Is Disney getting rid of Genie Pass?

Walt Disney World announced 2023 vacation packages, and with that, the end of the Genie+ ticket add-on. This post covers details about the length-of-stay prepaid Lightning Lane booking option, why it's being eliminated, and other thoughts.



As of late 2024 and continuing through 2026, Disney has effectively "retired" the name Disney Genie+ and replaced it with a new system called Lightning Lane Multi Pass. While the "Genie" branding still exists for the free, AI-driven itinerary planner in the app, the paid service for skipping lines has been overhauled to address guest feedback. The biggest change in this "new" version is the return of advance planning: guests can now book their first three Lightning Lane selections days before they arrive at the park (7 days for resort guests, 3 days for others). This is a major shift from the original Genie+ system, which required guests to wait until 7:00 AM on the day of their visit to make any selections. So, while the "Genie+" name is gone, the concept of a paid skip-the-line service remains under the Lightning Lane banner.

People Also Ask

Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane as we know them are coming to an end. Walt Disney World Resort dropped several massive announcements on Monday afternoon as a part of its plan for 2024.

MORE DETAILS

Genie+ Changes Coming in 2024 Earlier in 2023, Disney said, “We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024.”

MORE DETAILS

With this change, as of June 27th, 2023, guests in Disney World will be able to buy Genie+ based on what (and how many) parks they want to visit. In other words, Genie+ pricing will actually be PARK SPECIFIC and your purchase will either be for a single park or multiple parks.

MORE DETAILS

Disney states that this is being done because the goal from the outset has been to “launch, learn and evolve” after seeing how guests are using this service. To that end, starting June 8, 2022, the Disney Genie+ will only be offered for purchase through the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit.

MORE DETAILS

So how many Disney guests actually use the service? In the Quarter 3 Earnings Call, Bob Chapek said that close to 50% of park guests purchase Genie+.

MORE DETAILS

Our answer is: YES, Disney Genie+ is worth it, but not for everyone. If you have room in your budget and you are a family who likes to do many attractions per day, then yes, you will probably find some value in the Disney Genie Plus service.

MORE DETAILS

The Genie 120-minute rule says that you can make a new reservation at most 2 hours from when you made the last one, and this countdown timer doesn't change if you modify the reservation. If you made it at, say, 11 a.m., then your two hours will be up at 1 p.m. even if you modify the reservation at noon.

MORE DETAILS

Back in 2023, Disney announced during Star Wars Celebration that there would be more stories and characters and all new adventures coming to Star Tours in 2024. And now we know at least one of those new stories and characters will be Ahsoka, as seen in the new Disney+ series bearing the same name.

MORE DETAILS

Lightning Lanes exist for attractions that are access via Disney Genie Plus and via a la carte access purchases (more on this below). The new Disney Genie+ starts at $15.98 per day per person after tax at Walt Disney World and can go as high as $30 per person, per day.

MORE DETAILS

The sell-out days of Disney Genie Plus likely helped to motivate this change. Even on the most crowded Disney Genie Plus days there were still open return times at the less in demand parks (Epcot and Animal Kingdom).

MORE DETAILS

Genie+ is a paid add-on to the free Genie service that gives guests front-of-the-line access to high-traffic attractions and shows, like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. The price for Genie+ varies between parks, days and how busy the parks are on your reservation date.

MORE DETAILS

Genie Plus is definitely worth it for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and if you don't like early starts, you might consider it for Epcot and Animal Kingdom. If you are park hopping, Genie+ is even better value as it maximises the number of rides you have access to.

MORE DETAILS

In fact, usually the most popular rides are excluded for Genie+ guests. For example, Lightning Lanes aren't available through Genie+ for Disney World's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle/Run, Avatar Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

MORE DETAILS

All guests, regardless of where they stay, are limited to a maximum of two pay-per-ride attractions per day and can only book a particular ride once per day. What about Annual Passholders? Annual Passholders will need to purchase Genie+ on the day(s) of their visit.

MORE DETAILS

Genie+ service can be purchased as an in-app purchase via the My Disney Experience app beginning at 12:00 am on the date of their visit/use. We've simply bought Genie+ at about 6:50 am, shortly before making our first ride reservation–it takes about 30 seconds to buy via My Disney Experience.

MORE DETAILS

Let me describe the difference between Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes. Disney Genie+ is a magical upgrade to your ticket that allows you to select Lightning Lane entrances at over 40 attractions throughout the theme parks. These Lightning Lane entrances allow you to skip the regular standby line.

MORE DETAILS

The Rides to Book FIRST With Genie+ and Pay Per Ride in Disney World
  • A Disney Genie Pamphlet.
  • ©Disney.
  • ©Disney.
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.
  • Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.
  • Expedition Everest.
  • Jungle Cruise.


MORE DETAILS

You can only make one Genie+ selection at a time, but you can hold overlapping Genie+ selections because there is a two-hour window before you're able to select another one. You can also purchase an individual Lightning Lane selection that overlaps with a Genie+ selection.

MORE DETAILS