Menu

Surprise Disney Genie Message Reveals Disney Distrusts FastPass Replacement

genie-lightning-lane
Credit: DisneyTips / Clipart

Whether you love it or hate it, Disney Genie and Lightning Lane have become a new part of our Disney Park experience.

At Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disneyland Resort theme parks, the Disney Genie tool has changed the face of the FastPass system, bringing with it a whole range of divided opinions from Disney Guests.

Now, a new message to Guests about Disney Genie has seemingly highlighted some behind-the-scenes concerns and issues from The Walt Disney Company.

genie-phone-disney

Credit: Disney

Disney Genie officially launched on the My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World and Disneyland back in October and December 2021 respectively, along with Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane access – the new costly version of what was previously the beloved FastPass service. At Walt Disney World, the Genie+ feature costs an extra $15 per person, per day, with Individual Lightning Lanes costing more, while at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, it costs $20 per person, per day.

With new technology to help Guests plan their day, the digital tool has been suffering controversy following its launch From sold-out attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Galaxy’s Edge to app failures on their cellphones, some Guests have judged the system as substandard to the original FastPass system.

Recently, Disney Parks seemed to lower Guests’ expectations about its Disney Genie service with a change to the small print of the service, warning Guests that they’ll probably only get “2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day using the Lightning Lane entrance if the first selection is made early in the day.”

And now, a strange push message on the My Disney Experience app truly seems to show that Disney knows its new Disney Park FastPass system is not working. Today, April 17, many Guests received a warning when opening the Disneyland app informing them to double-check if they really wanted to utilize Disney Genie and Lightning Lane:

Pardon The Inconvenience

We strongly encourage you to check today’s Lightning Lane availability and other park details before purchasing Disney Genie+ service, as purchase of Disney Genie+ service is nonrefundable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

disneyland-app-genie

Credit: Disney via screenshot

About Melissa Cannioto

Melissa is an author, adventurer, and chatterbox, who has worked at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Adventures by Disney! A British native, she has traveled the world seeking new experiences, and now resides in Florida with her husband, an Air Force pilot. Find her children's book at @bear.hug.book