We’ve just received the highly anticipated update on Disney’s Genie Plus system, and it’s a game-changer for those planning a trip to the parks. Disney has been teasing improvements that will let guests plan ahead and avoid the dreaded 7 a.m. scramble to book attractions. These exciting changes went into effect on July 24th, 2024, and bring a new level of convenience to your Disney experience. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of the new Lightning Lane Multi-Pass system.
What’s Changing?
New Names and Structure
Disney Genie Plus was renamed to Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, while Individual Lightning Lanes will become Lightning Lane Single Pass. This name change is intended to be less confusing and more descriptive. The free Disney Genie planning tool will remain available.
You can view the official Disney page on the new system here.
Pre-Planning Advantages
One of the most significant updates is the ability to pre-plan your Lightning Lane selections:
- Disney World Resort Hotel Guests: Can purchase and make selections up to 7 days in advance for their entire stay, up to 14 days.
- Other Guests: Can make selections up to 3 days in advance.
This pre-planning aspect allows you to see prices and select attractions before making your purchase, avoiding the frustration of limited availability after purchasing.
Pricing and Availability
- Variable Pricing: The cost will vary by date and park, but you can see the pricing before purchasing.
- No Additional Charge for Park Hopping: The price is based on the starting park for the day.
Preparing for Your Purchase
Before purchasing Lightning Lane passes, ensure you have:
- My Disney Experience App: Set up and ready.
- Connected Family & Friends List: To purchase and plan for everyone in your group.
- Top Attraction Choices Saved: In the My Day feature of the app.
Purchasing Lightning Lane Passes
Here’s how to purchase your Lightning Lane passes:
- Open the My Disney Experience app.
- Tap the Lightning Lane Passes section.
- Select a date and theme park.
- Choose a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, Single Pass, or both.
- For Multi-Pass, select up to 3 experiences and arrival windows.
- For Single Pass, select an arrival window.
- Follow the prompts to complete your purchase.
How It Works in the Parks
On the day of your visit:
- First Attraction: After completing your first Lightning Lane attraction, you can book another.
- Park Hopping: Book attractions in another park if you have a park hopper ticket.
- Continuous Booking: Continue booking one at a time for the rest of the day.
Multi-Pass and Single-Pass Limits
- Multi-Pass: Always have up to 3 Lightning Lane selections at a time.
- Single Pass: Limit of 2 total per day.
Tier System
Attractions are divided into tiers for pre-planning:
- Tier 1: Most popular attractions (limit of 1 advance selection).
- Tier 2: All other included attractions (limit of 2-3 advance selections).
Once you complete your first lightning lane attraction on the day of your visit, you can book rides from any tier. If you have Park Hopper tickets, you can also book rides in other parks at that time.
Here’s a breakdown of the tiers:
Magic Kingdom
Tier 1:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®
- Jungle Cruise®
- Peter Pan’s Flight®
- Space Mountain®
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tier 2:
- The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin®
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant®
- Haunted Mansion®
- “it’s a small world”®
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic® 3D Spectacular
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor®
- Pirates of the Caribbean®
- Tomorrowland® Speedway
- Under the Sea~Journey of The Little Mermaid
EPCOT
Tier 1:
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
Tier 2:
- Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Living with the Land Presented by Chiquita®
- Mission: SPACE®
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends®
- Spaceship Earth
- Turtle Talk With Crush
Hollywood Studios
Tier 1:
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
Tier 2:
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast—Live on Stage!
- Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Star Tours—The Adventures Continue
- Toy Story Mania!®
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
Animal Kingdom
- The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!®
- Kali River Rapids®
- Kilimanjaro Safaris®
- Na’vi River Journey
Character meet & greets and parades are not currently included in the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass but may be added in the future.
Lightning Lane Single Pass Attractions
These remain the same as the current individual Lightning Lanes:
- Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle Run
- EPCOT: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage
Streamlined and Stress-Free
With the new Lightning Lane system, the confusing 120-minute rule is gone. You can book another Lightning Lane pass immediately after scanning in for one. These changes streamline the process and give guests greater flexibility in selecting rides before arriving at the parks.
Conclusion
These changes are based on guest feedback and are meant to make the booking process more efficient and less stressful. While it will be an adjustment, especially for those familiar with the old systems, the new Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass are designed to enhance your Disney experience. Stay tuned for more updates and tips on making the most of your visit.
Happy planning, and see you at the parks!
