• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Is Walt Disney World’s Genie+ Worth It?

September 22, 2022 | Disney

Disclosure: This post on “Is Walt Disney World’s Genie+ worth it?”: is sponsored by Disney, however all opinions are my own.

Like a lot of people, when Genie+ and Lightning Lanes were introduced at Walt Disney World, I was a little skeptical. Is Genie+ worth it? It seemed complicated and I will admit, I don’t like change. My family used Genie+ for four days, one day at each park, and I wanted to give you my thoughts on the service as a whole, and if we thought it was worth using at all four parks by using a numbered ten point scale. I will start with a park by park breakdown, and then give my overall thoughts at the end. As always, let me know if you have any questions!

 

Magic Kingdom: 10/10

This park has the most rides dedicated to Genie+, and is a no brainer in my opinion. SO worth it! There are a whopping 22 attractions available for Genie+ at Magic Kingdom! We were able to knock out a lot of things by balancing between standby lines and Genie+, and it made me less stressed knowing we were able to get more things done in one day. We also like to arrive within the first hour of opening when lines are the shortest to further maximize our time. Highly recommend, especially if you have little ones with you. Very, very worth the money.

Genie+ Worth It

Hollywood Studios: 8/10

While this park has more options than the other parks besides Magic Kingdom (14 as of this posting), there are four attractions that are shows/time-based meaning you have to arrive at a certain show time, so it makes planning a little more difficult (especially if you also have dining reservations.) We found that the attractions we were interested in were booked by early afternoon, so be sure to pick your favorites and book them first or get in the standby line early! However, there were several to choose from if we wanted to use them, we are just picky with what rides and shows we visit (#spoiled). This park would be my second choice for Genie+, especially since standby lines can get long in Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land.

Genie+ Worth It

Epcot: 7/10

Epcot would be my 3rd choice of the four parks for Genie+. This one is tricky because the park is so spread out, that it really requires planning ahead to make sure you maximize your time (and minimize your walking!) There are currently 11 attractions to choose from, and only five that my family personally would participate in that normally have a longer wait. Depending on the time of year, what time you arrive, and if you are staying on property, you may not need Genie+ for this park, but it is a “nice to have” if you can swing it! Also keep in mind that part of EPCOT opens earlier than the rest, which can work to your advantage when planning your day.

Genie+ Worth It

Animal Kingdom: 6/10

In my opinion,  you either really love Animal Kingdom or just don’t care for it, there isn’t a lot of in between. My family LOVES this park, mainly because my seven year old loves it, so it’s a really fun day for us. I think this also is because Animal Kingdom has walk through attractions with no wait times to help fill time gaps like the Boneyard playground, walk through animal exploration trails, and the Wilderness Explorer badges. The walk through attractions that make this park unique make the  need for Genie+ less, especially if you are staying on property and have access to the extra magic hour. There are only 3 attractions on the current list that usually have longer wait times, so if you arrive early and knock those out, you shouldn’t need Genie+. Again, a nice to have but not going to impact your trip as much as getting Genie+ at say, Magic Kingdom.

Genie+ Worth It

*A word on Lighting Lanes. At each park, there are a couple of attractions that are NOT included in the price of Genie+, however you can pay per person per attraction for these, so when you see that some things are not available as a part of Genie+, that may be why.

Final Thoughts:

A visit to Walt Disney World is something a lot of people save up for a long time to experience. I understand that it can be hard to swallow an additional fee for quicker access to attractions you are already paying to experience. Please know that you can still have an AMAZING time on your trip if you cannot swing purchasing Genie+. We have been to Disney many, many times, and have only done Genie+ on this one trip, and always have a blast no matter what. Is it nice to have? Sure, so is staying club level at a deluxe resort, but it’s not necessary, so please don’t panic if it isn’t in your budget at this time. With careful planning and arriving early in the day, you can still maximize your time and have a memorable family vacation. Also to note, navigating the app was not nearly as complicated as I thought. It was super user friendly and I got the hang of it very quickly, so don’t worry if it seems like a lot at first, once you make your first selections you will feel more confident!

The plus side of Genie+, is yes, less waiting in line. The downside is that I felt like I was on my phone a lot, playing chess with ride choices, picking our next option and making sure we didn’t miss anything. So if you prefer a laid back go with the flow kind of trip, Genie+ may not be for you, and that’s ok! I love that Disney gives us many different options to fit our family’s needs and planning/vacation styles. It’s not one size fits all, and that creates happiness for a larger set of guests.

I hope you found this post helpful in deciding is Genie+ worth it, and no matter what you choose for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Have a magical vacation and say hi to Mickey for me!

Genie+ Worth It

 

Related: Flying or driving to WDW, which to choose?

