By: Haley Sosnick, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Genie+, where do we begin? This service is available at a premium at both Disney World and Disneyland parks. We are going to break down exactly what it is, how it works and how to make the most out of it when visiting Disneyland parks. Our travel agents here at Marvelous Mouse Travels have spent countless hours in the parks using Genie+ so we can better assist you. Here is a little more information based on our experiences.
Let’s start with a little history. Genie+ was first launched in Disneyland in December of 2021. It replaced the former “FastPass” system. The purpose of Genie+ is to allow guests the opportunity to skip the regular (longer) lines on most attractions and enter into shorter line, therefore maximizing time in the parks.
When booking a Disneyland Resort vacation package you can add Genie+ when booking. Then the cost is built into your total package price. What we like about this option is that you are able to make payments as packages only require a $200 deposit with final payments due 30 days prior to arrival.
If you are not purchasing a Disneyland resort package and only purchasing tickets you are still able to add on the Genie+ upgrade to those tickets.
The most obvious answer here is Genie+ will save you time in line for attractions. But what that really means is that you will be allowed more time and opportunity to experience the parks.
On a recent trip we were able to easily experience every single attraction that we really wanted to experience with two park days. We did everything we wanted and since we had two day tickets we were able to experience the most coveted attractions multiple times.
What might be the best perk of Genie+ at Disneyland is the fact that you can purchase it ahead of time. Since you can purchase when you secure your initial reservations that means you can book a year or more in advance! This is a big perk especially for those who are more experienced with Disney World. Genie+ at Disney World is only available to purchase the day of your visit. We love the peace of mind knowing ahead of time that we will have this service!
When purchasing Genie+ at Disneyland you are entitled to one lightning lane use per ride, per day. What does this mean, exactly? If you use your lightning lane for Web Slingers once you cannot use it again for that attraction on the same day. You can still ride it again that same day but you will have to go through the regular que to do so.
If you have a multi-day ticket then you can use the lightning lane entrance for each ride multiple times but it can only be used once per day. For example, if you have a lighting lane booked for Haunted Mansion on day one you cannot book another on that same day but you can book another Haunted Mansion lightning lane for day 2, day 3, etc.
Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes are two different paid experiences. Individual lightning lanes are not included in Genie+ and can only be purchased for a separate fee. Here are the attractions that offer Individual Lightning Lanes:
One thing to consider when purchasing Genie+ is that not all attractions offer lightning lanes. If one of those attractions is important to you then you may want to visit that as soon as you arrive. I would suggest staying onsite so you have early park entry. Taking advantage of that extra park time should make those attractions without lightning lanes or those very popular attractions that offer Individual Lightning Lanes (for an additional fee) much more feasible.
When you talk to your Marvelous Mouse Travels travel agent he/she will be able to help you assess which options are best for you and create a plan for your day that will help to maximize Genie+ to your advantage.
If you are a Disney World visitor, there are some Genie+ similarities between both parks. At both locations Genie+ lightning lane selections can only be made every 120 minutes or after using your previous lightning lane reservation. At both parks Genie+ is a premium paid feature. But the biggest difference and possibly the best benefit of Genie+ at Disneyland is the fact that it can be purchased in advance and as a part of a package rather than day by day.
Can you do all of this on your own? Sure. But if you want personalized care to walk you through the ins and outs of Genie+ as well as dining, hotels/resorts, special events and more at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park your best bet is to use the free assistance of a travel agent. Reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels and one of our travel agents will help you with Genie+ and much more! Whether you are a first timer, experienced visitor or haven’t visited in a while, we can help make your next Disneyland vacation even better!
