Disney Genie Plus and Lightning Lanes Explained (w/ Tips on When to Buy)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- Goodbye old FastPass+ system at Walt Disney World, hello new paid Disney Genie+. The attractions that offered FastPass now offer Lightning Lane but are split into 2 categories: Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane Selection. We’re breaking down it all down into manageable pieces.
Make sure to hit that LIKE button 👍 and leave a comment letting us know what other Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane questions you have.
New here? SUBSCRIBE and ring that BELL🔔 be the first in line when new videos are released.
Be sure to check out the links below for more information and planning tips.
Links:
Touring Plan Strategies for Disney World (with and without Genie+):
wdwprepschool.com/touring-pla...
How to Use Disney Genie+:
wdwprepschool.com/how-to-use-...
Answering Your Frequently Asked Disney Genie+ Questions:
wdwprepschool.com/the-most-fr...
Best Genie+ Choices at Walt Disney World (book these first!):
wdwprepschool.com/genie-plus-...
How to Book Individual Lightning Lane Selections at Walt Disney World:
wdwprepschool.com/how-to-book...
How Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections Differ:
wdwprepschool.com/how-genie-g...
A Genie+ Timeline of What to Book When for Walt Disney World:
wdwprepschool.com/genie-plus-...
Where to find us:
👩💻 Head to the site - wdwprepschool.com
✈️ Get a quote for your trip - wdwprepschool.com/quote
📸 Follow on IG - / wdwprepschool
⏰ Join us on TikTok - / wdwprepschool
👍 Like us on FB - / wdwprepschool
🐦 Connect on Twitter - / wdwprepschool
📌 Check us out on Pinterest - / wdwprepschool
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:54 - What is Disney Genie?
2:12 - What is Disney Genie
3:01 - Buying Genie+
4:29 - Troubleshooting
5:23 - Booking Your First Lightning Lane Selection
6:17 - Booking Subsequent Lightning Lane Selections
7:18 - Individual Lightning Lane Selection
10:07 - A Note about Rider Switch
11:08 - "Stacking" vs. "Churning"
11:51 - Park Hopping
12:52 - My Thoughts
Just what I feel like doing at 7 am trying to get to the parks. And staring into my phone all day trying to enjoy a family vacation. What a nightmare.
🥴 either I'm really sleepy or this just sucks 🥺 Why would they make it so complicated for guests! And why would they charge us for genie plus if we're already paying for the park ticket?!?!? 😩 I feel like cancelling now
I'm super confused. Pay this. This is cool with the genie +. This isn't . Wait for this time. 😆
I hear you. Taking my grandkids at Christmas time and I am getting a headache just listing to all this -- making reservations to ride your favorite ride?
absolutely agree. I am fortunate to be able to afford to go but what about those who can barely afford the ticket and now it's an extra $30 per person to avoid the lines? It's such a scam and a benefit to the entitled. Disney is definitely not about equality. Yes, Genie+ is optional but if you don't purchase it, you won't likely be able to ride everything because you'll spend HOURS standing in lines and be miserable in the process. When my kids talk about their experience at disneyland all they can think about is how awful it was standing in line for 90 minutes. It's literally traumatizing. Lightening lanes should not be an extra fee - it's their job to organize the lines and provide a better experience.
@@citticat2how did it go at Christmas time?? How was genie plus? My trip is on a few weeks
@@StephiiLoVa90 Good, mostly because I did the single rider lanes. You should do fine, just plan on staying after the mass exodus at 10pm.
What part of this is a vacation? Nothing sounds enjoyable about this
Exactly…I so miss the fast pass+
Precisely my thoughts…as I prepare to drive to Orlando next week 🙃
Well, there’s alway just show up and join the stand-by queue. Lol. But yeah, I’m going next week and I’m stressed. 😂
@@Justaman183 😂🤣. We’ll be there for 9-days soon!
@@Justaman183 how did you do? Just diving into all the junk haha
This is one of the best explanation for Genie Plus and Lightning lanes I give you a A+ thank you so much I feel that I am ready now
Glad it was helpful!
This is an incredibly helpful video for me and my husband. We’re planning to go at a ridiculously busy time for Disney 😂 thank you so much for this breakdown!! You’re a lifesaver!
Girrrrl…… you have such a way with words. You have always had such a way to explain such complicated subjects. Bravo! Thank you for that!!
