Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and looking for the biggest values? A Disney vacation does not come cheap, but Guests who can splurge on things like onsite hotel stays, Genie+, and Minnie Van transportation, may have an even more magical trip.
In years past, staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel came with several exclusive perks that could stretch the value of one’s vacation, including Extra Magic Hours and Disney’s Magical Express, which provided complimentary transportation between the Orlando International Airport and each Resort. Extra Magic Hours have been replaced with early entry, which allows Resort Guests to enter the Disney Parks a half hour prior to the official opening each morning. Disney’s Magical Express was discontinued at the beginning of 2022 and replaced with paid alternatives like the “official” replacement from Mears and the Sunshine Flyer.
Credit: Disney
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With perks diminishing on the Resort front, Disney has turned to its ticket upgrade options to entice Guests to spend more to receive greater rewards. In 2021, Disney Genie+ debuted as the paid alternative to FastPass+ offering Guests new ways to plan their trips to the Parks around little to no wait times for select attractions. Along with Genie+, Disney introduced individual or a la carte Lightning Lane selections, which allows them to purchase Lightning Lane entry for certain attractions not included in Genie+.
Disney just introduced a new perk for Guests who opt-in to purchase Genie+ that could help stretch the value of the service, for those who are willing to pay, that is. On March 20, 2023, Disney’s official Twitter account shared a reminder that on-ride photo downloads would now be included in the My Disney Experience app for Guests who have purchased Genie+:
Smile for the (attraction) camera! 📷 Starting TODAY, @WaltDisneyWorld guests purchasing Disney Genie+ service will receive Disney PhotoPass attraction photo downloads on the day of purchase at no additional charge! pic.twitter.com/VRei1EDaKm
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) March 20, 2023
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It is important to note that the new PhotoPass perk only applies to on-ride photos, not the other PhotoPass pictures Guests can take around the Parks. For Guests who are already planning to purchase Memory Maker, it is also worth noting the ride photos are already included in your package.
Photos downloaded through the Genie+ perk must also be taken in the Park where you purchased Genie+ for the day. (For instance, you cannot download a photo you took in EPCOT today if your only Genie+ purchase was in the Magic Kingdom yesterday.)
Credit: Disney
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Genie+ is available as a same-day purchase, and prices vary by date. On busy days, Genie+ now has the potential to sell out, so if you are hoping to purchase the service (even if just for the photo benefit), you may want to make sure you check out in the My Disney Experience app early in the day.
Individual ride photos could cost up to $20 each, so if you are hoping to download at least one picture, this perk could make Genie+ a better deal. Be sure to check for availability of Genie+ (and review ride photos and all your other Disney Park shots) in the My Disney Experience app during your next trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”
