Lightning Lane Genie Plus Update Summer 2024

Disney has just announced changes to its priority queue system (or, how to skip lines and get on rides). As of July 24th, several changes will be coming to the Walt Disney World Genie+ system. Here’s a link to their article.

Image Cred: Disney

Here’s a breakdown of the changes, and my commentary:

1.     Genie Plus and Individual Lightning Lanes names will be changed to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass, respectively.

This is a great change because, if you read my article about Genie Plus, the name system was incredibly confusing. The physical line was called the Lightning Lane, but the service was called Genie Plus, which you would use to book a Lightning Lane. Unless, it was a really popular ride, in which case you would purchase an Individual Lightning Lane to use the Lightning Lane. Genie, while one of my favorite Disney characters, made no sense here. Give Lightning McQueen all of the IP branding. I’d rather have a Genie service that just gives me free stuff.

2.     Book Lightning Lane Single Pass Earlier

Essentially, Single Pass will work just like Individual Lightning Lanes, where you pay per person per attraction for the most highly sought after rides at each park, like TRON, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Rise of the Resistance, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Flight of Passage (maybe Seven Dwarfs Mine Train?). It doesn’t say which rides other than Guardians and TRON, but these are my guesses.

Here’s the new part, if you’re staying on property, you can book these 7 days in advance, and 3 days in advance if you’re not staying on property. In my opinion, that takes a lot of the stress of parents the morning of, desperately mashing their phones while either trying not to wake the kids or trying to get them ready.

I also like that it’s not 60 days out like the old Fast Passes. It’s closer to your trip, so you don’t have to drop everything to try to get rides for a vacation several months in the future.

The downside—it still costs money, unlike Fast Passes.

3.     Book Lightning Lane Multi Pass Earlier (formerly Genie Plus)

This is the most exciting part for me. Instead of having to book Lightning Lanes at 7 AM or park open, and then every two hours, guests can book 3 Lightning Lanes in advance (7 days for onsite guests, 3 days for offsite guests). No word on whether the two-hour rule is in effect still or if you can only book more after using them. It seems to indicate that they will drop the two-hour rule, which will limit the ability for guests to stack for later in the day. I hope they leave it so that my family can sleep later.

Disney World veterans will recognize that this is just the old Fast Pass system, but paid. That hurts a little bit to get something for money that used to be free, but it is what it is. It is certainly better than Genie Plus.

Final Thoughts on Genie Plus Changes

I think this is a great change, especially for newer guests. It means that new guests to the park don’t have to learn how the Genie Plus system works the day they go to the park the first time. Again, I’m sad that what was once free is now for a cost, but I like it more than Genie Plus.

The article indicated that Disney wanted the time window to be shorter so that guests aren’t trying to book rides and dining at the same time. I think that’s a wise move. It also indicated that Disneyland booking process will not change, only Walt Disney World.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.