Disney Genie is live in Disney World, and we’ve been learning a LOT about the new system.
Lightning Lane sign at Kali River Rapids
Now we know how to buy Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections (pay-per-ride) reservations, and we’ve even found out how many rides we can do in one day using the new tools. We’ve learned that the Lightning Lane reservations for pay-per-ride attractions CAN sell out in Disney World (and some — like Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios — often do). But can Lightning Lane reservations sell out for regular Genie+ attractions as well? Let’s find out.
Remember that Genie+ is the new system to skip the line on most Disney World rides. It works like FastPass, where you make a reservation for an attraction, and then you’ll go to that ride during the return window. Once you’re there, you can use the Lightning Lane (previously called the FastPass Line) to skip the line and board the ride.
Scanning in to the Lightning Lane
Genie+ costs $15 per ticket, per day in Disney World and more than 40 rides qualify for Genie+ reservations in the parks.
it’s a small world Lightning Lane Sign
In each Disney World park, there are two attractions (generally the most popular ones) that are instead part of the pay-per-ride system. For these rides, you’ll need to pay a separate fee to skip the line. We saw that reservations for these rides can and do sometimes sell out.
But what about all those other rides that are part of Genie+ instead?
Another Lightning Lane in Magic Kingdom!
In our experience, we have seen that reservations for Genie+ rides CAN run out temporarily in the parks. BUT they often come back with availability later on in the day. So technically they can “sell out,” but we’ve seen most of the rides get re-stocked during the same day.
Toy Story Mania
This is similar to the old FastPass system, where the rides would occasionally be unavailable but then come back later on.
More Lightning Lanes
So if you’re hoping to reserve a spot in the Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane but it’s showing as “not currently offered” for the day, keep checking back to see if any more return times open up.
©Disney
Yesterday, we noticed that Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run was showing no times available for Lightning Lane Reservations around 3PM EST.
©Disney
But just about an hour later, around 4PM EST, there were some times available again.
©Disney
We mostly have just seen this happening with the most popular Genie+ rides (like Slinky Dog Dash and Smuggler’s Run), and usually, there tend to be times available for the other Genie+ rides.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
So the short answer? Lightning Lane availability for Genie+ rides can temporarily run out, but they’re often re-stocked with more availability later in the day. Now, this doesn’t mean that they will never sell out. Remember, we haven’t experienced Genie+ on the weekends or on super busy days yet. But so far, this has been our experience. We will update you if it shifts or changes as we get more familiar with the system and have the ability to use it in more situations!
We hope this helps out as we all keep learning how to navigate that tricky Genie! Keep following DFB for more Genie tips and tricks, because we’re testing out just about everything you can do with it.
Learn all about Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selections here.
Are you planning to use the Genie on your next Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments!
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I have read all the postings regarding the new Genie, Genie+, and separate ride pricing and what’s included. I have NOT read how you get the service or pay for it! Will the Genie magically appear on my app when I am there? Do I have to add anything in advance? Do I have to upload a credit card? Will the charge for the ride automatically go through as I scan my wristband? Do I have to sign up for rides at 7 a.m. each day I am going to the parks? Additional info needs to be clarified about how this works.
Will probably check it out one day if the times are too bad. Normally we don’t mind waiting a bit
It is becoming clear that Genie+ is an order of magnitude more complicated to use than FP+.
That also makes it less useful, hence likely to be used less often, hence less of a potential profit for Disney Parks.
Going to WDW in December and this system seem very complicated and not sure how seniors and non tech savvy people are going to handle this. When things are not cut and dry every day this makes the whole park experience way to complicated. Is Disney trying to take the joy and spontaneity out of going to WDW. I will see how this goes in December but already it has taken some of the joy out of going to WDW away.
JanH., here’s our Genie page where I think we cover all of this, but I’m going to try to answer all of these questions. Genie is already showing up in the app for those who updated since 10/19. You can play around with the free Genie features before your trip. You do not need to add any extra apps for Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections (IAS). These are also within My Disney Experience app. You pay for Genie+ and IAS with a card that you’ve loaded into your My Disney Experience app already. This could include credit/debit cards, gift cards, or other accepted payment types. The charge will go through when you make the purchase(s) in the app, whatever time of day you do that. Genie+ selections are available to be booked starting at 7AM for all guests who’ve purchased Genie+ for that day. IAS purchases can be made starting at 7AM for Disney Resort guests and starting at Park opening for non-Resort guests. Let me know if our page doesn’t answer any other questions for you.
Yes, it can happen. Slinky Dog Dash sold out by noon on Monday and never showed availability again.