Magic Kingdom is the perfect park for purchasing Walt Disney World’s Genie+ service. This paid FastPass alternative gives Lightning Lane line-skipping entry to 22 points of interest and character sightings in Magic Kingdom, and our information ranks the rides and leisure when it comes to time-saved and the way shortly reservations refill. (Updated January 17, 2023.)
The purpose of this put up is supplying you with the instruments and information to construct your personal Magic Kingdom itinerary with Genie+, quite than counting on our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes Plan. We’d suggest a better of each worlds method, consulting that pre-made plan and the rankings right here so that you perceive the why of it, and may make your personal itinerary.
Since crowds, climate, attraction downtime, and extra can all closely influence how an precise day at Walt Disney World performs out, it’s nearly sure {that a} pattern itinerary can’t be replicated step-for-step with the very same Lightning Lane time slots, and so on. As such, this equips you to place collectively your personal dynamic plan of assault for utilizing Genie+ in Magic Kingdom…
Of course, this assumes that you just wish to ‘pay to play’ and can use Genie+ quite than merely doing standby strains. In Magic Kingdom, that’s usually our advice. Basically, it boils right down to the journey depend. With 22 points of interest providing Genie+ at Magic Kingdom, it has nearly double the variety of points of interest as different parks at Walt Disney World.
However, utilizing Genie+ will not be at all times mandatory. This is particularly true throughout the low season, comparable to many dates in January and February. It’s additionally true from mid-August by way of December on days when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held. Basically, every time crowd ranges drop beneath 4/10, you don’t must pay additional for Lightning Lane entry. It nonetheless may be good to have, however it’s hardly important.
Additionally, see our Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for the entire foundational need-to-know information about this paid FastPass+ alternative. This entire system is complicated and convoluted, so that you might need a query or 17. That solutions the entire most typical ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
Before we get began, we should always observe that this gives journey priorities for Lightning Lanes through Genie+ and not Individual Lightning Lanes (ILL), that are pay-per-ride. At current, the one ILL attraction in Magic Kingdom is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We will not be eager on shopping for a la carte entrance of line entry, so we suggest doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Train proper earlier than Magic Kingdom closes (or within the early night, in the event you can’t keep till park closing). When it opens, TRON Lightcycle Run can be Magic Kingdom’s different Individual Lightning Lane journey.
Now, on with the present & journey rankings for Genie+ at Magic Kingdom…
The Best of Genie+ at Magic Kingdom
1. Peter Pan’s Flight – Not an enormous shock for individuals who booked FastPass+ reservations prior to now! Peter Pan’s Flight is way and away the preferred of Magic Kingdom’s iconic Fantasyland darkish rides, with wait occasions frequently exceeding 90 minutes. Its Lightning Lane reservations normally final till noon or later, however it’s nonetheless a savvy second decide.
2. Jungle Cruise – This one may come as an enormous shock, however Jungle Cruise has seen an enormous resurgence in recognition because it’s current reimagining. It is now, on common, the fourth-longest wait time in Magic Kingdom and one of many extra well-liked Genie+ alternatives. We anticipate this newfound recognition being sustained throughout Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
3. Splash Mountain – Magic Kingdom Mountain Range rankings are largely interchangeable, and largely dependent upon climate. Even although Splash Mountain will quickly near be reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, January is chilly. On most days, doing it third ought to put your Lightning Lane journey reservation noon. That needs to be about excellent.
4. Space Mountain – Another Magic Kingdom Mountain Range journey, it needs to be unsurprising to see Space Mountain crack the highest 5. As quickly as Splash Mountain closes, it will transfer as much as #3. Once TRON Lightcycle Run opens, Space Mountain will doubtless be in even increased demand, as its next-door neighbor will draw crowds to this facet of the park.
5. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Another Magic Kingdom Mountain Range entry, so this one most likely doesn’t want a lot rationalization. If something, you may marvel why Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ranks this low. It’s all a matter of common wait occasions–which have been average–and Genie+ availability–which has been considerable. Both of these issues may change, however for now, there’s no must prioritize BTMRR any earlier.
6. Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall – Both of the following two princess meet & greets at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland rank increased for Halloween and Christmas because of staffing shortages. We received’t go too deep into how the sausage is made, so to talk, however extra characters throughout the arduous ticket events means fewer for different shifts. Consequently, there are longer strains throughout regular hours.
7. Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall – Cinderella’s meet & greet has the slight edge on Tiana, with barely increased wait time on common. In actuality, prioritize whichever of those issues extra to you. This actually holds true for picks #6 by way of #9. All of those are character-centric leisure that aren’t that far other than each other when it comes to precedence.
8. Meet Mickey & Minnie at Town Square Theater – With get together season ending, this Lightning Lane rating has plummeted. If you see it extremely really useful elsewhere, that’s as a result of it was a prime decide from final August by way of December. As of January 2023, Magic Kingdom’s Mickey & Minnie Mouse meet & greet is just average precedence.
