Hello Michael!
Welcome to planDisney! Walt Disney World Resort in December is so magical! You will be able to enjoy the Holiday decorations, music, and tasty treats that are only available during this special time of year! Make sure to keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for when
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starts up as it is very popular and a "must do". Just a heads up, there is no Genie+ needed or available for this event but it won't matter as crowds are much less than on a normal Park day.
Let's get to business, the answer is
yes! The benefits of
Genie+ and
Lightning Lane are available to anyone on the day they have Park Reservations! Starting at midnight the night before you can purchase Genie+ for your entire party for that day only. The cost fluctuates and can start at $15 and increase based on the date. I recommend purchasing Genie+ well before 7:00 am of your Park day as you can book your first Lightning Lane arrival window at that time. The next time you can select a Lightning Lane arrival is two hours after the opening for the Park you have a
reservation with. For example, let's say
Magic Kingdom Park opens at 9:00 am, then you can select your next arrival window at 11:00 am. From then on you can book every two hours or after you used the last Lightning Lane that was booked. The
My Disney Experience Mobile App now has a feature where it will tell you at the top when you can book your next arrival window. I always set an alarm on my phone to make sure I am on top of the bookings as I want to maximize every moment.
Just a tip, the arrival windows for each ride are limited each day. Some popular rides will have run out of arrival windows by midday! As a result, I prioritize my selections on which rides are very popular such as Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom Park and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT. You will quickly see when making your selections that some attractions will have availability immediately while others are approaching Park closing. If that attraction with arrival windows near Park closing is something you want to experience you should get it as it will disappear completely soon.
A Disability Access Service (DAS) pass is not needed if you purchase Genie+ and I hope you get to experience all the magic your hearts desire in the Parks. If you are interested, I found a
list organizing attractions and experiences where it breaks down which ones require a transfer out of the wheelchair.
I hope this helps and you get to experience Disney "snow" in the Florida sunshine during this Holiday Season adventure!
-Nimmy