Hi Denny! Welcome to planDisney! Thanks for stopping by with your question!
I'm sure you are starting to get excited about your upcoming visit to the Walt Disney World Resort! There have been many new additions to the parks, including the introduction of
Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane Entrances. This service has essentially replaced the FastPass Service that was offered previously at all four theme parks. There are some major differences between the two, the biggest one being when you reserve your arrival window for select attractions. Let's discuss the new process for Disney Genie+ and how to effectively use it!
Disney Genie+ is an added paid feature that will allow you to make Lightning Lane reservations to select attractions to bypass the stand-by queue. Essentially, this will create shorter wait times on rides and give you the opportunity to experience more attractions during your park day. You will have the option to purchase Disney Genie+ for your entire stay before your arrival for multi-day tickets or, if you only care to use it on select park days, you can purchase the day of as well.
To start using the service, make sure you have downloaded the
My Disney Experience App to your mobile device. On the day of your park visit, you are allowed to make your first Lightning Lane reservation at 7:00 AM EST before the park opens. Once you enter the park and ride your first Disney Genie+ attraction, you will be able to use the app to find your next selection. You will then continue this process as the day progresses. You will only be able to have one active reservation at a time. There is one exception and that is if your next arrival window is over two hours from the current time. In this scenario, you will be able to make another Lightning Lane selection during this time.
Separate from Genie+ are the
Individual Lightning Lane attractions, which are reserved for the most popular rides. These rides are an additional cost, and the price varies depending on the ride and day. If you are staying at a Disney Resorts Hotel or other select hotels, you can make an Individual Lightning Lane reservation starting at 7 AM EST. Otherwise, you will need to wait until the official park opening to do so. To bypass the wait time on these attractions, you will need to log on to your My Disney Experience App and tap on "Tip Board". Here you will search for the attraction you wish to ride. Currently, at the
Magic Kingdom Park, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the only attraction that qualifies for this individual service.
Denny, I hope this information helps you on your upcoming visit! Have the best time being a part of the
World's Most Magical Celebration!
See ya real soon!
Greg