When planning your Disney vacation getting your top picks for the best Magic Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane rides can make your day the best it can be. I’ve been going to Walt Disney World since the age of 2, way back in 1988. My grandfather and I would go to Magic Kingdom all the time when I sent summers in Florida with he and my grandmother. Of all the parks at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom has a very special place and my heart, so I wrote this post to help you make the most out of your time there.
At Magic Kingdom there are 23 attractions, rides and shows, that have Genie+ Lightning Lanes. Keep scrolling to see a full list of the Magic Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane rides along with my Genie+ strategy and a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years!
Magic Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane Rides
Hold up, what about FastPass+ at Magic Kingdom?
In August of 2021 Disney announced that Fastpass+ at Magic Kingdom 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 a Magic Kingdom 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 Magic Kingdom?
Genie+ at Magic Kingdom is not included in the cost of your entry ticket, unfortunately. The Genie+ Service, which gives you access to 23 of the Magic Kingdom 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 Magic Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane rides, there is also an option to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.
Pin this Magic Kingdom Genie+ Guide for later!
Individual Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom
There are rides at each of the parks where the 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, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tron Light Cycle are the only rides with an Individual Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom. They have a regular standby lines (no virtual queue) if you don’t want to pay. Additionally, these rides are usually open for Early Entry.
If you purchase individual Lightning Lane access at Magic Kingdom make your purchase it 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 Magic Kingdom?
Genie+ for Magic Kingdom 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 at 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 harder, but I’ve found that the app usually gives you the next available time slot for the ride you’re looking at.
What attractions at Magic Kingdom have Lightning Lanes?
Below is a list of the 23 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lanes included with Genie+.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Haunted Mansion
- “It’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
- Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
- Meet Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
There are 2 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lanes that aren’t included with Genie+, and that’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tron Lightcycle. You do not need to have Genie+ to get an individual or a la carte Lightning Lane selection for these attractions.
Pin this Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy for later!
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 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane strategy.
Is Genie plus worth it at Magic Kingdom?
Unlike the other parks at Walt Disney World, Genie+ is worth it at Magic Kingdom no matter what time of year you go.
With over 35+ attractions ranging from rides to parades and shows, 23 of them have Lightning Lanes included with Genie+. For me this is a no brainer. Even if you get Lightning Lane selections for 4 attractions, you’ll be getting you money’s worth.
Magic Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane Strategy
Below you’ll find my Magic Kingdom 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 people in your party obsessed with specific rides or characters. 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.
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Priority Level 1
Level 1 Lightning Lane choices are the ones I recommend you pick first thing in the morning when Genie+ Lightning Lane selections open at 7:00AM. The rides listed below are considered to be some of the best rides at the Magic Kingdom by many, so making them a level 1 priority you’ll have the greatest success rate of getting on these rides using Genie+
My Priority Level 1 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane picks are:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
The 4 rides listed above are some of the best in the park and always have long lines. If you don’t rope drop these rides, make sure you get your Lightning Lane selections in early.
The Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan’s flight consistently have the 2 longest waits in all of Magic Kingdom. The only rides that have longer waits are Tron Lightcycle and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, both of which are Individual Lightning Lane rides.
Peter Pan’s Flight and Jungle Cruise do not have height requirements, making for longer lines as the whole family can ride.
Jungle Cruise has become extremely popular in the last 5 or so years and the line is always very long and Lightning Lanes run out regularly. During my last visit, I made the mistake of waiting until later in the day and shouldn’t have. I sadly didn’t get on the ride that day as the wait was over 2 hours!
If you’ve ever dreamed of flying in a pirate ship over London, make sure Peter Pan’s Flight is on your list! Unlike many of the rides a Magic Kingdom the line for Peter Pan’s Flight is like going to Six Flags. There isn’t anything fun to look at and you’re only walking back and forth, making this is long and tedious wait.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain are two of my personal favorite rides at Magic Kingdom! They’re thrilling roller coasters with awesome themes, so they’re big fan favorites.
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Priority Level 2
My Priority Level 2 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane picks are:
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Enchanted Tale with Belle
- Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
- Meet Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
Haunted Mansion, which is a Magic Kingdom opening day attraction that is still operating, is my top pick for priority level 2 in my lightning lane strategy. While it can accommodate approximately 2,500 riders each hour when it is running at maximum efficiency the ride does go down on occasion. This is why it is so high on the list, that and I love this ride! A little insider tip about Huanted Mansion for you: If you’re in the My Disney Experience App and the wait time for Haunted Mansion is 13 minutes there is no line and you can walk right on, so get your feet moving towards the ride!
