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Disney Genie+ service continues to be very popular. As Disney continues to manage the strong demand we are seeing for this service, they have introduced variable pricing for Disney Genie+ at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This change went into effect on October 11th.
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At Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Genie+ now varies in price based on the date a guest is visiting. Similar to theme park tickets, throughout the year, prices may be lower on less busy days and higher during peak travel periods.
Prices for Genie+ service at Walt Disney World will be $15 per Guest, per day on less busy dates, $22 on some of our busier dates, and somewhere in between on other dates (plus tax; prices subject to change beyond October). As a reminder, single-day purchases of Disney Genie+ at Walt Disney World Resort are only available directly through the My Disney Experience app on the guest’s date of visit. Click the link below for Genie+ tips on your next Disney World trip. My Top 10 Genie+ Tips for Walt Disney World At Disneyland Resort, Disney Genie+ will now be $25 per day when purchased in advance as an add-on with a new ticket or vacation packages. Single-day purchases for Disney Genie+ through the Disneyland app will begin at $25 per day, and may vary by date, based on demand. Additionally, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure at Disney’s California Adventure Park is now part of Disney Genie+, providing guests with even more options to choose from when using this service. Contact me with questions. 
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Some imagination, huh?
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Cue the music, because we've all been waiting for this one. Fantasmic! returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in November 2022!
This is my favorite nighttime show, and I can't wait to see it again! Stay tuned for more details, including an official opening date. 
2023 Walt Disney World packages will be available June 8, 2022!  My 2023 waitlist is growing! To be among the first to lock in your dates and pricing, make sure you're on the waitlist! Send me an email to be added.
Get ready for an intergalactic chase through time and space – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is set to officially debut May 27 at EPCOT!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
I can't wait until Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind releases its awesome mixtape of an attraction to the world. This attraction will feature a one-of-a-kind coaster and amazing soundtrack!
A major headliner attraction like this will draw massive crowds to a busy travel season. If you're ready to save the galaxy, get started here!
It's the news that so many of us have been waiting for! For the first time in forever (or since March 2020) you'll be able to hug or get an autograph from your favorite characters again!
Beginning Monday, April 18, traditional character interactions will begin to return to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani! This post may include affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
Me and Mickey at Garden Grill - 2019
While not all character locations will be available immediately, more will become available throughout the spring and early summer!
Who are you the most excited to hug first? To book your 2022 stay, start here!
If you're traveling to Walt Disney World in 2022 and beyond, you've probably heard of Genie+. But what is it?
Genie+ is Walt Disney World's paid replacement of the old FastPass+ system. It arrived in late fall 2021 and completely changes everything when it comes to Disney travel. This system can feel overwhelming. Below, you'll find 10 tips for navigating Genie+ like a pro. This list is a labor of love between myself and many of my colleagues. (It's important to note that these tips are only for Genie+, and do not pertain to the paid Individual Lightning Lanes for headliner attractions.) This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
1) Call Me, Beep Me, Genie+ Me
You'll be on your phone all day long. I suggest planning some downtime activities to give yourself a break from the app. I offer my recommendations for easy "anytime" activities to my clients. Regardless of how much you use your phone, you're going to need a portable phone charger. Amazon has tons of great portable phone chargers, including my personal favorite and an extra slim option. (Pro tip: keep your phone on battery save mode to help it charge faster and keep its charge longer.)
