Magic Kingdom is the most effective park for getting Walt Disney World’s Genie+ service. This paid FastPass alternative affords Lightning Lane line-skipping entry to 22 points of interest and character sightings in Magic Kingdom, and our information ranks the rides and leisure by way of time-saved and the way shortly reservations replenish. (Updated January 17, 2023.)
The objective of this submit is supplying you with the instruments and data to construct your individual Magic Kingdom itinerary with Genie+, slightly than counting on our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes Plan. We’d suggest a better of each worlds strategy, consulting that pre-made plan and the rankings right here so that you perceive the why of it, and may make your individual itinerary.
Since crowds, climate, attraction downtime, and extra can all closely impression 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 forth. As such, this equips you to place collectively your individual dynamic plan of assault for utilizing Genie+ in Magic Kingdom…
Of course, this assumes that you simply wish to ‘pay to play’ and can use Genie+ slightly than merely doing standby traces. In Magic Kingdom, that’s usually our advice. Basically, it boils all the way down to the journey rely. 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 all the time obligatory. This is particularly true throughout the low season, equivalent to many dates in January and February. It’s additionally true from mid-August via December on days when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held. Basically, at any time when crowd ranges drop beneath 4/10, you don’t have to pay further for Lightning Lane entry. It nonetheless might be good to have, but it surely’s hardly important.
Additionally, see our Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for all the foundational need-to-know data about this paid FastPass+ alternative. This entire system is complicated and convoluted, so that you may need a query or 17. That solutions all the commonest ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
Before we get began, we must always word that this affords journey priorities for Lightning Lanes by way of 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 case 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 many who booked FastPass+ reservations up to now! Peter Pan’s Flight is much and away the preferred of Magic Kingdom’s iconic Fantasyland darkish rides, with wait instances usually exceeding 90 minutes. Its Lightning Lane reservations often final till noon or later, but it surely’s nonetheless a savvy second decide.
2. Jungle Cruise – This one would possibly 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 common 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 principally 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, this can transfer as much as #3. Once TRON Lightcycle Run opens, Space Mountain will probably be in even greater demand, as its next-door neighbor will draw crowds to this aspect 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 would possibly surprise why Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ranks this low. It’s all a matter of common wait instances–which have been average–and Genie+ availability–which has been considerable. Both of these issues might change, however for now, there’s no have to prioritize BTMRR any earlier.
6. Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall – Both of the subsequent two princess meet & greets at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland rank greater 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 onerous ticket events means fewer for different shifts. Consequently, there are longer traces 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 greater wait time on common. In actuality, prioritize whichever of those issues extra to you. This actually holds true for picks #6 via #9. All of those are character-centric leisure that aren’t that far aside from each other by way of precedence.
8. Meet Mickey & Minnie at Town Square Theater – With celebration 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 high decide from final August via 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 optionally available, that is much more scenario dependent, for lack of a greater time period. You can simply watch Festival of Fantasy Parade and not using a Cinderella Castle-facing view. This doesn’t essentially save any time, it affords a reserved viewing space that’s arguably higher than options. Moreover, in case you make all the above alternatives, there’s a very good likelihood Festival of Fantasy Parade can be gone. Basically, this feature is for households with young children who received’t have the ability to do the Magic Kingdom Mountain Range, and maybe received’t wish to do another points of interest.
10. Haunted Mansion – This one would possibly 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 common throughout Halloween season.) We’ve moved it down a few spots since Haunted Mansion tends to have higher Genie+ availability, but it surely 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 aspect, 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 essential–particularly for the reason that overflow queue is outdoor and affords minimal shade. Most days to date, Genie+ has had instantaneous return instances. We’ll revisit and re-rank Space Ranger Spin if that adjustments.
13. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – The argument might be made that Winnie the Pooh’s Fantasyland darkish journey needs to be within the high 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 instances 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 related story right here. If the standby line for the Little Mermaid darkish journey spills out into the walkway, this is usually a 45 to 60 minute wait. Most of the time, this ‘people-eater’ attraction can have fairly brief waits, although. Still, it’s simple to seize a nearly-immediate return time by way of 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 might be lengthy, however so can also Lightning Lane waits in case 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 to date, we’ve discovered Genie+ to supply nearly no benefit right here. Get it in case you can, however don’t sweat standby.
Mad Tea Party – The iconic spinning teacup is enjoyable, however averages wait instances beneath quarter-hour. Again, use Genie+ in case you can (as a result of why not), but it surely’s not an enormous deal in any other case.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin – This is sort of a knock-off county honest model of Dumbo. We don’t suggest doing it in any respect–we’d wait in an extended standby line for Astro Orbiter if really needing our spinner repair.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – Using Genie+ right here on busier days would possibly 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 attainable right here. That additionally makes it a very good sleeper decide to be used of Genie+ and the Lightning Lane. Right now, that’s not obligatory, however on a busier day, this might sneak into the highest 10.
Ultimately, it is best to have the ability to knock out all 22 points of interest by way of Genie+ utilizing Lightning Lanes on a good day in Magic Kingdom. On a nasty day, you would possibly solely have the ability to do the highest 10. On an terrible day, it could be the highest 5. So plan accordingly primarily based on the crowds once you’ll be visiting, and likewise give your self as many different benefits as attainable–like Early Entry, rope drop, or Extended Evening Hours.
Regardless of once you’re visiting, Genie+ will prevent extra time at Magic Kingdom–and permit you to 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, lower the fee out of your Walt Disney World trip funds someplace else.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about lodges on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part you must 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 can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!