Hiya Pa!
Planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort is one of the most exciting experiences in all the land! I'm sure the anticipation is building as you picture the wind in your hair on
Slinky Dog Dash or the delicious bites you may try at the World Showcase in EPCOT. Speaking of EPCOT, the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will be in full swing, or should I say "full bloom," during your trip! You'll experience the beauty of nature all around you, with life-size topiaries modeled after your favorite characters and
garden-themed activities for kids waiting for you at the park.
As Olaf likes to say, "Some things never change," but as we've seen in the last few unusual years, many things do! I like to embrace these changes, especially at Walt Disney World, and learn how they can help me experience the most magic during my stay. The
Disney Genie Service is one of the most prominent changes to the Walt Disney World Resort. There are a few ways that you may choose to utilize this new service, so I'll do my best to outline them for you below.
Disney Genie is a free service available to all Guests through the
My Disney Experience Mobile App. The Genie will create a customized itinerary based on your preferences to help you experience your ideal day in the park. The app uses forecasted wait times and location services to create the best plan for you. With this free service, you will not receive priority access to attractions or experiences.
Disney Genie+ is an add-on to your ticket. I like to think of it as an enhancement to the standard Disney Genie service. For a set price per person, per day, you can reserve return times for rides, experiences and shows throughout the day. You can make your first Disney Genie+ attraction selection at 7 a.m. on the day you plan to visit the park. You can make another selection once you scan into the first ride or two hours later, whichever comes first. You'll repeat this process throughout the day to utilize the much speedier Lightning Lane when visiting your favorite attractions. Disney Genie+ includes over 40 rides throughout all four theme parks.
Now.. the last piece to the puzzle. There are a select few rides that are not available through Disney Genie+, known as
Individual Lightning Lane attractions. These tend to be the highest-demand rides with the longest wait times, such as
Avatar Flight of Passage and
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. To use the Lightning Lane entrance for these rides, you will make an additional purchase for each attraction you'd like to do that day. If you're staying at a Disney Resort Hotel or another qualifying hotel, you can make these purchases at 7 a.m. If you're staying off-property, you can purchase these attractions once the park opens. You can make up to two Individual Lightning Lane attraction purchases per day.
Pa, I know this is a lot to take in, but take your time going over each option to see what best fits your family.
Have a magical day,
Ashley