Is Disney World Genie+ Worth It?

I often go back and forth on whether paying for cutting-the-line services such as Disney World Genie+ is worth it. Years ago, I thought the then-fast pass was 100% worth it. However, last December, I wrote that my experience with Genie+ at Disney Land was not worth it. 

Because I did not think it was worth it during my time in California, I did not purchase Genie+ in Florida during a recent visit. Here are my thoughts about my time in the park and whether I regret not buying the service. 

The Pros

During my visit, I watched the Lightning Lane times throughout my time in both Epcot and Magic Kingdom. The result was that lightning line reservation times seemed entirely reasonable for me rather than needing to reserve hours in advance. 

During this park visit, the wait times were some of the worst I have experienced. It was not any special occasion, just a weekend in April. Some middle-of-the-pack rides still had waits nearing an hour, with popular attractions lasting much longer. In this case, paying for Genie+ would have saved us a lot of time in line.

The Cons

To start, one of the biggest cons of Genie+ is that it is a paid service. With a cost of $25 while we were in Magic Kingdom, upgrading four tickets would have been $100, which is a steep price to pay on top of already expensive park tickets. Note that pricing is dynamic and can also vary from park to park.

You also only get to use each lightning lane once, which limits you to the maximum value you will receive from your Genie+’s ability to save you from lines. In parks with fewer rides, Genie+ is less helpful, although it is then cheaper. 

The Last Point

During our trip to Florida, I wish we had shelled out the money to pay for Genie+. I think that it would have saved us enough time in lines to be worth the cost as a family. This was especially true in Magic Kingdom but still held true in Epcot, although less so.

It may not be worth it if you are visiting the park without a family or large party. Also, if you are visiting during an off-peak midweek date, you may not need Genie+. I do not think there is a definitive always yes or no, but rather a situation-to-situation basis of whether Disney World Genie+ is worth it.