How do you use Genie Plus at Disney World?
In mid October 2021, Disney replaced its fastpass service with the Genie Plus Disney World Service. There are several new features you can access exclusively with the Disney Genie app, and it does help guests get on rides that are sometimes too crowded to access.
As always, here at World Class VIP, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about the change.
What System Used To Be In Place?
Previously, guests used the fastpass through the My Disney Experience app to access the most in-demand rides in the parks. Guests used to sign up online, and then be able to schedule out their favorite rides up to 60 days in advance. The only exceptions to this rule were boarding groups for extremely popular rides like Star Wars Rise of the Resistance.
With a boarding group, guests had to wait until the day they were visiting the park to make their reservations online. At 7 am, it was a mad scramble to book a boarding group. Even if they could secure a spot, the notifications they received were vague, with messages sounding like, “Try at 8 am.”
This was easier for those who were able to grab a spot in the afternoon. For guests that received morning time slots, it was a mad dash to eat breakfast, rush to the park, and get over to the ride before their window was up.
How Is the Genie Plus An Improvement?
With the Genie app, you not only have access to the same features that were part of the My Disney Experience app; you can also access popular rides without the tedious boarding group process.
Instead of the boarding groups being assigned randomly throughout the day, the Disney Genie app will assign time slots on a first-come, first-served basis. You still need to log in at 7 am for the most popular rides, but you’ll have a better chance of getting a time slot.
Other Perks of the New Service
If you don’t want to pay for the full version of the Genie Plus Disney World Service, you can also get the free Genie Service in the My Disney Experience App. It contains an updated tip board for wait times, as well as a virtual assistant to help you plan out your day. Simply enter the names of the attractions that you want to see, and the app will create a personalized schedule for you. It will even make regular updates based on wait times for rides and shows!
The Genie app is also helpful when it comes to mealtimes. At fast food stands, you can place a mobile order for pickup before you arrive. You can also manage restaurant reservations and virtual queuing systems for popular non-ride attractions, such as Gideon’s Bakery.
Keep in mind that you can also schedule restaurant reservations up to 60 days in advance; and make sure you don’t wait until the day of your visit. Time slots for popular restaurants fill up fast, so this is definitely something that you either want to schedule with the app or mention to your World Class VIP travel advisor.
The Paid Genie Plus Disney World Service
If you want to make the most out of your stay, however, you’ll want to purchase the Genie Plus Disney World Service. The Genie Plus service is a separate app that you can download, which includes all of the aforementioned perks and more!
The kids will love the photo filters available. They can choose from a wide variety of characters to “interact with” and have in the background of their pictures.
Want to take a picture with Cinderella in front of her castle? No problem! Simply pull out the app, access the filter, and snap away!
Another perk of the paid app is the ability to access the lightning lanes. These are special lines that guests can use to practically walk right on the rides.
To reserve a time, you simply log onto the Genie Plus app at 7 am the day of your visit, and book your first reservation. You will not be allowed to book a second one until you either go on the first ride, or wait 120 minutes, whichever comes first. If, by chance you don’t get to a booking, there are still standby lines with the lightning lanes receiving first priority.
In addition to the rides you can book with the Genie Plus Disney World Service, you can also purchase the Lightning Lanes Individual Attractions Service. Here, you can pay extra to get a guaranteed spot on certain high-demand rides. It’s limited to two per park, though, so make sure to use them wisely.
These include:
Magic Kingdom:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
Epcot:
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Frozen Ever After
Hollywood Studios:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Animal Kingdom:
- Avatar Pandora Flight of Passage
- Expedition Everest
Booking a trip to Disney with World Class VIP
If you want to make sure that you get to experience everything that you want on your trip, save the hassle and book with us for your Disney VIP tour. Give us a call at (407) 270-0956 to get started with the planning process and get a free quote.
Our experienced Disney VIP tour guides will take care of everything on your itinerary so that you can focus on what matters most – making incredible memories with your family!