You may need to add a little more flexibility to your budgets because some CHANGES are happening when it comes to Disney World costs.
Disney Genie
Price increases have already been put into effect for Savi’s Workshop and Droid Depot, along with hidden price increases for tickets in 2023, and increases to special experiences like private photo shoots. But now a service you may have been planning to use in Disney World is also getting more expensive, depending on when you visit.
Disney Genie+ is the PAID replacement for Disney’s old FastPass+ system. Traditionally, at Disney World, you’d pay $15 per person per day to utilize Genie+. With Genie+, you can make 1 selection at a time for a return time that allows you to SKIP the standby line at a particular attraction. Once your return time comes around, you’ll get to use the “Lightning Lane” (the old FastPass lane) to skip the standby wait and get on the ride you selected. You can continue to select more return times, one at a time, throughout the day.
Avoid the standby entrances with Lightning Lane!
Genie+ also has a related service called Individual Attraction Selection (or pay-per-ride). This is reserved for the especially popular rides at Disney World (which are NOT included with the standard Genie+ service). With Pay-Per-Ride, you pay to skip the standby line at ONE individual ride.
The prices for these Pay-Per-Ride selections can vary by date (a.k.a there is surge pricing), but traditionally that $15 for the “standard” Genie+ service would remain the same every day. Soon, that’ll be changing.
Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane
Surge pricing is being introduced to the standard Genie+ service. According to Disney, they will be introducing “variable pricing” for Genie+ starting October 11th.
What does variable pricing mean? Well, it’s essentially surge pricing. The cost for Genie+ will no longer be a standard $15 every day in Disney World. Instead, much like Pay-Per-Ride (or even Disney World tickets), the cost of the standard Genie+ service will VARY depending on the date you’ll be visiting.
Disney has noted that prices for Genie+ may be lower on less busy days and higher on peak periods (like around holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas).
That Lightning Lane Access Might Cost You MORE
In an example sent to travel agents, Disney noted that right now and through the end of October, the price of Genie+ will be $15 per guest per day on LESS busy dates, $22 on some of the busier dates, and somewhere in between on other dates (plus tax). They also shared that prices are subject to CHANGE beyond October.
So it seems your holiday trip could get even MORE expensive if you’re planning to use Genie+ in Disney World. If you’ll be traveling during peak season, be sure to take this surge pricing into account when making your budgets.
Expedition Everest Lightning Lane
Also, keep in mind that you can no longer purchase Genie+ in advance as an add-on to your trip to Disney World. Instead, in Disney World, you can only buy Genie+ on the day of your visit (meaning you’ll have to buy it separately for each day of your trip) through the My Disney Experience app.
For more information about Genie+, click here to see a change that could make it easier to use, and click here to learn about a confusing change made to the system.
We’ll keep an eye out for more Genie+ changes and let you know what we find.
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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Do you think Genie+ is worth it? Tell us in the comments.
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Disgusting! All these price increases! I am done with Disney – I have one last trip planned and I am out! Why don’t they come right out and say – we have tiers for guests, from the really wealthy who get to do everything to the not at all wealthy who should not even bother coming!
Everyone…Disney pricing has gotten ridiculous. Walt is rolling over in his grave. The magic is gone because all Disney cares about it being as greedy as possible and racking it’s visitors over the coals. They don’t care about their customers or customer experience. Disney has gotten unnecessarily expensive.
Disney…Let’s raise prices more.
SMH. Disgusting.
I’m done. This has finally priced us out of Disney. We go at the end of august every year. But in 2023, I’ll be looking for a more cost friendly trip. This breaks my heart to write this, but they have finally reached the point of no return with me. We just cannot afford this trip any more. I’m so sorry to write this, but this has been coming. This was the final straw.
Bob Chapek is dangerously close to alienating Disney’s most loyal guests.
Walt would be proud.
More greed from Disney. Why am I not surprised?
Tried Genie + once and probably won’t do it again. Now definitely won’t do it. This is getting ridiculous. The shine is definitely off the pumpkin.
It was just a matter of time. My annual pass renewal is up at the end of the month. This just might be the thing that makes the decision easy for me and I am just a solo traveler. Can’t imagine the cost of bringing a family. Where’s the “magic?” It kind of breaks my heart. 💔
I can understand “why” it might make less guests purchase Genie + thus making it easier for guests with Genie + to get on a few more rides. BUT this is another arrow added to the quiver of those deciding to take their entertainment dollars elsewhere.
I assume this will not affect people who have already been able to purchase genie plus? My family bought a package a couple of months ago and we are going in November.
Disney just keeps getting worse.
Good grief, Disney. Even i am about to say enough is enough.
And the greed continues.
