FastPass+ and MaxPass have gone away, and 2 NEW, paid services have taken over at Disney World and Disneyland.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is an Individual Lightning Lane Attraction
Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection are the ways of the (Disney) World now, and we’ve had a chance to learn all there is to know. The services are available for all guests to use, but guests staying in Disney World Resort Hotels get an extra perk when it comes to one particular service. We’re taking a look at that perk and whether or not its worth booking a hotel room!
Disney Genie+ is a service through which guests are able to pay a set amount per day per ticket ($15 per day per ticket in Disney World, $20 per day per ticket in Disneyland) to choose the next available time to arrive at an attraction and use that attraction’s “Lightning Lane” (a.k.a. the old FastPass Lane). Essentially, this is a paid service that can help guests skip the lines at select attractions. Guests will be able to make 1 Genie+ ride selection at a time throughout the day (with some exceptions).
©Disney
Over 40 attractions are included in this service at Disney World and over 15 attractions are included at Disneyland.
Click here to see our step-by-step guide to buying Genie+ in Disney World!
In addition to Genie+, Disney has introduced something called Individual Attraction Selection (or pay-per-ride). With this service, guests are able to pay a certain amount to utilize the Lightning Lane for a specific, individual attraction. In other words, the guest is paying to bypass the standby queue (or virtual queue) for a single ride.
Lightning Lane Rise of the Resistance
Guests can only hold up to 2 Individual Attraction Selections per day (across all 4 theme parks in Disney World and 2 theme parks in Disneyland).
Click here to see our step-by-step guide to buying pay-per-ride selections.
The rides that are available through Disney Genie+ are different than those offered through Individual Attraction Selection. Individual Attraction Selection is being utilized for those highly popular Disney rides.
In Disney World, some of the rides included in this pay-per-ride service are: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Click here to see the full list of rides you can pay extra for!
The benefit for hotel guests comes in with relation to Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride). All guests will have the ability to buy Individual Attraction Selections. Guests will be able to buy their first one when the park opens.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
But, those staying at select hotels get a little bit earlier access. Disney has stated that those staying at Disney owned and operated hotels, The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, and Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort will be able to make their first Individual Attraction Selections at 7AM each day.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Talk about a SERIOUS perk of staying on property!
Click Here to See if Genie+ Is Necessary in Disney World
This can be a big deal especially considering that these rides are some of the most popular ones in the parks. Booking those popular rides earlier can (generally) give you a better selection in terms of available return times. Just a few days after Disney Genie’s debut in Disney World, one of our reporters tried to get a pay-per-ride selection for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at 9AM (when the park opened), and the next available return time wasn’t until 5:40PM. Just seconds later, the next available return time wasn’t until after 7PM. We’ve also seen the pay-per-ride selections for Rise of the Resistance selling out not too long after the park has opened for the day.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
We also saw a similar situation with the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT. On Cosmic Rewind’s opening day, the Individual Lightning Lane cost a whopping $17. Although the park opened at 8:30AM on opening day, guests who weren’t staying at a Disney Resort hotel didn’t even get the chance to thrown down that cash, as the Individual Lightning Lane passes had sold out by 7:20AM.
Click Here to See Our Opening Day Coverage of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Not all hope is lost, though, as guests cancel their Lightning Lane reservations for a multitude of reasons, and refreshing the booking page throughout the day can sometimes win you a bit of luck! But, if you’re really trying to ensure that you have the very best chance of getting that coveted Individual Lightning Lane reservation, staying in a Disney Resort is the way to go!
Polynesian Resort
This certainly isn’t the case for all Genie+ attractions or Individual Lightning Lane attractions, though in our experience thus far — popular rides to tend to sell out early in the day. Not only that, but the time of year you visit the parks can make a difference as heavier crowds mean more people trying to book Individual Lightning Lane reservations.
Click Here to See the 5 Most Important Disney Genie Tips to Know Before You Go
Keep in mind that the rules are a bit different when it comes to making Disney Genie+ selections. For Disney Genie+, your first selection can be made at 7AM on the day of your visit at Disney World (this is for all guests: those staying at Disney resorts and those who are not), but can only be made once a guest is in the park over at Disneyland.
Lightning Lane at Toy Story Midway Mania
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and details about Disney Genie+, Individual Attraction Selection, and more. Stay tuned for more updates on that!
Learn all about Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection 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 the Disney Genie+ service? Tell us in the comments.
