Since Genie+ replaced the FastPass system at Disney Parks in October 2021, we’ve received a lot of questions about how this system works and how to get the most out of it. Below, we answer some common questions about Genie+ and offer practical tips on using this service for your next Disney vacation.
Please note: this information is accurate as of late February 2024. Genie+ policies change often, so check with your Wishing On A Star Travel® agent for the latest updates.
How Genie+ Works
Genie+ is an optional add-on service that allows you to bypass standby lines at select attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. You access Genie+ through the My Disney Experience app on your smartphone. Once you’ve purchased Genie+ in the morning on the day you want to use it, you select attractions you want to ride and are given a one-hour return time window to experience the attraction. You enter the line by tapping into the specialty marked Lightning Lanes (formally the FastPass queue) at each attraction. Genie+ drastically reduces the time you’ll spend waiting in line for attractions at the parks.
Note: There is a free day-of itinerary planning service, Disney Genie, that’s also available through My Disney Experience. This service allows you to pin attractions you’d like to visit and offers suggestions based on where you are in the park—but it doesn’t allow you to skip lines or enter attractions.
Pricing and Purchasing Information
Genie+ is an add-on that can be purchased the day you plan to use it. Genie+ is priced per park and per day, so you’ll pay more to use it at certain parks (like Magic Kingdom) during peak times (like Christmas and Spring Break). You won’t know the exact price of Genie+ before the day you want to purchase it. However, we’ve seen the price range from $15 to $40 per person, depending on when you visit. Genie+ is available for park hopping. Just select the “multipark” Genie+ option when you purchase it. Genie+ is available for purchase starting at midnight each day, and you can book your first Genie+ reservation at 7 am. There’s no incentive to purchase your Genie+ before making your first reservation, so unless you’re a night owl, you can buy Genie+ right before you make your first reservation. Give yourself a few minutes to ensure Genie+ is purchased and ready to go, so you’re prepared to make your first reservation at 7 am on the dot!
How is Genie+ Different Than Individual Lightning Lane?
Genie+ lets you skip the standby lines at multiple attractions throughout the Disney Parks for the entire day. Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) is an a la carte option that allows you to skip that attraction’s standby line and enter the Lightning Lane. You don’t need to purchase Genie+ to use ILLs. Some rides aren’t available with Genie+, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom. The only way to skip the lines at these attractions without waiting in a standby line is to purchase an ILL. You can buy up to two ILLs in a single day.
What Rides Are Included with Genie+?
There are over 40 attractions and experiences included with Genie+ at Walt Disney World. View the complete list of available attractions. Some of the attractions may change occasionally, so you’ll want to check the attraction list before your vacation. Popular attractions with Genie+ include:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Jungle Cruise
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway
- Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Tower of Terror
- Rock’n’Roller Coaster
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- And many more!
You can use Genie+ for reserved seating for shows like the Festival of Fantasy Parade, Frozen Sing-Along, Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, and Festival of the Lion King. Genie+ is also available for select character meet-and-greet experiences, like Mickey at Town Square Theater and Disney Princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall.
Do I Need Genie+ to Go on Rides?
No. Genie+ is an optional service that saves time waiting in line for many attractions, but it’s not necessary or required. However, Genie+ can be beneficial and help you maximize your time in the parks, especially if you’re visiting during peak times or have limited hours to spend in the park.
There is a standby line option for all attractions, except for TRON: Lightcycle/Run Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which both have virtual queues and Individual Lightning Lanes.
Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Genie+
You can book your first Genie+ attraction at 7 am. After your initial reservation, you can book another Genie+ selection every two hours after the park opens or after you redeem a previous Genie+ reservation—whichever comes first. When you make a Genie+ reservation, you’re given a one-hour return window to ride the attraction. There’s usually a five-minute grace period before the window opens and a 15-minute grace period afterward.
Real-life example: You book Jungle Cruise as your first reservation at 7 am with a return time of 12:30 pm on a day that the Magic Kingdom opens at 9 am. You can make an additional Genie+ selection two hours after the park opens at 11 am. You book Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with a return time of 2:30 pm. You redeem your Jungle Cruise Genie+ at 12:30 pm. You’re eligible to book an additional lightning lane at 1 pm (two hours after making your last Genie+ reservation, which was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). At 2:35 pm, you tap into the second scanner at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You’re immediately able to book another Genie+ selection. This process continues for the rest of the day.
Confused? Don’t stress. The Tip Board inside My Disney Experience will tell you when you can make your next Genie+ reservation. Set an alarm on your phone for a minute or two before your next window opens so you’re ready to book and enjoy the parks in the meantime.
Genie+ will not prevent you from making conflicting reservations, so you’ll want to remember reservations you’ve made like table-service dining reservations or experiences like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Tip: Pin the attractions you want to do most to the Tip Board in My Disney Experience, so they’re easy to find when you can make Genie+ reservations.
What’s the 120 Minute Rule?
You can make a new Genie+ attraction reservation every two hours (after the park opens) or after you scan into your last Genie+ reservation—whichever comes first. This two-hour waiting period is referred to as the 120-minute rule. This rule allows you to make a ride reservation later in the day while still being able to reserve rides with earlier return times.
Using this rule, you could experience several attractions later in the afternoon by booking Genie+ every two hours without redeeming them. This strategy is called stacking. It’s beneficial for families who don’t plan to visit the parks until later in the day or for those who want to park hop with Genie+ in the afternoon and wait in standby lanes in the morning at their first park.
Modifying Genie+ Selections
You can modify Genie+ selections at any time. This helps increase your chance of getting a return time that works best for you and your family. Modifying a Genie+ does not reset your 120-minute window.
Does Genie+ Sell Out?
Yes, Genie+ can sell out, especially on busy days. Even if you purchase Genie+, specific attractions can sell out within the day, particularly for popular rides.
What Else is Included with Genie+?
Genie+ is primarily used for bypassing standby queues and riding attractions while cutting down on wait times. However, there are a few features, like AR photo filters, that are only available in the parks. You’ll also get digital downloads of attraction PhotoPass photos taken throughout the day.
How Does Genie+ Work at Disneyland?
Most of the information in this post applies to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. However, WDW has many more attractions available through Genie+ than Disneyland. The other difference is that you can add on Genie+ before the day you visit Disneyland, unlike Disney World. In addition, Disneyland guests utilizing Genie+ also get digital downloads of all their PhotoPass photos for the day, not just attraction photos.
What’s Next for Genie+ and Lightning Lane?
Genie+ has evolved over the few short years it’s been offered to guests. It looks very different than when we wrote about Genie+ when it was first released. Last year, Disney teased that advanced Genie+ selections may become available in 2024. Sign up for our mailing list and follow us on social media for more updates.
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