3. Pro – Genie+ won’t affect queues as negatively as Fastpass+ did

One of the most reasonable arguments I’ve heard in favor of Genie+ and Individual Attraction Access is that the new system will likely fix one of the biggest problems of FastPass+.

FastPass+ had a very curious effect on Disney queue lengths. Every ride has a maximum capacity for the day (something we’ve seen vividly displayed in the limited slots available for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance). In order to ensure FastPass+ guests had reasonably short waits compared to those in stand-by lines, Disney reserved a large portion of ride capacity for Fastpass+ guests. Some estimates we’ve heard have put this capacity as high as 60-80%--a big number that dramatically increased stand-by line lengths.

The high number of slots-per-ride set aside for FastPass+ also had a negative effect on crowd control within the parks. Queues serve an important function as “crowd sponges”, corralling guests into designated areas so you have fewer people wandering around in thoroughfares. This concept is part of why Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge felt so empty its first year—the whole land is a giant series of well-designed crowd sponges like queues, shops, and restaurants.

Setting aside 60-80% of ride capacity for FastPass+ caused a significant increase in crowd congestion—instead of having guests waiting in lines across the parks, they filled thoroughfares. This is likely one of the prime reasons why Disney re-instituted stand-by only as part of their pandemic responses. The more people you have socially distanced in queues, the less congestion you have in other areas.

As a paid service available to purchase only on the day of your visit, it seems unlikely that Genie+ and Individual Attraction Access will require 60-80% of ride capacity. You also will likely see a major decrease in “throwaway Fastpasses”, where guests made reservations months ahead of time but chose not to use them, throwing off the algorithm further. The combination of these issues suggests that we are likely to see improvements to stand-by queues and crowd congestion overall compared to the original FastPass+ system.

4. Con – Stand-by lines will likely be longer than they are now

While we are likely to see improvements to stand-by waits and congestion as compared to Fastpass+, the catch is that we’ve already been living in a world without FastPass+.

Since the reopening of Walt Disney World in summer 2020, Disney has limited attraction access to stand-by lines only, with the only exception being exclusive virtual queue access to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. As of October 2021, this whole system is getting flipped on its head—not only is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance switching to a stand-by queue (more on that in a bit) but Genie+ and Individual Attraction Access are arriving, and that arrival is going to be felt in some way.

It’s nigh-on-impossible that stand-by queues are not going to increase with the arrival of these two new systems since they will require an allocation of daily ride capacity. For rides with low demand or high capacity, this difference will likely be unnoticeable, but the effect could be more significant on high demand attractions or on very busy days when more guests are willing to shell out the funds to reduce time in line. We are hopeful that the difference won’t be dramatic, but depending on how popular the system becomes, it could make a notable difference in wait times on some attractions as compared to current trends, meaning longer stand-by waits for guests unwilling to purchase the new service.

5. Pro – It’s a good alternative to VIP tours for guaranteed ride access

In the past, one of the only ways you could guarantee access to Disney attractions was to book a Disney VIP tour, where a cast member guides you through the park from ride to ride, allowing you extremely short waits for most rides. These tours are a pretty incredible experience, but they are understandably out of most families’ price range.

For families taking a once-in-a-lifetime Disney vacation, Genie+ and Individual Attraction Access offer an enticing alternative to shelling out for a VIP tour—you may not get a personal guide, custom itinerary, and front-of-line access, but you will reduce your time in line and potentially guarantee access to some of Disney’s most popular attractions.

While Passholders and frequent visitors might scoff at the concept of paying for Genie+ and Individual Attraction Access, these two systems could prove game-changers for visitors taking a once-in-a-lifetime Disney vacation. If you’re only getting one shot at enjoying the Most Magical Place on Earth, you’re understandably going to want to make the most of that experience. Genie+ and Individual Attraction Access will offer a means to do that besides VIP tours.

In particular, paying for Individual Attraction Access could mean the difference in getting onto Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney’s most popular attraction to date. Speaking of which…