Disney Genie+ is the new way to skip the lines in Disney World. For $15 per person per day, you can skip the standby line and head straight onto certain attractions in the parks. To really get your money’s worth from the system, we recommend doing some research before your trip to learn the ins and outs of Genie+.
Expedition Everest Lightning Lane
We’re in Disney World parks every day, so we’ve done all kinds of research and experiments with Genie+. From our experiences, we’ve learned a LOT about the program, including some rules that guests need to follow in order to really take advantage of Genie+. Now, Disney has made a few of those rules official!
One of the most important (and potentially confusing) rules with Genie+ is the 120-minute rule. This rule has to do with WHEN you can make Genie+ Lightning Lane selections. Once you’ve purchased Genie+, you can make these selections throughout the day. They’re like reservations to skip the line at the attractions you choose.
Lightning Lane entry
Remember that if you buy Genie+ for your day, you can start making Lightning Lane selections at 7AM. Each person in your group can only make these selections one at a time.
So, everyone in your group can choose one ride (where they’ll skip the line) at 7AM. Once you’ve made a selection, you can make your next Lightning Lane selection when:
- You have used the first one you booked;
- Your first return time window has ended (if you miss it); or
- 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one (or 120 minutes after park opening, depending on the situation).
That 3rd option is the 120-minute rule. Essentially, you can book another Lightning Lane 2 hours (120 minutes) after reserving a previous one if the return time for the first Lightning Lane is more than 2 hours away.
Tower of Terror Lightning Lane
For example, let’s say that at 9AM you booked a Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane with a return time of 2PM. You don’t have to wait until 2PM to make another Lightning Lane reservation. Instead, 2 hours after you made that reservation, you can make another one! So at 11AM, you can choose another attraction (and you’ll still have the 2PM Haunted Mansion reservation).
Lightning Lane Sign
If you booked your first Lightning Lane at 7AM, though, the 2 hours don’t start until park opening time. (So if you book one at 7AM but the park opens at 9AM, you can book the next one at 11AM — 2 hours after park opening time.)
Still confused? Learn all about the 120-minute rule here!
Previously, this rule was sort of unofficial — it was definitely true, but Disney didn’t officially state that it was the rule. But now, Disney has updated their Genie+ website to include several rules that guests need to follow with the new skip-the-line system, and one of the rules they included was this 120-minute one!
Splash Mountain Lightning Lane
Specifically, Disney’s website now says the following about the 120-minute rule:
“Disney Genie+ service Lightning Lane selections can only be made one at a time. You must redeem an existing Disney Genie+ service Lightning Lane selection or wait 2 hours—whichever comes first—before making another Lightning Lane entrance selection through Disney Genie+ service. Please note: the 2-hour wait to make another selection begins when the park opens, even if you made your first booking at 7:00 AM.”
Winnie the Pooh now has a Lightning Lane!
In addition to that rule, Disney also included the following:
- “Make sure you have valid admission and a theme park reservation to the same park on the same day.”
- “All attractions and experiences are subject to availability.”
- “Guests may be able to purchase Disney Genie+ service the day of their park visit and make their first Lightning Lane selections at 7:00 AM.” (Note that guests can purchase Genie+ for each day beginning at midnight, but they cannot make Lightning Lane selections until 7AM.)
While none of the rules that Disney added are new (these have always been true with Disney Genie+), now they are clearly written on Disney’s website.
Mad Tea Party Lightning Lane
If you want to learn more about Genie+, we’ve got plenty of guides and how-tos for you to use! Check out some of those here:
- Disney Genie and Genie+: EVERYTHING You Need to Know
- The Big Disney Genie+ Rule that Everyone Gets Wrong
- The Rides to Book FIRST With Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride in Disney World
- Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+
- How Many Rides Can You Get On Per Day With Genie+ in Disney World? We Dig In.
And stay tuned with DFB, because we’ll let you know about any future changes or new tips to help you make the most of Genie+ during your vacation!
Click here for our full guide to 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
Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie
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What confuses you most about Disney Genie+? Send us your questions in the comments!
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The Genie needs to go away. it is awful.
Remember when going to WDW was fun, it was relaxing and exciting and spontaneous. Now it’s complicated, stressful and because of all the ‘rules’ and the need to carry your phone and plan everything to the NTH degree they have just sucked the fun out of it.
all of this is so ridiculous, we refuse to put up with it. Were finding seaworld and universal is so much nicer now, Disney has really ruined what use to be the most amazing place. Its very sad what they are turning it into, a giant money pinching headache. they cant even control all of this or manage the crowds now, its made the place unbearable.
