Time is money, and that's especially true at theme parks where guests can payto skip long lines for attractions.
I hate paying extra for anything, but Genie+waswell worthit to me when I tested it outat Walt Disney World last spring. The reservation-based system saved me more than six hours of time in line for athen-flat fee of$15.
With dynamic pricing introduced last fall, that price can now be twice as much, depending on the day, customer demand and park.
On Tuesday, the Florida resort began offering park-specific pricing for Genie+, which "may be lower at some Walt Disney World theme parks compared to others," according to the resort's website. A multiple-park pass option is available for park hopping.
Is it still worth it? Here's what travelers planning Disney trips should know:
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How much is Disney Genie+?
On the first morning of park-specific pricing, Genie+ service cost:
- $27 for Magic Kingdom or multiple parks
- $24 for Disney's Hollywood Studios
- $18 for EPCOT
- $16 for Disney's Animal Kingdom
Prices will vary day to day and can be found on the resort's My Disney Experience app. Guests should note Genie+ can sell out and not all attractions are included with Genie+.
Disneyland also offers Genie+, starting at $25 with theadditional perk of unlimitedPhotoPass downloads.
What does Genie+ include?
Genie+ allows guests to spend less time waiting in line for many, but not all, popular experiences across Disney World.Thoseinclude attractions likeRemy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT,shows like "Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom and various character meet-and-greet opportunities.
"On average, guests can enter two to three attractions or experiences per day using Lightning Lane entrances, if the first selection is made early in the day," according to the Floridaresort. Lightning Lanes are expedited queues for guests with Genie+ reservations.
Guests withGenie+also getfree digital PhotoPass downloadsfrom select attractions and access to specialDisney-themed PhotoPass Lenses and Audio Tales through Disney World's app.
The newest and most popular attractions at each park are not included with Genie+. Guests who want to cut the line at TRON Lightcycle / Run; Seven Dwarfs Mine Train; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind; Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance; and Avatar Flight of Passage would need to buy a la carte Individual Lightning Lane access.
Is it worth paying for Genie+?
When I visited Disney World this past April, before park-specific pricing debuted, Genie+ cost $29.
With it, I only waited five minutes for Peter Pan's Flight, one of the most popular attractions at Magic Kingdom, when the posted wait time was 80 minutes.And even though it wasSpring Break season, Ihad no troublebookingBig Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbeanand Mad Tea Party as well.
I could have booked even more attractions, but I kept losing track of time. Disney World's app shows you when you can book your next Genie+ experience;I was just busy with other things.
I didn't add up every minute from every attraction like I did last year, but I'm confidentI saved hours with the service. Genie+was still worth it to me.
Why Genie+ is still worth it to me
While everyone's preferences, priorities and budgets are different, I would ratherpay tospendless time in line and havemore time to enjoyother park experiences– even if it stings because FastPasses were free.
Of course, there is a limit. For instance, I don't buy Universal Express Passes atUniversal Orlando Resortbecause their starting price of$89.99is too highfor me.At present, Genie+ is still within reach for my familyand costs much less thanadding extra park days, hotel nights and meals to our shorttrips.
When Genie+ isn't worth it
You definitely don't need Genie+ to enjoy Disney World,and there are plenty of reasons you may want to pass on the paid service.
If you're visiting on off-peak days with fewer people and shorter wait times, there's reallyno need for Genie+. You can still plan your day using the resort's free regular Genie tool and save your money for something else.
If you're taking a long trip and have ample time to revisit the parks or have the luxury of visiting multiple times a year, you don't need to make the most of every minute. Instead,checkwait times posted outside attractions and on the resort'sapp. If a line looks too long, just come back another time.
If you're footing the bill for multiple people, like a large family, or it's already a stretch to afford your vacation to begin with, Genie+ canbecomeprohibitively expensive–especially across multiple days. I always get Genie+ for Magic Kingdom, the most visitedtheme park in the world.But to save money, I don't necessarily buy it for other parks.
If you don't mind waiting in line like we all used to before FastPasses, if you prefer to be spontaneous and not on your phone booking things throughout the day, or if you don't really care for rides and just enjoy being in the parks for the food, parades and other experiences, you don't need Genie+either.
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