How Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections Differ

Now when you visit Walt Disney World, you have the choice to use the brand new Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and/or Individual Lightning Lane attraction selections.

Yes, we know all of that is a lot to digest — not to mention a mouthful!

What are they? Do they cost anything? How do they work? The questions go on and on and on. Even for us! You are not alone in feeling overwhelmed and confused.

If you’re unfamiliar with one, two, or all three, we’re here to try to explain in the simplest of terms what each are and how they differ from one another.

Let’s discuss what Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane selections are, along with their differences.

What are Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane selections?

What Is Disney Genie?

Disney Genie is the new digital planning tool built in the My Disney Experience app that gives you a personalized itinerary and recommendations to help you map out an entire park day, including attractions, dining, entertainment, and more.

It is also here where you can purchase Individual Lightning Lane selections as well as make Genie+ selections (if you have purchased that).

What Is Disney Genie+?

This new system is similar to the now-retired MaxPass at Disneyland and is built directly into the My Disney Experience app.

After you pay for Genie+, you’ll be able to choose the next available arrival time for a variety of attractions and other experiences at all Walt Disney World theme parks.

When your return time is called, you’ll enter the attraction via the “Lightning Lane” (the new name for FastPass lines) and be able to skip the Standby Line for select attractions.

What Are Individual Lightning Lane Selections?

Sometimes referred to as “pay-per-ride” attractions, Individual Lightning Lane selections allow you to purchase a time to ride select popular attractions at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood, and Animal Kingdom.

Once your return time is called, you can board the attraction using the Lightning Lane.

The individual Lightning Lane attractions selections are not included with Genie+. They are sold separately and are pay-per-use.

How do Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane selections differ?

They Don’t Cost The Same

Only two of these new offerings cost an additional price, while the third is complimentary for all guests to use.

Genie

Genie is completely free.

Genie+

Genie+ uses a date-based pricing system, with busier times of the year being more expensive. Currently, Genie+ starts at $15 per ticket, per day (plus tax).

As an example of how the date-based pricing works, some days in October 2022 (a relatively busy month at Walt Disney World), the price for Genie+ was $22 per ticket, per day (plus tax). There is the potential that the price could be even a bit higher over the busy Christmas season.

Currently, there isn’t a way to know ahead of time how much Genie+ will cost on the day of your visit. Instead, you will see the price when you go to purchase it inside the My Disney Experience app.

Pay-Per-Ride

Individual Lightning Lane selections are purchased outside of Genie+. These are two different systems.

Pricing for pay-per-ride attractions depends on the attraction. Disney has also stated that pricing will vary by date, attraction, and park.

Here are the starting prices for Individual Lightning Lane Selections.

Please note that during busier times of the year, prices *will* be higher. Also note that there are several attractions below that move between being offered with Genie+ and as Individual Lightning Lane Selections.

Here is a pricing example (plus tax) for pay-per-ride selections for Oct. 19, 2021:

• Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – $12 (Space Mountain* – $9)
• Epcot: Guardian of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – $14 (Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure* – $9, Frozen Ever After* – $9)
• Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance $15 (Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway* – $8)
• Animal Kingdom: Flight of Passage $11 (Expedition Everest* – $7)

*These attractions are only occasionally offered as Individual Lightning Lane selections. For most of the year, they are included in the Genie+ service.

How Do Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride Attractions Compare In Price?

Well, there’s always the possibility you’ll pay the same amount to ride multiple Genie+ selections as you would to ride an individual Lightning Lane selection.

For example, Rise of the Resistance, an Individual Lightning Lane selection, was priced at $15 (excluding tax) on Oct. 22, 2021.

For the same amount, you can opt to purchase Genie+. This would also give you access to 12 Genie+ attractions at Hollywood Studios, minus Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which are pay-per-ride Lightning Lane selections.

You’re allowed to also purchase both Lightning Lane options, meaning you’d pay over a total of $30 to ride Rise of the Resistance and whatever other Genie+ selections you could during your visit.

Of course, you can also just wait in the Standby lines that remain available at each attraction. Depending on the ride, there might even be a virtual queue.

Note: the above scenario was before the October 2022 change to date-based pricing for Genie+. But, the premise is still the same – for around the same amount of money you could ride 1 attraction (Rise of the Resistance) or every attraction that is a part of Genie+.

Each Service Offers Something Different

There are three big differences when it comes to what each service offers guests.

Genie

Genie’s main purpose is to act as a digital planning tool and provide guests a personalized itinerary and recommendations to help maximize their park day.

You’ll also purchase Individual Lightning Lane selections and make Genie+ selections in Genie.

Genie gives guests the chance to have their day planned for them through recommended attractions, experiences, and dining options.

If you don’t want to think about creating your own schedule before visiting the parks, Genie might be the tool for you. You may even be able to ride an attraction that’s on your list with a decent wait time thanks to the Genie.

But, keep in mind, sometimes the recommendations don’t make sense and might not align with the preferences you selected.

We still think you should have a game plan before your day begins, especially if you want to ride as many attractions as possible.

Genie+

For the starting price of $15.98 per ticket per day, Genie+’s overall purpose is to help guests bypass the Standby Line using the Lightning Lane. Price for Genie+ will vary depending on how busy the parks are.

Most attractions can be used with Genie+ across each Walt Disney World theme park.

