Disney has announced a launch date for the new Genie, Genie+ and Lightning Lane services for Walt Disney World. Starting October 19, 2021, guests will be able to add Genie+ and Lightning Lane services to their daily planning.
These new services will replace the beloved Fastpass system which has been on haitus since the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. To purchase and take advantage of these new features, you will need to download the My Disney Experience app. Even if you’re not planning on using these add ons, MDE is a must download since it houses tickets, park and dining reservations, park maps, mobile order and more.
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The free Genie service will offer personalize day optimizer, real-time tips for what to ride, along with forecasted wait times, and a virtual assistant. Disney says the Genie will help reduce time in line while keeping in mind guest preferences for top picked rides. We all hate when we’re left with the awkward time where you don’t have enough time to wait in line for another ride, but have too much time before your dining reservation or Park Hopping opening up. Supposedly, Genie will help to pace your day around those key events reducing that dreaded awkwardness.
The Genie+ option will set you back $15 per day per guest at Disney World. It has been announced that by purchasing Genie+ you will be able to get 1 Lightning Lane pass per ride for the following attractions.
Should I Buy Genie+ or Lightning Lane?
Lightning Lane is probably the most confusing part of these new changes. Each park has the top 2 attractions that will be a separate cost per ride. These will not be included in the Genie+ price. Prices are said to vary but have not been formally announced yet.
I think Disney is trying to avoid raising ticket prices while providing options for people who are willing to pay for certain upgrades. Not too much different that those discount airlines, right? You can grab a cheap, no-frills ticket on Frontier or Spirit or the like but you’re getting one small carry on, a random seat, no in-flight food or beverages, etc. If you want or need those things, you can buy them a la carte. There’s definitely pros and cons to this approach. I’m really interested to see how the public uses it and to experience it myself when we go later this month.
The new system is definitely more complicated than the previous Fastpass system. There is a lot more to understand and decide if you want to use any or all of the new products. Working with an expert travel planner can certainly help you make heads or tails of all the options and figure out what you need, what’s nice to have, and what you can skip out on based on what you want your day to look like.