Great job with these explanations! Best TH-cam comprehensive overview that I’ve watched on Genie +. Finally feel like I’m armed with the information I need. 👏👏👏
Thank You! I learned way more from you that I did from the DFB that I tried to listen to and learn from!
this was super helpful! Thank you! i went to WDW back in September , used genie+ but i feel like I didn't use it to its capacity. Im definitely going to use a combination of "churning" and "stacking" when I go with my son in December! :)
amazing summary of what to expect!
Gosh! I have been binge watching WDW planning hacks for days and just found you! This is by far the most straight to the point and clear and dense in content video!!! Luv it! Keep up the great work! 👋👋👋✌✌✌
Thank you! We're so glad you found it helpful!
I totally agree!!
Just went to Disneyland and it was the last time I’ll go. It’s now a battle of haves v have nots. You already spend a fortune to enter the park but now you have to spend an additional fortune to have access to the rides. It was an extra $30 EACH for 3 of us to get genie plus! And if we didn’t want to stand in line for 90 mins to ride Rise of Resistance, it was another $30 each for the lightning pass. I could’ve paid the extra but We chose to stand in line. What an absolute scam. I feel sorry for those who can’t afford to pay the extra. The only magic at Disneyland is the disappearing cash. It’s an absolute scam. ( Feb 2024)
its not a scam, just don't pay for it or don't go to disney. no one needs to pay extra to ride the rides. Go early or go when it's not as busy. I paid extra for Space Mountain and Avatar, best $25 ever! Simple fact is, if you can't afford Disney don't go. No one is forcing you.
Your response is exactly Her point of the haves vs. the have nots.
@@cejourne123 point is she is complaining about something that is not her right to even have lol. She sounds ridiculous.
This is very helpful. Most importantly, your hair is amazing!!!
Thanks. More confusing now. Had to watch several times to get it. Been going to Disney for 20 years and this is the most confusing. Paying for a ride after buying the park pass seems stupid but if it saves time, then great. Going in a month so hoping it works. Thanks !
Great video! I was wondering if you've heard about the update Disney made to the Genie+ app where at 7am, instead of being able to see return times for LL, the app says "Click for availability." I think it's in response to the way it was before when people would click a certain time but by the time they completed the transaction, the time had lapsed to later in the day.
Great video. Just subscribed. Loving the podcast too.
So helpful - thank you :)
lol so genie+ and the lightning lane times are planning my vacation for me!
This was very helpful. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
this was sooo helpful
Very helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for your very clear explanation. My head hurt prior to seeing this 😊
Very helpful!
Do you book LL by party or by individual rider?
Question: Is Wyndham Bonnet Creek considered 'on site' for ILL? Thank you for this video, it helps so much. Sad that it seems you need an MS in logistics to navigate the Happiest Place on Earth, Uncle Walt would not be happy.
Thanks for the amazing video! How long do you get to pay for the paid individual lightening lane after you select the time? From what you're saying the lightening lane is placed in your cart. I'm just trying to find out if using credit card vs a gift card would be faster. But if you get time to pay then it won't really matter which method I use. Thanks in advance!
Wow great video. Unfortunate that it has come to this!
everybody in the park is now forced to be phone zombies.
I love how Chapek & WDW have figured out a way to triple charge you for a hectic and hot and crowded day @ WDW. What a complete and total disaster! Watch out Disney, universal’s Epic Universe is coming for you!
Is there a list of the "Fancy Rides"? We are going in 12 days, my husband and I want to ride ROTR, do we have to purchase Genie + and then an Individual LL or are we able to just purchase an individual LL without the Genie+. This is very confusing. I'm going to watch your video multiple times to get it all absorbed in my brain! Thank you for the video :)
Wow, well said. I get it now😅
Sounds confusing
What’s the best route to stack/churn your genie + reservations at each park? For example, I wouldn’t want to reserve one ride in the back of the park, then next in the front, then next in the back again.
I purchased Genie+ for my June disneyland trip. I would say it was well worth it!
I was able to buy genie plus while buying my tickets. This was in October 2022 for visiting in November. So might be it has changed.
Easy to understand content.
Is there a high pass than genie or individual lane? I seen couple of people just go right to the ride with no waiting time or like through an elevator to go to front of the ride
When talking about “on site” to make 7am individual lightning lane selections, does that include the Swan/Dolphin Marriot hotels?
Great content! Can you do a tutorial on the exact steps we take at 6:55 a.m.? Like show us exactly where we should be on our phone.....what we would do when buying an individual lightning lane. I already have my genie + purchased for the week.
Great idea! Going to try to create a TH-cam short and article with the steps.
@@wdwprepschool I bought my genie plus for 2 members of my party when I bought my park tickets but now I want to buy it for 2 other members of my party. But here you’re saying you can’t buy it until you get to the park. I’m confused.