Disgusting Disney is just out of control. They really have destroyed the experience they keep raising prices and yet they give you the same old experience but it’s not even that it’s getting worse and worse. I’m done with them
Disney, shame on you!
Interesting development, Looks like they want to be able to control the degree as too how many people will be using the tool. As expected there are too many users on peek days vs slow days, so they want to encourage behaviors that allow them to deliver better experience in specific use cases. What better way then to make it more expensive which in turn drives behavior. Disney is the worlds masters at this. If successful like everything else they invented for crowd control other parks will follow. They continue to offer topics to study on a monthly basis.
Until people refuse to pay these outrageous prices & letting WDW price us out, they will keep raising prices on everything.
Let’s see just how complicated and expensive we can make this before people just throw up their hands and sat “forget it”
Disney is done, Scratch them off the list. The sooner they are gone the better Enough of the price gouging.
What are the odds the mouse can go 2 months without increasing prices?
Happy Holidays from Scrooge Paycheck!…… He’s ready to take even more if your money….. Should be called
GENIE PLU$$$$$
We haven’t been to WDW since just before Covid, about five years ago I guess. We have been keeping track of all the changes and pricing. Unfortunately, being on a fixed retirement income, Disney has priced itself out of our comfort zone. We used to go every couple of years but now the gap between visits will be much longer if we decide to go at all. Between the price increases and the need to be attached to your smart-phone WDW isn’t nearly as appealing as it once was, it has gotten so complicated that it would no longer feel like a vacation. I’m certain that first time visitors will find WDW amazing, but those of us who have going for many years see the decline in Disney’s traditional customer first philosophy. Based on what I’ve read the ‘conveniences’ are designed more for Disney and shareholders than for the guests and the new surge pricing, Genie+, park reservation system and the termination of many perks (airport transportation, magic bands etc) just seem like poorly disguised price gouging.
Right now Disney can get away with this because there is a huge pent up demand for travel after the pandemic. So right now Disney can get away with these prices increases and upcharge tactics. But as that surge passes, Disney may find that they have badly damaged their reputation, in which case, a mere price decrease or promotion might not bring back the crowds to the levels they hope for. As for myself, I’m not saying I’m giving up on Disney–I’m just going a little less often and spending more time on other types of vacations.
Oh well Chapek strikes again. Is he really trying to destroy Disney and in particular Walt Disney World? Good thing Walt has been dead for over 50 years.
😄Laugh out loud😄!! 😄Laugh out loud😄!!! I don’t know what else to say! 😄Laugh out loud😄!! We all knew this was coming! Mark my words, increase will continue to be implemented gradually across the board. Slowly pushing the costs of vacationing at WDW Resort to high for middle income and turning WDW into the Playground for the wealthy! It’s been management’s goal from the beginning of Chapeks promotion.
Next, food prices will increase during busy meal times ( lunch and dinner) and cocktails will surge at the end of the day…after you’ve been trying to figure out just how to get through your “vacation”.
Not surprised at all, he’s going to jerk up all the prices until there is a major backlash. Premium prices for premium crowds . It must be fun to be part of the elitist population 🙄
This is just rude- I’m so disappointed.
Your going to have to pay MORE for Genie+ on the days that you will have the least opportunities to use it.
There are so many things wrong with this.
Bye, Disney. I’m done with you.
Thank you for making the decision even easier.
I can’t believe I am the first to comment on this price hike! We all knew this was coming and that they will continue to hike the price annually just as they do with every. single. thing. I can only say that we went in early September and stayed off site for half of our stay to save money and see how it went. Wow. It went great! We will continue to stay off site for the majority of our trips from now on. There are not nearly enough perks to get us to pay DOUBLE the amount for a hotel room on site anymore. If we save $150 per night on our hotel, we can justify paying $60-$70 a day for Genie Plus and one additional paid LL. Luckily for us, there are only two of us. This will be unbelievable for a family of four.
Disney is always looking for new ways to gouge visitors. Too bad they don’t use the same energy to make Disneyworld more palatable. Whereas, I’ve always planned a yearly vacation around a trip to Disney (since 1993), I can tell you that trips will be far less. I’m going to start spending my money at Universal, BETTER BANG FOR THE BUCK! I appreciate value for my dollar and Disney just doesn’t cut it any more.
WDW has always been a Magical place for families to visit. Unfortunately with prices being jacked up on everything, multiple times per year, it has become out of the reach of most families. On top of the price increases, Canadian residents have to take into consideration the exchange rate in order even think about visiting Disney.
With the continued price increases it is felt that Disney is out to gouge their visitors, and they don’t seem to mind doing that.
