If you haven’t been to Disneyland or Disney World in the last two years, a lot has changed! Fast passes are a thing of the past and the lightning lane is the new way to skip the lines! But how do you get lightning lane access? Disney took a page out of Universal’s book and is charging for skip the line access with a new product, Disney Genie+.
When you purchase a ticket to Disney, Disney Genie is included in the price, but you need Genie+ to get access to the lightning lane.
What’s the difference between Disney Genie and Disney Genie+?
The most notable is the price! Disney Genie is a way to make reservations and plan your day based on the information you enter into the app. You fill out a short survey about your interests and Disney Genie helps guide you through your day.
Disney Genie+ does the same thing, but for additional charge per person you can select main attractions to skip the line! With Genie+ you also get free photos at attractions, photo spots, and more… That’s over $195 savings than purchasing a memory maker!
How much does Disney Genie+ cost?
Genie+ will add $25 per person to your total trip cost, and this is per day, not the duration of your trip! For a family of four or more that can be pretty substantial at $100 a day! I always recommend purchasing your tickets through a certified travel agency for deals on prices. My favorite and trusted Disney authorized seller is Get Away Today. They offer Disneyland and Disney World tickets with Genie+ for a discounted price!
Why should you buy Disney Genie+?
My husband and I are avid Disney lovers and how we visit Disney over the years have changed a lot since having our son. I can not tell you how thankful I am to have Disney Genie+ when the line to Peter Pan is 45 minutes or more! When you have small children waiting longer than 15 minutes in line can be grueling. DG+ keeps our day going smoother and meltdowns to a minimum. Maybe you don’t have young kids, but two teenagers with completely different wants at Disneyland. You can divide and conquer and there’s no more bickering about who got to do what they wanted and who didn’t. Everyone can enjoy something because DG+ gives you something you can’t put a price on… TIME! But don’t wait until you are on property to purchase DG+, reports have been coming out that it is selling out at both Disney World and Disneyland. Both parks are open at full capacity and with spring break and summer months nearing the crowds are only going to get bigger! When you purchase through Get Away Today you can get Genie+ including in each day as well two days free at the park. Yep get two extra days free to extend your trip!
What’s the fine print with Disney Genie+?
While DG+ does let you use the lightning lane, you can only reserve one attraction at a time. Once you’ve experienced your attraction you can reserve another one. This is how Genie+ limits the wait in lines for those who purchased it, very similar to the old fast pass. Also some newer attractions may not be available for DG+. When Rise of the Resistance and Web Slingers first came to Disneyland Resort, DG+ was not eligible. This has since changed, but if you want to ride a new ride, check to see if it’s eligible for DG+ before buying.
Can you purchase individual attractions’ lightning lanes?
Short answer, yes. But it may be worth it to just get Disney Genie+. Everything involving Disney is in their park apps now, when you look up wait times you will see options to purchase lightning lane for individual attractions. Radiator Springs Racers can sell for $18 per person for entrance to the lightning lane… for $7 more per person you can get the entire day eligible for other attractions.
Why book through Get Away Today?
With Get Away Today you not only get exclusive discounts and tickets ready to go. You also get:
- Peace of mind: fully refundable tickets up to 365 days
- Layaway and payment plans: ability to have a dream vacation under any budget
- Best price, best service: if you find a better price, they’ll match it!
- Charitable donation: every purchase, get away today donates a portion of its proceeds.
- No taxes or hidden fees: know exactly what you’re paying.
I’d love to hear your experience with DG or DG+. Be sure to follow me on Instagram and share to Pinterest so we can spread the Disney knowledge and help others make magical memories!