Hollywood Studios Genie Plus & Lightning Lane Guide

Between managing the crowds, navigating all the yummy food options, and figuring out how to do as many rides and attractions as possible, planning your day at Hollywood Studios can feel like a full-time job.

That’s where Genie+ and Lightning Lanes come in handy!

If you’re contemplating using this new add-on service, keep reading for the scoop on how this new service works, which Hollywood Studios Genie Plus rides to prioritize, and which ones have low standby line wait times.

By the end of the post, you’ll have a good idea of whether it’s worth the added cost for you, as well as which rides you want to reserve on Genie+ versus which ones you’ll wait in line for (or possibly skip!).

Genie+ basics

Genie+ is Disney’s updated version of the previous FastPass system, but with a price tag.

With this system, guests pay a flat fee per person, per day. Purchases can only be made at midnight the day of use.

From there, you pick a 1 attraction at a time and choose a 1-hour time slot to access the ride.

You can select a new attraction after you redeem your previous selection or after 2 hours have passed since selecting the previous one.

Lastly, the cost per day at Hollywood Studios averages from $15-35 per person.

Alternatively, if you have a park hopper ticket or annual pass, you can purchase Genie+ for use at all parks.

The cost range for Genie+ with park hopper is also $15-35, but expect it to be a little bit more than what it would be for just Hollywood Studios.

Genie+ price information provided by Thrill Data.

Individual lightning lanes at Hollywood Studios

Individual lightning lanes are like Genie+ but for a single ride. The cost is often on par with Genie+, but Disney knows us fans will often pay more for the most popular rides.

At Hollywood Studios, there is only one ride that offers an individual lightning lane purchase: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this immersive experience takes you from capture by the rebels to escaping with the resistance (hence the name).

I have a love-hate relationship with this ride. It’s so well done, but breaks down constantly.

The good news is if it breaks down during your lightning lane time slot, the cast members will let you come back at another time.

But, if it’s toward the end of the day and it’s you’re last day at Disney World, you may be out of luck with being able to ride it. Fortunately, Disney will issue a refund if a breakdown prevents you from using your lightning lane.

Overall, I think it’s still worth purchasing a lightning lane for this ride, especially if you are a Star Wars fan. Per Thrill Data, the average cost for this individual lightning lane is $15-25.

If that seems too steep, especially if you’re with a group, you’ll likely find less of a wait if you head straight for this ride during early entry hours for resort guests or hopping in line just before park close.

Hollywood Studios Genie+ rides

There are 14 attractions at Hollywood Studios that are available to choose with Genie+.

If you’re not sure what to prioritize with this system, keep reading for my input on which attractions to prioritize and which to access via standby.

Top priority rides for Genie+ at Hollywood Studios

There are 6 rides at Hollywood Studios that I recommend prioritizing with Genie+:

1. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
2. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
3. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
4. Slinky Dog Dash
5. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
6. Toy Story Mania!

Let’s go over each ride so you can decide if you agree with prioritizing all of these rides, too!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Located at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the first ride at Disney World to feature the iconic duo.

The trackless ride takes guests on a fun train ride gone wrong featuring the newest style of animation for Mickey and friends.

The average wait for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is 60 minutes, making it a great selection on Genie+.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run lets guests fly the infamous spaceship. The ride has 6 seats and guests are assigned one of 3 roles: pilot, engineer, or gunner.

Average wait time for this ride is 53 minutes, so it’s a good use of Genie+.

However, it also has a single rider line. So if you’re traveling solo or don’t mind being split up from your group, I recommend doing that instead and using Genie+ to secure a spot for another high-ticket ride.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Located at the end of Sunset Boulevard, this super fun ride is the only roller coaster at Disney World that goes upside down.

It’s set to the tunes of the notorious rock band, Aerosmith, so you know it’s bound to be a good time!

The average wait for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is 66 minutes, so it’s another good option to pick on Genie+.

Slinky Dog Dash

Located in Toy Story Land, this family-friendly roller coaster is modeled after Slinky Dog and built to look as if you are a toy in Andy’s backyard.

This is one of the most popular rides at Hollywood Studios, with an average wait time of 112 minutes.

If you want to avoid waiting in the standby line, I recommend either getting it on Genie+ or rope dropping it.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Located at the end of Sunset Boulevard, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a terrifyingly good time.

The concept of the ride is an abandoned hotel with an elevator gone bonkers, as it slides and drops from the top of the hotel to the bottom.

As one of the most popular attractions, the average wait time is 76 minutes, so it’s a good option for a Genie+ selection.

Toy Story Mania!

Last up on the priority list is Toy Story Mania!. Located in Toy Story Land, this fun attraction is a mix of carnival games and a ride.

