Disney Genie+: A Comprehensive Guide

by | May 14, 2024 | Disneyland, Genie+, Lightning Lane, Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World | 0 comments

In 2021, Disney officially retired their free FastPass+ service in favor of Disney Genie+. With the paid Disney Genie+, you can reserve access to select attractions and experiences through Lightning Lanes, allowing you to bypass the regular standby lines. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney enthusiast, understanding how to use Disney Genie+ can significantly enhance your trip. To help you better understand exactly what you get from the service, we’ll be taking you through every aspect that you need to know!

What Does the Free Disney Genie Include?

Before diving into Disney Genie+, it’s essential to understand the free Disney Genie service available to all park guests. The free service is integrated into the My Disney Experience app and provides personalized recommendations to help you plan your day. Here are some key features of the free Disney Genie service:

  • Custom Itinerary Planning: The free service creates a personalized itinerary based on your interests, preferences, and current wait times.
  • Real-Time Updates: The service continuously updates throughout the day, offering suggestions on attractions, dining options, and entertainment based on real-time data.
  • Virtual Assistant: The free service includes a virtual assistant that can answer your questions and provide recommendations.

The free service is an excellent tool for optimizing your park experience, even if you decide not to purchase the paid service.

Guide to Disney Genie+

Disney Genie+ is a paid service that allows you to select return times for specific attractions, reducing your wait times significantly. Basically, the service has taken over the role of FastPass+, but with a price tag attached.

Here are the main features:

  • Lightning Lane Access: With the service, you can choose return times for select attractions and experiences, allowing you to use the Lightning Lane entrance and bypass the regular standby lines.
  • Multiple Selections: You can make your first Lightning Lane selection beginning at 7 AM. You must redeem an existing Disney Genie+ selection or wait two hours (whichever comes first) before making another Lightning Lane selection. (Note that the 2-hour wait begins when the park opens, even if you’ve made your first booking at 7 AM).
  • Audio Experiences: The service includes access to exclusive audio experiences and behind-the-scenes content, enriching your park visit.
  • PhotoPass Ride Photos: Currently, the purchase of Disney Genie+ includes access to digital downloads for select ride photos on the day of your visit.

For Disney World, Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightnign Lanes (more on that in a moment) are only available to purchase on the day of your visit, and cannot be bought in advance of your trip. Disney Genie+ can be purchased at midnight the first day of your trip.

Cost of Disney Genie+

The cost of the service at Disney World varies depending on the time of year and demand. The cost depends on the park you are visiting, with different prices for each (or the option to purchase a multi-park pass if you plan to visit more than one park). The service typically costs between $15 and $35 per person per day. It’s important to check the current prices on the day of your visit, as they can fluctuate.

Disneyland Resort has a different system for the service, both in cost and how it works. Here’s what you need to know:

At Disney World:

  • You can make your first selection for Lightning Lane entry at 7 AM on the day of your visit.
  • Pricing depends on the park and the day, with the option to buy per park or multi-park.
  • You do not have to have purchased Disney Genie+ to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane
  • For Individual Attraction Selections, guests of Disney World hotels can make their first selection at 7 AM; guests not staying on-property need to wait until park open.
  • Used through My Disney Experience app

At Disneyland:

  • Can purchase in advance
  • Cost starts at $30 per person, per day (Magic Key discount available)
  • You do not have to have purchased Disney Genie+ to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.
  • All guests can make their first selection once they are inside the park
  • Used through the Disneyland app

Disney Genie+ Rides at Disney World

Here’s a full list of Lightning Lane selections at Walt Disney World Resort.

Magic Kingdom

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
  • 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
  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (beginning June 28, 2024)
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

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

Disney’s 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

Disney’s 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!

Disney Genie+ Rides at Disneyland

Here’s a full list of Lightning Lane selections at Disneyland Resort.

Disneyland Park

  • Autopia
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Indiana Jones Adventure
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Disney California Adventure

  • Goofy’s Sky School
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
  • Incredicoaster
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
  • Soarin’ Over California
  • Toy Story Midway Mania!
  • WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

Individual Lightning Lanes

While most rides are available through the service, there are a select few are not. These Individual Lightning Lanes are some of the most popular rides in the parks, with Lightning Lane available for purchase separately. To gain Lightning Lane access for these rides, you will need to pay a separate price per ride, per person (subject to availability.). At Disney World, you can make your initial Individual Attraction Selection at 7 AM if you are staying on property, or at the park opening time if you are staying off-property.

rise of the resistance disney genie service

Photo by Marisa Alvarado

The cost for these rides varies based on the time of year and ride.

Individual Lightning Lane Rides for Disney World

  • Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Individual Lightning Lane Rides for Disneyland

  • Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park

Tips for Disney Genie+

Here are some tips to help you make the most of Disney Genie+:

  1. Start Early: Make your first selection at 7 AM, especially if you’re staying at a Disney resort. This gives you the best chance to secure popular attractions.
  2. Prioritize High-Demand Rides: Use Disney Genie+ for rides with the longest wait times to maximize your time in the parks.
  3. Set Reminders: Keep track of when you can make your next selection. Typically, you can make another choice once you’ve used your current selection or after 120 minutes.
  4. Leverage Park Hopping: If you have a Park Hopper ticket, use Disney Genie+ selections in different parks to maximize its value.
  5. Combine with Other Planning Tools: Use the free Disney Genie service to optimize your day alongside Disney Genie+ selections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane selections at the Disney Parks.

What is the difference between Disney Genie and Disney Genie+?

Disney Genie is a free service that provides personalized recommendations and itinerary planning. Disney Genie+ is a paid service that offers access to the Lightning Lane for select attractions, allowing you to bypass regular standby lines.

How does Genie+ work for Passholders?

If you’re an Annual Passholder at Walt Disney World, Disney Genie+ will work the same for you as everyone else. At Disneyland,Magic Key holders receive 20% off the purchase of the service.

How does Genie+ work for resort stays?

If you’ve booked a stay at a Disney World Resort hotel, you can make your first Individual Lightning Lane selection at 7 AM. Your first selection can also be made at 7 AM, but that is not exclusive to on-site guests.

For Disneyland, you can make your first selection once entering the park, whether or not you are staying on-site.

Can you use if park hopping?

It depends on where you are visiting. At Disneyland, your purchase the service gives you access to both parks (as long as you have tickets for each). At Disney World it works a bit differently. Since the service is park-specific, you can either purchase it for a specific park, or you can purchase a Multiple Parks option which will allow you to use the service across multiple parks.

Is Disney Genie+ Worth It?

It can be worth it, especially during busy times or if you want to experience as many attractions as possible without long waits. The value depends on your priorities and how you plan to spend your day.

Can I buy the service in advance?

As of now, the service can only be purchased on the day of your visit starting at midnight for Disney World. At Disneyland, it is available for pre-purchase.

How many attractions can I select?

You can make one Lightning Lane selection at a time. Once you have used that selection or waited 120 minutes (whichever comes first), you can make another.

Do all members of my party need to buy Disney Genie+?

Yes, each member of your party needs to purchase the service individually to access the Lightning Lane entrances.

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Authored by
Morgan Flaherty

A lifelong Disney World visitor and fan, Morgan has become an expert on all things Disney. After dozens of visits at a Disney Adult, Morgan is now acquainting herself with the parks as a Disney Mom who has learned to navigate the Most Magical Place on Earth with a toddler by her side. If you're planning a Disney vacation with toddlers, she has all of the expert tips you need!
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