We hope you’re ready for big changes this year because Disney World will look a LOT different in 2024.
In January alone, the Disney Dining Plan returned, all-day park hopping is back, and Park Pass reservations have gone away for most guests. With park hopping and Park Pass rules changing, how you book Virtual Queues, Individual Lightning Lane selections, and Genie+ selections looks a little different as well. Here’s what you need to know.
First, let’s talk about how exactly the rules are changing for each of these services.
Virtual Queue
Currently, Disney World offers Virtual Queues (VQ) for two rides in its parks: TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Virtual Queues are a free service that allows you to book a spot in a virtual line for a later time in the day.
You can book a VQ at 7AM and 1PM, but to book one at 7AM, you must have a Park Pass reservation for that particular attraction’s park. As of January 9th, 2024, however, guests who no longer need a reservation will be able to book a Virtual Queue without one.
Keep in mind that this applies to guests with date-based tickets, and other types of ticket-holders will still need a reservation in order to book. Additionally, you’ll only be able to book one Virtual Queue at a time, so you’ll have to choose either Guardians of the Galaxy or TRON for the 7AM drop.
Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections
Genie+ is a paid service that allows visitors to bypass standby lines at select rides throughout the day. After paying a base price, you’ll be able to book Lightning Lanes at these select rides as they become available. Individual Lightning Lane selections, alternatively, are pay-per-ride options for Disney World’s more popular rides.
If you are planning on park hopping on a day you would like to use either of these services, however, some time restrictions affect how you book your selections. 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.
This means that if you’re hoping to book a ride in a park other than the one you are starting at, you’ll have to wait until all of the Lightning Lanes for that ride have been booked through 2PM to get one. As of January 9th, however, this restriction has gone away, and you are able to book a selection at a time as early as is available.
What That Means for Your Trip
With the policy changes, it might seem like there is less to worry about — fewer rules, right? While this change does add a layer of flexibility to your plans, there is something you might want to watch out for now that this change has gone into effect.
Because more people will be able to book a Virtual Queue or Lightning Lane selection with fewer restrictions, you might start to notice that they sell out a bit easier! Previously, only those with a Park Pass reservation would be able to join a Virtual Queue, and now that anyone can — you might have to be that much quicker when joining the queue bright and early at 7AM.
With Lightning Lane selections, you might not have been too concerned previously about booking your second park selections early in the day, because they weren’t available as early anyways. Now, you might have to be more aware of what’s available sooner.
If you’re still not completely comfortable with the rules of Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes, make sure to check out our cheatsheet right here!
In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news.
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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Are you looking forward to the changes happening in January 2024? Let us know in the comments below!
What upset me is these lightning lanes is I know people pay to not have to wait, but come on when you let 20 lightning lane people go and only 4 standby people go it gets a little unnerving. How i know this is I experience this yesterday at Hollywood Studios at the Slinky Dog ride. Twice this happened to us. So 40 people 40 lightning lane people went and 7 standby went.
I think you need to make this a little more fair even though I know you are getting rich off the lightning lane people. I thought Igor was do some changes so far I don’t see any in my opinion.
Linda, this is the reason why the wait times for the stand by lines are SO LONG. There are people who can afford to pay for the LIGHTENING LANE and those who can’t afford to pay for the LIGHTENING LANE. This was not the way it was for SO MANY YEARS THRU 2019. SOO SAD
As if the price of the ticket isn’t enough. It sounds like if you can’t pay, you can’t play. My next trip next month may be my last