Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection (a.k.a. Pay Per Ride) has been in place at Disney World and Disneyland Resort for some time now.
Lightning Lane
We’ve made our way to the parks on both coasts to test out the new paid FastPass+ replacement systems and see just how they work. In essence, the idea behind both Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection is that guests pay a certain amount to skip the standby lines at the specified attractions and thus get to ride their favorite attractions with a shorter wait. But can Lightning Lanes (the lanes used to help Genie+ and Pay Per Ride skip the standby waits) actually be LONGER than the standby lines? Here’s what we’ve seen.
A Quick Recap
Before we begin, let’s give a quick recap of just what Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection are.
First, there’s Disney Genie or “Free Genie.” The FREE Disney Genie service can help with planning your days in the parks. Essentially, you can tell Free Disney Genie what types of things you like, what you want to do, etc. and it will help create personalized itineraries for your day.
©Disney
Next, there’s Disney Genie+. Through Genie+ guests essentially purchase access to use the “Lightning Lanes” (a.k.a. the old FastPass+ lanes) for select attractions around the parks. The cost is $15 per person, per day.
With Genie+, you can choose one attraction at a time and reserve a timeframe to use the Lightning Lane for that ride. When your lightning lane return time arrives, you can return to the ride and skip the standby queue and avoid the wait. Then, you’ll be able to continue making those Genie+ selections one ride at a time throughout the day.
Make sure you’re refreshing the app!
Finally, there’s Individual Attraction Selection (a.k.a. Pay Per Ride). Not all rides are available through the standard Genie+ service. Select popular attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and others are not available through Genie+. Instead, if you want to ride these, you’ll need to pay to use their Lightning Lanes individually (that’s the Individual Attraction Selection option).
Lightning Lane
The price for these rides varies depending on the park, ride, and day. Guests can only buy a maximum of 2 pay-per-ride selections per day.
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Can Lightning Lanes Be LONGER Than Standby?
So now that we’ve recapped the Genie+ and Pay Per Ride situation, let’s turn to those standby lines. Guests are not required by any means to pay for Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection in order to ride an attraction in Disney World. If you don’t want to pay for these services, you can still ride Disney World’s attractions by using the standby (regular) lines.
Disney Genie
But if you want to SKIP the standby line and get on the ride faster (theoretically) then you’ll need to use Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection. That leads us to the question at the heart of this post — can Lightning Lanes (the ones you’re PAYING to use through Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection) actually be LONGER than the standby lines?
Lightning Lane
We reached out to our fantastic DFB reporters who have utilized Genie+ in the parks (primarily in Disney World) before to see what their experience has been. In short, the answer we got was “no.”
One reporter shared that they have used Genie a couple of times but never experienced a situation where the Lightning Lane took longer than the standby. Another shared that they used to experience this issue with FastPass+ at times, but that they have used Genie+ twice and never had that issue.
Frozen Ever After
Another reporter noted that, aside from personal experience, the very function of Genie+ is to provide guests with a way to “skip” the standby lines, so a situation should not arise where the Lightning Lane is longer than the standby line. In theory, if there were ever to be a tremendous backup when it comes to the standby line, Cast Members should prioritize the Lightning Lane and pull more guests from that line to help move the line along.
That might result in extended waits for guests in the standby lanes, but should not result in a situation where the Lightning Lane is longer (in terms of wait time) as compared to the standby line. In fact, when we reached out to some of our DFB readers about their feelings regarding Genie+, some noted that they felt like Genie+ has made the stand-by lines longer than before.
Lightning Lanes are the new FastPass lines
Note that some of this is based on the purpose of the system and what should happen, but our experience does seem to support it.
Some guests have commented on our previous posts, suggesting that standby times have been over-exaggerated, weren’t as long as posted, or simply weren’t that bad during their trip, making them feel that the use of Genie+ wasn’t necessary. The situation with standby lanes can vary depending on the day you visit, the park you’re in, the time of day, the time of year, etc. Though in the past we’ve found the wait times to be fairly accurate, things can depend.
Lightning Lane Sign
Still, based on our experience wait times for Lightning Lanes haven’t been longer than standby waits. Is that what you’ve experienced? If you’ve had a different experience in the parks be sure to tell us in the comments.
Click here to learn about the BIG Disney Genie+ rule that everyone gets wrong.
But…Physical Lines Can Be Deceiving
While we personally haven’t experienced a situation where the wait associated with a Lightning Lane is longer than the standby line, there is something we want to caution you about — the physical lines for the Lightning Lanes can be deceiving.
