Your guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World

Disney has recently rolled out a brand-new program offering guests a great solution to making the most out of their time at Walt Disney World. You can access Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes from the My Disney Experience app on your phone. Be sure you have this app installed prior to leaving for your vacation.

Disney Genie

Disney Genie is a complimentary trip planning service that builds a personalized itinerary for you based on your preferences. From more general interests like princesses and Star Wars to specific choices like a favorite ride or must-see show, you tell Genie how you want to spend your day, and it’ll create a custom itinerary with suggestions that will help you spend less time in line and more time having fun.

Disney Genie+

Disney Genie+ service lets you use Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions and experiences. On average, Guests can enter 2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day using Lightning Lane entrances if the first selection is made early in the day. Disney Genie+ is an extra cost per guest, per day. (This is NOT included in your theme park admissions and MUST be purchased through the My Disney Experience app in order to use the service.)

Plus, you'll enjoy these additional features:

How it Works:

  • Guests may make their first Disney Genie+ service selection for Lightning Lane entry at 7:00 AM on the day of their visit.

  • Lightning Lane entry selections are subject to limited availability on the day of your visit.

  • Guests may enjoy a Disney Genie+ service Lightning Lane entrance once per day, per attraction.

  • Check the Tip Board periodically for the latest info.

How to Make a Disney Genie+ Service Lightning Lane Selection

Disney Genie+ service Lightning Lane selections can only be made one at a time. You must redeem an existing Disney Genie+ service Lightning Lane selection or wait 2 hours—whichever comes first—before making another Lightning Lane entrance selection through Disney Genie+ service. Please note: the 2-hour wait to make another selection begins when the park opens, even if you made your first booking at 7:00 AM.

How to Modify a Disney Genie+ Service Lightning Lane Selection

If you would like to modify your Lightning Lane selection through Disney Genie+ service to a different experience or attraction, reduce the party accompanying you, or choose a different time, here’s how:

  1. Go to the Tip Board or My Day to view your Lightning Lane entry selection.

  2. Select the 3-dot menu at the top right of the Lightning Lane entry selection you wish to modify to bring up options.

  3. Select “Modify Plan.”

  4. Follow prompts to select a different time, change to a different attraction or experience or make changes to your party.

  5. Select “Confirm Change,” then “Done.”

Disney Genie+ service, attractions and experiences may vary by date, are subject to change or closure, are limited in availability and are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection. Price, terms and entitlements are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice.

lightning lane Attractions (subject to change)

Individual Lightning Lanes

This is a brand-new “a la carte” option to purchase individual Lightning Lane entrance access for some of the most popular attractions. You do not need to purchase Disney Genie+ to access Individual Lightning Lanes. Buy it from your mobile device for a participating attraction and select an arrival window for that day. It’s available to Disney Resort Guests and Guests of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Shades of Green at 7 a.m. each morning and all other Guests at regular Park open. 

This “a la carte" option lets you individually purchase a time to arrive using the Lightning Lane entrance at up to two highly demanded attractions each day—like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom®Park and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT®(subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+).

*Pricing will vary by date and attraction.

GENIE+ Timeline

There is a lot of information to know about Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes, so to help you understand, Middle of the Magic Travel has created a Genie+ Timeline for each park, and a document with key times for you to know!

When can I reserve my next Genie+ Lightning Lane?

After you have made your first Genie+ Lightning Lane, you will be asking yourself, when can I book my next Genie+ Lightning Lane.

Only ONE of these has to occur before you can use Genie+ to book your next Lightning Lane reservation:

  1. If the most recently booked attraction return time is MORE than 2 hours away, you can make your next Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation at the 2-hour mark. IMPORTANT NOTE: The 2-hour clock starts when the park opens. If your first booking is more than 2 hours after the park opens, you’ll have to wait until 2 hours after park opening and not 2 hours after you booked.

    OR

  2. If your most recently booked Genie+ ride time is LESS than 2 hours away, as soon as you tap into the tapstiles at the attraction, you can book your next one. IMPORTANT NOTE: some of the more popular attractions have 2 tapstiles and some will have 1. If there are 2, you must tap into both before you’ll be able to make your next selection.

    OR

  3. If your most recently booked Genie+ Lightning Lane pass has EXPIRED (meaning you missed your return window), you can make a new Genie+ selection.

It is also important to note that with Genie+, you are unable to select your return time. You are given the first time available. So if you have a later return time for a popular attraction, most likely you’ll be able to book another attraction before riding. You also can take advantage of standby queues for the attractions with lower wait times. Anything under 30 minutes is worth waiting in line!

 

Magic Kingdom

Middle of the Magic has created a comprehensive guide to Lightning Lanes at the Magic Kingdom. Please save this graphic to your phone to help you while on your vacation. This gives you tips and tricks for when the Lightning Lanes typically run out so you can best prioritize the attractions you will want to reserve first.

 

EPCOT

Middle of the Magic has created a comprehensive guide to Lightning Lanes at EPCOT. Please save this graphic to your phone to help you while on your vacation. This gives you tips and tricks for when the Lightning Lanes typically run out so you can best prioritize the attractions you will want to reserve first.

 

Hollywood studios

Middle of the Magic has created a comprehensive guide to Lightning Lanes at Hollywood Studios. Please save this graphic to your phone to help you while on your vacation. This gives you tips and tricks for when the Lightning Lanes typically run out so you can best prioritize the attractions you will want to reserve first. Please note that Slinky Dog Dash is the most popular of all Genie+ Lightning Lanes, this attraction sells out by 7:02am daily. Your return time maybe for the afternoon hours, so keep an eye on when you’ll be able to book your next lightning lane, it will likely be before you ride Slinky Dog Dash.

 

Animal Kingdom

Middle of the Magic has created a comprehensive guide to Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom. Please save this graphic to your phone to help you while on your vacation. This gives you tips and tricks for when the Lightning Lanes typically run out so you can best prioritize the attractions you will want to reserve first.

 

Final Thoughts on Disney Lightning Lanes

Disney has created this system to help you experience more on your vacation with less time in line. Your will still have to utilize standby queues even with these offerings, which means this does not completely eliminate your time in line. On average you will be able to use Genie+ on 3 to 5 attractions per day.

If you are looking for an option that allows for no waits in line, I highly recommend a Disney VIP Tour. VIP Tours will allow you to visit up to 4 parks in one day, and use as many Lightning Lanes as desired. Disney VIP Tours cost between $425 - $850 per hour, with a minimum of 7 hours and a maximum of 10 hours. You can bring 10 people on your tour.

There is no limit to Lightning Lanes with a VIP Tour and will guarantee no time waiting in line. For more information on VIP Tours, contact Melissa.