2) Practice Makes Perfect
Before you use Genie+ for the first time, go into the My Disney Experience app and get familiar. Like I mentioned above, you'll be on your phone a lot in the parks. Having a little experience with the Genie section will help the process feel less overwhelming. When that early alarm goes off for your 7 am selection, the whole Lightning Lane process will seem much less intimidating and you can hit the ground running in the parks. (Pro tip: make sure you're using the most updated version of the My Disney Experience app.) 3) The limit does not exist. There's no way of knowing how many folks will purchase Genie+ on any given day, because there's no limit to the number of guests who can add this feature. What does this mean for you? Book your top selections before they’re gone. Genie+ won't sell out, but Lightning Lane queues can only physically hold a certain number of people for the day. If Slinky Dog Dash is your top must-do, choose that first before selecting something that won't fill up, like MuppetVision 3D. (Note: MuppetVision is a personal favorite, but it's not a good use of a Lightning Lane.) 4) If at first you don't succeed, refresh and refresh again. If you don’t like the times that are offered for a particular ride, and you haven't made your selection yet, refresh that screen! Occasionally, you'll see options that were previously unavailable. DO NOT do this for top priority rides, as these can run out of return times. (See #3 and #9)
5) Watch the Clock
Booking a Lightning Lane "blocks" your account for 2 hours. The only way to "clear the block" is to wait 2 hours from when you made your last reservation OR use the last selection you booked, whichever comes first. After that, you can continue to reserve Lightning Lanes every 2 hours. Use your phone alarm to help keep track. Remember, the 2 hour clock starts at park opening time. (ex: park opens at 9, book your next selection at 11) 6) The Stacking Trick Typically, you’ll have one Lightning Lane at a time. That's how the system is designed. But there IS a way to stack them and have your return times overlap. This happens when you schedule multiple return times for later in the afternoon/evening. How does this work if you can only book every 2 hours? At 7 am, you can make your first selection, and let's say your return time is for 2:50-3:50. At 11 am, you can select another attraction, again at 1 pm, 3 pm, and so on. If you keep choosing later return times, they can overlap, meaning you can hop from attraction to attraction with no waits!
7) Park Hop 'til You Drop
You can reserve Lightning Lanes for parks that you're not physically in. That means that if you're at one park in the morning, but know you’ll hop to another park later, you can make selections before you hop. Just make sure that your return time is late enough to accommodate the travel time between parks after hopping begins at 2 pm. This, of course, requires a park hopper ticket. 8) Head of the Party Planning Committee If you have several parties traveling together, designate ONE person to handle Genie+ for everyone. Otherwise, with multiple people on the app making changes, things get messy quickly. To make things easier for your designated Genie+ booker, make sure that everyone is linked via friends & family and that everyone has valid park admission and reservations.
9) Set in Stone
Once you book a Genie+ Lightning Lane, you cannot modify your return time. But you can cancel that Lightning Lane and rebook another. Please note that by doing this, you do risk that attraction booking up for the day. Lightning Lanes can, and do, fill quickly. Pro tip: If you do cancel and rebook, the 2 hour window restarts. 10) Time is Money The time has come to head to your attraction! You have a 1 hour window to return. There is a grace period of 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after your hour-long window. That's it. If, for whatever reason, you'll miss your return time completely, don't panic! First, try to cancel that Lightning Lane in the app. Easy peasy. Missed Lightning Lanes can result in you not being able to book more Lightning Lanes later. (It can cause issues with the system, essentially tying up your account.) The best option is to find a Guest Services Cast Member (look for the blue umbrellas) and explain the situation. Usually, they'll simply remove the missed Lightning Lane from your account! (This should go without saying, but remember to be kind to all Cast Members!) My clients all get a detailed Genie+ guide, as well as personalized park touring recommendations and tips. To learn more about my client package inclusions, click here. 
Three major attractions are temporarily joining Genie+ as of today!
Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios, and Frozen Ever After will all leave the Individual Lightning Lane (headliner) tier and join the Genie+ program.
This change is temporary and will last until August 7, 2022. This will help to give guests more options heading into the very busy spring and summer season. For more information on adding Genie+ to your travel package, email me. To get more information on becoming a concierge-level client, click here. *Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection.
What a great day for Disney entertainment news! Walt Disney World has released exciting updates about when some fan-favorite entertainment will return, and has also announced a few new offerings at Magic Kingdom. This makes The World’s Most Magical Celebration even more magical!
Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade! (NEW)
Kicking off on February 11th is the brand-new “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade!” Starring nearly thirty (!!!!) Disney and Pixar friends, this super-sized cavalcade features characters from “Zootopia,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Three Caballeros,” Merida, Moana, The Incredibles, and more – including the Magic Kingdom debut of Miguel from “Coco” in his mariachi best. What a cool lineup! 
