Disney announced a release date for Genie and Genie+ this week. This new service will offer some fun and helpful things for free. It’s also changing the way FastPasses (now the Lightning Lane) are done as a paid service.
Disney’s new service, called Disney Genie, will be released on October 19. There are a bunch of things that are going to be added to the app, both free and paid services. We’ll start by talking about the free additions to the app.
Disney Genie Service
The complimentary additions to the app include things that will help guests with their days in the parks. Guests can create itineraries by using the personalized itinerary creator. This option will help map out park days with attractions guests want to experience. The hope is that it will help make the most of time spent in the park, by updating the itinerary as things change throughout the day.
The app can build the guests’ days around dining reservations and Park Hopper preferences. With info that guests input into the app, Disney Genie will be able to pace each guests’ day with the rides and experiences that have been input by the guests. From the description, it sounds like the app will be keeping track of wait times and let guests know when wait times are low for the rides and experiences they want to see.
These new services are in addition to things guests can already do on the My Disney Experience app. Things like Mobile Dining ordering, making dining reservations, seeing when buses are arriving at your Disney World Resort hotel, see wait times, and more have been available on the app for a while now. So these new additions should help to make a day in the park a little smoother with the personal itinerary option on the phone.
Disney Genie+
This is the new service that comes with a cost. Genie+ is the option that includes the most rides and costs $15 per guest, per day. With this option guests can pick one attraction at a time to reserve the next available arrival time for Lightning Lane. For guests who have the Park Hopper option they will be able to pick rides at different parks throughout the day. Guests can choose to purchase this service or wait until the day of their park visit to add it. Regardless of when the service is purchased, guests with Genie+ can book their first selection at 7 a.m. on the day of their visit. All other guests will be able to make their selections at park opening. With Genie+ there are over 40 attractions included, but not all are on this list. Some attractions are an additional cost.
Individual Lightning Lane Selections
Each park has two attractions that are listed under the Individual Lightning Lane Selections. These selections on Genie+ do not have a flat fee. So the cost for attractions on the individual list will vary by date, attraction, and park. This means there’s no way to know what the cost will be until the prices are on the app. Disney has said the prices will be revealed prior to trip dates, but did not give an idea of how far in advance guests will know the different prices.
Each guest is allowed to purchase individual selections for 2 different attractions per day and the attractions can be in different parks, if the ticket has a Park Hopper option. Just like Genie+, guests can only choose one attraction at a time. This option can only be purchased on the same day of the park visit and it is not necessary to purchase the Genie+ option first. So guests can just choose to do the Individual Lightning Lane selection option. Also, only guests of Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels will be able to purchase it at 7 am. Guests staying at other hotels that are not included will have to wait until the park opens to make their purchase.
Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections
Hotels Included in 7 a.m. Individual Lightning Lane Selection Option
- All Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
- Shades of Green
- Walt Disney World Swan
- Walt Disney World Dolphin
I’m interested to see what this looks like when it’s released. It sounds like it’s going to add some helpful things to the app. The fact that it keeps updating throughout the day with recommendations based on wait times and guests preferences is something that could really help to make a day in the park a little more relaxed. Hopefully the rollout will be smooth on the 19th. Fingers crossed!
Do you think you’ll use any of the new features (free or paid) on the app?
Thanks for reading!
Liz
We are planning to visit Florida in March 2022 and would like to do the cruise to watch the fireworks at Disney world. Can you tell me when we will be able to book? We don’t have a definite date to go to Disney because we are waiting to see what the Covid situation. Can we cancel and get our money back for park reservations and the fireworks cruise?
Hi Ann!
If you have a package booked (hotel and tickets together) you can cancel your reservation up to 30 days before your arrival date with no penalty. If you purchased tickets separately they are non-refundable. Usually things like the fireworks cruise are non-refundable as well, unless there’s an issue that prevents the event from taking place. That said, if you purchase everything and decide not to go when it gets close to your arrival date, I would call Disney and see if they can help with a refund. There are no guarantees, of course, but I have called on behalf of clients for different events or parties and been able to get refunds on some occasions. It really depends on the circumstances as to why you need to cancel.
I’m not sure when tickets for March will open for the fireworks cruise. It looks like they’re only booking through mid-December right now. I would either call Disney or just keep checking the page to see when more dates open. They might be waiting until it gets closer to the new year to open dates for next year.