@@c.l.888 correct. You can no longer buy Genie+ before the day of your park visit.
We are a later in the day park flier. So our first ride is typically 2pm. What time do we new book our first ride.
Wow! Thanks. Answered ALMOST everything I was worried about. 1 thing: when you say on-site vs. off-site when booking the individually purchased rides - what do you mean by on-site? Does that mean you're staying in a DW Resort Hotel with those privileges or does it mean that you are actually IN the park at 7am (on-site)
You must be in the park for the experience you’re reserving
This was SUPER helpful! Thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Can you help with planning and with doing an itinerary.
You have to be inside the park to book something on Genie (verified from November 2022 visit).
Is this instructions applicable for all disneylands like california one?
Does is sell out Or is it available to everyone the day of? My tickets say must enter park first and not eligible
do you know what happens if you've already pre-bought Genie+?
where can we get the flyer witht he info you show in the video ?
Question:
Are Children under 3 required to purchase Genie Plus/ Lightening Lanes?
Thank you for that great video! Now, do I have to be at Disney World to purchase my individual lightning lane or can I purchase 1 or 2 on my way at 7am if will be staying on-site that particular day?
you can purchase since 7am even if you're not at the park yet, but i think this can't be done at Disneyland, there you have to be inside the parks
Buy Genie+ at midnight then wake up at 7 to try to get the ride times, no sleep, just fun! 😢
Is this worth getting if you have a das pass?
Very helpful. If we were “churning” rides till maybe 12, could we then start “stacking” while having lunch, and maybe walking round grand Floridian? Could we then return with 2-3 rides built up? Thanks.
Sure! Good way to build in an afternoon break.
You're explanation was clear as mud. Thanks
Wow what a headache. I can’t imagine anyone being happy with this. Including staff who has to deal with frustrated people.
Can you make a post or video about specifically park hopping with Genie+ and ILL? We really want to ride GG:CR but will be hopping to EPCOT. What is the best way to get to ride it?
Your best (and only) bet is to buy an Individual Lightning Lane Selection for it at 7 a.m.
Is swan and dolphin in Disneyworld considered onsight? Thank you for your informative video- genie plus is so confusing and I’m going in 20 days
It's not technically an onsite resort, but it does have many of the same amenities. For the Genie system specifically, it'll work the same for you as it does for onsite guests. Just make sure you have your hotel reservation linked in your My Disney Experience account. Here are some tips for staying at the Swan/Dolphin - wdwprepschool.com/pros-cons-of-staying-at-the-swan-dolphin-and-swan-reserve/
Seriously?? now they’re charging $20 per person for fast pass? Disney sucks now.
This video answered 99% of my questions. The only question I have left is, what if I’m staying at Wildernesses Lodge but I’m going to Epcot, can I book individual lighting lane starting at 7AM because I’m staying on site? I just want to understand what you mean by on-site.
on-site mean your staying at one of the world disney world resorts. The wilderness Lodge is in fact a Disney resort, so you can book LL starting at 7am
What would you suggest prioritizing at 7am? Do you book your ILL first and then go to genie+ lightening lane? Or vice versa?
We have info and graphics showing what we suggest booking when. wdwprepschool.com/genie-plus-priorities-lightning-lane/
At 7am can we make individual lighting lane reservations for all 4 parks right then? We are park hopping. Thanks
Disney only allows the purchase of 2 paid attractions (ILL) per person, per day regardless of the parks (including park hopper, example: Avatar in AK y Rise of the resistance in DHS).
Reservations for ILL are at 7am for guests of Disney hotels and at park opening time for all other visitors. Example: Rise of the resistance is the attraction that virtually only Disney hotel guests can buy because availability runs out in a matter of minutes.
I went in May and we only stayed in a Disney hotel (value) to be able to buy Rise of the resistance, otherwise we would have had to make the huge queue. We went to MK and we didn't buy Seven dwarfs mine train, the earlier I got there the less queue (we went from 8:30am to 11pm and we did it first and last without buying the ILL). In AK we arrived very early and did Avatar without paying 2 times in a row.
