Disney has officially retired FastPass+, FASTPASS, and MaxPass at Disney World and Disneyland.
Now, the new, paid systems replacing FastPasses — called Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection — have officially started in both Disney World and Disneyland. But there’s also a FREE planning system called Disney Genie, which can help you see info about some of these new paid features while also showing you forecasted wait times and more (for free). Yeah, it can get a little bit confusing! You’ve been sending us lots of questions about these new systems, so today we’re trying to answer as many of them as we can.
Brief Overview
Before we dive in, we want to share a brief overview of what’s going on. For starters, FastPass+, FASTPASS, and MaxPass are gone.
Next, let’s talk about Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection. We explained some of the basics of these three things in less than 500 words. You can click here to see that, but we’ve also have the core information here:
Disney Genie is a FREE planning service built into the My Disney Experience App and Disneyland App. You will tell Disney Genie what you want to ride, what types of things you like, etc., and Disney Genie will create a personalized, flexible itinerary for you. With Genie, you’ll be able to see forecasted wait times, mobile order your food, chat with a virtual assistant, see walk-up waitlist availability, make restaurant reservations, adjust your plans, and more. Plans will continuously update to help you get the most out of your day.
Click Here to See Our Guide on Using the FREE Disney Genie
Essentially, Genie is designed to help you plan your day and optimize your plans.
Disney Genie+ is a PAID FastPass-like service. It starts at a cost* of $15 per day, per ticket at Disney World and starts at a cost of $25 per day, per ticket at Disneyland. If you pay for this service, you’ll be able to see when the next available time is to use various rides’ Lightning Lanes (i.e. FastPass+ lanes). You will select the next available time to use the Lightning Lane for whatever ride you want, and when your time arrives, you can visit the ride and use the Lightning Lane (skipping the standby line).
*EDITOR’S UPDATE: *In October 2022, Disney introduced variable date-based pricing for Genie+ with the price starting at $15 per guest, per day in Disney World and starting at $25 per guest, per day in Disneyland Resort. Guests are able to check the price for the day on the My Disney Experience app and Disneyland app prior to purchasing for the day.
You do not have to pay for each individual ride with Genie+. The $15 per day, per ticket (starting cost) includes skipping the line (going through the Lightning Lane) for a lot of Disney World rides. You DO, however, have to make reservations for each of these rides, one at a time. You’ll use the My Disney Experience app to make the reservations, and you’ll have a one-hour return window during which time you can go through the Lightning Lane for that ride.
Once you’re done with that ride, you can make another Genie+ Lightning Lane selection — 1 ride at a time, throughout the day. You may be able to hold 2 Genie+ Lightning Lane selections at one time in certain special circumstances — more on that below in the questions. Over 50 attractions are available through Genie+ at Disney World, over 15 attractions are available through Genie+ at Disneyland. NOT all attractions will be available through Genie+.
Up until June 8th, 2022, guests at Disney World can purchase Genie+ either on the day of their visit or ahead of time as an add-on to theme park tickets. Guests will also be able to purchase new tickets that include Genie+ before their visit, but if you buy Genie+ before your visit, you must buy it for all the days of your visit. If you only want Genie+ on certain days (not all of them), you’ll have to wait and buy it on the day that you want to use it.
However, starting June 8th, the ability to buy Genie+ before your trip is going away. You will only be able to buy Genie+ on the day of your park ticket, starting at midnight.
Note that whether you purchase Genie+ in advance or on the day of your visit, you cannot make a Genie+ Lightning Lane selection until the DAY OF your trip. At Disney World, guests can make their first Lightning Lane attraction selection at 7AM on the day of their visit. At Disneyland, the first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection can be made once you’re in the park.
Select, highly popular attractions (like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure at Disney California Adventure Park, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios) will NOT be listed on Genie+.
That means that even if you pay for Genie+ you will NOT be able to select a time for/use the Lightning Lane at those attractions. Instead, if you want to use the Lightning Lane for those attractions, you’ll have to pay for the attractions INDIVIDUALLY. You can see more about that here.
Okay, that’s a quick overview of the basics. Now, let’s dive into your questions.
Questions
What’s the difference between Genie and Individual Attraction Selection?
We sort-of broke this down above, but we’ll mention it quickly here. Genie+ is the service where you’ll pay a starting cost of $15 per day, per ticket to make Lightning Lane selections (1 at a time throughout the day) at over 40 attractions in Disney World (at Disneyland it features over 15 attractions for a price starting at $25).
Individual Attraction Selection is what we often call a pay-per-ride system. Some Disney rides are not part of Genie+. Instead, you’ll have to pay a separate fee if you want to skip the line for those rides. The rides included in this category change periodically at Disney World (so make sure to check before your trip), and Disneyland has three of these total.
Click here to see more about the difference between these 2 systems!
Is it $15* a day to ride unlimited rides?
