Genie, Genie+, Lighting Lanes
Genie+ Guide
This is the only guide you will ever need to understand Genie+.
Here is the deal:
You do not have to purchase Genie+ or individual attraction lighting lanes. You can use the standby lines and still have a great time. You may not ride as many rides as you like, and you may not be able to get on the popular rides. But as long as you prepare yourself and your party to wait in longer lines and strategically plan what rides to ride, you can make it without Genie+ and you can still get a lot accomplished. With this choice, you typically choose to be ride-focused ALL day.
if you have teens...do you really need Genie+? No. Not really they can wait in line, you will have a great time with them and wait times are inflated at Disney (well...they have a 20 minute buffer which ALSO means if it says 25 minutes it could be 45 if it breaks down!)
Personally, I just do not want to wait in line with four kids. Anything over 30 minutes or more can be miserable even when I have all the gadgets and toys to keep them occupied in line. Genie, Genie+, Individual Lightning Lane Attractions are worth it for us. And you have to decide if it is worth it for your family.
To help lessen your confusion, it is essential to learn the terms used at WDW. Now I recommend you get out your phone (really.... go get it!) so you can follow along and understand everything.
Say it with me:
DISNEY GENIE - THIS IS FREE - it sends you suggestions based on your set preferences (I will show you how.) It does not work that well right now, just by pass it and do not take its suggestions.
Used in a sentence: "Hey, check Genie to see what time the next cavalcade will start, and add it to "my day."
GENIE+ - YOU PAY FOR THIS! $15 plus tax per person. This allows you to book attractions at the park that use lightning lanes (i.e, similar to the old FastPass), to significantly reduce your wait time--in some cases eliminating it to get on popular attractions and rides.
Used in a sentence: "At 7 am, let's be ready to book Peter Pan's Flight, so once we scan in...we can book our next Genie+ attraction."
Individual Lighting Lane Attraction Selection (ILL) - At WDW there is only one ILL per park currently (9/2022). You can also ONLY book TWO per day. These rides are $7 - $15 (sometimes up to $17 for new attractions) plus tax PER person PER ride. You can purchase ILL rides WITHOUT purchasing Genie+.
Used in a sentence: "Since we are park hopping today, let's Pay for Rise of the Resistance for the morning when we are at HS Studios and for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT for this evening."
Lighting Lane - The physical queue that you walk into to access ILL + Genie+ rides.
If you found this helpful head over to the Magic Guides Shop and purchase the Genie+ Guide. It is filled with pictures and examples of how to use Genie+ and comes with a Magic Kingdom guide. You will not need any other guide!
