EPCOT began because the worst park for getting Walt Disney World’s Genie+ service, however has improved large time due to additions to the journey roster. There’s Lightning Lane line-skipping entry to 11 points of interest, a number of of which can prevent appreciable time ready. This information ranks all of them by way of wait occasions and the way shortly alternatives run out. (Updated March 9, 2023.)
There are two large modifications at EPCOT which have resulted on this shift. The first is greater crowd ranges which have include Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That new family-friendly Marvel curler coaster is not a part of Genie+, nevertheless it has elevated demand for EPCOT, growing wait occasions throughout the board.
More considerably, there have been modifications to the Lightning Lane lineup–and two big additions–that make shopping for Genie+ extra advantageous at EPCOT, particularly for households with young children. (Or actually anybody who enjoys basic darkish rides.) This put up breaks that down, and how one can take full benefit of Lightning Lanes at EPCOT.
EPCOT is nice at absorbing crowds…it’s simply gentle on headliner points of interest. That’s the issue with Genie+ on a low to reasonably busy day–you received’t save sufficient time on the overwhelming majority of eligible points of interest to make the acquisition definitely worth the cash except you’re Park Hopping. It’s additionally arguably not definitely worth the time, as Genie+ will pressure you to criss-cross the park relatively than doing issues as you naturally arrive to them whereas navigating usually.
During peak season, it’s a unique story as ~6 of the ten Genie+ Lightning Lane points of interest can have important wait occasions all through the day which are value skipping. This isn’t to say you can purchase Genie+ on these days, however relatively, that you need to solely purchase it, if in any respect, on days with peak crowds. That actually means solely 9/10 or 10/10 days. This contains everything of Spring Break, Easter, Summer, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Mardi Gras, and different peak journey occasions.
If you wish to skip Genie+ fully, seek the advice of our 1-Day EPCOT Itinerary, which covers how one can accomplish the whole lot even in the event you’re staying off-site and don’t wish to spend something further on Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes. It additionally affords nice “zig when they zag” recommendation to flip the script on World Showcase and Future World.
Also, in the event you’re staying on-site, the one factor we extremely suggest is Early Entry. Check out our current Early Entry at EPCOT: Better Than Genie+ put up–the title says all of it. Significantly earlier opening occasions present an enormous benefit to early risers, as does with the ability to hit headliners in linear order with out backtracking, which is commonly required when utilizing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. That can imply plenty of strolling when utilizing the line-skipping service, which implies the time saved not ready in line could be greater than offset in regards to the further time spent strolling across the parks.
To that finish, we (as soon as once more) suggest testing Best Time-Saving Strategies for Walt Disney World, which is the results of intensive ‘testing’ to find out one of the best and worst methods to beat the crowds.
If you possibly can’t swing getting up and out the door earlier than park opening, Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at EPCOT is nice for eligible friends. That’s often on Monday nights and goes till 11 pm or midnight, relying upon regular hours. Almost all open points of interest are walk-ons throughout Extended Evening Hours. Those further hours additionally supply entry to a 3rd digital queue entry time for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
But again to the unique level of this put up. The purpose is to provide the instruments and information it’s essential create your individual itinerary with Genie+, relatively than counting on our 1-Day EPCOT Genie+ and Lightning Lanes Plan. Or, you possibly can make the most of “a best of both worlds” strategy, consulting that pre-made plan and the rankings right here so that you perceive the why of it, and may alter the itinerary to account on your Advance Dining Reservations, most well-liked showtimes, whether or not you wish to reduce strolling distances, and so on.
Additionally, see our Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for the entire foundational need-to-know information about this substitute without spending a dime FastPass+. This entire system is complicated and convoluted, so that you may need a query or two-dozen. That solutions the entire commonest ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
Also, 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 for EPCOT is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Previously, each Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure have been additionally an ILL points of interest. Those have each moved right down to the Genie+ lineup (completely), enhancing that journey roster.
We will not be eager on shopping for a la carte entrance of line entry, so we suggest doing ILL points of interest very first thing within the morning or in direction of the tip of the evening. See our Virtual Queue Strategy Guide for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the secrets and techniques to success with that. For the final a number of months (since actually final August), we’ve been anticipating the digital queue to be retired “very soon.” Well, that ought to lastly occur by April 2023, as a result of debut of TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom. It appears unlikely that Walt Disney World will make the most of two digital queues without delay, even when they’re in several parks.
Now, on with the present & journey rankings for Genie+ at EPCOT…
The Best of Genie+ at EPCOT
1. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – The latest Genie+ attraction at EPCOT, and second-newest journey in all of Walt Disney World. That would seemingly make this the plain #1 Genie+ Lightning Lane choice at EPCOT, however this has really bounced round a bit. In the final a number of months, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has emerged as the most typical #1 precedence, and the Lightning Lane you received’t have an opportunity to e-book in the event you select one thing else along with your first choose.
