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Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland

by Leap on January 16, 2025
36 Los Angeles

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Did you know you could use the Disneyland app to get the shortest lines for rides at Disneyland? Today, we are talking about four tools to get the shortest wait times: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, Lightning Lane Premier Pass (which combines the first two but without scheduling) and the free Genie planning tool in the Disneyland app. The Lightning Lanes at Disneyland have a fee, but the Genie planning tool is free. The names have recently changed, but the services operate the same as before at Disneyland. Lightning Lane Multi Pass replaced Disney Genie+. Lightning Lane Single Pass replaced individual Lightning Lanes. Genie remains the same. Lightning Lanes (and how to book them) differ greatly at Disneyland versus Walt Disney World Resort. We're breaking down all the deets of these three services for the Happiest Place on Earth. (Psst ... you can save some green on Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi Pass tickets through Undercover Tourist!)

Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland

Tools to Manage Attraction Queues with Lightning Lanes at Disneyland

Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland- Screenshot of where to purchase in app

We are going over four tools in the Disneyland app that help you find the shortest wait for rides at Disneyland. Three are Lightning Lane options.

  • An optional paid Lightning Lane Multi Pass service to make ride reservations to skip the lines for many popular attractions at the theme parks.
  • Lightning Lane Single Pass service for select high-demand rides at an additional cost to skip the line for that single ride.
  • Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which is a premium product with a high cost and no need to schedule Lightning Lane reservations
  • The free Disney Genie service (the planning tool within the Disneyland app that tells you when lines are shortest)

You can use all of them, some of them or none of them. But these represent some of the tools you might use to maximize your time at Disneyland when it comes to ride lines.

We hear all the time from people who heard that guests now have to pay for Disneyland rides on top of park admission, and that is not true. Every ride and attraction at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure is still included in the cost of admission.

You do not have to pay extra to ride any attraction. But if you want to pay to skip the standby line and use the Lightning Lane, then you now have options to pay to access attractions faster. You know that saying, "Time is money?" Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass service is the epitome of that. When you use Lightning Lane Multi Pass, it's like operating with lower crowds because you can skip the lines for popular attractions.

The majority of rides do not have Lightning Lanes at Disneyland. Keep that in mind if your family isn't ready for thrill rides or has members subject to height requirements. You'll find many experiences that don't have Lightning Lanes and aren't included in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass (especially in Fantasyland). In that case, the free Genie service in the Disneyland app can help you find the shortest wait times.

Because many rides have only a standby line, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass may not be worth the added cost for you, especially if you only have small children. Check the Tip Board in the app to see the full list of rides, and the different kinds of lines they offer, to help you make your decision about purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass. When you customize the free Disney Genie tool, you can tell Genie to show you height requirements as well. We also have a hopful guide to Disneyland height requirements.

Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass Service

Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland - Art

For a daily cost, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass service allows guests to select attractions and bypass the standby line, utilizing the Lightning Lane entrances. If you ever used FASTPASS or MaxPass, Lightning Lanes are the new name for FASTPASS return lines. Selections are made one at a time for that day. You can make your first selection after entering the park that day.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes all of the PhotoPass downloads from the day. However, the pricing depends on how you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You can purchase tickets preloaded with Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland (starting at $32 per person, and sometimes even less though Undercover Tourist!) or upgrade in the app on the day of your visit after you have entered a park (pricing varies by date starting at $32) usually for a few dollars more. Once you pay the fee and have entered a park, you can make selections for Lightning Lane Multi Pass rides.

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ Services at Disneyland - Family selects Genie on phone

You can make a Lightning Lane selection only one at a time. Make your next selection once your current Lightning Lane arrival window has ended or you have redeemed it or two hours have passed since you booked, whichever comes first. (You can ride the same ride again if you cancel it or if your ride breaks down and you receive a Multiple Experiences pass).

Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi Pass at a Glance

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ Services at Disneyland - Soarin' lightning lane

  • Pricing starts at $32 per person, per day. You can purchase a ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a flat rate of $32 per day or purchase it in the app after entering a theme park that day (price varies by date).
  • Grants faster access to about 21 attractions (if park hopping) using the Lightning Lane entrance.
  • Guests can make one reservation at a time throughout the day, once they have entered the theme park for the day.
  • Once the initial selection is redeemed or the arrival window has ended (or it's been 2 hours since the last selection was made), guests can make another selection up to park closing.
  • Guests can redeem a Lightning Lane at Disneyland by scanning a phone, park ticket or a MagicBand+.
  • Guests who make a selection that is more than two hours away from the time the selection was made can make another selection two hours after making the selection.
  • Unlimited PhotoPass is included.
  • All guests may book return times for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass services when they enter the park for the day.
  • Selections can be made across theme parks for park hoppers (but only after a ride's distribution window reaches at least 11 a.m. when hopping).
  • You can modify (recommended) or cancel reservations.
  • Standby (and Single Rider) lines remain free.
  • Multi Pass includes classics such as "it's a small world" and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad but also newer rides such as Tiana's Bayou Adventure and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.
  • Audio experiences tailored to specific locations throughout the lands.
  • Disney PhotoPass lenses are now in the Disneyland app. Some of these augmented reality lenses are unique to Disneyland.