This basically relates to the breakdown between Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection. If you pay for Genie+ (starting at $15 at Disney World, and starting at $25 at Disneyland), you can see the next available times to enter various rides’ Lightning Lanes. You can then select the next available time for the ride you want, and when that time arrives, you’ll go to the ride, skip the standby line, use the Lightning Lane, and get on the ride. You do need a reservation — you can’t just hop in the Lightning Lane for a ride unless you have selected the ride on the app and chosen an arrival time.
Remember you can only make 1 Lightning Lane selection at a time, unless your first attraction is at least 2 hours away. For example, if you want a reservation for Splash Mountain, but the only next available time is at 6PM, you can book that time and then still book a reservation for another ride earlier in the day. So, you could keep your Splash Mountain reservation for 6PM, but also have a Genie+ reservation for “it’s a small world” for 10AM. This is part of Disney World’s 120 minute rule, which we’ll discuss more in another question here.
You can continue to select 1 Lightning Lane selection for any available ride through Genie+ throughout your entire day. Note that you can ONLY use Genie+ to use the Lightning Lane once per ride included in the service per day.
That means you can’t get a Genie+ selection for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin twice in one day. If you want to ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin more than once in one day, you can use Genie+ once to skip the standby line and use the Lightning Lane for that ride. Any return trips to that particular ride on a single day will have to be through the standby line.
Click here to learn more about not being able to re-ride attractions with Genie+.
NOT all rides’ Lightning Lanes will be accessible through Genie+. At Disney World, Genie+ will give you access to make Lightning Lane selections at over 50 rides. At Disneyland, over 15 rides are included in Genie+.
But, some SUPER popular rides (like Rise of the Resistance and more) will NOT be included in Genie+. That means, if you want to use the Lightning Lane for Radiator Springs Racers, for example, you will NOT be able to select a time for it through Genie+ (even though you’ve paid for Disneyland’s Genie+).
In order to use the Lightning Lane for those select POPULAR rides, you’ll need to pay for the ride individually through Individual Attraction Selection. Disney shared some initial prices for these Individual Attraction Selections, and from what we’ve seen so far, they range right now from $7 to $22 per person, but these prices can actually change based on demand. Think of it like surge pricing for other services like Uber.
Click Here to Learn How to Use Individual Attraction Selection in Disney World
So, if on one particular day, the price to use the Lightning Lane at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is $9, you’ll pay that amount and get a return time to use the Lightning Lane for that ride. Those $9 will ONLY give you access to scheduling a Lightning Lane for that single ride you’ve selected — Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in this case. And keep in mind you can only buy Lightning Lane attractions for up to 2 attractions per day.
Click here to learn more about Individual Attraction Selection.
Is there any benefit to stay on-site?
In Disney World, there is a benefit to staying on-site when it comes to Individual Attraction Selection specifically. All guests will have the ability to buy Individual Attraction Selections. Guests will be able to get their first Individual Attraction Selection when the park opens.
But, those staying at select hotels get a little bit earlier access. Disney has stated that those staying at Disney-owned and operated hotels, The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, and Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort will be able to make their first Individual Attraction Selection at 7AM each day.
Click here to see more about this hotel perk
Is there any benefit/discount to being an Annual Passholder? And how does the system work for Annual Passholders?
At this time, Disney has not announced any discounts or special perks for Annual Passholders or (future) Magic Key Holders when it comes to Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections.
So, how will the system work for Annual Passholders? Disney has shared that at its launch, Disney World Annual Passholders and Disneyland Magic Key holders will be able to add Disney Genie+ and/or individual Lightning Lane selections on the day of their visit.
So, Passholders and Key Holders will have full access to the service. You’ll just have to add it on the day of your visit.
Disney also shared that they will be looking into other enhancements for Passholders and Key holders using Disney Genie in the future.
Click here to see our post about how the system works for Annual Passholders
Do I have to use Genie+ for every day of my trip?
Important update: Disney has clarified that when Genie+ is purchased with your ticket or vacation package ahead of your visit, Disney Genie+ must be purchased for the entire length of your stay (all of the days in a multi-day visit). Remember, you can only purchase Genie+ ahead of time until June 8th, 2022.
If, however, you choose to simply buy it on the day of a visit, you’ll be able to purchase it for a single day. So, if you only want to use it a few days during your trip (rather than the entire length of your stay), you’ll have to buy it on the individual day(s) you visit the park(s) you want to use Genie+ for (rather than getting it in advance). Genie+ is available to buy for an individual day starting at midnight on that day.
When can I buy Genie+ in relation to my trip?
If you’re an Annual Passholder, see above. So far, Disney has shared that Disney World Annual Passholders and Disneyland Magic Key holders will be able to add Disney Genie+ and/or individual Lightning Lane selections on the day of their visit.
If you’re not an Annual Passholder or Magic Key Holder, guests will be able to purchase Genie+ on the day of their visit OR as an add-on to a theme park ticket by modifying their existing ticket prior to arrival. Disney has also shared that guests will be able to purchase new tickets that include Genie+ before their visit. (Again, this only applies until June 8th, 2022)
For guests who previously purchased a vacation package through Walt Disney World and want to add Genie+ onto it now, you can call Disney World Reservations at (407) 560-2428 to add Genie+ to your package.
