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I am not a fan of waiting in line, especially at a theme park and more especially in the heat. If there is an option to skip the lines, I am almost always willing to pay extra for it (depending on the price, of course). I heard some things about Walt Disney World’s Genie+ service but since we hadn’t been to Disney since 2019, we never tried it before and didn’t really understand how it worked.
During our most recent trip to Animal Kingdom, we went over the weekend, during the Summer and I just knew that the lines would be unbearable. While connecting our tickets on the My Disney Experience app, I noticed the Genie+ service and found the Lightning Lane option.
What is Disney Genie Service?
Disney Genie service is complimentary and helps you to create your best Disney day inspired by your party’s top interests. It also grants you new planning features, including a personalized itinerary creator that seamlessly and smartly maps out your visit with updates that continue from morning to night. And, Disney Genie can even remind you when you’re eligible to make dining and activity reservations in advance.
What is Included in Genie+ Service?
When you purchase the Genie+ Service, you get all the great features of the complimentary Disney Genie service, plus a few add-ons. Our favorite part of Genie+ Service is the ability to use the Lightning Lane entrance at select attractions and experiences at the Walt Disney World theme parks. The Disney website says on average, guests can enter 2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day using the Lightning Lane entrance if the first selection is made early in the day; however, we were able to grab more in a 9-hour day. The trick is to make one selection at a time, starting at 7:00 AM on the day of your visit (experiences are subject to limited availability), and choose the soonest available. Once that time has passed, you can choose another and another throughout the day.
How Much Does Genie+ Cost?
Disney Genie+ Service is only $15 plus tax (USD) per person per day.
Which Rides are Included in Genie+?
You can find the full list of rides available to use as part of Genie+’s lightning lane here:
Is there an Option to Select Lightning Lane for the Busier Rides?
Yes! You may also purchase individual—or à la carte—Lightning Lane entry selections for specific attractions that aren’t offered through Disney’s Genie+ service. Purchase individual Lightning Lane entry for up to 2 experiences per day, one at a time. Guests may purchase this option with or without Disney’s Genie+ service. We purchased them for Avatar Flight of Passage in the morning and didn’t get on until late that evening. I highly recommend purchasing them as soon as possible as they seem to go quickly.
From the main menu in the My Disney Experience mobile app select “My Disney Genie Day”.
Select the “My Day” tab, then tap “Get Disney Genie+ for Today”.
Is Genie+ Worth the Money?
In my opinion, absolutely. We were able to set alarms on our phones and select a new lightning lane pass every hour while we were at Animal Kingdom. It cut the wait times down significantly and allowed us to maximize our time so that we could ride as many rides as possible during the day.
We hope that this answers any questions you might have had about Disney’s Genie+ Service and Lightning Lane. If you have any questions that we haven’t answered, please leave them in the comment section below and we will add them! Stay tuned for more about our most recent trip to Animal Kingdom. Make sure to read about all of our family adventures in Florida.
I'm so honored that you've found us! I'm Heather, a Mom of 3 who blogs about parenting, food, occasional travel and how I overcame my daily struggle with anxiety. I miss sleeping and rely on coffee and laughter to get me through the day. I hope you enjoy and visit often!
It is so worth it to pay to skip the lines! This is a great option to have. We have wasted so many hours over the years waiting in lines at theme parks.
We might use it in July but I’m not sure. My son has autism so he qualifies for DAS so we use that a lot. It irks me to spend more money when I shouldn’t have to. I wish they didn’t get rid of FastPass.
Things are so different now at Disney. I really do or did, not sure if the service is still there, where you could reserve your spot in line for a ride.
It is so worth it to pay to skip the lines! This is a great option to have. We have wasted so many hours over the years waiting in lines at theme parks.
I have to look into utilizing this option the next time I visit Disney.
So nice that they have these services. I’m all about maximizing time and experiences so thank you!
The Genie+ Lightning Lane seems like a good way to get the most out of your time at Disney!
We might use it in July but I’m not sure. My son has autism so he qualifies for DAS so we use that a lot. It irks me to spend more money when I shouldn’t have to. I wish they didn’t get rid of FastPass.
Things are so different now at Disney. I really do or did, not sure if the service is still there, where you could reserve your spot in line for a ride.
Author
This new service has replaced what used to be called Fast Passes, though everything is now done through the My Disney Experience app.
We love Disney! Genie+ has been such a great item to purchase! We get it every single time we go to disney!!