Disneyland Park Lightning Lane Multi Pass Attractions: 

  • Autopia
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Haunted Mansion and Haunted Mansion Holiday
  • Indiana Jones Adventure (make this Lightning Lane a priority)
  • “it's a small world” and its holiday version
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Pirates of the Caribbean (temporarily added to Lightning Lane Multi Pass)
  • Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
  • Space Mountain and Hyperspace Mountain overlay (make this Lightning Lane a priority)
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure

How to Use Disney Genie at Disneyland - Grizzly River Run Lightning Lane Sign

Disney California Adventure Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass Attractions: 

  • Goofy's Sky School
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! (make this Lightning Lane a priority)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark (during Halloween Time, you can book both versions on the same day when available)
  • Incredicoaster
  • The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
  • Soarin' Around the World
  • Toy Story Midway Mania (make this Lightning Lane a priority)
  • WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

How to Use Disney Genie at Disneyland - People Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

How Do I Get Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass Service?

There are two ways to get Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

  • Before Your Visit — You can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass as an add-on to a ticket at Disneyland. If you want to purchase in advance, buy a ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Save some green through Undercover Tourist! We sell multi-day Disneyland tickets with Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort! That's the best way to lock in the very best price. Ribbit!
  • Same Day of Your Visit — Existing ticket holders and Magic Key holders may purchase through the Disneyland app after entering a theme park. This is the route to take if you only want to use Lightning Lane Multi Pass for certain days but not your entire trip. It's also the way to go as a last-minute decision. You can purchase on the homepage, at the top of the Tip Board, on the home screen or on the Lightning Lane Passes page. Now that Lightning Lane Multi Pass is offered at a variable price same-day, the only way to lock in that discount is to purchase in advance.

There is no Magic Key add-on for the year — however, Magic Key holders do get a discount for themselves. If a Magic Key holder is purchasing for a mix of Magic Key holders and regular ticket holders, the discount only applies to the Magic Key holders.

How to Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland

How to Use Disney Genie at Disneyland - Man uses Disney Genie at Disneyland

You need a smartphone to buy and book Lightning Lanes at Disneyland. You'll want to update to the latest version of the Disneyland app before your visit. The top of the home page shows your plans. Tapping the "My Day" link takes you to all your plans.

Remember, Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections can only be made once you've entered the park that day.

Lightning Lane windows are offered as the next available times only. Each experience can only be used with Lightning Lane Multi Pass once per day. Once you ride an attraction with Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you won't be able to book another Lightning Lane selection for that ride. (Standby is always an option if you want to go again!) There is an exception if your ride breaks down. Your Lightning Lane selection will turn into a Multiple Experiences pass to be used on a variety of rides (including the ride that just broke down). The waiting period to book a new ride is immediately lifted. You can choose a new ride or the one that broke down.

Another exception is Guardians of the Galaxy during Halloween Time. You can book a Lightning Lane for the morning regular version as well as for the afternoon/evening Halloween version, Monsters After Dark, on the same day! Lightning Lane reservations for Monsters After Dark open late morning to early afternoon for after 3 p.m. The Monsters After Dark version starts at 3 p.m.

If you arrive at the park before other members of your party, you'll want to save rides you want to ride together with Lightning Lane Multi Pass once they arrive.

Making selections

In the app, once you've chosen your attraction, you will select your party, which will automatically select anyone with a valid ticket and park pass reservation. You can edit your party members at this time if need be. (If you do not see all party names listed, tap the "edit" button to pull up the full list of names and select the ones who want to ride.) Then, you can choose which attraction you would like to use for your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass experience. The arrival windows will be for a one-hour period, so you can arrive at the Lightning Lane entrance during that time. Some party members can split off to make their own plans.

How to Use Disney Genie at Disneyland - Readers at Disneyland

Once your arrival window has started and you scan your Lightning Lane barcode (or park ticket or MagicBand+) into the reader at the attraction's Lightning Lane entrance and the light turns green, you are free to book your next Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection. At the top of the Tip Board, it should tell you when you are eligible to book your next ride.

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ Services at Disneyland - MagicBand redeem

MagicBands are not necessary, but they are more convenient. You just tap the band to the circle. If you use your phone or ticket to redeem, you will slide the phone or ticket with the barcode into the slot.

Using Genie+ at Disneyland - Scanning Phone at it's a small world

Cancel or modify if you cannot make your window

Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland -Screenshot to show cancel and modify

Keep in mind that if you cannot make your Lightning Lane one-hour window, you can cancel or modify it. You can modify for a later available time for the same ride or a different ride in the same park. You can modify your party at that time if you need to add or drop someone. Use cancel just for an individual if the entire party does not wish to cancel. If you let it expire, you don't lose that ride. You can tap "Cancel" and rebook it. But that only works if you are not already in a two-hour waiting period from recently booking another ride and if that ride has available times. Good news! If you modify a plan, you do not change your eligibility window. This is super helpful and helps you manage your day without losing time.

There is a little wiggle room if you arrive five minutes early or 10-15 minutes late. If you're worried that you'll miss the window, we recommend trying to modify it to a different time. If you do miss the window, you can either ask nicely at the Lightning Lane if they can still accommodate you, or tap "Cancel" in the app to rebook the ride.

When you're in a long line to scan in at the Lightning Lane entrance (it happens) and your window is closing in on you, take screenshots of your selections. The cast members know if the line is long and may work with you. That being said, don't push it. Try to arrive with enough time to scan in.

With MagicBand+, guests can leave the phone put away and redeem Lightning Lanes with a tap of the MagicBand+. But a phone is still necessary for booking the next Lightning Lanes. We do recommend booking the next ride as soon as you redeem the first one.

Select rides in the second park when park hopping

You can book rides in the other park before you hop, but you now have to wait for a ride's Lightning Lane distribution to be after 11 a.m. before you can select it.

If you start your day at Disney California Adventure and Indiana Jones Adventure is a must-ride attraction for you, keep an eye on that ride in the Tip Board. Once that ride says 11 a.m. or later, you can tap "Book Experience" to reserve it. You do not have to wait until it's 11 a.m. or until you hop to reserve rides in the second park. They just have to be distributing times that are 11 a.m. or later. We say to look an hour or two before you hop for a ride in the other park.

Take advantage of free PhotoPass downloads

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ Services at Disneyland-Augmented reality lenses with Groot

Disneyland guests can take advantage of included PhotoPass downloads from any day that Lightning Lane Multi Pass is valid on the ticket. Our PhotoPass post has all the deets on how to use it. Here are the basics.

You can show your PhotoPass code to any PhotoPass photographer (or quickly tap your MagicBand+) and the photos will automatically appear in your Disneyland app. Be sure to ask for Magic Shots! Certain rides have on-ride photos. You can enter the code on the photo into the app. There is a slight delay before images appear.

Some people get Lightning Lane Multi Pass just for the photos. If you don't care about the Lightning Lane benefits of Lightning Lane Multi Pass, then you can just have one member of the party get Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the PhotoPass downloads and share the images with everyone else. You'll have 45 days to download the images onto your phone and computer.

Play with PhotoPass Lenses

Here is a fun way to pass the time in line. Play with the PhotoPass lenses. Add Baby Groot, Olaf, Grogu and other characters to your selfies.

Immerse yourself in the magic by adding Disney elements to your images. You can tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom of the app and then scroll down to "Disney Photo Pass" and tap "Disney PhotoPass Lenses." (It's also under "My Day." It can move locations.) You have to have purchased Disney+ for this feature to work in the park.

Lightning Lane Single Pass

A couple of high-demand rides are excluded from Lightning Lane Multi Pass. One is at Disneyland and the other is at Disney California Adventure. For these, you can make a la carte reservations for a fee for each line that you skip. What we want to make clear is that you can still access these rides without paying anything extra. You can use the standby line or the Single Rider line, depending on what each ride offers.

How to Use Disney Genie at Disneyland - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane Services at Disneyland - in app single pass experience pricing and time available

Waits can be long for these popular rides. If you want to free your time in the park to enjoy other things, you can buy Single Pass for expedited access. Is the line for Radiator Springs Racers prohibitively long? Are your kids too young for Single Rider? You can pay a one-time fee to skip the line for the most popular rides. Pricing for this option varies by date, attraction and park. As of now, prices for Single Pass selections will range between $17 to $35. Rise of the Resistance is usually $20 to $35 per person for Lightning Lane Single Pass. Radiator Springs Racers runs a little lower in price, but we have seen it at $17 to $25.

Again, this cost is optional. If you have one day to spend at Disney California Adventure Park and the wait for your family's must-do ride is 90 to 120 minutes, you can assess what two hours of your time is worth. Getting those hours back means doing more in the park, such as getting on three more rides or enjoying a nice table-service meal at Carthay Circle. Or maybe the wait is under an hour when you visit, so it's not worth it to pay to skip. If you're a frequent visitor, paying extra may not be in the budget since you can come back another time.

Our family members who are over age 7 always opt for the Single Rider line for Radiator Springs Racers. We know we will split up on the ride, and sometimes we get lucky and get to race each other on Radiator Springs Racers! But if you all want to ride together (or your tadpoles are too young to split up), then you can either stand in line for no cost or skip the line for a fee. It might be worth checking out the Single Rider line before you purchase. The Single Rider line is usually shortest in the morning. The standby line dips right around the 11 a.m. hop time.

