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When we work with clients planning Disney World vacations, one of the first things we’re asked is how does FastPass works at Disney World. Since you’ve landed on this page, you’re probably wondering the same thing.
The first thing you’ll need to know is that the Disney World FastPass system has been replaced with Walt Disney World Genie+, and while the basic program is the same, there are some differences you’ll need to understand.
When Did Disney Get Rid of the FastPass?
FastPasses were initially eliminated at Disney World in 2020. As the parks reopened following the COVID-19 closures, guests were not allowed to book FastPasses.
At the time, Disney indicated that the FastPass queues would be used to help facilitate social distancing mandates. Many pundits predicted the end of FastPasses or at least an overhaul of the system. As it turns out, they were right.
In 2021, Disney announced that FastPasses would be eliminated at Disney World in favor of the new Genie+ system. Walt Disney World Genie+ operates in a similar manner to FastPasses, allowing you to skip the regular queue line by booking a ride window on popular attractions.
How Does FastPass (Genie+) Work at Disney World?
To understand how FastPasses now work at Walt Disney World, you have to understand the differences between Fastpass and Walt Disney World Genie+.
First, Genie+ is part of the broader Genie offering. Disney World Genie can help you plan your day by making ride or restaurant recommendations and can even alert you to attractions within the park that are experiencing low wait times on the day of your visit.
Part of the Genie service is Genie+. Genie+ does almost everything that FastPass did, with two big differences.
First, FastPass was included in the cost of your theme park ticket. Genie+ is fee based and starts at $14.99 (plus tax) per person per day. Costs will vary depending on the day you visit each park and are commonly higher than the established base rate. You’ll also find that prices vary depending on whether you plan to park hop or visit only one park per day.
Second, the last iteration of FastPass, called FastPass+, allowed you to prebook up to 3 FastPass attractions per day, beginning 60 days before the start of your trip. With Genie+, you will need to book each attraction, one at a time, on the day of your visit.
How Does FastPass Work at Disney World (now Genie+)
So how does FastPass (Genie+) work at Disney World? In theory, Genie+ works much the same as FastPasses did. Guests book a ride window to experience each attraction through a dedicated queue. Ride windows then last for an hour. For instance, if you book a 9:00 ride window on Slinky Dog Dash, you can enter the queue any time between 9:00 and 10:00.
Guests who have booked a Genie+ reservation (formerly FastPass), enter the ride through a dedicated queue called a Lightning Lane. Since entrance to the Lightning Lane is controlled both through a paywall and Genie+ ride windows, you will experience a shorter wait in most cases.
FastPasses, now called Genie+ reservations, are booked through the My Disney Experience app. Follow along as we outline the steps to booking FastPasses (Genie+) at Disney World.
Choose Which Parks You’d Like to Visit
You’ll need to choose between four different parks when using FastPass+ (Genie+) and decide which day you will visit each. This is an important first step, because you will now need to make park reservations before you can enter a Disney World theme park.
To make park reservations, visit the My Disney Experience app or log in online.
Pick Your Favorite Attractions
Once you’ve chosen your park, you’ll then select the attractions you’d like to ride. We recommend stalking the My Disney Experience app for a few weeks before you leave.
By going to the tip board, you can view wait times in each park as well as the return window available for each Genie+ attraction. Look for which attractions have the longest lines. This will help you to decide where you will use FastPasses (Genie+) most effectively.
Another metric to consider is the return window for each attraction. Ride return windows may vary throughout the day. Early on, you may find that return windows for some attractions are two to three hours out. Later in the day, you may be able to book a return window for 5 to 10 minutes out.
How long you will have to wait for your FastPass (Genie+) ride window will vary, depending on time of day, how many people are in the park, and the timing of parades, shows and other special events. Understanding this information can help you plan out an overall strategy for using Genie+.
Of course, you can also skip the research and download our quick guide to booking Genie+. We’ve listed the high priority rides and the order in which you should book them. To get your guide, click here.
How to Book Disney World FastPass (Genie+)
Before booking a Disney World Genie+ (FastPass) ride window, you will need to purchase the service for the day on each day you plan to use it. This can be done beginning at midnight on the day you plan to attend the park.
