So you’re planning a Disney World trip, and you think you’ve got it all down!
Cinderella Castle
You might have those hotel reservations booked and the dining reservations made, and maybe you’ve even got a packing list all ready to go. But what about Disney Genie+?! The skip-the-line system is notoriously confusing with it’s plethora of rules and fluctuating prices. Thankfully, we’re here to help! Today, we’re sharing the best (and worst!) days in May 2023 to purchase Genie+.
Crowded & Expensive Days
Let’s start with those busy days! In May, there are a few key dates when we believe the parks will be busier than usual. For starters, we’ve got Star Wars Day on May 4th — and park passes are already starting to sell out for Disney’s Hollywood Studios on that date.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Typically, Star Wars Day comes with some special celebrations and limited-time offerings in Hollywood Studios, so it makes sense that people would want to visit then. Unfortunately, Hollywood Studios is also the park where Genie+ is in HIGH demand due to the number of heavy-hitter attractions there. Because of this, Genie+ might be more expensive on May 4th.
Crowds on May 4th, 2022
The other dates where you can probably expect the parks to be more crowded are the two holiday weekends in May! The first is Mother’s Day — we’re willing to bet that quite a few mamas want trips to Disney World. Expect the crowds to be a bit heavier from May 12th-15th for that holiday.
Happy Mother’s Day!
But the real kicker will be Memorial Day weekend and the kickoff of summer break for many. Memorial Day usually comes with a 3-day weekend and those crowds can be WILD. Add in the fact that some schools end the year after that holiday, and you can bet the parks will be busy from May 26th through the end of the month.
Crowds in Frontierland for Memorial Day 2022
As far as price goes, we can likely expect prices to be a smidge higher on May 4th and Mother’s Day weekend (probably think low $20s range), but they’ll likely hit their peak in May for Memorial Day weekend. During Presidents Day weekend in February, Genie+ was $29 per person, per day, which was the highest price we’d seen so far at the time. Since then, we saw Genie+ hit $35 during Spring Break.
©Disney
So in one sense, these busier days will be the “worst” time to buy Genie+ because it will likely be more expensive. But on the other hand, it will also mean that Genie+ is more helpful in the success of your park day — as long as you make your first selection as early as possible and stay on top of the rules, it can save you some significant time.
Quieter & Cheaper Days
Now let’s talk about those quieter or cheaper days. Generally speaking, weekdays are calmer at Disney World than weekends, and this will be especially true with two holiday weekends ahead. May 1st-3rd, May 5th, May 8th-11th, May 16th-19th, and May 22nd-25th will all likely be quieter than the dates we mentioned above.
Animal Kingdom
You may want to avoid Fridays and Mondays before and after the holiday weekends, as some people will arrive early or linger a day late. Also, even though the 30th and the 31st aren’t holidays themselves, they’ll be the kick-off of the summer season.
Tower of Terror
During those “less busy” dates, you can expect Genie+ to be cheaper. This is often when we see prices in the $15-$20 per person range. (Which, we don’t have to tell you, is a LOT more affordable than $35 per person.) On those same dates, however, you might not have as much of a need for Genie+.
©Disney
Of course, if you pay for it, you’ll always be able to use it because there are waits for rides and attractions every day. Your purchase of Genie+ just might not save you as MUCH time as it would on a holiday. And if you’re considering only getting it for part of your trip, we recommend purchasing it for Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. Genie+ tends to be a little more valuable at those two parks.
Partners Statue in Magic Kingdom
So there you go — the best and worst times to buy Genie+ in May, depending on whether you want to save money or get the most bang for your buck. As always, we’ll keep you updated if we see any wild crowds in the park in May, so stay tuned to DFB!
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oh this makes me nervous as we’re going memorial day weekend, pray for us! lol
What about labour day weekend? We are going then, and it’s a long weekend, but the crowd calendars say it’s low crowds. What should we expect?
We were there last Labor Day weekend, Meaga, and the crowds were not bad at all! The ILL s were priced low as was Genie Plus. We stayed the whole week and had a great time. You just need to be prepared for extreme heat and daily thunderstorms.