Universal Express Pass Vs. Disney Genie+

We’ve already talked about the differences between Universal Studios and Disney– now let’s dive in to the differences between their extras. Specifically, their passes to skip the lines.

Universal uses Express Passes, Disney uses Genie+. Even though they both get you in a shorter line than stand-by, they function in very different ways.

Universal Express Passes

In my opinion, Universal Express Passes are far superior to Genie+. However, they will cost you a pretty penny. We’re talking well over $100 per day, and prices vary depending on season, events, etc.

You can pay a little less and get express passes which are good for one time per ride, or pay a little more and get unlimited uses (certain rides such as Hagrid’s and Pteronadon Flyers do not currently take Express Pass, as a heads up).

These passes allow you to enter a priority line separate from the standby line. You can expect to wait about half the posted wait time in the express line versus standby. Do you need Express Passes to get to do everything at Universal? No, probably not. However, I really hate waiting in line.

With Express Passes, there’s nothing to do on your phone, no scheduling, no planning ahead needed. You head to the ride, scan your pass, and enter the Express line. That’s it. easy-peasy.

One huge loophole to avoid paying for Express Passes is to stay at a Universal Premier Resort (Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, or Portofino Bay). If you stay at these hotels, your party gets free express passes for every day of your stay, including the day you check in and the day you check out.

This is honestly the only way I’ve ever been able to get Express Passes. Even though they make the trip more enjoyable, they’re just too expensive… unless I’m able to find good rates at a Premier resort.

Disney Genie+

Genie+, while much cheaper than Universal’s Express Passes, are much harder to use. It’s not unlimited, and you have to schedule ahead of time. Plus, there’s all kinds of rules to keep in mind, such as not being able to schedule a second ride until you scan in to the first OR wait 120 minutes in between scheduling rides.

It’s overly complicated and you may not even be able to snag a time on the rides of your choice. Plus, some of the most popular rides are not included and require a separate purchase, called Individual Lightning Lanes. If it’s a busy day, though, these may sell out or you may not be able to schedule for a time that works for you.

Genie+ was sort of like a game to me, refreshing and trying to see what rides I could get, but using it effectively can be a headache. It definitely requires advance knowledge and planning, and you’ll likely be on your phone quite a bit while at the parks.

However, Genie+ is much cheaper than Express Pass. Again, cost varies by day, park, etc.

Do you necessarily need Express or Genie+? I guess not, depending on your preferences and the time of year you visit the parks. Me and Jax, however, are impatient and like to cram in as much fun as possible on our park days.

Also, keep in mind that neither of these passes guarantees you won’t wait in line- just that you’ll wait less than in standby.

If you don’t want to spend the extra money to skip the standby lines, though, I’d suggest checking out a crowd calendar and planning to visit Orlando during a non-peak time (for the love of all that is holy, do not go at Christmas if you don’t like crowds!). I’d also suggest getting to the parks first thing in the morning, taking an afternoon break if you need, and returning at night. Nighttime at the parks is by far my favorite time to go! Lower waits, things start to cool off, and everyone seems to be less grouchy.