If you're a huge "Star Wars" fan but the Force isn't with you when you encounter long waits for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, then buying Lightning Lane Single Pass selection for this ride certainly buys you more time in the theme park. We created a post about how to get on Rise of the Resistance with the shortest wait (including options that won't cost you), so definitely check that out! You're not paying to ride, but you might want to opt to get on the rides faster, and that's where the paid options come in.

You can pay to use Lightning Lane Single Pass service for up to two of these attractions once per day. Purchase them one at a time. (You can purchase even if you're hopping to another park. The start of the distribution window must be after 11 a.m. for that ride). You can purchase one right after the other if you like. You do not have to use the first one before buying a second.

Lightning Lane Single Pass "a la Carte" options are available to all guests with or without Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You can purchase in the Disneyland app on the same day as your visit. Once again, standby lines remain as options for Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions.

Lightning Lane Single Pass selections can sell out quickly for popular attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance on busy days. How early can you book? All guests must have entered a theme park entrance to begin booking. They are released in order of first availability, which differs from Walt Disney World (where you can choose your window to ride for Lightning Lane Single Pass). But the distribution windows don't always flow in numerical order. We don't know why. But keep checking as availability can change.

You can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass selections within the Tip Board. It's fine to overlap your Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass attraction selections without any issue! When you book, a notice will alert you if you have overlapping plans during that time, but it won't stop you from reserving. Give yourself enough time to make all your reservations, allowing for breakdowns, delays and time to travel between attractions. There is only a 15-minute grace period if you're running late.

Park Hopping and Lightning Lane Single Pass

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane Services at Disneyland - in app Rise of the Resistance LLSP price and availability

In the morning, you can purchase your Lightning Lane for the second park you visit:

  • Once you have entered your first park of the day.
  • The distribution time reaches 11 a.m.

Watch the Tip Board in the app to keep an eye on distribution times. If it is only distributing for, say, 10 a.m., when you tap "Purchase," it will not let you book yet. You have to wait until the first available time for the ride reaches at least 11 a.m., which is the time you can hop. Keep in mind that the distribution times can jump around a bit so keep checking back frequently. The times are not always sequential. The morning we visited Disney California Adventure, by about 9 a.m. we were able to reserve an 11:25 to 12:25 Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance. However, an hour later at 10 a.m. it was distributing for about 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. and we would not have been able to reserve at that time. So just keep checking if it's important to you.

Lightning Lane Single Pass selections at Disneyland

  • Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure — The standby line and Single Rider line remain free.
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland — This ride has a free standby line (which can get long). But now you have another way to join the Rebellion faster (for a fee). This is the ride most likely to sell out of Lightning Lane on busy days.

The individual pay-per-ride options are subject to change. You should note that this a la carte option and Lightning Lane Multi Pass service offer different attractions. You can use both services together or separately (or not at all). These cannot be modified if your plans change.

If the Lightning Lane Single Pass ride breaks down in your window, you can come back later in the day before the ride closes. If you cannot make it on the ride due to a breakdown, you will be refunded automatically. It may take a few business days.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass

If you want to access all the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass attractions (plus PhotoPass photos and lenses), but don't want to use your phone to schedule rides, there is a new option as of Oct. 23, 2024, at Disneyland. The Lightning Lane Premier Pass can be used for one-time access to each Lightning Lane at both parks in a day (as long as you have Park Hopper tickets). You can access the Lightning Lane at any time. If you have a 1-Park ticket, then the Lightning Lane Premier Pass can only be used in one park. (Pricing does not vary based on the number of theme parks you visit in a day, so it cannot be discounted or refunded.)

But there is a higher cost associated with this service. Pricing varies by date and demand within a $300 to $400 range, per person, per day. Guests will be able to view pricing in the Disneyland app before purchasing and can purchase up to two days in advance as of 7 a.m. PT. Any guest can purchase this service at Disneyland.

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane Services at Disneyland - Lightning Lane image on phone in app

You can purchase it on the Lightning Lane Passes page.

