We've all been there. You arrive to the parks and it's shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. You see the wait times start to double for rides. Thirty minutes... sixty minutes... 2 HOURS! Nothing can kill a trip more than crowds and long lines.
I think we all dream of day when we catch the parks on a slow day. Unless you live in Orlando and go to the parks almost daily, the chances of you going on a slow day are fairly low. So here are some easy ways to manage busy days and long lines.
Going in With a Plan
I've had so many friends come home from a Disney vacation and vent about not getting to do as much as they had hoped. They felt like they were walking in circles all day long. This doesn't surprise me a bit knowing how big the parks are, but I also know they went in without a plan.
Going on a Disney vacation without an itinerary is vacation sabotage. This is not the type of vacation (in my opinion) that you just "wing". Here are my tips for creating your own itinerary:
When booking your park reservations, check park hours and special events to make sure you get the most out of your park day. If a park is closing early for a special ticketed event you're going to lose out on a decent amount of time in that park (unless of course you're attending that event).
Check out events and entertainment schedules for the day you'll be in that park. Some parks don't have the same events daily, such as fireworks at Disneyland. If you're really wanting to see fireworks at Disneyland and aren't going during peak season/holiday, make sure you go on a day they have fireworks (Friday-Sunday).
Make a list of the rides and attractions most important to your travel party. Check to see which rides are most popular and visit those rides first!
Remember to schedule time for meals and breaks. If you have a dining reservation, try planning to visit attractions in that area a couple hours before that reservation so you don't have to race from the opposite side of the park (and risk missing your reservation). Disney does charge a fee if you miss your dining reservation!
GO EARLY!
After a long travel day or a late night in a park, the last thing you probably want to do is get up early. Resist the urge to hit the snooze button! If you enter the parks first thing in the morning chances are the lines will be very short, or non existent if you go at rope drop. If you're staying at a Disney Resort take advantage of the early admission and Extra Magic hours. Lines really start to build up a couple hours after opening thru mid-day.
Try to avoid meltdowns and burnout by taking a break in the middle of the day when it's hottest and busiest. You can head back to the hotel for a nap, take a dip in the pool, or you can even resort hop and check out some of the other hotels around Disney property. Then you can head back to the park when it's cooling down or your party is well-rested.
Purchase Disney's Genie+
By using Disney's Genie+ you'll be able to maximize your ride experiences. Disney's Genie+ allows you to select rides and access the Lightning Lanes, bypassing the regular stand-by lane. Genie+ is an additional cost on top of your park ticket at $15 per day, per person. There are also individual lightning lane selection that come with an additional charge on top of the Genie+ cost. These are the extremely popular or new rides. You can purchase Genie+ the day of your park reservation and for as many days as you wish. So for some it might be worth it to only buy Genie+ for one day of their vacation depending on the rides they want to go on.
Go on Rides During Fireworks and Parades
Wait times go down quite a bit during parades and fireworks due to so many guests gathering for those events. So if you're okay missing out on a parade or firework show, it might really be worth the dip in wait times. Plus you can sometimes get a pretty cool view of the fireworks from rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
When all else fails...
...just have fun! I know crowds and lines can be exhausting and frustrating, but try noticing the little bits of magic all around you. A lot of line queues have interactive displays or decorations. There will be enough entertainment around you to pass your time in line. Let loose and enjoy your vacation!
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