We love Walt Disney World, and many of us love planning our vacations to Walt Disney World. It is fun to think about where to stay, what to eat, and what rides to experience. With all that magic, it can also be tough and frustrating when planning a trip to Walt Disney World.
Things are constantly changing, and it can take a lot of work to keep up with it all. We have ways to help you overcome those planning frustrations. Let’s look at what could be causing your planning experience to be frustrating and how you can turn it around.
Park Pass Reservations
A new frustration that some are experiencing when planning their Disney trips is around Park Pass Reservations. Guests now need a Theme Park Ticket and a Park Pass Reservation to enter a Disney Park.
There are a few reasons why this might be frustrating to some. If you aren’t an avid Disney fan, you might not even know you must make Park Pass Reservations. This can cause significant meltdowns when you arrive at a Disney Park without them. The best way to prevent this is to book your Park Pass once you have purchased and linked your Theme Park tickets.
Another reason that Park Pass Reservations can be difficult when planning is because it asks you to predict what Theme Park you want to be on each day of your vacation. This can be hard to do as sometimes Park hours, shows, and special events haven’t been announced yet. Not knowing this additional information can make it hard to think about where you want to be.
We have seen Park availability become more flexible, but making those Park Pass Reservations as soon as possible is still essential. This will help ensure you access to the Theme Park.
Park Hopping Has Limits
If you are used to heading to Walt Disney World and being able to hop between Parks whenever you want, the new system can bring some frustration. Regular Disney Park Guests can only hop between Parks at 2:00 pm.
This is important to keep in mind as you plan out your day. When booking dining reservations or special experiences, you must keep the 2:00 pm requirement in mind. With this restriction, consider if a Park Hopper is worth the additional cost for your family. It might adjust your planning.
We are starting to see some adjustments to Park Hopper, which makes us hope that possibly this restriction could be adjusted in the future. In Disneyland, Guests can now move between Parks with their hoppers starting at 11 a.m. Let’s hope we will soon see Park hopping time adjust, but until then, make sure you are aware of this when planning.
Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes
These planning features found in the My Disney Experience app can be beneficial during a Walt Disney World vacation; however, they can also be frustrating. Our first piece of advice is to take time to learn about what they offer. This will help you navigate them more at Walt Disney World.
Disney Genie is a free planning feature that Guests can use throughout their vacation. Once they put in preferences, Disney Genie will help them navigate their way through the Park.
Genie+
Genie+ is a paid feature that Guests can purchase daily. The price for Genie+ ranges from $15 to $29 per day per person. With the purchase of Genie+, Guests can bypass the standby lines for over forty experiences in the four Disney Parks. This can save a lot of time throughout the day when wait times are long.
Individual Lightning Lanes
Individual Lightning Lanes are the top rides that aren’t included with the purchase of Genie+. Guests can purchase these rides individually to use the Lightning Lane and skip the extremely long waits.
Genie+ has a lot to offer Guests, but it does take time to figure it out. Take time to read posts, watch videos, and learn how to get the most out of your purchase. Doing this will make you less frustrated at Walt Disney World.
Virtual Queue
Another layer to experiencing Walt Disney World’s top attractions is virtual queues. Disney has started to use virtual queues as new E-ticket attractions open to help control the crowds and wait times for Guests.
Guests can use a virtual queue to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT. It has already been announced in April that TRON: Lightcyle Run in Magic Kingdom will also use a virtual queue.
Virtual queues are released at specific times throughout the day (at 7 am and 1 pm in EPCOT). When this time comes, Guests can join a boarding group through the My Disney Experience app. This gives them a number as well as a predicted wait time.
By doing this free option, Guests can experience other things throughout the Parks without having to wait hours in line. It is a great system, but it can be frustrating if you don’t get a boarding group or don’t get a time that works for your touring plans.
Purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane would be the better option if you must ride one of these attractions.
These are some of what can cause planning a Walt Disney World vacation frustrating. With some research and some overall understanding, you can find these features more helpful than frustrating. Take time to learn about what they are and what they do so you can be prepared when you arrive for a magical experience.
