With Disney officially retiring the FastPass system Disney has announced a new way for guests to access rides during certain time slots called Genie+.
Disney’s Genie+ service at Walt Disney World and Disneyland will allow guests to save time waiting in line for their most popular, most sought after rides and attractions by giving them access to the new Lighting Lane entrances at most attractions for an additional fee.
However, some popular rides such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Rise of the Resistance can’t be accessed through Genie+ but instead must be purchased a al carte anywhere from $7 to $12 per person.
Below is an in-depth guide to help you navigate this somewhat confusing, multi-tiered system.
Jump to:
- Quick Overview of Disney Genie+
- What is Disney’s Genie+
- How much does Genie+ cost?
- What are the Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections?
- What are the Individual Lightning Lane Selections?
- Wait, so what’s the normal Disney Genie Service?
- Is Genie+ worth it?
- My Personal Opinion on “Paid FastPass”
- Disney Genie+, Genie, and Lightning Lane FAQs
- Save this pic
Quick Overview of Disney Genie+
- Disney Genie+ is a paid daily upgrade that will give you unlimited access to the Lightning Lane at most attractions at all four Disney World parks and both Disneyland Park
- Genie+ costs $15 to $29 a day per ticket at Disney World and $25 per ticket at Disneyland Resort
- Some popular rides won’t be accessible through Genie+ but instead will need to be purchased a la carte (called Individual Lightning Lane selection) with fluctuating prices
- Disney Genie is a free trip planning tool that is integrated into the My Disney Experience app and Disneyland app which will help you plan your day while you’re visiting the parks
So with that being said, let’s jump straight to the guide!
What is Disney’s Genie+
Genie+ is a paid upgrade that will give you access to over 40 attractions via Lighting Lane (previously FastPass) by booking a specific ride access time slot.
With Genie+, you can make one selection at a time throughout the day.
On the day of your visit, you’ll be able to secure your first attraction arrival time at park opening or at 7 am if you’re staying at a Disney Resort.
At Disneyland Resort, you’ll also get unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads as well at Disney Parks-themed audio experiences during your day.
And at Disney World, you’ll get access to special Disney PhotoPass lenses for your mobile device which is using augmented reality as well as Audi Tales which is a new way to hear about some fun facts and behind the scenes insights.
How much does Genie+ cost?
Disney’s Genie+ service starts at $15 per day per ticket at Disney World and can go up to $29 per day per ticket. Disney World uses variable pricing for Genie+ meaning less busy days will cost $15, while busier days can cost as high as $22.
Disney Genie+ service costs $25 per day per ticket at Disneyland Resort. Genie+ at Disneyland does include PhotoPass.
You’ll able to purchase the Genie Plus service on the day of your visit or purchase it as an add-on to a theme park ticket by modifying your existing ticket prior to arrival.
You can also purchase a ticket with Genie+ already included.
What are the Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections?
When you purchase the Genie+ plus add-on, you’ll be able to select an arrival window for Lightning Lane entrances at over 40 attractions across all 4 Disney World parks and both Disneyland parks, one a a time throughout the entire day.
However, some more popular attractions aren’t included, but instead must be purchased individually. (see next section)
These Lightning Lane attractions include:
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Rides
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- It’s a Small World
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Mickey and Minnie at Town Square Theater
- Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Mickey’s PhilarMagic
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain
- 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 Lightning Lane Rides
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Frozen Ever After
- Journey into the Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: Space (Orange and Green)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Rides
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
- Disney Junior Dance Party
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
- 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 Lightning Lane Rides
- Festival of the Lion King
- Dinosaur
- Expedition Everest
- Feathered Friends in Flight
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- My Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
- Na’vi River Journey
- The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
Disneyland Park Lightning Lane Rides
- 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 Adventure Continues
Disneys’ California Adventure Lightning Lane Rides
- Goofy’s Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout
- Incredicoaster
- Monsters Inc Mike and Sulley to the Rescue
- Soarin’ Over California
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure
What are the Individual Lightning Lane Selections?
Some of the high demand attractions can only be purchased “a la carte” in the My Disney Experience app basically meaning you’ll have to pay a certain price in order to ride that attraction using the Lightning Lane.
Prices for Individual Lightning Lane selections will vary by date, attraction, and park. For example, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is $9 per person on 10/19 and $11 per person on 10/23. However, on those same dates, Expedition Everest is $7 per person while Rise of the Resistance is $15 per person.
Prices will vary, in my opinion, depending on the time of the year and if it’s on a weekend or weekday. We’ll know for sure once more data comes out.
One thing to remember is that you can only book 2 of these attractions each day (must be booked one a time). And you can only book a specific ride once per day.
The silver lining to this is that you don’t need to have the Genie+ service in order to choose an arrival time at these select attractions.
These Individual Lightning Lane attractions include:
Magic Kingdom Individual Lightning Lane Rides
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Epcot Individual Lightning Lane Rides
- Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
Hollywood Studios Individual Lightning Lane Rides
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Animal Kingdom Individual Lightning Lane Rides
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Disneyland Park Individual Lightning Lane Rides
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Disney’s California Adventure Individual Lightning Lane Rides
- Radiator Springs Racers
Wait, so what’s the normal Disney Genie Service?