Lightning Lane Tips and Tricks

Here are a few facts, tips and tricks for Lightning Lane at Disneyland:

  • For Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass services, you can only choose the next available timeframe for a show or attraction one at a time.
  • When booking Lightning Lane Single Pass selections, keep in mind that the person making the reservation is the person paying. Everyone in the party will be automatically linked. If your party consists of individuals or groups who would need to pay separately, edit the party. The only caveat is that you could potentially end up in different time windows for your ride reservations. (Especially if it's a busy day and times are getting booked quickly.) If you want to ensure that everybody rides at the same time, then book together and have individuals send money via Venmo (or some other money-sharing app) to the purchaser.
  • Purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass on the home screen, under the "Tip Board" or on the "Lightning Lane Passes" page.
  • If a ride breaks down in your Lightning Lane Multi Pass window, you may receive a Multiple Experiences pass, which allows you to use the pass for select rides in the park. (If you tap it anywhere but the Redeem button, it will give an option to show you what's include or excluded.) You have until the end of the day or ride closure to use it. You can immediately make another Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection (including for the ride that you had booked when it broke down). Ka-chow!
  • You can only make one Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection at a time, but you can have overlapping Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections. How? There is a two-hour window before you can make another selection. Because you can only choose the next available time window, the window can start as soon as five minutes later or hours away, depending on the ride and crowds. At noon, for instance, you might find that the next time window is at 7 p.m. To avoid being tethered to only one ride for seven hours, your ability to make Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections is "frozen" for two hours. So, at 2 p.m., you could make another Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection, despite not going on the 7 p.m. ride yet. At 4 p.m., you could make an additional selection, and so on.
  • Set an alarm so you know when you can book the next ride. If you froget when you booked, you can attempt to book another Lightning Lane. A message will pop up to tell you when you are eligible to book another.
  • Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections can overlap with Single Pass attraction selections. Just make sure you don't miss your arrival windows.
  • You can ride Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions more than once by using the standby or Single Rider line. (Or a Multiple Experiences pass.)
  • Park hopping? You can let the Disney Genie service know what time you plan on being at the next park. It will add suggestions throughout your day. You can book Lightning Lanes for the second park once the distribution time under the Tip Board reaches 11 a.m. for a particular ride.
  • You can use Rider Switch with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass services. Read more about it in our Lightning Lane Multi Pass with a group post.
  • You can use DAS and Lightning Lane Multi Pass service, and have overlapping windows.
  • When using the Tip Board, select "Change Park" at the top to toggle back and forth between theme parks.
  • Pace yourself with the Lightning Lane selections, especially at Disney California Adventure. You'll want to access some of the rides that don't offer Lightning Lane in the morning. That's when wait times are lowest. (For rides such as Pixar Pal-A-Round, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters.)
  • Modify rather than cancel your Lightning Lane Multi Pass plans so you do not restart the clock on your eligibility window. You can only modify for a ride in the same park.
  • You can use a toggle switch to show only rides with Lightning Lane Multi Pass in the Tip Board.

Our Guide to the Free Disney Genie Service at Disneyland

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane Services at Disneyland - Guests using LLMP in app

We love to skip the lines, but we also love to save money. So we usually weigh the benefits of saving time versus spending more money in the parks depending on our party each visit. If we will be focusing on shows, parades and rides without a height requirement, we might skip paying for Lightning Lanes at Disneyland that day.

We find ourselves taking it day by day and strategizing our Lightning Lane Multi Pass purchases based on our plans for the day. During a recent visit, we experienced Early Entry as a part of our Disneyland Hotel stay, and did not get Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Instead, we focused on the other rides without Lightning Lane Multi Pass and rode the rides included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass during Early Entry or shortly after park opening. We focused on other experiences, such as dining, shows, parades, nighttime spectaculars and meeting characters. When we have a thrill-filled visit planned as a Frog Family, however, we make sure to get Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

What Exactly Is Disney Genie Service?

Disney Genie service is a FREE tool in the Disneyland app. It's kind of like an app within the app. You can use this new technology to guide you through the theme parks with tips to help you reduce time in lines, discover Disney magic and take the guesswork out of planning your day. Disney Genie service can alert you to short attraction lines or tell you when it's a good time to mobile order. But it only does this if you set it up to do it.

It's most helpful for people who are new to Disneyland and really don't know all the tricks and tips to finding the shortest waits. We find that more advanced users don't need to choose to use it. But it's there if you want suggestions on how to navigate the park and reminders of shows throughout the day. The Disney Genie service includes a personalized itinerary and recommendations feature that will map out your entire day.

Disney Genie – Personalized Interests on the App

To launch Genie, look for the Start here to plan your day! section on the My Day page of the Disneyland app. Tap Get Started Now. Then let Disney Genie know what you want to do. Select must-do attractions, entertainment, dining and enchanting extras (such as building a lightsaber). You can personalize your day even more by selecting general interests you may have, such as thrill rides or entertainment. Change your mind? Disney Genie can handle that and readjust your itinerary to include what interests you while you are on the go. You can view your favorites and suggestions in one place on the "Tip Board" tab. You can also request to see height requirements and accessibility when planning out your day. If you do not set up Genie, you'll just see an alphabetical list of rides and wait times on the Tip Board. And that's OK too!

There is a new place to locate My Day and the Tip Board in one spot in the Disneyland app. Tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom of the app, then scroll down to under My Visit. You can tap "Wait Times & Showtimes" or "Today's Plans" to get there. There is also a link on the app's homepage to "My Day." It takes you to My Day and the Tip Board.

