Disney has spent the last few years streamlining how guests plan their theme park visits. But behind the scenes, that innovation has been met with pushback—and litigation.
When the company launched Disney Genie in 2021, it pitched the tool as a complimentary digital assistant to help park visitors make the most of their trip. Embedded within Disney’s apps, Genie allowed users to create personalized itineraries based on real-time data like wait times and crowd levels. It was meant to bring order to the chaos.
What followed was a years-long patent dispute that is still playing out in court, but a major development this week could tip the scales in Disney’s favor.
Disney Fights Back Against Patent Claims
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), a division of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, has ruled in favor of Disney on most of the claims brought by Agile Journeys, a company founded by two former Disney employees. Agile alleged that Disney’s Genie service infringed on technology they developed decades earlier to generate customized theme park itineraries.
They filed suit in 2022, asserting that the Genie platform illegally borrowed from their patent, which includes the ability to adjust plans based on factors such as meal times and ride closures. Disney responded by disputing the patent’s validity, prompting the PTAB to review the case.
This week, the PTAB sided with Disney on most—but not all—counts. The board found that Disney had proven, by a preponderance of the evidence, that several of the claims made by Agile Journeys were unpatentable. Three claims remain unresolved, leaving a portion of the case still active.
“This is good news for Disney, but the last page hasn’t been written yet,” said Derek Bambauer, a University of Florida law professor who reviewed the case records at Florida Politics’ request. “We have to see what both sides decide to do in terms of appealing.”
Bambauer, who teaches about patent litigation and is not involved in the case, described January’s proceedings at the PTAB as “sort of a trial run” for Disney to present its case in federal court.
Inside Disney Genie’s Controversial Rollout
Though Disney Genie was introduced as a complimentary theme park service, it included a paid upgrade called Disney Genie+. Launched the same year, Genie+ allowed guests to bypass regular lines for popular attractions by booking Lightning Lane access. It replaced the previously free FastPass system—and stirred immediate backlash.
Unlike FastPass, which let guests reserve access to rides weeks in advance, Genie+ forced users to wake up early each day of their visit to grab limited-time slots. Pricing fluctuated depending on demand, and some guests complained that it encouraged those with deeper pockets—or greater app savviness—to dominate the system.
After nearly three years of discontent, Disney officially retired Genie+ in July 2024. In its place, the company introduced two new systems: Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. These allow guests to schedule their rides in advance, restoring some of the pre-trip planning features fans had missed.
As Disney navigates its legal battles and restructures its digital offerings, the PTAB ruling offers a much-needed win. Whether it holds in civil court remains to be seen, but for now, the company appears to have the momentum.
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