Visiting a Disney theme park is an exciting experience, but long lines can put a damper on the fun. Genie+ is Disney’s paid line-skipping service that gives you shorter wait times for rides. But is it really worth the extra cost?
What is Genie+?
Genie+ is the replacement for Disney’s old FastPass and FastPass+ line-skipping services. For a fee of $15-$25 per person per day depending on the park, Genie+ gets you access to the “Lightning Lane” entrances at many attractions, allowing you to bypass most of the regular line.
You make ride reservations through the My Disney Experience app, one at a time, for any available time slots. Availability depends on demand. You can make another reservation after you use your first one, or after your window closes if you don’t use it.
Genie+ does not include the most popular rides like Radiator Springs Racers or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Those require a separate purchase for Lightning Lane access called Individual Lightning Lane. Pricing ranges from $7-$20 per person per ride depending on the day.
The Pros of Upgrading to Genie+
Here are some of the main benefits of adding Genie+:
- Shorter wait times – Genie+ can cut your time waiting in line significantly or even eliminate it altogether.
- Experience more attractions – You can visit more rides and attractions in a day compared to not having Genie+.
- Flexibility – Make ride reservations at your convenience after entering a park. Change or cancel them anytime.
- Less planning – Unlike the old FastPass+ which required scheduling months in advance, Genie+ offers on-the-day convenience.
- Time savings – Spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying other parts of the parks.
- Rider switch – Everyone in your party can use Genie+, even those too short to ride, thanks to Disney’s rider switch policy.
For families, parents and kids alike will benefit from bouncing between rides with shorter wait times. Groups can split up more easily. And if you’re only visiting Disney for one day, Genie+ is arguably essential to riding as many attractions as possible.
The Cons of Upgrading to Genie+
On the flip side, here are some of the biggest drawbacks of Genie+:
- Added expense – $15-$25 per person per day adds up quickly for families and groups. This is on top of park admission prices.
- No guarantee on specific rides – You may not get access at the times you want for the most popular rides.
- Still need to wait – Lightning Lane lines can still have waits of 10-15 minutes or more.
- App issues – Complaints of long lag times, glitches and unavailability when booking via My Disney Experience app.
- May increase regular wait times – Some reports indicate standby lines are now longer due to more guests using Lightning Lane entrances.
- Extra planning – Still need to strategize and continually book new reservations. Wasting time monitoring the app.
For solo travelers or couples focusing just on a few key attractions, Genie+ may not be a cost-effective option. And during less busy times when standby waits aren’t long, it becomes harder to justify paying extra for Lightning Lane access.
When Does Genie+ Make the Most Sense?
Here are the situations where purchasing Genie+ seems most valuable:
- Visiting during peak crowds – When standby waits are 60+ minutes, those Lightning Lane reservations really pay off.
- Park hopping – Park Hopper tickets plus Genie+ allow for reservations in both parks.
- Riding headliners – Ensure access to the most popular rides that may have long waits all day.
- Short on time – One day visits or partial days benefit from Genie+ maximize time in the parks.
- With kids – Alternate between adult and kid rides easily, and less waiting means less meltdowns.
- Staying on-site – On-site guests can book Genie+ 60 days ahead, increasing chances of booking popular rides.
If you fall into one of these categories, Genie+ is almost certainly worthwhile. The key times that see the biggest crowds are during spring break, summer and major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter.
Strategies for Getting the Most from Genie+
Here are some expert tips for maximizing Genie+ when you use it:
- Book first Lightning Lane at 7am – Be ready to grab that perfect return time right when booking opens.
- Use Individual Lightning Lane strategically – Pay per ride for 1 or 2 biggest priorities to guarantee shortest waits.
- Rope drop to ride some headliners – Arrive very early and rush to experience a few before crowds pile in.
- Stack reservations – Book next ride just before using your latest reservation. Repeating this stacks up several Lightning Lanes.
- Refresh availability – New reservation time slots open up periodically, so check back for better options.
- Prioritize hardest-to-get rides – Book headliners first because availability vanishes quickest.
Being strategic with Genie+ takes some effort, but these tips will help you avoid that feeling of wasted money on those super busy days.
| Genie+ Perk | Lightning Lane Entrance Access | Number of Reservations | Reservation Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Most rides (excludes Individual selection) | One at a time | After park opening |
| Park Hopper | Most rides (excludes Individual selection) | One park at a time | After park opening |
Which Disney World Rides Are Worth the Individual Lightning Lane Purchase?
The Individual Lightning Lane option is another paid add-on through Genie+, costing $7-$20 per person per ride depending on day and demand.
Based on consistently long waits, guest satisfaction and attraction newer, here are the top rides generally worth paying extra for Individual Lightning Lane access:
- Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (Epcot)
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Hollywood Studios)
Others like Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and newer attractions like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway may also be smart Individual choices on peak days.
Tips for Individual Lightning Lane:
- Book at 7am or after using 1st Genie+ selection.
- Pay per ride only for 1 or 2 biggest priorities.
- Check day-of pricing using app – may fluctuate lower at times.
How Much Does Genie+ Cost?
The pricing for Genie+ is:
- Disney World – $15 per day per person
- Disneyland – $20 per day per person
So a family of 4 would pay $60 total to add Genie+ for a day at Disney World or $80 at Disneyland.
Pricing is the same year-round and does not fluctuate based on park crowds or season like the Individual Lightning Lane per ride fees do.
Annual passholders and guests staying at select Disney World hotels can get discounts of $5-$10 off per day for Genie+, making it $10-$15 instead of the full $15 per day.
Individual Lightning Lane Pricing
The per ride fees for Individual Lightning Lane vary daily based on crowd levels and demand. At Disney World, they typically fall into these ranges:
- Tier 1: $12-$15 per person (most popular, newest rides)
- Tier 2: $10-$12 per person (less demand)
- Tier 3: $7-$10 per person (lowest demand)
As examples, at Disney World Flight of Passage frequently costs $15 while Space Mountain runs closer to $7-$10 depending on the date.
Check the My Disney Experience app during your visit to view real-time Individual Lightning Lane pricing. The fees will adjust lower at less crowded times of day.
Is Genie+ Worth It? Conclusion
There are valid cases both for and against purchasing Genie+. Here’s a quick final summary:
Pros
- Saves significant time waiting in long standby queues
- Experience more rides and attractions in a day
- Convenience of booking times via app
Cons
- Added daily expense per person
- No guarantee to get on all rides you want
- Require planning and strategizing to maximize benefits
For many Disney visitors, especially first-timers seeing the parks during peak seasons, Genie+ provides great value through time savings and the ability to do more rides. It reduces the headaches associated with super long standby waits.
During slower seasons or for frequent locals who already experienced the rides, it becomes a tougher sell. And Genie+ involves extra planning compared to the old walk-up FastPass system.
At the end of the day there is no one “right” answer – it depends on your trip plans, dates, priorities, budget and tolerance for waiting in long queues. Carefully weigh the pros and cons before your visit to decide if Genie+ makes sense for your party.