2. Test Track – This older attraction has gained floor with Genie+ in the previous couple of months, and what seems to be taking place is that the 2 all ages points of interest are “splitting the #1 selections,” so to talk. Meaning that households are selecting both the Rat Ride or Frozen Ever After, diluting the recognition of every as a primary choice. Meanwhile, Test Track is the one high-profile thrill journey, so it’s prioritized by virtually all friends wanting that kind of attraction.
3. Frozen Ever After – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is now the clear #1 at EPCOT, with Test Track and Frozen Ever After just about tied for #2. There’s barely any distinction between them, however there’s a slight one. In quick, your finest shot at acquiring Lightning Lanes for the complete trio is reserving Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure #1, Test Track #2, and Frozen Ever After #3.
Even that requires plenty of luck and crowd ranges to be in your favor. If skipping the road for Frozen Ever After is crucial, you need to transfer this as much as #2, as there’s a powerful probability you’ll not get this Lightning Lane in the event you select Test Track at #2. You most likely will not get all 3 in a single day (we’d put the probabilities of success at below 50%), however the entire relaxation must be doable in a single day.
4. Soarin’ Around the World – Once the longest wait time in EPCOT, it’s turn out to be much less fashionable in recent times and had one other theater added to assist take in crowds. It shouldn’t be too tough to safe this into the afternoon, so you’ve slightly flexibility in reserving this strategically relying upon your most well-liked return time and private priorities.
5. Mission: Space – Here’s the place we enter “only necessary in high crowds” nation. On a low or reasonably crowded day, Mission: Space may have a brief or nonexistent wait and Genie+ received’t be mandatory. On busier days, having a Lightning Lane time reserved might prevent 30-60 minutes right here.
6. Spaceship Earth – This is all the time a difficult one, as Spaceship Earth’s wait time fluctuates dramatically even on busier days. Due to its prominence as friends enter the park, it virtually all the time has a for much longer wait time within the first half of the day, and a brief wait in afternoon and night. Again, nonetheless a worthwhile Lightning Lane choice when crowds are excessive.
7. Living with the Land – By the time you get to make this Lightning Lane choice, return occasions will hopefully be within the early night hours. The solely time that is going to be a helpful journey reservation is in the course of the vacation season, when the Merry & Bright overlay retains it fashionable at evening. If you’re going some other time of 12 months, this Lightning Lane isn’t mandatory. Living with the Land will possible be a walk-on since its wait time is shortest at evening–even with peak season crowds.
8. Journey Into Imagination – Approximately 300 days of the 12 months, you’ll wait 10 minutes or much less to journey Journey into Imagination with Figment. About 40 days per 12 months, it’ll be a 15 minute or shorter wait. It’s these different 25 days, when the wait time exceeds half-hour, when Lightning Lane will turn out to be useful right here.
The Rest of Genie+ at EPCOT
The Seas with Nemo & Friends – We have but to see a day when this attraction has run out of Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations.
Stage Shows – At EPCOT, this implies Turtle Talk with Crush and the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival. While Genie+ affords precedence seating, which may quantity to a greater view, it’s sometimes not all that advantageous for reveals.
To the opposite, reserving a Lightning Lane for that is simply going to quantity to pointless backtracking or clicking within the app, and the chance price of not reserving one thing else. The overwhelming majority of friends ought to merely do reveals by way of the standby strains.
Ultimately, you need to be capable to knock out most points of interest by way of Genie+ utilizing Lightning Lanes on regular days in EPCOT. This is definitely a major shift, and as a result of additions of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After within the Genie+ lineup, which have been beforehand Individual Lightning Lanes. This are game-changers, and scoring each of these household pleasant rides plus Test Track or Soarin’ Around the World can prevent a ton of time.
Prior to that, nearly all of friends wouldn’t save a lot time with Genie Plus–definitely nothing like Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios–however some will. Now, the circumstances are very completely different, particularly on days which have excessive crowds, which is extra widespread now that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has opened. Accordingly, we now suggest many friends buy Genie+ at EPCOT, because the time-savings justify the price. With that mentioned, you possibly can nonetheless accomplish just about simply as a lot by way of Early Entry or Extended Evening Hours.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
How would you rank your journey priorities utilizing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes in EPCOT? Surprised by any of the rankings in our prime 5, that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure takes the #1 spot, or is that this all fairly apparent? Are you planning on shopping for Genie+ or skipping it? Will you apply it to an EPCOT-only day, or solely when Park Hopping? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!