Disney’s latest initiatives, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, are stirring up conversations online. This summer, Disney announced a new “pay to ride” option at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, allowing guests to pay either a one-time fee or a series of smaller charges to bypass standard lines on select attractions. Today marks the launch of this service at Walt Disney World, and, as expected, the reaction from the online community has been largely negative.
Prior to the pandemic, both Disneyland and Walt Disney World offered a system called Fast Pass, enabling guests to skip lines for popular rides at no extra cost. However, this system has been replaced by Lightning Lane, a similar service that now comes with a fee. Thanks to capitalism, we have this new “innovation.”
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, Lightning Lanes became available at various popular attractions throughout Walt Disney World. The service will also be introduced at Disneyland at a later date. While some Disney fans might argue that this isn’t entirely new—referencing the MaxPass system that allowed for paid access at Disneyland prior to the pandemic—it’s clear that many are unhappy with the changes.
Accessing Lightning Lanes
There are two methods for accessing Lightning Lanes, both of which require additional payment beyond the standard park admission.
Disney Genie+
According to Click Orlando, guests can pay an extra $15 per ticket, per day, at Walt Disney World parks to use the new Disney Genie+ app. This $15 fee allows for scheduling multiple Lightning Lane rides, but only one Lightning Lane can be booked at a time, depending on availability. Notably, some high-demand rides (like Avatar Flight Of Passage) are excluded from Genie+ and require a separate charge per person, per ride.
Disney Individual Lightning Lane Selections
Alternatively, guests can opt to pay a la carte for each Lightning Lane ride they wish to experience. There’s no need to purchase Genie+ for $15 if you prefer to wait in standby lines for most rides but want to skip the line for specific attractions like the popular Rise of the Resistance.
Prices for individual Lightning Lane access fluctuate based on the ride and the day. For instance, Disney Food Blog reported today’s rates: $9 per person to skip the line for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and $15 per person for Rise of the Resistance. For a family of four, that’s an extra $60 just to bypass the line for the Star Wars attraction.
After visiting Disneyland recently, I found myself glued to my phone, juggling QR codes for rides and pre-scheduling meals, worried that my phone would die before I could scan my ticket for Rise of the Resistance. The experience felt far from the free-flowing Disney adventure I once cherished. With the addition of Lightning Lanes, I now feel overwhelmed and financially strained when considering a trip to Disney parks. Not only have prices increased, but the overall experience has also become more complex!
Unsurprisingly, the announcement has faced backlash, with many labeling it as elitist, confusing, and costly—among other criticisms.
It’s worth noting that you aren’t obligated to pay for the line-skipping services. You can still enter the park and wait in standby lines at no additional cost. However, if you wish to save time, you’ll need to open your wallet. The program will be rolled out at Disneyland at a date yet to be announced.
Further Reading
For more insights, check out this blog post on home insemination kits or learn from the experts at Intracervical Insemination and Drugs.com, which offers valuable resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Probable Search Queries:
- Disney Genie+ details
- Lightning Lane pricing
- Cutting in line at Disney
- Walt Disney World attractions
- Disneyland new policies
In summary, Disney’s introduction of paid line-skipping services has sparked significant debate as many guests feel the changes complicate their experiences and add unnecessary costs. While options to bypass standard lines are now available, the added stress of navigating these new systems has left some fans questioning the value of a visit to Disney parks.