For anyone else with existing tickets, the easiest way to add Genie+ will be to buy it on each individual day. You can buy Genie+ for an individual day starting at midnight on the day of your visit.
Keep in mind that regardless of when you purchase it, you’ll only be able to actually BOOK Genie+ Lightning Lane selections on the day of your visit.
What rides are being offered for each?
Disney has FULL lists of the rides that are available through Genie+ in Disneyland and Disney World, as well as the ones that are available through Individual Attraction Selection (the pay-per-ride service).
In Disney World, Genie+ (the starting at $15 per day service) covers over 40 rides, including Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Click here to see the FULL list of rides available through Genie+ in Disney World.
What about Individual Attraction Selection? The service started out with two rides in each Disney World being included in this individual attraction selection option. But, since then, Disney has made some changes that will last until August 7th, 2022. Here’s the list right now:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – Magic Kingdom
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – EPCOT
- Avatar Flight of Passage – Animal Kingdom
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Hollywood Studios
Click here to see more about the rides you’ll have to pay EXTRA for through Individual Attraction Selection.
Click here to see the FULL LIST of rides that will be available through Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection in Disneyland.
Note that the attractions that will be offered by Genie+ will be DIFFERENT than the ones offered through Individual Attraction Selection.
What do the return times look like?
Return times will vary presumably by day, park, ride, etc. So far, we’ve seen that the most popular rides can have return times for much later in the day. When we made a reservation for Slinky Dog Dash in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 7AM, the first available return time was from 4 to 5PM. Other, less popular rides had return times much closer to the time we booked.
Based on the information Disney has shared, some of these return times may end up being much later in the day. With Genie+, you can only reserve ONE attraction at a time, unless your first attraction is at least 2 hours away. For example, if you can only reserve the attraction you want at 6PM that day, you can book that reservation, and then also book another ride, as long as it’s at least 2 hours prior. (See the question below about the 120 minute rule for more information.) Return windows will be one hour for rides.
When it comes to Individual Attraction Selection, we know that you’ll be given a return time with a window of 1 hour to go on the ride.
If you want to know what the system itself looks like in terms of how to select a return time, here’s a quick breakdown.
When scrolling through the Disney Genie portion of your app, you’ll see various rides with their Standby Line wait time listed, and their next available Lightning Lane time listed. So, in this example, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run’s next available Lightning Lane time is 3:05PM…
…but DINOSAUR has a return time for 9:15AM as its next available option.
You’ll select the attraction you want, and specify who from your party you want to include.
Then, your selection will be confirmed.
And when it’s your time to ride, you’ll go through the Lightning Lane.
What is the 7AM start time for?
Alright, there are a few times you’ll need to keep in mind — some of which are 7AM, some of which are different.
For Disney Genie+, all guests at Walt Disney World are able to make their first Genie+ Lightning Lane selections at 7AM. At Disneyland, all guests can make their first Genie+ Lightning Lane selections when they enter the park.
For Individual Attraction Selection, all guests at Walt Disney World that are staying at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel, the Swan or Dolphin, or Shades of Green are able to make their first Individual Attraction Selections at 7AM. All other Disney World guests are able to make Individual Attraction Selections when the park opens. In Disneyland, these selections can be made when the guest enters the park.
Can I still use standby? Do you need a Lightning Lane pass for rides with virtual queues?
Standby lines and/or virtual queues are still be available for guests to use. You don’t have to use Genie, Genie+, or Individual Attraction Selection at all if you don’t want to.
But, if you want to skip the standby queue or not worry about signing up for a virtual queue, then you can use Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection (depending on what ride you’re trying to get on) to skip the standby/virtual lines and go through the Lightning Lane.
Will everyone in the party need it or can just 1 person buy?
Your entire party does NOT need to buy Genie+ (or Individual Attraction Selection). But, keep in mind that only the members of your party who DO buy one or both of these services will be able to use them. So if 3/4 members in your party buy Genie+, they can select Lightning Lane return times throughout the day, but the remaining 1 member who didn’t buy it will NOT be able to go through the Lightning Lanes. So if your whole group plans on riding and using the Lightning Lane, you will need to purchase it for each person.
Will we be able to book ride times for the whole party at once?
Yes! You can see the break-down above for Genie+ (we’ve included the same image below), but during the selection process, you can select all of the members of your party that you want included in the Lightning Lane selection.
For Individual Attraction Selection, you can purchase an Individual Attraction Selection for multiple people in your party and that counts as one transaction. If you want to get an Individual Attraction Selection after the first one then that will be a separate transaction.
Do you pay for it? How much does it cost?
The Disney Gennie planning service (the one that will help create a customized itinerary for you, suggest nearby restaurants, show you wait times, forecast wait times, etc.) is FREE.
