Just when we thought we had gotten the hang of this whole Genie+ thing, Disney goes and switches things up on us!
Genie+
We knew that the service was due for an update based on what Disney has said in the past, we just didn’t know when. Disney shared that we’d soon have a way to plan Lightning Lanes ahead of time — before even stepping foot in the parks — and now we have an update on those changes!
BIG changes are coming to Genie+ at Disney World! First things first — starting on July 24th, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes are out, and Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass are in. That’s right! There’s been an official name change.
©Disney
Genie+ is now Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Individual Lightning Lanes are now Lightning Lane Single Pass. In addition to these changes, Disney has announced that as of July 24th, you can:
- Make Lightning Lane plans before you get to the parks, for added confidence.
- Choose your experiences and times prior to purchasing, so you know what you’re getting.
- Book Lightning Lane passes for multiple vacation days, all in a single day.
Disney shared a bit more about how these changes will be implemented come July 24th, so let’s get into it.
Lightning Lane Multi-Pass
When purchasing Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you can make up to 3 Lightning Lane selections in a park in advance of your visit. Not only that, but you can choose available times as you make your selections.
Attraction Sign at Animal Kingdom directing Guests to Standby Line and Lightning Lane Entrances
On the day of your visit, once you use a selection, you can make another one based on what is still available on the My Disney Experience app, just as you would now.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Lightning Lane Single Pass will effectively function as it does now, with the added bonus that you can make your purchase before your trip and plan in advance.
Tower of Terror Lightning Lane sign
Planning Ahead
Disney World hotel guests (and guests of other select hotels) will be able to plan Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance for their entire stay (up to 14 days). All other guests can plan up to 3 days in advance.
Disney Genie+ allows you to book the Lightning Lane for rides.
Advance purchase windows will allow people to “secure some of their must-do rides and experiences after they’ve had some time to decide what dining reservations they want to book and any other plans they may need to consider.”
You’ll be able to purchase a Multi-Pass, Single Pass, or both depending on what you need — and there will even be a new option to purchase both in one transaction.
TRON Lightcycle / RUN Lighting Lane
Disney has introduced (or reintroduced, shall we say) a tiered system for rides. It looks like out of those 3 advance selections, you’ll be able to choose one experience from a higher-tiered group and two experiences (or all three) from a lower-tiered group.
At Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are all in the first tier.
©Disney
At EPCOT, the first tier includes Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Soarin’ Around the World.
©Disney
At Hollywood Studios, the first tier features rides like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, and Slinky Dog Dash.
©Disney
And over at Animal Kingdom, there will be no tiers at all — meaning you’re free to choose any of the attractions available with Lightning Lane Multi-Pass as part of your 3 selections. Avatar Flight of Passage will still be available via Lightning Lane Single Pass (A.K.A. Individual Lightning Lane).
©Disney
Disney shared that the new Lightning Lane passes “will blend features from our current services and the previously offered FastPass+ service, giving guests the choice to plan ahead and removing the hassle of planning during their vacation.” You can check out a video of how it will work below:
We’ll be on the lookout for even more changes coming to Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes — or Multi-Pass and Single Pass now — so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest updates!
Click here to see 10 big changes that will affect Disney World ticket holders in 2024
What do you think of these changes? Tell us in the comments.
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Oh come on. I’m not going to WDW til Jan 2025 and just did ALL the prep work to learn Genie+ and ILL. And now a name change!!! Holy crap. And other than the rides you were probably going to purchase Genie+ plus for now I have to be clairvoyant and know if I want MultiPass 7 days in advance??!!! I love the convenience of not on your phone all day but not even the weather person knows what’s going to happen in 7 days??!! Ok. Luckily other patrons will test this all out and give me some good “guides” before Jan 2025. Thanks DFB. Love your work. ?
YES! Finally! It stinks that they replaced a free service with a paid one, butunfortunately, the free one was gone for good. At least they are bringing back the ability to plan in advance, and taking away the most painful part of Genie+ and ILL (after the cost) which was being up and COHERENT enough at 7 a.m. to mad dash your way through these purchases and reservations. I will be interested to learn when the ‘7 day advance’ window starts – midnight or another time, for example, like ADRs work. Thank you for the update!
Is it true this applies only to those in the U.S. only? I’m from Canada and I’ve heard it’s N/A for International visitors even though I’m staying on property next January.
Do we know if the new multi-pass will allow guests use lightning lane to ride an attraction more than one time like the original fast pass? Or will it remain the same as a once per ride system with genie plus?
