Disney Parks: Big Changes Coming Next Month

The Disney parks just announced a major change to the current Genie+ ride reservation system, with adjustments coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World beginning in July. Guests will now be able to make their reservations ahead of their scheduled arrival time, and the Genie+ system will be renamed to Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

The Genie+ system replaced the former complimentary FastPass system at the parks in 2021, and enabled guests to keep reservations in one place via a phone app. Guests could also use the app to pay an extra fee for Lightning Lane reservations, booking a time to ride a certain attraction and either using a smartphone or the Disney MagicBands to check in when the return time was posted. The system has been controversial among theme park fans, with many Disney guests upset that the new system requires payment and must be booked on the day of admission.

According to an announcement posted by the Disney Parks Blog earlier this week, several changes will be coming to the Genie+ system starting July 24. The Genie+ system will change its name to "Lightning Lane Multi Pass" while individual Lightning Lanes will be called "Lightning Lane Single Pass." The changes also include increasing the amount of Lightning Lane reservations guests can make and allowing guests to plan and purchase reservations before arrival. The Virtual Queue system that was introduced in 2019 will remain the same, with guests able to try booking a virtual wait time up to twice a day. This system is currently being used at Walt Disney World for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run and will be utilized at Disneyland with the reopening of Haunted Mansion Holiday later this year.

Disney Announces Major Upheaval To Reservation System

Guests staying at a Disney resort will be able to make reservations up to seven days ahead of arrival, while all other guests can book up to three days in advance. The majority of these changes will only be experienced by guests visiting Walt Disney World in Florida - Disneyland guests will only encounter the name change, while the process of booking and redeeming Lightning Lanes will stay the same. The new Lightning Lane passes will merge aspects of the current Genie+ system and the former FastPass+ system, "giving guests the choice to plan ahead and removing the hassle of planning during their vacation." All attractions currently available for a Genie+ reservation will be available under the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass system, as well as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which will open to Disney World guests on June 28.

Disney seems to be taking concerns and complaints about Genie+ seriously, with the new system allowing earlier planning and reservation booking, helping guests better plan their visit. With several festivals and events occurring over the next few months at the Disney parks, along with discounted summer tickets at Disneyland and Disney World opening a brand-new attraction, the opportunity to reserve Lightning Lane passes in advance could be a major benefit to guests this summer. It remains to be seen how parkgoers will respond to the new system and how well the changes will be implemented come July.