Was This the Most Confusing Month in Disney World History?

Over the past year, Disney has made a lot of big announcements.

Between fan-favorite restaurants reopening, opening dates for brand new attractions and dining locations, and more, there has been plenty of Disney news to keep up with. But, this month Disney announced two major new changes coming — and they have a lot of people confused. 

Disney Genie Planning App

The first big announcement that we got from Disney this month was about the brand new planning feature coming to the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps this fall — Disney Genie.

What makes this program so confusing is that there are THREE different components to it — Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selections and you have to pay for two of the three. So, let’s break this down further.

Disney Genie

Disney Genie is the FREE planning feature that will be added directly into the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps and is meant to make planning your Disney vacation even easier. The main features include:

• A Personalized Itinerary
• Forecasted Wait Times
• Restaurant Wait List, Check-in, and Reservations
• Mobile Order
• Attraction Virtual Queues
• Disney Virtual Assistant

So, at the beginning of your vacation, you’ll be able to tell the app what attractions you’d like to ride, where you’d like to eat, and anything else that you’d like to do and it will create a custom itinerary made just for you to maximize your time in the park. Plus, if you aren’t sure what you want to do, it will create a personalized itinerary based on your interests or even where you are in the park.

But, that’s not all, the itinerary will continually update throughout the day based on temporary ride closures, wait times, and more. So, it’s basically that Disney friend of yours that seems to know everything about the parks and what you should do, but better.

Plus, Disney Genie will take the current wait time feature that we know to the next level by providing forecasted wait times for attractions. So, gone are the days of wondering if you’re actually getting in line when the wait is the shortest — you’ll be able to see that in the app!

Check Out 5 BIG Features Coming to Disney Genie!

Disney Genie+

Disney Genie+ is an optional add-on that will be an additional cost for guests and is partially replacing the former FastPass+ and MaxPass programs in Disney World and Disneyland. In the most basic terms, Disney Genie+ is a new PAID FastPass option, which provides guests access to new Lightning Lanes (aka the former FastPass lanes) at select attractions throughout the parks.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the details:

Disney Genie+ in Disney World Includes:

• Access to Lightning Lanes at over 40 attractions across all four theme parks
• Attractions confirmed to be included so far: Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• PhotoPass AR Lenses (which is different than unlimited PhotoPass downloads)
• Costs $15 per person, per day
• Can begin making Lightning Lane selections at 7AM the day of your trip

Disney Genie+ in Disneyland Includes:

• Access to Lightning Lanes at over 15 attractions across both theme parks
• Attractions confirmed to be included so far: Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Unlimited PhotoPass downloads
• Costs $20 per person, per day
• Can begin making Lightning Lane selections when you enter the park on the day of your trip

Keep in mind that at both Disneyland and Disney World, Disney Genie+ will follow you to all of the parks on the day of your purchase — so, you can park hop and “skip the line” at any of the attractions included no matter where you are.

Click HERE to Learn More About The Difference Between the FREE Disney Genie and PAID Disney Genie+

Individual Attraction Selections

Earlier we noted that Disney Genie+ was partially replacing FastPass+ and MaxPass and that’s because all of the attractions NOT included in Disney Genie+ will now be deemed an “Individual Attraction Selection.”

These Individual Attraction Selections (or as we are calling them, “Fancy Rides”), will be an extra cost on top of Disney Genie+ (though you do NOT need to buy Disney Genie+ to make Individual Attraction Selections).

Here’s what we know about the Individual Attraction Selections so far:

• Will provide access to Lightning Lanes at some of the most popular attractions in the parks
• Attractions confirmed to be included so far: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Radiator Springs Racers, Rise of the Resistance, WEB Slinger: A Spider-Man Adventure, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (once it opens on October 1st)
• Price will vary based on the date, time, and attraction (exact prices have not yet been released)
• Guests can purchase a maximum of TWO Individual Attraction Selections per day (NOT per park)
• Selections can be made after entering the park, though Disney World Resort hotel guests can begin making theirs at 7AM the day of.

