Disney’s Genie+ service is a great way to skip the queues at some of the most popular attractions at Epcot. Here is our guide on h1ow to make the most of this service during your visit.
WHAT IS GENIE?
The Genie app is a part of the My Disney Experience app (Disney World app) that helps you to schedule and plan your day at the parks.
The “My Day” screen on the Disney+ service is divided into two sections: “Tip Board” and “My Day.” The Tip Board gives you a fast rundown of today’s activities and dining choices in the park, while My Day keeps track of your plans for the day and makes Genie+ suggestions.
The Disney World app’s Genie component is the portion that allows you to purchase Genius+, reserve Genius+ Lightning Lanes, and buy individual Lightning Lanes. You’ll accomplish this by using Genie’s “Tip Board.”
Save money by not purchasing Genie+ before you spend doing that to explore Genie’s content, so you’re well-prepared for your upcoming journey.
WHAT IS GENIE+?
Genie+ is a chargeable service that gives you access to most, if not all, of the Lightning Lanes in each Disney park. Please note some conditions and accessibility might be limited to certain areas.
Genie+ is an entirely different product from Genie that also happens to be located in the MyDisneyExperience App.
For a cost, Genie+ allows Disney World goers to bypass the regular lines for select rides in favor of shorter “Lightning Lanes.”
Disney Genie+ will also vary in price based on the day you are at the park.
Similar to theme park tickets, throughout the year, prices may be lower on less busy days and higher during peak periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For example, on less busy days, prices will be $15 per guest per day, $22 on some of the more crowded dates, and somewhere in between on other dates
CAN YOU USE GENIE PLUS AT EPCOT?
You can take full advantage of scheduling no-wait ride times at Epcot.
If you’re staying at a Disney World resort during your stay, you may book Epcot Genie Plus in the app starting at 7 am.
If you are staying at an off-property resort, you can make reservations as soon as the park opens. One of the more obvious benefits of staying at a Disney World Hotel.
HOW DOES LIGHTNING LANE WORK AT EPCOT?
First, use the MyDisneyExpereince app to schedule your return time with Genie+. It will be a window of time. At that time, head to the ride.
When you arrive at an attraction with a Lightning Lane, simply scan your MagicBand or ticket to enter. You’ll see the posted wait time as well as a “Return Time.”
This is the earliest you can return and ride without waiting in line again. If the Return Time is 15 minutes or less, it means there’s practically no wait!
DISNEY EPCOT GENIE PLUS RIDES LIST
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Frozen Ever After
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Living With The Land
- Mission: SPACE (Orange and Green)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- The Seas With Nemo & Friends
- Soarin’
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- Turtle Talk With Crush
Individual Lightning Lane Selections:
- Guardians of the Galaxy
WHICH RIDES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN EPCOT GENIE PLUS?
The following attractions are not included in the Genie+ service and have no Lightning Lanes:
- Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome
- Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long
- Candlelight Processional Dining Package
- Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival (must be seated prior to your return time)
- Epcot Character Spot
- Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
What’s The Best Practice For Using Genie+ In Epcot?
Rope Drop at Epcot
For those of you who are unfamiliar, rope drop is the term for when a park opens its gates in the morning. It’s general mayhem, with guests rushing to get in line for their favorite attractions. But at Walt Disney World’s Epcot, rope drop is a whole different story.
Thanks to the park’s unique layout, guests can easily spread out and avoid crowds. And because there are so many things to see and do, there’s no need to race to the front of the line. Whether you’re interested in exploring the World Showcase or taking a spin on Test Track, rope drop is the perfect time to enjoy all that Epcot has to offer.
Getting the most out of your park day and your Epcot Genie plus 100% means rope dropping.
Book an Early Breakfast at Garden Grill
If you plan an early breakfast at Garden Grill, you’ll be able to enter the park early and if you can finish just before 9 a.m. when the parks open, you’ll have time to skip the queues for Soarin’ attractions.
We were first in line for Soarin’ Around the World, having eaten a hearty breakfast at Garden Grill.
Make another Disney Genie Plus Reservation ASAP
The Disney Genie App on your smartphone will tell you what other attractions are available in the park as soon as you have made your first reservation.
You can make more reservations after you use your first one, but it’s best to do so as quickly as possible. In other words, take a look at the available options while you’re waiting in line for your current ride.
Ride Some Attractions during the Fireworks
The number of people at Epcot around World Showcase will gradually grow leading up to an hour before the evening fireworks show.
During this time, it’s a good opportunity to take advantage of the reduced wait times as the masses begin to gather for the fireworks. Check out wait times on your My Disney Experience App at this hour in the evening.
Ride Spaceship Earth in the Evening
When entering Epcot from the main entrance, Spaceship Earth is the first ride you’ll encounter. Because of this, many people will line up for it. This also means that Future World will be busier early in the morning since World Showcase won’t open fully until 11 a.m.
Later in the day, and especially during the evening hours when the visitors have dispersed throughout the park, you’ll find getting on Spaceship Earth considerably easier.
Keep an Eye on Wait Times
If you’re looking for a specific ride, keep an eye on wait times on the My Disney Experience App throughout the day; they may fluctuate. You might just discover that you can get on a ride quickly without being too far from where you want to be in the park.
Resort Guests Should Use Early Magic Hours
If you’re staying at a Disney World Resort, you can enter the park before it opens to the general public on select days. This is called Early Magic Hours, and it’s one of the benefits of being a resort guest.
To take advantage of Early Magic Hours, simply show your room key or scan your MagicBand at the park to enter.
Hit That Refresh Button!
If you’re struggling to find availability for a particular attraction, keep hitting the “refresh” button on your app. You never know when new reservations will open up.
IT’S 7 AM: WHAT LIGHTNING LANE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE FIRST?
