Tuesday, February 15th, 2022
Disney Genie+ has replaced FastPass+ at the Walt Disney World Resort. It is a paid service that allows you to spend less time waiting in line at over 40 Walt Disney World Resort attractions. Along with Disney Genie+ came Individual Lightning Lane, an express pass reservation system for highly demanded attractions (two at each theme park).
Attraction Wait Times on Wednesday, February 9th 2022
Cost for Disney Genie+ is $15.98 USD per person/per day. And the cost for each Individual Lightning Lane varies but is generally between $7 and $18 USD per person/per attraction. To confuse things, the Individual Lightning Lane attractions are NOT included in the Disney Genie+ service.
When this service was first announced, I was hesitant. I mean why do I have to pay for something that was previously complimentary? But it didn’t take me long to look beyond the cost and realize that this system is a game changer when it comes to a Walt Disney World vacation.
The Cost – Yes, the cost. A big challenge with the previous system was that it was complimentary, so everyone was fighting over the same popular attractions. Which meant if you weren’t staying on-site for four nights or longer, forget securing a FastPass+ for Avatar: Flight of Passage. Whereas now, because it’s an additional cost, only about 50% of Disney visitors are paying for it. Making it truly the premium service it was designed to be. Don’t believe me? There was a time many moons ago that the ability to park hop (visit multiple theme parks within the same day) was complimentary. Now that Guests must pay for this option, nowhere near the same number of Guests bother to visit Magic Kingdom in the morning and grab a bite to eat in the World Showcase at EPCOT at night.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – This attraction previously provided a virtual queue to book a return time to experience it. Yet it is SO crazy popular that this complimentary queue was sold out by 7:02am. I kid you not. I spent many days in my youth trying to secure Madonna concert tickets and it wasn’t nearly as difficult. Can you imagine, spending all your vacation time and money and then not being able to experience this ground-breaking attraction? Now if you want to guarantee your chance to escape the First Order, you can simply pay a little bit more to do so. Problem (and Guest Services line up about it) solved.
Mornings – Your first Disney Genie+ selection can be made at 7:00am. I don’t like waking up before 7:00am on a workday. Which means, I don’t like having to on vacation either. And yes, you need to if you wish to secure some of the more sought-after options such as Slinky Dog Dash (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and Test Track (EPCOT). I really hope that they change this to just a little bit later. 8:00am would work fine by me, or perhaps even allowing Disney resort Guests the ability to book them any time after midnight. Sigh…I can hope!
My Phone – Disney Genie+ requires you to be on your phone – a LOT. Not only does this kill your phone battery, but I don’t like that it takes away from spending time with my family. However, MyDisneyExperience requires you to be on your phone for Mobile Ordering, MagicMobile, Wait Times and more. So, using it to book your next Disney Genie+ experience isn’t really THAT much more. But just be sure to bring a back-up battery. You’ve been warned.
Secondary Individual Lightning Lanes – For the love of Zeus, can we just have ONE attraction per theme park available on Individual Lightning Lane? Disney did this over Christmas, and I wish it was something they kept all year round. It would without a doubt simplify…well everything. And if they were to do this, Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom), Frozen Ever After (EPCOT), Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and Expedition Everest (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) would all move over to Disney Genie+.
The FANTASTIC!Guest Experience Team – These folks be easily spotted by their blue umbrellas and are located throughout all four theme parks. The Guest Experience team are in a word; magical. Not only do they always have a smile on their face, no matter how many times I’ve (sadly) seen Guests yell at them, but they can solve any problem you have with the entire Disney Genie+ system to your satisfaction. And I speak from personal experience when I say in true Disney Cast Member fashion, they can even sprinkle a dose of pixie dust when needed.
No Lines – One of the biggest complaints about a Walt Disney World vacation is having to wait in line. No argument here! But let’s face it, a Walt Disney World vacation is not cheap. So, to pay just a little bit more to not have to wait in line? Sign. Me.Up! Because I can tell you that when using Disney Genie+ in combination with Individual Lightning Lane access, you won’t have to wait in line…for anything.
I’ve been able to use this brand-new service a few times now and it works. Most importantly it works with high crowd levels. I was in Walt Disney World at the end of January and the insane crowds during what is historically one of the two slowest months of the year told me that the pent-up demand to travel post COVID is no joke. So, you can count out any ‘slow’ times at Walt Disney World for some time to come. I assure you that Disney Genie+ will help – a LOT – with this challenge.
