Let’s Talk About Genie +

What is Genie+? 

Genie + is a paid service that gives you access to select lightning lane arrival windows. 

Do you have to have it? 

No, Genie + is completely optional, but I like it for busier parks. 

How much does it cost?

It is currently $15 plus tax per ticket per day.  You can purchase it each day on the morning of your park visit, but remember, Genie+ is subject to availability.

You can purchase it in the My Disney Experience App starting at midnight the morning of your ticketed park day (park ticket and park reservations are also required).  Unless the parks are extremely busy, you should be fine purchasing it by 6:50 so you are ready to make your first ride selection at 7. 

I like to set up my preferences in the app beforehand so I can quickly snag our desired rides.  You can make your second ride selection either 2 hours after the park opens or after you scan into the first ride that you selected, whichever comes first.  You can continue this pattern throughout the day.  If you are not sure if it is time to select another lightning lane yet, proceed like you are and the app will just let you know that you are not eligible yet.

Here are a few tips to help get the most out of Genie+

  • Set your preferences and make sure everyone in you party is set up before it is time to make your ride selections
  • Refresh your app.  If you don’t see the ride you want, sometimes more times open up
  • Be flexible
  • Know which rides/experiences are most important to your party
  • If a popular ride is only showing late evening availability, it is most likely to run out of passes soon.  If it is a ride you want, make sure to select it over rides that still have morning availability
  • You can only use genie+ one time for each ride per day.  Meaning you cannot continually select Splash Mountain, for example, through Genie+ all day long.  You can use genie+ one time and then use the standby lane to ride it as many times as you would like
  • If you can’t make it to your lightning lane during your arrival window, make sure you release that selection or you won’t be able to select it again during the same day.  Your only option would be to use the standby line.

It can be a little confusing and take a minute to get used to, but we enjoyed it in Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.  If you do not want to purchase it, you do not have to.  You simply use the standby line.  Or if you want to have it for some parks and not others, you can. 

Here is my personal preference by park!

Animal Kingdom

I don’t feel it is necessary here.  We had it recently and only used it for 2 rides (Na’vi and Safari).  We purchased Individual Lightning Lanes for Flight Of Passage and used the standby for everything else.  We chose not to ride Dinosaur and Kali River, but we could have easily snagged passes had we wanted.  Most people rope drop Flight of Passage, so we were able to walk on to Everest. 

Epcot

This is another park that I feel you don’t have to have Genie+ for.  If you take advantage of early magic hours (if you are staying on Disney property), you can experience most of the rides before the world showcase opens.  Currently, Cosmic Rewind is the only ride that you can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for.  Remy and Frozen were moved to Genie+ for the summer crowds.  Remy, Frozen, Test Track and Mission Space (if that’s your kind of ride) would be my first few choices if we used Genie+ in Epcot.  I would also try for the virtual que on Cosmic Rewind if we didn’t purchase an Individual Lighting Lane for it. 

Hollywood Studios

I recommend Genie+ here.  If you do not get an Individual Lightning Lane for Rise, I suggest either rope dropping it or getting in line closer to park close.  I would also get a lightning lane for Slinky Dog Dash.  These two passes tend to go quickly and usually have a long standby line throughout the day.  Next I would choose either Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster or Smuggler’s Run.  I would pay attention to the times these rides are available.  The later return times, the more likely that the ride will run out of lighting lanes.  Again, this is just my opinion and you should do what is best for you and your party.  I do not suggest using genie+ for the shows.  There is a ton of seating and multiple show times.

Magic Kingdom

I also recommend Genie+ for this park.  You could get an Individual Lightning Lane for Mine Train (or use the standby line).  Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan and Jungle Cruise are some of my top picks. 

Remember, this is all based on my opinions from our personal experience. Your experience may differ and you may find that having Genie + at all parks works best for you.

I hope it helps you to understand Genie+!  Let me know if you have any questions. 

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