What Is Genie Plus At Walt Disney World?

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be overwhelming, especially with the challenge of navigating long lines for popular attractions. Fortunately, Disney Genie Plus comes to the rescue! In this guide, we'll take you through the essentials of this time-saving paid service. Let's get started!

Disney Genie Plus is a planning tool enabling users to skip standby lines and access shorter queues for select attractions. This service, available as a paid add-on on the My Disney Experience app, offers a more efficient way to enjoy the theme parks. Here's a quick rundown:

1. **Purchase Genie Plus:** Buy it within the My Disney Experience app by selecting the option to add it to your itinerary.

2. **Select Attraction:** After purchasing, pick an attraction from the available list.

3. **Join Lightning Lane:** Upon selecting an attraction, join the shorter queue by scheduling a return time, bypassing the regular standby line.

4. **Enjoy Reduced Wait Times:** With the lightning lane entrance, experience significantly shorter wait times compared to the standby line.

At Disney World, every ride has a regular standby queue. Most rides also offer Lightning Lanes, shorter queues for faster access. When you make a reservation, you use this faster line. Genie Plus includes most Lightning Lanes, but a few popular rides have individual Lightning Lanes, like Rise of the Resistance.

Prices for Lightning Lanes vary with surge pricing, ranging from $15 to $35 plus tax. Higher prices apply on weekends and holidays in 2023, with lower prices on slower days.

Since June 2023, Disney World's pricing system allows guests to choose Genie+ for their preferred park. Animal Kingdom and EPCOT usually have more budget-friendly options than Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, known for their numerous captivating attractions.

Guests can book their initial Genie reservation at 7 am daily, providing the advantage of securing preferred ride times and ensuring access to must-see attractions. On busy days, particularly at Magic Kingdom, slots can sell out quickly. It's advisable to book early to guarantee availability.

With Disney Genie+, you can make only one reservation at a time, preventing immediate booking of another ride. However, you can modify your current selection for a different return time or switch to another ride without losing your 120-minute countdown.

This flexibility lets you adjust plans on the go, making the most of unexpected changes or new preferences during your visit. When choosing an attraction, available time slots are visible on the app, but you can only book the next available window. Reserving a specific time later in the day is not possible if it's not the next one in line.

Once you pick an attraction and the next available time window, the app automatically assigns that time slot for you, working on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking early increases your chances of getting your desired time window.

Guests using Disney Genie+ can only make one selection at a time, but they have the option to hold overlapping selections. This means that while enjoying one attraction, they can still book another experience for a later time slot. This feature is a game-changer for Disney enthusiasts looking to maximize their visit.

To maximise your Disney Genie+ selections, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. **Research and Prioritise Attractions:** - Before your visit, research and list the top in-demand attractions at each park. - Identify the must-see attractions you don't want to miss.

2. **Create a Park-Hopping Plan:** - If park hopping, analyse wait times and availability for each park. - Save a slot for the park with the most in-demand attractions.

3. **Book Strategically:** - When booking Lightning Lane selections, prioritise popular attractions or those with long wait times. - Bypass regular queues to experience sought-after rides efficiently.

4. **Use Standby Queue for Non-Genie+ Rides:** - Recognise that not all rides offer short queues with Lightning Lane selections. - Plan strategically for non-Genie+ rides, checking wait times and visiting during off-peak hours.

5. **Optimise Park-Hopping Transitions:** - Efficiently plan transitions between parks, considering distance and travel time. - Allow buffer time for unexpected delays to ensure you make your next selection.

By following these steps, you can make the most of your Disney Genie+ selections and enhance your park-hopping experience. Remember, a combination of planning and flexibility is key to optimising your time and enjoying popular rides at Disney parks.

You can read my blog about the best Genie+ rides at https://swiy.co/K8Tq