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Hey howdy hey! It’s blog post day! Today we are talking about a highly requested topic, Who Should Consider Genie+ at Disney World. Genie+ is an offering for an additional cost that allows you to skip the wait during your visit. We’ll get into the actual meat and potatoes of Genie+ shortly (buckle up, because it’s complicated), but it’s important to know Genie+ is not for everyone. Hence, why so many people wonder if Genie+ is the right fit for their family. I’ve been studying Genie+ since it launched in 2021, and I’m sharing all my thoughts on the blog post today. Let’s get into it!
What is Genie+?
Are you familiar with FastPass+? If so, Disney Genie+ replaced it, so you already have a base-level knowledge of Genie+! Disney Genie+ is a pay per-person, per-day feature. It allows your party to skip the lines on most attractions. To purchase Genie+ for the day, you can log into your My Disney Experience account at midnight day-of. Keep in mind, the cost varies depending on the day and theme park!
Then, starting at 7:00 AM EST, you can reserve your first Genie+. Using the My Disney Experience app, select the attraction you want to skip the line on, select your entire party, and receive a return time.
You will then show up to the attraction during your return time window and enter the Lightning Lane. The lightning lane is the physical place you go to redeem your Genie+. You’ll tap your ticket at the tapstile and enjoy the attraction.
You can reserve your next Genie+ of the day two ways, whichever comes first:
- Once you’ve tapped your ticket at the tapstile (some attractions require you to do this twice) of your current Genie+, you can then reserve your next Genie+
- Once two hours have passed since you reserved your last Genie+
Listen, I know this is incredibly complicated and can be difficult to understand. If you still have questions, feel free to place them in the comments below and I will do my best to help! Now let’s discuss who should consider Genie+ during their Disney World vacation!
First Time Visitors
First Time visitors want to take in as much entertainment as possible during their Disney World vacation. Genie+ will be an incredible resource if you’re a first time visitor looking to experience all the Disney parks have to offer! You’ll be given the opportunity to enjoy more attractions during your visit.
For first time visitors, I recommend you consider Genie+ every day of your visit. However, this can be expensive, especially if you have a larger party with you. If you want a budget-friendly option, consider purchasing Genie+ during your visits to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. These parks tend to be more popular, so the wait times can be much higher. Instead, wait in the standby queues at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. Then, purchase Genie+ at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios so you can see more.
Those Who Like to Relax on Vacation
I cannot think of anything more exhausting than visiting the parks multiple days in a row, from park open to park close. It’s important to remember how physically taxing Disney World vacations can be, and to build in time for rest! Consider Genie+ if you don’t want a vacation from your vacation! This way, you can have a more relaxed pace without having to sacrifice the number of attractions you experience. Plus, you likely won’t have to rush from one activity to the next on a tight schedule.
Another reason I love Genie+ for those who like to relax on vacation is you can choose to plan your day in advance or be spontaneous. If you are a planner, you can craft a strategy or list of what order you plan to reserve Genie+ selections. However, if you are more of a spontaneous park goer, you can simply open the app once you’re ready to reserve. Then, when eligible, you can decide what you will reserve next.
School Calendar Vacationers / Those Who Visit in Peak Season
Those who visit when children are out of school or during peak seasons (such as bank holidays) should consider purchasing Genie+ too! Disney World is known to be much busier when schools are out of session. If you don’t purchase Genie+, you’ll be standing in much longer standby queues and won’t be able to experience as much. Genie+ helps ensure you can enjoy more attractions during these busier seasons. It might just be worth purchasing if you have a multitude of attractions on your to-do list!
However, keep in mind these seasons tend to cause Genie+ pricing to surge. If you plan to purchase, you’ll want to account for the increase in price. This is just another reason why Genie+ might not be the best choice for every travel party!
Thrill Seekers
You won’t want to miss Genie+ if you like thrills! Disney World thrills have much higher wait times than the slower moving attractions, so if you want to maximize thrill time, you will want to purchase Genie+ during your visit.
Now, before we continue, I cannot move on without speaking to Individual Lightning Lanes. There are a couple of thriller attractions at each Disney World theme park that are NOT included with a Genie+ purchase. Instead, these attractions will require a separate purchase just for that single attraction. The cost varies like Genie+, however one perk is you can schedule your Individual Lightning Lane, unlike Genie+. Lastly, the list of Individual Lightning Lane attractions can change at any time! Be sure to check your My Disney Experience account for the most accurate information.