Disney Genie+ (where you’ll get access to various rides’ Lightning Lanes) starts at a cost of $15 per ticket per day in Disney World and starts at a cost of $25 per ticket per day in Disneyland.
Individual Attraction Selection (where you get to schedule a return time to ride 1 specific attraction and use that attraction’s Lightning Lane) is a separate cost. The prices will vary by attraction, date, and park.
Keep in mind, prices WILL change depending on the date, but the current maximum price is $22.
How do you get Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection?
Genie+ can be purchased before your visit by getting it as an add-on to a ticket or vacation package for the duration of your visit (until June 8th). If you buy it in advance, you’ll purchase it through DisneyWorld.com or an authorized travel professional.
Genie+ can also be bought on the day of your visit (available starting at midnight) through the Genie service in the My Disney Experience app.
When it comes to Individual Attraction Selection, these can be purchased in the Disney Genie service on the My Disney Experience app on the same day of your visit.
How many do you get per day?
For Disney Genie+, you can only make 1 Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane selection at a time, unless your first attraction is at least 2 hours away. If you can only reserve the ride you want later in the day, you can book that reservation, and then also book another ride (2 hours after you book the first Lightning Lane), as long as it’s at least 2 hours prior. (See the below question about the 120 minute rule for more clarification here.)
If that 2-hour scenario doesn’t apply, then you’ll only be able to make Genie+ reservations one at a time throughout the day. Once you’ve used up that selection, you’ll be able to make another. Then when you use that one you can make another, and so on and so forth throughout the day.
Keep in mind that you CANNOT re-ride attractions through Genie+ on a single day. That means you’ll only be able to use Genie+ to go through the Lightning Lane at Splash Mountain once for the day. If you want to re-ride the attraction, you’ll need to go through the regular standby lane.
For Individual Attraction Selection, you can only buy this for a maximum of up to 2 attractions per day.
Is it a separate app or is it built into My Disney Experience?
Disney Genie is built into the My Disney Experience app in Disney World and the Disneyland App at Disneyland Resort. Make sure you’ve updated your My Disney Experience app recently, and Genie should appear in the app.
Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection are also be built into Genie and thus My Disney Experience and/or the Disneyland App.
On the Tip Board, you can see different attractions, their standby wait time, their next available Lightning Lane time, whether that ride’s Lightning Lane is included with Disney Genie+ or whether it is available through the select, Individual Attraction Selection, and it provides guests with the opportunity to buy those selections in the app.
Does getting a ride on Genie+ put you in the Lightning Lane or is that separate?
The “Lightning Lane” is what Disney is now calling the FastPass Lane. If you get Genie+, you will be able to select the next available time to arrive at an attraction and use that ride’s Lightning Lane. When your designated time arrives, you’ll be able to go into the Lightning Lane for that ride.
For Individual Attraction Selection, you’ll can purchase and schedule a time to arrive at up to 2 attractions each day. When your time arrives, you’ll then use that attraction’s Lightning Lane. Just keep in mind that the attractions available through Genie+ will be different than those available through Individual Attraction Selection.
Is it $15 per ride or $15 for the whole day*?
Disney Genie+ starts at $15 per ticket, per day in Disney World (and starts at $25 per ticket, per day at Disneyland). Included in Genie+ is the ability to make Lightning Lane selections (for the rides included), 1 attraction at a time, throughout the day. So it does not cost $15 per ride. The cost gives you access to making Lightning Lane selections (1 at a time) for the over 50 rides at Disney World and over 15 rides at Disneyland that are included (again, keep in mind you can only go on each ride once with Genie+).
*EDITOR’S UPDATE: In October 2022, Disney introduced variable date-based pricing for Genie+ with the price starting at $15 per guest, per day in Disney World and starting at $25 per guest, per day in Disneyland Resort. Guests are able to check the price for the day on the My Disney Experience app and Disneyland app prior to purchasing for the day.
Individual Attraction Selection, on the other hand, is a price that you pay to enter the Lightning Lane attraction for a SINGLE ride.
Can you pay for popular individual rides and NOT get Genie+?
Yes! You can just continue to use standby lines/virtual queues that are included in your regular theme park ticket. Or, you can pay for just the Individual Attraction Selections for up to 2 rides per day and that’s it. Or, you can pay for Genie+ and that’s it. Or, you can pay for Genie+ AND Individual Attraction Selection. It’s up to you.
How does this affect Disability Access Service?
Disney has made enhancements to their DAS program with Disney Genie. Now, guests can pre-register for Disney World’s DAS program ahead of their arrival for visits.
If you’re eligible to register for DAS in advance, you can register between 2 to 30 days ahead of a park visit. Once registered, you can begin to book attraction return times. If you register for DAS ahead of your trip, you’ll be able to book up to two one-hour return windows between 2 and 30 days prior to a park visit. These 2 pre-arrival reservations are in addition to the return times you can book during the day of your park visit.
Click here to learn more about pre-registering for DAS.
Will you be able to use it for the same ride multiple times?
With Genie+, you are NOT able to use it for the same ride multiple times.
