Chapek is out, and Disney CEO Bob Iger is in. With only a week back in the CEO position, it looks like Iger has some positive changes that could be on the way for theme park Guests.
Since Iger’s return on November 20, 2022, he has already diagnosed Disney’s issue as it was “losing its soul” with Bob Chapek in charge of the company. Iger has made it very clear that he, too, thinks Disney is too expensive.
During the week Iger has been back as CEO, we’ve seen a first-ever discount offered at Disney’s most expensive Resort experience, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. We’ve also seen Iger remove Disney executives that have followed Chapek’s lead.
And while we know Iger won’t be the only one to thank for discounts and price decreases, we’re just glad there are at least talks of improving the Disney Guest experience… including the potential removal of the Disney Park Pass Reservation System.
RELATED: Help, Mr. Iger! Genie+ on Track to Cost More Than a Park Ticket for Some
But is the upcharge service, Disney Genie+, also going to reach the chopping block?
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek removed the complimentary FastPass+ system and instead replaced it with the upcharge service of Disney Genie+.
Just like the old free FastPass+ system, purchasing Disney Genie+ allows Guests to skip the standby line on select attractions and enter via the Lightning Lane instead at a select time.
When Disney Genie+ first rolled out, pricing was a set of $15 per person per day at Walt Disney World Resort. It wasn’t too long ago, however, that Disney announced it would be fluctuating that price based on crowd size.
The price tag for Disney World Guests went from $15 per day to up to $29 per day per person.
Great news, however, on Sunday, November 27, 2022, Disney Genie+ dropped in pricing closer to the old $15 price as it was offered for $17 per person per day.
On Monday, November 28, 2022, Disney Genie+ is at $20… still much better than the $29 per day it could be during this crowded holiday time in the Disney Parks.
What’s next to come for Disney Genie+ is still up in the air, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that Bob Iger has a game plan to bring the excessive Disney Park pricing down to a manageable level for families to once again enjoy the magic without breaking the budget.
If you’ve never used Disney Genie+, take a good look at the budget to see if it’s worth it to better the Disney experience, as waiting in long ride lines at a Park can be exhausting.
Disney Genie+ is available at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. It is also available at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.
There are several Disney Genie+ attractions available for selection, but Disney only promises 2 or 3 Lightning Lane reservations per Park per day with a Disney Genie+ purchase.
It is also important to keep in mind that there are select attractions in each Disney Park that are not available via Disney Genie+.
Some of these attractions are Individual Lightning Lane rides, such as EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which Guests can purchase a Lightning Lane selection a la carte for or attempt to snag a virtual queue to experience.
As always, we will continue to keep Disney Dining readers updated as we learn more about what’s to come for Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane selections.