Hi there, Diana! Welcome to planDisney!
In just a few short days, you'll be walking down Main Street U.S.A. with a Mickey-shaped treat in hand, ready to embark on a magical adventure! As a fellow New Jersey resident, I know you must be excited to escape the cold weather while visiting Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and the rest of the crew!
There is a new system in place at the Walt Disney World Resort to help avoid longer wait times. I'll give you a breakdown of what to expect!
Disney Genie is a free service available to all Guests located within the
My Disney Experience Mobile App. When you use Disney Genie, you will input your preferences for your park day, including the types of rides you enjoy, must-do attractions and more. The Genie will do his best to grant your wish by creating a customized itinerary, using forecasted wait times to help you find the best times to visit each attraction. It is important to note that with Disney Genie, you do not get to skip or move faster through lines.
Disney Genie+ is an add-on to your ticket. With this additional purchase, you will have access to the Lightning Lane, a line located next to the standby line designed to allow Guests faster access and minimal wait times. In order to utilize the Lightning Lane, you will need to make a reservation for each attraction you'd like to visit. You can make your first selection at 7 a.m. and your next selection after you scan into the first attraction or two hours later, whichever comes first. You will repeat this process throughout the day and will be given the next available time slot for each ride you select. Over 40 attractions within all four parks are available with the purchase of Disney Genie+.
There are a few rides that are not included with Disney Genie+, such as
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. These attractions are the more popular rides that generally boast much longer wait times. In order to access the Lightning Lane for these attractions, you are required to make an additional Individual Lightning Lane purchase. You can do so at 7 a.m. if staying at a
Disney Resort Hotel or at the park's posted opening time if staying off-property. You can purchase up to two Individual Lightning Lane attractions per day and unlike Disney Genie+, you'll be able to choose your return time for each selection.
Diana, I know this new system is quite a bit different from what was used in the past, so please feel free to reach out with any additional questions! With your stay coming up so soon, our goal is to help you be as prepared as possible, so you can maximize the magic during your vacation! If you'd like to
ask me a follow-up question directly, I'm happy to continue helping you through the process before you embark on your adventure in the great wide somewhere!
Until next time,
Ashley