Walt Disney World Listens to Fans, Announces Planned Changes to Genie+

The Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort have most definitely earned their monikers of “The Most Magical Place on Earth” and “The Happiest Place on Earth,” respectively. Any Disney Theme Park at each Disney Resort is filled with myriad entertainment offerings for Guests of all ages. Guests from all over the world flock to the Disney Parks for their chance at living that quintessential Disney experience. However, not all parts of the Disney Park experience are considered to be magical by Guests. In particular, there is one Disney product that has earned the ire of many a Disney fan: the Disney Genie suite with Genie+ (Genie Plus) and Lightning Lane.

Genie+ & Lightning Lane

The Disney Genie suite has been a source of consternation for many Disney fans. From its inception as a paid alternative to the previously free FastPass system to the various pricing issues many have noted about it, fans are less than impressed with the product. One expert developer even mentioned the app was not up to par in the least and insinuated that the people who coded it should have been fired.

Even on the most fundamental level of understanding how the app works, it took many fans a long time to understand the three-piece puzzle of Disney Genie, Lightning Lane, and Individual Lightning Lane. While many are more used to it now, one of the foremost concerns that fans have expressed time and again is that due to the current process, they often spend more time on their phones while at the Parks than enjoying the Parks themselves.

Disney Announces Changes to Genie Suite

However, journalist Scott Gustin took to Twitter to share that Walt Disney World will be making some changes to the Disney Genie+ product based on what they have “heard from Guests.”

Disney explained in a recent post on Disney Parks Blog that they were working on “simplifying the Disney Genie+ experience.” Per Disney, Guests have shared that they would like the ability to “plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit,” and Disney has announced they are working on ways to make that happen.

NEW: Walt Disney World is bringing back the Disney Dining Plan next year *AND* will no longer require theme park reservations for date-based tickets starting with visits on Jan. 9, 2024. Bookings for 2024 open on May 31.

Lots of announcements – here's a breakdown (thread): pic.twitter.com/YJ9WcKk0Me

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) May 8, 2023

Disney intends for these changes to come into play in 2024. Disney shared their goal is to allow Park-goers “the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family.”

While at the moment, Disney doesn’t have more details to share about these changes, the specifics will be announced at a later date.