food IS a theme park
Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Hollywood Studios Entrance
And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right on in!
As the Genie once said (or sang), “You got some power in your corner now”: Disney Genie+ has arrived in Disney World. Between Disney’s two new paid services, Individual Attraction Selection (IAS or pay-per-ride) and Genie+, guests can now skip the lines at many of their favorite attractions and let Disney’s Genie service plan their day.
©Disney
After a long period of speculation and waiting, we were finally able to test out Disney’s new paid FastPass+ replacement systems today! One important thing to note is that there is a limited number of Individual Attraction Selections available per day and they can sell out. So the question is: how quickly did the first Individual Attraction Selection option sell out today?
UPDATED July 24, 2024
Disney Genie launched in Disney World back in October of 2021, and it has definitely brought some big changes to the parks!
©Disney
The service, which is offered through the My Disney Experience app, helps guests plan their days at Disney World in a way that hasn’t been possible through the app before. It also offers a paid service that has replaced the former free FastPass+ system — Disney Genie+. We’re here to tell you exactly how to purchase Genie+ from your phone in the easiest way possible!
Disney Genie+ which is Disney’s FastPass replacement, is here. If you miss skipping the lines at all your favorite attractions, you can now do so with the help of Disney Genie+. But wait, there’s more! While guests will be able to purchase Genie+ and ride most rides with a shorter line, not all attractions are available through Genie+. That’s where the new Individual Attraction Selection (IAS) system comes into play.
Genie+ ©Disney
The Individual Attraction Selection system uses surge pricing and allows guests to pay-per-ride. Keep in mind that you don’t have to pay to ride the IAS attractions; there will still be a virtual or standby queue. Now that you’ve got the idea, you might be wondering how to purchase an Individual Attraction Selection. Let’s break it down. 🕺
It’s a VERY big day in Disney World today, and we’re taking you along with us!
Magic Kingdom
Today is the first day of Disney World’s new Disney Genie service. The revamp to the My Disney Experience app includes free offerings (like personalized itineraries and predictive wait times), the new PAID Genie+ that has replaced Fastpass+, those pay-per-ride selections, and MORE. We’re making our way through the parks today to learn EVERYTHING there is to know about how Genie+ works, so get ready to follow along!
When it comes to favorite lands at Disney World, everyone has their own opinion!
Fantasyland
While some Disney fans think Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is one of the best-themed lands in all of Disney World, others think that World Showcase is completely underrated by EPCOT guests. And some guests love the charm of Fantasyland, while others prefer the bioluminescent details of Pandora. No matter how you cut it, though, Disney fans think some lands are overrated, while others aren’t. So we asked you, our DFB readers, about the lands at Disney World! And here’s what 23,000 of you said!
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s spooky season at Disney World. The fall and Halloween decorations are up, you can now buy Halloween costumes online, and Boo Bash After Hours Parties are well underway!
Mickey at Hollywood and Vine during Halloween
So how about some spooky stories to get you in the right mood for the holiday? Even better — how about some spooky stories from Disney World?
Hello, DFB Friends! We’re enjoying both Halloween and the 50th Anniversary Celebration at Disney World these days.
50th Celebration Baked Alaska at Hollywood Brown Derby
So while we’ve been eating our way around all the 50th celebration snacks AND the Halloween snacks, we’ve also been keeping an eye on restaurant menus at Disney World. And although there aren’t a LOT of updates this week, we’ve still got a few.
If you’re headed to Disney World for the holidays, you’re in for a real treat!
Magic Kingdom, Castle with Holiday Projections
Not only will the parks be sporting their holiday decorations (one park got started a little early!), but you’ll also have the opportunity to get tickets to Mickey’s Very Merriest After Hours, indulge in food and fun at the EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, and shop for holiday merchandise.
We’ve seen a LOT of 50th Anniversary merchandise released recently — from ears to shirts and everything in between!
So many to choose from!
The popular accessories brand Dooney & Bourke, known for their fabulous Disney-inspired bags and wallets, also recently released a 50th Anniversary collection. Previously, we had shared that some of these bags were actually CHEAPER when purchased in Disney World when compared to the prices online. But, now it looks like things have changed!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