Fight of Passage Lightning Lane
We have sometimes seen the actual Lightning Lane line of guests stretch WELL past where the entrance to the ride is (particularly in spots like The Haunted Mansion). So from the outside, some of these Lightning Lane lines can seem extremely long (which might make you question how quickly they’ll help you enter the attraction). You paid for speedier service to the ride, so you deserve to get it, right?
Lightning Lane
From what we’ve experienced, though the physical lines can sometimes stretch well past the ride’s entrance, the Lightning Lane lines themselves tend to move. Again, this goes back to the idea that the Lightning Lane is meant to be prioritized because guests are paying for a speedier service and Disney needs to deliver on that in order to make the service “worth it.”
So while a physical Lightning Lane line might seem quite lengthy, don’t necessarily let that worry you. Based on what we’ve experienced, the Lightning Lane lines do tend to move, helping you get to your desired destination without too much of a significant delay.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Of course, keep in mind that this article is based on what we’ve seen and experienced in the parks. Things can be different on days where an attraction shuts down due to technical difficulties, delaying all guests (including those who bought access to the Lightning Lanes); or other situations that might delay all guests.
What have you experienced with Genie+? Tell us in the comments. And follow our newsletter for more Disney Genie+ updates.
Click here to see our step-by-step guide to using Disney Genie+
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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it seems it may be an issue if a ride goes down and all those with LL reservations receive one of those “general” LL reservations — once the ride starts up again, all those with regular LL reservations for the time PLUS those that wanted to ride beforehand all descend at the same time once they realize the ride is operating again.
Wondering when you can make your next selection for lightning lane? I read that you can after you go on the ride an already chosen one. But what if that time is in the afternoon do you have to wait till then or can you make more during the day?
We definitely got around the parks more efficiently and pleasantly with the Genie+. We feel it needs a lot of revamping and isn’t a Fair process for all park goers.
Epcot had 3 Fancy rides down at the same time.
The best time to head over to Ratatouille is when it’s down. Once it’s up again the line is short.
We went 2nd week of January, and I must say it was unusually packed. I want to preface that I think selling Genie+ and then removing two rides from each park from the Genie service is a RIP OFF. If I pay $60 extra per day for my family it should included “Space Mountain” for God’s sakes. That being said, Genie+ got us around a busy park so efficiently that we found ourselves often with nothing in particular to do. We easily rode everything. If you combine with rope drop rides on early entry and Genie + (and yes individual pay or rides) you basically get to ride everything. And then all day long you find yourself using Genie+ to get on rides like Spaceship Earth “just because” why wait 30 mins when you can walk on.
For what people pay it better not be!
I like Genie but Genie+ is a joke and a waste of money. We bought it one day and used it once. The rides book up so fast that at noon you are making a reservation for 7:30 at night. Don’t recommend it!
We just returned home from WDW. We utilized both Genie + and ILL. The convenience of it pays for itself. We did 6 park days and there was never a time where the lightening lanes were longer than standby. We had 1 instance where 7 Dwarves was down and when it opened back up everyone was trying to use it at that time. Still shorter than standby. Most of our rides we didn’t want more than 10 minutes. We will ALWAYS use this service when we go!
I have to agree with James. We went to Disneyland last week and decided to try both Genie+ and the individual purchase of high value attractions. In general, we just worked our way around the park on fast[pass at a time and did pretty much everything we wanted to do by about 1:30 or 2:00. We did discover we could make fastpasses even though we had the individual purchase for Rise of the Resistance. That worked great for us since it was a couple of hours wait for that one. In general, we liked it, but it is really expensive. My husband and I agreed we don’t know how a family of four or five could afford to do this.
A CM told us in November that LL was only good for each ride once per day. Therefore we couldn’t use it twice for the same ride that day. We got d it wasn’t worth it.
I just got back from Disney. January is supposed to be one of the slowest times of the year and it was mobbed. At one point, the LL was so backed up for Peter Pan’s Flight that they stopped taking people through from the standby line. The LL definitely increases the wait time for the standby line. I’ve been to Disney over 25 times and I noticed a difference. I won’t be going back anytime soon. The crowds and wait times are ridiculous.
IMHO The LL are a horrible way to plan a visit, I long for the return of FP
I was going to ask if anybody had any personal experience with the LL. It would seem to me that they would make the stand by lines longer. Is that true? We are going this summer and don’t plan to pay for anything. We had just planned to use the Genie+ for the wait times for rides. I’m hoping that’s a good plan and doesn’t make visiting harder!
