Buckle up, y’all. It’s about to get COMPLICATED.
Disney Genie
But don’t worry, we’re doing our best to break it down. Disney Genie+ is the new-ish way to skip the standby lines in Disney World, and it has been quite a hot topic since it first debuted in the parks. Some guests rave about it, while others think it’s a waste of money. The service has gone through a few updates, and it looks like it has just changed AGAIN. Let’s take a look at the NEW Disney Genie+ changes and how they will impact your next visit.
In a shocking surprise to probably no one, Disney has once again made an update to Genie+ — this time as it pertains to park hopping. As of now, this change only applies to the regular Genie+ Lightning Lanes (the $15 per day option) and not Individual Lightning Lanes (the individually priced a la carte option). Genie+ Lightning Lanes book up throughout the day, and the next earliest available option is what you’re shown.
Lightning Lane
Previously, guests with park hopper tickets who purchased Genie+ were able to book Lightning Lanes in their second park at 7AM (the time when you’re able to make your first selection). The Lightning Lane return times would automatically populate with 2PM or later options, since that is the earliest you can park hop right now.
With the new rule, guests with Genie+ will have to wait to book a Lightning Lane at the park they’re hopping to until the return time reaches 2PM or later for all guests — regardless of whether or not they’re park hopping. So, if you’re booking a Lightning Lane for the park you’re hopping to later, you’ll have to wait until the next earliest available window is 2PM or later.
Genie+ has been updated today and includes a change to booking Genie+ LL when park hopping.
If you're booking a LL at the park you're hopping to — and the return window is earlier than 2pm — you won't be able to book until the time is 2pm or later.
Example: https://t.co/FGDXje9r04
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 11, 2022
Confused? Let’s say you purchased a park hopper ticket and Genie+ (the regular version). You decide to spend the first part of your day in Animal Kingdom, and want to hop to Hollywood Studios later and book a Lightning Lane for Tower of Terror. Under the old rules, you’d be able to immediately book a 2PM Tower of Terror Lightning Lane at 7AM (when guests can make their first selection).
Tower of Terror
However, with the new rule, if you want to book that Tower of Terror Lightning Lane for when you park hop after 2PM, you’ll have to wait until all Tower of Terror Lightning Lanes prior to 2PM have been booked.
Tower of Terror Lightning Lane
Essentially, this levels the playing field for all guests regardless of whether or not they’ve got a park hopper ticket and plan on heading to a second park. But, it also means that guests who are park hopping will now have to keep checking Genie+ times for their second park as well as their current park.
We’ll keep an eye out for more Genie+ updates, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest news!
Splash Mountain Lightning Lane
Want to learn more about Disney Genie+? Check out the most recent Genie+ attraction updates here, and click here to find out how to avoid the biggest Genie+ mistakes in Disney World. Plus, these are the updates you need to know about before your next Disney World trip.
Still confused about Disney Genie+? Everything you need to know is in our Ultimate Guide here!
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 do you think about Disney Genie+? Let us know in the comments!
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Interesting. We’re locals and Annual Pass holders and we go all the time. We use Genie + on every visit and I don’t recall ever seeing it the “old way” in my app where it would auto-populate and allow me to choose a 2pm or later LL at the park hopper park. We’ve always done it the “new” way where we check every hour or so until the ride we want has a return time after 2pm. We would even “test” a few days in advance of a visit by looking at all the parks’ LL return times so we could get an idea of when to start looking in the app for the post-2pm slots (for example, Slinky Dog gets past 2pm pretty early in morning, while less popular rides might not get past 2pm until closer to noon or 1pm). It hasn’t been that big of a deal for us or caused us any problems. We’re pretty used to it now.
When we were at Disney in May on days we were booking for our second park our Genie+ did start at 2pm. This is just another reason why we are not going to Disney the next time we come to Orlando. The powers that be should have just charged for the Fast Pass system still allowing resort guests to book 60 days in advance (and an actual perk for staying on site) and 30 days for other ticket holders And it meant you could still modify your ride pass without losing it., unlike now.
