Your 2022 Disney Vacation
Disney Genie and Genie +
Genie + is a paid service to get on a faster line for certain attractions. Once you pay for the day, you book a reservation for an attraction. You can only book a certain amount of attractions at a time, probably one. After you ride, you check the app to see what else is available. Very popular attractions may not be available. Attractions that usually have a short or fast line may not be worth the price. And some attractions are not included in this service. For that, you have to purchase a separate Lightning Lane service.
Good-bye to the complimentary Fast Pass and hello to the Lightning Lane: a new paid service to get to some attractions at a specified time. All attractions will not be included in Lightning Lane. You can buy a Lightning Lane (fast pass) to two attractions per day.
Or you could stand on line in the traditional way, for free. We will be experiencing it first hand when it rolls out, so we'll give you a report when we do.
Top 10 Facts To Know Before You Go
2020 was an unusual year for travel, to say the least. In fact, you can say it was catastrophic. Less than two weeks after Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival kicked off, Disney World (along with the rest of the world), closed down for months. Disney World in Florida re-opened in summer 2020 (although Disneyland would re-open later and other Disney Parks opened either sooner or later than Disney World). Here are some things you should know before your plan your trip:
1. Make sure you have the My Disney Experience App. You will use this app for almost everything for your entire trip. You can:
• Make all sorts of reservations: lodging, entering the park, dining
• New feature: Scan in the parks, by linking your ticket and tap your phone
• See wait times for attractions
• Get your photos from PhotoPass
• Shop for merchandise
• Open your Disney Resort room
• Order food at quick serve places
• See park hours
• Know which attractions are temporarily closed or under refurbishment. Remember, the weather can be a reason why an attraction is temporarily closed
• Try to get on a virtual queue for an attraction
• See your schedule for the day. Once you make a reservation, it shows up under My Plans
• Play Disney Parks while your on line for an attraction • Change your payment method on your account
• You can even chat with a representative
• Link Magic Bands and tickets to your account
Not bad for an app.
2. Don't rely 100% on the mobile app.
You may need to log into the browser website with a laptop or desktop computer to purchase a ticket or link a family or friend to your experience. You will need to link people if you want to make reservations for people in your party. Your overall account username and password will get you into most Disney sites: Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club.
3. Staying on Property
If the only thing you are going to do is go to Disney attractions, staying on Disney property, which seems more expensive at first, is the best option at this time: • You technically do not need any transportation when you are on property. There are buses, monorails, ferries and skyliners to get you where you need to go. You can always take a car service to Universal :)
• If you do bring a car (your own or rented), you will have to pay to park at the resort but not the parks. You do not have to pay for parks parking if you are an annual passholder. You do not have to pay to park at your resort if you are a DVC member using DVC points. • You can use the Disney dining plan.
• It is more convenient to get to the parks as soon as they open and to stay as late as you want without worrying about driving back to the hotel.
• Currently, there are no hidden fees, such as resort fees or a charge to take a shuttle to the resorts.
• The same health and safety precautions that are at the parks are in place at the resort.
• Your account will be charged with the credit card on your account. Unless there is an issue, checking in and out is totally on the app.
• You can book a park reservation for every day that you stay on property or for the length of your ticket.
4. Park reservations:
Currently, you must have a reservation to enter a park. Now that park hopping is back, you can go to a second park after 2PM once you have scanned into your first park. Therefore, if you do not get your first choice for a reservation, you can go later in the day. In order to park hop, your ticket must have park hopper option. If you are a passholder and you are not staying on property, you can only book for 3 days consecutively. Once you use the first day, you can book another day after 11:30PM (rumor has it).
5. Attractions and Entertainment:
Some lines for attractions are long, but they seem to get shorter later in the day. Use the app to see wait times to get a feel for the day. If the weather is nice, enjoy your resort and get to the park later.
Shows, performances, experiences and character greetings are either back or coming back soon. Parades are returning but there are also drive-by cavalcades: 1 minute mini-parades of about 4-5 characters.
There are also other character greeting type experiences with them waving from afar but you can stand in front of the area and take a photo, but huggable greetings have returned.
6. Epcot:
Remember that the Epcot festivals are popular. Make your reservation for one park and go to Epcot as a park hopper (but it's a little more crowded after 4PM).
7. Park Hopping:
You can truly park hop after 2PM. You are not limited to one second park! You can try to get to them all. 8. Health protocols have been suspended for now, but feel free to wear a face mask when and wherever you want. Some people wear them on enclosed transportation or indoors.
8. Health Procotols:
Protocols will change often. The My Disney Experience App will send you a notification. Always check the Disney website or app before you go out.
9. Security:
Getting through security is easier. Take out your umbrella, metal eyeglass case, metal compact mirror, second phone, camera batteries or anything else that might set off the scanner and walk right through. They will only look into your bag if the beeper goes off. You will learn quickly which items might be the culprit (that's a hint for us bloggers).
10. Dining:
Order your quick serve food on the app. You will still need a reservation for fine dining, but everything else is on the app. You can pre-schedule the time and then click, "I'm here, prepare my food" when you're ready. This has always been available for many places but it's now for every quick serve spot.
The one factor that you should know is that you will have to plan just a little bit more when you visit this year. You can be spontaneous once you get into the park.
Always check the app or website for the latest information.
Happy Travels to All!!