The complimentary Disney Genie service creates you best Disney Day inspired by you and your party’s top interests.
Essentially, once you launch the Disney Genie service within you My Disney Experience app, you’ll have the opportunity to share what you’d like to do during your day at Disney including the rides and attractions you want to experience as well as any food and interests, you want to enjoy.
Plus, if you have any special interests like meeting a certain villain or princess, or want to ride a particular ride, the app will create a personalized itinerary that will map out your special day from morning to night. This is especially handy when the app reminds you to make a virtual queue reservation for a ride like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
It’s basically like having a free personal vacation planner in the palm of your hands that will always offer you new suggestions during the days so you can make the most of your time at Disney.
And if happen to have any questions, you can speak to a Cast Member via virtual chat within the app.
Genie is pretty awesome.
Is Genie+ worth it?
Yes, I think it’s absolutely worth it, but only if you’re someone who truly values time over money.
I understand all the backlash of having to pay for something that was once free, but in all honesty, they could’ve gotten rid of FastPass for good without a predecessor, so I guess we’ll just have to manage.
Personally, since I’ve been quite accustomed to waiting in lines after the parks reopened after the pandemic shutdown, and being a local WDW Annual Passholder, I won’t see myself purchasing Genie+ every time I visit the parks.
However, I will more than likely purchase Individual Lightning Lane selections on the days that I have an itch to ride a particular ride like Rise of the Resistance or Flight of Passage without having to wait for 120 minutes.
I see myself taking advantage of the Individual Lightning Lane selections more than Genie+ itself.
My Personal Opinion on “Paid FastPass”
To be honest, I don’t hate it. But I also don’t love it.
Whenever we used to take a vacation at Disneyland pre-pandemic, the MaxPass ticket add-on was super convenient. Instead of having to make that full on sprint to Radiator Springs Racers to secure a FastPass, I could just easily grab a time slot from my hotel room.
That was beautiful.
But it’s a little different for me when it comes to Disney World since we live in Orlando.
Those days of just popping into the parks before closing after securing a last minute Space Mountain FastPass are long gone.
And I really just can’t see myself paying $15 a day after already paying $1,000+ for an annual pass.
But for when I vacation to Disneyland (even being a MagicKey holder), I will more than likely purchase Genie+ especially if I’m going during a busy time of the year.
Also, it won’t hurt buying an Individual Lightning Lane selection, essentially guaranteeing myself that I’ll get to ride Radiator Springs Racers and Web Slingers during my trip.
So all in all, I believe that Genie is really cool, Genie+ has its perks, and Individual Lightning Lanes is a game changer especially when it comes to trying to ride a high-demand ride.
It’s like having your own VIP tour guide at a major discount.
Disney Genie+, Genie, and Lightning Lane FAQs
Got a question? Maybe I can answer it below:
What’s the main difference between Disney Genie and Disney Genie+?
Genie is a free vacation planning tool to help you make the most of your Disney day while Genie+ is a paid add-on to your ticket that gives you access to the Lightning Lane at select attractions.
Will Annual Passholders have to pay $15 a day to use Genie+?
Yes, at this time, Disney World Annual Passholders and Disneyland MagicKey holders will have to add Genie+ to their day like every other ticket holder. (Hopefully they have something coming out in the near future just for APs that will make this more affordable or better, just a one time yearly purchase).
Disney has stated that they are looking into Disney Genie enhancements for Passholders and Keyholders like discounts, additional services, and other perks, in the near future, so fingers-crossed.
How many Individual Lightning Lane selections can I book?
You can only book 2 per day and it can’t be the same ride.
When’s the first day I can use Genie and Genie+?
The service officially launches on October 19, 2021. It is now available everyday.
Do Disney Resort guests get any Genie+ perks?
The only benefit at this time is that all Disney Resort guests can make their Genie+ attraction and Individual Lightning Lane selections at 7 am on their park day, as opposed to at park opening.
Will I still need a park reservation?
Yes, at this time, a park reservation is still needed to access any of the 6, U.S. theme parks.
How much does Disney Genie+ cost at every park?
In Walt Disney World, Genie+ costs $15 to $22 per ticket per day and at Disneyland Resort, Genie+ costs $25 per ticket per day.
What is Disney Premier Access?
Disney Premier Access is similar to purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane selection, but it’s only available at Disneyland Paris. In order to use it, you must enter into one of the Disneyland Paris parks and from there you can purchase it in the app or from a Cast Member at City Hall or Studio Services. then form there you can purchase a specific time slot as well as access to a popular ride using the now defunct FastPass lane.
…
Thanks for reading my Disney Genie and Genie+ guide and hopefully it helped breakdown this new service for you.
Please check back on this page as I will be updating it regularly with some tips and any additional information as it becomes available.
Thanks and I hope to see you at the parks!
Save this pic
Lisa
I was told that off site guests have to wait until park opening to book individual lightning lanes, but that Genie+ lightning lanes are accessible to book at 7 am for both on and off site guests. You state in this article that off site guests have to wait until park opening to book Genie+ lightning lanes.