Do we need to have Genie+ or Lightening Lane?

[Myothername]

Its been quite a few years since I have been so be patient with me. I've always been the planner on our trips but I am bowing out of that role on this trip (as much as I can, lol).

Our trip is planned for October of 2024.

We will be going in a large group, 18-20 people, 6 of them children ranging from 3-10. Although plans are varying between the different families most are planning 3-4 park days. I'm thinking we will be pretty fluid as to who goes with whom on rides since the varying ages of the children. Also 2 of the adults are disabled and may not be riding much except the kiddie rides. Also, we are staying in a house off sight.

Do we need Genie+? And I'm not sure what Lightening Lane is. Yes I've read some but can't find a good explanation. Do we need either of them? Also, one of our group has Downs. I don't know if they still do special entry for some rides for disabled.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Large groups and Genie can be a pain...
Three to four Park day will be tough to do "everything" with Oct crowds.... especially with 20 people with varied interests (groups move so slow... helps to have a LEADER - at thankless job).

I've done with and without... AK and Epcot I'd mostly say no, unless your park hopping. MK and DHS I'd say it can help reduce waits.

Most the info on Genie+, Lightning Lanes and Individual Lighting Lanes can be found here https://www.disboards.com/threads/e...lightning-lane-please-read-posts-1-7.3856734/

 

[Mle8308]

You might qualify for a DAS (Disability Access Service) pass, it is not immediate access but an alternative to waiting in line. It would not work for your entire party, it is for the person with a disability and up to 5 additional people. You can find out more information on the Disney website.

 

[disney-inspired]

Either the whole groups get Genie+ or no one gets it if you all plan on touring together.
I would think a Disney specialized TA would benefit your group.

Also, I recommend planning some individual family time because moving in a large group is very SLOW. It may be easier for whoever is 'in charge' to set up some dining plans but sit down reservations will be very difficult to get for that large of a group or the restaurant may be too small. So it may be easier to stick to counter service meals since a reservation isn't required.

 

[Myothername]

Thank you all so much. There are really 3 families but the parents of the kitties are all best friends. Not sure how they will attempt the rides since 4 kids are little and 2 bigger. I’ll just be there to ride as much as I can, lol.

The mother of the downs young man knows the ins and outs I think of the pass for him and some family. I’ll leave that up to her.

I’ve suggested we all get together and try to come up with at least a loose game plan. But I’m not gonna fuss or stress about it.

 

[MousetersInc]

Wow, fall 2024 is a long time from now! 22 months. A lot has changed at WDW in the past 22 months, and much might change in the next 22. It will be interesting to see what happens with overall traffic, and even whether Genie+ and ILLs as we know them now still exist then. But October is always a fairly high-traffic time, especially the closer you get to Halloween. Let's just say, I had been going this past October, I would have gotten some combo of Genie+ and ILLs. (Note: you might be able to get a lot done without Genie+ on a "party day," i.e. choosing MK on a day that it closes early for MNSSHP. Even though your day is shorter, so many people avoid it for that reason that crowds are lower. See this account.

With such a large party, note, all these paid options are "per person." With such a range of different needs and heights, it might be easiest to split into some "sub-parties." For instance, you might not buy Genie+ for the shortest kids and the adults who go with them.

Genie+ is a terribly confusing topic, not least because the naming overlaps. Short version:

• "Genie" is just the planning part of the app
• "Genie+" means paying a flat rate to get what we used to think of as FastPasses. You pay one fee and book as many as you want, BUT:
  • You can only book one every 2 hours, and
  • The most popular ride(s) at each park aren't in this list. Instead...
• You can pay additional $$ for "one-time" access to these most popular rides, like Guardians of the Galaxy or Rise of the Resistance. For further confusion, this thing is called "Individual Lightning Lanes," which is confusing because you also see the term "Lightning Lane" used for the other, pay-once-for-everything product offered under Genie+. The handy mnemonic is that it will make you ILL to pay even more for just one ride. Note, you can buy these ILLs without buying the flat-rate Genie+, and vice versa.

There's a lot more to dig into, of course, with details about how to reserve them etc. You can learn a lot on this thread, and there are many helpful videos and blog articles.

