Disney Genie is a new service offered to Disney World guests, and it has both free and paid options.

Genie+ ©Disney

With Genie+, guests can “skip the line” just like we did in the past with FastPass+ — except now, it costs money. And as we’re experiencing the first super busy season with Genie+, we’ve noticed a trend we think you should be aware of before visiting and before purchasing Genie+.

If you decide to pay to skip the line in Disney World, you have two options now. Genie+ costs $15 a day, per person and gives you access to the faster Lightning Lanes of over 40 different Disney World attractions, while Individual Attraction Selection (aka pay-per-ride) will cost you between $7 to $15 depending on the ride and the day for Disney’s most popular rides.

Hello, Genie!

You can start booking your Genie+ at 7AM. Individual Attraction Selections can also be made at 7AM if you’re staying at a Disney World resort, otherwise, you have to wait until park opening time to begin booking. Lightning Lanes can and do sell out, and if you’re visiting on busy Disney World days, it might be hard to find the Lightning Lanes you want.

Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane

If you ever used the FastPass+ system you probably remember how difficult it could be to find certain FastPass reservations, or when one or two rides were the only available reservations left. This is basically the same situation, as it’s an issue with inventory moving quickly due to higher demand. There are only a certain amount of Lightning Lane reservations available per day, so if more people purchase Genie+, more Lightning Lane reservations are used up.

Fight of Passage Lightning Lane

Around 4PM on the day before Thanksgiving, we found that many rides in all four Disney Parks were already unavailable and listed as “not currently offered” in the My Disney Experience app. Even rides that typically aren’t among the most popular Disney World attractions, like Alien Swirling Saucers in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, were unavailable, while the remaining rides with Lightning Lanes still offered had short waits anyway.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

If you want to buy Genie+, it’s in your best interest to prioritize your top rides if you’re visiting Disney World during busy times. Try to book your top ride as early as possible, and then book again as soon as you are able. And we don’t even mean prioritizing only popular rides like Slinky Dog Dash — think about what YOU want to do, because any Lightning Lane can sell out.

Lightning Lane Line

Avoid disappointment by using the Genie+ system to your advantage. Prioritize your top rides FIRST, book as early as you can, and then you can grab other rides if they’re still available. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World planning news!

The rides to book FIRST with Genie+ and pay-per-ride in Disney World!

Have you used Genie+ in Disney World yet? Tell us in the comments!