If you’re booking Genie+ for your Disney World vacation, don’t forget to check the height requirements for each ride. And if you have a toddler, be sure to read up on visiting Epcot with little ones.
- High Priority – Remy’s, Frozen, Test Track
- Medium Priority — Soarin’, Mission: SPACE, Spaceship Earth
- Low Priority – Film Festival, The Seas, Journey into Imagination, Living With The Land, Turtle Talk
Low Priorities For Genie+ At Epcot
Let’s begin with the attractions that are typically a low priority. The Film Festival, Journey Into Imagination, Living With The Land, The Seas With Nemo & Friends, and Turtle Talk shouldn’t be at the top of your list most days. That comprises five of the eleven attractions.
Soarin’, Spaceship Earth, and Mission: SPACE is a low priority most days. On busy days though, they become a medium priority. This leaves us with eight rides that are not high priority.
Once guests have completed the other three high-priority attractions (Frozen, Remy’s, and Test Track), they’ll be looking for more bang for their buck.
But the truth is that it’s Remy’s, Test Track, and Frozen that you’ll be looking out for first.
TOP EPCOT GENIE PLUS ATTRACTION PICKS
The most popular ride at Disneyland Paris is “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure,” which is a good first choice for Genie+ users.
If you’re not quick enough, you might get a late time slot and have to wait two extra hours before making your second pick. Although this isn’t ideal, it’s not the end of the world if you have a good rope drop strategy.
If you don’t have Early Entry, you can’t rope drop at all. Remy’s is naturally the best first pick because it’s the most popular.
Use Early Entry and arrive via the International Gateway entrance (i.e., take Skyliner or stay in a Boardwalk hotel); then, you could rope drop Remy’s but use your Genie+ for Frozen instead giving a slightly better chance of getting to make your second pick earlier during day.
Personally, if I were to choose between the two experiences, I would go for the less stressful Frozen rope drop and possibly late Remy’s Genie+ time.
GENIE PLUS FOR THE REST OF YOUR EPCOT DAY
If you chose wisely and booked one of Remy’s, Frozen, or Test Track as your first pick with Genie+, then the other two rides should still be available and would make for a great third choice.
This means you’ll have to wait another two hours before making another Genie+ pick, but this gives you time for lunch / World Showcase / entertainment, etc.
If you didn’t get Early Entry, you’ll just be able to score one more of Remy’s, Frozen, or Test Track and will have to wait in line (or not ride) the third.
Here are some things to consider when making your decision: Check current wait times—if one ride is more popular today, it might be a better Genie+ pick. Test Track has a height requirement—if your party is going to use rider swap or skip it altogether, it might not be the best use of Genie+.
Thrill seekers will love Test Track, and there is also a single rider line if you don’t mind being separated. I book my rides based on geography to make the most of Epcot.
Livinig with the Land is in the same building as Soarin’ (the Land pavilion), so if you’re riding close to each other, that’s a good idea. The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Journey Into Imagination are in the same region (different buildings, opposite directions from The Land, but neither too far).
Spaceship Earth is located in the front of the park, so if you’re leaving early, aren’t watching Harmonious, or the park is still open after Harmonious, it’s closest on your way out (assuming you’d be using that exit and not the World Showcase exit).
Alternatively, Spaceship Earth is relatively close to The Seas pavilion.
Nearby attractions include Test Track, which isn’t far from Frozen Ever After.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY COSMIC REWIND: IS IT WORTH IT TO BUY A LIGHTNING LANE?I
As of early August, Cosmic Rewind tends to run out of virtual queue spots in just a few hours at 7AM. At 1PM, the line reopens, and it typically lasts at least a few minutes. This means that the majority of guests have an excellent possibility of participating in the virtual queue.
Our current recommendation for 7AM is to:
- Try and join Cosmic Rewind virtual queue
- Make first Genie+ selection
- Purchase Cosmic Rewind Lightning Lane, if necessary
More Information on Epcot
Some of the most popular rides at Epcot include Frozen Ever After, Guardians of the Galaxy, Soarin’, Test Track, and Mission: SPACE.
In addition to rides, Epcot also offers a variety of shows and exhibits, making it a great place for a day of fun and learning.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your day at Epcot:
Arrive early: Epcot is one of the most popular parks at Walt Disney World, so it tends to get crowded later in the day. By arriving early, you’ll avoid the crowds and be able to enjoy the rides and attractions at your own pace.
Plan your day: There’s a lot to see and do at Epcot, so it’s helpful to have a plan before you arrive. Decide which rides and attractions you want to experience, and map out your route through the park accordingly. That way, you can make the most of your time.
Explore the world: One of the best things about Epcot is that it transports you to different cultures from around the globe. Soak up the atmosphere of each country in the World Showcase, and try some of the traditional foods on offer. You might even learn something new!
Extra Tips
Epcot is a great place to visit, and if you have the Disney Genie+, it’s even better. With so much to see and do, having a plan can make your day go more smoothly. Here are our tips for using the Disney Genie+ at Epcot.
- The first thing you’ll want to do is decide which attractions are most important to you and map out your day accordingly. If three or four attractions are top of your list, try to use your FastPasses for those rides first.
- There are a few things to keep in mind when booking Genie+ reservations. You can only book one attraction at a time, so choose wisely!
- You can book a new reservation every two hours, so stay on top of that time frame. I usually set an alarm.
Disney’s Epcot is one of the most popular parks at Walt Disney World. With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to make the most of your time there.
That’s where the Disney Genie+ comes in. This handy app allows you to book FastPasses and reservations for rides and attractions ahead of time, avoiding long lines and maximizing your enjoyment.
Our tips will help you make the most of your day at Epcot with Genie+.