Credit: Inside the MagicDid you know that the Disney Genie+ service has changed? Well, it has, and it is for the better!
After Walt Disney World Resort reopened from the pandemic, we saw multiple operational changes occur, including the removal of the free FastPass+ system. When FastPass was initially created, guests could use their paper tickets, insert it into a machine at the attraction that they wanted a FastPass for, and it would give them a paper FastPass with a return time on it. Then, guests would return to that attraction at their return time, and instead of entering the regular queue, they could enter the FastPass lane, with far less guests in it.
Time slots for FastPasses would move quickly, so it was a popular move to run to your favorite (or the most popular) attraction at rope drop and snag a FastPass for you and your group. Once you use your FastPass, you can get another from a different attraction, depending on which rides have time slots left.
Then, FastPass+ was basically the same, but a lot less running as you could control all of your booking on your My Disney Experience app. The best thing of all, was that it was still free.
After the pandemic, Disney Genie+ was implemented, and FastPass was turned into Lightning Lane. At Disney World, the price point for this service, which would guarantee 2-3 rides a day when it came to Lightning Lane usage, started at a flat rate of $15.00 per guest, and at Disneyland, it was $20.00. Now, Disney Genie+ is on a moving pay scale, with each park having its own price varying on the dates, and prices have shot up to $35.00+ during busier times of the year.
With the quick inflation that Disney Genie+ has seen, Disney has found another way to sweeten the deal.
As of March 20th, 2023, Disney added a complimentary PhotoPass photo option for all on-ride attractions to Disney Genie+ users. This does not mean that photos taken by PhotoPass photographers around the park will show up without a watermark on your My Disney Experience app, but that shot of you dropping on Tower of Terror or screaming on Slinky Dog Dash with your hands up will be.
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If you want to purchase Memory Maker on your trip, which is the service that will give you all of the PhotoPass photos, that will cost you $185.00 if you do it in advance, and $210.00 if you do it after you arrive. For just one day, the service costs $75.00. While this includes all PhotoPass pictures, it is a costly add-on, and one that can be removed if you are using Disney Genie+.
This little perk will certainly help guests save money and allows the high cost that Disney Genie+ can provide to be a little more acceptable, as there is more benefits for the guest now.
Do you purchase Disney Genie+ when you come on your Disney vacation? What do you think of the price?