as shown in the image below. This is the easiest way to reserve rides.
When you enter the Tip Board and you can see all of your options for Genie+ Lightning Lane selections, it will be easy to make a decision on which one is best!
Your only option for a Lightning Lane reservation is the next available return time. You can’t choose from multiple options like you could with FastPass.
Genie + Tips and Tricks
Do Your Research
Make sure to know which rides run out of Genie + reservations first that you want to ride. Those are the ones that you need to reserve first.
Time Doesn’t Matter
What you want to ride is more important than at what time you are riding it. What I mean is, if you get on Disney Genie Plus at 7 am for a day at Hollywood Studios, and the first Slinky Dog Dash reservation is at 7 pm. Take it.
Get Your App Ready
My Disney Experience app should be downloaded and set up with your family/friends and tickets days before you go to Disney World.
Use Your Alarm
You have to start reserving your rides at 7 am and every two hours after that. Use your alarm!
Assign Someone
Make someone responsible for making these reservations every 2 hours. Make sure it’s someone who is capable of quickly getting on the app and reserving, possibly with the least technical difficulties.
The Lingo
Feel comfortable with these three words: Individual Lightning Lane. Genie. Genie+. Use this post in order to do so. I define them above.
Tip Board
Get comfortable inside the Disney Genie Tip Board. Play around inside the app before the day you need to be ready.
Phone Charge
Bring a portable phone charger, you’re most likely going to need it!
Don’t Cancel
Do not cancel reservations to then book a new one. There’s a 95% chance you won’t be able to, especially if it’s later in the day. Try to make the one you have work.
Rope Drop
Get to the park early and rope drop. This means to be at the park 45 minutes before it opens. This will help you snag more reservations.
Extra Hours
If you are a Disney resort guest, use Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Hours.
Grace Periods
You can tap in up to five minutes early or 15 minutes late to your Genie+ or individual Lightning Lane reservation, and you’re still good to go.
Disney Genie Plus Stacking Strategy
I kid you not, at Magic Kingdom I had more Disney Genie Plus reservations than I could handle. I believe we used them all!
But at one point, I was a bit overwhelmed.
You can have multiple ride reservations. Here’s when you can book new ones:
- You used your last booked Genie+ reservation.
- The window for your last booked Genie+ reservation passes.
- It’s 120 minutes after the park opened (if you made your first res at 7 a.m.).
- It’s been 120 minutes after making a reservation during normal park hours.
If you stay on top of your ability to book every 2 hours or as soon as you use a Genie Plus pass, you will be able to stack multiple reservations.
The Disney Genie + system is a great way to maximize your time at the parks and make sure you get to ride all of your favorite attractions.
By following our guide, you can make sure that you are using the system to its full potential and have a stress-free vacation. Have fun!
Genie Plus and it’s Relation to FastPass
Disney is replacing FastPass with Genie Plus?
I know you’re asking this to get me all bothered! Your answer is yes.
We all hate waiting in line at Disney World more than anything else.
Actually, I can’t think of anything else I hate as much.
Is Disney FastPass coming back?
No, at least not in the same way. You won’t be able to make your selections 60 days out, and you won’t have three choices at each park. Instead, you will use Genie to plan your day based on what is available that day.
What is (was) FastPass?
For those of you who are new to Disney World or who need a refresher, FastPass+ is a system that allows you to make reservations for select attractions and experiences.
You could make your selections up to 60 days in advance of your trip, and you were allowed to choose 3 per day (per park).
Once you used those 3, you could make a 4th selection, and so on.
This service was free.
I know what you’re thinking. What happened?
Well, Disney found a way to monetize their ride reservation system; that’s Genie Plus.