Hi Aidan! Thank you for bringing your question to us here at planDisney.
I see that you are visiting the
Walt Disney World Resort in September. While I would probably say that
any time of year is the best time of year to visit the resort, there
is something special about the fall. The weather is starting to get a little cooler and my favorite
EPCOT festival is usually being offered, the
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival! Dates have not yet been announced for this year, but if last year is any indication, there's a good chance it will be offered again in September. Keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for any announcements related to this fabulous (and delicious) event!
I have good news for you, Aidan. Your friend is definitely able to purchase their own
Disney Genie+ access as well as book
Lightning Lanes separately from the group. When you go to purchase the service, you will have the option to purchase it for your friend (as long as
you are connected), but you do not have to. Similarly, when you go to make a Lightning Lane reservation, you will have the option to include them in the group, but you do not have to.
If you decide that you want to book an
Individual Lightning Lane for one of the most popular rides at the resort, you have to book that separately from Disney Genie+. These reservations go very quickly and while you can book them separately, if you want your friend to ride with you, I would recommend that one person purchases it for the whole group. I say this because with this service, you get to choose the time you want to ride and if you do it separately, you may not get the same times and won't be able to ride together. My friends and I usually take turns booking these types of Lightning Lanes and then we pay each other back at the end of the vacation.
When you visit the resort, be sure to ride the brand-new rollercoaster
TRON / Lightcyle Run Presented by Enterprise at
Magic Kingdom Park. It's a remarkable experience. It was also recently announced that everyone's favorite imaginative dragon, Figment, will start meeting Guests in EPCOT at the Imagination! pavilion later this summer. You can read all about this, and many other wonderful additions coming to the resort, over on the
Disney Parks Blog.
Aidan, I hope that you, your friend, and your family have a wonderful visit to the resort. Remember that Disney Genie+ can be purchased each day after 12 a.m. midnight EST and you can make your first reservation starting at 7 a.m.
You've never had a friend quite like the Genie,
Matt