By now, everyone has probably heard that Genie Plus is going away and a new (and improved, we think) Lightning Lane has been introduced.
What does this mean? How does it work and what do we need to know? Let’s break it down.
Genie+ was an add-on to your Disney World experience in which you could add an additional cost to your park ticket to reserve times for different attractions in whichever park you were visiting. It had some negatives starting with the price, but the two biggest issues we had with it was the 7am book your first attraction and the fact that whoever was in control of your group was on his or her phone constantly trying to book the next attraction. Â
Disney must have heard these complaints from many guests because in the new Lightning Lane options, those two issues have been taken care of…well, sort of.
Here is what we know so far:
Genie+ will change to two options: Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Lightning Lane Single Pass was formerly the individual Lightning Lane. Here is a quick look which is explained fully below.Â
Disney Lightning Lane FAQ
When will Genie + end and the new Lightning Lane begin?
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Are the new Lightning Lane Passes an add on cost? If so, how much?Â
Yes, just like Genie+, you will need to pay for the Lightning Lane Pass and just like Genie+, the cost will fluctuate between attractions and dates but you will be able to see the price in the My Disney Experience app. We have heard that the pricing will be similar to Genie+.
When can we buy our Lightning Lane passes?
This is one of the really good changes! No more will you need to get up at 7am on the day you go to the park to lock in your first attraction.Â
Guests of any Disney World Resort hotel can purchase and select their Lightning Lane passes up to SEVEN days before their trip. All other guests can purchase their passes up to THREE days before their visit to the park.
Along with this, when you are eligible to purchase your pass, you can do it for your entire stay. So, if you are going to Magic Kingdom on day 1, Epcot on day 2, Hollywood Studio on day 3 and Animal Kingdom on day 4, you will be able to purchase all your Lightning lane passes for each park starting 7 days out of your Magic Kingdom day.
How will we buy Lightning Lanes?
In the My Disney Experience app.
How many Lightning Lane Multi Passes can we purchase? Â
You can purchase 3 lightning Lane selections in advance for the theme park you are visiting. You can choose the available times as well.
How Many Lighting Lane Single Passes can we purchase?
You may purchase up to 2 Lightning Lane Single Pass selections per day.
Are all attractions considered the same when choosing my three Lightning Lane Multi Passes?
Nope. Disney will be incorporating a tier system when choosing your three attractions using the Multi Pass. You will be able to choose 1 of the bigger attractions and 2 of the “smaller” attractions. By the way, you will notice that Animal Kingdom is the only park that doesn’t use the tier system for the Multi Pass.
Why would I need to purchase the Lightning Lane Single Pass?
The most sought after attractions are in the Single Pass category so you won’t be able to use your Multi Passes on them. You can purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass in addition to the Multi Pass or on its own. The attractions included are:
We are looking forward to trying out this new system ourselves when it becomes available. While we are optimistic that this is a positive change for Disney, only time will tell what the final outcome will be!