Since Disney World reopened last year, almost all of the hotels, shops, and restaurants have reopened. But, there are still quite a few things that have yet to return to the parks.
For example, character meet and greets and parades continue to be suspended, and many guests have been wondering when FastPass+ might come back to help them navigate the parks on crowded days. And, now Disney has shared an update on their plans for the perk.
Disney announced today that they will be retiring FastPass, FastPass+, and MaxPass in Disney World and Disneyland immediately. And, to replace the program, they will be introducing new paid options that will integrate into the My Disney Experience app through the new Disney Genie planning feature.
The new features will begin this fall and guests will be able to add on Disney Genie+, and/or purchase additional Lightning Lane passes for other popular attractions.
Disney Genie+ will feature access to new Lightning Lane Entrances at over 40 attractions throughout all four theme parks including Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Additional Lightning Lane purchases (which will also be known as Individual Attraction Selections) will be different from Disney Genie+ and will enable guests to skip the line at up to two select attractions per day that are not included in Disney Genie+.
These individual attraction selections will include rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom. Plus, both Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT (which opens on October 1st) will feature a free virtual queue and be available as a Lightning Lane attraction.
And, if you’re planning to do some park hopping but want to purchase an Individual Attraction Selection, you’ll still be able to — even if it is in a park that you’re not at in the morning!
Disney Genie+ will cost $15 per person, per day to add onto your day at Disney World, and $20 per person per day at Disneyland. Prices for the additional paid attractions have yet to be released though they will vary by date, attraction, park.
Note that standby lines and virtual queues for select attractions will still be available for guests to take advantage of for free, so you can choose not to purchase Disney Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections during your visit and still visit the attractions you’d like. We’ll continue to keep an eye out as more details on the new Disney Genie features are released, so be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest!
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How do you tackle the parks without FastPass+? Let us know in the comments!
So Disney’s solution to some guests complaining they had to pick a couple of fast passes months ahead was to force everyone to get up early every day of their vacation to grab 1 paid fast pass. (Sigh) rethinking my already booked 2022 trip. Way to go Chapek.
I’m so glad I canceled my future trip to WDW. No more, ever again.
Corporate greed now rules Disney.
Disney continues to make decisions that will make the “average” family unable to afford a vacation there. This is not what Walt would want. People are going to stop going to Disney, and it’s not going to be because of Covid. I’m appalled by the changes. Next thing you know they’ll start charging by attraction.
As much as I hate when people invoke the will of someone they’ve never met who’s been dead over 50 years, I’ll take a poke at a retort for walt…i would think he would be appalled by the crowds inside. If he cared so much about his customers (so what if he did or didnt…we’re buying a service, not making him our neighbor), he’d be less than enthused by the shoulder to shoulder crowds. Disney needs to raise prices so some people quit going. Whether you can afford it or it prices out the “average” family is immaterial. The parks can only hold so many people and surplus people want in at the current prices. You gotta price out some people who can no longer afford it and some who refuse to spend so much. Such is the circle of life when something is scarce.
Of all the ways Disney can make a buck, I have to say that I am most disappointed in this one. As a DVC member, this should be an expense that we should not have to incur and should be a built in perk. They really should be ashamed of themselves as DVC members make up for the majority of the guest over the last year during COVID and are a huge source of revenue for them under normal circumstances. Disney is constantly showing DVC members year after year that it just doesn’t value us and takes us for granted. To expect a family of four to spend an additional $60 to $80 dollars a day is unrealistic especially when most DVC members come much more than a week every year as they are also annual pass holders. I hope enough of us complain loud enough that someone hears us because this time Disney really pushed the envelope too far in my opinion!
Man, this is so cringeworthy. We are dvc members too…you understand the parks have nothing to do with dvc right? Like, DVD has no business with how magic kingdom operates just as magic kingdom has no business with how DVD operates dvc. Now, if you want to crow at DVD for more perks, I might join you.
Of all the ways Disney can make a buck, I have to say that I am most disappointed in this one. As a DVC member, this should be an expense that we should not have to incur and should be a built in perk. They really should be ashamed of themselves as DVC members make up for the majority of the guest over the last year during COVID and are a huge source of revenue for them under normal circumstances. Disney is constantly showing DVC members year after year that it just doesn’t value us and takes us for granted. To expect a family of four to spend an additional $60 to $80 dollars a day is unrealistic especially when most DVC members come much more than a week every year as they are also annual pass holders. I hope enough of us complain loud enough that someone hears us because this time Disney really pushed the envelope too far in my opinion!
So Genie+ lets you into any of 40+ lines, unlimited times?
Hi Vincent! Genie+ works similarly to Disneyland’s MaxPass, where it allows you to make one ride reservation at a time.
The only “Magic” that happens now is the way your money disappears. I do hate to see the Disney Park empire fail, probably over the next 10 years, but if anybody can do it, Bob Chapek can. Mr. Chapek does have plans for a new land. It will be called Stockholders Land, where he will be the superhero.
You have just told people that it is ok to pay for rides so they can cut in front of those who don’t mind waiting. I have never liked any Fastpass system and will never use it if I ever get to return to Disney someday. If you have to follow a laid out plan just so you can experience a few more attractions, you are not enjoying your trip. You are following the plan of someone else. Attractions run at set speeds and lines move accordingly. There are going to be waits and to try to beat them is stupid and rude. There is no way to see everything in just one trip. To see more or things new, you will have to plan another trip someday. This may have just sounded a death knell for the Disney org. They have already lost the prestige of being the best themed place to go. Now people may decide to not go at all due to excess charges above lodging and admission.
Well, I guess all those people who said things were better before Fastpass will finally get their wish. Hope they enjoy the mile-long lines!
Well, this stinks. Disney is fast becoming too expensive for even an every-few-years treat.
No Magical Express, no Fast Pass system. How long before you have to pay to use the buses, boats, and monorail?
Disney greed continues. Eliminate perks, charge more. Good time to stop going.
So Genie+ lets you into any of the 40+ lines unlimited times?
Lol no. $15 per ride per person
I let you do the math on your family