Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park offers Genie+, a paid service that allows you to reserve a time slot to ride some of the most popular attractions.
Here is everything you need to know about using Genie+ at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park.
DISNEY’S GENIE SERVICE 101
Last year, Disney introduced a new itinerary planning software called Disney Genie at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
The Disney fans will be able to use the new complimentary service, Disney Genie, and its two paid add-ons — Lightning Lane attraction selection and Genie+ — to help visitors make the most of their time at the theme parks while reducing wait times. These services are meant to take the place of Disney’s well-known FastPass+ and MaxPass systems.
Walt Disney World guests will access the tool within the existing My Disney Experience app.
Disney Genie not only provides guests with personalized itinerary planning but also a real-time Tip Board featuring customized recommendations for experiences, wait times, and next showtimes.
SO WHAT IS GENIE+, THEN?
Disney Genie+ is an addon guests can purchase that gives them the ability to utilize the Lightning Lane entry and bypass the standby queue for rides.
You can only hold one Lightning Lane reservation at a time within Genie+. What this means is if, for example, you have a 3 PM-4 PM slot booked for Toy Story Mania, you’ll need to use up that reservation before booking another.
The exception is that if you book a Lightning Lane via Genie+ for later than two hours from then, you may buy another by booking it through Genie+ after waiting two hours.
CAN YOU USE GENIE PLUS AT MAGIC KINGDOM?
Of course! And it is a park where I HIGHLY recommend investing in Genie+. It will make touring the park so much easier.
MAGIC KINGDOM GENIE PLUS FAQ
HOW DOES LIGHTNING LANE WORK AT MAGIC KINGDOM?
When you arrive at an attraction with Lightning Lane available, you’ll see two queues – one for those with Genie+ and one for those without.
Lightning Lane is the name of the line. You will scan your Magicbands or Mobile passes on your phone to be able to enter the lightning lane.
WHICH RIDES ARE GENIE + AT MAGIC KINGDOM
Magic Kingdom’s Genie+ system has 22 attractions (in alphabetical order):
- Barnstormer
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade (special viewing area)
- Dumbo
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess (character greeting)
- Meet Mickey and Minnie at Town Square Theater (character greeting)
- Meet Tiana and a Visiting Princess (character greeting)
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea
WHICH MAGIC KINGDOM RIDES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GENIE PLUS?
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which has an individual paid Lightning Lane, is notably missing from the list. Astro Orbiter, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, and PeopleMover didn’t have FastPass queues and now do not have Lightning Lanes.
HOW CAN I USE MAGIC KINGDOM GENIE PLUS?
Genie+ is a paid system that allows you to skip the line at Walt Disney World. By using Genie+, you can book “Lightning Lanes” which have shorter wait times than the regular lines for most rides.
Although we’ve called it “skip the lines,” Genie+ still comes with some wait time. However, this wait is much shorter than regular line-ups, which could take over 100 minutes. For example, a 15 minute wait with Genie+ would amount to a 100-minute wait without it.
Not all attractions are accessible with Genie+, and some Lightning Lanes-exclusive activities aren’t included in Genie. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom has a Lightning Lane, but it isn’t part of Genie.
To access that Lightning Lane you’ll have to make a separate purchase.
How Much Does Genie+ Cost?
Disney Genie+ will also vary in price based on the day you are at the park.
Similar to theme park tickets, throughout the year, prices may be lower on less busy days and higher during peak periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For example, on less busy days, prices will be $15 per guest per day, $22 on some of the more crowded dates, and somewhere in between on other dates
Each person per day in your group requires a Genie+. If no one in your party goes on the attractions via Genie+, they don’t require it.
Of course, if no one in your group plans to use the Lightning Lanes with their Genie+, then they do not need it.
GUIDE FOR USING GENIE+ AT MAGIC KINGDOM
You are only able to have one reservation at a time within Genie+, with the exclusion of one exception. For example, if you book a reservation for Space Mountain from 2-3 PM, you would need to use that prior booked reservation (during its scheduled window) before booking another attraction.
The only time this doesn’t apply is if you book a Lightning Lane via Genie+ that starts more than two hours in the future–then you can book another one after waiting two hours. If you make your selection before the park opens, the waiting period starts when the park opens.