Disney Genie service allows for flexibility. If you like to be spontaneous and go with the flow, Disney Genie will update your itinerary as you go. It displays current and projected ride wait times and helps you pick the best time to ride (kind of like what your favorite frogs have been doing for years to help readers maximize time and follow proven park plans based on our extensive experience in the parks).

If you don't like a suggestion, you can do a Swaperoo to swap recommendations. Remove specific attractions from your planning so they won't show up for the rest of the day. You "ain't never had a friend" like Disney Genie!

You can start planning your trip ahead of time with Disney Genie service, but you'll need to purchase tickets or Magic Key passes and link them to the Disneyland app first. Once you make your theme park reservations, you can start selecting your interests for each day of your visit. We recommend playing around with it at home before your visit so you can get comfortable with it and don't have to spend precious park time figuring it out.

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ Services at Disneyland - park hoppingTo get started with the free Disney Genie service (you can do this part at home in advance of your visit):

  • Tap "My Day" on the home screen or from the "LL Rides, Shows & Lightning Lane Entry" box.
  • Tap "Get Started Now."
  • Select the date for which you would like to plan. The calendar shows all of your park reservation days.
  • Select your party (if there are people linked to you that you don't want to plan for, deselect them).
  • Follow the process to choose your must-do attractions, entertainment and restaurants.
  • Select your top 10 Disney favorites, park interests and types of dining interests.
  • Select if you want height requirements and accessibility (super helpful if you use a wheelchair or have other needs) to be displayed.

Doing this is not mandatory, but inputting your plans and interests makes it so that Disney Genie tailors its suggestions to fit in the attractions, shows and restaurants that most interest you that day. It won't offer suggestions unless you input plans and interests.

Keep an eye on your Tip Board. It tends to default to Disneyland Park. At the top of the Tip Board, you can tap "Change Park" to access Disney California Adventure.

One of the biggest improvements to Disney Genie service joining the Disneyland app is having the showtimes of the performances you want to see on the Tip Board. For example, Disney Genie once brought an early showing of the parade to our attention. Since we always seem to miss the Dapper Dans, we selected them as under Entertainment and each performance was highlighted as it approached. At Disney California Adventure, it can let you know when Spider-Man is getting ready to jump over the buildings. With so much going on, these alerts can help you catch all the entertainment that is important to you.

Using Lightning Lanes at Disneyland with Disabilities

Our Complete Guide to Disney Genie and Lightning Lane Services at Disneyland - Cars Race in Radiator Springs Racers

Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland -Screenshot showing LLMP, Location Return and DAS overlapping

If you have someone in your party with select cognitive disabilities that make it difficult to wait in a standard queue, you know that the Disability Access Service (DAS) can be a trip-saver. You can use DAS with Lightning Lanes at Disneyland. Also, people with mobility-related disabilities can also benefit from using Lightning Lanes. You can collect Location Return Times on top of using Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Lightning Lane Single Pass selections, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers are included in DAS for no added cost. The people who use DAS can also use Disney Genie, Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass services. Using a combination can help streamline the day. The DAS return times or Location Return Times can overlap with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass services.

We're sure you have loads of questions about the Lightning Lanes at Disneyland. Ask away in the comments below, and keep hopping back to this post for updates as we discover more about Lightning Lanes at Disneyland.

Related: Your Frequently Asked Questions About Disneyland Lightning Lane Services

Related: Our Top Tips and Strategies for Using Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland

Keep hopping!

Keep hopping, Leap!
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Comments

Jan 17, 2025 at 4:23 p.m.
Jan Aguilera Says...

I am looking to get the Genie+ for 3 people for 4 days and hope to find a discount. How do I go about buying these tickets on undercovertourist.com Thank you. We will be arriving at the Pixar Place Hotel on January 25th, begin going to the parks on the 26th and checking out on the 31st.

Reply
Jan 17, 2025 at 10:44 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jan!

We have both Base (1 park per day) and Park Hopper (both parks per day) ticket options that include Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which is the new name for Genie+, at Disneyland. (Just click on those links to take you directly to those tickets!)

Keep hopping!

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Jun 23, 2023 at 3:40 a.m.
Craig Says...

If you take a break back at your hotel mid-day, can you continue to schedule rides with Genie+ for your evening back in the park? Thanks!

Reply
Jun 23, 2023 at 9:34 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Craig!

Yes, you can! While you must enter the park to activate Genie+, you can leave and continue to make reservations for later in the day.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Oct 11, 2022 at 9:10 p.m.
Anna Says...

Hi we are planning out trip to Disneyland next year with our 3 kids (4 and under) is genie+ worth it? We are going with other family that have kids. When we went last year before genie+came out, we utilized rider switch for big rides. Can we still do this without genie+?

