The House of Mouse is making some big changes to their parks, and we finally know what one of them is. If you’ll recall back in January, Disneyland announced an end to their Annual Pass program. This of course was met with general unhappiness. But, the Chairman of the parks did assure fans a replacement was coming. Just this month, the Magic Key program was announced, and with it some additional updates.
Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World offered a system that allowed guests to return at specific times to ride attractions with long wait times, called the FastPass and MaxPass. With the end of the Annual Pass, so too did the FastPass go away.
Just yesterday, the parks revealed their new plan and system to reserve rides and popular attractions- a new app called Disney Genie. Yes, there’s an additional fee involved.
Disney Genie will allow guests who purchase the program ($15 per ticket for Walt Disney World, $20 per ticket for Disneyland) will be able to access Lightning Lanes for specific rides, which will allow a specific return window and shorter line for specific attractions. So, the only real difference here is the added per ticket fee and name. HOWEVER, there will be certain rides not included in this program.
Highly demanded attractions like Walt Disney World’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Disneyland’s Radiator Springs Racers will be available as “individual attraction selections” for Lightning Lane access. So, more added fees per person per ride for specifically popular attractions. We don’t know what other rides will be included in this additional grouping, but we have to assume Rise of the Resistance will be one of them, too.
“Disney Genie listens to the preferences that guests share with us to help design their best day and deliver an experience that’s made just for them,” Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Product, said in a statement. “Pairing incredible technology with more than 60 years of expertise about how our guests visit the parks, Disney Genie will personalize their Disney day, allowing guests to spend less time planning and waiting and more time doing the things they love.”
D’Amaro says Genie and additional information about the Lightning Lane access will be revealed in the coming months. The program is expected to launch in the fall of 2021.