9. Festival of Fantasy Parade – While all of those are clearly non-obligatory, that is much more scenario dependent, for lack of a greater time period. You can simply watch Festival of Fantasy Parade with out a Cinderella Castle-facing view. This doesn’t essentially save any time, it gives a reserved viewing space that’s arguably higher than alternate options. Moreover, in the event you make the entire above alternatives, there’s an excellent probability Festival of Fantasy Parade can be gone. Basically, this feature is for households with babies who received’t be capable of do the Magic Kingdom Mountain Range, and maybe received’t wish to do another points of interest.
10. Haunted Mansion – This one may come as a shock, however Haunted Mansion’s common wait time for the reason that launch of Genie+ has ranked it fairly extremely! (And it’s much more well-liked throughout Halloween season.) We’ve moved it down a few spots since Haunted Mansion tends to have higher Genie+ availability, however it needs to be a excessive precedence.
11. Pirates of the Caribbean – Similar story to Haunted Mansion with Pirates of the Caribbean. Standby waits have been lengthy, so that you’re probably bypassing a prolonged line when utilizing the Lightning Lane for PotC. On the plus facet, it seldom runs out of reservation availability in Genie+, besides throughout the busier seasons.
12. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Lines can fluctuate dramatically for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, with waits some days exceeding 60 minutes and it being a close to walk-on different days. If you’re visiting when it’s busier, scoring a Lightning Lane reservation right here can be vital–particularly for the reason that overflow queue is outdoor and gives minimal shade. Most days to this point, Genie+ has had immediate return occasions. We’ll revisit and re-rank Space Ranger Spin if that adjustments.
13. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – The argument could possibly be made that Winnie the Pooh’s Fantasyland darkish journey needs to be within the prime 5. Its common wait time places it there and, subjectively, the wait within the standby line is excruciating (I converse from expertise). However, Genie+ availability has been considerable, and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is extra skippable because of its high quality (or lack thereof) than the points of interest above it.
14. “it’s a small world” – This well-known–or notorious, relying upon your perspective–Fantasyland boat journey has not had lengthy wait occasions traditionally, however they’ve spiked in current months. Some days, utilizing the Lightning Lane entrance will bypass a forty five minute (or extra) wait, making this a probably robust Genie+ journey reservation. (Other days, it’ll prevent no time in any respect.)
15. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – It’s a really comparable story right here. If the standby line for the Little Mermaid darkish journey spills out into the walkway, this could be a 45 to 60 minute wait. Most of the time, this ‘people-eater’ attraction could have fairly brief waits, although. Still, it’s simple to seize a nearly-immediate return time through Genie+, and the potential financial savings make it a really useful decide for late afternoon.
16. Dumbo the Flying Elephant – Another iconic Magic Kingdom rite-of-passage attraction that’s an actual wildcard. Standby waits right here may be lengthy, however so can also Lightning Lane waits in the event you get unfortunate. Nevertheless, we’d suggest utilizing Genie+ for it on busier days, as there’s stable time-savings potential.
The Rest of Genie+ at Magic Kingdom
Barnstormer – This kiddie coaster can have lengthy waits on the busiest days of the 12 months, however thus far, we’ve discovered Genie+ to supply nearly no benefit right here. Get it in the event you can, however don’t sweat standby.
Mad Tea Party – The iconic spinning teacup is enjoyable, however averages wait occasions below quarter-hour. Again, use Genie+ in the event you can (as a result of why not), however it’s not an enormous deal in any other case.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin – This is sort of a knock-off county truthful model of Dumbo. We don’t suggest doing it in any respect–we’d wait in an extended standby line for Astro Orbiter if actually needing our spinner repair.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – Using Genie+ right here on busier days may get you in a single present sooner than you in any other case would’ve making this a possible ‘sleeper pick’ for the Lightning Lane.
Tomorrowland Speedway – Unless automobile exhaust-induced cognitive impairment and the loud putter of engines is your factor, you’ll wish to be out and in of line as shortly as doable right here. That additionally makes it an excellent sleeper decide to be used of Genie+ and the Lightning Lane. Right now, that’s not mandatory, however on a busier day, this might sneak into the highest 10.
Ultimately, it is best to be capable of knock out all 22 points of interest through Genie+ utilizing Lightning Lanes on a good day in Magic Kingdom. On a nasty day, you may solely be capable of do the highest 10. On an terrible day, it may be the highest 5. So plan accordingly based mostly on the crowds if you’ll be visiting, and likewise give your self as many different benefits as doable–like Early Entry, rope drop, or Extended Evening Hours.
Regardless of if you’re visiting, Genie+ will prevent extra time at Magic Kingdom–and will let you have a extra leisurely day–than at another Walt Disney World park. This is what makes shopping for it our advice for most individuals and on most days of the 12 months. Even if it requires a little bit of a splurge, minimize the price out of your Walt Disney World trip funds someplace else.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for the whole lot you should know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
How would you rank your journey priorities utilizing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom? Surprised to see Jungle Cruise at #1? Are you planning on shopping for Genie+ or skipping it? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!