Reply
Oct 12, 2022 at 8:49 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Anna!

Yes, you can still utilize Rider Switch without Genie+! And depending on their ages, if they're under 3 and wouldn't need regular admission, then they wouldn't need Genie+ either and can accompany the party in the Lightning Lane.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Sep 12, 2022 at 5:45 a.m.
Gaby Says...

Hi! Is there any chance to chance my plans about park hopper? I’ll be there only for two days and I’ve chosen first Disneyland and then (after 1 pm) Disney adventure park. Or what park do you suggest to visit al first? Thanks

Reply
Sep 13, 2022 at 8:44 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Gaby!

Sounds like a good plan to us! If you have two days, you could switch it up and go to DCA first and then hop to Disneyland on the second day. However, if you're visiting in the near future, you'll want to keep in mind any Oogie Boogie dates, as DCA closes at 6 p.m. on party nights. So if you happen to be going on an Oogie Boogie date, you may want to start in DCA first, then hop over to Disneyland.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Aug 4, 2022 at 1:44 a.m.
Danny Says...

Can we just have one member in a big family with Genie+ and still use it to get everyone on the rides?

Reply
Aug 4, 2022 at 8:21 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Danny!

Each person would need Genie+ in order to use the Lightning Lane. (On a side note, if you just want to use Genie+ for PhotoPass, then only one person needs it.)

Keep hopping!

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Jul 27, 2022 at 9:14 p.m.
Shauna Says...

Hello!

At Disneyland, what time can the first Lightening Lane be reserved with Genie Plus?

At Disneyworld it is 7AM and then 3 hours later for the next choice, then every 2 hours throughout the day (unless you use or cancel them).

Is it the same for Disneyland?

Thx!

Reply
Jul 28, 2022 at 4:24 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Shauna!

At Disneyland, you can make your first Genie+ reservation once you've entered the park! Then afterward, it's similar to Disney World — can book another reservation after two hours or when you scan in at your most recently booked reservation. Also just wanted to clarify that at Disney World, you can make your first one at 7 a.m. but then you can make your second reservation two hours after the park opens (if Animal Kingdom opens at 8 a.m., then that time would be 10 a.m. but if Magic Kingdom opens at 9 a.m. then that time would be 11 a.m.).

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jul 18, 2022 at 12:47 p.m.
Scott Sams Says...

Does everyone in the party that has a Genie+ ride reservation need to tap in with their phone or park pass separately (even with the same ride time res.) or can one person tap in for the entire party? Also, where can you get a pass if you do not want to use your phone each time?

Reply
Jul 18, 2022 at 3:48 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Scott!

One person can tap the party in. It’s easier for one person to tap in if all the reservations were made at once by one person. Otherwise, you’d have to open each reservation separately (if you made them all individually). There is not a pass, but you can scan your physical park ticket instead of the code in the app if you don't want to use your phone.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jun 1, 2022 at 9:33 p.m.
Suzan Says...

I want to buy tickets for 4 adults, 2 children 5 & 8 with Genie + before it closes on June 8th, however we are only going to Disneyworld on Dec. 11th. Would these tickets be refundable if something happened?

Reply
Jun 6, 2022 at 3:51 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Suzan!

Unless otherwise noted, our Disney World tickets with the Genie+ add-on are covered by our 365-Day refund policy. (Note: The policy is void if modified by Disney Guest Services or through My Disney Experience.)

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jun 1, 2022 at 4:12 p.m.
Carolin Says...

We are coming to LA in August and unfortunately only have 1 day for Disney in our itinerary. I am about to purchase the one day park hopper with Genie + but they want me to specify which park we’d want to start in. Kids are 8 and 13 so I’m thinking the Star Wars rides will be top of our list.. Is it best to get those done early? And then head to other park after 1pm? Thanks for this super helpful website! Carolin

Reply
Jun 1, 2022 at 2:08 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Carolin!

With Genie+, you can easily get Genie+ reservations for Star Tours and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run no matter where you start. If you want to purchase individual Lightning Lane (ILL) access for Rise of the Resistance, you could also start in either park. Our post on Rise of the Resistance offers our best strategies for riding that attraction. Since you have one day to do it all, getting an ILL selection for Rise will save you the most time. If your kids like thrill rides, you can get a lot done at Disney California Adventure first and then hop to Disneyland as early as 1 p.m. Get a Genie+ reservation for Millennium Falcon, and then book Star Tours after scanning into Millennium Falcon.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jun 6, 2022 at 8:32 a.m.
Carolin Says...

Amazing! Thanks so much for all the tips!

Reply
Jun 6, 2022 at 9 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Of course! We hope you have a frogtastic time! :)

Keep hopping!

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Reply
Apr 24, 2022 at 9:58 a.m.
Tim Says...

