GENIE
It's no secret that I'm an avid fan of Genie+. Can it be a pain? A little. Is it an added cost? Sure. But I'd rather bring a sack lunch into the park and put that money towards short waits.
I've figured out the simplest way to use Genie+, learned a lot of tricks, and put it all into this guide. The best part? You'll know which rides to prioritize based on actual data and not a blog you found from last year.
Ready to get the hang of this thing?
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table of contents
your dictionary
I. THE LIGHTNING LANE
The Lightning Lane (or LL for short) is the physical expedited queue that let's you skip the regular standby line for most attractions in Walt Disney World.
II. GENIE
Disney Genie is a free itinerary-building section of the My Disney Experience app.
Once you have your park reservations, you can walk through and tell the app what you're interested in. Don't worry about this part, we'll cover it again later!
III. GENIE+
A paid add-on that gives you access to the Lightning Lane for most attractions. The price fluctuates, costing between $15-30 per person, per day.
Using the My Disney Experience app, choose (or "book") the next hourly return window available for an attraction. Ride and repeat!
As these return windows are booked, availability gets later and later until it sells out.
IV. INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANES
For attractions that aren't included in the Genie+ service – like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – you can purchase Individual Lightning Lanes à la carte.
These are limited to 2 per person, per day and can be used with or without Genie+!
V. TIP BOARD
Everything is done within the My Disney Experience account.
Under it's main menu, you'll find your "Tip Board". This is the main hub to purchase Genie+, book return windows, purchase Individual Lightning Lanes, and check wait times.
WATCH A QUICK VIDEO ABOUT GENIE+ HERE
Avatar: Flight of Passage (44")
Celebration of Festival of the Lion King
DINOSAUR (40")
Expedition Everest (44")
Feathered Friends in Flight!
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue...and Beyond!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids (38")
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Meet Mickey at Adventurers Outpost
Naʻvi River Journey
The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
Animal Kingdom
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (40")
Alien Swirling Saucers (32")
Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage
Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
Frozen Sing-Along
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
Mickey + Minnie's Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (38")
Muppet*Vision 3D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (44")
Slinky Dog Dash (38")
Star Tours (40")
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (40")
Toy Story Mania!
Hollywood Studios
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (42")
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Frozen Ever After
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE (40")
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
Soarin’ (40")
Spaceship Earth
Test Track (40")
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
EPCOT
attractions with lightning lanes
Seven Dwarfs' Mine Train (38")
TRON: Lightcycle / Run (48")
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40")
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
Meet Cinderella + a Visiting Princess
Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
Meet Princess Tiana + a Visiting Princess
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain (44")
The Barnstormer (35")
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway (32")
Under the Sea | the Little Mermaid
INCLUDED WITH GENIE+
INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANE
Magic Kingdom
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (42")
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Frozen Ever After
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE (40")
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
Soarin’ (40")
Spaceship Earth
Test Track (40")
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
INCLUDED WITH GENIE+
INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANES
EPCOT
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (40")
Alien Swirling Saucers (32")
Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage
Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
Frozen Sing-Along
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
Mickey + Minnie's Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (38")
Muppet*Vision 3D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (44")
Slinky Dog Dash (38")
Star Tours (40")
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (40")
Toy Story Mania!
INCLUDED WITH GENIE+
INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANES
Hollywood Studios
Avatar: Flight of Passage (44")
Celebration of Festival of the Lion King
DINOSAUR (40")
Expedition Everest (44")
Feathered Friends in Flight!
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue...and Beyond!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids (38")
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Meet Mickey at Adventurers Outpost
Naʻvi River Journey
The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
INCLUDED WITH GENIE+
INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANES
Animal Kingdom
how to use
BUY
Starting at midnight of your park day, purchase Genie+ inside the My Disney Experience app. I like to purchase around 6:45am so I'm ready to book my 1st Genie+.
Whoever wants to use Genie+ will need it added to their ticket. If your child is under 3, you don't have to worry about them!
You can buy Genie+ for up to 12 people at once, as long as they are on your Family + Friends list.
01
PICK
Set up your Tip Board with your Top Pick.
Under the My Day tab, select "start my day!" and follow the prompts for the date, park, and interests.
Only select the FIRST attraction you want to book. This will make it easier and faster to book at 7am.
You can edit this as much as you want throughout the day.
