This week at Walt Disney World, Disney shuts down advance purchase of Genie+ service for the foreseeable future, announces some key reopenings, plus adds a new preview to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando gets a new fireworks show, Universal kicks off its annual Halloween Horror Nights announcement, plus a new Tribute Store begins to take shape at Universal Studios Florida! 

1. Genie+ advance purchase no longer available

Disney announced this week that starting June 8, all guests who want to purchase Disney Genie+ will only be able to do so through the My Disney Experience app on the day of their visit, subject to availability. Essentially this means that guests will need to wake up early each day of their vacation if they want to use the Genie+ service, and available slots could in theory sell out before some guests are able to purchase the service for the day. On the flip side, however, limiting Genie+ purchases will improve attraction availability for those guests who are able to purchase the service, potentially creating a better value. 

Disney has said that this change will be in effect for the rest of 2022 and 2023. However, guests who have already made an advance purchase of Genie+ for dates this year will not be affected by this change in policy.

2. Harmony Barber Shop to reopen July 31

Disney has confirmed that the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street USA, which has not operated since 2020, will have its long-awaited reopening later this summer on July 31. Reservations for this experience will be available in the My Disney Experience app beginning June 28 and walk-in appointments will be accepted daily based on availability.

3. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will reopen later this year

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will also be reopening later this year, but Disney has not yet confirmed when makeovers by a Fairy Godmother will once again be available. When it shut down in 2020 there were two locations for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, one at Magic Kingdom and another at Disney Springs, and it is unknown if one or both of these locations will be a part of this reopening.  

4. Details revealed about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue

Several details were confirmed this week about the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue, which will be in use starting on the attraction's first day, May 27. The queue will initially become available for early risers at 7:00 AM for all guests (including those outside the park) until it reaches capacity. A second wave will then be available at 1:00 PM for those who missed the first wave. However, guests will need to be in EPCOT to join this later queue. This attraction's virtual queue will also be available during Extended Evening Hours for resort guests. 

As a reminder, standby will not be offered at all for this attraction when it opens, but individual Lightning Lane passes can be purchased for those who miss out on a spot in the virtual queue.