If I rope drop Slinky Dog Dash, I usually head here next. But if it’s not a rope drop day, I always try to grab this one on Genie+, as the average wait time is 63 minutes.

Other rides to consider for Genie+ at Hollywood Studios

In addition to the 6 rides I recommend prioritizing, there are 8 more offered under Genie+. Most of these have low wait times, but a few can increase during certain times of the year.

Let’s go over the rest of the rides so you can decide if you want to prioritize any of them based on interest or when you’re planning to visit Disney World.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Located in Toy Story Land, Alien Swirling Saucers reminds me of the classic scrambler ride with a Pixar-twist.

It’s a ton of fun and located in one of the most popular areas of the park. Yet somehow the average wait time is only 33 minutes.

Personally I don’t mind waiting up to about this long and would definitely prioritize other rides. But, if you really want to go on and 30 minutes is too long for you, then it’s a decent use of your Genie+ pass.

Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage

Located on Sunset Boulevard, this gorgeous stage show tells the classic story of Beauty & the Beast, complete with song and dance numbers.

The way the seats are configured, you’re bound to have a decent view of the stage no matter how close to start time you roll up to the entrance. So I wouldn’t bother with selecting this show on Genie+.

Disney Junior Play & Dance!

Located in Animation Courtyard, this fun dance party is for the younger kiddos and judging by my toddler niece’s reaction, it’s a great time!

It’s also a good way for the adults to rest their feet and let the kids get some energy out.

This is another attraction that might be a good Genie+ selection for some, but for the most part I think prioritizing other attractions is a better strategy.

On one hand, there’s not much of a wait and capacity is large.

On the other hand, if you’re more strategic about your day, it might be a good idea to reserve a slot shortly before you leave for nap time, as it’ll help get any extra energy left out of your kids’ system.

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

Located in Echo Lake, this hilarious sing-along features our favorite characters, like Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf, plus 2 Arendelle villagers who act as hosts for the show.

There isn’t a long wait for this show and most seats will give you a good view, so I recommend selecting something else on Genie+.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Located in Echo Lake, this show takes guests behind the scenes of the famous Indiana Jones franchise for a peek at how stunts are done. It’s super cool to see, especially if you’re a fan of this film series.

There isn’t usually a long wait for this show, so I recommend aiming for one of the priority attractions instead of this one.

Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight

At this character meet-and-greet, you can meet everybody’s favorite jolly snowman, Olaf. Surprisingly the average wait time is only 19 minutes, so I don’t think it’s worth selecting on Genie+.

However, if you’re visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season and really want to meet him, I recommend moving this up to your priority list.

Muppet*Vision 3D

This hilarious 3-D show features all your favorite muppets, like Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Fozzy, and Gonzo, plus a few lesser known ones.

Given that the average wait time for this show is only 10 minutes, you’re better off selecting something else on Genie+.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Last, but not least is the 3-D virtual reality ride through several Star Wars scenes from throughout the saga.

At the moment, the average wait time is 13 minutes, so using Genie+ for this ride isn’t necessary. However, Disney is adding new scenes in 2024, so once that drops, I expect the average wait time to increase.

I’ll be keeping an eye on it to see if it should be moved up the priority list. But for now, you’re better off selecting something else and using the standby line for this attraction instead.

Which attractions are excluded from Genie+?

There are a few attractions at Epcot that are excluded from Genie+ as there isn’t enough of a wait to warrant it.

Animation Courtyard

• BB-8 Astromech Photo Op
• Meet Darth Vader
• Meet Disney Junior Pals at Animation Courtyard
• Meet Chewbacca

Commissary Lane

• Meet Ariel at Walt Disney Presents
• Meet Disney Stars at Red Carpet Dreams

Echo Lake

• Vacation Fun short film

Hollywood Boulevard

• Disney Movie Magic
• Wonderful World of Animation

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• First Order Searches for the Resistance

Sunset Boulevard

• Fantasmic!*
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

*Skip the line and guarantee a decent seat at Fantasmic! by booking the Fantasmic! dining package at participating table service restaurants at Hollywood Studios.

Toy Story Land

• Green Army Drum Corps
• Meet Edna Mode at the Edna Mode Experience
• Meet Pixar Pals at Pixar Place
• Meet the Toys in Toy Story Land

Is Genie+ worth it at Hollywood Studios?

Overall, it is absolutely worth it to purchase Genie+ for Hollywood Studios. This park is packed with a ton of big ticket rides with long lines.

With Genie+, you’ll be able to fit in more attractions and better use your time for things like shopping, food, and attractions with low wait times.

I hope this guide helped you decide whether or not to get Genie+, as well as figure out a plan on which rides you want to prioritize with this service.

Be sure to save this post on Pinterest so you can refer back to it later as it gets closer to your trip.