02
BOOK
At 7am EST, refresh your Tip Board and select the first hourly return window for your Top Pick.
Regardless of where you're staying, or where you are in the world, you can make your first selection at 7am EST.
Confirm your Genie+ selection and you're set! You can now use the Lightning Lane during that time window.
03
INSTRUCTIONS + VIDEO
Welcome to Laid-back Magic
OPEN INSTRUCTIONS
OPEN INSTRUCTIONS
OPEN INSTRUCTIONS
PICK
Set up your Tip Board with your Top Pick.
Under the My Day tab, select "start my day!" and follow the prompts for the date and park until it's time to choose your interests.
Only select the FIRST attraction you want to book a return window for. This will make it easier to book faster and get a sooner return window.
You can edit this again and again throughout the day.
02
YOU DID IT!
Welcome to Laid-back Magic
OPEN INSTRUCTIONS
YOU DID IT!
Welcome to Laid-back Magic
BOOK
At 7am EST, refresh your Tip Board and select the first hourly return window for your Top Pick.
Regardless of where you're staying, or where you are in the world, you can make your first selection at 7am EST.
Confirm your Genie+ selection and you're set! You can now use the Lightning Lane during that time window.
03
OPEN INSTRUCTIONS
WAIT, WHAT ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANES?
Just like Genie+, you can purchase Individual Lightning Lanes from your Tip Board.
Disney Resort guests (plus Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green) can start purchasing at 7am EST. Off-property guests have to wait until official park opening.
Unlike Genie+, you can choose the time window you want, which is great! These can also overlap with your Genie+ return times.
These are limited to 2 per person, per day.
HOW TO SCAN INTO A LIGHTNING LANE
- a MagicBand or MagicBand+
- using MagicMobile on your phone
- a Key to the World card
rules, secrets and faq
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR NEXT GENIE+
You can make another Genie+ selection after you've scanned into the attraction you booked most recently
OR
after 2 hours have passed. Whichever comes first.
This clock starts at official park opening.
DOWNLOAD CHART
HOW TO "STACK" (HOLD MULTIPLE LIGHTNING LANES AT ONCE)
If your return window is more than 2hours away, you can book another Genie+ selection, or "stack".
In this video, I showing you how to hold multiple Lightning Lanes at once using the 2-hour rule.
USING GENIE+ WITH A PARK HOPPER TICKET
Once you buy Genie+ it follows you wherever you go.
When you're eligible to make another selection, just tap "change park" on your Tip Board and book any of return window that's in the 2pm range or later. Easy Peasy.
HOW TO MODIFY OR CANCEL A GENIE+ SELECTION
Under the My Day tab, tap "..." next to your Genie+ selection. From there, hit "cancel" or "modify".
You can modify the attraction, return time, and/or party. Modifying only works for attractions within the same park and NOT Individual Lightning Lanes. Note: modifications don't reset the clock on for the 2-hour rule.
TWO PEOPLE BOOKING AT ONCE
Since everyone on your Family + Friends list can book for each other, you can get help from a spouse, friend, or tech-savvy kid.
For instance, I could be booking a Genie+ for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure while my husband adds us to the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
the standby skipper app
PSST...USE CODE DANA5 TO SAVE $5 ON ANY PLAN!
Standby Skipper is a game-charger for Genie+ users because it can book your Genie+ selections for you, reducing time spent on your phone refreshing, booking, and setting alarms. I love using this app!
new!
ON THE BLOG: STANDBY SKIPPER REVIEW + TUTORIAL
Sometimes Lightning Lanes just simply sell out - especially during busy times of year.
If this happens, try pinning and keep refreshing your Tip Board. Some Lightning Lanes become available with earlier return times.
REFRESH, refresh, refresh
Return times between 7:00-7:10am move VERY quickly.
At 7:11am, you'll see earlier return times are released. If you're disappointed the later return times, try modifying at 7:11am.
THE 7:11AM TRICK
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection over your cell service.
GET OFF WI-FI
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER
Your phone battery WILL get low. Fuel Rods are portable battery packs w/ kiosks all over WDW to swap out a dead battery and replace it with a new one for free!
(They’re 1/2 the price if you order them from Amazon ahead of time.)
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
You can scan into a Lightning Lane 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your return window,
So really an hour-long window is 80 minutes long!
A LONGER TIME WINDOW
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection over your cell service.
