Long gone are the days of running from ride to ride and showing a paper ticket so you can skip the line. The “Fast Pass” system of yore has evolved, much to match our current state of technological being. With all this change, it seems as if you need a Ph.D. to understand how to use this new system.
Today, Disney World uses a combination of Lightning Lanes, Individual Lightning Lanes, and Virtual Queues. Rest assured, we’ll guide you through this intricate maze and help you maximize your time on your magical vacation.
The Different “Fast Pass” systems of Disney Genie
Lightning Lane
Lightning Lanes are what’s left of the legacy Fast Pass system – a shorter queue than waiting on the regular standby lines. To access Lightning Lanes across the park, you will need to purchase Genie+, the paid add-on feature available in the My Disney Experience (MDE) app, and make reservations for a specific time slot.
NOTE: This is different than the Disney Genie feature which is a free planning tool available in the MDE app. We find that the Genie feature is good for suggestions of what’s available in the parks, but not entirely helpful for planning your day (or when you’re already in the park).
Individual Lightning Lane
Individual Lightning Lanes are the same as the Lightning Lanes, except they are only for select rides that are not included with Genie+ but are rather pay-per-ride. These typically include higher profile rides such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, etc.
Virtual Queues
Virtual Queue is a free system where you can place yourself on the line through the MDE app. It is similar to Genie+ and the Lightning Lane system but it is currently only used for select attractions and experiences. Currently, as of the publishing of this post, it is only used on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and for runDisney Merchandise Shop at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during Marathon Weekend.
Using Genie+
Genie+’s Lightning Lanes, Individual Lightning Lanes, and Virtual Queues are all accessed through the MDE app. In the app, you can purchase Genie+, make reservations, and modify/cancel reservations as needed.
Make sure you add all the members you plan on booking Genie+ for added to your Friends & Family list.
- On the day of your visit (12:00 AM), purchase Genie+ and check out. Pricing may vary from $15 to $29 per day depending on the time of year.
- At 7:00 AM, reservations for all Lightning Lanes, Individual Lightning Lanes, and Virtual Queues become available.
How to make Virtual Queue reservations - Go to the Tip Board on the ≡ menu to access the different rides, shows, and experiences.
- Find the ride you want to go on, choose the members, and confirm your reservation.
Note: you can only book the next available time slot for Lightning Lanes. If you want to ride at 1:00 PM but the next slot is only 10:30 AM, you will have to check back until you see the 1:00 PM time slots open up.
Congratulations, you’ve made your first Lightning Lane reservation! At the reservation time, you can walk right up to the Lightning Lane lines at the ride. To make your next one, either a) you have used the last reservation you made, b) 120 minutes have passed or c) you canceled the last reservation you made.
You can also change or cancel reservations as well.
- Go to My Genie Day on the MDE app. (It’s in the ≡ menu or the tab next to Tip Board when you’re on the Tip Board page.)
- Select the reservation you want to change by pressing on the … on the top right of the reservation.
- To change, press Modify Plan to change to the current time slot or to change the experience reserved altogether.
- To cancel, press Manage Details to completely cancel your reservation.
Making Individual Lightning Lane reservations have the same steps as making Lightning Lane reservations. The only difference is you have the option of picking time slots when it comes to Individual Lightning Lanes. Keep in mind Individual Lightning Lanes are not changeable or refundable. They are only refunded when the ride closes down during your time slot.
If you have a ParkHopper or you have an annual pass, you can park hop after 2:00 PM. Starting February 4th, you can park hop after 11:00 AM. To make a reservation for another park, you can change the park at the top of the Tip Board.
Detailed Guide to Making Lightning Lane Reservations (coming soon)
Tips & Tricks
- Plan early and plan ahead! Know what attractions to book at 7:00 AM. Do not waste time in the morning scrolling through the list! Good attractions can go fast!
- At 7:00 AM, most reservation times will be before 10:00 AM except for the high-popularity rides. If you’re not up for a rollercoaster before 10:00 AM, you wouldn’t want to book prioritize Expedition Everest in the morning.
- Make reservations whenever you can, even if there’s not a time slot for a ride that you really want. You can always edit the reservation if you see something open up later.
- Popular rides will usually book out quickly, especially if you’re going during peak season. Even if you see a time that might not work at 7:00 AM, if you check back at 8:00 AM or even 7:30, you might be left with a 9:00 PM ride time.
- Check back regularly to see if rides and times you want open up. Reservations get canceled throughout the day.
- You can enter the queue 5 minutes before your actual reservation time.
It can get frustrating trying to navigate Disney World’s different “Fast Pass” systems to maximize your time there. Not to mention all the different paid add-ons each day that can really drive your costs up. We hope that we were able to make it just a little bit smoother in learning how to use Genie+. If you have any more questions, please feel free to check out our other posts or send us a message!
