This week brought some HUGE changes to Disney World.
Disney Genie
First, we saw price increases on everything from Minnie Ears to water to food. Then, we learned that Genie+ would begin using flexible pricing, with a max of $22 per day on busier days. Well, as of today, we’ve officially reached that max price for the service.
When we looked at the My Disney Experience app this morning to check out Genie+, we saw that the price for the day is $22 per guest. This likely means that Disney is estimating that today will be a busy day in the parks.
©Disney
We also looked at the Individual Lightning Lane attraction costs. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is $11.
©Disney
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is $15.
©Disney
Flight of Passage is $14.
©Disney
However, Rise of the Resistance is at a whopping $22!
©Disney
This is the highest we’ve seen since Disney switched over to flexible pricing earlier this week, but $22 is supposed to be the new max price for Genie+. So if you’re headed to Disney World today, be sure you know about this price before you decide to purchase Genie+. Also, remember that the price will actually be higher because you have to pay taxes on it, too.
This price is completely optional, though, and you can still use the free version of Genie to plan your day.
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think of the new Genie+ flexible pricing? Let us know in the comments.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
It would be a great help if you date and timestamp your articles. Time of year, day of week, and the age of the article are all very important pieces of information when evaluating the content.
It’s going to get even higher… Wait until Thanksgiving & Christmas Week.
It was already WAY too much at $15 per day PER PERSON for our family. Last trip, without any form of fastpass, it was literally the worst vacation to Disney World ever. Plus customer service was no where near as good as I’ve ever seen, and they keep raising prices on everything. Disney is just pricing themselves out. We went to Universal for 2 days prior and have concluded that, despite loving Disney, we won’t be returning. Universal was a FAR better experience with their free Universal Express pass for hotel guests at the hotel we were at plus it cost almost half. We waited maybe 10 minutes max for anything. I was worried about meals since we had an allergy, but even that was flawless. We are hoping to try the Disney cruise which, after you calculate in the cost of food, hotel, and tickets, is going to be about the same price as going to the Disney parks. The difference is, no real lines, more relaxing, tons of characters, beaches, and adult time because they kids can have tons of fun in the kids clubs. I’ll miss Disney World because I’ve been there close to 30 times, but it’s just no longer worth it.
SO… let me get this straight. To take a family of 4 to Hollywood studios where genie+ is basically required and still not really worth it, it could cost $88 before tax. Last time I went we tried to rope drop Rise of the Resistance but as usual it was down when the park opened. As touring plans discusses this ride is down at park open around 50% of the time making a LL almost necessary for a total of $176 plus tax extra for the day. Absolutely ridiculous! Let me say this loud and clear. Bob Chapek, eventually people WILL stop coming! The bad part of the business cycle is coming for you and with these prices Disney is going to implode. The revenge travel is almost over and Disney will be left in a very bad position.
We were “lucky” enough to come to DW 3 days after the rate change. It was my first real experience with genie+ and there were a few glitches. Saturday Genie+ was $22 each for 6 of us over $140!!! The individual Rise of the resistance was another $22 for four of them over $90 with tax. I was angry with Walt and considered digging him up to let him know! We are only here for 3 days so we don’t have the chance to try the rope drop idea. Anyway, I PAID!. I watched my son and his family come from Rise, thrilled. I also booked millennium falcon for the four of them and booked my husband and me for Runaway Railway at the same time. As soon as we all finished our rides, I was able to book Toy Story Mania for all of us. We waited in line for Swirling saucers and easily got into Frozen singalong. After Mania, we were still in Hollywood and I was able to book us for Soarin in Epcot for an afternoon ride. Soarin is not as hard to get on as it used to be. We ate at the Prime Time cafe in Hollywood then headed back to Boardwalk and the pool.
So how hard was it to do all this? I’m sleep deprived. Since I wasn’t sure about the availability, I booked Genie+ at midnight. Then got up at 6:30 to get help from the front desk for first booking Rise of the resistance (almost as tricky as booking Hamilton), then to book Millenium falcon with Genie plus. None of this would have been possible without the help of Liz at the front desk. She was amazing. Next day Sunday, I went to the front desk at 6:45 again for help from Liz. By the way Avatar was a “bargain” at $15 and Genie+ was also $15. Our last day, today, I decided to try it on my own and totally screwed it up. By the way Genie+ was back to $22. So back to Liz who I nominate for sainthood. How do I feel about all this? I’m exhausted and still mad at Walt but my son, daughter in law and grandkids had a good time, I think.
My husband and I are annual pass holders and Disney Vacation club members. We have been coming to DW for 47 years and this was the most stressful experience I have ever dealt with.