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Jeff, in this video, around 12:30, it’s explained that Disney Resort guests will be able to schedule Individual Attraction Selections at 7AM. Everyone else will have to wait until Park opening. Genie+ is available start booking at 7AM for all guests.
I’m pretty excited to see all these people that aren’t going back because of this. It’ll clear out the park and make shorter wait times. More for me.
I’m not bothered by the extra fees. I don’t necessarily like the idea, but that’s the way it is right now. I’m a solo traveler, and if I can’t get on a ride, I’ll just find something else to do.
We have just booked for 2022 but we might cancel as one of the things we love is booking our rides 60 days in advance to be sure we have them and then we make reservations for meals at the same time, with this system not only will we not know what park we will be going to but we will probably not bother with staying for dining in the park either! All the enjoyment is being sucked out of Disney as is staying at a Disney resort by the constant increase in cost!
You are truly mad if you think that getting up at 7:00am while ON VACATION to pay even more fees for rides that used to be free to ride with park entry is a positive perk! You can stay at a deluxe at Universal and get an Express Pass AND early entry (if you want to). Now that is an inducement to stay on property.
You know who is happy with all of the changes at Disney? Their competition. I cancelled my 2022 Disney trip and will travel to a tropical island vacation. My 2021 Disney trip was changed, I cancelled my Disney resort stay and booked an Orlando vacation home with in a resort full of amenities. I shortened the number of visits to the Disney parks and added a visit to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (with express pass and dining). Since I would have, had to, pick up my own luggage with Disney’s Magical Express – we decided to rent a van, allowing us the freedom and convenience of getting around more freely; and dining more inexpensively (since we will not be trapped on Disney property). After this trip to Disney, we probably won’t be back for a couple of years; when typically we visit yearly, sometimes twice a year. I will remember the good times and will make the best of our upcoming trip – even though I take issue with having to wake up at 7 am to reserve rides, the $15 surcharge for Genie+, and the additional up-charge for the Individual Ride Selection.
Why do you keep defending such a bad idea.
My family and I have over 25 trips possibly up to 30.
We are passholders, DVC and at least once a year for one to two week visitors.
I am having discussions with the kids on dumping our timeshare, especially before prices tank that’s to this Elimination of fast passes and replacing with Genie is REALLY a bad decision on Disney’s part.
Why not just allow Fastpasses to continue the way they were with only allowing on site to select three rides and all others two rides per day ahead of time. On site would include one hard to get ride per day, off site none unless they pay per ride for the hard to get rides.
To make more money (which is obviously what Disney is doing here), allow on site the ability to buy up to three more fastpasses per day (one of those being hard to get rides) and offsite pay per ride for fastpasses beyond the two.
Contnue to allow all to select additional rides on fastpasses for free if available at the day goes on once original passes are used up.
Not simple but at least it would be more workable than this cluster of an idea.
Or just do what Universal does exactly, free for on site and pay for all else.
First of let me start by saying I understand stand the frustration of everyone, especially season pass holders that were use to the free fastpass, and also the ones with large families this will be a cost that will add up. However, for just 2 of us, that makes it to Disney ever 10 years or so I am looking forward to the genie+. Don’t get me wrong I do wish the fast pass was still free, who doesn’t, and that the popular attractions were included with the Genie+ and you didn’t have to pay separately for them which by just guessing I think will be around $20 a pop. But for $15 a day for the Genie+, which I was surprised it was that cheap according to Disney’s standards which I thought would be $60-$80 a day, to cut out on average at least 3 to 5 hours a day standing in line, and heat, is worth it to us. When we have only a week, 6 park days, to get in as much as possible and we need all the help we can get to get as much done as possible. Will I pay the premium to ride the 2 rides we really want to do, star wars rise of the resistance and ratatouille, that will depend on the price. Hopefully I can get on them through the virtual queue and not have to have to use that option. Hopefully this opinion doesn’t upset everyone but for us that are on a tight schedule this works for us.
What does upset me is I am also doing the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and didn’t notice when I booked it…My Fault…, that even if Disney cancels it they won’t refund my money. So something beyond my control I am out that money. Where is the logic behind that?
Nicky, you don’t have to pay extra for Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections if you don’t want to. You’ll just wait in the regular Standby lines instead — which some people don’t mind at all. 🙂
Claudia, yes for the Disney Springs Area Resorts.
Jeff, the info is in this video at about the 12:30 mark.
