If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you’re probably excited to experience all the magical attractions and entertainment each theme park has to offer. However, you may also be worried about dealing with massive crowds. Nobody wants to spend most of their days at the parks standing in long lines.
What if you have to go to Disney World when it’s at its most crowded? Sometimes, the only time you can plan a Disney vacation is during peak seasons, like during the holidays or around three day weekends.
Don’t let the crowds get you down! It is totally possible to have an amazing WDW vacation even when the lines are long and the crowds are heavy. In this guide, we will give you 8 ways you can beat the crowds at Disney World and make the most of your trip while visiting during peak days.
1) Follow the Early / Late Rule
One of our best tips for any Disney World vacation is what we call the Early / Late Rule. Essentially, lines are always at their lowest in the couple of hours after park opening and the couple of hours before park closing.
While it may be tempting to sleep in and start your day later — you are on vacation after all — it’s actually best to take advantage of the smaller crowds during the early morning hours. This is especially true if you are staying at a resort that has Early Morning Entry, which lets you start going on rides 30 minutes before official park opening. It’s possible to check off two to three rides (or more) while morning crowds are still light. Be sure to “rope drop” correctly by getting to the park around an hour before park opening.
The same goes for the evening hours, as the crowds tend to thin out the later the evening goes. This is especially true for Magic Kingdom after the fireworks are done. If your resort is eligible for Extended Evening Hours, definitely take advantage of that perk. (Extra tip: if you aren’t eligible for Extended Evening Hours, avoid the park that has the late hours on that day. It will be more crowded)
So try to hit the most popular rides during the early and late hours. Not only will you be able to enjoy the attractions with shorter wait times, but you’ll also have a more enjoyable overall experience as you won’t have to fight through large crowds.
But what should you do in the middle of the day?
2) Do more “minor” rides in the middle of the day
At Disney World, the crowds flock to rides like Rise of the Resistance, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Avatar Flight of Passage. Wait times can get extremely long for these popular rides, especially during the afternoon.
So in the late morning and afternoon, try to hit up some of the less popular rides with shorter wait times. Disney World is filled with often overlooked gems, like Carousel of Progress, Living with the Land, American Adventure, or Muppet-Vision 3D.
Use the My Disney Experience app to pull up the current wait times on your phone, so you can pick out rides with the lowest waits. This way you can avoid the most massive wait times while crowds are at their highest.
3) Prioritize experiences that are less wait dependent.
Additionally, you could walk through an exhibit or playground, such as the Sea Base aquarium in EPCOT or Tom Sawyer’s Island in Magic Kingdom. These activities are especially great for families with small children, as it can keep everyone entertained for a long time with a minimal wait.
Another experience that is less wait dependent is eating! Book dining reservations for times with peak crowds, such as having an early dinner during the late afternoon. That way you can enjoy your meal and a much needed break from the crowds.
4) Make dining reservations as soon as you can
Speaking of dining, you’ll want to make your dining reservations as far ahead of your vacation as possible. A table service meal will give you a chance to relax and temporarily escape the crowds. If you’re visiting during peak season, consider making a reservation for at least one table service meal per day. This will remove the stress of trying to figure out food while navigating crowded quick service restaurants.
Since you’ll be visiting during the most crowded times of the year, even more people than usual will be trying to get reservations for the most popular restaurants. You can currently make dining reservations 60 days ahead of time, and sometimes slightly longer if you’re staying at an eligible resort. Check out our Guide 2 Disney World Dining Reservations for all the tips and tricks on securing reservations at WDW.
- How Early Can You Make Disney World Dining Reservations
- How to Make and Cancel Disney World Dining Reservations – A Step by Step Guide
- What to Do When You Don’t Have a Reservation at Disney World
- The Hardest Dining Reservations to Get at Disney World
- The Easiest Dining Reservations Worth Getting at Disney World
5) Mobile Order whenever possible
Another pain point for Disney World guests during peak season are long waits for counter service restaurants. This especially hurts when you have to wait in an extremely long line for lunch and your family is already hungry.
Avoid this by using Mobile Order at eligible quick service restaurants. You can place your order ahead of time, and then hit the “I’m Here” button once you are headed to the restaurant. This will trigger the restaurant to make your food. Once you get an alert that your meal is ready, head to the pickup counter to retrieve your order.
When used correctly, Mobile Order is a huge time saver, and it’s a must for navigating Disney World when it’s at its most crowded.
6) Consider buying Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane
If your budget allows for it, Genie+ can definitely be worth a purchase during your Disney World vacation. Ranging from $15-$29 per ticket per day, Genie+ gives you one-at-a-time access to the Lightning Lane at certain attractions, such as Slinky Dog Dash, Space Mountain, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. If you know how to use it correctly, Genie+ can be a huge time saver.
Genie+ is a bit of a double-edged sword during peak seasons at Disney World. Since lines are at their longest all year, Genie+ can save you the most amount of time during peak days. It almost feels like a requirement. However, because more people are using the system, Lightning Lane availability will run out earlier in the day, and you might struggle to get reservations for the best rides. Also, since Disney World changed Genie+ to variable pricing, you may be paying more money for fewer Lightning Lane reservations.
Luckily, we have both a Genie+ Guide and Lightning Lane Recommendations per park that will let you know how to maximize the system and get the most out of your Genie+ purchase.
The other huge time saver is Individual Lightning Lane, which is available at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Avatar Flight of Passage. These rides are not included in Genie+, and they only offer a la carte Lightning Lane purchases. As these are arguably the four most popular rides at Disney World currently, purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane for these rides as early as possible can be a huge time saver, as each of these attractions will have multi-hour waits on peak days.
(Note: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind currently has a Virtual Queue, which typically has a 30-45 minute wait once you get in line. If you strike out with the Virtual Queue, Individual Lightning Lane is your only other choice for getting on this roller coaster at EPCOT)
7) Take a break at your resort
Another way to deal with the crowds at Disney World it to avoid them altogether. It’s a good idea to consider going back to your resort during the afternoon when crowds in the theme parks are typically at their peak.
This can be a great way to take a break, relax, and recharge before heading back into the parks later in the day when crowds tend to thin out. While at your resort, you can take a swim, enjoy a meal, or simply take a nap to rest up for the rest of your day.
You might also consider visiting one of the many other recreational offerings at your resort, such as the fitness center, arcade, or poolside activities. By taking a break during the busiest part of the day, you’ll be able to avoid the crowds and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of your day at the park.
The only drawback to this plan is that parks can hit capacity on certain days, such as Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. This usually is a concern at Magic Kingdom. Just keep that in mind as you make your plans.
8) Use line minimizing tricks like Single Rider and Rider Swap
There are a few free ways to minimize your wait time at Disney World. One great solution for parties who don’t mind getting split up for a few minutes while going on a ride is Single Rider. This line is available at some really popular attractions like Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Expedition Everest. You wait in a shorter line in exchange for filling empty seats. Read all about how Single Rider at Disney World works here.
Families with small children should also be aware of Rider Switch. It allows everyone in your party to go on a ride with a height limit, even if one of your children is too small or too frightened to go on it. It’s a great time saving tip for large parties, and it’s worth knowing how it works even when crowds aren’t too heavy. Check out our full Rider Switch guide to find out the ins and outs of this system.
We want to hear from you!
Those are our best tips for beating the crowds at Walt Disney World, even during peak seasons. Do you have any tips or tricks for dealing with long lines and tons of other guests at WDW? Let me know in the comments below!
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