Say Goodbye to Genie+ and Hello to Mastering the New Disney Lightning Lane
Walt Disney World is always changing. When the parks reopened after Covid, guests had to deal with a lot of new changes. One big change was saying goodbye to the old Fastpass system and hello to Genie+. Now, we’re getting ready for another change: we’re saying goodbye to Genie+!
Genie+ started in 2021 as a paid way to skip the regular lines at some attractions. But many guests didn’t like it because it replaced a free option and was confusing and hard to use. Disney listened to the complaints and is now bringing in a new system to replace Genie+ starting July 24, 2024. If you’re planning a Disney vacation, let’s dive into everything you need to know about this new system!
Meet the new Genie+
When Genie+ was introduced, the line to skip the standby line was no longer called Fastpass. Instead, it became the Lightning Lane. The new system’s names make more sense now. Guests will be able to use a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which is a pass for multiple attractions, and/or a Lightning Lane Single Pass, which is a pass for a single attraction.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in Epcot
Lighting Lane Multi Pass
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass will work similarly to Genie+ but with some important differences. This paid option lets you skip the line using the Lightning Lane at select attractions in all four theme parks. Like Genie+, you can only use the Lightning Lane for each attraction once per day.
The big difference from Genie+ is that you can purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass in advance. Currently, Genie+ is only available for purchase on the day you want to use it, which means waking up at 7 a.m. every park day to buy it. With the new system, guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes in advance for their entire trip (up to 14 days) in one easy transaction. You can also see which advance selections are available and prices before committing to the purchase.
Another big difference is that you can select three Lightning Lanes in advance at the time of purchase. Disney has divided the attractions available for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass into two groups. At the time of purchase, guests will select one choice from Group A and then two choices (or all three) from Group B.
Here are the Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions available for each of the parks:
Once you’ve used your first Lightning Lane in the park, you can make another Lightning Lane selection. Since you selected three choices in advance and you’re constantly replacing one used with a new one, you’ll essentially have three Lightning Lane reservations at a time. This is a big upgrade from the current Genie+ system!
Another advantage of this new system is that it gives you more control over your plans. Lightning Lanes for the current Genie+ system are on a first-come, first-served basis, and you don’t get to pick your times. Instead, you get the next available time in real-time.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Individual Lightning Lanes will become the Lightning Lane Single Pass. This system will work basically the same as the Individual Lightning Lanes. Each park has 1-2 rides that are NOT included with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. This is just like the 1-2 rides that were not included in Genie+ and required an Individual Lightning Lane. These Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions have a separate charge to join the Lightning Lane and skip the standby line. You can buy them with or without the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Guests may purchase up to 2 Lightning Lane Single Passes per day.
Here are the attractions available for a Lightning Lane Single Pass:
When to Buy Lightning Lane Passes
Walt Disney World offers many perks if you stay at a Disney resort or partner resort, and this is true for the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass systems!
If you are a registered Disney resort guest, you can purchase your Lightning Lanes 7 days ahead of your trip. This includes both the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and the Lightning Lane Single Pass. You can plan and purchase everything in one transaction for your entire trip (up to 14 days). This perk gives resort guests the best chance of getting their preferred selections.
If you are not a Disney resort guest, you can make your purchase and selections 3 days before your first park day. This also applies to annual pass holders and other ticket types.
Note: At this time, guests visiting from outside the United States will not be able to make their selections until they have arrived in the United States.
Disney resort guests can purchase Lightning Lanes 7 days ahead of trip
How to Purchase Lightning Lane Passes
There are a few things you need to prepare before purchasing Lightning Lanes. First, make sure you have the latest version of the My Disney Experience app downloaded, as this is what you will use to make your purchase. Next, ensure everyone in your party is linked through the Friends and Family list so you can secure Lightning Lanes for everyone. Finally, have your wishlist of selections and preferred time slots planned out and ready.
When you are ready to purchase your Lightning Lanes, select "Lightning Lanes" on the home screen of the My Disney Experience app. From there, choose the date and park for your first day of Lightning Lanes. You can make three advance selections for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and purchase any Lightning Lane Single Passes you want. The app will show you the cost before you proceed to purchase. Once your purchase is confirmed, tap "Plan Another Day" to continue buying Lightning Lanes for the rest of your trip.
While Lightning Lane purchases are non-refundable, they can still be modified. You can change the park or date up until you use your first Lightning Lane. You can modify the attraction selection or time until the start of the Lightning Lane arrival window.
If you are purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and have a park hopper ticket or are an annual pass holder, your three selections booked in advance can only be used for your starting park. Once you have used your first Lightning Lane, you can select an additional Lightning Lane for a different park.
Pros and Cons
As with all systems, there are pros and cons to the new Lightning Lane Multi and Single Passes. The biggest upgrade from Genie+ is the ability to pre-plan some selections. This gives you the freedom to have more control over when and what you secure a Lightning Lane for, reducing the stress of trying to secure your most important selections on the spot while in the park. This new system allows guests to have a clearer picture of what their day will look like. It is also much more convenient that guests can purchase all of their Lightning Lanes at one time before their trip. The previous need to purchase Genie+ every morning at 7 a.m. added unnecessary stress and inconvenience. Now, guests will know exactly what they are purchasing and the cost before they even start their trip, leading to fewer surprises.
However, there are some cons to this new system. If you are not a Disney resort guest or if you are traveling from out of the country, you are at a disadvantage to secure those ultra-popular Lightning Lane selections. There are also fewer attractions available for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass than there were with Genie+. All of the character interactions that were previously included with Genie+ are no longer part of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. For most people, this may not make a huge difference, but it is a change. Lastly, the biggest con is that this is yet another new system to learn. The introduction of this new system will change how guests plan their park days to perfection.
Looking to the Future
The new Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass will not officially launch until July 24, 2024. If you are visiting Walt Disney World before July 24, 2024, then the current Genie+ system will still be in place.
Looking for the best insider secrets and tips to make sure your Walt Disney World vacation is planned to perfection? Then you need our Walt Disney World 101 planning guide!
Our planning guides have everything you need to plan your park days just like an expert, ensuring you maximize both your time and money in the parks. Just like Walt Disney World, our planning guides are constantly updated to keep up with the constant changes in the parks. To ensure you have the most up-to-date information and ride strategies, all customers receive email updates for up to 60 days after purchasing a guide.
Heading to Walt Disney World before July 24, 2024? No problem! Our best Genie+ strategies are still included in our planning guides.
Starting July 24, 2024, our planning guides will be updated to include the new strategies we recommend for the new Lighting Lane Multi Pass and Lighting Lane Single Pass.
If you purchase our guide before July 24, 2024, but aren’t going to the parks until July 24 or after, don’t worry! We’ll make sure you have all the latest information to navigate the parks like a pro, including mastering the new Lighting Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Let us handle the stress of planning while you enjoy more magic!