So many mixed feelings. I still hate that we’re paying for something that used to be free! I had hoped to wait and see what crowds were like closer to our date then decide if we needed/wanted Genie+ each day. There’s 7 of us so it’s a big price. But now I feel like we’re kind of stuck purchasing in advance. If we don’t do it we may not be able to get it before the trip. So now do I lock in another $1000 for something I may not ultimate need?
Do you think there will be any good reservations still available for people staying off site?
Hi Carla! Disney hasn’t stated that you can’t ride the same ride more than once in a day with the new Multi-Pass, but they also haven’t said you can so we are keeping an eye on it and will have more information in late July when it officially rolls out.
So do we know what the price of this is going to be as assuming it will be a set price now and not a staggered due to crowds price?? Coming in August from the UK, help!!!! So I can purchase Henoe 7 days before for duration of stay and pre book 3 rides per park visit in advance just like the old fast pass system
So our vacations last full is the 24th. Will I be able to book the 24th on the new system when every other day in my stay is on the genie +? I thought I was stressed out now, now I have to really think what that last day will be!
We are doing our first Disney World trip from July 27th-July 31, so our trip will fall under the new rules. I am a little confused as to what exactly I can now do with the new Genie+ rules. Your YouTube videos have been the holy grail for my planning and I was wondering if you guys can do a video detailing the new rules/benefits ect prior to the July 24th change date?? AJ, help!!
How will the multi pass work day-of? If we use one of our lightning lanes will we be able to book another? I’m going in late August.
As a nearly 60 year Disney guest and fan (eeeek, old) I am so very thankful for what you and your team do!!!! I enjoy your blogs so much, so fun and informative and it’s a great way to begin my day! What a wonderful difference you all are making in sharing Disney magic!
Thank You!!!
Leslie
At what point would you be able to make a 4th ride selection? Two hours after park opening or after all pre selected rides are completed?
Do we know if the free ride photos will be included with the multi pass?
Why Disney is squeezing every last dollar out of its guests:
“This improved cash generation will enable Disney to ramp up its dividend and restart share buybacks. Disney announced that it was boosting its quarterly dividend payment by 50% to $0.45 per share, and the company plans to spend about $3 billion in fiscal 2024 on share buybacks. The new dividend plus the share buybacks add up to more than $6 billion of capital returns to shareholders over the next year.
Fueled by cost-cutting
This surge in profit and free cash flow is mostly being driven by Disney’s aggressive cost-cutting initiatives. Revenue was flat in the first quarter, with growth in experiences and sports offsetting a decline in the entertainment segment. The company managed to shave off $500 million in operating costs as part of its plan to find $7.5 billion in annualized savings by the end of this fiscal year. Disney said that it’s on track to meet or exceed that target.” Nasdaq.com
So happy about this change!!!! Genie+ was stressing me out! It’s sad this is basically fastpass but we have to pay for it now but I love the option to plan!
Will the cost be the same as Genie+ is now?
Thanks so much for the excellent update! We are not going until last week of January and I was already completely overwhelmed by learning Genie+ and LL. Now to begin again. How will we know the cost for three adults 16+ . I have MS which affects me cognitively and trying to figure this out is beyond challenging. Persistence will prevail!
Hi – Do you know how this will work if the switch occurs while you are staying at Disney? We are going to be there starting the 21st and leaving the 28th. What would this mean for us?
I am truly looking forward to seeing more “how to” on this before we go in September. So confused!
I guess Disney is turning a deaf ear! Stop charging for Fast Passes!
I can’t find any information on what happens after you scan into the tier 1 ride . For example, can I get a pass for Slinky if I choose Rockin Rollercoaster as my Tier 1 pick?
We are staying at Pop and checking in July 28. With this change starting the 24th, do we know yet if the “7 days before your visit” starts the 24th or the 17th? I’m hoping it will roll out so that Disney hotel guests will get a full week ahead of the start of our trip to make selections.
Shame anyone outside of the US won’t be able to book until they’re actually in the US. Unfortunately I don’t travel to WDW 7 days before I want to go to Disney! Kind of sucks seeing as I’m staying at a Disney deluxe hotel to get perks and this one is effectively taken away from me.
I don’t appreciate paying for something that was always free. Fast pass was the best. Disney is money hungry, not family oriented.
Does this mean virtual queues are going away?
