Magic Kingdom is the most effective park for getting Walt Disney World’s Genie+ service. This paid FastPass substitute presents Lightning Lane line-skipping entry to 23 sights and character sightings in Magic Kingdom, and our information ranks the rides and leisure by way of time-saved and the way shortly reservations refill. (Up to date March 2, 2023.)
The purpose of this put up is supplying you with the instruments and data to construct your individual Magic Kingdom itinerary with Genie+, fairly than counting on our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes Plan. We’d advocate 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 might make your individual 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 many others. As such, this equips you to place collectively your individual dynamic plan of assault for utilizing Genie+ in Magic Kingdom…
After all, this assumes that you just wish to ‘pay to play’ and can use Genie+ fairly than merely doing standby strains. In Magic Kingdom, that’s usually our suggestion. Mainly, it boils right down to the trip depend. With 23 sights providing Genie+ at Magic Kingdom, it has nearly double the variety of sights as different parks at Walt Disney World.
Nonetheless, utilizing Genie+ isn’t all the time needed. That is very true in the course of the low season, comparable to many dates previous to spring break season, in addition to after that ends and summer time begins. It’s additionally true from mid-August via December on days when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion is held. Mainly, at any time when crowd ranges drop under 4/10, you don’t have to pay further for Lightning Lane entry. It nonetheless may be good to have, nevertheless it’s hardly important.
Moreover, see our Information to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for the entire foundational need-to-know data about this paid FastPass+ substitute. This complete system is complicated and convoluted, so that you might need a query or 17. That solutions the entire commonest ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
Earlier than we get began, we should always observe that this presents trip priorities for Lightning Lanes through Genie+ and not Particular person Lightning Lanes (ILL), that are pay-per-ride. At current, the one ILL attraction in Magic Kingdom is Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. We aren’t eager on shopping for a la carte entrance of line entry, so we advocate doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice proper earlier than Magic Kingdom closes (or within the early night, if you happen to can’t keep till park closing).
TRON Lightcycle Run can be Magic Kingdom’s different Particular person Lightning Lane trip when it opens on April 4, 2023. What’s unknown as of proper now could be whether or not Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice can be ‘downgraded’ to Genie+ when TRON Lightcycle Run debuts. We might see it going both manner. Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice continues to be extremely common, however with a wholly completely different demographic than TRON Lightcycle Run. On high of that, Magic Kingdom already has 23 Genie+ Lightning Lane sights, which is greater than another park. So Disney may keep its ILL standing so as to seize extra income.
Now, on with the present & trip rankings for Genie+ at Magic Kingdom…
The Better of Genie+ at Magic Kingdom
T1. 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. By the primary two months of 2023 it has, on common, the third-longest wait time in Magic Kingdom, behind solely Peter Pan’s Flight and Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. Regardless of being behind Peter Pan’s Flight in common wait, Lightning Lane stock goes quicker for this. Therefore the tie.
T1. Peter Pan’s Flight – Not an enormous shock for many who booked FastPass+ reservations previously! Peter Pan’s Flight is much and away the most well-liked of Magic Kingdom’s iconic Fantasyland darkish rides, with wait instances recurrently exceeding 90 minutes. Its Lightning Lane reservations normally final till noon or later, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a savvy second (and even first) choose.
3. Meet Ariel at Her Grotto – The primary of two recently-returning sights, the Little Mermaid meet & greet has had extraordinarily restricted Lightning Lane availability on some dates in 2023. If going solely by how shortly reservations ebook up, this could be the #1 Genie+ Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom, simply. Nonetheless, the typical wait time for the Princess Ariel meet & greet doesn’t even start to justify giving it the highest slot, and barely justifies rating it #3.
Honest warning: if you happen to choose one thing else first, you most likely received’t be capable of rating an Ariel’s Grotto Lightning Lane. It goes that quick most days. Conversely, if you happen to choose this primary, there’s a great likelihood you received’t be capable of rating trip reservations for each Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan’s Flight. In our view, the chance price of getting to do these through standby is simply too excessive. As such, our sturdy suggestion is to do that meet & greet comparatively early within the day and through the standby line. Reserve your Lightning Lanes for the sights that’ll prevent essentially the most time.
4. House Mountain – The primary of two consecutive Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary rides, it needs to be unsurprising to see House Mountain crack the highest 5. If thrill rides are necessary to you, a robust case may be made for additionally shifting this above the Ariel’s Grotto meet & greet. As soon as TRON Lightcycle Run opens, House Mountain will doubtless be in even greater demand, as its next-door neighbor will draw crowds to this facet of the park.
5. Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad – One other Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary entry, so this one most likely doesn’t want a lot clarification. If something, you may marvel why Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad ranks this low. It’s all a matter of common wait instances–which have been reasonable–and Genie+ availability–which has been ample. Each 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 Corridor – Each of the following two princess meet & greets at Princess Fairytale Corridor in Fantasyland rank greater for Halloween and Christmas as a result of staffing shortages. We received’t go too deep into how the sausage is made, so to talk, however extra characters in the course of the onerous 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 Corridor – 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 other than each other by way of precedence.
