Even though it will never quite be the same as FastPass, Genie+ is here to stay.
Disney Genie
Disney introduced the new skip-the-line system last year that had many guests confused. On top of new rules and ride policies, it is no longer free to guests — it’ll cost you $15 in Disney World and $20 in Disneyland. Since Genie+ is a newer system, it is constantly changing to become the best it can be, and we’ve been keeping you updated on the latest changes (including a new banner that makes its most confusing rule EASIER). But now, a Disney executive has shared how the company uses Genie to control crowds in the parks.
It is clear that Disney uses Park Pass Reservations to control crowds and attendance in the parks, but did you know they are doing the same thing with Disney Genie?
Genie!
That’s right. Josh D’Amaro, the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, gave us some insight to how and why Disney controls where we go using Genie.
According to The Wall Street Journal, each of the Disney parks has an operation center with a “heat map” which tells operators where Genie+ users are in the parks using the GPS technology. Then, the park operators use this information to direct traffic by notifying guests about the shortest lines and food and merchandise promotions to spread crowds out around the park.
Crowds
D’Amaro said “If I’m seeing too much activity on the west side, I’m able to spread where I direct people to the east side. Our attractions will be load-balanced better, and lines will be shorter, and what that means is the experience will be better.” This means that the tracking on Genie and Genie+ is meant to help the guest experience by creating shorter lines and less crowds overall.
Crowds in Animal Kingdom
In case you aren’t very familiar with the new system, Genie+ replaced the previous FastPass system in Disney World and Disneyland that was in place before the parks closed due to the global pandemic. Genie+ is a paid system and on top of the rides included with Genie+, you can purchase Lightning Lane passes for some individual rides as well. These prices depend on the time or day.
Lightning Lane
There is also a free version of Genie that helps park guests plan their day. You can tell Disney your interests in the My Disney Experience app and Genie will take that into account when giving you recommendations. It also looks like recommendations will pop-up based on crowds and information park operators are getting behind-the-scenes.
©Disney
If you’re still confused about Genie, don’t worry! Here are a few guides you can use to help navigate the confusing system:
- A Step-By-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+
- Updated List of Everything That’s Included in Your Genie+ Purchase in Disney World
- How Many Rides Can You Get On Per Day With Genie+ in Disney World?! We Dig In!
- The Difference Between Disney Genie and Disney Genie+!
- Breaking Down the Most CONFUSING Parts of Disney Genie!
- Understanding Disney Genie in 500 Words or Less
- The Rides to Book FIRST With Genie+ and Pay Per Ride in Disney World
- A Full Guide on Using the FREE Version of Disney Genie!
- The BEST and WORST of Disney Genie+
As we mentioned above, Genie and Genie+ are constantly changing, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates.
Check out the newest Genie+ update in Disney World’s app
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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Have you used Genie or Genie+ yet? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments!
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What Disney controls is our money. Not the same ole Disney……
Just curious- Has DFB ever done a challenge Genie vs no Genie for a park day on the same day? Same start and end time, same rides, number of breaks, store time etc, on the list of to-dos. The DFB team has the experience so I think it would be interesting to see the results with the current set-up.
My “Burning Question” about Disney Genie is “Can we burn Genie, so that it never comes back?!”
I’ve never been to WDW so this might be a dumb question. But my family of 5 is going. So when we use genie + for a ride. Do you just hit it once and you all get on together ?
While funneling people around using signals sounds great, I believe people will ignore it after a while. Constantly cross crossing the parks to get to the next scheduled “thing” and being on the phone all day was not pleasurable. I’m not saying genie plus will fail but I think it serves the park planners more than the customers at this time.
I loved individual lightning lanes and hated genie+ .. 1. Wait times were always longer than what was posted.. 3. By the time you could select a second attraction, the top 3 rides at any location were usually all booked. 3. On 2 occasions, we saw a LL return time, have 10 second discussion on if we wanted it, would hit it and your actual return time would be booked 4 hours later than what was viewed.. I would do just about anything to have fewer choices but be able to select specific times so that you could plan a day.. plan a return, etc… just so you’re not spending the day dragging your kid across the park for something that inevitably is wrong…. it just causes repeated disappointment…