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When you visit Walt Disney World these days, you’ll find there are countless ways to access your favorite attractions. Some of these options are pretty straightforward, while the newer options are a little more nuanced.
In this article I’ll be breaking down Genie+ so you can feel more confident using it during your next visit! I’ll also be talking about Disney Genie, Individual Lightning Lane, and Virtual Queue.
Genie+ is also available in Disneyland, but it works a little differently. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Disneyland yet, so we’ll be focusing exclusively on using Genie+ in Walt Disney World today.
Disney Genie (referred to as Free Genie in this article)
Free Genie is a complimentary digital planning tool within the My Disney Experience app; it’s also the foundation for Genie+ so we need to talk about it first.
Plan your best Disney day based on your travel party’s Top Picks. You’ll select which attractions, entertainment, and dining experiences are most important to you, and the app will suggest an itinerary.
There are two important tabs within Free Genie: My Day and Tip Board.
My Day: You’ll receive recommendations for attractions, entertainment, and dining based on your selections. You'll also receive suggestions for the best time to enjoy an experience and give you an idea of the forecasted wait. The service will continue to offer new suggestions throughout the day. You can make modifications to your Top Picks at any time. These changes will adjust the recommendations in the My Day tab on the go!
Tip Board: The Tip Board will show you the standby wait times (as well as Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane availability) for your Top Picks as well as the other attractions in the park. This is my FAVORITE part of Free Genie!
Whether or not you plan to purchase Genie+ I recommend setting up your preferences in the My Day tab, then referencing the Tip Board tab more frequently throughout the day. Even though the My Day tab is important to the information provided through Free Genie, I don’t LOVE it. While it can do a lot, it is using science to make its suggestions. You'll be able to make better decisions using the Tip Board and the information it provides, rather than going where My Day tells you to.
Genie+
Genie+ is an optional fee-based service that grants you access to the Lightning Line entrance at select attractions. Purchasing Genie+ grants you the ability to wait in a shorter line; this is where the Tip Board comes in handy – it will show you the standby wait times in addition to the next available Genie+ Lightning Lane return time.
Cost: varies by date; $15 per person per day to $22 per person per day on peak days.
If you have a large travel party, the cost can definitely add up. Since Genie+ can only be added on a daily basis, you don’t have to purchase it every day!
plan some MAGIC pro tips: In my opinion Genie+ is best used at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios but is not currently necessary for Epcot or Animal Kingdom. You’ll get the most value if you purchase it in the morning and start using it right away.
Everyone with Genie+ can book their first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection at 7:00 am.
Genie+ Lightning Lane selections can only be made one at a time. You can book your next Genie+ Lightning Lane:
After you've used the current selection
After the current selection expires
It's been 120 minutes (the cool down period as I call it)
…whichever comes first!
When it comes to using Genie+ I’ve found that there are two paths you may choose to follow – Book 1, Use 1 and Stacking. Either path will help you make the most of your Disney day!
Book 1, Use 1
This is my favorite way to use Genie+ because it’s a little more spontaneous!
Book a Genie+ Lightning Lane return time – as close to park open as possible – at 7:00 am
Tap into the attraction at the during the one hour return time window
Ask the Cast Member at the Lighting Lane entrance if there is another touch point in the queue – as soon as you tap in you can book another Genie+ Lightning Lane while waiting to ride
Book 1, Use 1 as much as you’re able until you trigger the cool down period
Genie+ Lightning Lane return times are distributed on a first available basis – you can refresh the Tip Board to see if you’re able to book an earlier time
I suggest using the cool down period to enjoy a meal, watch a parade, or experience attractions that have little to no wait via the standby queue
Stacking
Using Genie+ in this way requires more planning and strategy but leaves the morning open for a meal or attractions that have little to no wait via the standby queue.
At 7:00 am Book a Genie+ Lightning Lane return time for the early afternoon
120 minutes after park open book a second Genie+ Lightning Lane return time after the first
120 minutes later book a third Genie+ Lightning Lane return time after the second (based on availability)
You may be able to make more Genie+ Lightning Lane selections once you've worked through your stack. It is important to note that Genie+ Lightning Lane return times can sell out.
Whichever path you choose aim to prioritize your favorite attractions, and don’t forget that you can mix and match Genie+ Lightning Lane selections with Individual Lightning Lane selections, standby, and Virtual Queue (when applicable).
Individual Lightning Lane Entry
Each park has an attraction which has Lightning Lane entry that can be paid for separately; many people like to call these Fancy Rides. Keep in mind that you don’t need to purchase Genie+ to pay for Individual Lightning Lane entry! You’ll purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry from the Tip Board.
Resort guests can book Fancy Rides at 7:00 am; non-Resort guests can book them at park open. This means that guests staying on property have an advantage over day guests for the most popular Fancy Rides!
Currently the Fancy Rides are Seven Dwarves Mine Train in Magic Kingdom, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios, Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot.
Cost: The per person price varies by date and is usually lower on weekdays.
You can only pay for two Fancy Rides per day – and they must be done in two separate transactions.
Virtual Queue
At this time Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is only available via Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane entry. The standby queue is not available at this time.
There are two opportunities to join the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Once at 7:00 am for guests with a park pass reservation for Epcot, and once at 1:00 pm for guests in Epcot. You can only ride via the Virtual Queue once per day. You can currently experience this attraction twice in one day if you secure the Virtual Queue and purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry!
You’re sure to have a good time, however you decide to do Disney! If maximining your time is part of your Disney day any combination Genie+ Lightning Lane selections, Individual Lightning Lane selections, standby, and Virtual Queue should do the trick!
Want to talk specific plans or use strategies? Let me plan your next Walt Disney World vacation and I'll be happy to!
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