by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
June 25, 2024
That scream you just heard was probably me from miles away from Disney World, tearing my hair out over today’s announcement that Disney’s Genie+/Lightning Lane/skip the line access plan will be changing yet again. And while it’s being touted as simplifying the program…. I’m not sure my friends and family see it that way.
For people who don’t come to Disney often – as in, for some of them it’s a once in a lifetime trip, and for other family members, it’s a once every 15 years trip – it’s again making the planning of a trip more convoluted. I can’t begin to tell you how many incoming guests I’ve had to explain the system to over the past few years, and try and walk them through it. The verbiage alone has overwhelmed some of them, and they’ve just turned their phone over to us and said, “Please handle it.”
For those of you who haven’t been to the parks in a while, Lightning Lanes are the descendants of the old, free FastPass and Fastpass+, and a way to pay to skip the longer stand-by lines. Individual Lightning Lanes are the pass for specific, individual attractions. There are only one or two of those in each park.
More than a year ago, Disney touted the fact that they would be updating the system, and now, the modifications are here.
Of the new changes, Disney says, “On July 24, Walt Disney World will introduce new, simpler names to provide more clarity for everyone. Disney Genie+ service will become Lightning Lane Multi Pass, while individual Lightning Lane will now be known as Lightning Lane Single Pass.”
Those are Genie’s simpler names? Alrighty, then.
The big bonus, and one that park guests have been begging for, is the ability going forward to make reservations for rides ahead of time, pre-booking attractions up to a week out for hotel guests, and three days out for off-site guests, rather than at 7 a.m. the day of your visit, as Genie+ currently allows. You can also choose your ride times with the new system.
In short, the Genie+ service where you book multiple rides throughout the day will now be called “Lightning Lane Multi Pass,” and the Individual Lightning Lane purchases (i.e., the “fancy rides” that you book à la carte, one at a time like Tron) will become “Lightning Lane Single Pass.”
Pricing will continue to vary by date, attraction and park.
Disney also dropped a YouTube video of how to tackle the new changes.
According to Disney, here’s how Lightning Lane passes will be changing, beginning July 24:
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you may make up to 3 Lightning Lane selections in a theme park, in advance of your visit. You’ll also be able to choose available times as you make your selections.
On the day of your visit, once you use a selection, check the My Disney Experience app for availability to make an additional selection.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Lightning Lane Single Pass will work much like it does today, where you can secure a time to ride one of our most highly demanded attractions, but you’ll now be able to make your purchase and plan in advance.
How to Plan Ahead
Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels will be able to plan Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance, for their entire stay (up to 14 days). All other guests can plan up to 3 days in advance.
These advance purchase windows will let guests secure some of their must-do rides and experiences after they’ve had some time to decide what dining reservations they want to book and any other plans they may need to consider.
Guests may purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, a Lightning Lane Single Pass or both. The app will also be updated to make it quicker and easier to purchase and plan, with fewer steps and a new option to purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass in one transaction.
Lightning Lane passes will blend features from our current services and the previously offered FastPass+ service, giving guests the choice to plan ahead and removing the hassle of planning during their vacation.
To dive into even more details, visit our website for the latest information on how to purchase, select and use your Lightning Lane passes.
Disneyland Resort will also use the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single pass names beginning July 24. Based on the different ways we know guests visit Disneyland Resort, the way guests purchase, select and redeem Lightning Lane passes at Disneyland Resort will remain the same.
The complimentary features of Disney Genie service will continue to be available in the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps. As you may have noticed, both apps have also gotten a series of upgrades over the last year to make features easier to use, including making dining reservations, mobile food ordering, and more.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at
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