hopefully you can still help with the one thing still not clear! *fingers-crossed*
I'm going to be trying to buy INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNENING LANES for Guardians on Christmas Day while staying off-property. If I need to wait until what is defined as "when park opens" to do so is that based on PARK HOURS (which starts as of 9am) or the EARLY ENTRY (which starts at 8:30am). Even though off-site people aren't entering at 8:30 the "park opening" has technically started, right? 🤔
Good question. It is defined by regular park opening. So, in your example, that would be 9 a.m. Here's our complete guide to Genie+ (we know Genie+ is confusing!) wdwprepschool.com/planning-and-tips/genie-plus/
This is the best video ever on Disney genie plus! Question about stacking. In the past I heard that if you stack a bunch of rides for the afternoon then as you use each of those Genie plus selections in the afternoon you can book a new one once you tap in. However I watched a Vlog of someone recently that had multiple selections for the afternoon they couldn’t book a new one until they had used up their last one. So if they had multiple ones remaining they couldn’t book a new one even though they tapped in. Was this just a fluke or have you encountered this as well? It would make stacking seem less desirable to me.
I went in May, my husband and I did Park Hoopper, we chose AK for the morning and DHS for the afternoon. At 7am we made the first selection (Slinky dog dash), I think the park opened at 8:30am, at 10:30am we made the second (Millenium falcon), at 12:30 the third (Mickey and Minnie runaway railway), at 2:30pm the fourth (Toy story mania) to redeem 3:45pm-4:45pm, when I passed the checkpoints at 3:50pm I was able to make the following reservation (Alien Swirling) because the most recently reservation was made and completed unless the 120min, even though I had 2 other reservations pending to use.
The rule is to be guided by the last reservation made, If you have one for less than 120 min, it is important to redeem it as soon as the time window opens because, for example, if I had redeemed it between 4:30 and 4:45 pm, the 120-min rule would automatically apply, I would be wasting time to make another reservation, with Genie+ the minutes make a difference.
@@Elizabeth18CR that is exactly what I was wondering, thank you! That is good news
What happens if we have genie+ & reserve a ride that we later change our mind about? Is it as simple as cancelling so we can book something else or do we need to walk to the ride & beep so it looks like we went on the ride?
once you book a lighting lane for a ride with genie plus you're forced to either go to it or wait 2 hours after that time has passed to book another lighting lane for something else. In other words you can't change your mind once you confirm it basically.
I'm at Disney now. We bought ticked and Genie+ 10 months ago. Are you saying that if we were booking a trip now for next year, I can't buy Genie+ until my park days?
yes, because that's how disney changed the rules. And it can keep changing all the time. That's why you have to be aware of the changes to plan accordingly
If you have limited DATA on your cell phone, are there a Disney-supplied WIFI services in the parks that you can use with the app?
yes, all parks have wifi
Can you get a individual lightning lane for Remy’s ratatouille adventure
Right now (and for the foreseeable future), it's a regular G+ selection.
So you can only book individual lightening lanes if you stay on property?
Onsite guests can book them at 7. Offsite guests can book them at park opening.
This system is so complicated it takes a 15 minute video to explain and I'm still not really clear on some things. Like I'm not sure if I should get Genie + if I don't plan on arriving when the park opens. If you can control the time of your Lightning Lane then I might get a time when I'm not even at the park. I miss the fast pass and I hated that system.
I purchased my genie+ online for my trip in December.
That option is no longer available for new purchases, but was way easier when it was. Hope you have a great trip!
@@wdwprepschool oh wow! Really! I'm glad than I got it when I got...but that's very sad for others! I can feel the sadness and frustration 😔
You sure I just purchased it 2 days ago for my trip ?
Question! If I book an individual lightning lane at 7 AM and then also want to purchase genie plus lightning lane do I have to wait 2 hours after the park opens? Or can I do it right away?
Those can be done at the same time. Waiting period only applies to G+ selections.
@@wdwprepschool awesome! Thanks so much
@@wdwprepschool Can two different people use the app for a party of 3 to get the tix? Like can one person buy the party of 3 the LL for rides while another party member buys the genie plus tix at the same time?
I am going with my son who is 2 years old so he doesn't need a ticket. If I used the Genie+ will they give me an option to add him even though he doesn't have to pay
He won’t need G+ either. Just bring him with you for yours.
I believe with no proof to back it up other than what i've seen. I believe Disney made a daily purchase a requirement for Genie Plus so they can charge a different price for it everyday based on crowd levels. It's all about money. Midnight? Most people are probably asleep by midnight during a Disney trip. Silly.
So for example if i book slinky dog dash at 7am i can make anlther booking right after amd keep doing it?
Not right after. The rules are a bit complex, but we have a complete guide you can read that should help: wdwprepschool.com/planning-and-tips/genie-plus/
@@wdwprepschool thanks much!