While it does cost an additional price, Genie+ can save time and get you on more attractions compared to waiting in the Standby queue.

Individual Lightning Lane Selections

The purpose of Individual Lightning Lane selections is to help you bypass the Standby Line just like Genie+, but only for two designated attractions at each park.

These particular attractions are considered “high demand,” like Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom.

The pay-per-ride option allows you to purchase a time to ride select popular attractions at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood, and Animal Kingdom.

For a price (which varies depending on attraction, park, and date), you can select a time to ride one of these attractions.

Once your return time is called, you board the attraction using the Lightning Lane.

Selection & Purchase Times Vary

You definitely need to know when you can start using each. Selection and purchase times vary depending on the service and whether you’re staying onsite or offsite.

Genie

As soon as you have valid theme park admission and a theme park reservation, you can start mapping out your day using Disney Genie.

Genie+

You can purchase Genie+ on the day of your park visit, starting at 12 a.m. EST. Basically, once the day changes, you can begin purchasing Genie+.

Both onsite and offsite guests with Genie+ can make their first ride selection starting at 7 a.m. EST, with the ability to make another reservation immediately after scanning into an attraction.

You have to redeem a Genie+ selection before you can book another one — or you’ll have to wait 120 minutes from time of booking, whichever comes first.

Here you can read more on how and when to book additional Genie+ selections.

Individual Lightning Lane Selections

Onsite Disney World Resort hotel guests (including those staying at Shades of Green and Swan and Dolphin) can start purchasing individual Lightning Lane selections beginning at 7 a.m.

Guests staying offsite can’t start making selections until park opening — but, they don’t have to be inside the park to do so.

There Are Different Refund & Cancellation Policies

You should definitely note the following, especially if you want to know about canceling certain Genie+ and pay-per-ride selections.

Genie

Since Disney Genie is free, there aren’t refund or cancellation policies.

Genie+

You can cancel Genie+ selections, but only before the return time window ends.

As for refunds, Disney’s terms and conditions state that the service is “non-refundable, non-transferable, and revocable, and may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part.”

But, if a ride breaks down during your return time, you will receive a “Multiple Experience” just like when FastPass+ was a thing.

Not every experience will be available, but you’ll choose another attraction to ride.

Once the Multiple Experience converts to a Genie+ Lightning Lane selection, it counts as used, and you can then book another Genie+ selection.

Individual Lightning Lane Selections

Individual Lightning Lane selection purchases are final. You cannot cancel, modify, or rebook. However, refunds may be available, depending on the circumstance.

First, if a ride breaks down, your return time will be extended through the end of the day.

If a ride breaks down but never reopens the rest of the day after a closure, guests will automatically receive a refund for individual Lightning Lane selections (as told by an unnamed Disney World spokesman who went on record in an Oct. 20, 2021 Orlando Sentinel piece). 

If for some reason a ride reopens after breaking down, but you cannot ride due to individual circumstances, you are responsible for contacting Guest Relations for a refund.

The Attractions Available Aren’t The Same

There are certain attractions available for each Genie+ and pay-per-ride selections. Plus, depending on which one you’re using, you may have a limit on the number you can book per day.

Genie+

These are the Genie+ Lightning Lane attractions available across Disney World:

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Festival of Fantasy Parade
• Haunted Mansion
• “it’s a small world”
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Space Mountain^*
• Splash Mountain
• The Barnstormer
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
• See Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• See Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• See Mickey and Minnie at Town Square Theater
• Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
• Enchanted Tales With Belle

^*During busy times of the year, Space Mountain moves from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Epcot

• Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
• Frozen Ever After^*
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land
• Mission: SPACE – Green
• Mission: SPACE – Orange
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure*
• Soarin’
• Spaceship Earth
• Test Track
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush

^*During busy times of the year, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After move from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Hollywood Studios

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
• Disney Jr. Dance Party
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway^*
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• See Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Star Tours
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Toy Story Mania!

^*During busy times of the year, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway moves from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Animal Kingdom

• Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King
• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest^*
• Feathered Friends in Flight!
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
• Naʻvi River Journey
• The Animation Experience

^*During busy times of the year, Expedition Everest moves from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Important: You can only use Lightning Lane once per attraction per day for Genie+. If you want to make a Genie+ selection for Tower of Terror, you can only use Genie+ once to ride Tower of Terror on that park day.

Individual Lightning Lane Selections

There is a maximum of two purchases per guest, per day. The two selections must be for two different individual Lightning Lane attractions. They can be made for the same park or different parks, depending if you have park hopper eligibility.

Here are Disney World’s individual Lightning Lane attractions currently available for purchase.

Magic Kingdom

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain*

^*During busy times of the year, Space Mountain moves from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Epcot

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Frozen Ever After*
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure*

^*During busy times of the year, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After move from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Hollywood Studios

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway*

^*During busy times of the year, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway moves from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

Animal Kingdom

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain*

^*During busy times of the year, Expedition Everest moves from being an Individual Lighting Lane Selection to Genie+.

VIDEO: Disney Genie Plus and Lightning Lanes Explained (w/ Tips on When to Buy)

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Allyson Koerner

Allyson was able to take her lifelong love of Disney and her education (Bachelor’s Degree in English/minor in writing and a Master’s Degree in Print & Multimedia Journalism) and turn it into a career writing about all things Disney parks. Her writing can be seen in a few places, including her site, Magically Main Street. Email Allyson

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