Lightning Lanes Coming This Fall (2021)
Say goodbye to FASTPASS and say hello to Genie Services and Lightning Lanes this Fall
Disney announced in 2019 that FASTPASS Program would eventually end, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of all the Disney theme parks, Disney decided not to reopen the FASTPASS Program and other free perks in 2020. Though we all hoped FASTPASS would return, Disney hadn’t quite made it clear if this program would be available in upcoming months. Fast forwarding to the summer of 2021 and we now are told by Disney FASTPASS Program will be a thing of the past and introducing Lightening Lanes now on Genie Service and Genie+ built inside of My Disney Experience.
Paying to Skip lines
In August 2021 Disney announced a new program called Lightning Lanes. This new program not only replaces FASTPASS but will now be another charge per day depending on Disneyland or Disney World. Guest will now have to pay to skip lines instead of getting the free perk.
Disneyland fee of $20 a day per person with a valid park admission ticket and park reservation
Disneyland fee of $15 a day per person with a valid park admission ticket and park reservation
Yes, this will again be only on individual attraction selections.
How does this fare with you?
Two Options
There will be two options for enjoying all four theme parks with Lightning Lanes.
Option 1
Disney Genie+ service (available for purchase):
This option you can choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. This accessible option is the next evolution of the fan-favorite Disney MaxPass service from Disneyland Resort. Note: You can make one selection at a time, throughout the day
You can choose rides like Haunted Mansion to thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Note: attractions based on limited availability
Option 2
Individual attraction selections (available for purchase):
This option you can choose a scheduled time to arrive, up to two highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance Lightning Lane selections will be made on the same day of your visit and can be used across multiple theme parks, great for those who love the Park Hopper option. Attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue, or a virtual queue at certain attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Pricing for this option will vary by date, attraction and park and will be announced closer to launch. This could be pricier on high volume days, seasons, and events.
You can choose rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park
Note: attractions based on limited availability and attractions not included with Disney Genie+
Let’s look at what FASTPASS was and what you got.
FASTPASS was a great perk and program at Disney. The perk of not waiting in line, except the queue was terrific! Now not every ride was available for FASTPASS, and you were limited to 3 passes (a possible 4th if you made every ride on time and were able to get it before the park closed) was fantastic. FASTPASS also allows you to skip the lines in all four Walt Disney World theme parks, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom.
The catch you had to either log on to My Disney Experience or visit a FASTPASS Booth to obtain the rides, and if you didn’t book in time, you lost out and had either pick another ride or wait in standby entrance for who knows how long.
Look for the Genie Services and Genie + Post on for more information.