Disneyland and Walt Disney World are making major changes to their Genie+ ride reservation system, starting in July. The updated system, now called "Lightning Lane Multi Pass," will allow guests to book reservations before arriving at the park.
The current Genie+, introduced in 2021 as a paid replacement for the complimentary FastPass system, lets guests manage reservations via a mobile app. This app also handles paid Lightning Lane bookings for specific attractions. However, the system's requirement for same-day booking and added cost has drawn criticism.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, the July 24th update will not only rename Genie+ to "Lightning Lane Multi Pass" (with individual reservations becoming "Lightning Lane Single Pass"), but also introduce pre-arrival booking. Guests staying at Disney resorts can book up to seven days ahead, while others can book three days prior. The number of bookable Lightning Lane reservations will also increase.
The existing Virtual Queue system (used for attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run) will remain unchanged.
Key Changes:
- Name Change: Genie+ becomes Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
- Advance Booking: Guests can now reserve Lightning Lanes before arriving at the park.
- Increased Reservations: Guests can book more Lightning Lane selections per day.
- Disneyland Differences: Disneyland will only see the name change; the booking process remains the same.
Disney claims these changes address guest concerns about planning hassles. The new system will include all current Genie+ attractions, plus the newly opened Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disney World. With summer events and discounted tickets, the ability to pre-book Lightning Lane passes may prove particularly beneficial this year. However, the long-term success of these changes remains to be seen.
