Walt Disney World reopened its doors in 2020 and has been gradually resuming normal operations since to offer visitors the best Disney experience of their lives.
For this reason, a lot of people are trying to find ways they can get good value for their money at Walt Disney World. One of the lesser known strategies of doing exactly that is by using Disney Genie.
Disney Genie is a brand new complementary feature on the Disney Parks website designed to enhance the guest experience. The service allows customers to customize their vacation plans and create an itinerary.
If it sounds a bit too complex, don’t panic. This blog post will show you how to use Disney Genie to its full potential and share some tips and tricks that you can find useful if you want to hack your way to more rides.
What is Disney Genie All About
Disney Genie is a web-based application that allows users to personalize daily itineraries depending on their individual preferences.
You can choose what you find most interesting such as general favorites or specific attractions. You can also plug in dining reservations from your favorite restaurants and order food using the service.
So as to save time, Disney Genie will show current and predicted wait times so users can choose the best time to visit an attraction. It will also let you know if you’ve already been to a certain attraction and will not bring them up on your suggestions.
To use Disney Genie, you need to:
Create an account: You can create an account by clicking on the “Sign In” button in the top right corner of the Disney Genie website and following the instructions.
Create a plan: Once you have created an account, you can build your plan. Click on “Create a Plan” and enter your information.
Choose your attractions: The first step is to choose your interests. You can do this by clicking on the “Attractions” tab and selecting the type of attraction you want.
Create your itinerary: Disney Genie gives you the ability to create your custom itinerary. You can select from a variety of restaurants, Fastpasses, and more.
Review your plan: After creating your itinerary, you can preview it by clicking on the “Preview” tab.
Share your plan: You can share your plan by clicking on the “Share” button and copying the link.
Note that popular attractions tend to fill up quite fast so if you want to make good of your time, you’ll want to pay for your first Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation as early as possible. Some of the attractions that are booked fast are:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom
- Na’vi River Journey Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Test Track at EPCOT
Disney Genie Tips and Tricks
To get the most out of Disney Genie, you may want to consider using the following tips and tricks:
Hack Your Way to More Rides
Disney Genie allows you to add more Fastpasses than what is available through the regular Fastpass system. To do this, click on “Attractions” and then select the “Fastpasses” tab. Next, select the “Add More” button and enter the number of Fastpasses you would like to add.
Customize Your Itinerary
Disney Genie gives you the ability to create your custom itinerary. If you don’t want to choose from the preset options, you can create your own by selecting the “Add a Custom Fastpass” option.
Get More Restaurants
Disney Genie allows you to add more restaurants than are available to you through the regular dining system. It also gives you the ability to view restaurant menus and make reservations. The only catch is that you have to be staying at a Disney Resort to take advantage of this feature.
Get More Fastpasses
Disney Genie allows you to add more Fastpasses than what is available through the regular Fastpass system. The fastpasses you add through Disney Genie are valid for the entire length of your stay.
Get More Information
Disney Genie provides you with a lot of information about the attractions, restaurants, and more. You can access this information by clicking on the “Details” tab. This tab contains everything you need to know about each attraction, including height requirements and the type of ride.
What Are Individual Lightning Lane Attraction Selections at Disney?
Disney Genie offers a unique feature to choose which attraction you want to ride. It’s called the “Individual Lane Attraction Selections” feature. To use this feature:
- Click on “Attractions”
- Select the “Lanes” tab.
- Select the “All Lanes” button
- Select the “Individual Lane Attraction Selections” button.
- Select the attraction you want to ride.
You will then be taken to a page that shows you the wait time for that attraction. You can also see how many times you can ride the attraction during your visit.
Benefits of Using Disney Genie
There are several benefits of using Disney Genie:
- It helps you create a custom itinerary that fits your needs.
- It gives you access to more restaurants and Fastpasses than what is available through the regular system.
- You can make reservations for restaurants.
- It provides you with detailed information about each attraction.
- It is available online and can be accessed from any device.
The 120 Minute Rule at Disney World
Disney World has a policy known as the 120-minute rule. This rule states that you can only have a Fastpass for an attraction if the current wait time is less than 120 minutes. If the current wait time is more than 120 minutes, you can get a Fastpass for a different attraction. Disney Genie allows you to bypass this rule by adding more Fastpasses.
Also, the clock starts ticking at the park opening, not when you use the first FP. For instance, you will not be able to make another Genie plus selection at 9 am if it’s 120 minutes from 7 am. Genie selections are suitable for the whole day.
So if you’re at the park at 10 am, and all of your first three FPs have been used, you can go on a ride, come back at 11 am and use your genie FP for that day.
Types of Attractions at Disney World
There are four types of attractions at Disney World:
1. Rides: These attractions are based on motion and usually involve a lot of physical activity. They include roller coasters and water rides. There are several other rides at Disney World suitable for all ages. These rides include:
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- It’s a Small World
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Splash Mountain
- The Haunted Mansion
2. Shows: These attractions are based on performances and usually involve a lot of singing and dancing. There are several shows at Disney World that are suitable for all ages. These shows include:
- Festival of the Lion King
- The American Adventure
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
- Muppet*Vision 3D
3. Parades: These attractions are based on a procession of characters and usually involve many waving and cheering.
4. Meet and Greets: These attractions are based on meeting characters and usually involve taking pictures and having autographs signed.
Height Requirements at Disney World
There are height requirements for most of the attractions at Disney World. These requirements are in place to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience. Disney Genie allows you to see the height requirements for each attraction before selecting. This way, you can choose an attraction suitable for your whole family.
Who is Eligible to Use Disney Genie?
Disney Genie is available for anyone who is visiting Disney World. It includes guests staying at a Disney resort hotel and those who are not. Disney Genie can be accessed online or from any device. There is no app required.
How to Use Disney Genie
There are several ways to use Disney Genie:
1. Online: Disney Genie can be accessed online at disneyworld.com/genie. It’s the easiest way to use Genie because you can access it from any device.
2. Mobile App: The Disney World Mobile App also has a section for Disney Genie. This app is available for iPhones and Android devices.
3. In Person: Disney Genie can also be accessed at any four theme parks or Downtown Disney.
What Is the Disney World Fastpass+
A Fastpass is a ticket that allows you to bypass the regular line at an attraction. The Fastpass+ system is a service that allows guests to reserve Fastpasses for attractions up to 30 days in advance.
This service is available to guests regardless of if you’re staying at a Disney resort hotel or not..
Disney World offers Fastpasses for most of its attractions and Disney Genie allows you to see which attractions are available for Fastpass+ reservations. They are free to use and can be obtained by visiting the Fastpass kiosks.
Note that guests are allowed one Fastpass at a time and the current wait time for the attraction must be less than 120 minutes to obtain a Fastpass. Disney Genie will enable you to add more Fastpasses to your list, which allows you to bypass the regular line even when the wait time is more than 120 minutes.
To Sum It Up
Disney Genie is an excellent tool for creating your custom Disney vacation plan. It gives you access to more restaurants, Fastpasses, and information than what is available through the regular system.
You can access it online from any device but there won’t be a need for a Disney Genie app in the near future as it will be integrated into the My Disney Experience app at Disney World.