Keep in mind that regular stand-by lines and virtual queues (at select attractions) will also still be available for guests free of charge.

So, basically, Disney has gone from having two ways to ride attractions (FastPass and standby), to one way to ride (standby only), to FOUR ways to ride in just over a year and a half.

Check out our Disney Genie+ FAQ!

 New Disney World Annual Pass Program

If Disney Genie wasn’t enough of an information overload, Disney World also announced details about the brand NEW Annual Passholder program that will be available for purchase once again beginning September 8th. And, it is VERY different from the Annual Passholder program we used to know.

Let’s dive into the details, shall we?

New Tier System

Disney World’s Annual Pass program will now offer FOUR new options: the Disney Incredi-Pass, the Disney Sorcerer Pass, the Disney Pirate Pass, and the Disney Pixie Dust Pass.

These will replace the current levels of Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Theme Park Select, Weekday Select, and EPCOT After 4.

Click HERE to see how the new Annual Pass program’s cost and blockout dates compare to the current one!

What’s NOT Included

While each annual pass option will still include FREE theme park parking and discounts of up to 20% on dining, merchandise, special events, and more, one of the biggest (and confusing) differences is what’s NOT included.

The new Annual Pass memberships will NOT include Disney PhotoPass downloads or access to the Water Park and Sports complexes at Disney World — instead, guests will need to add these on at an additional cost. Let’s go over what each includes and how much it costs.

Water Parks and Sports Add On:

Previously, admission to the water parks and sports complexes were included with the purchase of a Platinum Plus Annual Pass, however, now all Annual Passholders hoping to gain access to these will need to pay an additional $99 (plus tax) per guest, per year to add it on.

Disney PhotoPass Downloads:

Additionally, Disney PhotoPass Downloads were included in the cost of the Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus-level Annual Passes, but this will change with the new passholder program. Now, all Annual Passholders will have to pay $99 per year to add Memory Maker to their pass.

So, depending on what annual pass you were used to purchasing (or hoping to purchase), there may be fewer benefits included.

Learn More About What’s NOT Included With the New Disney World Annual Passes

What Current Annual Passholders Need to Know

But, things get much more confusing when trying to understand what happens to those who are current Annual Passholders.

Current Annual Passholders who renew and activate their pass before the new tiers go into effect on September 8th will keep that pass level until their renewal period comes around again. The only changes that these guests will experience is that they may be eligible to hold more Park Pass Reservations at once starting on September 8th. These changes include:

• Disney Platinum Plus: Can hold up to 5 reservations at a time
• Disney Platinum: Can hold up to 5 reservations at a time
• Disney Gold: Can hold up to 5 reservations at a time
• Disney Silver: Can hold up to 4 reservations at a time
• Disney Theme Park Select: Can hold up to 3 reservations at a time
• Disney Weekday Select: Can hold up to 3 reservations at a time
• Disney EPCOT After 4: Can hold up to 3 reservations at a time

On the other hand, those who renew before September 8th but do not activate their annual pass until after September 8th will be given the comparable pass type under the new structure. For example, if you are activating a Platinum Plus Annual Pass on or after September 8th, you would get the Incredi-Pass with both the Water Park and Sport and Disney PhotoPass add-ons included at no additional cost.

For all other current Annual Passholders who do not have a renewal window around September 8th, they will need to choose from a pass in the four new tiers when their renewal window is open. Until then, they will keep their current pass level with all the features (and blockout dates) that were included.

Click HERE for our Disney World Annual Passholder FAQ!

Well, this month was certainly filled with some of the most confusing Disney news, but we’ll continue to bring you the latest breakdown of it all so that you’re prepared before you head to the parks! So, stay tuned to AllEars for more!

We’re Breaking Down Disney Genie in the Easiest Possible Way! Click HERE to Learn More!

What do you think of the new programs coming to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments!

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