How does Genie Plus actually work?

Genie Plus is a paid service that Disney has introduced to replace the FastPass and FastPass+ services at Disney World and Disney Land. The service enables one to bypass normal line for an aristotle of $15-25 per head per day depending on the date and park.

How Genie Plus Works

Genie Plus simply enables guests to enter the attraction via the Lightning Lane, which means that you will not have to wait in the traditional standby line. Currently, the only way you can create multiple Lightning Lane reservations a day is by getting the next ticket after your current one has been scanned or after the time has elapsed.

When they enter the park each day, guests can make their first Lightning Lane pick for any time later in the day. This is different from the former FastPass system, where one had to book the attractions 60 days in advance. The new system is much better because it has a more free form and is not rigid.

Once a guest enters the first Lightning Lane entrance, they can already book their next time slot without having to wait in line. The return windows are usually later in the day, often 1-2 hours after the time of the initial call, depending on availability. The app tells you the available time; you select the time suitable for your group.

Some of the most famous attractions such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Cars Land Radiator Springs Racers are missing. For all the others, you can still meet this experience only by buying a la carte Lightning Lane passes to bypass the standby line. They range from $7-$20 per person per ride depending on the date and availability of the service. It is important to note that you can only possess one individual attraction pass at any given time.

Genie Plus also comes with the Disney PhotoPass digital downloads from the day you bought the pass. The digital copies accompany the print ones at no additional cost for the participants to take home. Day guests who do not spend the night have to pay for each download separately.

My Disney Experience App As Pointed Out

To be able to make use of the Genie Plus, you require the My Disney Experience application on your device. This appears the place where one is able to make Lightning Lane reservations, check wait times, view tip boards with the next available times and also manage your Disney trip.

Each member of your group who is older than 3 years must have his or her own park ticket connected to the app. After you activate your ticket by scanning it at the entrance turnstile when entering the park for the day, the Genie Plus selection will be available. The selections can only be made all at once for all the party members, therefore, it is best to agree on time.

It indicates current and available return windows of Lightning Lane for each of the attractions. It is advisable to check it throughout the day to have better shots at the time options as they come. That is, you are free to change your reservation in any way as long as the window you selected has not started yet.

Once inside the LL entrance, you swipe your park ticket at the mickey head reader as you would with a fast pass. Some rides also may require face scan for PhotoPass verification as well.

Standout Benefits

Another highly beneficial feature of Genie Plus is that there is no need to go to a specific ride at a certain time to get your FastPass paper ticket. With the app you can make a reservation right now, on the spot at any time that is convenient in the day.

It also saves you time when you don’t have to wait in long queues during a hot sun or a rainy season. People who bring their kids along especially those that are small in age find it useful so that the children do not get cranky due to having to wait in a line that takes an hour. Anyone with disabilities or who has to rely on a mobility aid may also find it essential as well.

Another advantage is that getting access to have as many downloads as possible of the PhotoPass is beneficial rather than have to make a payment each time a photo has been snapped in the park. You can get them digitally with no additional cost so you can use and share them from your trip.

Downsides and Strategies

Due to the fact that Genie Plus is available for purchase separately, many have complained that Disney is charging clients too much for what used to be complimentary extras. However, it does provide more flexibility than old FastPass bookings which used to be rather rigid.

Arguably, the worst part is that you can never be sure that you will get a chance to ride some of the most sought-after headliner attractions. This means that the only way to guarantee that one can get to enjoy them with little or no wait is to purchase an individual Lightning Lane pass.

While using Genie Plus is convenient, it does mean having the phone constantly to check return times and edit choices. If refreshing the app all day sounds stressful, then it might just kill the magic. But it also can be done more easily and without much stress and tension.

One of the approaches is not to book the time windows right at the start when they are the latest. They usually get rescheduled to a later hour in the evening as more guests make their decisions. Instead, prefer early morning and mid of the day time slots.

But also assess if all members of your group require Genie Plus. Children might find these waits more tolerable than adults, since it is shorter. It is rather important to remember that such entertainments as thrill rides should be accompanied with breaks, and maybe, seniors need breaks more often than motion sickness. Identify your requirements and pool some costs by sharing devices where possible.

In a nutshell, Genie Plus offers numerous conveniences with less set-up and organization as compared to Genie. Although it costs more, it empowers the guest to be more flexible in their options. By smart strategizing, one can optimize the worth and at the same time reduce queue standing time.