Considering this is pretty much what Fast Pass+ was (other than the cost), I’m guessing that Disney leadership will try to forget that Genie+ ever existed. It certainly wasn’t cheap to roll out, brand, etc., only to kill it a few years later. It seems apparent that they should have just kept the Fast Pass+ name and charged for it if the goal was to drive revenue. We can blame the whole thing on Chapek for once again failing to listen to guests. At least the change aligns better with what guests have been asking for. Everyone can give up on the idea of making this free like it once was because Disney isn’t going to lose the revenue stream that significantly impacts spend per guest.
Is there a 12 person limit like in Genie+? We have a party of 15 that is going. Not sure why all of the announcements on Disneys site never includes limits or information related to large parties.
If this was stated somewhere I missed it and I apologize, but is the “Multi-Pass” good for more than one park on the same day?
In other words Disney is bringing back the old Fast Pass system but now you have to pay an extra $1000 a trip for a family of 4. Disney just keeps on making people mad.
Thank goodness! Setting an alarm every day of your vacation to book genie+ and lightening lanes is terrible. Wish it was free again but at least we can book before we leave home and since we always stay onsite, we’ll be able to book for the whole trip. Great change!
Yes; it is not available to book for international guests – must be in the US to purchase and book. Inexplicable and grossly unfair- many angry guests from outside the US right now.
Why isn’t test track listed under Epcot?
Hi Lynn! Test Track is currently undergoing a refurbishment and we don’t yet know what it’s going to be once it reopens, but we are keeping an eye on it.
Per my son…. Now they just need to make it free and call it FastPass! (Ahhhh, the good old days!)
I will not miss waking up at 7am to make LL selections while everyone else sleeps in…
Hi Ann! At this time, yes, Disney has not stated that there will be an extra charge to add a park hopping option, but as with anything, that could change in the future.
Hi Karen! As far as we know, this new change only affects Lightning Lanes and Individual Lightning Lanes are they are set up now and Virtual Queues will still exist.
Hi Robert! According to the Cast Member I spoke to you will use Genie+ until July 24th, at which point you will have to purchase the new Multipass for the remainder of your vacation. I would encourage you to speak with Guest Services upon arrival just to confirm and make sure you’re not missing out on anything.
Hi Paul! The “7 days before your visit” will unfortunately be July 24th for you per the CM that I spoke with when I asked how this will affect guests already in the middle of their vacation.
Absolutely disgusting that international DVC members, like us since 2004, will be excluded from advance reservations.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Leslie! I have passed them along to the team. We truly appreciate you for coming along with us while we navigate all the changes.
Hi Kian! Yes, you will be able to book another ride (to hold a total of 3 at a time) once you use your first Multipass.
Hi Marla! A video is in the works!
Hi LeAnn! Yes, according to the Cast Member that I spoke to you will no longer have access to Genie+ on July 24th and if you’re wanting to book rides you will need to buy the Multi Pass that day.
Am I wrong in assuming that Disney could have implemented these changes immediately when they replaced the Free Fast Pass with the Paid Genie Plus. Am I cynical in thinking that Disney made us pay for the Genie Plus so after three they could implement this and we would be so happy that we are now getting three rides. Sorry for thinking that but after 40 years of going to Disney, so many things have changed for the worse. Bring back THE OLD DISNEY
I’m actually excited about it – yes, it will have hiccups i’m sure, but i’m in!
I’ve read that these Genie+ changes only come into effect once you’re on US soil, so effectively us Brits can’t take advantage of this change (7 days in advance) until we arrive at the Disney hotels.
Does anyone know if this is true?
If so, not sure what use it is to international visitors of the parks as most slots would have gone by the time we get to use the “perk”. ?
So they just changed “Greedy plus” to the old Fast Pass but now it’s called Lightening lame multi pass and we still pay for it ???
So is the price just going to stay the same price across the board or will Disney still price gouge that as well ?
Thank you for always keeping us informed. Can’t wait to see what you find out for us. I truly don’t know how people plan their vacations with all of the hoops and price increases they have to go through. Maybe they will include FP or whatever long name this is called for Deluxe Hotel guests one day like Universal does.
Lightning lanes: What about the cost of each option?
My 2 cents… as an international visitor from the UK arriving August 10th 2024, I am extremely annoyed that I won’t be able to use the 7-day advance booking perk and there is a good chance that at least the Tier 1 rides will be booked out.
Secondly, whilst I can see this as a very positive step for those who are attending the park for maybe only 1 or 2 days as they can at least book some experiences for those days, for those of us where we are spending 2 weeks and want to be able to have flexibility (e.g. deciding to take a rest/pool day on the fly), having to book rides in advance and tie your party to a specific park on a specific day is a negative thing.
As with everything, it will suit some and not others. For me, it’s definitely a bad change.