Hiya there, Kathleen! Thanks for stopping by planDisney!
It looks like an adventure in the great wide somewhere awaits! I can't wait for you to experience all that The Happiest Place has to offer this summer. If you can make time for a
Character Dining reservation, it comes highly recommended by this planDisney panelist! I find that no trip is complete without having a fun-filled meal with some of our favorite on-screen characters.
Goofy's Kitchen and
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures are two of my favorites, as you can grab your meal outside of the parks before embarking on your journey!
Kathleen,
Disney Genie+ is a newly-introduced add-on to your
theme park ticket. With Genie+, you can make reservations for particular rides and attractions ahead of time, allowing you to skip the long waits by utilizing the Lightning Lane rather than the standby line. Here's a run down of how it works if you purchase Genie+. Once you enter the turnstiles at your starting park the day of your visit, you can use the
Disneyland Mobile App and open the "Tip Board." This page shows all the rides and attractions at the park, the current standby wait time and the available time slots to reserve with Genie+. Select the attraction of your choice and you'll receive the first available return time. Once you scan into that attraction OR two hours later, whichever comes first, you can hop back over to the Tip Board to make your next selection. Repeat this process throughout the day to maximize your time and reduce long waits!
I believe that Genie+ is well worth it at the Disneyland Resort. I've been able to experience many more rides in a day than I have without the add-on, which then leads to more time for my favorite activity of all, snacks!
If you choose not to add Genie+ to your ticket, you can still utilize the free Disney Genie service. Though you will not be able to access the Lightning Lane or make reservations for attractions, you can allow the Genie to create a personalized itinerary to help plan your day! You input your preferences in the Disneyland Mobile App and you'll receive a suggested itinerary, including forecasted wait times and nearby dining locations!
Kathleen, I hope you enjoy this magic carpet ride!
Have a magical day,
Ashley