When planning your next (or first!) Walt Disney World vacation getting your top picks for the best Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane rides can make your day the best it can be. I’ve been going to Disney World since the age of 2, way back in 1988. So when I say I know the best rides at Epcot you know I have plenty of experience.
When it comes to Epcot Lightning Lanes there are a lot to choose from, and with the historic transformation of Epcot underway, there will be even more in the future. There are 12 attractions, rides and shows, that have Genie+ Lightning Lanes, so keep scrolling to see a full list of the Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane rides along with my Genie+ strategy and a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years!
Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane Rides
Hold up, what about FastPass+ at Epcot?
In August of 2021, Disney announced that Fastpass+ at Epcot and across Walt Disney World Parks would be retired. Replacing it would be Genie+ and the Lightning Lane. I know, I know, more Disney Lingo to learn, but trust me, you’ve got this!
If you ended up here looking to learn about an Epcot Fastpass+ strategy or how much they cost, you’ve come to the right place, so keep reading!
Tell me more about Genie+
Genie+ gets Disney guests skip-the-line access to select attractions at all 4 parks at Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom in Florida. A lot goes into fully explaining Genie+ so head over to my blog post giving a full Disney World Genie+ Guide.
How much is Genie+ at Epcot?
Genie+ at Epcot is not included in the cost of your entry ticket, unfortunately. The Genie+ Service, which gives you access to 11 of the Epcot Lightning Lanes will cost you, usually between $15 and $40 per person, per day. Those numbers are approximate but can vary depending on the time of year and what events are going on in the parks.
In addition to Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane rides, there is also an option to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.
Individual Lightning Lane at Epcot
There are rides at each of the parks where Lightning Lane isn’t included with Genie+. Yes, this totally sucks, and I don’t like it either.
In order to get access to those Lightning Lanes you’ll need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane. As of this publish date, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind is the only ride with an Individual Lightning Lane at Epcot. It has a virtual queue if you don’t want to pay, but you will have to enter the virtual queue using the My Disney Experience App. This ride is not open for Early Entry at this time.
If you purchase individual Lightning Lane access at Epcot make your purchases at 7am if you’re staying at a Disney Resort or at park open if you’re staying off property.
When can I purchase Genie+ for Epcot?
Genie+ for Epcot and all other WDW parks can only be purchased the day you’ll be using it. Purchase can be made starting at 12am on the day of your visit using the My Disney Experience app.
When can I make my first Lightning Lane Selection?
First Lightning Lane Selections are made a different times depending on if you are staying at a Disney Resort or not.
For those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, their first Lightning Lane Selections can be made at 7am. For everyone else, selections can be made when the park opens. Park open changes by season, park, and special/private events. Make sure to check the park calendar when preparing to purchase Genie+ and make Lightning Lane Selections.
How often can I make a Lightning Lane selection?
The true Genie+ champions know how to work those Lightning Lane selections! Obviously, the more you book, the more rides you’ll get on, and the more bang for your buck you’ll get.
You can make a Lightning Lane selection:
- Every 120 minutes (2 hours) OR
- As soon as you use your previous selection.
Keep this in mind when choosing time slots! And if you have to wait 2 hours set a timer on your phone to remind you to go and make another selection. If you make your first Lightning Lane selection before the park opens, your two-hours starts when the park opens.
However, you can’t select a time you want, the My Disney Experience app gives you time slots. Yes, this makes planning a bit hard
What attractions at Epcot have Lightning Lanes?
Below is a list of the 11 Epcot Lightning Lanes included with Genie+.
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Frozen Ever After
- Journey into the Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Mission: Space (Orange and Green)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
There is 1 Epcot Lightning Lane that isn’t included with Genie+, and that’s Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. You do not need to have Genie+ to get an individual or a la carte Lightning Lane selection for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind.
Disney Statement about Genie+ & Lightning Lane
In March of 2022 Disney released the following statement below about Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections.
It’s important to note the part of the statement that says, “On average, guests can enter 2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day using the Lightning Lane entrance if the first selection is made early in the day.”
This is something to keep in mind when creating your own Epcot Lightning Lane strategy.
Is Genie+ at Epcot worth it?
Whether Genie+ at Epcot is worth it really depends on the time of year you go and what your priorities are for your visit.
If you are going to Epcot when most crowd calendars are predicting low or average crowds I would not recommend purchasing Genie+. However, if the crowd calendar is predicting high crowds Genie+ at Epcot is worth it.
I have only used Genie+ at Epcot once. The next time I went when Genie+ was available we did not get it. They were both during lower crowds (I personally never go in the summer or around Christmas) I don’t feel like I needed it because there are so few attractions that have Lightning Lanes. With rope drop, we got in 3 rides before it got busy.
For budget purposes, if you can do rope drop at the Epcot and get the attractions done that you make a priority, I personally don’t think you need Genie+ unless it is extremely busy (Summer, school vacation and holidays). However, only you can decide if Genie+ at Epcot is worth it for you and your family.
Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane Strategy
Below you’ll find my Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane strategy. It is split up into 4 priority levels based on how popular the ride is and when the Lightning Lane selections run out each day.
My strategy might not work for you if you have a kid who’s obsessed with a specific character or NEEDS to do a certain ride. You can move things around to suit your needs. Either way, I hope this helps you with your planning!
Before reading further, keep in mind that Disney only releases a certain number of Lightning Lane selections per hour. Once they’re gone for the day they do not release more. Make sure you get your top pick in the morning, so you don’t miss out.
Epcot Lightning Lane Priority Level 1
My Priority Level 1 Epcot Lightning Lane picks are:
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Epcot Lightning Lane Priority Level 2
My Priority Level 2 Epcot Lightning Lane picks are:
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
Epcot Lightning Lane Priority Level 3
My Priority Level 3 Epcot Lightning Lane picks are:
- Mission: Space (Orange and Green)
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
Epcot Lightning Lane Priority Level 4
My Priority Level 4 Epcot Lightning Lane picks are:
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey into the Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
What’s your favorite Epcot lightning lane ride? Let me know in the comments!
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