By now, many Disney World and Disneyland guests are pretty familiar with Genie+.
Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane
The paid service has replaced both FastPass+ and MaxPass in Disney World and Disneyland. And while Genie+ allows you to bypass the standby queue on most attractions, you’ll still need to pay a separate fee to do so on more popular rides, via Individual Attraction Selection AKA Individual Lightning Lanes. But, why might you want to do this, and how would you do it? We’re breaking down the information you need to know here!
Why You Pay for Individual Rides
If you don’t want to pay for Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes, don’t worry! You can still utilize the traditional standby queue system or virtual queues (when/where they’re offered). But, if you choose, you can pay for the Disney Genie+ service, which allows you to select the next available time to arrive at certain attractions, and use that attraction’s Lightning Lane (a.k.a. FastPass Lane). You’re able to make these selections one at a time, throughout the day.
BUT, what about Disney’s 2nd paid service — Individual Lightning Lanes?
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is an Individual Lightning Lane Attraction
With this service, you pay to schedule a time to ride select, high-demand attractions. When your return time arrives, you go through the “Lightning Lane” (a.k.a. the FastPass Line) and skip the standby line. You pay for this service for each individual ride separately. This is similar to the individual paid FastPass system introduced at Disneyland Paris.
Why would you want to use this Individual Lightning Lane service? Well, first of all, this is utilized for very popular attractions that likely have long wait times or are difficult to ride.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Second, the rides that are available through Disney Genie+ are DIFFERENT than those available through Individual Lightning Lanes. Said differently, the attractions available through Individual Lightning Lanes are NOT available for you to select a return time for through Disney Genie+.
Disney Genie+ includes over 40 rides in Disney World and over 15 rides in Disneyland. The rides available through that service include Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane Sign
But, as we noted above, the rides that are available with Individual Lightning Lanes are different. Currently, these are the attractions available with Individual Lightning Lanes:
- Radiator Springs Racers in Disney California Adventure Park
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios AND Disneyland park
- Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
Note that there used to be more attractions with individual Lightning Lanes available in each Disney World park, so Space Mountain, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Expedition Everest, Frozen Ever After, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure all used to be part of this system. However, Disney has since moved those rides to Genie+!
Flight of Passage
For attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, guests will still be able to join a virtual queue for the ride at no additional cost (or, “Boarding Groups”). But, if they want to skip the virtual queues and standby lines, they can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane pass for these rides and hop into the Lightning Lane when their scheduled return time is available.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT
Note, however, that guests can only pay for up to 2 Individual Lightning Lanes per day.
How You Pay for Rides
Guests can book their desired Individual Lightning Lanes without purchasing Disney Genie+. In other words, you can simply have your regular ticket, and add on this Individual Lightning Lane option to it for an additional fee (without paying for other services).
You’ll purchase each of these Lightning Lanes as a separate transaction. Note, however, that you can select multiple members of your group for 1 transaction. So, for example, if you want to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance for your group of 5, that’s one transaction.
Will YOU join the Resistance?
You can, however, purchase up to 2 Individual Lightning Lanes per day. If you want to purchase a second Individual Lightning Lane that would be a separate transaction.
For these Individual Lightning Lanes, guests make the selections on the day of their visit. Guests at Walt Disney World can make their selections when the park opens.
If, however, you’ll be staying at a Disney-owned and operated hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, or Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort, you’re actually able to make your selections a bit early. For those select guests, selections can be made at 7AM.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
You can make these Lightning Lane selections for different parks. So, for example, even if you start your day in Magic Kingdom, you’re able to book an Individual Lightning Lane for a ride in EPCOT (just ensure that you have a ticket with Park Hopping abilities that will allow you to visit the other park). Still, across all parks, you’re only able to purchase 2 Individual Lightning Lanes (in total) for 1 day.
Cars Land
Disney Genie is built into My Disney Experience and the Disneyland App. The Individual Lightning Lanes are available through those apps too.
That’s a basic break-down of the information regarding Individual Lightning Lanes. If you’re looking for more information about Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and even Individual Lightning Lanes, be sure to check back with us and check out some of our other posts.
Click here to learn all about Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes.
