DO NOT SKIP These Genie+ Hacks for Disney World…Unless You’re REALLY Confident

Genie+ can be a trip-saving tool to utilize on your Disney World vacation.

But, let’s face it. It can be complicated. Understanding how to use it can be challenging on its own, let alone trying to figure out how to maximize the service. So, that’s why we are giving you the Genie+ HACKS you need to know about for your next trip. Let’s dive in!

1. Get Genie+ Early

First things first, let’s talk about purchasing Genie+. You can buy Genie+ at midnight on the “morning” of the date you plan to use it. While it might not be the best idea to stay up late to purchase it (you’ll have to be up early to make those 7AM selections, after all!), it is a good idea to buy it as soon as you can.

Although it hasn’t happened frequently, Genie+ has sold out in the past on busy weekends or holidays. Don’t wait until the last minute to purchase it, and then you’re stuck without it on a crowded holiday.

Furthermore, if you are planning on using Genie+, but not until later in the day (maybe you have a dining reservation or are at a slower park in the morning), don’t wait until you need it to purchase. Not only could you risk it selling out, but you are able to book your selections for later in the day starting at 7AM. Getting a head start on those selections is a good idea so that you don’t get to your park in the afternoon and the ride selections you were hoping for are all booked up.

2. Stack Lightning Lane Selections

Ok, this is probably the most complicated part about Genie+, so let’s talk about how to master it. With the 120-minute rule, you can select a new Lightning Lane after you use your current selection, when the Lightning Lane window has expired for your current selection, or 120 minutes after you originally made the selection. Keep in mind, however, that if you made your first selection at 7AM, the 120-minute window doesn’t start until the park opens.

To take advantage of this system, you can make a high-demand Lightning Lane selection for later in the day, and then 2 hours later — make another! Even though you haven’t used the selection yet, you’ll be able to have multiple, high-value attractions booked at once.

Click here to read our full guide on how to stack Genie+

3. Refresh the App

When you are trying to find a Lightning Lane selection that works for you, sometimes it might feel like you can’t find one that fits into the schedule you were hoping for.

While staying flexible is an important way to enjoy your trip to the fullest, don’t give up on snagging a time that works for you best. Sometimes refreshing the app will show you times that weren’t available at first. Be patient, and keep trying!

4. Pin Your Favorite Attractions

Speaking of refreshing the app, don’t forget to customize your Disney Genie.  While you’re looking for that perfect Lightning Lane selection, scrolling all the way to your attraction of choice can waste valuable time.

Make sure you pin the attractions you’re most looking forward to doing so that they are at the top of your board! When you refresh your screen, you’ll see your favorite options faster. You can do this by customizing your day in the Disney Genie section of the My Disney Experience app.

5. Modify Your Selections

Since Genie+ debuted in 2021, it has seen a few changes! Most notably, guests can now modify their Lightning Lane selections. Make sure you’re taking advantage of this new transition!

Previously, if you wanted to adjust your plans, you’d have to cancel your current Lightning Lane selection and try for another — hoping for the best! But now, you can take a look at available selections without having to cancel your current selection.

This can be especially useful if you stacked your Lightning Lanes for later in the day, and were hoping to snag an earlier selection if it became available. If an earlier one does become available, you might be able to grab another Lighting Lane sooner!

6. Prioritize High Demand Attractions

While it might be tempting to try to snag a Lightning Lane for a low-demand ride if one is available soon, many of these rides typically have short wait times. Don’t stress about filling up your Genie+ day with these rides at the expense of getting a more valuable Lightning Lane selection later in the day for a high-demand ride.

Especially with the 120-minute rule that lets you stack your selections, picking Lightning Lanes that are later in the day but for more coveted rides is a good way to make sure you’re using your Genie+ purchase on the attractions that really benefit from it.

If at noon you notice there is a Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog Dash at 7PM, but there is also a Lightning Lane for Toy Story Mania at 1PM, it’s probably in your best interest to snag the Slinky Dog Dash at 7PM since Toy Story Mania often has a shorter wait time. Then, at 3PM, you’ll be able to book another selection.

7. Take Advantage of Multiple Experience Passes

Occasionally when you book a Lightning Lane for a specific time, that ride will temporarily close for unexpected issues. Sometimes these are short and relatively painless, but other times they can last all day. So, what do you do when you Lightning Lane coincides with this closure?  Disney will automatically add a “Multiple Experiences” Lightning Lane to your account.

You can choose to wait to use this at your original ride of choice once it reopens, or you can use this at most other Lightning Lanes in the park, although some exclusions do apply. The benefit of these passes is that you don’t have to make a selection based on what’s available in the app — you just show up at your desired attraction and scan in!

8. Scan in Early

Did you know you can scan in 5 minutes early to your Lightning Lane selection? While it might not seem like a big help, 5 minutes adds up when you’ve got a full day of plans to carry out!

Disney World is huge, and you might be surprised by just how long it takes to do everything on your to-do list for the day. Give yourself some extra grace and show up to your attraction 5 minutes early, and you might be surprised how much it can come in handy!

And that’s it — the best ways to hack Genie+. Are you a fan of this system? Let us know how you tackle Genie+ in the comments below. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney tips!

Find out when Genie+ is worth it here.

What are your favorite rides to use Genie+ on? Let us know in the comments!

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