Disney revamps the Genie+ system so you can enjoy extra sleep while still bypassing long lines

Do you prefer sleeping past 6:55 a.m. and want a break from your phone during vacation? Disney has exciting news for you.

One of the major criticisms of Disney World's Genie+ system, which took over the previous FastPass+ line-reduction program in 2022 (and introduced a fee; the former system was complimentary), was that to fully utilize the service, the family's planner had to spend considerable time on their phone starting at 7 a.m. each day, which felt like a chore while on "vacation."

Disney took that feedback to heart and announced changes last year — and we now know what those updates will entail.

Starting July 24, Disney Genie+ will undergo a significant transformation.

Guests eager to enjoy shorter wait times can plan some of their attractions ahead of their visit. The Genie+ service, which allowed access to reduced wait times for multiple attractions throughout the day, will now be known as the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Individual Lightning Lane attractions, typically the latest rides not covered by the multi-attraction pass, such as Tron Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will be designated as Lightning Lane Single Pass.

Here’s everything you should know about how Disney's Lightning Lane passes will operate for visits starting July 24 and beyond.

How to secure bookings for multiple days prior to your visit

Starting July 24, guests at Disney Resort hotels can buy Lightning Lane passes up to seven days in advance at 7 a.m. ET for the entirety of their stay (up to 14 days). This includes the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve hotels, along with Shades of Green, in addition to Disney's official hotels. Previously, bookings began at midnight each day of your stay. All other guests with date-based tickets can schedule up to three days ahead for the duration of their ticket, starting at 7 a.m. ET. Annual pass holders without a Disney hotel stay can plan one day at a time, up to three days in advance of their visit.

You have the option to buy either a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, a Lightning Lane Single Pass, or both. The My Disney Experience app will feature an easier process to bundle these purchases into a single transaction rather than requiring separate transactions. It's not mandatory to buy a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to select Lightning Lane Single Pass options, and vice versa.

In some respects, this echoes the FastPass+ system, which preceded Disney Genie+. With FastPass+, you could secure three attraction selections in advance, either 60 days ahead (for guests at on-site hotels) or 30 days in advance (for all other guests). This more focused booking window is an improvement over FastPass+, as you'll likely have a clearer picture of your vacation plans, such as dining and other activities, when it opens.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

With the launch of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, guests can purchase and select up to three Lightning Lane attractions for one park per day prior to their visit. Not only can you pick the attractions you wish to experience, but you can also choose the times for those experiences.

On the day of your visit, you can make additional Lightning Lane selections after using one. If you have Park Hopper tickets, you can choose subsequent selections for any of Disney World's four theme parks. All of this is managed through the My Disney Experience app.

This marks a significant shift from Disney Genie+, which only permitted you to select the next available time slot. Many guests used this feature to "stack" Lightning Lanes for later use. Now that you can choose three ride times in advance, you can select later times if you prefer to sleep in, or opt for early slots if you like to arrive when the parks open. If your plans shift after making your selections, you still have the option to adjust your arrival times.

The method for preselecting rides also bears resemblance to FastPass+ for those who recall how it functioned prior to the pandemic.

Lightning Lane selections will be divided into two categories. You can make one selection from the first category, which features premier attractions such as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Peter Pan's Flight at Magic Kingdom, as well as Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After at Epcot. Your other two selections will encompass all other available attractions in your chosen park.

The pricing model will remain unchanged and will continue to vary based on the date and the park. The service currently starts at $15 per person per day, with prices occasionally climbing to $39 per person per day during peak seasons, such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and spring break.

Lightning Lane Single Pass

Lightning Lane Single Pass (previously known as Individual Lightning Lane) will operate similarly to how it functioned before the update, allowing you to select a time to experience Disney's latest and most sought-after attractions. However, you can now make your purchase and choose your arrival time in advance.

At present, the only attractions that will necessitate a purchase of a Lightning Lane Single Pass are Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Avatar Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Tron Lightcycle / Run, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

Attractions that are part of the Lightning Lane Single Pass are not covered by the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and require a separate purchase if you wish to bypass the regular queue (which, for some of these rides, operates as a virtual queue). You can buy up to two of these selections each day, maintaining the same limit as before.

Pricing fluctuates based on the day and attraction, generally ranging from $7 to $25 per person for each attraction.

Bottom line

This marks the latest in a series of adjustments aimed at making visits to Disney World more enjoyable and less stressful.

Early last year, Disney reinstated free self-parking for guests staying at on-site hotels and introduced complimentary on-ride digital photo downloads with the purchase of Genie+ (which will continue under the new system). Later in the year, Disney brought back all-day park hopping and eliminated the theme park reservation requirement for most guests.

The complimentary planning feature of Disney Genie will still be available, serving as a useful resource for checking wait times, receiving itinerary suggestions, and experimenting with fun photo filters.

It's important to note that these updates are specific to Walt Disney World. Disneyland will start using the new names for Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass from July 24, but the method of purchasing and selecting rides at Disneyland will remain unchanged.

Although this update necessitates a bit more preparation before your trip, it should enhance your experience in the park (and your sleep schedule) during your vacation. We're pleased to see Disney removing some obstacles that previously made enjoying the magic of a Disney World visit more difficult, making the planning process easier and more enjoyable.