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sign up for my newsletter

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • 5 Reasons to Try a New Way of Travel
  • Experience Superhero-Sized Fun at Gaylord Opryland DC Summer
  • Digital Nomads: Safely Working Remotely While You Roam
  • Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) as a Travel Ball Mom
  • Protecting Your Kids’ Eyes In the Digital Age

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
When was the last time you truly relaxed? 🛁✨ When was the last time you truly relaxed? 🛁✨

We escaped to The Alpine Haven Cabin near Gatlinburg and wow… from the jetted soaking tub with a fireplace, to the private indoor pool, sauna, and steam room—it felt like our own personal spa retreat. 🔥🧖‍♀️

Whether you need a romantic getaway, a family trip, or just a little peace and quiet, this place has everything. We left feeling completely recharged. 💆‍♀️🌲

Ready to book your escape? Use code HEATHER10 for 10% off your stay! Link in bio to check out these dreamy luxury mountain cabins! 🏔️ @alpine_haven_cabin_spa

#Alpinehavenpartner GatlinburgCabin #MountainRetreat #SpaGetaway #RelaxAndRecharge #CabinVibes  #FlourishAndGlow #alpinehavencabin
Boy were they wrong. 🤪 🔗 in bio to book wit Boy were they wrong. 🤪

🔗 in bio to book with the best discounts. Share with someone you want to cruise with! 🚢 

#virginvoyages #virginvoyagesvaliantlady #valiantlady #cruiseship #holyairball
#AD | Busy mom life = always on the go, but a quic #AD | Busy mom life = always on the go, but a quick stop at @McDonalds makes it easy to treat my girl and grab a little pick-me-up for myself. 🙌💙 With the new Under $3 McValue Menu, we can enjoy frozen drinks, snacks, and more—all for under $3, all day, every day! 🥤💸 

From Frozen Blue Raspberry to Frozen Coke, it’s the perfect way to take a breather before heading to the next activity—and ordering ahead in the app keeps things simple. 👏

#McValue #McDonalds
That time Bobby put on hand sanitizer instead of s That time Bobby put on hand sanitizer instead of sunscreen. 👀😆 ☀️ 

#poolday #husbandandwife #loveandmarriage
We originally got it as a solution for rainy or co We originally got it as a solution for rainy or cold days during the holidays, but it quickly became part of our weekly routine — especially for family game night or those super hot afternoons when going outside just isn’t an option.

What I love most? It gets us laughing, playing, and moving together. The games are active and designed with real child development principles in mind — which means I feel good about the screen time. And when she plays solo? I know she’s safe — no online strangers, just fun, movement, and confidence-building play.

Whether we’re all competing or she’s playing on her own, @nexplayground has become one of our favorite ways to stay active and connected as a family.
Grab yours on Amazon — and don’t miss it during Prime Day!

#NexPlayground #FamilyGameNight #IndoorPlay #Momhack #SummerSolutions #ad #nexplaygroundonamazon #playthatmovesyou #activeplay #familyplaytime #kidgiftideas #kidsummerideas
I call it the lazy girl’s cookies ‘n cream dre I call it the lazy girl’s cookies ‘n cream dream cake—because it’s quick, no-bake, and made with love (and @BRCIceCream frozen treats 😉). #BlueRibbonClassics_Partner

This little recipe is one my mom used to make with me, and now I get to pass it down to my daughter. It’s messy, a little imperfect… and absolutely delicious. 💙

All you need is:

🍦  Blue Ribbon Classics Cookies ‘n Cream frozen hand-held treats

🍫 Whipped cream

🍪 Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies

➡️ Layer, freeze, slice, and enjoy!

Affordable. Easy. And honestly? A sweet memory in the making.

📍Find Blue Ribbon Classics hand-held treats near you. Link in stories.

#blueribbonclassics #brcicecream #makeitsweet #CookiesNCreamBar #NoBakeDessert #MomLife #SweetMemories #BusyMomHack
🌟 Giveaway!! 🌟 Escape to the peaceful side 🌟 Giveaway!! 🌟 

Escape to the peaceful side of the Smokies 🌿✨ 

Newly reopened @tremontlodge in Townsend, TN has everything you need for a relaxing getaway while still being close enough to all the excitement of Pigeon Forge:

• Spacious rooms & cozy suites 💛

• Indoor and outdoor pools + hot tub 💦 

• Fitness center 💪🏻 

• Complimentary breakfast buffet ☕️ 

• On-site game room + outdoor movie nights 🎥 

• Outdoor firepit lounge & BBQ area 🔥 

• Walking trails right on the property 🌲 

• A hidden speakeasy for the grown-ups 😉🍸

Just minutes from Cades Cove, tubing, and some of the best hikes in the Smokies! Right now I’m GIVING AWAY a two night stay at this serene resort!

Here’s how to enter:

- Follow @HeathersLG and @Tremontlodge
-Like this post 
-Comment your favorite thing to do in the mountains 
-Tag two friend in the comments (can tag more for more entries!) 

Bonus 5 entries! ✨ 
-Share on your stories and tag us so we can see! 

Not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. Must be 18+ to enter. Closes July 3, 2025 at Midnight. Winner chosen on or around July 5th and notified by this account ONLY via DM and tagged on this post in the caption.

Copyright © 2025 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d