Paul…. ditto. I don’t see the difference either. Perhaps just another PR move on Disney’s quest for “inclusiveness” to make non-park hopper ticket holders feel like they are being “cared for” and getting something….when they actually are not ?
I give up. I don’t have time to keep up with these changes. I have a life.
When we go next month to MK (we’re AP holders), I’m going to go through the gates…plop my rear end on a bench near The Barber Shop Quartet…and not move for 10 hours.
We have visited WDW for over 34 years. We have been annual pass holders off and on. We just took our grandsons this past July. We bought Genie + as part of our 4 tickets. I detested it! I had to wake at 7am every day, when my window of opportunity for next pass arrived, I would be in a line or on the ride in which no service was available. We were at Sci Fi diner so long we missed our pass to Millennium and our early arrival was met with closed Rise of the Resistance until 4pm that day. We were only able to use one LL that day. A total waste of time and money. The new system doesn’t allow you to schedule around dining plans. There must be a better solution!!!!
Makes complete sense to me. I didn’t realize you could choose one later in the day at a park you don’t have a reservation at. I have no problem with this rule.
Going to Disney should not be this stressful 🙁
For those of us who are tech-challenged, EEEEEKKKKKKK!!!
So let’s spend thousands of dollars to have our face in a phone instead of enjoying the park. If you pay the extra for park hoppers then you should have the option to make LL selections first thing and be done with it!
Be gone with BC already!!!
Absolutely hate the genie+ system just another way of Bob fleecing guests, taking more money from and giving Less to genuine guests who love Disney, but that’s what you have to expect when you put a man in charge, who only focuses on the dollar, and not the guest experience, if he could find a way to charge for the air we breathe in the parks I’m sure he would.
I’m taking a pause on Disney trips for a few years. I’m hoping by time I want to come back 1. Genie+ will be sorted out and 2. Disney adds ride capacity.
Sadly after 50 years of Disney visits and 23 as DVC owners in 3 locations Bob and the people int the Ivory Tower with Mickey ears on top have managed to RUIN Disney! We are active and tech savey seniors with money to spend and lots of grands. We are the family that usually stays in the Grand Villa and enjoys it because though not wealthy or greedy like Bob and the bandits we save and enjoy things that the kids love i am a retired event planner with loads of experience who would never put anyone through this ordeal. We are rethinking our options and may just rent our points out and use the money for vacations in luxury with out this stress.
When all management can see is $$$ it will catch up with them.
Maybe Disney is doing this to keep people from enjoying the parks? If they run enough of us “Middle Class” out they will be able to rent it out to the ultra-rich. I don’t pay for a vacation to have my phone in my face! I go to Disney to enter the bubble and forget what is going on in the outside world! I fear this coming trip will be our last. 🙁
One more time for the people in the back —
YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO USE GENIE+. IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT OF TRAVELING TO DISNEY. YOU DON’T HAVE TO “SPEND THE DAY WITH YOUR FACE IN YOUR PHONE” IN ORDER TO ENJOY THE PARKS. IF YOU WANT TO GO, NOT PLAN ANYTHING, AND STAY IN STANDBY QUEUES, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO THAT.
All this incessant whining about something that is not a requirement of the park and should have absolutely no impact on you whatsoever if you choose not to use it is so tiresome.
Vanessa, you seem to be the one whining about people expressing their opinion.
Genie makes lines longer for those who don’t pay for it. You don’t like it that we don’t like it? Who cares?
Yes, you have to have your face in the phone all day. This is fact.
Vanessa, Yes, you do have to have your “phone in your face” with mobile ordering., the virtual queue for all the new rides, and who knows what else. It was just my opinion! In the past, the only time you had your phone out was to take photos. Oh! The good old days! LOL