For Individual Attraction selection, guests are able to “schedule a time to arrive at up to two highly demanded attractions each day.” This means you can only purchase an Individual Attraction Selection for a particular ride ONCE for any given day (i.e. you can’t buy 2 Individual Attraction Selections both for Rise of the Resistance on the same day).
What’s the deal with PhotoPass? And what about the Augmented Reality offering?
Disney Genie+ (starting at $15 at Disney World, and starting at $25 at Disneyland) includes special additional features. At Disney World, it includes Augmented Reality frames to use for your photos. Below is a look at what one of these Augmented Reality features looks like.
One of the photo options will be a background of the 25th Anniversary birthday cake Cinderella Castle!
At Disneyland, it includes unlimited PhotoPass downloads for the day of your visit.
Is there a discount for Disney Vacation Club Members?
So far, Disney has not announced any discounts for Disney Vacation Club Members.
Will Genie+ and/or Individual Attraction Selection be available during Early Entry or Extended Evening Hours?
No. If you’ll be enjoying Early Entry or Extended Evening Hours, you’ll only have access to rides’ traditional standby queues.
What if the ride I have a reservation for goes down for technical issues or weather?
If a ride you have a reservation for is down for some reason during your time to ride it, like due to weather or technical issues, you won’t lose your reservation. Instead, you’ll be able to make a reservation for another ride, and your original reservation will remain for the ride you had scheduled. You could also opt to use that reservation for a different qualifying ride (which will be a modified list of the 45 rides included with Genie+).
This happened to us with an Individual Attraction Selection ride. We had reservations to go on Rise of the Resistance, but the ride was down during our reservation time. Because of that, we got a pass to go on that ride at any time during the day. Disney has said that they will NOT refund any Individual Attraction Selections, but if this happens to you, ask a nearby Cast Member or Guest Relations team about what your options are.
Read More About Our Experience With Pay-Per-Ride Attractions Going Down Here
What if I’ll be Park Hopping?
If you’re looking to Park Hop, you can make reservations through Individual Attraction Selection and Genie+ to fit your plans. You will not have to pay extra for Genie+ to use it in both parks — it’s still just starts at $15 per ticket per day. For Genie+, you can make Lightning Lane selections for a different park. For example, you could have spent your entire morning in Magic Kingdom and then decide to hop to EPCOT. You could be standing in Magic Kingdom, finishing up one last snack before you hop, and make your next Genie+ reservation for a ride in EPCOT while you’re there.
You can even use the free Genie planning service to help. You’ll be able to tell the system when you plan to Park Hop, so it will then show you available Lightning Lane times for the park you plan to hop to at the time you plan to hop.
If you’re eligible to park hop, you can also make Individual Attraction Selections across two different Disney parks.
Can I cancel or modify my Individual Attraction Selection?
No. This is a BIG thing you’ll want to keep in mind. Once you make and pay for an Individual Attraction Selection, it CANNOT be modified. Once you pay and book that Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride selection), you can’t switch it to a different ride or cancel it. You also will not get your money back if you can’t make it to that ride on time for some reason.
The only way you will be refunded for your Individual Attraction Selection is if the ride goes down for something like weather or technical difficulties and does not re-open at all that day.
Can Genie+ Lightning Lane return times “sell out?”
Yes. Rides only have a limited number of Genie+ and pay-per-ride reservations per day, and they can sell out. So, if there’s a particular ride you simply MUST ride, be sure to book that Lightning Lane reservation as early as possible.
How does rider swap work with Genie+ and pay-per-ride?
Rider Swap is available for people who have some members of their group that can’t or don’t want to ride an attraction. With this system, most of the group would wait in the standby line and then ride the attraction while one person waits with the person who doesn’t want to ride. Then, when the rest of the group returns, the person who waited behind could skip the line (and bring one additional person with them) to ride the attraction.
For the most part, Rider Swap works the same way. If you’re just using the standby line, it works exactly the same way. With Lightning Lane reservations (either Genie+ or Pay-Per-Ride), there are a few things to keep in mind. You can’t cheat the system and buy a Pay-Per-Ride reservation for one adult and try to get rider swap for another person using that same reservation. If you want to use Rider Swap with your Lightning Lane reservations, the Cast Members will make sure that everyone who rides has a Lightning Lane reservation.
If you only have one Lightning Lane reservation, then only one person will be able to use the Lighting Lane, and everyone else who wants to ride will need to go through the standby line.
For the Pay-Per-Ride attractions, you have to buy a Lightning Lane pass for each person who wants to ride. So let’s say that there’s a group of three people, and two of them want to ride Frozen Ever After. Both of those two will need to buy Pay-Per-Ride reservations if they want to skip the line. They can’t send one person through the Lightning Lane to ride, use Rider Swap, and then send another through the Lightning Lane with only one Pay-Per-Ride pass.
What is the 120 Minute Rule?
You can generally only make 1 Genie+ Lightning Lane selection at a time throughout the day. Once you’ve used that selection or the return time for it has expired, you can make another one.
