Disney Genie+ price increase comes to Walt Disney World alongside variable pricing by date

Oct 11, 2022 in "Disney Genie"

Posted: Tuesday October 11, 2022 9:05am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney is introducing a variable pricing model for Genie+ at Walt Disney World - bringing higher costs to the ride reservation system less than one year after its launch.

Effective today, Genie+ at Walt Disney World now starts at $15, and may go as high as $22 per person per day (plus tax), depending on the date.

In addition to moving Genie+ to a variable price model, some Individual Lightning Lane selections are also shifting to variable prices. Star Wars Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios will now see prices go as high as $22, starting at $15.

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance may now cost as much as $22 per per person, per ride

Variable pricing for Genie+ is not unexpected, as earlier in June Disney halted the option of advance pre-arrival purchase and Disney Genie+ became only available for purchase through the My Disney Experience app on the day of a visit.

The move to variable pricing adds even more confusion to the guest experience, increasing uncertainty around what a day in the park will ultimately cost. Guests will need to constantly monitor pricing for admission tickets, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane selections. Disney is not currently publishing a schedule of Genie+ pricing, and will instead adjust pricing on a day-by-day basis, leaving it up to the guest to make a decision on the day of their visit.

Genie+ is currently $15 at Walt Disney World

Disney Genie+ is a purchase option within the Disney Genie service that makes the former FastPass line available at select attractions, now called Lightning Lane. Certain headline attractions are not part of Genie+, and Lightning Lane access at those attractions requires an Individual Attraction purchase which varies in prices.

Learn more about Disney Genie from our recent articles, including a Disney Genie FAQ, and Genie discussion on the WDWMAGIC Forums.

Disney Genie overview

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Dranth2 hours ago

Sure, technically they could have done anything but getting FP+ usage to drop to the current levels of LL would have required a massive reduction making it essentially useless without massive changes to how it worked (number of selections, re-rides, additional selections post using three, etc.). I would say it was both. FP+ was a problem that had to be fixed. It needed to change so that it wasn't eating so much capacity. Charging for a skip the line service is one way to accomplish that goal. That it also created a new revenue stream just made it the obvious best choice from a business point of view.

Purduevian1 day ago

I mean obviously Standby and Rope drop are options. However, the quantity/frequency that I am able to get on attractions will get worse if they move to a LLPP/Standby only system.

Disstevefan12 days ago

I have also see posts here saying families were able to get on attractions without having to purchase LLMP so there are ways.

Purduevian2 days ago

I sure hope not... I don't have the money for LLPP and I can typically do everything I want to do in a day with LLMP. And before someone comes in to tell me that the standby lines would be so short if they got rid of all the skip the lines I would still be able to do everything I wanted with a minimal wait... My "worst" trip to Disney was in October 2021 right before G+ launched and there was no skip the line (still had a great time, just not as good of a time). If the options were LLPP or standby online, I would visit a lot less.

Disgruntled Walt2 days ago

For sure. They've basically looked at all aspects of their parks and resorts and said, "Why aren't we profiting from _____?" Then they made it so they are.

nickys2 days ago

Hang on, is this why you think they introduced G+ rather than free FP+? That there were too many people using it that they decided it didn’t work. I think they simply decided this was a way to get some new revenue. Paid versions were already in place at DLP and at least one of Tokyo and Shanghai (possibly both) before WDW. When it was first rumoured the discussion included variations of all existing options. So they saw good sales in the other parks and wanted the revenue.

Jrb19792 days ago

I personally think they need to get rid of LLMP and just have the Premier Pass. Keep that limited.

Purduevian2 days ago

How would reducing the number of passes help the people buying LLMP? Wouldn't that just make rides sell out faster, causing people to get less lightning lanes per day, thus devaluing the upcharge? Disney for sure wants people to feel like LLMP is worth it so they buy it next time/tell their friends they should buy it.