After the dissolution of FastPass+ many guests swore they would never use Genie+.

©Disney

What if we told you there was one reason why you should splurge on the service?

You might be familiar with Genie+ and know it as the newest iteration of Disney’s FastPass system. Those that pay the daily fee for Genie+ can bypass the regular standby line for an attraction and instead return at a specific time to stand in a shorter Lightning Lane. Besides not being free, another complaint guests have about Genie+ is the confusion around when you can select reservations, how many you can hold at once, and just how it works in general! (We have a handy dandy guide to help you navigate it, btw.) So if it’s just a glorified FastPass, why should you spend your money on it?

Frozen Sing-Along Lightning Lane

What some people are unaware of is that your purchase of Genie+ comes with more than just access to Lightning Lane reservations. Did you know that you also get special Augmented Reality photo lenses as well as Disney parks-themed audio experiences that give you essentially a behind-the-scenes tour of the parks? That’s not even the best part! Guests in Disneyland who purchase Genie+ receive unlimited PhotoPass downloads from attractions they rode that day, and Disney just revealed this perk will be available to Disney World guests soon.

Rock n Rollercoaster PhotoPass

Disney promised that within the next few months, Disney World guests who pay for a day of Genie+ will also receive unlimited digital downloads of their PhotoPass images for attractions ridden that day. Previewing your photos is always free, but normally you will pay $18.95 plus tax to download one photo. You can also purchase the Memory Maker package for $169 a day to get unlimited downloads of your photos.

The price of Genie+ is based on how busy the park is on any particular day. During the last week of December — typically the busiest week of the year for Disney World — Genie+ topped out at $29 per day, and we have seen it cost as little as $15 per day during less busy times.

SO, if you are someone who loves ride photos and typically buys them, if you bought two or more in a day you would be paying more ($32.90) than the highest price we’ve seen for Disney Genie+ ($29 per day).

On-ride Photo for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Now, we know this isn’t an exact comparison — we’re comparing this on an INDIVIDUAL basis, and if you are traveling with a group, you would have to pay the price for Genie+ for each person — and presumably you would all be in the same ride photo. But if you LOVE ride photos and usually buy them, you will see some savings here!

This might make you think twice about skipping Genie+ on your next trip! Be sure to stay tuned in to our site for more tips, tricks, and other info to assist you when planning your next trip to Disney.

Looking to save money on your next trip? Check out this post: Our NEW Tips for Saving BIG in Disney World!

Speaking of traveling to Disney World with a party of friends or family … Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out!

If you could get Genie+ for free for one park, which one would you pick? Comment your choice below!