Hi, Kevin. Apologies if my clarification wasn’t clarifying. 😉 You can buy Disney Genie+ on its own, Individual Attraction Selections on their own, or both. For example, if you just want to purchase a Lightning Lane pass for Rise of the Resistance and wait in Standby for everything else, you absolutely can. If you want to go all in and pay for Disney Genie+ and your two Individual Attraction Selections per day, you can go all in. Does that help?
I don’t want to be worried about getting up at 7am and scrambling to get FPs. Especially if up later the night before. How is that a vacation, just more stress. Since I live in Florida and have AP we usually don’t stay at the resorts so there will be nothing left for the most popular attractions by the time we can use the service.
It is becoming more and more obvious that Disney was fed up with Annual Pass Holders and local fanatics who attend the park too much. The new systems are all being geared towards out of state travelers who spend multiple days staying on property. Good for them… it is about time. IMHO, it is the locals who have ruined WDW. They take up too much space, took all the fast passes, overloaded the boarding queue system, ransack special merchandise events…. really they put a black eye on the entire park experience. Glad Disney finally started pushing back. Out-of-State’rs spend 1000x more money in the parks anyway.
DFB Sarah, do you know when this program will start? I haven’t seen anything about a start date. I am heading there on 9/11 and was just wondering if it will be launched by then? Trying to budget for EVERYTHING right now!
I am 100% happy with the paid Genie+. Last time my family went to WDW, FastPass was basically useless for us because, due to work, we weren’t able to try to make FastPass selections until afternoon 60 days before. At that point, there were no more available for any of the rides we wanted to go on. It will be so much nicer being able to sleep in until 6:30, get up, and make a ride selection knowing that I’m not having to fight with everyone in 100 miles who go to Disney every weekend. An extra $60 per person ($15/park) when I’m already spending thousands is well worth it.
I understand why the every-weekenders are upset, but, Dude, get over it. Disney is making a better experience for those of us that a trip to Disney is a twice in a lifetime trip.
Your response to Sarah was disgusting. You said that you DO NOT have to pay extra to ride because you can wait in the regular STAND BY LINE like so many other people and they don’t mind. Who are you trying to fool. Pay over $120 to enter the park and wait on STAND BY LINE FOR FIVE RIDES DURING THE ENTIRE DAY. Five rides, heat and sweat and all for only $120. SO SAD
Ronald, I’m sorry my tone came across as dismissive. There are some who don’t mind waiting in lines, but — of course — I know everyone has their own perspectives and their own limitations. And because I’m in the comments every day, I know that most of the folks I hear from here are not happy about the change from FastPass+ to Genie+. I try to give information as accurately as I can, and sometimes that includes the less-popular and sometimes-controversial info as well.
Susan, I don’t envy you having to work out that budget. Disney has not yet released a date for when Disney Genie will start; they’re just saying “fall 2021” at this point.
So having already paid for a ticket, I can then pay top dollar to stay on site and get up at 7am to pay extra for some rides that were previously included.
Yeah, right 😁
Pop Century cancelled, Cabana Bay booked.
There is no way that my family is going to get up 7:00 am to do that and that is so wrong of Disney to expect that another one of their inconsiderate treatment of resort guest that r not allowed to b n the parks for the later hours we r so sick the unfair treatment of us guest they have ruined it for us and they don’t even care of course it’s a case of the have and have nots there r a lot more of us have nots that have supported Disney all these years with out us where would they b
All these rules are just exhausting. I’m tired before I even get to WDW just thinking about all the work I have to do to get into the parks and enjoy them. Disney acts like they are treating us when truth has always been that most families have to save few years before they can even think about.
We’ve been going to WDW every year for well over 20 years. We have a trip booked in Feb.2022. This will likely be our last unless things work out better than we expect in Feb. We went in May and it wasn’t bad but missed the dining plan and hated ordering online. Too many rules, too much phone use, no more Magic Express, guests being treated differently based on which hotels you stay in. Just not as fun and too much money.
