WDW Vacation Planning Archives

IT. IS. TIME.

Walt Disney World just announced that the Disney Genie service will launch on October 19, 2021, at Walt Disney World Resort!

Walt Disney World – Disney Genie

Available for all guests in the My Disney Experience app, the complimentary Disney Genie service offers new features that let you create your best Disney day.

These features include a personalized itinerary creator that effortlessly and smartly maps out an entire day inspired by the things you love – helping you make the most of your park time so you can have more fun.

The complimentary Disney Genie Service Includes:

Tailored Recommendations – You’ll receive attraction and dining recommendations inspired in part by what you told Disney Genie service you’re most interested in doing. It even displays a good time to go to an experience and an idea of the forecasted wait. Need to swap a recommendation out? No problem. Like many popular navigation apps, Disney Genie will continue to offer new suggestions throughout the day, so you can make the most of your time during your visit.
A Personalized Daily Itinerary – Your “My Day” tab is where you’ll find Disney Genie recommendations and any plans you’ve made, including dining reservations, Disney Resort hotel reservations and activity bookings. You’ll also be able to virtually chat with a Cast Member who can help answer any questions that arise.
A Custom Tip Board – This new feature will let you see estimated wait times for your top attractions, entertainment and dining. You’ll also be able to order food, make dining reservations, check into a restaurant, request to join an available virtual queue (currently at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure), and even book arrival times for our new Lightning Lane entrance at select experiences if you’ve purchased Disney Genie+ service.

Walt Disney World – Disney Genie+

In addition to getting all of the great features that come with upgrading to the complimentary version of Disney Genie service, purchasing Disney Genie+ service will offer even more convenience and flexibility, for $15 per ticket per day.

Disney Genie+ Perks Include:

Enjoy the Magic You Want with Less Wait – Save time waiting in line by purchasing Disney Genie+ service! This new service, at more than 40 attractions and experiences throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks, lets you select the next available arrival window for the new Lightning Lane entrances. You can make one selection at a time throughout the day—from classics like Haunted Mansion and thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (experiences subject to limited availability). With Disney Genie+, you can select Lightning Lane arrival windows across multiple theme parks for those who have the Park Hopper option.

Disney PhotoPass Lenses – Access special Disney PhotoPass Lenses for your mobile device, allowing you to explore magical new augmented reality effects.
Audio Tales – Discover the parks in cool new ways through fascinating fun facts and behind-the-scenes insights you can listen to during your visit.

Disney Genie+ selections are available beginning at 7:00 AM on the day of your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to secure your first arrival time.

Starting October 19th, you’ll be able to purchase Disney Genie+ service on the day of your visit or purchase as an add-on to a theme park ticket by modifying your existing ticket prior to arrival. You can also purchase new tickets that include Disney Genie+ before your visit.

When using Disney Genie+ guests are responsible for:

Determining whether options and recommendations are appropriate for their party and
consulting all experience restrictions and advisories, including height requirements, health and safety advisories and accessibility guidelines.

Lightning Lane

With this launch, we’ll also be introducing the Lightning Lane entrance. Available for purchase through our Disney Genie+ add-on at more than 40 attractions – or individually, “à la carte” at some of our most highly demanded attractions – the Lightning Lane entrance can save you time waiting in line.

Click here for a first look at the list of current attractions with Lightning Lane entrances and info on pricing.

As a reminder, attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue or from time to time, a virtual queue may instead be used at select attractions, like right now at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

To get ready for the launch, I’ll be sharing more information as it becomes available, but you can also visit DisneyGenie.com for more details.

While I may sound a little crazy…I LOVE going to the parks in the rain! We’re always a bit sillier and open to going and doing different things that we would normally do in the parks.

Now while saying that, I always try to go in prepared so I can mitigate any crabbiness from others who don’t enjoy the rain as much as I do. So here are my top 7 must do rain do’s! (Sorry, I can’t resist a good Stacey reference…event though I try…):

1. Go With It!

How many of us have nervously and often checked the weather SEVERAL times to see what the chance of rain during our vacation would be? I am absolutely guilty of seeing the chance of rain increasing and getting the feeling of impending doom in the pit of my stomach! I have found the best thing to do is to let everyone know that there is a good chance that it is going rain during the visit, and then to listen to their concerns so you can be prepared for how to make them a non-issue when they arise. AND if it doesn’t rain, your rain dance will be praised as effective and not crazy! J

2. Game Plan

I like to take a look at the park maps for a few things to consider in the rain. I take into consideration the proximity of attractions, the number of attractions that are our favorites, the amount of covered spaces, our ADRs /Counter Service plan for the day, and size of the park. With all that being said, I usually opt for Hollywood Studios since there are tons of shows and options for indoor activities that you might easily skip (like the Animation Academy – http://t.co/haEsDHu ) that take up a good amount of time.

3. Rain jackets and Umbrellas

While ponchos are great, I opt for something that provides us with a little more protection! Last year we invested in folding rain jackets, and they have come in handy both in and out of the parks. After our trip in what we thought was a monsoon last May, I invested in a super compact umbrella that easily fit into our bag and opened up quickly. If you do opt for ponchos, make sure that your child is tall enough to wear the poncho without it dragging through the puddles. I have seen too many kids step on their poncho and fall in the rain.

4. Shoes

Now this one may sound weird, but just go with me on this one! You want to make sure that you bring a shoe that dries easily and has a lot of grip for traction in the rain. Sounds like common since, right? But this is more for the little princesses out there. My darling little lady, Zoe, LOVES wearing her princess shoes in the park, but we learned the hard way that they are not very safe to wear in the rain. Our compromise is a pair of sparkly tennis shoes. I have bought the majority of ours from Target, since they are rather inexpensive and easy to replace.

5. Protection

I always over plan for an abundance of craziness during our vacation, and I always pack a variety of plastic zip top bags. When I see that it may rain, I always try to put my phone and camera in a baggie. While I am the main sherpa of the trip, I give my husband one as well for his wallet and phone since he is usually the fast pass and ticket holder. He thought that I was crazy, until he had to lay the contents of his wallet out to dry and could not use his Midway Mania fast passes!

6. Kiddies

All kids are different, but I try to be especially prepared to dealing with and waiting in the rain with Zoe. I always have a jacket for her, an extra little something for her to play with in case we have to wait a little longer, and additional “special” snacks. Also be realistic about how they react to the rain. If they don’t like getting wet or there are things they MUST have to cope with the rain, be prepared! For awhile she wouldn’t go out in a sprinkle without her favorite umbrella, so that sucker went with us everywhere!

7. HAVE FUN WITH IT!

Have fun! Our rule is that the only place that we can jump in a puddle is at Walt Disney World. Also duing our monsoon trip, we got “cast” for a hurrincane scene shooting later in the day by a “director” in Hollywood Studios.

Don’t let a little rain ruin your parade or vacation!!! Be prepared and have fun!!!