All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection
BIG Genie+ Changes Being Planned For Disney World
FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World
3 Tips to OUTSMART Genie+ in Disney World Right Now
Please Stop Skipping These Genie+ Hacks in Disney World (They Really Work!)
Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland
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Have you used the Individual Lightning Lane service in Disney World or Disneyland? Tell us in the comments!
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Javier, the writer didn’t mention is because Disney hasn’t released the information. Pricing will depend on the attraction, the Park, and the attraction according to Disney.
Charles, you can purchase them at the same time, yes.
David, thanks so much for your kind words.
To answer your question about checking in: I would say yes. I can’t 100% say it will work for you to get your Genie+ Lightning Lane passes at that time, but it’s worth the effort to try, I think. If you’re not able to grab passes at 7AM, and if you know what time you want to ride Flight of Passage, I would suggest grabbing your Genie+ selections when the Park opens that day (probably 9AM or so). Does that suggestion make sense?
If your whole group is planning to purchase Individual Attraction Selections (for popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Rise of the Resistance), you will each be able to purchase two IAS per day (total of 14, as you said). Genie+ (which is different than IAS) will allow you to select Lightning Lane return times one at a time each day that you’ve purchased Genie+. In theory, you would be able to grab one after another after another for 40+ attractions across all four Parks — no limits.
Please let me know if these answers need any clarification. Happy to help!
Caron, because the Individual Attraction Selections will allow you to gain entry to the really popular rides via the Lightning Lane with a specific return time, I don’t think you’d need to use DAS for Individual Attraction Selections. When it comes to Genie+, I think that would be the same; since with Genie+ you’ll also select specific return times, as long as all members of your party have Genie+, you can use the Lightning Lane (just as you used to use the FastPass lane for DAS). The My Disney Experience app is going to have DAS features when it is updated in the fall (supposed to appear the same time as the basic Disney Genie features), and with DAS in the app you’ll be able to get your DAS return times for rides with a similar wait time to the older system (when you had to go to the actual ride to get the return time, then come back when it was time). Just a note in case the app DAS features are confusing or don’t sound like something you want: Disney says its retaining the current DAS card system as well, so you aren’t forced to change over to the app version. Let me know if all this helps.
Alicia: Please see my response in this thread! I hope it helps!
Cheryl, that’s a question, for sure. The speed with which Boarding Passes/VQ typically disappear seems like it would complicate things. But until the system is out, we can’t be sure. We will try this and report.
Bob, I expect you’ll pay with a card in My Disney Experience, since Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections will be in the app. But until the service is launched, that’s just a guess. We will report and have step by step how-tos when things get going.
Paul, everything you said is correct.
I plan to do this ONE day of my family of 7’s trip in October BECAUSE I want to make sure we can do ROR & SM since the last 3 visits we have been there we have been unsuccessful getting ROR either times. HUGE disappointment. I’m not allowing that anymore. Sorry!
“How and why you’ll pay […]”
Well, you’re already wrong, because I won’t be paying. Anyone who does pay is an enabler of Disney.
with this new system that replaced fast pass including the new pay per ride, will you still have to make park reservations?
Franacie, Disney Park Pass reservations are still required, yes.
Disney charge enough for the parks and they want extra money to ride the rides. They are getting money hungry.At this rate I will never able to afford to go. I use to be able to go at least four times a year but not no more. Because it got too expensive.
I’m seriously disappointed with Disney Executives for this choice. Requiring payment for parking was bad enough, now paying for fast-passes is just pure greed for a billion dollar company. Disney vacations are already MASSIVELY expensive for families. I’ve been a lifelong fan, going yearly as a child, then bringing my own kids, and finally enjoying the parks as an older adult. It’s been several years since I last went and was really looking forward to going once Covid settles down, but I feel like someone sucked all of the oxygen out of the world. To do this just before their 50th anniversary… what an incredibly bad choice.
I won’t be purchasing them, we are canceling our trip, no magical express, masks, no events or tours, higher prices on everything, park reservations, restricted park hopper, and now this. Why would I pay more for everything there for half the experience? Walt always said never replace something unless the thing you are replacing it with is better or as good as the original! None of the above is! I hope many more cancle and they see the error of their way.
