Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ Service Coming to Disneyland Resort Beginning Dec. 8

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via Disney Destinations

Attention, Disneyland Resort fans! We are excited to share that Disney Genie service will be available here at the Disneyland Resort beginning Dec. 8, 2021.

Built right into the existing Disneyland app, the Disney Genie service offers new features to help Guests create their best Disney day. With the Disneyland app, Guests should be sure to download the latest version and make sure that their notification and location services are turned on so they can get the most out of the app’s features.

The new service will include:

Complimentary Disney Genie Features

At the heart of the Disney Genie service are features like a personalized itinerary creator inspired by the things you tell us you love, helping Guests make the most of their park time so they can have more fun! Guests can tell Disney Genie their favorite things – foodie experiences, must-do attractions, Super Heroes or princesses – experiences that make their Disneyland Resort day special, and Disney Genie does all the work to suggest fun options tailored to each Guest. 

The Disney Genie service will also offer great additional features like a personal tip board to see attractions and dining options in one central place, and forecasted future attraction wait times, helping Guests predict the best time to visit during the day.

These features are created to help Guests spend less time waiting in line, so they can enjoy more of what they love. What’s more, Disney Genie service even works around existing plans, like dining reservations! 

Similar to a navigation app on a phone, Disney Genie does all the work behind the scenes and updates itineraries continually from morning to night so Guests can stay spontaneous and make the most of their time in the parks!

Ability to Access the new Lightning Lane Entrance

For Guests that have been to the Disneyland Resort lately, they may have noticed some new signs being installed for Lightning Lane entrances at a number of popular attractions. The Lightning Lane offers the convenience of saving Guests time waiting in line. Lightning Lane entrance can be accessed for select attractions two ways:

  • Disney Genie+

Disney Genie+ will be available for $20 per ticket per day, and allows Guests to select the next available arrival window for Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane entrances at a variety of attractions, one at a time (subject to limited availability; limit one Lightning Lane selection per experience each day). Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane entrances are available at select attractions at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park – great for those who have Park Hopper tickets. Disney Genie+ also includes unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the day, as well as fun new audio experiences that let Guests discover the parks in cool new ways—through fascinating fun facts and behind-the-scenes insights.

Disney Genie+ service may be purchased in the Disneyland app after Guests have entered the park and have linked their park ticket. After Dec. 8, Guests may also choose to purchase Disney Genie+ prior to their visit when they purchase a park ticket. Guests can begin making their Lightning Lane arrival window selections as soon as they enter a theme park! For Clients traveling with a 2022 vacation package booked after Nov. 4, Disney Genie+ can be added to the package tickets as long as any modifications are made more than five days prior to their visit. 

AND/OR

  • Individual Lightning Lane Entrance Selection.
Disney Genie+ at Disneyland

This new “a la carte” option allows the individual purchase of Lightning Lane entrance arrival windows for some of our most popular attractions: Radiator Springs Racers and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure at Disney California Adventure Park, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park (subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+). Pricing for the “a la carte” option will vary by date and attraction. Guests should be sure to check the Disneyland app on the day of their visit for the latest pricing for each available Lightning Lane attraction entrance arrival window. For Guests that choose this option, they may purchase the next available arrival window, one at a time, for up to two (2) attractions per day upon entering a theme park.

Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, and are not guaranteed. To enter a theme park, both a valid admission and theme park reservation for the same park and same date are required. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park. Wait times are estimates, can vary, and are subject to frequent changes within each day. Guests are responsible for reviewing all attraction restrictions, health and safety advisories, and accessibility guidelines, prior to purchase as certain experiences may not be appropriate for some Guests with health conditions. Price, terms and entitlements are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. TBD – Details. 

Disney Photopass service is subject to the Disney Photopass Terms & Conditions and expiration policy found at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required.

Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere.  If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

Guest ‘hacks’ Lightning Lane system to avoid paying fees to ride one of Disney’s most popular attractions

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has just introduced and implemented its completely revamped ride reservation system, and not everyone is feeling the love for it.

That’s because the new services replace the old FastPass and FastPass+ systems at Disney World, both of which were free to Guests and only required making a reservation for a time to enjoy a particular attraction, and then returning to experience the attraction.