I’m a huge Disney fan, but these increase in prices is making me reluctant to take my family to the parks anymore. The average family cannot afford all these “added” cost. I used to be prideful in saying “the Fast Pass is for everyone! Every Disney FAN, can go to the parks, enjoy the magic, enjoy the customer service, enjoy the perks to stay at a Disney resort.” Now, when colleagues and friends ask me for advice, I give them the same comment, it’s not the same Disney. I give them all the negatives, before I give them what’s left of the positive. Now, that Disney sees the wealthy (or in debt) families purchasing the Genie+, they identify families will spend the money…so let’s charge more! So frustrating and disappointing!
What a great way to scalp the average Disney visitor. Offer no standby on most popular attractions so that if they want to ride, they have to purchase Genie+ or the Individual Lightning Lane purchase.
As reporters in the parks often, do you think Genie is worth $22? I was planning to get it on our upcoming trip, but $15 was hard to swallow, I’m thinking for $22 we might have to pass and just not do attractions that require it. But that’s sad too because it’s a first visit for my kids.
Sitting outside Frozen Sing A Long reading this article and realizing just how crowded it is at HS today. So many many many big groups here today.
Side note: LOVE the blog!
The fact is if Disney knows they can charge this and people will pay it, it will continue to happen and I wouldn’t be surprised if the prices kept going up.
GREED JUST UNWARRANTED GREED!
We’re at WDE right now. Genie + 15 first day, 20 yesterday, and 22 today. I am a Disney apologist, but this one is pretty annoying. MK crowds are impressive.
So on top of your ticket you are paying another $84 for rides. That’s about $224 before tax and you haven’t had anything to eat or drink. That isn’t the max price, you know they will just go higher. STUPIDEST thing is, they keep spouting price and demand. Where as the more people you have, the LESS it should cost them, because you have more people covering the bill. I’m guessing America doesn’t have price gouging laws.
If it’s $22 today for Genie+, that means they’ll raise the max flexing pricing to $32 by Thanksgiving.
Wow – both Genie+ AND RotR are at $22 on the day this article was written – that’s a huge price increase. Especially since it’s hard to enjoy Hollywood Studios without Genie+. I just read an article that said that Disney is purposefully trying to suppress attendance because a lighter crowd will buy more merch and that’s where the profit is.
Disney has continually as of late , has been disappointing. Ticket Price increases , genie + increases and being prorated based on the day . What happened a flat price no matter the day?!!! What happened to the daily magic it once exuded ? I know many of us are upset about it . I feel bad for those who can’t afford it , it use to be obtainable for everyone. I hope soon it turns around soon and at least bring back better perks, the Magic and most importantly affordability for everyone. Thought Disney was all about inclusion not exclusion
Can we just go back to the books of tickets?
Disney is Doing it again. First NO FAST PASSES, then PAID INDIVIDUAL ATTRACTIONS, then GENIE PLUS at $15 a day and now Disney is RAISING THE PRICE OF THE GENIE PLUS to as high as $22 a day. We pay very high prices to simply enter the park to use the Rest Room and we are forced to PAY PAY AND PAY AGAIN. I do not believe Chapek when he says that it is Supply and Demand that enables Disney to raise prices. On July 4 2001 there were 48,000 people in The Magic Kingdom, a record. What is the maximum crowds today. The parks are not full. The hotels are not full and the restaurants are not full. Disney still continues to RAISE PRICES ON EVERYTHING. Disney, you are a GREEDY BUSINESS.
Why doesn’t Disney just let the other shoe drop. From now on you need to apply to go to Disney. On the application they will ask for your banking and Credicard information. They will require a credit score of >750 and at least $1,000,000 in liquid assets.
I am here now and it’s ridiculous! And, don’t forget the tax! Food, merchandise, Pay for Rides and DG+ has been so expensive I have only bought $100 of merchandise, tipping the bare minimum when normally I’d leave a nice tip and spend $1000. It’s horrible!
Cancelled our 11 night stay over Christmas . It’s just not worth it anymore.
Jo…
You really made the right decision. And 11 days!? That would have cost you a REAL fortune!!!
With the money you’re saving, you can buy a travel trailer!!!
Bottom line —— chapek just doesn’t care !
None of this is going to stop until people stop going. I keep hearing grumbling from people who say they will quit going to Disney….after my next trip. People need to stop NOW. If people would quit coming or paying for all the extras, you would see a change. And to the people who say they have to make the stockholders happy – I’m a stockholder and can’t remember the last time I received a dividend check. Yes, I keep my Disney stock…so I can vote against everything and everyone.
I can understand the “surge” pricing for Genie+, rides share systems use it as well. However, is there a limited amount of Genie+s? I know that the ILL has a limited amount, ride capacity X hours of operation. At this rate WDW will be in for a reckoning once that other place opens its third gate. Who knows maybe it will start being cheaper to visit an international Disney Park?