Disney’s Genie+ - What is it, and is it Right for Your Family?
By: Anna Trosper
April 18, 2024
If you recall, I made a blog post a while back about Disney’s basic Genie service. This time, I’m back, better than ever, and ready to take you on an educational journey all about Disney’s Genie+.
What is Genie+?
Genie+ is a paid add-on to the free Genie service that gives you passes to bypass the long stand-by line for an attractions or shows, like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Beauty and the Beast Live show.
The price for Genie+ varies between parks, days, and park volume. As of June 2023, however, Disney World has included a new pricing model that gives guests a range of options; now, the cost of the line-skipping service will vary both by date and by which park or parks you plan to visit. You usually won’t know the price until the day of purchase, but you can expect to pay between $16 – $35 depending on when you visit Walt Disney World.
You may purchase Disney Genie+ service by selecting the theme park they are planning to visit that day or selecting the "Multiple Parks" option if they are planning to visit more than one theme park and their ticket or pass includes the Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus option that day.
When you’re ready to take the plunge and purchase Genie+, you’ll start by selecting either an individual park or the “multiple parks” option depending on your plans for the day. Note that you’ll only be able to use the multiple parks option if your ticket/pass includes Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus for that day – make sure you plan accordingly!
Benefits of Genie+
Let’s start with the most obvious benefit of Genie+: Lightning Lanes. When you get a pass for a ride you do not have to stand in the looooooong stand-by-line. Those wait times can easily exceed an hour, so Genie+ can save you time in the parks by letting you hop right into the lightning lane lines and leave the stand-by lines in the dust.
Lightning Lane access lets you reduce your time waiting in lines. Genie+ lets you reserve the next available arrival slot for Lightning Lane entrances all day long. With this feature, you can reserve your place and by-pass the stand-by-line for one major attraction at a time. These passes do sell out!!!
Keep in mind, not all attractions are accessible through Genie+ Lightning Lane entrances. In fact, usually the most popular rides are excluded for Genie+ guests.
For example, Lightning Lanes aren’t available through Genie+ for Disney World’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle/Run, Avatar Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. These rides are only with individually purchased Lightning Lane Passes.
While the lightning lane privileges may seem a little more restrictive, there are other cool benefits to Disney Genie+ that you might find worth the price.
For example, Genie+ gives you another way to experience the park with Audio Tales! You can listen to behind-the-scenes stories about attractions and park features in select areas of the park. Curious about the history of Cinderella’s Castle? You’re in luck: just mosey on down to Magic Kingdom and stand in the general vicinity of the castle to access behind-the-scenes information.
Genie+ integrates Audio Tales into your Genie itinerary, and you can also find them marked on the park map.
The Cons of Genie+
Okay, now it’s time to get a little personal. I, for one, wish Disney would return to the FastPass+ over the new Genie system for a few reasons:
Often the most popular attractions have their Genie+ reservations and Individual Lightning Lane (we will take about these next time) purchases all gone within minutes of opening to Disney Resort Hotel guests at 7 am.
Did I say 7 am! Yes, on vacation you must be up and ready before 7 am. This is the most stressful part for me. It is not just that you get on your phone at 7 am, NO you must make sure you are in right at 7 am to try and get with you want.
On high attendance days in the park, it is almost worthless – You pay for genie+ and you hope to get 3 or 4 passes for the whole day! But you may only get 2 and the bigger rides you may not even get.
You’re on your phone all day! To make more passes during the day- This is what I dislike the most. I am on vacation; I do not want to be on my phone all day worried if I can get the next pass that we want.
So, Is Genie+ worth it?
The Genie+ service has limited availability, and the use restrictions might feel a bit suffocating for some guests — not to mention it’s an added cost for each ticket holder in your group. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to ride your favorite attraction, even with the Genie+ add-on.
However, if you’re willing to stay on top of Lightning Lane availability, Genie+ can be an effective way to maximize your time at the parks when it's crowded, and you only have one day.
Sound overwhelming? Don’t worry – I can help with that!
I help my clients know as much about Genie+ as I can before they leave on their magical trip. I want to make sure they know what they are buying and if they think it will work for their family. I would be happy to help you plan a magical vacation and make sure you have all the information you need to decide on genie+ plus also. Contact me at Annat@wisnesfamilytravel.com and please follow me on FACEBOOK to keep up with all the latest news from Disney.