This Disney World Problem Is Only Getting WORSE

Genie+ has been pretty controversial ever since it was first rolled out in Disney World.

In typical Disney fashion, the service has gone through quite a few changes in just a few short years. It can be a great way to save time when you’re in the parks, but it’s also caused something of a problem too. And, if you ask us — the problem is only getting worse.

Genie+ is a paid service that allows guests to choose return times for most attractions and bypass much of the standby line via Lightning Lanes. It’s similar to the old FastPass+ system, except you have to pay for it. There are also Individual Lightning Lines that operate on a pay-per-ride system and are a separate cost from the standard Genie+ service.

Even though the service is controversial — it’s also wildly popular. Disney has raised the price of Genie+ multiple times at this point, but people are still willing to pay the additional cost if it means not having to wait in standby lines — and being able to guarantee riding a specific attraction.

When it first rolled out, Genie+ was a flat $15 per person, per day in Disney World. Later, in October 2022, Disney announced that Genie+ would be subject to surge pricing, meaning that the price would change depending on the time of year and demand. During busier times (like weekends and holidays), Genie+ can cost more. The highest we’ve seen Genie+ cost in Disney World is $35 per person, per day.

Not only that, but Genie+ is now park-specific — meaning it might cost more or less depending on which park you’re purchasing it for.

So, what’s the problem? Well, even though Disney continues to raise the price of Genie+, people are still purchasing the service in droves. Often, the Lightning Lane line for a particular ride will stretch back into another land altogether, while the standby line appears to be much shorter from outside the ride.

Of course, Disney doesn’t advertise that there will be no wait with Genie+, just that it will be shorter than the standby line.

As the holiday season gets closer, the parks are only going to get more crowded, with more folks trying to purchase Genie+. Not only will that impact the price, but it will also impact wait times. Lately, we’ve seen long lines in every Disney World park, especially at those popular rides.

So if you’re visiting Disney World soon, you may want to budget a bit more cash and time if you want to purchase Genie+. But, you can always choose to use the standby lines instead — we’ll still recommend budgeting some more time for that.

Certain lines do get longer in the afternoon, so getting your must-do rides done early is a good idea. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry and get on even more rides before the rest of the guests can enter. Folks staying at a Deluxe Resort, Deluxe Villa, or select other resort also get Extended Evening Hours, which allows guests to stay after closing time.