Hello, Jan! Welcome to planDisney!
We've seen a lot of changes at the
Disneyland Resort over the past few years, one of them being the addition of
Disney Genie, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. Since these are fairly new additions, many Guests have had similar questions. I'd be happy to help clear up the confusion, so you can be on your way to planning your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Disney Genie is a free service available to all Guests. Allow the Genie to take you on a magic carpet ride, customizing your day based on your specific interests and preferences. Disney Genie will use forecasted wait times to help plan the most efficient use of your time in the parks, while also alerting you to nearby dining options and other experiences. You will not need to make an additional purchase to use this service.
Disney Genie+ is an extension of the Disney Genie service, but it is a paid add-on to your ticket purchase. Genie+ allows you to utilize the Lightning Lane entrance to experience faster access to nearly 20 rides and attractions within both parks. Since Genie+ is not a ticket in itself, but rather an add-on to your ticket, you will still need to purchase valid
theme park tickets for admission. You can add Genie+ to your purchase of either a Park Hopper Ticket or a One Park Per Day Ticket. If you choose to purchase One Park Per Day admission and add Genie+ to your purchase, you will be able to make Genie+ selections only in the park you're visiting that day. If you've purchased the Park Hopper Ticket with the Genie+ add-on, you can make selections in both
Disney California Adventure Park and
Disneyland Park on the same day.
Jan, I hope this helps answer your question today. In short, you will need to purchase theme park tickets to enter the park, no matter what. After that, you could choose to use the free Disney Genie service or add to your tickets with a purchase Disney Genie+ for faster ride access.
Happy planning,
Ashley