Difference Between Genie vs. Lightning Lane

This article is your complete guide to the difference between the Genie Plus and the Lightning Lane! To break it down: Disney Genie Plus was a paid service that grants guests the privilege to bypass regular queues at select rides. Disney Genie Plus is no longer used in the parks. The Disney Lightning Lane is the new service with similar features, but under a new name to make the system less confusing. Lightning Lane is the service you purchase to skip the line at select attractions.

We are about to break down everything in more detail so if you’re ready to learn all about the Genie Plus vs Lightning Lane read on!

We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Walt Disney World vacation packages!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World check out our Disney Crowd calendar! 

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

What is the Difference Between Genie Plus and Lightning Lane?

As discussed above the Disney Genie Plus is no longer the official name of Disney’s paid skip the line service. In our opinion from using the My Disney Experience App where it gets confusing is that Disney sells individual premium “a la carte” Lightning Lane passes (Lightning Lane Single-Pass) for bigger attractions which is separate from the “Lightning Lane” service. However it’s important to note that these premium lightning lane rides are a paid service as well.

Is Lightning Lane the same as Genie Plus?

Are Lightning Lane and Genie Plus the same thing? Not quite. Though both features enhance the guest experience at Disney parks, the new Lightning Lane has a few new perks for guests to take advantage of. Now, you can purchase Lightning Lane passes days in advance of your park visit, choose attractions and arrival windows before purchasing a pass, and make plans for multiple days all in the same day! 

Related Page: How Does Disney Genie Plus Work? 

Why So Much Confusion Between Disney Genie Vs Lightning Lane?

You might be wondering at this point why is there so much confusion between the Genie + vs Lightning Lane? And one of the main reasons is that Walt Disney World. recently made the switch from Genie+ to Lightning Lane. To be clear, Genie+ is NO LONGER being used! The paid skip the line service is now all under “Lightning Lane.” 

Now, you have the option to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lighting Lane Single Pass, or both! With Lightning Lane Multi-Pass ou can plan ahead of your visit and choose up o 3 multi pass experiences and arrival windows in a Disney Park. Once you are in the park and enjoy your first multi pass experience, you may be able to make an additional selection. You will also get digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos. 

With Lighting Lane Single Pass, you can save time in line at top attractions across Walt Disney World like Tron Lightcycle / RUN and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. You can purchase up to 2 single passes per day. 

Related Page: Premium Individual Lightning Lane Rides

How Many Rides Can You Get On With Lightning Lane?

This is another very popular question, especially since the Lightning Lane now have an additional cost to access them. And on average we believe that guests will typically be able to access four or five of the Lightning Lanes which are included with the service. Now it’s important to note that the park that each guest is visiting will also play a role into just how many rides you will be able to go on. With the main reason being there are certain parks such as Hollywood Studios which have more thrill rides and just less rides in general. This is different from a park like Magic Kingdom which have more rides and a majority being aimed towards families visiting Disney World. 

How many Lightning Lanes are Included with Genie Plus?

As discussed there are over 40 Lightning Lanes which are included with the regular Lightning Lane paid service. However we have found that most families will only be able to take advantage of three or four rides through the Disney Lightning Lane and this is especially true if visiting Disney during one of the busier times of year. On the flip side if visiting Disney World during one of the slowest seasons such as September and January we have found that you can easily double the amount of Disney Lightning Lane rides you can access.

Related post: Complete Guide to Disney World Payment Plans

Disney Genie vs Lightning Lane FAQ

Q: What is the Disney Lightning Lane?

A: The Disney Lightning Lane is the skip the line system available to anyone who upgraded their Disney World ticket to include the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. The Lightning Lane is the opposite of the regular standby line and it will be shorter. Guests can choose an arrival window for one ride at a time and once their arrival window has opened each guests will enter the ride using the Lightning Lane for that attraction. It’s important to note that the Disney Lightning Lanes are also different from any ride participating in the Disney virtual queue system. 

Q: What is the Disney Genie Plus?

A: The Disney Genie Plus was a paid service that allows guests to skip the lines at participating Disney attractions that is no longer offered in the parks. Disney Lightning Lane service has replaced it. 

Q: How many Lightning Lanes can you book at once?

A: Guests can make three Lightning Lane selections before their arrival in the park. Once you’re in the park and you enjoy your first multi pass experience, you may be able to make an additional selection (subject to availability)

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets.