PlanningThe ParksTips

Rides Not Worth Genie+

Ever get overwhelmed deciding which rides to schedule on Genie+? Some rides have a better stand-by experience than others, so it is helpful to know how to plan for the most seamless Disney Day.

Queuing at Disney is inevitable. Even with Genie+, you will most likely find yourself trying to kill time in-between Lightning Lane windows. 

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Credit: Disney

The flow factor of a line is an aspect to take into consideration. Moving feet are happy feet, so if it doesn’t feel like progress is being made, the whole waiting experience feels sluggish. Soarin’ for example – I love this ride, but there is hardly any movement in the stand-by queue. Waiting any longer than 15 minutes here is treacherous.

Here is a list of the queues that bring the best waiting experience in the parks!

 

MAGIC KINGDOM

Pirates of the Caribbean
Credit: Disney

Pirates of the Caribbean

The majority of this queue is inside, but even the outside portion is covered, providing great shelter during Florida’s afternoon storms. The flow of this line is top-notch, especially when you get into the dark, concrete, air conditioned hallways, making this one of the most enjoyable queues at Magic Kingdom. Plus the background music is fun, and the details of the props throughout the queue are great pieces of the storytelling.

Flow factor – 4.5/5

Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

Swimming along with Ariel is always a great spot to kill some time. Some of the queue is outside, but you are mostly surrounded by a water feature, providing some coolness, and a good chunk of your wait is in air conditioning.

Flow factor – 5/5

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

I’m a sucker for anything Toy Story, and this ride is no exception. There is minimal time waiting outside, and the Buzz animatronic is really fun!

Flow factor 5/5

peterpansflight

Honorable Magic Kingdom mention:

Peter Pan’s Flight

The flow factor and air conditioning quality here is low, but if you have never been through this queue, you MUST make time for it on your next Disney trip (try during fireworks or right after the park opens!) The theming alone is worth it.

Best Magic Kingdom LL selections: Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight

EPCOT

Spaceship Earth

Ninety-five percent of this queue is outdoors, but the space underneath Spaceship Earth is considered a breezeway, making it a decently pleasant place to hang out. This attraction (as many others in this list) is considered an “omni-mover,” meaning it moves consistently at the same speed throughout the duration of the attraction, providing a more consistently moving waiting experience

Flow Factor – 5/5

test-track-768x432 (disney)
credit: Disney

Test Track

If you use a Lightning Lane for this ride, there is still another 25 minutes at least until you load. The experience of designing your own car is a fun addition to this classic EPCOT ride, but it is definitely a time-sucker. Hang out in the air conditioned line at Test Track while you sip on your avocado margarita from Mexico, and use your LL where you truly pass most of the queue. 

Flow Factor – 4/5

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Tucked away in the Seas Pavilion, this ride is often forgotten. This queue is dark and air-conditioned, providing a great break from the heat of EPCOT. The wait is usually manageable, and can often be found under 30 minutes.

Flow Factor – 5/5

Best EPCOT LL selections: Frozen Ever After, Soarin’, Guardians of the Galaxy

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

toy story mania

Toy Story Mania

The imagineers did such a great job with this queue! You are immersed in Andy’s bedroom, and depending on the side you are sent, you see different parts of the room.

When the line is longer there is an outdoor portion of the queue, but there is slight covering and the air conditioning is great inside. Plus you don’t want to miss Mr. Potato Head!

Flow Factor – 4.5/5

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

This is the most efficient attraction in all of Walt Disney World so you move through this line QUICKLY. The outdoor portion weaves around the true-to-size Millennium Falcon in the middle of the land, and provides decent air conditioning when you get inside.

PLUS! If your group doesn’t mind being split up, there is a single rider line that normally takes a fraction of the posted wait time.

Flow Factor – 5/5

Star Tours

The theming of this queue might be one of my favorites. Walking in and seeing C3PO and R2D2 next to the Star Cruiser is so much fun – plus the majority of this queue is inside.

Flow factor – 4/5

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

Dinosaur

This is definitely an underrated attraction, and tucked in the back corner so the standby queue is rarely overwhelming. Some good air conditioning inside, plus you get to hear Bill Nye the science Guy teach you things about dinosaurs!

Flow Factor – 4/5

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris

While this queue isn’t the best place to go to cool down, there is plenty of shade plus fans to get the air moving. I like to grab an iced coffee at Starbucks and head to this queue while I wait for my Flight of Passage window.

Flow Factor – 5/5

Honorable Animal Kingdom Mention

Expedition Everest

There is zero air conditioning in this queue and a lot of it is in the sun. But what really makes this queue is the immersive and unique theming (thank you, Joe Rhode). Go straight to the back of the park first thing in the morning, walk through the queue and ride before it gets too hot!

Best Animal Kingdom LL selections: Flight of Passage, Navi River Journey

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