Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
News broke yesterday (October 24) over possible changes to the ride reservation system Disney Genie Plus.
Credit: D23
Disney Genie Plus
Let’s rewind for a moment to go over what Disney Genie Plus (and Disney Genie) is.
Disney Genie is a free app you can use when visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. It provides information on rides, shows, and attractions, such as the waits for rides and show times.
Related: Is Disney Genie Plus Worth the Price?
It can also be used for placing mobile orders and helping you plan your day when visiting Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Credit: Disney
However…
If you choose to pay for the app’s premium features, known as access to Disney Genie Plus, you can skip certain attraction lines. This unique feature gives you access to the “Lightning Lane” available at many Walt Disney World attractions. The app gives you a one-hour window reservation of when to enter the Lightning Lanes. You are also allowed one Lightning Lane use per attraction per day.
Related: Big Changes Coming to Disney Genie Plus
The cost of the premium app can vary. Depending on the day you visit and how busy the Disney park is will cause the price to adjust based on expected demand.
Credit: Disney
In other words, as the app’s value increases on busy days, so does its price.
Related: Disney Guest Jumps off Space Mountain
Changes Coming
The current setup of app only allows guests to purchase and use the day they visit the theme park. Guests staying on property have earlier access to Disney Genie Plus, allowing them the chance to grab earlier Lightning Lane return times.
Credit: Living By Disney
But a new change is rumored to be coming. According to Walt Disney World Resort president Jeff Vahle, the theme park resort will allow people to make their Disney Genie Plus selections before their trip.
Years ago, the Fast Pass Plus system was set up similarly. A month or two out from your planned visit (depending on whether you were staying at a Disney resort), you could select up to three line-skipping passes/windows. This allowed guests previously to schedule their day a little better. By knowing what time your return window is for various attractions, you can plan your day better regarding meal times and visiting other attractions.
Related: What Do You Prefer: Lightning Lane or Queue Experience
The announcement was made to a group of 400 travel agency owners during the 2023 Disney Destinations EarMarked Program Owners Summit.
Vahle said Walt Disney World Resort “is such a big property,” and with that comes “complexity of the product.” However, he said that Disney wants to simplify the product and process for guests. Vahle further noted that pre-planning attraction visits could help “take the stress out of the day.”
Credit: Disney
Many in the room applauded after the announcement of bringing back pre-trip line reservations.
Related: Genie+ Prices Drop Again
Disney Genie Plus and Lightning Lanes debuted two years ago. The app and system have received many mixed reviews. But as with everything Disney, the company is always looking for ways to improve the guest experience and make it better.
