Genie+ was added to the My Disney Experience app over a year ago. This paid feature was part of the free Disney Genie. Guests can use Disney Genie for free throughout their Walt Disney World Resort vacation. It provides tips and tricks on how to tour Disney Parks.
Genie+, on the other hand, is a paid feature. Guests can choose to add Genie+ to their Disney Park Ticket. For a price that ranges between $15 to $25 per person per day, Guests can use Genie+ to bypass the standby lines throughout the four Walt Disney World Theme Parks.
After using Genie+ throughout the year, there are some facts that we have learned about using this new feature. We will share these five fast facts so you can be prepared to use, or not use, Genie+ during your Walt Disney World vacation.
Some Days You Don’t Need It
Although it might always be convenient to have Genie+ when visiting Disney Park, it isn’t always necessary. As you are planning your Theme Park plans, think about if Genie+ is needed for your plans.
Consider when you are visiting. It is hard to predict crowds at Walt Disney World, but if you are traveling during a typically slower time, maybe Genie+ won’t be needed.
When it comes to using Genie+ at EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there aren’t that many attractions that use Genie+. If you can rope drop, it might not be worth it to purchase Genie+ for the day.
If your goal is to ride as many rides as possible during the day, then Genie+ will probably be a good investment. On the other hand, if your goal is to slow down and enjoy the stores, food, and entertainment offered throughout the Parks, Genie+ might not be needed.
You can often hit the top rides with lower waits by rope dropping, taking advantage of early entry, or extended evening hours for Deluxe Resort Guests. Doing this can mean that Genie+ isn’t needed.
Also, remember that you can purchase Individual Lightning Lane without purchasing Genie+. This is a great option to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind without long waits. You can purchase an ILL without purchasing Genie+.
Finally, think about your traveling party. When traveling with teens and tweens who want to ride the big attractions, using Genie+ can be a great way to avoid long lines. If you have little ones where you will be focusing on Dumbo and other similar rides, Genie+ might not be needed.
If you want to save money, consider if Genie+ is needed each Park day of your trip. This can help you navigate when you want to spend that extra money and when you prefer to save.
Use My Disney Experience Successfully
As My Disney Experience is your gate into the magic of Genie+, you will want to be aware of how to navigate it successfully. Once you have purchased Genie+, take time to set up the Tip Board.
The Tip Board is where you are going to pin your top attractions. This makes it super easy to see the Genie+ return times for those attractions without navigating through all the attractions at the Park. It seems like a small step, but it can make a big difference when looking for that specific ride and return window.
Keep on refreshing. Just because you don’t see a return time doesn’t mean you are out of luck. Keep refreshing (pulling down from the top of the screen) throughout the day. Genie+ availability is live and constantly changing. Don’t give up hope if you first fail to get your top ride. Keep refreshing and discover new rides and times populate throughout the day.
Don’t show up to use Genie+ without opening My Disney Experience ahead of time. Take time to learn how the app works and where features such as Genie+ and the Tip Board are located. Doing this ahead of time can make a huge difference when in Disney Parks.
Prioritize Rides
Not all rides are created equal when it comes to Genie+. Over the past year, we have learned that specific rides should be a priority when making Genie+ selections. You can see a lot of our tips at How to Disney when it comes to rides that are and aren’t worth a Genie+ selection.
When booking your Genie+ selection, overall, you want to focus on Slinky Dog Dash, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanarjo Safari, Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Frozen Ever After. We break down this process HERE on How to Disney to help you get the most out of your Genie+ use in the Parks.
Take time to learn these tips before using Genie+. Doing so will set you up for success when you prepare to make those Genie+ selections.
Get On Those Rides
When Genie+ came out, Disney became vocal about Guests who should expect to ride 2-3 rides per day. We have learned that if you know how to navigate Genie+, you can experience a lot more rides than that throughout the day.
The key to this starts with knowing when you can book new rides. Remember you can book a new selection either 1 when you use your Genie+, 2, when time runs out (don’t let this happen), or 3, when it has been 120- minutes since your previous booking.
Being aware of this information makes a huge difference and allows you to get on more daily rides. Set those alarms so you are ready to keep booking!
Genie+ can be a great way to navigate Disney Parks; however, knowing how to use it is essential. We learned these facts throughout our trips and wanted to ensure you were aware of them before your next trip to Walt Disney World. We hope that they help you navigate Genie+ successfully.