Now, Guests will pay for the once-free option of making a reservation to ride. Guests don’t have to use the service; they can, instead, wait in the stand-by queue instead of paying to walk through the Lightning Lane. Guests can opt for the Genie+ option, which will cost them $15 per person in their traveling parties, per day. But there are 2 attractions at each theme park that aren’t included in the $15 per person, per day fee.

Rather, if Guests want to enjoy Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT, Tower of Terror or Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Avatar: Flight of Passage or Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, they will have to pay an additional per person, per attraction fee if they don’t want to use the standby queue.

But one Disney fan has apparently been very observant since the system first debuted, and she, like other fans, has noticed, that there are times when the Lightning Lane option is counter-productive: Guests pay to access the attraction without a huge wait, but then the Lightning Lane wait time is longer than the expected wait time in the standby queue, or, in other cases, the posted times in the stand-by queue are much longer than actual wait times. It has happened with the Rise of the Resistance attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

At least she has some humor about it.

So, she’s found a “hack” to use in response to this issue, and it’s probably the easiest hack you’ll ever employ: simply wait till the end of the evening to enjoy the Rise of the Resistance attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but don’t pay for Lightning Lane. She doesn’t think you’ll need it.

Disney fans have taken to social media to air their opinions about the new Genie+ and Lightning Lane systems, and the majority of those opinions are not of the positive persuasion.

@BlozzS says the new system is the “end of the world.”

In this tweet, a user responds to a tweet by @DisneyParksNews, touting the new Disney Genie as a magical itinerary-making phenomenon.

Some Disney fans, like @JulieaMankin, simply entreat Disney World to bring back their beloved FastPasses.

Disney Genie’s Lightning Lane Prices Climb for the Weekend

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

The new Disney Genie program has officially launched at Walt Disney World and will soon be arriving at Disneyland Resort. With the Disney World launch on October 19, we’ve been able to see and experience the three-part program that has arrived at the Disney Parks. The complimentary Disney Genie upgrade in the My Disney Experience App is rather impressive with the ability to help guide your day through the Parks. The second component is the Disney Genie+ which is $15 per person, per day. You can use Disney Genie+ to skip the lines (much like a paid FastPass) on select attractions. Thirdly, there are the Lightning Lane attractions which consist of eight a-la-carte attractions that you can buy the ability to skip the line. While the $15 Disney Genie+ price remains the same whether it’s the weekday or weekend, Lightning Lane pass pricing does increase on the weekend due to the crowd increase. We’re now seeing the Disney Park first weekend pricing settle in with Lightning Lane attractions.

Weekend Lightning Lane Pricing

As the first Disney Genie weekend arrives, pricing for Lightning Lane access is on the climb! More people equals a higher upcharge for the following Lightning Lane attraction. Here is pricing for the Lightning Lane attractions as of Friday, October 22:

Magic Kingdom

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: was $10, now $12
  • Space Mountain: was $7, now $9

EPCOT

  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: was $9, now $11
  • Frozen Ever After: was $9, now $11

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: was $8, now $10
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: was $15 – remains $15

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

  • Expedition Everst: was $7 – remains $7
  • Avatar Flight of Passage: was $11, now $14

Interestingly enough, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the one Lightning Lane attraction to regularly sell out almost immediately with Park opening. If this is a ride you want to pay to Lightning Lane, you’ll want to buy your pass as a Disney Resort Guest at 7:00 am. If you aren’t a Disney Resort Guest, you can try to snag a Lightning Lane as soon as the Park opens, but don’t wait as it is selling out within minutes!

Disney Genie: How Does It Work?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Disney Genie is going to officially launch on October 19 at Walt Disney World. The date for Disneyland has not yet been determined. The information was shared as part of a Zoom Meeting with several Disney Executives who have been working on the project. They also shared plenty of information on the new service.

During the meeting, it was stated that the goal of Disney Genie is to optimize Guests’ time and maximize Guests’ fun. It will be a lot like a navigation app on your phone, with updates depending on where you are and what you are interested in. It will match your must dos and interests, and find ways for you to get the most out of your day. Any plans that you currently have such as dining reservations will be taken into account when the suggestions are made.

Disney Genie will use algorithms to determine what you should do and when. The suggestions will be not only for attractions, but dining will be included as well. If you don’t like a suggestion, you can swap it out for something else. If you aren’t sure why something was suggested for you, there will be a feature where you can find out why it was a suggestion. Current Wait Times will be available, as well as forecasted Wait Times. There will also be a Tip Board to help you figure out your next move. The Tip Board will give the status for each attraction or restaurant. Another nice feature will be that if a full service restaurant has spots available on the Wait List, you will be able to join through Disney Genie. No more “you’re aren’t close enough” messages!