The entire new system is so confusing, inconvenient and unnecessary. I doubt I’ll be back to any Disney park until they end this unpopular system. I don’t go on an expensive vacation to be constantly in a state of stress.
I don’t know why they don’t replace the confusing Genie+ system with a variation on the DAS pass system. If a person purchased this system them could schedule a lightning lane return pass based on the standby line waiting line. Once they used the return pass they could schedule a new one, again based on the standby wait time. If too many people requested the same return time, the system could just schedule the last requesters 15 minutes later doing so again if too many requested the same time again. Because they couldn’t schedule a new return time until they used the last one it would likely prevent rides being scheduled until park close. I think all rides should be available this way and they could just charge more for the basic service to make up for not charging for individual lightning lane access. I think people would be happy to pay for a service like this and a lot less stressed.
Did you read this article? These are the rules you have to follow and for a party of two it will cost you a minimum of $30.00 provided there is not an additional cost for the attraction you want to go on. Is Disney really trying to keep people coming?
Disney sure knows how to suck the fun out of a vacation. So much planning anymore.
To be clear- 2 hours since you booked the first one? If you book one for late in the day (e.g. Jungle Cruise 7PM). Then at 11AM book book one for 12PM (e.g.Winnie the Pooh). You are telling us that we can not book a new one at 12PM when we tap in at noon because we don’t meet any of the three conditions you list- I’m not sure that is correct.
“You have used the first one you booked;” Nope- that is at 7PM
“Your first return time window has ended (if you miss it)” Nope – still 7PM;
“or 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one (or 120 minutes after park opening, depending on the situation).” Nope that was at 11AM booking Winnie the Pooh.
I think your last line should include when you tap in for the most recent one you booked even if less than 120 min from when you booked it!
The entire Disney process of using the app is confusing. Link tickets. Link resort. Reserve a park. Reserve dining. Wake early to hopefully reserve a ride. It’s. Too burdensome. Vacation is supposed to be fun.
At the risk of sounding like a boomer (which I am), Disney has sucked all the spontaneity out of a Disney vacay. Plan, reserve, plan, have your face in your phone, plan some more. That’s not a vacation, that’s a job!
I’m not really sure why everyone is so confused about this rule. FastPasses in Disneyland had this rule for at least the previous 10 years. Did the Max Passes in Disney World not have this?
disney world never had max fast passes. So all this new stuff they have implemented here has been nothing but a headache. its too bothersome and too time consuming. Now as passholders weve pretty much been shut out and were just paying to go in and walk around, but cant do attractions unless your there to do the dumb app and win a lottery at 730am, most locals arent there that early. Its completely uprooted what everyone was use to and can do.
Seems pretty simple. Looking forward to using this newest platform for my trip in September. I enjoy planning, I enjoy schedules, and I enjoy skipping lines. I remember when Fastpass first came out and our family was picked as a test group for magic bands we loved it. There was grumbling then too…
I was dead set against Genie + unroll my last trip with my best friend. She purchased it and said if it fails oh well. We ended up with 7 LLs that day and saved a total of almost 8 hours of waiting! (Calculated by the StandBy times when we walked up to our LL.). And still rode stand by for a few other rides!! It was a GREAT day!!
Genie + is awful. I really hope they can come up with a different system. I really miss fast pass. Didn’t know how good we had it.
If I book a lighting lane at 7:00am with the return time 12:00pm
Then I book another lighting lane at 11:00am with the return time at 5:00pm. ( Technically next time I am able to book is 1:00pm – 120 min rule )
After redeeming my first 12:00pm ride, do I have to wait till 1:00pm to book another lighting lane or I am actually able to book right after I ride that first ride at 12:00pm? I am worried this rule doesn’t apply because I have a 5:00pm ride booked and I have to wait two hours.
Our problem was we purchased them for Epcot and after grabbing Remi, test track, Frozen and Soaring were down and once they came back up, no lightning Lanes were ever offered during that day. We paid and only were able to use it for one ride. We then couldn’t get virtual queues for Guardians of the galaxy so we had to buy that also.
I wouldn’t waste my money on it for this park.