Disney is changing its ‘skip-the-line’ system—everything you need to know before your summer trip
Bringing the family to Walt Disney World is expensive, and often requires months of advance planning to help your crew have a magical experience. So if you plan to visit the parks this summer, you’ve likely heard about Genie+, Disney’s “skip the line” system that helps you navigate ever-increasing crowds with fewer lengthy wait times—a true godsend when it’s hot and everyone’s a little bit cranky.
Beginning on July 24, Genie+ is getting a new name, which will hopefully help streamline the system for those who find the current set-up a bit overwhelming. (Hi, it’s me, a lifelong Disney fan who gets a headache trying to plan trips these days!)
Now called Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can still access the service right from the My Disney Experience app. The most coveted attractions—think TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot—will be available for individual purchase as a Lightning Lane Single Pass. Every other included attraction will fall under the general pass, and you’ll be able to make up to three selections in advance, booking additional times after using each one.
Perhaps the best change is the timing, as guests will no longer need to wait until midnight to purchase Genie+ for the following day and then be up to make selections bright and early at 7:00 A.M. Guests staying at Disney World’s resort hotels will be able to make selections up to seven days in advance, all at once, for up to 14 days of their stay. Other guests can make selections up to three days in advance.
As with the current service, guests will be able to book each experience once per day, with the availability for two Lightning Lane Single Pass purchases per day. So once you hit your favorite ride using a Lightning Lane, you’ll need to use the standard queue to go on it again.
The cost of the service will vary by date and park, with the highest prices occurring during peak season (i.e. the week of Christmas and New Year’s and other holidays). As of now, the company says they have no plans to increase prices for these offerings, which range from around $15 to $35, per person per day. With the new changes, you’ll be able to see the price and available attraction times before purchasing, so you can determine if it’s worth the additional cost based on your family’s budget and plans. The free Disney Genie planning tool will still be accessible to all guests to help plan their trips as well.
Disneyland’s Genie+ service will also be getting a name change, but it will operate as it always has.
Being able to make your selections ahead of time should help with planning, and parents everywhere are no doubt grateful that the whole “buy at midnight, select at 7 A.M.” stuff will soon be a thing of the past.
