Welcome to planDisney, Katie.
It's not long now until you'll be hopping on a magic carpet ride and flying to a whole new world. There's so much to see and experience for the
50th Anniversary Celebration. On my last trip, I was particularly in awe of the
Beacons of Magic on display throughout the 4 Theme Parks. Also,
Cinderella Castle looks practically perfect in its EARidescant colors. Get the camera ready!
If you're looking at adding "phenomenal cosmic powers" to your Disney days, then
Disney Genie+ is the way to go. This service allows you to select Lightning Lane entrances at over 40 attractions throughout the Theme Parks. There are two ways to add this service to your tickets.
My preferred way is to purchase it on a day-to-day basis. You can do this very easily on the
My Disney Experience App. On the day of your Theme Park visit(s), open up the app, click on the three lines at the bottom right corner of your screen, and then select "My Genie Day." There should be an option in purple that says "Get Disney Genie+ for Today." Select it and you'll find a list of all the people in your party that you've added via My Friends & Family. All you need to do is select the members of your party that will use this service and then make your purchase. I like this option because it gives you more flexibility. You might find that you don't need Disney Genie+ on certain Theme Park days. For example, many people feel like they can enjoy their desired attractions at EPCOT and Disney's Animal Kingdom without this service.
Another way to add Disney Genie+ to your tickets is to purchase it for the entirety of your visit. If you'd like to do this, you'll need to call "
Existing Tickets" and speak directly to a Cast Member. In the words of Jafar, they have "the power! The absolute power!" to make those wishes come true.
I hope that gives you some clarity, Katie. If you're looking for something fun to do on any non-Park days, then
Disney Springs is so much fun! You can get some pretty magical (and unique) souvenirs and there are so many wonderful places to eat. I recently had a delectable meal with some friends at
Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'. And whatever you do, don't miss out on a visit to
Gideon's Bakehouse. There's usually a bit of a wait to get inside, however, it's worth it. Their cookies are sublime and their cold brew coffees are out of this world!
Thanks for stopping by, Katie. See ya real soon!
Mike