The time of your Genie+ reservation is not up to you- it depends on what times are available when you book. These time slots then gradually fill up throughout the day until they’re all taken.
Disney releases more inventory, or guests cancel, so there is some flexibility with times. For example, you might refresh and see an available time jump back from 2 PM to 12 PM. However, you generally should plan for these times to roll forward.
TOP GENIE PLUS MAGIC KINGDOM ATTRACTION PICKS
- Jungle Cruise
- Splash Mountain
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Haunted Mansion
WHAT ABOUT PAID LIGHTNING LANES?
Now, since you may have forgotten, certain rides at each park are not included with Genie+, and you’ll need to purchase access to their Lightning Lanes separately.
At Magic Kingdom, there is just one Individual Lightning Lane, which is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and it has a normal standby line (i.e., no virtual queues to worry about) if you don’t want to pay for Early Entry.
If you decide to purchase individual Lightning Lane access at Magic Kingdom, you’ll make your purchases at:
- 7AM if you’re a guest of a Disney resort or
- At the time the park opens, if you’re not a guest of a Disney resort.
Is GENIE+ At MAGIC KINGDOM WORTH IT?
As the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebrations continue to build, and as the holidays approach, the parks will become increasingly crowded. On busier days than others, Genie+ will be more “worth it.” Good planning can set you apart from other guests, even if the park is hectic.
Genie+ will make your day at Magic Kingdom better, regardless of how busy it is. If it’s a busier day, you won’t have to worry about long waits. If it’s a slower day, you’ll likely be able to see and do almost everything the park has to offer in one go, which can be difficult otherwise.
The answer to whether you’ll need Genie+ when attending a ticketed After Hours event depends on the event itself and your approach. For example, if you’re attending Magic Kingdom After Hours–where rides are the main focus–you won’t need it. However, if you’re planning to attend one of the holiday parties where entertainment is more emphasized than rides, you might still need it during the day.
If you can save up two whole days for a visit to the Magic Kingdom, you should be able to go without Genie+ (but with the restriction that you’ll have to wait in a few queues). You certainly wouldn’t want it both days.
MAGIC KINGDOM Disney Genie Plus Tips
If you’re a Disney Resort guest, the only thing you have to do at 7 AM makes both your first Genie+ booking and individual Lightning Lane purchases.
Since Magic Kingdom doesn’t use virtual queues, there’s not much for you to keep track of that early in the morning.
If there are two people in your party who can use their phones, you should each be able to handle one of these. Generally, you want to make your first Genie+ selection before your individual Lightning Lane pick.
There are 3 reasons for this:
- Genie+ selections often go by quicker than individual Lightning Lane times in the morning; and
- If you get a late Genie+ time, it can completely ruin your day because then you may have to wait up to two hours for your second pick.
- Individual Lightning Lanes will show up if you keep refreshing the app after ten seconds, especially since there’s a high chance some will appear if you book your Genie+ selection right away.
Dedication is key if you want to get a Lightning Lane. If a ride runs out at 7 AM, we recommend that you spend until 7:15 AM trying to get one and then checking throughout the day.
For your first Genie+ pick, you have four good alternatives: the Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain, depending on the weather during your visit.
If you have Early Theme Park Entry, Peter Pan’s Flight or Splash Mountain (or both) may be able to fit into your morning, depending on your plan.
This makes Jungle Cruise or Splash Mountain your best pick.
More Information on MAGIC KINGDOM
No trip to Orlando is complete without a visit to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. This beloved theme park is home to classic attractions like Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain, as well as newer favorites like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
With so much to see and do, it can be tough to know how to plan the perfect day at the Magic Kingdom. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your visit:
-Start your day early! Getting to the park when it opens will help you avoid crowds and hot weather later in the day. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the park before it gets too busy.
-Make time for shows and parades. In addition to rides, the Magic Kingdom offers plenty of entertainment options. Be sure to catch a show or parade during your visit – you won’t be disappointed!
With these tips in mind, you’re sure to have a magical day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Have you tried the Genie+ system at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park? If not, I definitely recommend it! It can help make your day a lot less stressful and more enjoyable.
With just a little bit of planning, you can use the genie+ system to get on some of the most popular rides with very little wait time.
Thanks for reading my blog post about my experience using the genie+ system at Magic Kingdom. I hope you find it helpful!