Festival of Fantasy Returning! (TWICE A DAY!)
The beloved Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade returns to Magic Kingdom beginning March 9th! March 9th also marks the anniversary of the debut of the parade in 2014. When it returns, it will wind its way through the park not once, but twice each day!! Don't worry, the fire-breathing Maleficent Dragon float will also return, just as menacing as ever! 
Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire Returning! (With New Elements!)
“Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will return to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage February 25th! The show, newly enhanced for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, will incorporate your favorite scenes, plus a new opening and a new finale! Presented multiple times a day, the show will also include an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.”
These new and returning experiences add to the all-new entertainment that debuted with the launch of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, including “Disney Enchantment,” “Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade,” and “Harmonious”.
More entertainment news is to come when “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” and “Fantasmic!” open later this year!
It's been a big week for Disney travel news! We've heard multiple announcements from Walt Disney World and have even heard a big announcement from Disney Cruise Line. Check it all out below!
Artist rendering of Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Changes Coming to Toy Story Land in 2022
Attention all honorary toys! After enjoying Toy Story Mania!, guests will soon be treated to a new experience. Jessie’s Trading Post will be full of the coolest toys and finest souvenirs. That's not all! Also coming in 2022 is the previously announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant! This family-friendly dining experience will offer barbecue fare. It will also offer some fan-favorite Pixar characters! Stay tuned for more details! 
New offerings for Guests with Genie+
New Character Sightings Available on Genie+
The latest update to theDisney Genie+ service has extra...character! Starting Jan. 26, guests who have purchased Genie+ will find select Character Sightings have been added as an option for Lightning Lane entry. Character Sightings will include:
*Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection. 
Pixar Day at Sea coming to Disney Cruise Line
Pixar Day at Sea - Coming in 2023
Disney Cruise Line Guests will be immersed in the stories of their favorite toys, monsters and heroes during the all-new Pixar Day at Sea aboard special sailings on the Disney Fantasy in early 2023. This day-long celebration on select seven-night voyages will bring beloved Pixar tales exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. These experiences will include themed dining, character encounters, dance parties and a theatrical musical experience. Contact me for more information about Pixar Day at Sea sailings. 
Prepare to be transported back to mom's kitchen! (Or grandma's, depending on your age.) We dined at 50's Prime Time Cafe on our most recent trip, and I'm here to break it all down for you!
Our TV table at 50's Prime Time Cafe.
The Atmosphere
When you arrive, you'll notice that there's a waiting area that looks just like a living room, complete with couches and a retro TV! There's also the Tune In Lounge, which is a bar full of adult selections! If you can find seating (good luck!) you can also order from the full 50's Prime Time Cafe menu. If you're part of an adults-only party, I strongly recommend being seated in the restaurant. The experience is the big draw for this place, and the restaurant is where the real magic happens! The atmosphere in this restaurant can't be beat. We were lucky enough to be seated at a TV table for the full experience. Our "cousin" (server) told us that we were allowed to watch a little TV since we'd been good. She handed us a basket of utensils and told us our chore was to set the table ourselves. The staff here stays in character the entire time. Our cousin played it up with us, since we enjoyed having the full experience. Most other tables around us were really into it, too and played along with the cast members. However, I did notice one table nearby that didn't seem to be as into the theming. Cast Members will follow suit and will let those tables eat their meals without "playing along". 
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Don't forget to finish your vegetables!
The Food
All of your comfort food favorites are here! Whether you're craving pot roast, fried chicken, or the famous meatloaf, this restaurant has it all. We both opted for the meatloaf, which is served with green beans and the most heavenly mashed potatoes. The onion rings and peanut and jelly milkshake are both amazing, too. They also have a great dessert selection, but I've always been so full after my meal that I haven't tried any of them for myself! Adults can also order something from Dad's Liquor Cabinet!
Overall Impressions
We loved our meal at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We love to eat on our Disney trips, and this definitely checked all of the boxes for us. Is it right for your family? This is a must-dine if:
You may want to pass, please if:
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