Disney World recently announced changes to its “Genie+” feature, which allows guests to skip lines for attractions. The feature will now be renamed as “Lightning Lane Multi Pass.” Starting next month, visitors will have the option to book up to three attractions a week in advance at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT. This change aims to help guests plan their theme park day more efficiently.
Previously, guests using the Genie+ system had to log onto a site each morning to secure spots for rides. During peak travel seasons, wait times for attractions could reach up to 85 minutes due to high demand. However, with the new week-ahead reservations, only guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel will have access. Other guests will still be able to book three days in advance.
The attractions available for advanced booking at the Magic Kingdom include popular rides like “Peter Pan’s Flight,” “Space Mountain,” “it’s a small world,” “The Magic Carpets of Aladdin,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Dumbo the Flying Elephant,” and “Mickey’s PhilharMagic.” At EPCOT, guests can book rides like “Mission: SPACE” and “The Seas with Nemo & Friends” in advance through the Multi Pass system.
For visitors who prefer individual Lightning Lane entry, now known as Lightning Lane Single Pass, they can purchase up to two selections per day in advance for highly demanded attractions such as “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” and “TRON Lightcycle.”
In the past, Disney visitors with the Genie+ subscription could only book rides on the day of their visit. The prices for the revamped tiers will vary based on when guests book their trips to the theme park. However, this new plan has received mixed reactions from Disney fans on social media.
Some fans found the new system confusing, while others were disappointed that their favorite rides were excluded from certain tiers. Many expressed frustration at the fact that Disney now charges for a service that used to be free. The previous system, FastPass+, allowed guests staying at Disney resorts to book rides 30 days in advance.
Annual pass holders also voiced concerns, as they believe the revamped system will disadvantage them. They worry that there will be limited spots available for them to reserve. Overall, fans are not pleased with the changes and perceive them as a disadvantageous move.
The Genie+ service was aimed at reducing wait times for attractions by providing guests with Lightning Lane entrances. It was part of the Disney Genie feature in the My Disney Experience app, which also offers personalized trip recommendations. Guests can book access to Lightning Lane entrances for different attractions throughout their visit.
While Disney has not directly addressed the backlash, a spokesperson referred questions to the company’s blog post on the changes. It remains to be seen how the new system will be received by visitors once it is implemented.