I for one am VERY happy with the new Genie+ program and the virtual ques. We just finished our annual trip to DL & CAP and had an amazing time! I hated the FastPass when we were there 3 years ago and excess of local annual passholders. I am excited about only being able to book one ride at a time and only on the day of your visit not days in advance. We had absolutely NO problem getting up at 7 am to select our rides regardless of what time we went to bed the night before. It was kinda fun for our group … set alarms for 6:45, start the coffee maker, book our rides, shower, breakfast and off to DL/CAP!! It’s about time Disney starts catering to those of us who travel hundred and thousands of miles for our vacation and spend thousands of dollars for said vacation instead of catering to the local crowd. Good riddance FastPass and hello Genie+ and IAS! We also loved the online ordering for meals. It worked our great for us and saved us tons of time. We’re already planning next year’s trip and will be booking soon! Thank you DISNEY. 🙂
So if you book your first genie plus ride for 5 40 pm, ( because it’s your favorite and that’s the time you were given) you can’t use lightening lane befor that time? That’s crazy!
Hi Joyce! If your first lightning lane is at 5:40pm, you can still book another earlier one. Let’s say you wake up at 7am and you book your 5:40pm Lightning Lane, then the park opens at 9am. You can book another Lightning Lane at 11am, 120 minutes after the park opens, after that, you can make another selection 120 minutes after that, so essentially you could also make another at 1pm with the 120 minute rule.
Hi, do the individual attraction selections apply if you are staying at Fort Wilderness camp sites? We have a trip booked with our RV in a few months. So, we are staying on property, but not in a hotel.
Thank you.
Hi, do the individual attraction selections apply if you are staying at Fort Wilderness camp sites? We have a trip booked with our RV in a few months. So, we are staying on property, but not in a hotel.
Hi Val! Yes, the Fort Wilderness campsites count as part of the moderate resorts so you will be able to make your early morning selections.
It’s kind of sad that people think Disney is pitting the locals against those who travel thousands of miles to visit WDW. I’ve spoken to many people from England who planned their entire vacation around DISNEY and I’m sure Everyone spends a lot of money no matter where they come from.
I think the point everyone’s missing is that Disney should Not pit this group against that group. Disney should only allow so many people in each park. When the ride lines get over an hour, I consider that cruel and unusual punishment. (Exceptions: Star Wars & a few Newer rides). Give the park goers more things to do and limit how many people come in the door. I don’t think anyone considers overcrowding a safe thing.
I’ve even seen Disney articles complaining about locals ‘taking up space and not spending enough’. Whoa! Offensive much? But Then why Does DISNEY offer three or four different levels of Annual Passes for those locals?
We’re driving from Wisconsin and can Not come without an annual pass. We get two WDW vacations out of it.
NO Disney annual passes, NO more WDW Vacations!
And Disney, Just a reminder that ALL customers like to feel appreciated. Not just the ones with private islands.
And I am so glad I did not buy into the DVC club. They used to get a lot of freebies & benefits That DISNEY has taken away from them. Broken promises! Everybody loves those right? Uh No.
ALSO Disney, remember you’re not the only theme park in town! Seaworld has lovely rides as does Busch Gardens and there’s many many others to choose from. Plus Water parks & fantastically themed resorts too.
Remember theming in WDW resorts Disney? Now most of the resort rooms are so boring, I have to bring Disney themed comforters and pillow covers, posters, etc. from home. Otherwise the kids don’t believe that we’re really staying at a Disney resort.
Disney used to top the list of vacation spots because they were so “DISNEY!”… which Used to mean ‘near perfect’, an over the top perfection to everything they did. Well, At least they tried!
I wonder if Disney customers now feel more like credit card number & not a person with a name.
Last thing! (I promise! )
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the cast members who have been through hell in the last few years. You all deserve a medal and a pay raise!
Now I am going to the Universal website to check what they have to offer!
Can I book rides for Genie+ at 7am & IA, on the day of my check-in, even if I am not able to check-in to my resort until later in the day?
Today I was sent a questionnaire about my annual pass and would I be renewing it. I couldn’t give them a definite answer because my husband doesn’t want to renew. I want to because I do love Disney so much but he is right, so many changes and not that many benefits and way more money. One question I have is, they kept saying Free Parking Free Parking but that Free parking doesn’t include when you stay there!! You pay for parking at their hotels! That is a big expense! So we started staying off property. You get a better price, breakfast and Free Parking!!
Sad 😥
Hi. We live in Australia and just want to say that Disney has made it so hard for us to visit. We went to Disney world in 2012 and had the best time ever truely the happiest place on earth which was Walts dream. Now with this Genie and Genie + thing it has made it so hard to understand and with the exchange rate has pushed it maybe out of our range of holidays. Our 40th Wedding Anniversay coming up in 2025 and Disney world was the option . Now not so sure. I agree with the man who said fast pass should be allow to people staying on site.