Walt Disney World is a must-visit destination, but with its popularity comes the inevitable long lines. The good news is, you don’t have to spend your whole day in queues! We’ve put together some of the best strategies to help you enjoy the park’s top rides while minimizing wait times so you can spend more time experiencing the magic.
1. Arrive Before the Park Opening
“Rope drop” is the tried-and-true method for getting ahead of the crowds. Arriving before the park opens gives you a significant advantage, as there are little to no wait times early in the day. Head straight to the busiest attractions—especially those that don’t have a single rider option or have already sold out of Lightning Lane passes for the day.
Attractions to Prioritize During Your Visit:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)
- Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
- Peter Pan’s Flight (Magic Kingdom)
- Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)
- The Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)
- Avatar: Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
- Na’vi river journey (Animal Kingdom)
- Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios)
- Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios)
- Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)
- Frozen Ever After (EPCOT)
- Soarin’ Around the World (EPCOT)
2. Purchase Lightning Lane access
For an additional cost, you can skip the regular lines for some of the most popular attractions through Lightning Lane. This service lets you bypass standby queues and head straight to the ride.
After the retirement of Genie+, Lightning Lane is now available in two forms:
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Multi Pass: This service is similar to Genie+, allowing access to Lightning Lanes at multiple attractions. You can even use this service across parks with a Park Hopper ticket. It also includes PhotoPass digital downloads.
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Individual Lightning Lane: For certain high-demand attractions, you can buy a one-time Lightning Lane access, which lets you skip the line for the ride of your choice. Note that during peak seasons, these passes sell out quickly.
Credit: V Mills
Individual Lightning Lane attractions:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)
- Tron Lightcycle / Run (Magic Kingdom)
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
- Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)
3. Use the Single Rider option:
If you’re traveling solo or don’t mind being separated from your group, the Single Rider option is a great way to bypass long waits. This feature fills up empty seats in ride vehicles, which helps speed up the line for everyone.
For example, if a family of three rides Expedition Everest, they will occupy three out of four seats in the ride vehicle. A single rider will be added to the remaining spot, keeping the ride moving efficiently.
Not all attractions offer the Single Rider option, but if you’re visiting solo, keep an eye out for Cast Members as you approach the loading area. They often look for “parties of 1” to fill empty seats, allowing you to skip ahead some of the wait and get on the ride faster.
Attractions that offer single rider:
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. (Hollywood Studios)
- Rock and Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios)
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. (Animal Kingdom)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (EPCOT)
- Test Track (EPCOT, when it opens again later this year)
4. Take Advantage of the Disney Hotels Perks Exclusive to Guests.
Staying at a Disney hotel has its perks, and guests who stay at a Disney resort are eligible to spend some extra time at the parks.
This benefit varies depending on the type of resort you’re staying at. Guests at Value and Moderate Resorts can enter the park 30 minutes before the official opening. In contrast, those staying at Deluxe resorts enjoy extended evening hours, giving them an additional 2 hours in the park on select nights.
5. Skip the Big Shows.
If you’re a frequent visitor or simply looking to avoid the crowds, consider skipping some of the most popular shows. Many guests flock to shows during peak hours, which creates longer lines at the attractions. This is an especially useful strategy if you’ve seen the shows before.
This may not be the best option for first-time visitors or those with limited time, as the fireworks show is a must-see spectacle that typically happens only once or twice a day.
Most Crowded Shows You Want to Skip:
- Festival of Fantasy (Magic Kingdom)
- Happily Ever After (Magic Kingdom)
- Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire (Magic Kingdom)
- Fantasmic (Hollywood Studios)
- Wonderful World of Animation (Hollywood Studios)
- Festival of the Lion King (Animal Kingdom)
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! (Animal Kingdom)
- Luminous: The Symphony of Us (EPCOT)
Extra Tip: If you want to catch the Festival of Fantasy parade while taking advantage of shorter wait times, head to Frontierland before the parade begins. This is where the parades and cavalcades typically start, allowing you to enjoy the show before it reaches Main Street, U.S.A.
Bonus Tip: Wait until the park closes.
Did you know you can get in line right up until the park closes? This is an excellent option for those who don’t mind staying a little longer, as the closer it gets to closing time, the fewer guests will be around.
While this tip might not dramatically shorten your wait, it offers the advantage of being your last attraction of the day, so there’s no rush to get to other rides. You can take your time and enjoy a more relaxed experience.
By following these simple strategies, you can maximize your time at Walt Disney World and enjoy its most popular rides without wasting time in long lines. Whether you arrive early, use Lightning Lane, or take advantage of early entry perks, there are plenty of ways to make your day more efficient.
What are your favorite tips for making the most of your time at the parks?