Simply open the My Disney Experience app and navigate to the Tip Board. Click purchase for today and select the guests who will be using the service. Once you have purchased Genie+, you may begin making ride reservations at 7:00 am on each day your tickets are active.
When your booking window opens, go to the My Disney Experience app and once again find the tip board. Find the first attraction you would like to book.
Beneath it, you will see the Genie+ return time listed. By clicking here, you can book a Genie+ (FastPass) reservation for this ride and visit the Lightning Lane entrance at any time within an hour after the stated time.
One thing to note is this: you will only be able to book one Genie+ reservation at a time. Subsequent reservations may be made two hours after the last Genie+ reservation was made, or once you redeem one of your Genie+ reservations, whichever comes first.
Using Your Disney World Genie+ (FastPass) Reservation
Once your ride window opens, you may experience the attraction using your Genie+ reservation. At each Genie+ enabled ride or attraction, you will notice two queues. One is called the standby queue. The other is the Lightning Lane entrance.
To redeem your Genie+ reservation (FastPass), use the Lightning Lane. You will be asked to scan your MagicBand, ticket card, or mobile device if you are using the MagicMobile pass. Once you do, your Genie+ reservation (FastPass) will be redeemed, and your ride window will close.
At this time, you are free to make another Genie+ reservation, or simply advance through the Lightning Lane queue and enjoy the ride.
Can I Use Walt Disney World Genie+ on Any Ride?
When using Disney World FastPass, you were able to book almost any popular attraction. With Walt Disney World Genie Plus, you will find that attractions are divided between 2 tiers.
The majority of rides and attractions are available for booking by paying the base price for Genie+ each day. However, a handful of the most popular attractions will require an additional purchase of an Individual Lightning Lane reservation.
The Individual Lightning Lane works exactly the same as the Walt Disney World Genie+ Lightning Lane. The only difference is that you will have to pay separately for it.
The Walt Disney World Genie Plus service can be purchased starting at $14.99 per person, per day (plus tax) and provides access to the following rides and attractions:
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM THEME PARK EXPERIENCES
Lightning Lane Entrances Offered Through Disney Genie+ Service
(subject to change without notice*):
- Festival of the Lion King
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight! (not available September 11 through September 24, 2022)
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
- Naʻvi River Journey
- The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS THEME PARK EXPERIENCES
Lightning Lane Entrances Offered Through Disney Genie+ Service
(subject to change without notice*):
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Play & Dance!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
- Toy Story Mania!
EPCOT THEME PARK EXPERIENCES
Lightning Lane Entrances Offered Through Disney Genie+ Service
(subject to change without notice*):
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Frozen Ever After
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: SPACE – Green
- Mission: SPACE – Orange
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
MAGIC KINGDOM THEME PARK EXPERIENCES
Lightning Lane Entrances Offered Through Disney Genie+ Service
Experiences offered (subject to change without notice*):
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Mickey and Minnie at Town Square Theater
- Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Rides offering a Lightning Lane that requires an additional purchase start somewhere around $8 per day and can rise to has high as $30 per day, per person, depending on the season. Rides requiring an additional Lightning Lane purchase in addition to, or in place of, regular Genie+ include:
Want Help Planning Genie+?
Book your Disney World vacation package with us, and we’ll help you plan for Genie+ and even make your first reservations of the day! To get started, request a free, no obligation quote. You’ll never pay more than Disney prices to book with us.
Book your Disney World vacation package with us, and we’ll help you plan for Genie+ and even make your first reservations of the day! To get started, request a free, no obligation quote. You’ll never pay more than Disney prices to book with us.
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM THEME PARK EXPERIENCES
- Avatar Flight of Passage
EPCOT
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
DISNEY HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
- Star Wars Rise of the Resistance
MAGIC KINGDOM
For more information on how FastPasses work at Disney World using Walt Disney World Genie Plus, visit our blog on the Lightning Lane or feel free to contact as with any questions: kathleen@mickeyworldtravel.com.
Disney World park reservation system is here to stay. Learn how to live with it here.
