Love it or hate it, it seems Genie+ is here to stay for a while.
Genie+ was introduced in October 2021 and has become a must-have tool for many. We have seen Genie+ rise in cost hitting $35 per guest at its highest. This can be a lot of money when you have multiple people in your family and are visiting the parks for multiple days. But, we’re breaking down why Genie+ is pointless and how you can avoid using it.
First, if you don’t know what Genie+ is, it allows users to access Lightning Lanes (essentially a new version of FastPass+) by choosing the next available time to arrive at rides and attractions. We have a whole guide on how to use it.
Recently, we shared why Genie+ happened in the first place. Genie+ happened because the FastPass system no longer worked for a majority of the guests, and according to Disney, it was time for a change.
However, sometimes Genie+ is pointless. Let’s talk about why and how to make the most of your day without it.
Low Crowds
Believe it or not, there are days that have low crowds at Disney World. Though they seem rare, they do still happen. When crowds are low, Genie+ is pointless.
The wait times are usually 30-45 minutes and you can still get through all of your must-do rides that day. When there aren’t too many people in the parks, there aren’t too many people in the lines either!
Not Every Park Is Worth It
Even when the parks are busier, not every park needs Genie+. For example, Animal Kingdom is a park you could easily skip doing Genie+ for. This is because there are only 5 rides eligible for Genie+ and 3 shows.
For shows, if you show up 20 to 30 minutes before, you will be able to get a great seat and enjoy the show.
Epcot is another example of a park that you don’t need Genie+ to do. Epcot has so much more to offer than just rides. You can spend a lot of time in the World Showcase visiting different countries, trying new food and drinks, and enjoying whichever EPCOT festival is currently happening.
There are currently 11 rides included with Genie + at EPCOT and only a few of these tend to have longer waits like Test Track and Frozen Ever After.
Tips For When You Don’t Get Genie+
If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you could utilize Early Entry. This is a period of time when Disney allows guests staying on property to enter the parks 30 minutes early and start riding attractions.
If you are staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, you could also have access to Extended Evening Hours. This is when a certain park like Magic Kingdom or EPCOT stays open a few hours after the park close for those guests.
If you aren’t staying at a Disney hotel, you can use this tip. During a parade or nighttime show, hit the big rides instead. The wait times typically go pretty low then as most guests are wanting to watch the parade or show. This will leave you with time to get at least one ride done.
For EPCOT, we recommend doing the park “backward”. We tend to see guests hitting all the rides in the morning and then the World Showcase in the afternoon/evening. We recommend doing the World Showcase earlier in the day and the rides at night.
Finally, you can rope drop your favorite ride that has a longer wait time. This means you head straight for that ride as soon as you are scanned into the park. Of course, other guests will be doing this too but at least you get it out of the way and maybe won’t have to wait in a long queue in the heat of the day.
If you are choosing to utilize Genie+ on your trip, check out our tricks and tips below to help make the most of your money. For more Disney parks news, be sure to follow AllEars.net.
Do you think Genie+ is worth it? Let us know in the comments below!
I honestly have never thought Genie+ was worth it and now I know it isn’t so thank you for confirming that!