Disney’s Genie and Lightning Lane

Walt Disney World, Florida

The Genie and Lightning Lane system debuted in the Fall of 2021 at Disney World in Florida. Lightning Lane replaces Disney’s previous Fast Pass system and since it’s arrival guests have had many questions! How does it work? How much does it cost and oh so important how do you use it? Let’s dive right in!

There are actually four separate parts to the Genie and Lightning Lane system. Genie which is a complimentary service provided to all guests at Disney parks, Lightning Lane Multi Pass which is a paid add on service and Lightening Lane Single Pass which is a separate paid add on. Then there’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass which allows you to go on rides that have Lightning Lanes without making passes.

Let’s start with the complimentary Genie! Genie is built right into both the Disney World and Disney Land My Disney Experience apps. Genie includes personalized itinerary builders set to maximize your time in the parks. You answer a few simple questions such as what characters you’re interested in seeing, what kind of a day you’d like to have-relaxing or adventurous, food you’d like to eat and ride choices. Once you’ve made your preferences Genie will check the Disney data and give you suggestions for your day. You can accept or decline experiences. Services include-

• Get Itinerary Updates from Morning to Night: Disney Genie will continue to update your itinerary throughout your day, so you can be more spontaneous and go with the flow.
• Find Your Favorites at a Glance: Create your very own personal tip board to instantly see your favorites. It will display current AND forecasted future wait times, helping you predict when you might experience quicker entry to attractions.

Enjoy More Flexibility and Fun: Disney Genie brings existing planning features together in one place. Join a virtual queue at certain attractions, make dining and experience reservations, mobile order food at many locations, get help from a virtual assistant and more.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Lightning Lane is a paid add on service that is now provided to guests at Disney parks. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available to purchase for $15-$39 per person (plus tax)-per day at Disney World . Disney World’s price point varies based on which Disney park you are purchasing for, have a Hopper pass don’t worry you can use it at multiple parks too, more to come on that! This is in addition to your already reserved park ticket. Disney Land’s Lightning Lane is an additional cost starting at $32 per day(plus tax)-per person and this includes both parks. Lightning Lane in many ways acts as a Fast Pass. You can make your ride selections in the My Disney Experience app (MDE) 7 days before travel if staying on site at a Disney Resort OR 3 days prior to travel if staying offsite.. Lightning Lane can be purchased day to day through the MDE app for the length of your stay all at one time. When purchasing day by day you may make your purchase starting at 12am the day you intend on using Lightning Lane.

On the first day of your booking window-7 days prior for staying onsite, 3 days prior for staying offsite, Ride selections are made three at a time in advance and then one at a time after checking into your first ride inside the park. Ride selections can be made the day of (7 days prior for staying onsite, 3 days prior for staying offsite) starting at 7am in the morning. So these selections will be made by the guests as opposed to with travel agents as previously in the Fast Pass system. Guest staying on and off site who have purchased Lightning Lane can both make selections starting at 7am. Guests select the ride they wish to ride on the app, enter the Lightening Lane area of the ride during your scheduled return time (don’t worry you have an hour!), scan your Magic Band or MDE app and there you go, ride your ride with little to no wait. You can open your MDE app as soon as you’re in line and pick your next selection. Have a hopper pass? When purchasing the Lightning Lane the app will ask you which park you plan on starting at-select that park and make reservations for your first 3 rides. Once you are in the selected park and check into your first ride all rides will open up for you at all parks. Keep in mind you will select one ride from Tier 1 and then the next 2 from Tier 2 or 3 in the park you plan on starting at. More popular rides will obviously have a longer wait time. Most popular rides have the Lightning Lane option. You’ll also be able to take unique Disney themed pictures when purchasing Lightning Lane in your MDE app and you’ll be able to hear stories through unique audio experiences throughout the parks.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Rides-

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Tier1)
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion
• “it’s a small world”
• Jungle Cruise (Tier 1)
• Mad Tea Party
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peter Pan’s Flight (Tier 1)
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Space Mountain
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Mountain (Tier 1)
• Goofy’s Barnstormer
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Epcot

• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
• Frozen Ever After (Tier 1)
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land
• Mission Space
• Soarin’ Around the World (Tier 1)
• Spaceship Earth
• Test Track
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (Tier 1)

Hollywood Studios

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
• Disney Jr. Play & Dance
• Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad (Tier 1)
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Tier 1)
• MuppetVision 3D
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Tier 1)
• Slinky Dog Dash (Tier 1)
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Toy Story Mania

Animal Kingdom

• A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King
• Dinosaur
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na’vi River Journey
• The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
• Feathered Friends in Flight
• Expedition Everest

Lightening Lane Single Pass

Disney also has 2 rides in each park that are part of the Individual Lightning Lane Single Pass. These are highly in demand rides. Pricing for this option varies by date and time. Prices start at $7 and go up to $17 based on time of day, crowds, etc. Guests staying on property at Disney World are able to book first at 7am 7 days before their travel date and then off site guests can start purchasing lightning lanes 3 days before their travel date. Each guest may book 2 lightning lane passes on 2 separate rides so, no you can’t ride Rise of the Resistance twice in one day. You will also have flexibility in choosing what time you reserve your pass and will also have an hour to return and ride.

Ride Options-

Magic Kingdom

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Tron

Epcot

• Guardian’s of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

Hollywood Studios

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Animal Kingdom

• Avatar Flight of Passage

Lightning Lane Premier Pass

Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows guest to ride each ride that has a Lightning Lane Multi Pass at one park WITHOUT making prior reservations. Once the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is selected and purchased for the day you can simply click into each Lightning Lane ride once per day-so no riding Peter Pan’s twice unless you stand in the standby by line. Prices vary per park per day but start around $330 per person per day. Like mentioned before onsite guests can book this option 7 days prior to their trip and offsite guests can book 3 days prior to their trip.

I hope this helps you understand the new Genie and Lightning Lane system a little bit better. I highly recommend adding Lightning Lane to your vacation. It made things so much less stressful and we were able to spend time doing all the things we love and not standing in lines. In my opinion it’s such a great option.

Need help planning your magical trip? You can find me on Facebook at Callie at Wanderkeep Travel or Inst at Wanderingwithcallie you can email me at callie@wanderkeep.com and as always my services are complimentary when you book through ME!