With so many attractions available via Genie+ (around 47 total across all 4 theme parks), which ones should you make selections for? Which ones are priority?
We can help.
We have handy guides for each park, plus graphics that you can save to your phone.
Update! Major changes are coming to the Genie Plus System, effective July 24, 2024.
Changes include:
If you’re new to Genie+, check out our Complete Guide to Genie+ for everything you need to know about using this service.
Priority Levels
Note: We used information from Thrill-Data.com to help put together the recommendations below.
To help you decide what to book first, second, third, and so on, we have divided the attractions at all 4 parks into 3 levels, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3.
When making your selections, it is ideal to prioritize the Level 1 and Level 2 attractions.
Level 1 Priorities
- Level 1 priorities are attractions that run out of Genie+ return times quickly. These are the attractions that are typically best booked first, right at 7 a.m.
Level 2 Priorities
- Level 2 attractions tend to see their Genie+ spots last a bit longer into the afternoon or evening, making them good options if you are planning to try to stack multiple Genie+ reservations together later in the day.
Level 3 Priorities
- Level 3 priorities are great attractions for churning, which simply means snagging return times close to the current time, so you can quickly make another as soon as you tap into it.
Magic Kingdom Genie+ Priorities
Magic Kingdom has the MOST Genie+ options out of all 4 theme parks, and if possible, we highly recommend you spring for Genie+ here.
EPCOT Genie+ Priorities
While it is possible to have a successful day touring EPCOT without Genie+, you may want to buy it if you’re looking to minimize your time waiting in line.
Hollywood Studios Genie+ Priorities
Animal Kingdom Genie+ Priorities
HOW TO TIME YOUR GENIE+ RESERVATIONS
Remember:
Unlike the old FastPass+ system, you cannot choose your return times with Genie+.
Instead, you can only select the next available spot.
That means when you are putting your day together, if you are concerned about grouping or stacking return times together and/or if you are trying to keep nearby attractions close together, you may need to spend a bit lot more time on your phone checking those return times so that when your next booking window opens up, you can snag something that will work with your plans for the day.
There are lots of ways to stay organized in the park, and you’ll be able to see what you have planned inside the My Disney Experience app
We have also found it helpful to keep a note on our phone so that we can quickly see not only what we have scheduled, but also what we are personally looking for (and the times we’d like to get them).
For example:
REFRESHING FOR BETTER RETURN TIMES
Although Return Times are constantly being pushed later into the day (or disappearing entirely!), as people change their plans and cancel or miss return times, you can often times snag random earlier return times by refreshing the Tip Board inside the My Disney Experience app.
You may have to refresh for a while (like up to 5-15 minutes), but if you are persistent, earlier times can often pop up. Just make sure you snag them quick – because they will go fast!
SHOULD I BOOK GENIE+ OR INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANES FIRST?
The timeline of WHAT has to be booked WHEN is confusing and stressful.
This is especially true if you are staying onsite because onsite guests book Genie+ and purchase Individual Lightning Lanes at 7:00 am. (Offsite guests have to wait to park opening to book their Individual Lightning Lanes, so they only have to worry about snagging 1 thing right at 7 am).
If your traveling party has 2 people with their own My Disney Experience accounts AND you are linked as “Friends and Family,” splitting up the booking duties is your best option by having 1 person be in charge of purchasing the Individual Lightning Lanes and have the other person snagging the first Genie+ spot –both right at 7 am.
But, if you are staying onsite and only have 1 person that will be able to book at a time, work in this order:
Magic Kingdom
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Magic Kingdom
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Secure a LL Multi Pass selection for your preferred Tier 1 ride; we recommend Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Peter Pan, or Jungle Cruise
- Second: Secure a LL Single Pass for TRON Lightcycle / Run and/or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Third: Choose two Tier 2 rides; we recommend Haunted Mansion and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- 7 a.m. on the day you go to the park: Join the Virtual Queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run OR for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- After you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection (try for another Tier 1 ride, as those will likely go fastest.)
Epcot
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Epcot
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Secure a LL Multi Pass selection for your preferred Tier 1 ride; we recommend Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Frozen Ever After
- Second: Secure a LL Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Third: Choose two Tier 2 rides; we recommend Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land
- 7 a.m. on the day you go to the park: Join the Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- After you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection (try for another Tier 1 ride, as those will likely go fastest.)
Hollywood Studios
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Hollywood Studios
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Secure a LL Multi Pass selection for your preferred Tier 1 ride; we recommend Slinky Dog Dash or Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Second: Secure a LL Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Third: Choose two Tier 2 rides; we recommend The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania
- On the day you go to the park, after you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection (try for another Tier 1 ride, as those will likely go fastest.)
Animal Kingdom
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Animal Kingdom
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Secure a LL Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage
- Second: Secure your three LL Multi Pass selections (there aren’t any ride tiers at Animal Kingdom); we recommend Kilimanjaro Safari, Na’vi River Journey, and Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- On the day you go to the park, after you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection