What is Genie Plus 120 minute rule?

Another offering that Disney introduced in its theme parks recently is Genie+, a paid service that replaced the old FastPass. Genie+ lets guests pay for some experiences that save some lines, choosing return time for the rides in the same way as FastPass. However, there is an important rule that guests should understand about Genie+: the 120 minute rule. This rule essentially prevents guests from being able to book new Lightning Lane return times too often. This particular aspect is crucial to know and understand because guests can plan and optimize their day in a Disney park, especially when using Genie+.

How does The 120 Minute Rule work in Genie+?

Lightning Lane means that when guests use Genie+ for the first time, they are not allowed to book another one within 120 minutes from the time they reserved the first. So for instance, let’s say you made a 10 AM return time for Space Mountain, then for Genie+ service to allow you to choose another return time for the ride, it will only be available at 12 PM. This avoids guests from making multiple Genie+ reservations at one go and makes them to select wisely at different times of the day.

But there are some nuances – the 120-minute wait is counted from the moment you select the Lightning Lane return time regardless of the time spent on riding the attraction. That is why if you think you are going to book that 10 AM Space Mountain Fastpass, your 120 minutes starts from 8 AM even if 10 AM never comes.

What was Disney’s motive for implementing this rule?

Disney had this rule in place to achieve a couple of things. First, it seeks to avoid misuse and misapplication of the system. If there were no restrictions, guests could continuously utilize Genie+ throughout the day to make multiple reservations and make standby lines irrelevant. These include lines and wait times, which play a crucial role to ensure safety and to regulate the capacity and pacing of the experience. The 120 minute policy limits the guest’s capability to use Genie+ to avoid lines throughout the park.

Second, Disney probably wanted to avoid having Genie+ users exhausted throughout the day, obsessed with their mobile devices continually making Lightning Lane selections. This helps to stay in the idea of visiting attractions, performances, shops, and cafes rather than getting obsessed with the next return time. The 120 minute gap provides a logical break between Genie+ bookings.

How does the rule affect your current Genie+ plan?

The 120 minute rule influences how the guests should utilize the Genie+ service once bought for the day ($15-25 per guest per day). Being aware that one can only book an attraction every 120 minutes helps to avoid constantly using Genie+ all day, which leads to excessive stacking of the return times. However, discipline plays a crucial role to ensure that time and effort is utilized in the best possible manner.

Generally, the best uses of Genie+ are for new Lightning Lane bookings either:Generally, the best uses of Genie+ are for new Lightning Lane bookings either:

1. Early in the morning to be able to get the best out of the attraction.

2. After the redemption periods to ensure that you are ready with the next attraction

   For example, if you book a Genie+ Lightning Lane slot early in the morning for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, once you have ridden the attraction at your return time, you will be able to book another slot because at least two hours will have elapsed. It enables you to possibly get a chance to book both leading and other less popular attractions in the morning and early afternoon.

   In the afternoon, you may use your first Genie+ selection and then wait for 120 minutes before riding again to book in advance due to increased attendance in the evening such as Frozen Ever After in EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Runaway Railway. How some Timing Genie+ can be optimally scheduled is how it can be used around the early morning and evening periods within a park day.

   Other factors, concerning the 120 Minutes Rule

   A common question that people have with regard to this policy is whether the 120 minutes count for each individual or is cumulative for all the guests in the room. However, it is important to note that the 120 minute rule is per guest. Therefore, if mom makes a Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation in the morning, the rest of her family can still make their own Genie+ reservation at any given time.

   Another aspect that could be classified as minor is the matter of park hopping. It is important to note that the 120 minute policy still applies regardless of the park hopping from one park to the other. So even if you used Genie+ for Test Track in Epcot then crossing over would mean having to wait another 120 minutes from that Genie+ booking time to make another Lightning Lane reservation for something at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. Plan park hopping appropriately!

   Lastly, this rule is for the services that come with Genie+ when you buy it for the day. For instance, it would not prevent guests from buying an la carte Individual Lightning Lane, such as for Rise of the Resistance, which is charged separately. However, it appears that buying multiple Individual Lightning Lanes at different times may be limited, depending on the day and the availability.

   Genie+ Tips for the 120 Minute Rule

   To make the most of Genie+, keep some tips around the 120 minute rule in mind:To make the most of Genie+, keep some tips around the 120 minute rule in mind:

• Plan carefully when it comes to morning and evening parks for bookings

• Important to know when the 120 minutes elapsed time starts without considering the ride time is from the last booking time.

• Understand that the policy is per guest, so the family/group members can take turns to book

• As mentioned about hopping parks, 120 minutes still continues from the last booking time.

• It pertains to Genie+ Lightning Lane selections only and not directly to Individual Lightning Lane purchases

  But when you start to look at it in its entirety, understanding the Genie+ 120 minute rule is crucial to the best use of your day and the new paid line skipping service for Disney Parks. Timing and the proper estimation of the period to wait between the bookings is a nice way to take the frustration out and put the fun in! Make the most out of those 120 minute windows by properly using early morning and evening Genie+ bookings.