For example, let’s say at 10:00AM, you’re in EPCOT and you make a Genie+ Lightning Lane Reservation for Living With the Land for 10:30AM. At 10:30AM you use that Lightning Lane and then you can make another Genie+ Lightning Lane selection IMMEDIATELY.
What if your Lightning Lane return time is for later? Let’s say you’re in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 12:32PM and you book a Genie+ Lightning Lane return time for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and the next available one is 6:30PM. You’ll book that later return time, no problem.
If you want to book ANOTHER Genie+ Lightning Lane selection while you wait for that later return time to arrive, you’ll be able to do so 2 hours AFTER you made that initial selection. In other words, you’d be able to book another Genie+ Lightning Lane selection at 2:32PM.
But if you book your first Lightning Lane selection at 7AM (before the park’s opening time), you will have to wait for two hours AFTER the park opens to book the next Lightning Lane.
So let’s say that at 7AM you book a Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog Dash with a 4 to 5PM return time. If Hollywood Studios opens at 9AM, you cannot make another, earlier Lightning Lane selection until 11AM (2 hours after the park’s opening time).
Once 11AM hits, you can book another Lightning Lane selection. Let’s say you book a Lightning Lane for a ride at 12:30PM. You can go on that ride when the time arrives, and then immediately after using it, you can book another Lightning Lane. You don’t have to wait 2 hours after you book each ride — you only have to wait the two hours ONCE, after you book the ride that’s later in the day.
The Genie+ portion of the My Disney Experience app WILL indicate when you’re eligible to make another Genie+ Lightning Lane selection, so that’s what you’ll want to look at.
We hope this helps your understand Disney Genie better! Let us know if you have any more questions and we’ll be sure to do our best to give you the info you need. Stay tuned for more updates from us here at DFB!
Click here to see EVERYTHING you need to know about Disney Genie
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FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World
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What questions do you still have about the Disney Genie, Genie+, or Individual Attraction Selection? Tell us in the comments below.
Gina says
I have a couple of questions not answered in the article that I hope some light can be shed on.
1. If you have previously purchased tickets that include MaxPass, will they automatically be converted to include Genie+?
If the answer to the above is no, what is the process to switch it? Can it be done prior to my trip? Last thing I want to do is stand in line at a ticket booth with kids in tow waiting to get into the parks.
My understanding is that MaxPass is being refunded in the form of Disney Gift Cards, if that is the case will we be able to purchase Genie+ using Disney Gift Cards?
2. Why does Disneyland cost MORE than Disney World. Disney World offers more rides and costs less. That makes no sense.
Mike says
Hey , Any talk about not making me wake up each and everyday at 7am of my Disney vacation (on Disney property) to have to log on a computer and book a ride like I am entering the hunger games? Its not going to be too enjoyable being on vacation and having to get up that early every single day and figure out a ride booking – Also, not going to enjoy having to log on my phone about 15 times throughout the park just to navigate my way of where I am going next…So much for pre planning and showing up and just enjoying myself
Feel free to pass along my complaint to Disney lol
KimL says
Will you need to purchase Genie Plus for every day of your Disney ticket at Disney World? Or will you be able to purchase individual days?
Connie says
The issue we had with Fastpass is that there would be times when none were available after the on-site guests took all the advanced FP reservations. What if we pay for genie+ only to find that we can’t even get a lightning lane spot? Is Disney going to offer refunds for this additional purchase if it can’t be used? That is a question I would love to know the answer to. Thanks!
DFB Sarah says
Connie, I haven’t seen an answer for this yet, so we will update when Disney shares info.
DFB Sarah says
KimL, Disney just answered this today. Guests can purchase a length of stay Genie+ as part of their vacation package OR they can purchase Genie+ for individual days on the day-of. So if you only want to use Genie+ on your Magic Kingdom day, you’ll purchase it the morning of your visit (Disney says guests can purchase starting at midnight of the day they want to use it).
DFB Sarah says
Gina, for #1, I don’t believe we’ve heard anything definitive. Disneyland shared this number for questions: (714) 781-4636. I think it would be helpful for you to call them on this topic. As for #2, Disney is unlikely to provide an answer, but you could try asking. They’ve not explained the rationale at this point.
Jessica says
How does this impact memory maker at Disney Workd?
Connie says
Thanks for the post and followup answers. My question/comment concerns purchasing Genie + for individual days. Instead of buying a day at a time (e.g. a random Tuesday and nothing for Wednesday), why not allow guests to purchase a limited number of days? If I’m visiting for 10 days, but only plan on using Genie + for 5 days, why can’t Disney permit me to purchase just 5 days? If I use them consecutively, instead of every other day, I’m either out of luck or have to purchase more days. Basically, buying bulk number of days to use as I see fit.
Emily says
Those “augmented photo features” are literally just Disney’s Snapchat filters that they’ve had available through the app for a year now?? Why is that being marketed as something new??
