What is Disney Genie?

Disney Genie has arrived at Disney World and Disneyland.

Disney Genie is a free day-planning app that recommends attractions, shows, and eateries based on wait times and personal preferences. 

Let’s examine how the new Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ add-on can maximize your time and enjoyment at Disney.

In fall of 2021, Disney World and Disneyland rolled out a new trip-planning service called Disney Genie.

As part of the new Disney Genie service, Disney introduced Disney Genie+, a paid program that to replace the free FastPass+ program in its theme parks.

Before we discuss the paid offerings,  let’s look at how the free Disney Genie app will help you optimize your day.

How Does Disney Genie Work?

Disney Genie will be available within the existing My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps. Its main goal is to reduce the time guests spend in lines so they get the most out of their day.

The app will estimate the future wait times for attractions and make recommendations based on the user’s stated preferences and plans. It will also centralize their virtual queues, “lightning” access plans, and dining reservations.

Recommendations made by Disney Genie will update in real-time based on ride availability, wait times, change of goals, or change of plans.

This state-of-the-art technology leverages decades of Disney’s data to reduce wait times. Ultimately, Disney Genie will help guests plan the best and most efficient day at a Disney theme park, tailor-made to their individual goals.

Creating an itinerary has never been so easy!

What Is Disney Genie+?

Disney World’s FastPass+ was a free service that allowed guests to skip the standby lines via an expedited entryway on popular rides. Many people were disappointed when this service was suspended during the 2020 coronavirus closure.

Then came word that FastPass will be returning, but in a different form.

As a replacement to FastPass, Disney introduced two types of paid “lightning” access options via the new Disney Genie service.

The first add-on option is called Disney Genie+.  You can think of it as the new “paid FastPass.”

While the Disney Genie optimizing app is totally free, guests who wish to utilize shorter ride queues will need to pay a little extra for the Disney Genie+ service.

Disney Genie+ functions in a similar manner as the old FastPass system, and the former FastPass line is now called the “Lightning Lane.”

Guests reserve a ride time using the Disney Genie app, and only one Genie+ reservation can be made at a time.

Reservations can be made beginning at 7 a.m. on the day of the visit to a Walt Disney World or as soon as the parks open at Disneyland.

Once this reservation is used, the guest will be able to make another one.

Genie+ can be purchased for a single park; Disney park hoppers will also be able to buy a multi-park Genie+ offering, subject to availability.

There are also some interesting perks attached to the Genie+ service.

Disneyland’s Genie+ users will receive unlimited PhotoPass downloads and Disney World Genie+ will be able to experiment with augmented reality technology on their cell phones. Guests at both parks will also receive complimentary audio experiences.

Which Attractions Are Included in Disney Genie+?

The service allows quick access to over 40 attractions at Walt Disney World Resort and over 15 attractions at Disneyland.

Here are Disney World attractions for Genie+. Note the attractions for Individual Lightning Lane passes are NOT included in the Disney Genie+ attractions (see below for more information).

How Much Does Disney Genie+ Cost?

Genie+ costs approximately $15-$30 per person, per day at Walt Disney World and $25+ per person, per day at Disneyland.  The daily price varies based on date and demand.

Disneyland is not a major change for Disneyland, where the pre-Covid “MaxPass” service functioned in a similar way. It’s a bigger change for Disney World, where guests no longer have access to a complimentary (free) way to skip the lines (FastPass) — so this service will increase their daily expenses.

A family of four will have to pay at least $60 — possibly more — per day to take advantage of this program.

Is Disney Genie+ Worth It?

Even though it will cost you more, we think it’s Genie+ is definitely worth the money. You are on vacation and long lines are a bummer. Do yourself a favor and splurge. You’ll be happy you did!

Paid Individual Lightning Lane Access Add-Ons

We’ve talked about the free Disney Genie app and the Disney Genie+ add-on service for an extra fee. But Disney has also introduced a third option for its highest-demand attractions.

With this option,  guests will pay a separate amount to access these top-tier Lightning Lanes.

Guests are allowed to purchase up to two individual Lightning Lane access selections for each day.

The highest-demand Disney attractions include Avatar Flight of Passage, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and the new Epcot attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

Note: Guests who choose this option can either add Genie+ or forgo Genie+ entirely – it’s up to you. You do not need the Disney Genie+ option to take advantage of these Lightning Lane access selections.

Read more about the pay-per-ride Lightning Lane pass in our blog post Are Disney Lightning Lane Passes Worth It?

How Much Does Disney’s Lightning Lane Pass Cost?

Individual Lightning Lane pricing varies based on date, demand, and the popularity of the attraction.  Expect to pay somewhere between $10-$20 (occasionally a bit more or less) per person, per ride.