I don’t understand lighting lane I’m going with my wife and children one is 5 yrs old the other is 2 yrs old do I buy one lighting lane for the whole family on the app or it’s one per person?
only you 5yo needs their own genie+. your 2yo have free entry and free LL. And when you're booking LL for your family, be sure to have added them to your profile so you buy for the group
Is it better to reserve Lightning Lanes before Genie+?
it depends on what rides you want to secure through LL and ILL.
My example is that I'm going to Magic Kingdom and I want to ride jungle cruise and tron. My plan is to book first jungle cruise because my theory is that LL run out faster that ILL, because I'm asuming that there is less people opting for pay-per-ride tickets.
And another option I'm trying to figure out is if you can have you disney account open in two devices at the same time so that another party member take care of ILL meanwhile I'm dealing with normal LL
I just want to verify something... I buy genie+ for myself & boyfriend.$15 each. Do you also have to pay for the individual ride or no?
yes, individual lightning lanes are pay-per-ride tickets. Those aren't included in Genie+. It's confusing but you just have to know that there are lightning lanes included in the purchase of genie+ AND individual lightning lanes, which you can purchase without genie+
Wait but we bought genie + when we bought our tickets now? Did it change?
It did, but you are good if you already bought it.
I need to pay genie + then pay for lighting lane to get in fast?
Genie+ can be pretty confusing. So we have a complete guide that answers your question and walks you through the process: wdwprepschool.com/planning-and-tips/genie-plus/
does buying an ILL trigger the 2 hour cooldown?
ILL is totally separate from Genie+. You can purchase the Genie+ and also purchase up to 2 ILL options.
@@Elizabeth18CR there is only 1 ILL per park, right? I wont be hopping. ILL's dont have a cooldown between themselves, right? Thanks!
@@WelbyCoffeeSpill You can buy a maximum of 2 ILL per person and per day, it doesn’t matter if you go to a full day park or do a park hopper (Until August 7 or 8 there is only one attraction with ILL per park, after that date the 2 attractions with ILL). It doesn't matter if the time between them because you choose the time.
@@Elizabeth18CR awesome thanks!
this is so fricking complicated 😵💫
Wow that is super confusing. I can’t say your video helped.
This is awfully confusing!!! Not good at al Disney, it’s not supposed to be a stressful time
So complicated!
If I forget to make a genie+ selection after tapping in to my attraction how long do I have till I can make a selection before the "120 minute rule" kicks in?
If you have tapped in and used your genie plus you can make another selection right away. 120 minute only kicks in if you made a lightning lane that’s much later in the day. Then you have to wait 120 mins to make your next selection.
@@Nursejustinreviews Thank you!
I thought Disney was supposed to be fun-now my stomach hurts
disney is no longer a "relaxing vacation" option, unless you have so much money that you don't care about optimizing your time there, and even in that case, you still have to plan ahead if you want to do things that need a reservation months befere you go
Ever school has a "Hot" teacher. Thanks for the info.
What Disney did is make what is usually a fun experience with family planning and booking a vacation and turned it into a miserable time that family wants no part of anymore. Disgusting. Nothing but a frustrating process.
We are florida residents, and we used to go to WDW four times per year ( no bs ), and now we don't have the slight interest of coming back. All because of the new bs of WDW, that and the last time my under age daughter and wife have it to share the LADIES ROOM with six gay men because they were women inside ( true story )
it could have been a beautiful learning moment about tolerance and acceptance for your daughter but sadly she was born in a family with low or no understanding of that values
@Mishelele -san tolerance and acceptance have nothing to do with that. Grow up, lean some principles and real values about life, educate yourself, and them we can talk.
Ps. I am an art teacher with plenty of gay friends. Being gay have nothing to do with being delusional.
@@riglesiasx7 you're a teacher? Poor kids
@Mishelele -san adults; not children, little girl. Stop assuming facts about strangers; that says a lot about your life and how sad it is. Spend your time more wisely, building a life in the real world.
@@riglesiasx7 surely adults like you, with the same values (or lack of them in this case). Good day. Hopefully the world someday will be better than what you make of it today
Its easier to learn to fly a plane
Disneys new genie plus, individual lightning lane, and the entire app experience is awful. So inferior to the old fastpass system.
who video sounded like word salad courtesy of Disney. i don't think learned anything from this, just more confusion 😵
This is too much I wish Disney didn’t do this it’s the one thing I am the most stressed about
Sounds like a nightmare, well done Disney, you greedy creeps.
Lighting Lane Scam is more like it. Every good ride is gone by time park opens.
Bend me over already Disney lol
This is to complicated jesus
Omg get to the dam point ffs
This sounds miserable