Charlotte says
Will the their be a limited amount of genie+ sold per day? For example if you waited until the day of your ticket to purchase Genie+ (and you are not a pass holder) could it be sold out?
Drew says
What will the Disney experience be like for those of us who just refuse to use Genie?
Bryn says
Hi, quick question: is this new system supposed to help spread out the crowd? And if so, how? Won’t the people in regular standby line have to wait every time a lightning lane person shows up?
Gary says
I have reservations in November but I think this might be my last visit. Its not just having to pay more money every time, although its becoming a once in a lifetime trip for many, Disney’s greed is becoming unbelievable. And its not just that, Its everything they’re doing, my daughter was just telling me about gender neutral Disney princesses, WHAT? I’ve been going to Disney parks since there were Disney parks but unless the change the direction they’re on its aloha Moana.
Dave V. says
Is the 2 pm park hopper rule still going to be in effect? They say you can use Genie+ at other parks as long as you have a park hopper pass but can you now park before 2?
Brian says
For the 2 per rider per day limit for Individual Ride Selection, if I buy it for me and the 3 other people in my family (say at $10 per rider = $40 total), is the purchase counted as a transaction for me only or is it 4 separate transactions? In other words, do the other 3 family members have only 1 ride left that they can buy individually for that day, or do they still have 2?
Ken says
Too confusing for me. I make my days selections when I arrive at the park, or shortly before. Don’t need any of this.
Chris says
If they really wanted to make a killing, they should just start charging me for entrance to the bathroom. Maybe they can charge me to get in line for my churro. Hell, why not charge me for transportation from their resort on a bus, boat, skyliner or monorail.
Laura Soulier says
Hello,
I already have my reservation for a trip at WDW on april 2022. At your opinion, when could I add the genie + for all the stay and by what means ? (I am not so fluent in oral English and it scares me to call to add this option LOL).
Laura from France
Lisa says
Hey, I currently have a 14 day pass booked for next year which includes magic maker and fastpass. Do you know if anything will be included in our new ticket? Will magic maker still be included?
Barbara says
Navigating a Disney vacation has gotten more complicated than any vacationer would like. And a lot more expensive.
I’ve been going to WDW for 48 years and have run the gamut of Deluxe club level to value hotel quick service trips, depending on what my wallet looked like. As a single mother of three, it was more value or moderate than Deluxe. Sometimes the trips were three or four days, sometimes eight or ten. But at least we went and the kids enjoyed it every time. Based upon today’s Disney costs, they would never have been able to go.
I feel for the families who not only have to figure out how to book a Disney trip (it is confusing for the uninitiated) but how to afford it. I once heard a woman in a Disney store saying to the cashier that she’d like to book a Disney trip but wouldn’t know where to begin because it seemed so complicated. I gave her my email address and after we corresponded a few times, she booked her trip. She called every night of her trip to relate the day’s events and how her family was enjoying themselves. And that was before things got so confusing and expensive. Planning and vacationing at Disney now requires more work than your job.
Michelle V says
It sounds needlessly complicated and time consuming! Who wants to b on their phone all day so its a no from me!
Niki says
I’m curious as to what they’ll come out with for AP holders.
I mean, I’ll be honest here and just straight up say that I will buy the genie service. I used maxpass in Disneyland and much preferred it to booking fastpasses at WDW because it just felt more flexible to me. Also, I hate waiting in lines and Disney is my vacation, so I’ll pay extra to be more relaxed. The upgrade on top of an upgrade pick per ride thing is annoying because I like to park hop, but I guess I’ll just wait and see how it goes.
Kelly says
Hi. We are annual Passholders that are DVC staying on site. Has it been discussed that we can purchase Disney Genie plus for the entire duration of the trip since we are staying on property , or will we have to purchase each day while we are there due to the annual passes?
Thank you
Melissa says
I totally agree with you, Mike! One of the benefits of FP+ was having those selections made PRIOR to the start of your trip. I mean, it’s supposed to be a vacation, right?
Randy says
Does this mean that we no longer can make dining reservations 60 days in advance of our visit? Does this mean that all dining reservations are going to be day of…with you needing to make your dining reservations at 7am each morning? We are going to WDW in January… Thanks!
Shontel says
If I purchase Genie+ will I be guaranteed to have access to those 40 rides because I feel like those times will fill up fast. I also wonder if it will be even worth it if everyone buys into Genie+ those lightning lanes will fill up then the stand by gets smaller.
Pamela R Purney says
The reason to go on vacation is to enjoy and and relax. This system makes that impossible. People are on their phones too much now in the parks, this will make it worse. And more costs. (like that doesn’t happen enough) After 48 years of going I’m not sure In want to return.
Linda Shelby says
Question: will the Genie planning app b able to recognize if I have purchased genie + and automatically incorporate?
Sandy Bartlett says
If you will need to use rider share would everyone need the genie+?
