Disney announced some major changes coming to the Lightning Lane system beginning July 24. We might see more details announced in the coming weeks—and we’ll update this post as time goes on—but here’s what you need to know for now…
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This post is going to be the “hub” of our coverage of the changes coming to the Lightning Lane system. Besides this post, we’ve introduced some preliminary strategy to our park-specific posts:
Our core Genie+ post is currently: Disney World Lightning Lane Strategy Guide, and that post will get updated as we head into July 24. On July 24, all our content will roll over to the new system, complete with as much in-depth strategy as our fingers can churn out.
My Bottom Line Heading Into July 24
When Genie+ launched, the system did not work exactly how it was expected to. Without getting into the weeds, I’d say while there were no “major” problems for most guests, there were minor problems that were major for guests who had “over”-prepared.
My position leading up to Genie+ is the same as my position leading up to the debut of the new system on July 24: we need to do what we can for the things we can plan ahead for (e.g. making the best advance reservations) and we need to be flexible with our expectations for how the details of the system will shape up.
I think a lot of people are making a lot of assumptions about what we can expect in the parks on July 24 based on ambiguous phrasing from Disney. It’s partly a race to get the best content out, but I moreso think people who do this work just love to mentally churn through things (honestly, our household discourse is filled with Lightning Lane / rope drop “puzzles” that we toss back and forth as I write content). I hope some of these turn out correct (people are saying conflicting things, so they can’t all be correct).
In this post, I’m going to focus primarily on what we know and what Disney has said. I’ll also give some thoughts on some topics I think are a little fuzzy at this time (and keep in mind that “fuzzy” in my mind does not mean “fuzzy” in everyone’s mind; it doesn’t even mean Disney used “fuzzy” language—maybe they used clear language, but I’m waiting to see if that pans out as they say).
Let’s start with the basics…
Names Change July 24
Beginning July 24:
Disney Genie+ service will become Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Individual Lightning Lane will now be known as Lightning Lane Single Pass
On balance I think these are good changes. “Genie+” was always a bad name because it related in no relevant way to the “Genie” service, which probably doesn’t need to exist in any case. Distinguishing the two options by “multi” vs. “single” seems a much more straightforward approach.
Changes Begin July 24
My understanding is that nothing will change before July 24, and everything will change on July 24 before 7AM. The reason this matters is that the new system has advance bookings, and my understanding is those advance bookings will not go live in any capacity until the morning of July 24. This means…
If you are visiting the parks July 24 through July 27, you can make your advance reservations for those days beginning at 7AM July 24.
If you have a Disney resort reservation that begins on or before July 31, you can make your advance reservations for your entire trip (up to 14 days) beginning July 24.
Otherwise, advance reservations are according to the calendars outlined below.
How Lightning Lane Multi Pass Will Work
Lightning Lane Multi Pass will allow advance bookings. Per Disney, “When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you may make up to 3 Lightning Lane selections in a theme park, in advance of your visit. You’ll also be able to choose available times as you make your selections.”
This sounds like the old FastPass+ system—you get to book three Lightning Lanes in a single theme park in advance of your visit.
You can make more Lightning Lane selections as you use them. Per Disney, “On the day of your visit, once you use a selection, check the My Disney Experience app for availability to make an additional selection.”
I find this language to be ambiguous. It will almost certainly be a departure from the old FastPass+ system, but just how big a departure remains to be seen.
My one takeaway is that my preliminary approach is (1) to book my Lightning Lane Multi Pass advance selections as early as possible (I’ll still plan to rope drop one ride before using the first one) and (2) if possible, to have my Tier 1 pick be the earliest.
Park hopping is built right in. Initially, it looks like Disney is abandoning the single park / multiple park pricing for Genie+. They offer this explanation of park hopping:
When you purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a theme park, you’ll be prompted to choose up to 3 multi pass experiences and arrival windows in the same theme park.
Once you redeem a selection on the day of your park visit, you can use the My Disney Experience app to choose another multi pass experience in any Walt Disney World theme park (subject to availability), as long as you have a valid ticket with the Park Hopper option or an Annual Pass.
So, you’re required to make your advance bookings in a single park, but once you use one selection you’ll “unlock” the ability to make reservations in the other parks (fuzziness: whether this includes, for example, modifying the remaining two reservations is unclear; whether it will be impacted by tiers in anyway is unclear).
How the Advance Booking Timelines Work
Disney resort guests get better advance booking. Per Disney, “Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels will be able to plan Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance, for their entire stay (up to 14 days). All other guests can plan up to 3 days in advance.”
This is an upgrade from Disney resort guests having no advantage in Genie+.
Advance bookings begin at 7AM Eastern. You’ll still have to be ready at 7AM, but at least you’ll have a minimum of three days to tinker with things and you won’t have to be up and ready at 7AM during your vacation. (Well, except that virtual queues will probably still be a thing…)
The Return of Ride Tiers
Tiered selections are returning. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios will have two “groups” of Lightning Lanes. Guests make make advance bookings for up to one “Group 1” booking per day—the other two advance bookings (or all three) must come from “Group 2.” This is similar to how the old FastPass+ system worked.
Here are the groups, per Disney…
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Groups
Group 1 (up to 1 advance booking)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan’s Flight
Space Mountain
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Group 2 (other 2, or all 3 advance bookings)
The Barnstormer
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Mad Tea Party
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Pirates of the Caribbean
Tomorrowland Speedway
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Note: These lists, which are of course subject to revision by Disney, currently don’t include Festival of Fantasy Parade viewing or the character greetings currently on Genie+.
Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Groups
Group 1 (up to 1 advance booking)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Group 2 (other 2, or all 3 advance bookings)
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
Muppet*Vision 3D
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania!
Note: These lists, which are of course subject to revision by Disney, currently don’t include the Olaf character greeting, which is currently on Genie+.
Epcot Lightning Lane Groups
Group 1 (up to 1 advance booking)
Frozen Ever After
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Soarin' Around the World
(Note: It’s reasonable to assume that Test Track will replace Soarin’ in Group 1 when it reopens at an unknown future date.)
Group 2 (other 2, or all 3 advance bookings)
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Spaceship Earth
Turtle Talk with Crush
Note: These lists, which are of course subject to revision by Disney, currently don’t include the Meet Beloved Disney Pals at Mickey & Friends character greeting, which is currently a part of Genie+. This is the most odd of the bunch, seeing as the Meet Beloved Disney Pals only debuted on June 10—why include a Lightning Lane at all?
Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Groups
The Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom are not broken up into groups. Guests can make three advance bookings from all available options:
DINOSAUR
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Feathered Friends in Flight!
Festival of the Lion King
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Naʻvi River Journey
Note: These lists, which are of course subject to revision by Disney, currently don’t include the Meet Favorite Disney Pals character greeting or Animation Experience, which are currently on Genie+.
How Lightning Lane Single Pass Will Work
Lightning Lane Single Pass will allow advance bookings. Per Disney, “Lightning Lane Single Pass will work much like it does today, where you can secure a time to ride one of our most highly demanded attractions, but you’ll now be able to make your purchase and plan in advance.”
There’s not much to say here—Individual Lightning Lanes are pretty straightforward and it seems like they’ll stay that way, just with advance booking.
The Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions at each park will be (notably these are unchanged from the current Individual Lightning Lane lineup at each park):
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Single Pass Attractions
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
TRON Lightcycle / Run
Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Single Pass Attractions
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Epcot Lightning Lane Single Pass Attractions
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Single Pass Attractions
Avatar Flight of Passage
We’ll update this post as more details roll out…
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.