When Disney announces big news, we hear it all. People tell us they’re thrilled. People tell us they’re furious. People tell us they’re booking a trip ASAP. Others say they’ll never go to Disney World again. From new rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to holiday events like Jollywood Nights, it’s safe to say people have some strong opinions about what’s happening in Disney World.
But recently, Disney dropped some BIG news about the future of Genie+. For one thing, it’s getting a NEW name. The service will be called Lightning Lane Multi Pass (formerly Genie+) and Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly Individual Lightning Lane). The Multi Pass will be like a combination of Genie+ and FastPass+ (Remember that? This was the FREE version), allowing people to preplan their Lightning Lane reservations before stepping foot in Disney World.
Starting on July 24th, there will be several changes to the Lightning Lane service that is currently part of Disney Genie. As we mentioned, Disney Genie+ is now Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, and Individual Lightning Lanes are now Lightning Lane Single Pass. In addition, Disney announced that as of July 24th, you can:
- Make Lightning Lane plans BEFORE you’re in Disney World
- Choose your experiences and times prior to purchasing
- Book Lightning Lane passes for multiple vacation days, all in a single day
The big perk comes in for people staying in a Disney World hotel. If you’re staying on Disney property, you will be able to plan Lightning Lane reservations up to seven days in advance for your entire stay (up to 14 days). All other guests can plan up to three days in advance. If you do NOT live in the U.S. (regardless of where you are staying during your vacation), you cannot book Lightning Lanes until you arrive in America.
OK, that covers the basics. If you want to learn more about the new system (including details on the tier system), you can check out our full guide below.
Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lane Multi Pass in Disney World
We got HUNDREDS of responses, but most can be categorized into a few key takeaways.
Group #1: “We’ll Miss Genie+.”
Sure, Genie+ was pretty controversial when it first launched. It was the first time Disney was making people PAY to skip the lines. But, turned out some people didn’t mind Genie+!
In fact, DFB reader Michele (and many others) said, “I was just getting the hang of Genie +!!”
Group #2: “We Hate PAYING for This!”
Naturally, lots of fans expressed their frustration about the price. DFB follower Dawn said, “Feels kind of like paying for the fast pass system that was free, once upon a time.”
We saw a lot of comments that mentioned the price, like Nanci, who said, “With the amount of money spent on a Disney vacation, only to have to spend more money to hopefully enjoy the rides is ridiculous!”
Group #3: “We’re EXCITED!”
On the other hand, lots of people seemed VERY happy about the changes. Christine said, “I’m thrilled that I don’t have to wake up early every day of vacation. I think there’ll be learning curve like with any new system. I’m interested to see what effect it has on the availability of tier 1 rides.”
Anglia agreed, explaining that she thinks the new service will be “Similar to fast pass. Fast pass worked great previously! I’m ready for it. Been going to Disney for 33 years, 3-6 times a year. I’ve been there for soooo many of the changes. Genie +, I’m glad to see you go.”
Overall, most people told us they were happy to be able to sleep in again on vacation — no more waking up at 7AM to book those Lightning Lanes each day of your trip! For those who like to plan ahead, this seems like a positive change.
Group #4: “We’re reserving judgment.”
Some people, like DFB reader Jeff, are reserving judgment. “I think we’ll have a better idea when it goes live. Something tells me there will be some fine tuning, but overall it’s a step towards what the old system used to be.”
If there’s one thing we know about Disney, it’s that new things take time to run smoothly. Back when Genie+ first launched, there were all kinds of bugs and errors. But, over time, Disney was able to get things working pretty smoothly! We’ll be sure to keep our eyes out for any issues when Lightning Lane Multi Pass debuts. Look out for more details!
Group #5: “We Don’t Like It!”
Naturally, there were some people who told us they are NOT happy with the changes.
DFB reader Debbie pointed out, “I see it as a problem for spur of the moment trips,” while Melissa pointed out, “It’s now harder for international guests! (Australia) leave it at genie+, at least we had a chance!”
Kim commented, “Walt is rolling in his grave,” while Dawn called the updates a “Big Fail for Disney.” We heard from a LOT of readers who live outside the U.S., and everyone seemed to agree with Rachel’s sentiment: “As a Canadian, overlooked and angry.”
If you don’t follow us on Facebook, we highly recommend visiting our profile and giving us a follow! That way, you can be part of the conversation. Now, let us know YOUR thoughts in the comments below! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
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What do you think about these changes? Let us know in the comments!
Android8675 says
I basically don’t like that Disney punishes those with less. Fastpass was a great idea, reserve a spot in a line then go on/do something else, but it really made the parks seem more crowded because people didn’t wait in as many lines. Would it have made more sense to just redesign the lines to make people WANT to spend more time in them? Vendors, bathrooms, more interactivity, more places to sit in line, etc? How bout a multi attraction line? wait in one line that leads to a few other attractions. You get off one ride and get a pass for a short line on another ride? Cover all the rides in one area over 2-3 hours, break for a meal, go to the next area.
I don’t know what the answer is, but I simply can’t do Disney at this financial level, and I really want to go again. Our first trip in 2022 was amazing (thanks dfb).
I don’t know what Epic has in store, but as a ground up designed new park, I hope they have some of their best considering crowds and line management.