Suggestions will change based on other factors as well. If storms are rolling in, an indoor attraction could be recommended. If a ride is down Disney Genie will let you know and adapt as needed. You won’t have to walk across a Park, only to discover that you can’t ride.

If you plan to Park Hop, Disney Genie is adaptable for that as well. You can include the time that you plan to hop and which park, and your suggestions will be updated. If you change your mind it is easy to put that information into Disney Genie and you will have new recommendations appear.

Don’t worry that Disney Genie is going to cause long lines because it recommends the same things to all Guests. The system will take that into account, so everyone will not receive the same recommendations at the same time.

Disney Genie will be complimentary. The free service will include personalized optimizations for your day. The Tip Board and many other features will be included as well. If you’re worried about your battery, the service will update only when you open it on your phone. That will help to prolong your battery life.

The paid extra that everyone is talking about is Disney Genie+. This will cost $15 a day at Walt Disney World. You do not need to purchase it for the length of your ticket, you’ll just buy it the day of. There will be no special add-on at launch for Annual Passholders, they also will have to pay each day they want to use it. The main draw of Disney Genie+ is that Guests will have access to the Lightning Lane. You will be able to pick one attraction at a time, and will be given the next available time. If your return time is too far away you will be able to make a second selection after two hours. The system will work much like the old FastPass system did, you cannot make selections until the day of your visit. One person can make Lightning Lane selections for everyone in a party. If you want to break the group up, you will be able to do that as well.

Another extra in Disney Genie+ will be Augmented Reality Lenses. There will be 20 to choose from. You will be able to turn yourself into the Genie, or enjoy a plate of virtual spaghetti with your favorite Tramp. Most of the lenses are for use in the Theme Parks, but some will be available outside of them.

There was also an update on the Individual Lightning Lane attractions. These will be available for purchase a la carte, so to speak. You will be able to purchase a maximum of two different attractions per day. At launch the Individual Lightning Lane choices will be as follows; Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The price point was not mentioned, but will reflect how busy the Parks are expected to be.

More information on Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ will be released in the coming days. The new service is meant to help you to make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. It is not mandatory to use, but since the basic service will be free we recommend that you try it. You could end up saving a lot of time.

Disney Genie Launching Oct. 19 at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Via Disney Destinations

“The World’s Most Magical Celebration” at Walt Disney World Resort is in full swing, as we kicked off the 50th anniversary festivities on Oct. 1 with all-new experiences and countless magical moments.

Now, we’re gearing up for yet another milestone: We’re excited to share that the previously announced Disney Genie service will launch on Oct. 19 at Walt Disney World Resort!

Available for all of our guests right in the My Disney Experience app, the complimentary Disney Genie service offers new features that let guests create their best Disney day. These features include a personalized itinerary creator that effortlessly and smartly maps out an entire day inspired by the things guests tell us they love – helping them make the most of their park time so they can have more fun.

Similar to a navigation app on a phone, Disney Genie continues to update the guest’s itinerary from morning to night as the day changes, so they can stay spontaneous and go with the flow – whether guests need a nap, encounter an unexpected rain shower or want to take a detour for a Mickey ice cream bar.

Many of you have asked about how this cool new technology works. Behind the scenes, the app is capable of magically evaluating thousands of possible itineraries in seconds – so guests don’t even have to think about it! Disney Genie puts guests at the center of the experience by prioritizing ways to:

  • Reduce time in lines while keeping in mind guest’s top picks
  • Pace the day with experiences guests will enjoy – and haven’t already done yet
  • Build around existing plans like dining reservations and Park Hopper® preferences

Disney Genie uses our 50+ years of knowledge and expertise in how guests visit our parks to make the experience better for everyone.

With this launch, we’ll also be introducing the Lightning Lane entrance. Available for purchase through our Disney Genie+ add-on at more than 40 attractions – or individually, “a la carte” at some of our most highly demanded attractions – the Lightning Lane entrance can save guests time waiting in line. See below for a first look at the list of current attractions with Lightning Lane entrances.

As a reminder, attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue or from time to time, a virtual queue may instead be used at select attractions, like right now at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.