You know, with such a large party with such a range of needs, I think I'd use an (authorized) Disney trip planner. You'll still want to get to know the ins and outs of these options, though, because (sadly) the burden's on the visitor to make these ride reservations day-of.

 

[loves to dive]

Short answer is no, if you don't mind standing in lines. If the couples with the kids have a combination of younger and older kids they can do rider swap. You go to one of the people under the blue umbrellas and tell them you want to do rider swap, they ask who is doing it and scan the MBs. Basically one parent and child can go then the other parent can go with or without the child. Two people can go on the 2nd swap. Or they can not bother with rider swap and they can split up and one parent do the older kids rides with them while the other parent goes on the little kids rides with them.

With that large of a group it's going to be a headache to manage and I certainly wouldn't want all those people listed on my friends and family on MDE.

As another poster said, who knows what the system will look like by 2024, it changes almost monthly. Maybe budge for a few people to have it knowing it can and most likely will go up or change in some manner.

I've been twice since it's come into being and not bought it either time. But, I go often, I always have park hoppers which makes it easier to not buy it and if I don't ride something it's not the end of the world since I know I'll be back.

 

[Myothername]

Wow, fall 2024 is a long time from now! 22 months. A lot has changed at WDW in the past 22 months, and much might change in the next 22. It will be interesting to see what happens with overall traffic, and even whether Genie+ and ILLs as we know them now still exist then. But October is always a fairly high-traffic time, especially the closer you get to Halloween. Let's just say, I had been going this past October, I would have gotten some combo of Genie+ and ILLs. (Note: you might be able to get a lot done without Genie+ on a "party day," i.e. choosing MK on a day that it closes early for MNSSHP. Even though your day is shorter, so many people avoid it for that reason that crowds are lower. See this account.

With such a large party, note, all these paid options are "per person." With such a range of different needs and heights, it might be easiest to split into some "sub-parties." For instance, you might not buy Genie+ for the shortest kids and the adults who go with them.

Genie+ is a terribly confusing topic, not least because the naming overlaps. Short version:

• "Genie" is just the planning part of the app
• "Genie+" means paying a flat rate to get what we used to think of as FastPasses. You pay one fee and book as many as you want, BUT:
  • You can only book one every 2 hours, and
  • The most popular ride(s) at each park aren't in this list. Instead...
• You can pay additional $$ for "one-time" access to these most popular rides, like Guardians of the Galaxy or Rise of the Resistance. For further confusion, this thing is called "Individual Lightning Lanes," which is confusing because you also see the term "Lightning Lane" used for the other, pay-once-for-everything product offered under Genie+. The handy mnemonic is that it will make you ILL to pay even more for just one ride. Note, you can buy these ILLs without buying the flat-rate Genie+, and vice versa.

There's a lot more to dig into, of course, with details about how to reserve them etc. You can learn a lot on this thread, and there are many helpful videos and blog articles.

You know, with such a large party with such a range of needs, I think I'd use an (authorized) Disney trip planner. You'll still want to get to know the ins and outs of these options, though, because (sadly) the burden's on the visitor to make these ride reservations day-of.

Thank you. One thing we have said is it is kinda far away so no telling what Disney will come up with between now and then. I'm hoping it is an improvement.

I did not know the most popular rides were not on Genie+ but it looks like still a lot of the rides we would want to do are on there.

Our group is not final yet. Some of the grandparents may not go when it comes down to it. I KNOW this grandmother is going, LOL.

 

[MousetersInc]

Thank you. One thing we have said is it is kinda far away so no telling what Disney will come up with between now and then. I'm hoping it is an improvement.

I did not know the most popular rides were not on Genie+ but it looks like still a lot of the rides we would want to do are on there.

Our group is not final yet. Some of the grandparents may not go when it comes down to it. I KNOW this grandmother is going, LOL.

Oh, and one likely change is that some of the "ILL" (a la carte) rides might move into the Genie+ collection. Right now the ILL ride in Magic Kingdom is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. But it's a very good likelihood that when the Tron coaster opens, it will use ILL and Seven Dwarfs might move to Genie+. Seven Dwarfs is a very good family coaster, easy for everyone to love, with a height requirement of 38". Tron is more intense, with a height requirement of 48".