GET OFF WI-FI
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER
You can scan into a Lightning Lane 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your return window,
So really an hour-long window is 80 minutes long!
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
Sometimes Lightning Lanes simply sell out - especially during busy times of year.
If this happens, try pinning and keep refreshing your Tip Board. Some Lightning Lanes become available!
REFRESH, REFRESH, REFRESH
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection over your cell service.
GET OFF WI-FI
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER
You can scan into a Lightning Lane 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your return window,
So really an hour-long window is 80 minutes long!
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER WITH FACE ID
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection over your cell service.
GET OFF WI-FI
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER WITH FACE ID
You can scan into a Lightning Lane 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your return window,
So really an hour-long window is 80 minutes long!
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
Fuel Rods are portable battery packs w/ kiosks all over Disney to swap out a dead battery and replace it with a new one for free!
(They’re 1/2 the price if you order them from Amazon ahead of time.)
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection over your cell service.
GET OFF WI-FI
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER WITH FACE ID
You can scan into a Lightning Lane 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your return window,
So really an hour-long window is 80 minutes long!
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection from your cell phone service.
GET OFF WI-FI
If you're at your resort - turn off the wifi provided there.
You'll get a faster connection over your cell service.
GET OFF WI-FI
When you buy an Individual Lightning Lane, the MDE app asks you to sign in again.
Allow Face ID on your phone to speed the check out process and guarantee that return time!
BOOK FASTER WITH FACE ID
You can scan into a Lightning Lane 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your return window,
So really an hour-long window is 80 minutes long!
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY!
CAN 2 PEOPLE BOOK AT ONCE?
Yes! This is great for when you need to buy an ILL or join a VQ alongside Genie+. I recommend using two separate My Disney Experience accounts with everyone linked through their Family + Friends list.
How DOES Park HOPPING WORK WITH GENIE+?
When you buy Genie+ for the day, it follows you wherever you go.
Just tap "change park" on your Tip Board and book any return window that's after 2pm (this is when park hopping begins.)
CAN I MODIFY A GENIE+ I ALREADY MADE?
Yes! You can modify the attraction (within the same park), return time, and the people riding. Note that this is only for Genie+ return windows, not Individual Lightning Lanes.
HOW DOES GENIE+ WORK WITH RIDER SWITCH?
It kind of works the same: everyone who wants to use the Lightning Lane in the first group would ALL need to have a Lightning Lane booked. Ie: you can't cheat the system and only book for 1 parent, and then switch.
CAN I HAVE A GENIE+ RETURN WINDOW AND AN ILL AT THE SAME TIME?
Yes, you can even have overlapping times between Genie+ return times and Individual Lightning Lanes. The app doesn't care!
HOW MANY GENIE+ SELECTIONS CAN I HAVE AT ONE TIME?
You can only book one Genie+ at 7am, but with the 2-hr rule, you can hold more than one at a time. Ex: if your first return time is at 7pm and the park opens at 9am, you can book another at 11am, 1pm...and so on.
CAN I BOOK FOR MY ENTIRE FAMILY OR GROUP?
As long as everyone is on your Family + Friends list, you can book for your entire group. Book up to 12 people for Genie+ return windows, and up to 10 people for Individual Lightning Lanes at once.
DOES MY CHILD NEED GENIE+ ADDED TOO?
Everyone with a ticket needs to have purchased Genie+ to use it. This wouldn't include children under 3 years old, since they don't need a park ticket.
WHAT IF I'm GETTING TO THE PARK LATER?
Wait until the return windows get into the time bracket you want. Or book a Genie+ and modify it for later in the day. Standby Skipper is great for late arrivals since it will watch the return windows for you!
FAQ
Prioritizing your Lightning Lanes is a balance between what your family wants to ride, of course, but also the order that Lightning Lanes sell out. This can change depending on events, weather, and time of year -- that's why this section is updated every week!
Magic Kingdom
1. TRON / Lightcycle Run*
2. Seven Dwarf's Mine Train*
3. Jungle Cruise
4. Peter Pan's Flight
5. Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
DANA'S PICK: Peter Pan's Flight
EPCOT
1. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
2. Frozen Ever After
3. Guardians of the Galaxy*
4. Test Track
5. Soarin'
DANA'S PICK: Remy's Ratatouille Adv.
