Genie+ was Disney’s answer to revamping the old Fastpass system once the parks welcomed guests back after the 2020 closures. This nuanced system had quite the learning curve, leaving even avid Disney goers scratching their heads occasionally.
One of the biggest sources of contention among users of this new skip-the-line system was the lack of ability to plan in advance, meaning guests were spending more time in the app during their vacation and less time enjoying their experience with their families.
Get ready, Disney fans! In response to feedback, Disney has shared some news! Changes to the Genie+ system are on the horizon, promising to enhance the park experience and address the concerns raised.
Changes to the System
Beginning on July 24, Disney Genie+ will become Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and Individual Lightning Lane will now be known as Lightning Lane Single Pass. In addition to the name changes, guests will have the ability to make lightning lane selections even before they arrive at Disney!
When purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you will have the ability to make as many as 3 Lightning Lane selections in a park ahead of your visit, even choosing from available times. Once you arrive at the park and check in to one of your preselected Lightning Lanes, you will visit the My Disney Experience app to make an additional selection for your day. Lightning Lane Single Pass will continue to work as it does currently, allowing you to select a specific arrival window for some of the most popular attractions, with the difference that you can make your purchase and secure your time in advance, as opposed to the day of.
The Details
The changes to the system also include perks for guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels. These guests can begin making their selections up to 7 days in advance from their arrival day and can plan for the entirety of their stay ( up to 14 days). All other guests can begin their plans up to 3 days before their visit, planning one day at a time.
Disney has reported that the app will be updated to make purchasing and planning quicker and more seamless. This will include purchasing Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass in a single transaction.
The 3-7 day advance time frame will allow guests to preplan attractions after they have likely already solidified other plans, including dining reservations and other additional experiences.
The complimentary Disney Genie service, often a source of confusion for novice planners due to the similar name to the premium service, will continue to be offered in the My Disney Experience app, which can be a useful tool providing guests with suggestions based on their unique interests and goals for their park days.
While the system name changes will carry over to the Disneyland Resort on July 24th, because of the different ways that guests on the West Coast use the system, the name change will be the only change to their system.
Attraction Tiers
As mentioned above, guests can preplan and schedule Lightning Lane selections for up to three attractions up to seven days before their vacation begins. Understanding that certain rides in each park have a higher demand for Lightning Lane return times, Disney has developed attraction groups with additional guidance for preselecting attractions.
Magic Kingdom
Guests purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Magic Kingdom can choose up to one experience from this group:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Guests will choose their other two, or all three experiences, from this group:
- The Barnstormer
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “It’s a small world”
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid
Single Pass Attractions(Not available with the Multi Pass):
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- TRON Lightcycle/Run
EPCOT
Guests purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for EPCOT can choose up to one experience from this group:
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
Guests will choose their other two, or all three experiences, from this group:
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission:SPACE
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Spaceship Earth
- Turtle Talk with Crush
Single Pass Attractions(Not available with the Multi Pass)
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Hollywood Studios
Guests purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Hollywood Studios can choose up to one experience from this group:
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock’n’Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
Guests will choose their other two, or all three experiences, from this group:
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Play & Dance
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration ● Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Muppets*Vision 3D
- Star Tours- The Adventures Continue
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Toy Story Mania!
Single Pass Attractions(Not available with the Multi Pass):
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Animal Kingdom
Guests purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Animal Kingdom can choose up to three of the following multi pass experiences:
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest-Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
- It’s Tought to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na’vi River Journey
Single Pass Attractions(Not available with the Multi Pass):
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Disney states that once you redeem your first selection that day, you can head into the app and select another multi pass experience, subject to availability. Planning to utilize Park Hopper during your future visit? While your initial three selections must be in the same park, once you visit the park and redeem an initial selection, you can use the app to choose another multi pass experience in a different Walt Disney World theme park, again subject to availability.
Character meet-and-greets, which are available for select characters utilizing Genie+, are currently missing from the eligible attraction listings. There is no word on whether these are part of the multi-pass attractions, but Disney does state that attractions and entertainment are subject to change, so always check the app for any additions or closures closer to your visit.
How Can We Help?
The Travel Advisors at When You Wish Travel LLC are here to help you navigate all the planning aspects of your Walt Disney World visit! We always stay updated with any changes ( they happen constantly!) with the destinations we plan, so you don’t have to! Adding Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass and the ability to preplan means another item checked off your to-do list! We can help you select the best attractions for your family before you even arrive on your vacation, allowing you to be more in the moment with your family and make memories.
