Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Disney Genie Plus

Upgrading to Disney Genie Plus is easy and can help make your time at Disney World even more magical! Unfortunately, you can not upgrade to Genie Plus in advance. It must be added the day of your visit, starting at 12:01 AM.

To get started, make sure you have a valid park ticket or annual pass and the latest My Disney Experience app.

In the app, navigate to the Genie Plus section and select “Upgrade” to purchase the service. The cost of Genie Plus varies depending on the day and time of year, so be sure to check the app for the latest pricing info.

Once you’ve purchased Genie Plus, you’ll be able to make Lightning Lane reservations for select attractions throughout the park, giving you more flexibility and shorter wait times. Just remember, Lightning Lane availability can fill up fast, so be sure to make your reservations early in the day to get the most out of your experience. 

How to Make Lightning Lane Selections

1. On the day of your visit to the park, purchase Genie Plus service through your My Disney Experience app. (Remember, you have a valid park ticket or annual pass linked to your account). It is highly recommended that you purchase it early, so you are all ready when it comes time to make your first selection. Plus, it is unlikely, but it is possible that Genie Plus will sell out.

2. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, you can begin making Lightning Lane selections at 7:00 AM. If you are not staying at a Disney resort hotel, you must wait until you are inside the park to make your first Lightning Lane selection.

3. To make a selection, navigate to the Lightning Lane section of the app. Be sure to select everyone in your party—everyone will need a Lighting Lane access pass—and choose the attraction you want to experience. If there is availability, you’ll be able to select a return time for that attraction.

4. You can only make one selection at a time and can only make selections for one park per day, so choose carefully!

5. After you have made your selection, the app will give you a designated return time for that attraction. You can return to the attraction during the designated window, typically a one-hour time frame, to experience the ride with little to no wait.

6. Once you have used your first Lightning Lane selection, you can make another selection in the app for a different attraction and continue doing so throughout the day based on availability. If your Lightning Lane entry time is more than 2 hours away, you can make another selection in 2 hours. Here’s a tip: set an alarm so you don’t forget to make your next selection.

7. Once your ride time arrives, go to that attraction and enter the Lightning Lane line. You will have to tap in using your Magic Band, smartphone, Apple Watch, or room key card. You do not have to wait until your ride is done to make your next selection. As soon as everyone in your party taps in, you can make your next choice.

How to Join a Virtual Que

Some of the most popular attractions have a virtual queu in efforts to limit how long you have to wait in a physical line. The process is the same as getting a Lightning Lane, however, some attractions, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, give you more than one chance to score a spot on line. 

At 7:00 AM each day, guests can opt to join the virtual queue or purchase an individual Lightning Lane. Either way, you will be placed into a virtual queue and given a “boarding group” number. You will receive a notification when it’s time to return for your ride.

It’s important to note that boarding group availability is limited and can fill up quickly. Another window will open at 1:00 PM, but you must be physically present inside that park to make that purchase.

Once your return time arrives, you will join the line.

Using Disney Genie+ with Disney DAS

The Disability Access Service (DAS) program at Disney is designed to provide assistance to guests with disabilities or medical conditions that prevent them from waiting in a traditional queue. The program offers a return time that is equal to the current wait time for a particular attraction, allowing guests to return at a later time and access the attraction without waiting in the regular queue.

If you have a Disability Access Service (DAS) pass, you can still use Disney Genie+ to make Lightning Lane reservations for select attractions. You can request a return time for an attraction through the DAS program and then use Genie+ to make a Lightning Lane reservation for a different attraction during the wait time for the first attraction.

It’s important to note that the DAS program is not the same as Disney Genie+ and that DAS return times cannot be used to skip the regular queue or the Lightning Lane queue. However, by using both systems together, guests with disabilities can enjoy reduced wait times and a more efficient park experience.