Lightning Lane vs Genie Plus – Which One Is Best For You?
One of the easiest ways to squander your precious time at Disney is to waste it waiting in lines for rides and attractions. Luckily, Disney knows its super-fans want to maximize their time, and they have built-in ways to help them do that – including Lightning Lanes at Disney World Rides and the Disney Genie App.
But you’re probably wondering, which is better for you? And is Lightning Lane worth it? Here’s what you need to know to make the best decision for you and your family!
The 2 Kinds of Lightning Lanes
Before we compare Lightning Lanes vs. Genie Plus head-to-head, we have to clear one thing up: there are 2 different types of Lightning Lane attractions at Disney World. This can be kind of confusing, but it’s important, so you’ll want to remember this and take note!
Some attractions are Genie Plus Lighting Lane attractions. This includes about 50 rides and entertainment spots across the four parks. Purchasing Genie Plus for the day lets you use the Lightning Lane at those attractions.
Other attractions are Individual Lightning Lane attractions. That means you have to buy access to the Lightning Lane separately from Genie Plus in order to use it at these attractions. In other words, Genie Plus won’t work to get you access to the Lightning Lane at these rides. You have to pay individually for them.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get into more detail about what Lightning Lane and Genie Plus include!
Lightning Lane
The Lightning Lane is a specific, separate line at a given attraction. You need a Lightning Lane reservation to use this lane, but it’s worth it for a very good reason: your wait time will be much shorter than the regular standby line. We’re talking wait times that are usually less than 5 minutes. If you’ve ever spent a full day at Disney and felt like you spent half your time waiting in line, you know how valuable a quick wait time can be! Lightning Lanes are a convenient way to spend less time waiting in line.
How it Works
Specific attractions have individual Lightning Lane entrances, including some of the most in-demand attractions. You can purchase a Lightning Lane entrance access pass individually by selecting an arrival one at a time for up to 2 attractions per day. These are available for all guests, regardless of whether they have the Disney Genie Plus service.
There are two ways to purchase Lightning Lane access. You can select your arrival windows for Lightning Lane entrances or make individual purchases in the Disney Genie service Tip Board or My Day itinerary in the mobile app on the day of your visit.
Guests of Disney resort hotels and select other hotels can make selections starting at 7 am on the day of their visit. This includes Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Shades of Green hotels. All other guests can make their selections when the park opens.
Price
Pricing and availability vary by attraction. You’ll want to check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for current pricing and attraction availability.
Genie Plus
Genie Plus was introduced as a replacement to FastPass. It’s the ultimate way to take your day at the parks to the next level.
How it Works
Simply put, Genie Plus lets you pay an extra fee to significantly cut down your wait times at select rides. You can choose your arrival windows for Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions and entertainment. This lets you use the new Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions and experiences throughout the Disney World theme parks.
You can enjoy a Disney Genie Plus Lightning Lane entrance to an attraction once per day. On average, guests can enter 2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day if the first selection is made early in the day. If you want to re-ride an attraction or see a certain show again on the same day, you’ll have to use the regular standby line on your second go-around.
Price
Genie Plus costs $15 per ticket, per day, so it can add up quickly if you’re traveling with a group or your whole family. Still, it can be well worth the splurge to help you hit a handful of attractions in a single day.
How to Buy
Before your visit, you can add Genie Plus to your ticket when you make your purchase.
You can also buy Genie Plus on the day of your visit. Existing ticket holders or Annual Passholders can purchase the Disney Genie service via the My Disney Experience mobile app. It’s best to select attractions on the My Day app or Tip Board. That shows when you’re eligible to make another selection. You can make selections up until when the park closes (at regular hours).
Which One Should I Get?
You can get both!
If you want to avoid standing in a lot of lines, you’ll probably want to purchase Genie Plus for the day – especially if you’re heading to Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, since those tend to be the busier parks and there are a lot of Genie Plus attractions at Magic Kingdom. You’re most likely to get your money’s worth there.
However, you won’t always need Genie Plus. For example, you won’t need it on cold or rainy days, or during less busy times of the year, since the park will be less crowded (and lines will be shorter) anyway. It’s also probably not worth the investment for a trip to EPCOT or Animal Kingdom except at the busiest times of the year.
But if there are specific very in-demand rides you want to go on, you may want to spring for (and will need to) purchase the Lightning Lane passes separately for those.
So, Which One is Better?
Genie Plus is certainly a more all-inclusive way to get through the parks. But when it comes to specific in-demand attractions, Genie Plus might let you down. If you want the absolute best experience, we recommend using a combination of Genie Plus and the Individual Lightning Lanes.
Is Genie Plus your go-to when you visit Disney parks? Let us know how you get by the lines in the comments below!
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