Hollywood Studios
1. Slinky Dog Dash
2. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance*
3. Tower of Terror
4. Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
5. Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
DANA'S PICK: Rise* and/or MMRR
Animal Kingdom
1. Avatar Flight of Passage*
2. Na'vi River Journey
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
4. Meet Disney Pals at Adv.'s Outpost
5. Expedition Everest
DANA'S PICK: Na'vi River Journey
Magic Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
EPCOT
Hollywood Studios
Click below to see example itineraries on a day with Genie+ using a combination of the 2-hour rule and the scan-and-book method.
In-between using your Lightning Lanes, plan to ride low standby waits and shows.
examples
Park Hopping
7am: Book Peter Pan's Flight for 9:30-10:30am.
9:30am Scan into Peter Pan's Flight and immediately book Meet Ariel at her Grotto for 3:35-4:35pm.
11:30am Using the 2-hour rule, book Winnie the Pooh for 1:10-2:10pm.
1:10pm Scan into Winnie the Pooh and immediately book it's a small world for 1:20-2:20pm.
1:20pm Scan into it's a small world and book Meet Mickey for 4:05-5:05pm
3:20pm Using the 2-hour rule, book Under the Sea -- Little Mermaid for 3:55-4:55pm
3:35pm Scan into Meet Ariel at her Grotto
3:55pm Scan into Under the Sea -- Little Mermaid and continue booking Lightning Lanes.
GENIE+ in MAGIC KINGDOM
7am: Book Remy's Ratatouille Adventure for 9:30-10:30am and buy an ILL for Guardians of the Galaxy for 1:00-2:00pm.
9:30am Scan into Remy's and immediately book Frozen Ever After for 2:15-3:15pm.
11:30am Using the 2-hour rule, book Soarin' for 12:35-1:35pm.
12:45pm: Scan into Soarin' and book Spaceship Earth for 1:55-2:55pm.
1:10pm Scan into ILL for Guardians of the Galaxy.
1:55pm Scan into Spaceship Earth and book Test Track for 4:10-5:10pm.
3:10pm Scan into Frozen Ever After.
5:05pm Scan into Test Track.
GENIE+ IN EPCOT
7am: Book Slinky Dog Dash for 1:05-2:05pm.
9am: Official park opening
11am Using the 2-hour rule, book Toy Story Mania! for 12:40-1:40pm.
12:40pm Scan into Toy Story Mania! and book Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway for 5:05-6:05pm.
1:05pm Scan into Slinky Dog Dash.
2:40pm Using the 2-hour rule, book Meet Olaf for 3:25-4:25pm.
3:25pm Scan into Meet Olaf and book Tower of Terror for 6:30-7:30pm or sooner.
5:05pm Scan into Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.
6:25pm Scan into Tower of Terror.
GENIE+ IN HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
7am: Book Na'vi River Journey for 11:30-12:30pm and buy an ILL for Flight of Passage for 11am-12pm
8am: Official park opening.
10am Using the 2-hour rule, book Meet Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost for 11:45am-12:45pm.
11:05am Scan into your ILL for Flight of Passage.
11:35am Scan into Na'vi River Journey.
12:10am Scan into Meet Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost and book Expedition Everest for 12:40-1:40pm.
1:30pm Scan into Expedition Everest and book DINOSAUR for 2:05-3:05pm.
2:05pm Scan into DINOSAUR and keep booking Lightning Lanes if you're hopping to another park.
GENIE+ IN ANIMAL KINGDOM
7am: Book Slinky Dog Dash for 9:30-10:30am.
9:30am Scan into Slinky Dog Dash and book Tower of Terror for 2:35-3:35pm. Ride low standby waits.
11:30am Using the 2-hour rule, book Remy's Ratatouille Adventure for 5:20-6:20pm.
1:30pm Using the 2-hour rule, book Test Track for 4:40-5:40pm.
2:35pm Scan into Tower of Terror, park hop to EPCOT.
4:40pm Scan into Test Track and book Soarin' for 5:10-6:10pm.
5:10pm Scan into Soarin' and book Frozen Ever After for 6:10-7:10pm.
5:20pm Scan into Remy's Ratatouille Adventure followed by Frozen Ever After at 6:10pm.
Park HOPPING EXAMPLE
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the newest attraction in EPCOT. It's unique for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one is that it doesn't have a standby line.
There are 2 ways to ride: through a free virtual queue or purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane. Download the bonus guide HERE.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COSMIC REWIND
bonus!
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