We elected to not purchase Genie + during our recent stay. Too expensive on top of the gate tickets and we would have spent way too much time on our phones. We took this vacation to get AWAY from the rat race! The one exception to this was mobile ordering which we loved!
Waited just over an hour each at Rise and Flight. We would have purchased LL for each but would have been stuck taking the rides at 7pm or later.
Best value was staying at a deluxe resort at the end of the trip (split stay) and getting the two hour extended hours. This was HUGE! Pirates was a walk on, while the longest lines were 10 minutes max. Rented points so there was additional significant savings while staying at a convenient Deluxe resort.
Re Title….
No, absolutely not! That’s illegal! If it happens, you can…well….. just give up I guess.
And I will say ONE MORE TIME I would gladly pay, in spades, for the return of FP+.
@Richard+Mercer the only issue i had with the FP+ was that even 60 days out rides were at times booked. People are under the impression that on 60 days out you had “first pick” before anyone else. But most forget that people who hit 60 days out a week or more before you may also be visiting the park on the same day you are , depending on length of stay. This is why Dinner Reservations are often sparse on your first “booking day” when you would think everything would be open.
If FP+ came back and for instance was available “day of” but maybe an hour early (like Genie+) that would solve that issue, however since it’s free it would most assuredly book out in an hour. I don’t mind Genie+ in that since it is extra, like park hopping, not everyone buys in. I was able to make Genie+ reservations at times up to 4 or 5 in the afternoon. And I didn’t have to stick to the schedule that booking FP+ 60 days ago dictated.
I also think, based on the last trip, that the Genie+ lane is way less utilized than the old FP lanes. This does cause longer standby lanes, but less stoppage to let FP people go through.
Unfortunately Covid patterns have skewed crowds so much that I’m not sure there is a slow season anymore. I remember years ago going in February and walked on to almost everything. What a glorious trip 😉
Don’t waste your money. We’re here during what is considered off season and the rides book up fast. By late morning, many of the rides are no longer available.
We are local and just used the Genie Plus LL at Epcot. We like to go in the park at about 12:00 and stay till the Fireworks. The LL did not work for us as you cannot make your first appointment until you are at the park so by 1:00 PM LL for Test Track was at 8:30 PM and Soaring at 6:30PM. So to really use this at Epcot if you are staying off property get there at park opening!
We were HS the last week of January. I wasn’t able to the LL for ROTR. Standby line time was was 120. We’d been in line for roughly an hour when it broke down. Fast forward another 1 & 45 minutes, turns out we were three quarters of the way through. Without the breakdown, we would rode it in less than the posted time. Now I’m not saying don’t buy the LL, because I have and will if I see the parks are crowded, but the wait wasn’t bad. For the most part, the people were in good moods. The ride was worth the wait for me.
Avoided the long lines by using Genie+ during the Christmas Holiday. I had 2 to 3 rides scheduled at a time but I didn’t like the fact that I had to pay to use the service when “Fastpasses” were free. I didn’t like having to get up at 7 am on my vacation to schedule a Lightning Lane Pass, when “Fastpasses” were scheduled anytime within 60 days of travel.
I was able to book multiple Lightning Lanes by getting up at 7 am, booking a ride for 11 or 12; then if the park opened at 8 or 9 am, I was able to book my 2nd Lightning Lane at 10 or 11 am to ride anytime – without having rode my 1st ride. Then every 2 hours the booking window opened to book my next LL. This worked for my family. But it did require extra money and heavy reliance on my phone and keeping watch of the time. I miss the old days where I didn’t have to be on my phone, where I just enjoyed the parks by using my Magic Band and Fast passes. I won’t be back to Disney anytime soon.
What they don’t want you to think about is that the LL make the Standby lines move much more slowly. We were at WDW last fall when there was no Fastpass nor Genie-. We were amazed at how fast all of the lines moved, not having to be stopped constantly to let the Fastpass queue jump ahead. I imagine Genie- is here to stay since it makes $$$, but I’d like to see it all go away.
I used fastpass+ from its inception and until it was terminated. Never once did I observe or was in a fastpass line longer than the standby line. With fastpass I did not have to be glued to my phone to schedule a ride. Guess what? It didn’t cost me anything extra.
We’ve been going to WDW (family of 4) for the past 6yrs, up to 2x/yr & this month has been the worst experience. Everything is an add on, the standby lines are at its highest, & the general crowds (just walking around) are unbearable. It seems like the calm, magical Disney times are gone. Getting on rides you either pay in time (standby) or pay in money (Genie+ LL). Nothing is convenient. SO unhappy with all the changes that we WON’T be back.