Pirates of the Caribbean is my hudband’s favorite ride at Magic Kingdom (after The People Mover), so it is a must ride for us every time. No matter if you’re a fan of the movies or just thnk pirates are cool, definitely go on this ride. Anf if you have kids make sure they keep their eyes out for Captain Jack Sparrow!
However, if you have a person in your group who wants to meet Princesses or Mickey, make these Lightning Lanes a priority over Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribben.
The Princesses always have a long line and they don’t do meet and greets all day, so you’ll have, usually a 12 hour window, to get to see them. I know 12 hours seems like a lot, but if you have little ones you might not want to be waiting in line at 8pm to meet Princesses.
Mickey’s hours are a bit longer than the Princesses, but you still want to do this earlier in the day. Like I said about the Princesses, if you want your kiddo to be awake and looking cute for the photos go early!
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Priority Level 3
My Priority Level 3 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane picks are:
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
Over the years many of these rides have have become Magic Kingdfom classics! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Bumbo the Flying Elephant are fun for the whole family and shouldn’t be missed while in the park. Howver, they’re very different.
Buzz Lightyear’s line can be long or short, depending on the crowds, but I feel like most of the time it isn’t too bad and while the line has some entertainment factors to be desired, I’d take the chance to leave this for a later pick.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant always has a long wait. It take a long time to load and unload riders from the elephants. If you have someone that NEEDS to ride this one, Rope Drop it. While others are going for Space Mountain and other bigs rides, go for Dumbo. Even with a Lightning Lane it can take a while to get on, so just go for it early. You’ll get on and off of it pretty quick and you’ll be able to get on another ride in Fantasyland before the park gets too crowded.
The Many Adventures of Wiinie the Pooh and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid area similar in their wait times, so roll the dice on those.
Now, let’s talk parades real quick. The last pick her is the Festival of Fantasty Parade, and you’re probably asking how do does a Lightning Lane for a parade even work. Well, it’s reserved section to watch the parade from right in front of Cinderella Castle. If you want to watch the parade with a castle view, this is a great Lightning Lane. For me, I’d rather save it for a ride, but everyone is different. The parade us usually twice at day, 12pm and 3pm, but this is subject to change.
Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Priority Level 4
My Priority Level 4 Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane picks are:
- “It’s a small world”
- Mad Tea Party
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Tomorrowland Speedway
Major City of the time the rides on my priority level 4 list either have comparatively short lines or no line at all to the attractions ranked above them. For example Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a 4D movie that is 12 minutes in length shown in a theater that can seat up to 486 people per showing. While that is much less many other rides at Walt Disney World can move through the attraction in an hour, most of the surrounding rides in Fantasyland have much longer lines so I’ve never waited too long (maybe 30 minutes) to see PhilharMagic.
Monster’s Inc. Laughfloor is similar to PhilharMagic that it is help in a large theater and is surrounded by rides with longer waittimes.
A few of the other attractions on my level 4 priority list like Tomorrowland Speedway, The Barnsotmer, and The Magic Carpet sof Aladdin I feel you can just skip. They’re not particularly noteworthy, even if you have kids. Tomorrowland Speedway is loud and smells like car fumes, for the Barnstormer, if you blink you’ll miss the ride, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (and I LOVE this movie) is a poorman’s Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Unless you have a kid that is headover heels for one of these rides, I’d skip them completely.
Magic Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane Rides
Keep in mind these are all my personal opinions from over 30 years of visiting Walt Disney World, but everyone is different. If you have a child dying to meet a Disney Princess get a Lightning Lane for that. Got a Pirate lover in the family? Get that Pirates of the Caribbean Lightning Lane selection.
I hope I answered your questions about Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Magic Kingdom. If you’re looking for Genie+ information about the other parks check out the following posts:
- Animal Kingdom Genie+ Lightning Lane Rides & Strategy
- Epcot Genie+ Lightning Lane Rides & Strategy
- Hollywood Studios Genie+ Lightning Lane Rides & Strategy
What are your favorite rides at the Magic Kingdom? Let me know in the comments!
Love it? Pin it!
