How You Should Use Disney Genie+ at Hollywood Studios
On some days, Disney’s Hollywood Studios operates seven different attractions that average a wait of 60+ minutes.
Even if you ride only three of them, you’re still spending more than three hours in line for just three attractions.
The bang for the buck is terrible. And that’s why I strongly believe that you should purchase Disney Genie+ here.
Here is how I personally use Disney Genie+ at Hollywood Studios.
The Disney Genie+ Options
At the time of publication in early 2023, Hollywood Studios currently lists the following attractions as Disney Genie+ participants:
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Play & Dance!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway*
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run*
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith*
- Slinky Dog Dash*
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™*
- Toy Story Mania!*
Six of the rides listed here are among the seven I mentioned earlier.
Anything with an asterisk beside it could require a 60+ minute wait during your park visit.
Given what I know about park behavior, I take an analytical approach to my Disney Genie+ selections.
However, I understand that this strategy won’t work for most guests. So, my advice will cater more to the average family or single visitor.
Also, I’ll factor in a few other considerations. For example, I’ll rank Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith lower than some would.
My advice hinges on your willingness to use Single Rider to skip the line. Presuming that you don’t mind, you can cut this ride’s wait in half.
What’s the point in using a Disney Genie+ selection if you can do that anyway?
Obviously, you may disagree. If so, you should rank Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster much higher than I will.
The “If You Can” Choices
Disney makes no promises about its Disney Genie+ program. In fact, the legalese previously promised eight reservations per visit. Now, it only says “2 or 3.”
Thankfully, once you understand Disney Genie+, you can probably get at least six, as long as you’re not that particular about what you take.
I’d strongly suggest that you review this list of suggestions the evening before your park visit.
At 7 a.m., Disney opens the Disney Genie+ reservation system for the day.
As long as you’re up and ready to use your phone then, you can snag an early Disney Genie+ booking.
This moment represents your best opportunity to snare a top Disney Genie+ reservation at Hollywood Studios.
Your choice isn’t an easy one, though. If you want to pick the attraction with the longest average wait, you should book Slinky Dog Dash.
However, some fans feel that this ride is too short, which makes it a waste of a Disney Genie+ reservation.
Personally, I feel the opposite. If I’m going to ride something short, I’d rather skip the line rather than stand there for 75 minutes for something that’s over in 100 seconds.
Where you stand on this issue will determine your rankings. I’m presuming you care more about ride quality than anything else, though.
Presuming you do, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are the top “If you can book a Disney Genie+ reservation…” options.
Slinky Dog Dash goes ahead of both if you want to reduce your line time, though. It’s your call.
The other two rides are both A+ E-ticket attractions. With Tower of Terror, the wait is sometimes shorter, depending on whether all elevator shafts are operational.
If you book any of these three rides at 7 a.m., you’ve done VERY well.
The “You’ll Save a Lot of Time” Rides
The other three rides that could require 60+ minute waits are Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Toy Story Mania!
Out of the three, I’d rank Toy Story Mania! the best ride. However, we all know that Millennium Falcon holds the most current appeal.
Nearly four years after the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it remains the hottest themed land at Walt Disney World.
I should mention that you CAN choose Single Rider at Smugglers Run. Unfortunately, it’s not as viable as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, though.
When you ride the Aerosmith roller coaster, you enjoy the same ride experience from start to finish.
On Smugglers Run, you’ll join five other strangers in a cockpit. They likely will have chosen assignments before you meet them.
As such, you’ll probably get stuck in the role of Engineer. It’s…fine. Most people would agree that Engineer is the least satisfying of the ride’s three jobs, though.
If you’re a Star Wars fan or have never ridden Smugglers Run before, you definitely want to be a Pilot or a Gunner.
When you book a Disney Genie+ reservation, you’ll likely (but not definitely) have your pick.
So, I believe that most people would aim for Smugglers Run first followed by Toy Story Mania! and then Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
The second and third options flip if you don’t like the Single Rider option.
The “These Are Great Attractions” Choices
I’m listing two rides, one show, and one character greeting in this section. Before I do, I want to mention an x-factor here.
Disney recently added character greetings with The Incredibles, Edna Mode, Frozone, Goofy, and Powerline Max.
Currently, those options aren’t available as a Disney Genie+ booking. If Frozone or Powerline Max joins the list, you should consider either.
These characters were previously rare interactions at the parks. For this reason, they should remain quite popular throughout 2023.
For now, your only character greeting option on Disney Genie+ is Olaf. So, this one’s simple. If you love Olaf, book the reservation. Otherwise, skip it.
I happen to adore Olaf and have several pictures with him at this character greeting.
Still, I’d pick Red Carpet Dreams with Mickey & Minnie Mouse if I could. For whatever reason, that character greeting isn’t available on Disney Genie+ right now, either.
The other two rides are Alien Swirling Saucers and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue!
I prefer Alien Swirling Saucers, primarily because it’s new. I’ve ridden Star Tours so much over the years that they should name one of the theaters after me.
If you’re a Star Tours novice, you’ll love the ride…as long as you’re not prone to motion sickness. Presuming you’re not, this is a good Disney Genie+ booking.
Alien Swirling Saucers has proven more divisive. I think it’s brilliant, though, especially for families with young children.
Finally, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration deserves prioritization if you’ve never seen it.
I consider this show among Disney’s best overall. Unlike some of the other shows we’ll discuss in a moment, Frozen sometimes requires a wait.
The “I Love Disney Shows” Choices
Here are the Disney Genie+ selections you make if A) you want to do something right now and B) nothing else is available.
I say this because Muppet*Vision 3D almost never has a wait.
Similarly, you can walk to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and find a seat near the front at almost any time.
Disney Junior Play and Dance! is a must-do for parents visiting with their children. However, it rarely requires a wait, either.
In fact, the only other Hollywood Studios show that sometimes has a wait is Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.
So, if you want to reserve something based on saving yourself time, Beauty and the Beast is the call.
All these shows fall into the same bucket, though. They’re not attractions that require Disney Genie+ reservations as a rule.
Since you paid for Disney Genie+, you might as well book them if nothing’s left, though.
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
Feature Photo: Disney