Disney-goers will soon be reaching further into their pockets if they want to skip the lines at their favorite rides.
Disney announced Friday it would launch its new Genie and Genie+ systems in Orlando on October 19 as part of Walt Disney World Resort's 50th anniversary celebration, including its Lightning Lane entrances.
The Genie service, which is built into Disney's apps, allows customers to personalize their theme park itineraries, like scheduling ride waits and organizing dining plans. Its optional Genie+ add-on includes Disney's Lightning Lanes, the new line-skipping feature that will cost an extra $15 for park goers.
Lightning Lanes replaces the popular (and free) FastPass system, which Disney retired earlier this year. Disney's amusement parks closed for months amidst the pandemic, reopening earlier this year at reduced capacity. The company's theme parks are still recovering to full profitability, per their latest earnings results.
The $15 cost covers line-skips for 40 rides across the Disney Orlando parks - part of their general "Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane Selections" category. Line-skipping for more popular rides like Space Mountain and Expedition Everest fall under "Individual Lightning Lane Selections," which customers will have to add "a la carte" one-at-a-time. These rides come with their own separate pricing, but it will be available for all guests, even if they do not purchase the Genie+ service.
Combining the basic Genie+ plan with the a la carte options, park goers could be paying up to $40 on top of their general one-day one-park ticket price, which ranges between $109 and $159 for a single person depending on the day, the New York Times calculated.
Check out which rides and attractions will be covered under the different line-skipping plans: