The Genie has ARRIVED.

Disney Genie (including the free Genie planning service and paid Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection services) are now available at both Disney World and Disneyland. We’ve tested out the system a LOT in Disney World and gotten our first taste of it on the West Coast too. But just how are the systems different from one another? There are actually a few important ways in which these systems differ. Here’s what you need to know.

Cost of Disney Genie+

The first big thing is the cost. In Disney World, Genie+ (the paid FastPass+ replacement system) costs $15 per ticket per day. At Disneyland, the cost is $5 more. Guests have to pay $20 per ticket per day to use Genie+.

That’s an added cost you’ll want to factor into your budget if you’re planning on using the system there.

Click here to see more about our experience with Genie+ on its opening day in Disneyland.

Cost of Rise of the Resistance’s Pay-Per-Ride Selection

Another big difference between the parks is the cost of the Individual Attraction Selections (pay-per-ride selections), or really the cost of one ride’s Individual Attraction Selection in particular.

At both resorts, the prices of the pay-per-ride selections (which are separate from the cost of Genie+) can vary by date and attraction. Both resorts’ pay-per-ride selections can range in price starting as low as $7.

There is one ride on both coasts that is available through pay-per-ride — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

In Disney World, the cost for the pay-per-ride selection for Rise of the Resistance has been $15. We haven’t seen the cost rise above that. But, the cost for the Pay-Per-Ride selection for Rise of the Resistance in Disneyland is $5 MORE. It’ll actually cost you $20 to buy the Individual Attraction Selection option for Rise of the Resistance in Disneyland.

Of course, the prices of these pay-per-rides selections are subject to change, but those are the cost comparisons we’re seeing at the moment.

Click here to see more about the Rise of the Resistance pay-per-ride cost.

No Tax

When Genie+ debuted in Disney World, we noticed that Genie+ and the Pay-Per-Ride selections actually cost guests MORE than expected. That’s because tax was added to the total price during checkout, bringing the cost up just a bit.

At Disneyland, however, no additional tax amounts are currently being added to the cost of Genie+ or the cost of Individual Attraction Selections. That means your Disneyland Genie+ cost will actually be $20, not $20 plus tax.

Click here to read more about the Genie+ system!

When You Can Purchase Genie+

One of the biggest differences for Genie+ in Disney World vs. Disneyland has to do with timing. In both Disney World and Disneyland, you can buy Genie+ prior to your trip by adding it onto your ticket or vacation package.

The big difference comes for those planning to purchase Genie+ on the day of their visit. At both Disneyland and Disney World, guests CAN buy Genie+ on the day of their visit, but when they can purchase it varies between the 2 resorts.

In Disney World, you can buy Genie+ as early as midnight (essentially as soon as the day of your visit begins). But you won’t be able to make your first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection until 7AM. Also, you won’t be able to buy and reserve your first Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride selection) until: 7AM if you’re staying at a Disney World resort hotel (or other select hotels); or when the park opens (for all other guests).

In Disneyland, (if you’re buying Genie+ on the day of your visit, rather than in advance) you cannot purchase Genie+ until you have ENTERED a Disneyland Resort theme park. The same goes for Individual Attraction Selections. That means you actually need to step INSIDE one of the parks before you’ll be able to buy Genie+ on the day of your visit and/or buy an Individual Attraction Selection option.

If you’re worried about getting early return times, really making the most of your Genie+ selections, and/or getting certain pay-per-ride selections before they sell out (as we’ve seen them do in Disney World), then you might want to enter the parks early so you can make your Genie+ purchase as soon as possible!

Click here to see all of the prices for the pay-per-ride attractions in Disneyland.

Number of Lightning Lanes Available

The number of Lightning Lanes in Disneyland vs. Disney World is also very different. In Disney World, over 40 attractions are available through Genie+ and there are 2 rides at each park available through pay-per-ride. In Disneyland, the numbers are significantly smaller.

Only about 19 rides are available through Genie+. Here’s the full list for Disneyland Park…

…and Disney California Adventure Park.

For the pay-per-ride selections (which are also shown in the screenshots above), 2 rides are available in Disney California Adventure (Radiator Springs Racers and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure) and only 1 ride is available in Disneyland Park (Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance).

That’s a lot less in terms of selection versus Disney World, but Disney World also has more parks for guests to visit and more attractions spread out over larger spaces.

Click here to see the rides to book FIRST with Genie+ and pay-per-ride in Disney World.

When You Can MAKE a Genie+ Lightning Lane or Pay-Per-Ride Selection

One thing to think about is when you can PURCHASE Genie+ (either in advance or on the day of your visit), but it’s a separate issue determining when you can MAKE your first Genie+ selection.

In Disney World, you can MAKE your first Genie+ selection at 7AM. In terms of pay-per-ride, you can both purchase and make your selections at 7AM on the day of your visit if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or select other hotels. All other guests can make their first pay-per-ride selections when the park opens.

In Disneyland, things are a bit different. You cannot make your first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection until you ENTER a theme park. The same applies for pay-per-ride. You can’t buy and make those selections until you ENTER a theme park.

Again, this might be a reason why you’d want to enter the Disneyland theme parks extra early during your next visit!

Extras

In Disney World, your purchase of Genie+ comes with some little “extras” including access to special PhotoPass lenses. Disney also later added complimentary PhotoPass downloads for attraction photos for anyone who purchases Genie+.

Your purchase of Genie+ in Disneyland does NOT come with access to these PhotoPass lenses. But those who buy Genie+ in Disneyland DO get unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads from their day in the park. 

That’s a pretty good perk and one that Disneyland fans will recognize from the MaxPass days.

And that’s a look at the major differences when it comes to Genie+ in Disney World vs. Disneyland. We’ll be on the lookout for more Genie updates and we’ll let you know what we find. Stay tuned for more details.

Click here to see if feelings have changed towards Disney Genie in Disney World.

All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection

• READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World

• Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World

• See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA for in Disney World & How Much They May Cost

• Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride)

• You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+

• You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World

• Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie

• See Why You May Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System

• Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+

• See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You

• Learn Some Disney Genie HACKS

• Get a Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+

• See Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland

• Still Confused About Disney Genie? Check Out These DFB Videos

• Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World

Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie

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Are you a fan of Genie+? Tell us in the comments!