Michelle, hello and welcome! I’m so glad you stopped by planDisney with your question!
Michelle, taking seven little Mouseketeers to the Most Magical Place on Earth certainly is something that Tinker Bell should know, so I’ll be happy to mention it when I next see her. Now, while Tinker Bell is excellent at sprinkling pixie dust and helping out Peter Pan, the Disney Genie system and Magic Bands are best left to planDisney panelists, so let’s chat about your question.
First, while I love how
Magic Bands help me keep my hands free in the parks, they are an optional add-on to your trip. Think of these like a wearable ticket on your wrist that ties together your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel stay (if you are staying onsite), tickets, and all of your daily plans. Alternatively, you are able to do this on your smartphone as well. If you’d like to purchase MagicBands, you can do so through your
My Disney Experience Account if you are staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel. Otherwise, they can be purchased at multiple locations in each of the four parks and on www.shopdisney.com.
Disney Genie, however, is a service provided free of charge through your My Disney Experience account that you can access through the
My Disney Experience Mobile App. This service shows you wait times for attractions, gives you suggestions based on the information you provide, and helps you navigate the park.
If you’d like to lessen your wait time in standby lines, there is an option to pay for an upgraded Disney Genie, called Disney Genie+. Take a look at the overview
HERE. For an added fee,
per person, per day, Disney Genie+ allows you to select
Lightning Lanes throughout the day for popular attractions. Please keep in mind that you are able to enjoy all of the attractions, rides, shows, etc. without any upgrades through the standby lines or a
virtual queue (only one attraction has the virtual queue system currently:
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind). I have enjoyed the parks both with the upgraded Disney Genie+ and without!
Michelle, I hope this information is helpful as you continue to plan for your May vacation. If you haven't already made your
Disney Park Pass reservations, make sure to do so once your tickets have been linked to your account as these complimentary reservations are required for all guests in addition to your theme park tickets.
Wishing you a truly unforgettable trip with your little travelers. Please come on back to planDisney with any other questions you might have! Just like Captain Hook's trusty first mate, Mr. Smee, we are happy to serve!
Lauren