8. Enchanted Tales with Belle – The latest attraction to reopen at Walt Disney World, we’ve to date seen restricted Lightning Lane availability for Enchanted Tales with Belle. If this checklist have been ranked solely on the premise of how shortly reservations refill, Enchanted Tales with Belle can be a lot greater. What prevents that’s the common posted wait time right here, which is in the midst of the pack for all Magic Kingdom sights. We’ll be watching this intently to see whether or not it ought to transfer up, however for now, it isn’t a excessive precedence.
9. Meet Mickey & Minnie at City Sq. Theater – Late final yr, this climbed to #1 on our rankings. That was as a result of occasion season, which pulled meet & greet “assets” away from the Mickey Mouse meet & greet. With occasion season over, this Lightning Lane rating has plummeted. In case you see it extremely really helpful elsewhere, that’s as a result of it was a high choose from final August via December. As of March 2023, Magic Kingdom’s Mickey & Minnie Mouse meet & greet is just reasonable precedence.
10. Pageant of Fantasy Parade – Whereas all of those are clearly elective, that is much more scenario dependent, for lack of a greater time period. You possibly can simply watch Pageant of Fantasy Parade with no Cinderella Citadel-facing view. This doesn’t essentially save any time, it presents a reserved viewing space that’s arguably higher than alternate options.
Furthermore, if you happen to make the entire above choices, there’s a great likelihood Pageant of Fantasy Parade can be gone. Mainly, this feature is for households with babies who received’t be capable of do the Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary, and maybe received’t wish to do another sights. (Personally, we by no means ebook the reserved parade viewing–it’s not price it to us.)
11. 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 common throughout Halloween season.) We’ve moved it down a few spots since Haunted Mansion tends to have higher Genie+ availability, nevertheless it needs to be a excessive precedence.
12. Pirates of the Caribbean – Comparable story to Haunted Mansion with Pirates of the Caribbean. Standby waits have been lengthy, so that you’re doubtlessly 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 in the course of the busier seasons.
13. Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin – Strains can fluctuate dramatically for Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin, with waits some days exceeding 60 minutes and it being a close to walk-on different days. In case you’re visiting when it’s busier, scoring a Lightning Lane reservation right here can be necessary–particularly for the reason that overflow queue is outdoor and presents minimal shade. Most days to date, Genie+ has had instantaneous return instances. We’ll revisit and re-rank House Ranger Spin if that adjustments.
14. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – The argument could possibly be made that Winnie the Pooh’s Fantasyland darkish trip 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 communicate from expertise). Nonetheless, Genie+ availability has been ample, and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is extra skippable as a result of its high quality (or lack thereof) than the sights above it.
15. “it’s a small world” – This well-known–or notorious, relying upon your perspective–Fantasyland boat trip 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 doubtlessly sturdy Genie+ trip reservation. (Different days, it’ll prevent no time in any respect.)
16. Beneath the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – It’s a really comparable story right here. If the standby line for the Little Mermaid darkish trip spills out into the walkway, this is usually a 45 to 60 minute wait. More often than not, this ‘people-eater’ attraction may have fairly brief waits, although. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to seize a nearly-immediate return time through Genie+, and the potential financial savings make it a really helpful choose for late afternoon.
17. Dumbo the Flying Elephant – One other 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 if you happen to get unfortunate. However, we’d advocate utilizing Genie+ for it on busier days, as there’s stable time-savings potential.
The Remainder of Genie+ at Magic Kingdom
Barnstormer – This kiddie coaster can have lengthy waits on the busiest days of the yr, however thus far, we’ve discovered Genie+ to supply nearly no benefit right here. Get it if you happen to can, however don’t sweat standby.
Mad Tea Occasion – The enduring spinning teacup is enjoyable, however averages wait instances below quarter-hour. Once more, use Genie+ if you happen to can (as a result of why not), nevertheless 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 advocate doing it in any respect–we’d wait in an extended standby line for Astro Orbiter if actually needing our spinner repair.
Monsters Inc. Snort Ground – Utilizing 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 choose’ for the Lightning Lane.
Tomorrowland Speedway – Until 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 potential right here. That additionally makes it a great sleeper choose to be used of Genie+ and the Lightning Lane. Proper now, that’s not needed, however on a busier day, this might sneak into the highest 10.
In the end, it is best to be capable of knock out all 22 sights 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 is perhaps the highest 5. So plan accordingly primarily based on the crowds while you’ll be visiting, and in addition give your self as many different benefits as potential–like Early Entry, rope drop, or Prolonged Night Hours.
No matter while 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. That is what makes shopping for it our suggestion for most individuals and on most days of the yr. Even when it requires a little bit of a splurge, lower the associated fee out of your Walt Disney World trip funds someplace else.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys 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 Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
How would you rank your trip priorities utilizing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom? Shocked 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 might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!