The all new Disney Genie system is coming to Walt Disney World resort beginning October 19, 2021. Disney Genie replaces the previous Fastpass+ system. It's a bit more complicated, but I am here to break it down for you. The first thing you need to know is that there are three components that make up this new system: Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selections (also called Individual Lightning Lane Selections). In this post, we'll take a look at the Disney Genie and what it has to offer guests.
This free service is an app within the My Disney Experience app that will be available to all guests with valid theme park tickets. Genie will offer a personalized day planner, tip board, forecasted wait times, mobile order options, and virtual queues for select attractions. This service is complimentary. Guests who choose not to purchase Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections will still be able to use the Genie and wait in attraction standby lines at no additional cost.
Genie will be available as an app or selection within Disney's My Disney Experience app. Once in the Genie section, you'll be able to look at current standby wait times and forecasted future wait times for attractions you have selected as of interst to you. Here you'll also be able to join the virtual queue for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure or other attractions that utilize a virtual queue in the future. You'll also be able to chat with a "virtual assistant". I suspect these will be pre-formulated answers to the most common questions and that anything out of the ordinary will direct you to the park's guest services team.
Other features of Disney Genie include Restaurant wait lists, reservations, and mobile ordering. It's still going to be important to make your dining reservations at the 60 day mark (a service your Diserella Travel Advisor includes with your booking) if you have specific restaurants on your list.
It remains to be seen if the recommendations and tips provided by Genie will really be worthwhile. Ultimately, Disney's goal with Genie is to disperse crowds throughout the parks so that they are maximizing their revenue while lowering their labor costs. Ideally Genie will create the perfect supply and demand balance for Disney to maximize profits at every dining, attraction, and merchandise location. Does that mean the recommendations and tips will be best for each individual Disney guest? I'm not convinced.
Diserella will have multiple agents in the parks the week of launch testing out Disney Genie, Genie+, and the Individual Attraction Selections. Stay tuned for more info and our thoughts after using the new Genie system.