When planning a Disney vacation, we’ve all most likely experienced a time when we need to decide if we will opt in to buying Genie Plus. While it is very convenient to utilize getting through line queues quicker, the expense can start to weigh in when you think of purchasing for a family while also considering resort lodgings, transportation, a food budget, and souvenir shopping.
There are valid reasons for both purchasing it to avoid standard wait times and not purchasing it to save money. It will genuinely depend on what works best for you. However, in my opinion, you can strategically plan to use Genie Plus when you may need it most. My advice focuses mainly on ride attractions as live performance shows run multiple times a day and you can still get a good seat at least 15-20 minutes beforehand if not a last-minute seat right before the show. Any pricing listed is what is currently offered and can fluctuate based on the day and peak times.
Animal Kingdom- Leave It
Genie Plus Price: $15+ per guest
Individual Lightning Lane: Avatar Flight of Passage
Starting out with Animal Kingdom, I can say, based on my experience, that I do not think Genie Plus is necessary for this specific park. This park is lighter on queued attraction experiences and most rides such as Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, and Expedition Everest do not go past a 30-minute wait at the most. Expedition Everest also tends to have a single rider line unless the standard wait queue is so short that it’s not necessary. The big question to ask is how important Pandora: The World of Avatar is on your list, as it is still one of the most popular spots in the park. If you can get to Animal Kingdom at park opening or Early Entry, you can usually manage a decent wait, if any real wait at all, for Pandora’s attractions Na’vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage. You also have the option to pay for an Individual Lightning Lane for Avatar Flight of Passage and you may decide to allocate your purchase for that specific attraction.
Hollywood Studios- Take It
Genie Plus Price: $21+ per guest
Individual Lightning Lane: Rise of the Resistance
Moving onto Hollywood Studios, I would definitely consider using Genie Plus because the ride lines for this park can get pretty long, especially the thrill rides, and Genie Plus will help with getting as much done as possible. Slinky Dog Dash is notorious for Genie Plus times running out, so if you do decide to use it for the day, I would keep your eyes on this ride first. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster tend to get longer queues, and in some instances, Tower of Tower does spike up as well. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is still going to be the most popular spot in the park so you can try going to park opening or Early Entry for a short wait for Rise of the Resistance or consider purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane for this specific ride. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run can also be done earlier in the day like this, or you could consider doing the single rider line knowing that your party will be split up and you will most likely be assigned an Engineer role. In terms of single rider lines, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has this option as well most of the time, however, the wait manages to be pretty on par with the standard queue.
EPCOT- Leave It
Genie Plus Price: $17 per guest
Individual Lightning Lane: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Virtual Queue: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
For our next park, I would recommend skipping Genie Plus at EPCOT for the day. The must do thrill attraction is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and it is very simple to enter the Virtual Queue for a spot. You have good odds of getting a place with two chances to enter the virtual queue during the day. If not, should you wish, you can still snag an Individual Lightning Lane for Guardians to purchase. The ride you want to be tactical about in terms of a long line is Frozen Ever After. If you go at park opening or Early Entry, you should be able to manage a shorter wait for Frozen, or you can take the chance to ride during the current fireworks show, EPCOT Forever. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will have the next longest wait, however, there are times in the day when it will get to 20-30 minutes, and this is similar to Soarin’ Around the World as well. At this time, the showing of Soarin’ Over California has spiked longer wait times due to the shorter nature of the temporary comeback. Every other ride at EPCOT does not warrant a Genie Plus line necessarily. They are usually a 10-15 minute waits or less and very rarely 20 minutes.
Magic Kingdom – Take It
Genie Plus Price: $23+ per guest
Individual Lightning Lane: TRON Lightcycle Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Virtual Queue: TRON Lightcycle Run
Magic Kingdom would be the park that you can make the most out of your Genie Plus purchase. With Magic being the most crowd-heavy, it also has the highest price point for Genie Plus out of all the parks. TRON Lightcycle Run is the newest thrill attraction at this park, and like Guardians, the Virtual Queue process is much the same, and you have a good chance of getting a spot with two chances to enter. You also have the option of purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON as well. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the other option available for an Individual Lightning Lane, and if this ride is on your list, I would consider getting it as the standard line is one of the toughest queues. However, I really encourage getting to Magic Kingdom at park opening or Early Entry and starting out in Fantasyland to check off some rides as it can feel like a sea of people as the day goes on. You can aim to ride Seven Dwarfs or even snag a spot in Peter Pan’s Flight before the queue time gets out of control. Depending on the time of day, rides such as Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain can tend to have longer queues. If you’re strategic about what you want to accomplish, getting Genie Plus for Magic Kingdom will help you make the most of your day.
You also have the option to purchase Genie Plus to use at multiple parks through Park Hopper at the price of $23 per guest (subject to change), or basically the same price as Genie Plus for Magic Kingdom. Keep in mind that these prices can change with the day or at peak times. Please take my advice with a grain of salt as my opinions are based on my personal experience with going to the parks and navigating my time with and without using Genie Plus. Ultimately, you will do what you think is best for your family or travel group. Of course, if you need help planning your vacation, you can reach out to Dreams Unlimited Travel at no extra cost!
Emily has a background in the arts and has been going to Disney World since 1992. As a more recent resident of Orlando, her theme park mindset has fluctuated from avid vacationer to local park goer. She enjoys sharing her love and knowledge for all things Disney and can be found on Instagram and TikTok @explorewithemilynicole
