It’s time to say goodbye to FASTPASS, FastPass+ and MaxPass at WDW and Disneyland. Disney Genie a new digital tool coming this fall. Over in WDW it begins October 19th and in Disneyland on December 8th. There are two parts, a complimentary option that will help you make the most of your trip and reduce time in line. And Disney Genie+ which is an option to pay within the app, similar to the old MaxPass. I know change is hard but we can do this. I’m here to help! I will give an overview of this new tool that has many free features and explain the portion you can pay for.
What is the Disney Genie?
The Genie is a new feature that is coming to the Disneyland app and My Disney Experience app in Florida. The Disney Genie guides you through the theme parks with tips that can help you spend less time in lines and takes the guesswork out of “what’s next.” It includes a personalized itinerary feature that will quickly map out your entire day. Just tell Disney Genie what you want to do and it will do the planning for you.
You choose attractions, entertainment, food and more. Then you have a plan to guide you as you tour the parks. Disney Genie will continue to update your itinerary throughout your day. It will even offer suggestions or re-route you if something comes up and you have a change in the course of your day.
Disney Genie will display current AND forecasted future wait times, helping you predict when you might experience quicker entry to attractions. There is also a virtual assistant available to help you too. All of the above is FREE! And don’t panic, attractions will continue to offer a traditional standby queue, or a virtual queue sometimes at certain attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
What do you have to pay for?
There are also two new options available for purchase with the new digital tool. Guests will use the new queue called the Lightning Lane entrance for these opportunities. Think of the new Lightning Lane like the old FastPass line. Now let’s breakdown each one of them.
Disney Genie+
One option available for purchase is Disney Genie+ service. The cost for this service is $20 per ticket per day at the Disneyland Resort which allows you access to the following attractions in Disneyland Park …
- Autopia
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Haunted Mansion
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- “it’s a small world”
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
And over in Disney California Adventure Park
- Goofy’s Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
- Incredicoaster
- Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Toy Story Midway Mania
And then over at the Walt Disney World Resort it costs $15 per person per day with access to 40+ attractions. For the complete list of all 4 parks and info at Walt Disney World head over here.
How does Disney Genie+ work?
You will make one selection at a time and use the Lightning Lane entrance. Availability can change throughout the day. Lightning Lane access with Disney Genie+ will work most similarly to Disneyland Resort’s previous MaxPass system. You can purchase Disney Genie+ with your park ticket here or purchase Disney Genie+ in the Disneyland app once you have scanned your ticket in to the park the day you arrive. You can’t start making selections until you are in the park. But over in Walt Disney World you can purchase Disney Genie+ starting at midnight from your app. All guests can make their first selection starting at 7 a.m. from anywhere.
Individual attraction selections
The other option available for purchase is an Individual attraction selection. At launch, this “a la carte” option will be offered at the following attractions.
Disneyland Park
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Disney California Adventure Park
- Radiator Springs Racers
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
*Please note that attractions may vary by date, are subject to change, and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time of purchase. Availability can change throughout the day. This is a paid per attraction option for highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance. Guests may make selections for up to 2 different attractions each day. The individual attractions are rides not included with Disney Genie+. Pricing for this option will vary by date, attraction and park. Prices will be per person per ride. Pricing for these individual attractions varies $7-$20 based on the day. You do NOT need to have Disney Genie+ in order to purchase individual rides. It’s like an a la carte add on. You can start adding them after you enter the park. Lightning Lane selections will be made on the same day of your visit and can be used across multiple theme parks. Over at WDW if you’re staying at a Disney resort you get the advantage to purchase Lightning Lane individual attractions starting at 7 a.m. and off-site guests not until the park opens.
Disney Genie+ will also include Disney parks-themed audio experiences and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day at Disneyland. Disney Genie+ will NOT be available as an upgrade to Magic Key Holders. Magic Key Holders and Walt Disney World Resort Annual Pass Holders will be able to purchase Disney Genie+ one day at a time through the app.
New Disability Access Service (DAS)
Also coming this fall are some changes to the DAS system used in the parks. These exciting new changes will be available in addition to the existing, in-person DAS program where you go to Guest Service kiosks and request return times. More about the DAS system over here with lots of information, tips and where to rent ECV’s, wheelchairs etc.
Pre-Arrival Registration and Planning
One new option, to register virtually with a Cast Member via live video chat as early as 30 days in advance of a park visit. During your video chat with a Cast Member, you’ll also have the opportunity to select up to 2 experiences per day (subject to availability) using our new DAS Advance planning option. Please keep in mind that DAS Advance selections must be booked at least 2 days prior to the day you plan to redeem them, and you will not be able to make selections on the day of your visit.
If an experience you want is available, you’ll be given a one-hour return window to redeem during the day of your visit. Any selections you make will appear as plans on the Disneyland mobile app.
Same-Day DAS Return Time Self-Selection Tool
The other wonderful new option coming is a new way to request return times. In lieu of having to physically go to a Guest Relations location to obtain a return time from a Cast Member, Guests registered in the DAS program (and their party members) will be able to make return time selections right from the Disneyland mobile app during the day of their park visit.
Tips to help once Disney Genie goes LIVE
Virtual queues will continue to be free for Rise of the Resistance and Web Slingers. But virtual queues are only used on an as needed basis. Check on the day you arrive if the stand by line is open or they are utilizing the virtual queue. If they are using the virtual queue that day read this post on how to get a boarding group!
Hop in line for big ticket attractions during the fireworks or even parades. These are times when the lines for rides go down. Or after the fireworks go on rides since a lot of people exit the park right after the show. And remember that you can get in line for an attraction just minutes before the posted park closing hours. If the park closes at 10 p.m. you can get in line for Space Mountain at 9:57 p.m. for example. As long as you’re in line before the park closes you can go on the ride.
Check the app with the new Disney Genie free planning tool and see when certain attraction lines are forecasted to be the shortest wait time of the day. This planning tool is going to be key!
Plan a trip in the middle of the week when it’s not as busy. Check out my crowd calendar post too for ideas when crowds will be lower.
Utilize single rider. For a complete list of which rides offer this option see this post.
My thoughts …
Wow that was a lot of new information. And as with all new things we will have to see how these changes affect our trips. I feel like the new digital tool, Disney Genie, will be very helpful for guests. To have a tool at your fingertips that helps guide you through the parks more efficiently is so nice. It will help you make the most out of your Disney day. You will have a great experience no matter how you decide to plan cause it will be tailored specifically to YOU. Purchasing Disney Genie+ will be a new way to maximize your day if you choose. But you can still use so many of my tips I mentioned above and have a great day with no additional costs if you arrive early at rope drop. I have plans to help guide you through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Read those posts plus utilize the free portion of Disney Genie in the app and enjoy your vacation. I plan to be in the parks when this new service launches to figure it out and report back with more tips. You’ll want to refer back to this post often as we navigate through this WHOLE NEW WORLD together!
How does it work with children who do not have their own mobile phones/apps? Can the parent pay for all the kids on his or her own Genie app account?
Yes if you as the parent have all the tickets that’s where it will be attached is to the ticket. You will pay for it and it will be on each ticket on your phone under your Disney account on the app.