Guide to Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane
There has been quite a bit of confusion and many questions since Disney released Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane in the Fall of 2021. Disney’s World’s Fast Pass system was permanently retired during Covid and replaced with Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane paid options. Let’s start with describing the difference between them…
Disney Genie
Disney Genie was an update to the My Disney Experience App. There was no need to download a new app as the original MDE App simply had a makeover and added some new features. The main update was the personalized Disney Genie itinerary which optimizes your day in the park. The free Disney Genie service uses forecasted wait times and ride downtimes to create a dynamic, updating itinerary for your day at the park.
All in all, this ambitious feature did not help guests plan an ideal day at the parks, instead, steering guests toward dining, rides and attractions that are not your priority. There simply is no algorithm that can beat the help of a Magication travel agent helping you build a custom itinerary.
Disney Genie+
Disney Genie+ is a paid fast pass service costing $15.98 
per day (including tax). Fast Pass selection can be made starting at 7 a.m. It may be purchased along with your tickets. If you’d like to have Disney Genie+ for only specific dates during your trip, it may be purchased starting at 12:00 a.m. the morning of, via the app for those dates, though it can be purchased any time that day, even just before 7 a.m. The times are the same whether you are staying on property or off property.
You can have a great day at the parks with or without Genie+ or Lightning Pass. If you prefer to have a more spontaneous vacation and not spend a good chunk of your day on the phone trying to get you selections, then going without may be the right choice for you. However, if you don’t mind getting up at 7 a.m. to make your first selection and checking on your phone throughout the day to try to get on as many attractions as possible then i would recommend that you considering adding these to your tickets.
That being said, if money is not a concern, Then simply add the Genie+ to your full tickets. If you’d like to use Genie+, but only use it to get the biggest bang for your buck, then I’d recommend getting Genie+ for your Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios days. The Magic Kingdom simply has the most attractions available for the service, and Hollywood Studios is home to two of the most popular, and longest wait, rides.
To maximize use of the Disney Genie+ service you will want to be on the app and ready to make your first selection before 7 a.m. each day.
Magic Kingdom
Barnstormer
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
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
Epcot
Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission Space
Soarin’ Around the World
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
Hollywood Studios
Alien Swirling Saucers
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
Disney Jr. Play & Dance
Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
MuppetVision 3D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania
Animal Kingdom
Animation Experience at Conservation Station
Dinosaur
Feathered Friends in Flight
Festival of the Lion King
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Na’vi River Journey
For those who want to benefit the most from their purchase, it’s best to get your first attraction pass right at the dot of 7 a.m. as many of the most popular ride passes will go quickly. As with the original Fast Pass system, the number you will be able to get will depend on the crowd level that day. Typical Genie+ passes per day range from 4 on the crowded days to up to 12 on low crowd days.
Guests can make their next Genie+ reservation after they’ve checked into their first reservation or 120 minutes after making the prior reservation. You cannot choose your return time for the attraction. Often, when times are being snapped up by guests, the times available will be for later in the afternoon, or evening. And just like the original Fast Passes, you get a 1 hour return time window. You can check in up to 5 minutes early or up to 15 minutes late.
Tip: The system can be glitchy and give errors. The best thing you can do is force close the app, reopen and try again.
Tip: The one ride that seems to go the quickest is Slinky Dog at Hollywood Studios. Make that a priority choice if it’s on your list for the day.
Tip: Re-rides are not available. You can only do an attraction once per day with Genie+.
Tip: If you choose your next attraction and the return time conflicts with your schedule, such as a dining reservation, you can choose another attraction or wait and check again when the return time will be later.
Lightning Lane Pass
Certain Select attractions are only available for fast passes by purchasing a Lightning Lane Pass. The price for Lightning Lane passes will vary from $7-$15 per person per attraction depending on the attraction and the day.
On Site guests can purchase individual Lightning Lane Passes starting at 7 a.m. the day of. Those staying off property will be able to purchase when the park opens.
Each guest may purchase up to 2 Lightning Lane Passes per day. Just like with Genie+, you cannot use a Lightning Lane Pass twice for the same attraction. And like Genie+, the earlier times in the day will be gone quicker. However, unlike Genie+, Lightning Lane allows you to choose a return time for that attraction.
Magic Kingdom
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
Epcot
Frozen Every After
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Hollywood Studios
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Animal Kingdom
Avatar: Flight of Passage
FAQS
You can hold both a Genie+ and Lightning Lane Pass at the same time.
If you have multiple people in your party on the app, then you can make ride reservations for them as well. You can make different reservations for different members of your party.
Genie+ also gives you fun exclusive, virtual photo filters. Have fun!
You can park hop with Genie+. If you make a ride reservation before the 2:00 park hopping is available, Genie+ is smart enough to push the reservation later for when park hopping begins.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
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