Small problem: I have NEVER paid for anything with my phone, as a matter of principle. I use credit cards for everything, and that works great. I *might* make an exception for Disney, assuming I can figure out how to do it……
As one article said: “When asked about people who are angry about the price increases, Chapek turned the responsibility back onto those same consumers. He said, “Well, it’s all up to the consumer. If consumer demand keeps up, then we act accordingly. And if we see a softening (which we don’t think we’re going to see) then we can act accordingly as well. We’re very flexible.”
So it’s no surprise really. Bob Paycheck has made it clear several times that Disney will keep raising prices as long as the public is willing to pay.
Of Course just as I was coming next month!!! I wouldn’t mind it as much if they were perhaps limiting the amount of Genie+ passes, but it is just going to be the same amount of people for more money. Just really hoping I can get the most out of it because last year without it was tough and left no time for park hopping.
I’ve been to all the parks several times over the past year and never bought the Genie + so as not to waste $15 on a lousy system that may very well get me onto no rides faster than without it and that would require I work on the mobile phone all day, starting early for IAS, to get lightning lanes. Also, I decided everything Disney with a + in the name is not worth its cost. FastPass + was free, but even that + was annoying in that it made the name unnecessarily long. I wish they’d be creative like they used to be.
I am constantly saddened by the cash grabs Disney has been putting out lately. I still love Disney and I will still go, but I never use Genie + and don’t plan to. Maybe that’s why it’s increasing? They didn’t count on how few people would actually buy it? I don’t mind waiting in line, but I understand some families cannot, especially with young kids. I just wish they didn’t have to spend even more money to make sure their kids get to see what they want.
Bob Chapek is the WORST thing that has ever happened to Disney World. Somebody please dispose of this man and bring back some of the magic.
Well said Lisa. He’s about as popular as Vladimir Putin and about as useful as a chocolate tea pot.
I have said this from the beginning, the park reservation system had nothing to do with Covid. They lied. This is exactly why they did it and why they don’t sell Genii+ ahead of time. They use the reservation system for the surge pricing. Chapek said it, “supply and demand”, as long as people are willing to pay, he will keep raising prices. We used to go twice per year, and I was a Disney travel agent. I quit as an agent, and we haven’t been back since. It’s very sad.
We have booked our holiday from the UK to Orlando for 2024 (having already been this year and experienced using Genie+, park reservations, trying to alter park reservations and not being able to park hop until after 2pm etc, being tied to your phone and disheartened staff) It breaks my heart to say it but we are only doing Universal (which was sooo easy) and adding Seaworld instead, we are finally done with Disney until it changes park reservations and park hopping etc, I somehow don’t think we are going back , at least why Paycheck is in charge….. Universal must be laughing their heads off at all the tourists moving to them, they don’t really need to advertise. Maybe DFB could also have a sister channel UFB xx
as a single mom we were to go in 2020 but the world shut down. It took me 10 years to save enough to go to WDW, and just in last 2 years it has cost more than $5000 more to go in November (30 days) for the same trip type (we are from BC, Canada, where the dollar is stupidly low. It will be our first and last time, the Disney corp. has become too greedy to even think of going another time. it is only for the wealthy now which is sad. we are going on an extreme budget, no souvenirs, or sit down meals, exploring Orlando or Genie + for us. We will go sunshine bus to resort from MCO but taking city bus back to MCO in 10 days. And sharing any quick service meals. If I could have gotten refund I would have cancelled it all.
I now refuse to purchase genie+. I hope others do also. Sooner or later Disney will get the message.
$22.00!!! If I also buy an individual lightning lane for $15.00 that would be $37.00 a day!! Wow for an optional non- required bonus add-on service that makes disneyworld lines even faster than the old fast pass system that is just …. A good deal still , especially compared to the Universal Express add-on for a whopping $79.00 a day! I think people need to chill on here. Complain about the food or ticket prices rising but don’t complain about something you don’t have to buy that is OPTIONAL. I wish I Tesla wouldn’t charge more for full autopilot and I wish Apple pro iphones were the same as the non pro versions but wow I have a choice to just buy a standard Product or service. Chapek is definitely not Walt but he is running a business so it’s no shocker he charges more for offering..MORE!
It’s just too sad and infuriating to think about it. But I remember how wonderful it USED to be, and that’s hard to forget…. it’s just not there anymore
The fact that you keep charging more and more for things and give less and less is very telling. Just as others have said, at this rate, our next trip will probably be our last until some of the magic is brought back. The last time we went for a big 50th birthday celebration last October. Very few people even said Happy Birthday. The magic really has faded. It used to be worth the price but with the continual price hikes and nickel and diming for every little thing, is ridiculous. And you took away the Dining Plan and announced it would be back in 2022 and there is no plan in site. And then if you brought it back, you’d probably hike it way up and take away some of the items. This is disgusting!