I bought my Disneyland tickets ages ago before Genie+ existed, so I believe I can only pay for Genie+ separately each day we go in now. Does it take long? Dont want all the early slots to be gone by the time I even buy it.

And do you physically have to be in the parks to do so? We will be in a hotel over the road and wondering whether it will think I'm already in the park whilst at the hotel?

Reply
Apr 26, 2022 at 8:15 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tim!

You do have to enter the park to purchase Genie+ and making Lightning Lane selections, but don't worry - it only takes a minute and there is not a single ride that will be affected by taking a minute to purchase! Just go to My Genie Day to the purple bar to purchase (trying to find a button to purchase is usually what takes the longest).

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Apr 26, 2022 at 5:39 p.m.
Tim Says...

Thank you :)

Reply
Apr 26, 2022 at 1:47 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

You're welcome, Tim! Have a magical time!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 21, 2022 at 4:41 p.m.
Mackenzie Jackson Says...

My sisters and I are going in may, but most of us bought our tickets separately. We had not yet decided to buy genie+ when we bought our tickets, but have now. Since we bought our tickets separately is there a way to link our group with genie+ when we buy it, or will we just need to buy it for the individuals/groups that bought the tickets?

Reply
Apr 22, 2022 at 1:32 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Mackenzie!

You can purchase Genie+ separately! And as long as everyone's tickets are linked, you should be able to make Genie+ plans with the others in your group.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 15, 2022 at 3:32 p.m.
Debbie Says...

We’re a group of 7 going to Disneyland next month. I already bought Genie + in advance for all of us. However, my group wants to split up (Parents with the youngest child and The teenagers together) due to different interests in the rides. Is there a way my teenagers are able to use Genie + on their own phone without me being there even though I purchased them all together?

Reply
Apr 18, 2022 at 4:55 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Debbie!

Yes, you can easily split up and have individuals make their own Genie+ ride selections that differ from the rest of the group's plans. The people who want to split off from the group can either link their tickets to a separate account on their own phones or just log into the same account as the others are using — it doesn't matter! When you go to book a ride, you can edit the party by adding the people who wish to make that Lightning Lane selection (and removing the others who don't). For example, if Mommy Frog and I want to ride Haunted Mansion, we would only select our two tickets when choosing the party for a Genie+ reservation, allowing Tad and his cousin or friend to select themselves for Space Mountain or Guardians of the Galaxy. You just cannot have one person on two different Lighting Lane reservations. So if we added Tad to our Haunted Mansion one, he would be unable to make a different selection unless he canceled his Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 15, 2022 at 12:10 p.m.
Mike Says...

The tips and recommendations are great, thank you! We are a family of 4 with an upcoming 1 day trip to Disneyland only (no DCA). We've booked Genie+ and we're planning to rope drop. Would you recommend securing as early a Genie+ reservation as possible, or pushing the first reservation a bit later (say, 930) to have the ability to book 2 Genie+ for the rest of the day?

Reply
Feb 15, 2022 at 3:02 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Mike!

We would take advantage of booking a Genie+ reservation right away once you enter the park (particularly for any of the more popular attractions such as Indiana Jones Adventure). Then, we'd hit some of the rides that aren't included with Genie+ such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise. Once we use the pass for Indiana Jones (our top pick), we'd immediately book a new one as soon as you scan in after entering the Lightning Lane.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 10, 2022 at 7:59 p.m.
Rhonda Says...

My family of 4 (2adults, 1 teen, 1 tween) When purchasing the Genie+ for each person will one parent be able to control/navigate reservations for all members of our family on one phone? One of our kids do not have a phone.

Reply
Feb 11, 2022 at 9:22 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Rhonda!

Yes, one person can be in charge of making the Genie+ reservations for everyone in your party.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 28, 2022 at 6:14 p.m.
Megan Says...

Thanks for all the helpful info and recommendations. I'm booking our reservations now and Genie+ is actually $40/ticket.

Reply
Jan 28, 2022 at 1 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Megan!

Thanks so much for hopping by! At Disneyland, Genie+ adds $20 per day on each ticket. So if you hoppen to purchase a 2-day ticket, you're correct! Genie+ would add $40 to each ticket, and so on (depending on the length of your ticket).

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 13, 2022 at 12:03 a.m.
Laura Glover Says...

We're a group of 4 going Feb 25 to Disneyland for just one day, no hopper. Our top priority is "Rise" Would you buy Genie Plus the additional Lightning Lane to be sure or just try and make a walk/run for it? Ok to spend the money if it secures the ride.

Reply
Jan 14, 2022 at 12:24 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Laura!

If it’s in your budget, buying Individual Lightning Lane access is a time-saver and really secures you a short wait. If you buy the Lightning Lane, you can use the morning to hit several other rides with a very short wait and then skip the line for Rise to maximize time. If you want to ride again (which you toadally will) hop in line 15 minutes before the ride closes for the night.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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