Planning to visit in July. While purchasing tickets we purchased the Hopper Pass. Last time they had the Fast Pass and now we are reading about Lightening Pass and Genie Plus. What is the best way to visit the park and be able to see a show or ride a ride?”

Hi Mark! Welcome to planDisney!

I'm excited about your upcoming visit to the Walt Disney World Resort! There is nothing quite like a summer getaway to the Most Magical Place on Earth! With so many ways to customize your trip, you'll have the ability to do and see everything that you want during your stay! Adding on the Park Hopper Option to your tickets is the best way to keep your plans flexible while also getting the most out of your park days. There may be times when you want to prioritize rides in the morning hours at one park but watch the nighttime spectacular at a different one. Having the Park Hopper Option will allow you to do just this!

Mark, you are correct! Disney has introduced Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane entrances as a replacement to the FastPass system. The new services operate differently, but the benefit of bypassing the standby queue on select attractions remains the same. To use Disney Genie+, you'll need to purchase it either before your visit for the entire length of your tickets or the morning of each park day if you prefer to only use it on select days. Then, starting each park day at 7 AM, you'll be able to make your visit Disney Genie+ selection for the attraction of your choosing. Individual Lightning Lane entrances are an additional paid service that is reserved for the most popular attractions at each of the four theme parks. Each attraction has a different cost and can vary daily. If you are staying at a Disney Resorts Hotel or other select hotels, you'll be able to reserve an arrival window starting at 7 AM for any time slot that is available when booking. Otherwise, you'll need to wait until the official park opening to do so.

Having a plan when visiting the parks each day will be your best bet to ensure you ride as many attractions and experience as many shows as possible. Using these paid services will only enhance your day and allow you to fit in more since you are lowering your wait time for these attractions. But, there are other tips that will help you have the best day! 

• Arrive at the park early to be one of the first Guests inside. You'll be able to ride a few attractions with shorter wait times since the parks will not be as busy during this time. (If you are staying at a Disney Resorts Hotel or other select hotels, you can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry every day and enter the parks 30 min early!)
• Download the My Disney Experience App to your mobile device! You'll be able to make Genie+ and Lightning Lane reservations using the app along with countless other options.
• Prioritize rides and attractions in the morning over shows. Many of the shows at Walt Disney World can fit in a lot of Guests, so the wait times are typically lower throughout the day for many of these experiences.
• Eat lunch or dinner at off times to beat the crowds and minimize your time waiting on your food. If you are eating at a quick-service location at the parks, certain times of the day are busier than others. If you order your food before or after the rush, you can spend less time here and more time riding attractions!

Mark, I hope this information helps you during your upcoming stay! Have a magical vacation!

See ya real soon!
Greg