Here is the current list of attractions you must purchase a separate Individual Lightning Lane for:
- Magic Kingdom Park
- EPCOT
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Those With a Short Trip
I have a handful of friends and family members who only have a couple short days to spare during their visits and consider it worthwhile to purchase Genie+. Similarly, those visiting Disney World for conventions or sport/cheer competitions have a short window of time they can visit the parks, and often find Genie+ to be helpful too. Regardless of why you might have a short trip planned during your Disney World vacation, Genie+ can be a fantastic resource to maximize your limited time in the parks!
Those Who Value Convenience Over Budget
One of the first questions I always asked as a vacation planner was, “do you value convenience or budget more?” In a perfect world, you would be able to have both; a convenient trip that stays within your budget. However, there are moments when it comes down to choosing one or the other. Deciding which matters most before you begin vacation planning can really lessen the decision fatigue that comes with planning Disney World vacations.
A classic example of this would be, do you value waiting for 45 minutes after the park closes for a bus that’s included with your hotel stay (budget) or do you value getting back to your resort to rest as soon as possible by purchasing an Uber after fireworks (convenience)?
As you can see, waiting is definitely one of those moments where you have to pick budget or convenience. If budget is your priority, do not purchase Genie+. Instead, plan to use the standby queue for attractions you want to enjoy. If convenience is more important than the budget, consider Genie+ to maximize the convenience on vacation by not having to wait in lengthier queues.
Conclusion
That’s all for Who Should Consider Genie+ at Disney World! While Disney Genie+ is an incredible resource for many Disney guests, it’s not the right-fit for every guest. I truly hope this is helpful in determining if it’s a right-fit for your family!
If this was helpful for you, don’t forget to download my freebie, 10 Ways to Beat the Heat at Disney World! Stay magical, and I’ll see ya real soon for another blog post!
Expert Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Tips
Former Disney Cast Member and Disney Vacation Planner
WDW Annual Passholder
Disney Adult, Disney Couple Date Ideas
DAS Disability Access Service Disney DAS Expert
I absolutely love this! It’s got so much information about Disney and when you’re there for a short period of time, knowing tips and tricks are invaluable. Thanks for sharing this!!
Thanks so much for taking a look! I agree completely, when you have limited time, it really is important to maximize it to the fullest!
This was a great explanation and breakdown of Genie+. It seems like a worthwhile investment for a Disney trip!
Thanks so much! Depending on your family’s budget and other factors, Genie+ can be a huge help!
Thank you so much for explaining Genie+. I understand what it is now.
Yay, I’m so happy this is helpful for you!
I love personal reviews. THis was so helpful!
I’m so glad it’s helped you! I love personal reviews too, it helps me understand how it all works!
I need to be back there soon.
I hope you get to make a visit soon!
I had no idea that the fast pass had been replaced by the Genie+. Thanks for the info. Hope I get to return soon.
Yes, it’s a little bit sad because I loved Fastpass and found it to be a bit less complicated, but Genie+ can still be helpful if you know how to use it! I hope you get to visit soon 🙂
This is so helpful! You could add Disney Planner to your many talents:). I will more prepared because of your expertise:).
Aww, thanks so much for your sweet compliments! I’m so glad to be able to help people make memories with their families!
Good to know when I go back to Disney again. Great info!
I hope you get to visit soon! Thanks so much for reading 🙂
This is really helpful! I haven’t heard of Genie + prior to your post, but I’d be interested in getting it the next time I visit to save time while there. The lines can be super long!
You’re so right, the lines can get very long, especially during holidays! Genie+ can be a great resource to avoid the lines and maximize time!
You are an excellent Disney planner! I really appreciate all of the inside tips! You are a gem!
Thank you so much for your sweet message! I’m glad these posts are helpful for you!
Fabulous breakdown of the ins and outs as well as the pros and cons of the Genie+ program at Disney World. As always – your insider info is perfect for Disney travelers! Thank you for sharing your expert advice!
Very informative post on Genie+!
We have not been back to Disney since Genie + was implemented but this is super helpful for when we return!
I hope you find it helpful when you visit next!
This is so helpful! There are certain aspects of Disney that can bew confusing and Disney Genie+ was right up there! This is the best explanation I’ve seen on what it is and if it’s worth it! Thank you!
I agree completely. It’s sad to me that Disney made Genie+ so complicated when it doesn’t have to be. Nonetheless, I hope this is helpful!
This is a fantastic overview on who needs the Genie+ at Disney World, it is definitely something our family spoke about when discussing a trip to Disney for all the parks…thanks for sharing such a detailed brief..
It’s a difficult decision to make and isn’t always the best-fit for each family. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
Hey didn’t know about Genie+, thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read!
I had no idea Genie+ was a thing! Will have to grab one the next time I’m at Disney.
It can be a big help if you know how to use it! Thanks for reading!