Pris says
I’m curious how things will fill up to determine whether the service is worth the money. For example, if I got on line at 7 am for a ride & the first available time to use the fast lane is 10:45 & I can’t get another until that first one is used that’s not very efficient. THEN after riding the ride at 10:45 what happens if my next is 12:15? Partly this system seems to presuppose you are in the park for many hrs to utilize it. It could be that things just haven’t been explained but I see real problems from the beginning.
Lois says
Hello,
I don’t understand if I still needed to have purchased the expensive photo package.
Thank you!
Melanie Durham says
I have mixed feelings about this but once the we get used to it I think it will be good! It sounds like the DAS system!
Thank you so much for sharing and clearing up so many of my questions
Debra A Kasper says
This entire Genie, Genie +, etc. is just awful. Way to go WDW ,to make what should be a wonderful vacation, a nightmare! Disney is expensive enough without adding more costs, especially now when most families are just trying to relieve the stresses of these past 18 months of pandemic. We are more than disappointed in the folks at WDW. We see it as a money -grab for sure and Walt Disney must be rolling in his grave!
Christine says
Is the higher $20 cost for Disneyland because it includes the photo pass for the day (like MaxPass), whereas Disney World is $15 because you still need to pay for the additional photo pass?
Susan McCleish says
wish I could just have a relaxing vacation. more phone time more stressing to get up at 7am to book. this is
ridiculous.
DFB Sarah says
Christine, that’s a good point. Disney hasn’t said why it’s higher on the west coast, but it’s possible PhotoPass plays into it.
DFB Sarah says
Lois, at Walt Disney World you would still need to pay for a PhotoPass package.
DFB Sarah says
Pris, that’s something we’ll be looking at when the system is launched.
DFB Sarah says
Sandy, that’s an interesting question. For sure the person(s) who plan to ride first would want Genie+ so they could use the Lightning Lane. Since Rider Switch typically allows the waiting party to use the FastPass lane currently, they may be able to ride even if they don’t have a Genie+. Honestly, the more I think about it, it seems like a loophole, and I don’t know if Disney would find a way to close that or not. I’ll pose this question to the team and see if we can get it answered.
DFB Sarah says
Linda, I would think yes, but we will confirm when it launches later this year.
DFB Sarah says
Shontel, I believe Disney is using language like “when available” to cover the possibility that Genie+ usage could use up all available spots for attractions on a given day. Whether the number of people purchased Genie+ in a day is being limited, I don’t think Disney has released that specifically. I’ll check with the team.
Bob says
You explained the genie program greatbut, you never mentioned park reservations. Do you still need with Genie program? Thanks o
Kirsty Hayden says
I have a question: can you purchase Genie + and link it to your magic band? Some of us don’t want to run down our battery on our phones by using them all day for everything in the parks. Just wondering if we can use this on our magic bands?
DFB Sarah says
Randy, my understanding is Genie+ will only affect attraction reservations/Lightning Lane passes. Disney has not said that it is changing the Advance Dining Reservations system except to say that Disney Genie (the standard, non-paid service) will incorporate the ability to find same-day reservations; Disney has been including the ability to search for same-day and walk-up waitlist dining since reopening last year, so it’s not something brand new, as far as how Disney has described it.
DFB Sarah says
Kelly, from what Disney has said, at launch Annual Passholders will need to make day-of Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections. They did share that they hope to add “enhancements” for Annual Passholders, but it sounds like those won’t be ready this fall. We’ll keep watching for info.
Kira says
I think I’ll keep coming to Florida to escape the winter weather, but I’ll find other things to do besides Disney World. Maybe I’ll park for free at my off-property hotel, enjoy a free continental breakfast, sleep in, relax at my hotel pool, go to a movie, play some mini golf, take a day trip to the beach, find a local art museum or walking trail, spontaneously eat at a sit down restaurant that doesn’t require a reservation, get some ice cream, do some shopping… Sounds like a perfect vacation for me!! Thanks Disney for encouraging to pamper myself by taking a stress free break!
Trish says
I’m staying at a Disney resort for 5 days but I only want genie + for 2 days, my Magic Kingdom Day and Animal Kingdom. So at midnight on the day I plan to go to Magic Kingdom I buy my genie +. Then I have to be up at 7:00 a.m. to get my first lightning ride. Do I have this correct? I can pick any available time that I want to ride the Haunted Mansion. So I pick it at 11:00 a.m. Now I can’t pick any other lightning ride until I use my 11:00 one. So the best use of genie+ is to book the earliest rides and then pick the next available time. In this case I might be hopping from one land to the other, going back and forth all day long. Or I sit and wait till each time comes up while I’m in Fantasyland Am I correct about these thoughts?
DFB Sarah says
Lisa, I would expect Memory Maker (for PhotoPass) would still be part of your package if you’re paying for it. FastPass is going away when Disney Genie launches this fall.
DFB Sarah says
Bonjour, Laura. When Disney Genie begins, it will be part of the My Disney Experience app. If you want to access the Lightning Lanes (to skip the Standby lines by choosing one attraction return time at a time throughout your day), you would need to purchase Genie+. You will be able to purchase Genie+ in My Disney Experience.