Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be a complex process. It may feel like you're looking at a foreign language as you try to navigate the differences between Disney Genie+ and ILL and Lightning Lanes, and wondering how Fastpass ties into all of this. I know this is daunting, but you don't need to worry--I'm here to help you through it!
Table of Contents
Let's start with some definitions.
Definitions
Disney Genie: This is a free service located within the Disney World app. It will ask you your interests, then feed you back a potential itinerary for the day based on your interests. It does not book anything for you, simply suggests things it thinks you would like.
Disney Genie+: Confusingly, this is a paid service. This service lets you book return times for certain attractions. When you return to the attraction, you will use the Lightning Lane as opposed to the regular (also called the standby) line. Lightning Lanes tend to move faster and be shorter than the standby lines.
As an added perk, you also get to download your photos from select attractions for free; you unlock Disney Photopass lenses, filters for your photos; and get access to Audio Tales about the parks.
Individual Lightning Lane Entry: This is a separate paid service. This service lets you book return times for certain attractions that are not included in the Disney Genie+ system.
Virtual Queue: This is a separate thing from all of the other services listed here. It is typically used with the newest rides. A separate guide for this is forthcoming, but for now, just know that it exists.
Disney's Fastpass/Fastpass +: I'm including this here because you might still see it lingering around the internet or in older books. This is a service that Disney used to offer to receive return times for attractions. It was replaced by Disney Genie+ in 2021.
Disney Genie+
Okay, so we have a definition for this service, but let's dive into some more of the specifics.
Use
Disney Genie+ lets guests reserve a time to use the Lightning Lane at select Disney attractions. Disney states that, on average, guests can expect to use Disney Genie+ to reserve 2-3 attractions per day if the first selection is made early in the day.
Guests may make the first Disney Genie+ experience selection at 7:00 AM on the day of their visit. You can only make one selection at a time. Once you use your reservation or if 120 minutes have passed since you made your selection*, you can make a new reservation.
Times Matter: The Disney Genie+ service can be purchased starting at 12:00 AM on the day of your visit. However, you cannot make a reservation for an attraction until 7:00 AM if you are staying at a Disney hotel or when the park opens if you are not staying on Disney property.
*While you can make reservations 2 hours from your previous reservation, this depends on the timing of your booking and park opening. Let's say you book your first reservation for "It's a Small World" at 7:00 AM. You get a return time for 1:30 PM. The Magic Kingdom opens at 9:00 AM that day. You will book your next return time at 11:00 AM, 2 hours after park opening. I will go into this more in a later article.
Cost
The cost of Disney Genie+ varies by day and by theme park. Prices typically range from $15-$35. Please note that the purchase of Disney Genie+ is per person, per day. A family of four who wants to purchase Genie+ for every day of their 4-day vacation will likely pay a minimum of $240 for the use of the service (e.g., ($15 x 4 people) x 4 days).
If you are park hopping and want to use Disney Genie+ in both parks, you will pay for the "Multiple Parks" option. This is priced the same as the most expensive park for the day (usually Magic Kingdom). As an example, on January 31st, 2024, here were the prices for each park:
Multiple parks with Park Hopper – $25
Magic Kingdom – $25
EPCOT – $18
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – $22
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – $16
You do not need to be in the park to make your Disney Genie+ purchase.
Attractions
Disney Genie+ service is available for the following attractions at each park:
Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade (reserves a special viewing area)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Meet Ariel at her Grotto
Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space 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
Note: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle/Run are not included with Disney Genie+.
Epcot
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Frozen Ever After
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE – Green
Mission: SPACE – Orange
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Soarin' Around the World
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
Note: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is not included with the Disney Genie+ service.
Hollywood Studios
Alien Swirling Saucers
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
Disney Junior Play & Dance!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Muppet*Vision 3D
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
Toy Story Mania!
Note: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is not included with the Disney Genie+ service.
Animal Kingdom
Festival of the Lion King
DINOSAUR
Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Feathered Friends in Flight!
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
Naʻvi River Journey
The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
Note: Avatar: Flight of Passage is not included with the Disney Genie+ service.
Do I NEED Disney Genie+?
You do not need to purchase the service if you don't want to! The standby lines are still available for most attractions (except those with a virtual queue, which is separate from the Disney Genie+ service).
You also can pick and choose when to buy and/or use the service. You can purchase or not purchase it for any day of your vacation. If you want to purchase it for the first and fifth day of your vacation, you can do that!
This service is not designed to give you unlimited rides on all attractions. You cannot use it on the same attraction twice in one day. You will be best served using Disney Genie+ in conjunction with Individual Lightning Lanes, Virtual Queues, Standby lines, and, if you book with me as your travel advisor, with my expert advice!
Ready to plan your Disney vacation? I've got you covered! When you book with a travel advisor like me, you receive full planning services, including a personalized guide to Disney Genie+!
Comments