So now the question is with SO many options to choose from on Disney Genie+, which do you prioritize? Peter Pan’s Flight? Splash Mountain? Pirates of the Caribbean? And do you really need to purchase the express pass for ALL eight Individual Lightning Lane attractions? Not to worry because your Vacation Specialist at Fairytale Dreams & Destinations is here to help! Included in your personalized Fairytale Guide, you’ll find both recommended Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane experiences best suited for your traveling party’s needs and wants – saving you even more time from standing in line.
– Christine Fiorelli
The Magic is Calling.
Contact Fairytale Dreams & Destinations to Answer the Call Today!
(905) 857.3611 | 1.855.FDMAGIC
10 McEwan Drive West Unit 3 Bolton ON L7E 1H1
www.fairytaledestinations.com
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022
No one:
Absolutely no one:
Not a single soul on this Earth:
Omicron: “I think the human population would like me to visit them for Christmas”
I am pretty sure that no one invited Omicron over for the holidays. Yet it showed up on our doorsteps like an unwanted extended family member. It’s been six weeks since Christmas and Omicron hasn’t taken a hint yet..making it a very unwanted house guest. It’s lingering, taking its sweet time, staying well after New Year’s, unable to realize that we want it to go way…forever.
Cinderella Castle
As much as we all want to, we can’t simply wish it away. Nor are we able to sit it down and try to reason with it. So, do we wait for it to leave? Wait with it until it’s sibling, Omicron the Second, shows up and we are stuck entertaining this new unwanted Guest in our homes for weeks on end again? We could…but that could take weeks, months, or more than likely, years. So, at some point – when we feel safe enough to do so – it’s time to leave our home and Omicron behind.
Which is exactly what my cousin (who is an RN) decided to do. After nearly two years of this nonsense, it was time for a little magic for her two girls (ages 8 and 5). So, the four of us headed on a very last minute trip to Walt Disney World for three wonderful nights. It was cold, or rather, cold by Florida’s standards. But there was no snow, no lockdowns, no worrying of ‘what next’ and no talk of COVID-19 for a glorious three days. Which means that it was exactly what the doctor ordered.
To fly into the US, all passengers ages 12+ must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative on a rapid antigen test 24 hours before departure. Check! Seeing as we need to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of our flight back home, the first thing we did after checking into our hotel (Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside) was take our tests from the comfort of our hotel room with Switch Health. As always, it was a non-evasive, lower nasal swab and to make matters even easier when traveling with little ones, this one is self-administered.
Pluto surprising my niece at the Garden Grill
Now we were ready to have some fun! We headed to Disney Springs because my 8-year old niece is a Lego obsessed. We stood in line at Gideons because their cookies are SO worth the wait, shopped at the World of Disney and browsed the Disney’s Days of Christmas store.
On Sunday, we headed to Epcot. We purchased Individual Lightning Lanes for both Frozen Ever After and Ratatouille. We took advantage of early morning access to ride Test Track. We then told the tower we were ready for take-off on Soarin’, explored the big blue sea with Nemo, journeyed into our Imagination, chatted up a storm with a couple of sisters from Arendelle, ate some delicious treats from the Festival of the Arts and dined at the Garden Grill, where the girls were able to see (and take selfies with) Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto during their meal.
Chatting up a storm with Anna and Elsa
We saved the best for last and as such, Monday we headed to the Magic Kingdom. We purchased Disney Genie+, which allowed us to experience the happiest cruise that ever sailed, sing along during the new Coco segment at Mickey’s PhilharMagic, soar with Peter Pan, meet Elena, Cinderella, Tiana and Rapunzel, swim under the sea with Ariel, help Buzz defeat the evil Emperor Zurg and take a spin on the PeopleMover. Last, but certainly not least, we purchased an Individual Lightning Lane for Space Mountain, because it’s not a visit to the Magic Kingdom without experiencing this classic coaster.
We grabbed dinner at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, took a circle tour on monorail red before taking in the new nighttime show at the Magic Kingdom, Disney Enchantment. On our final morning, we took a nice stroll over to Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter to soak up our last chance at vitamin D from the warm Florida sun and devoured some deliciously fresh beignets before heading back to the airport.
Masks are still mandated at all indoor locations unless actively eating or drinking at the Walt Disney World Resort. But aside from that, things feel far more normal than they are back home in Ontario. And it was crystal clear how beneficial a little bit of normal is for children of all ages right about now.
It was a whirlwind of a trip, but worth every moment of it for the lasting memories we created. From dancing on Main Street, to the excitement of bringing home a new plush friend, I was pleasantly reminded how good a little dose of Disney magic is for the soul.
– Christine Fiorelli
The Magic is Calling.
Contact Fairytale Dreams & Destinations to Answer the Call Today!
(905) 857.3611 | 1.855.FDMAGIC
10 McEwan Drive West Unit 3 Bolton ON L7E 1H1
www.fairytaledestinations.com