Just curious, what about handicap access? Wheelchair bound and scooter guests? Sounds like we are cut out completely. How sad. 😥
Judith, if you’re referring to Disability Access Service, that will remain available and receive some enhancements. If not, let me know what your specific concerns are, and I’ll try to clarify things.
Does anyone know when this will begin? We’ll be there october 4th and I’d like to plan for that week 🙂
Sheila, no word on Disney regarding a start date — just Fall 2021.
I’m asking if the handicapped people in wheelchairs and scooters must go through regular lines. It’s not easy for an adult disabled with cerebral palsy to be in lines like they are talking about. Before, they let us pass through due to the obviously handicap issues.
Judith, the Disability Access Service will still be available for those who wish to use it, but those in wheelchairs and ECVs can — without DAS — receive a return time (to use the FastPass/Lightning Lanes) so that they don’t have to navigate the Standby line. The Genie+ changes have not affected these policies to my knowledge. Also, as far as I know, any attraction that had handicap accessibility or loading areas will retain those.
Can you pay for genie plus and or main attraction rides with a Disney giftcard?
Ian, I don’t believe Disney has released this information. My expectation is that, since you can load Disney gift cards in My Disney Experience, you’ll be able to apply them. For now, though, that’s really just my best guess. When Genie launches, we’ll share all the details.
What do you mean by you can have your regular ticket and add on Individual Attraction for an additional cost?
Ron, you’ll enter the Park with your admission ticket — standard one day or Park Hopper or whichever ticket you’ve purchased — and then if you want to buy a Lightning Lane pass for a particular popular ride, you may pay for an Individual Attraction Selection so you can skip the Standby line.
“If, however, you’ll be staying at a Disney-owned and operated hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, or Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll actually be able to make your selections a bit early. For those select guests, selections can be made at 7AM. ”
Hello! I had question about the 7AM selection time for individual attraction selections. If am checking into the Swan Reserve at 4PM and am going to Epcot earlier in the day can I utilize the 7AM selection time? I think it would work if I was staying at a Disney hotel with online check-in via the Disney app, but since I cannot check-in to Swan Reserve through the Disney app I am worried I won’t be able to make selections at 7am.
Thanks!
Kelsey, to be honest, I’m not sure. I would recommend giving the front desk at the hotel a call ahead of your visit so you can see whether they have a suggestion for you on this. My hope is that since you have a Park ticket that day and a resort reservation starting that day, you’d be fine. But I think you might want a confirmation from the hotel if possible.
I am confused about the difference and the need for: Genie, Genie +, Lightning Lane, and now the IAS. We will most probably have a scooter also. Bringing 6 adults and 5 children over eastr. Your thoughts?
Melinda, Disney Genie is the free service in My Disney Experience that can help structure your day when you input your preferences. For example, it can suggest the next experience you can have based on where you are and what you’ve told the system you like. Disney Genie+ is a service for which you can choose to pay $15 per day per person in order to book Lightning Lane (the old FastPass lane) passes that let you skip the Standby line. There are lots of conditions on this (including you can only book one at a time, on the day of your Park visit, etc.). Individual Attraction Selections also use the Lightning Lane to skip the Standby lines, but with IAS you are paying PER RIDE rather than per day. These are the really popular rides in each Park that are NOT included in Genie+. We have extensive info on all of these on this page of our site.
I have a question that I can’t find an answer for anywhere. SO i am trying here. My daughter and her band class are going to Disney in February. Each student will have there own ticket and MDE account. If they wanted to purchase ILL for an attraction, how could they do as and all get on the same return time? I know they can link their accts in the MDE, but just don’t know how they would be able to purchase the ILL together. Thank you!
Hi Angie! Our advice is to designate one person to link everyone else’s accounts to and have that person make the reservations. Keep in mind that they will be charged so they would need to work out payment amongst themselves.
so if you are only allowed 2 lightning lanes per day and you use those can another person in our party purchase and include everyone in the group for 2 more and so on?
Would you please do an article on how to use DAS. It is really needed by this community.
Hi Shelly! Not for Individual Lightning Lanes, no. The app recognizes who is in the party and if they have used their allotted ILLs for the day.