Today marks a big day for the Walt Disney World Resort.
Related: Marvel Cuts MCU’s ‘Captain America 4,’ Reveals Instant Replacement
While the Disney theme park resorts are constantly changing, the company’s decision to completely eliminate its Disney Genie+ system will certainly go down as one of the most significant developments in its history.
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Walt Disney World Resort officially rolled out its new Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass, two new systems designed to make guests’ park visits easier and more convenient.
Lightning Lane plans allow guests to book reservations for certain rides and attractions up to seven days in advance for guests staying at a Disney World hotel.
Guests staying off-property can make reservations up to three days before their trip.
Disney Eliminates Disney Genie+ Forever
Related: Disney World Escalator Shut down After Guest Gets Stuck in Tracks
The Disney Genie system was introduced in 2021, completely and fundamentally altering the Disney theme park experience. Gone were the days of “free” FastPasses, with guests now required to spend actual money if they wished to skip the lines at Disney’s most popular rides and attractions.
Disney Genie could be divided into several sections: Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane. The actual Disney Genie base service was free to all guests, acting like a travel planner. The service helped guests plan their visit to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
For an extra charge, guests could upgrade to Disney Genie+, which allowed them to make reservations at certain attractions, among other things. Lightning Lane was offered as an à la carte service that allowed guests to purchase “skip the line” passes for rides of their choosing.
The price for Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane varied day-to-day and fluctuated depending on the time of year and how crowded the parks were.
The average price of Genie+ sat somewhere around $22, whereas the cost for a Lightning Lane pass ranged between $12 and $20
Needless to say, Disney’s Genie system was incredibly controversial and was often criticized for being expensive and confusing.
Disney seemingly realized this, announcing Disney Genie+ would be permanently replaced in 2024.
Disney Reveals Pricing For New Lightning Lanes
Related: Final Countdown: Disney Closing Space Mountain Forever in Seven Days
July 24, 2024, marks the official start date of Disney’s new Lightning Lane system, and as a result, pricing has finally been revealed.
Per the official Walt Disney World app, prices for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass are as follows:
- Magic Kingdom — $29
- EPCOT — $21
- Hollywood Studios — $26
- Animal Kingdom — $18
Not all attractions are offered through Lightning Lane Multi Pass, with the following list of experiences being limited to Lightning Lane Single Pass reservations:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Rise of the Resistance
- Avatar Flight of Passage
It’s unclear if the reception to Disney’s latest line-skipping tool will be positive, but it certainly marks one of the most interesting and exciting times in Walt Disney World history.
For more information on Disney’s new Lightning Lane system, click here.
Will you be using Disney’s new Lightning Lane service?
