Best Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Disney World

Best Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Disney World

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Best Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Disney World

This article is your ultimate guide to how to avoid long lines at Disney World! There is no denying that Disney World brings joy and happiness to anyone who goes. However, the most magical place on Earth comes with its consequences, as it’s guaranteed to be crowded with other eager visitors. As much as we wish we could get to the front of the line in Disney World, it may seem impossible.

However, if you’re looking for a way on how to avoid long lines at Disney World, we’ve got options! We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Walt Disney World tickets!

Here’s what you need to know about how to beat the crowds at Disney World.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are still in the process of planning your Disney vacation need help picking the best time to visit Disney World be sure to check out our Disney crowd calendar below!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

Disney World Average Wait Times

How Many Rides at Disneyland Vs Disney World

Wait times vary in many ways. First, it depends on what you’re waiting on line for: rides, food, character meet and greets, etc. Then, it’s a matter of which park you’re in, the time of day, how popular the ride or character is, and other variables. This especially accounts for Disney World ride wait times. The average wait times for Disney World rides varies on how the busy the parks are and how popular the ride is.

For the best estimate on crowds, we suggest using our Crowd Calendar. This way you’ll be able to plan which park you want to visit on certain days to avoid Disney World ride waits. Guests can also download the My Disney Experience app which will give you real-time wartimes from around the Disney parks. We always recommend downloading the app a few days before your vacation so you can get familiar with how it works. Not only can you check your favorite rides wait times, but guests can use the app to make dining reservations, check into their hotel room and even make purchases! And, If you love to travel, you’ll love these amazing travel quotes.

How Long Are Waits at Disney World By Park?

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Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Disney World Animal Kingdom wait times will vary, like all other parks. However, Pandora, The World of AVATAR tends to have the longest Disney Animal Kingdom wait times. Both of Pandora’s rides, Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey, are available for FastPass. However, these rides are both high in demand, so you’re only allowed to book a FastPass for one of the two rides per day, therefore having the Animal Kingdom longest wait times.

Current wait times at Disney World Animal Kingdom Flight of passage, on a level 1 crowded day, typically has an average wait time of 80-135 minutes, and the Na’vi River wait is the next longest averaging from 30-75 minutes. Usually, Dinosaur TriceraTop Spin, and Primeval Whirl have the shortest wait times.

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

With Toy Story Land being a newer addition to the park, Hollywood Studios ride wait times tend to be the longest there because of the Slinky Dog rollercoaster averages 50-73 minutes. However, Tower of Terror on its level 1 days can reach 70-minute wait times, and the Rock n Rollercoaster reaches 65 minutes, making them some of the longest lines at Hollywood Studios. Typically, Star Tours has some lesser wait times with 15-25 minutes.

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

Average wait times at Magic Kingdom vary from ride to ride and land to land, but have some of the longest wait times at Disney World. Magic Kingdom consists of 6 lands; Fantasyland, Main Street U.S.A., Tomorowland, Liberty Square, Adventureland, and Fronteirland. Their most popular rides are notoriously known for having the longest lines in the Magic Kingdom. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train always has a long line, for the wait can be up to two hours and 45 minutes. Peter Pan’s Flight always tends to have a line that adds up to an hour and 40-minute wait, and the same with the famous Jungle Cruise, where you can wait in line for up to an hour and 15 minutes. For typically shorter rides, visit Mad Tea Party, Astro Orbitor, or Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid,

Magic Kingdom wait times October 2021 will be a little different. October 1st, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Disney World/Magic Kingdom. Although the anniversary celebration will start months prior, it’s almost certain that crowds will be even bigger the month of October, and you can assume Disney park ride times will increase.

EPCOT Wait Times

With so much going on at EPCOT, it’ll be hard not to choose some of your favorite rides to go on, so make sure you’re prepared and know the longest lines Disney World has in EPCOT. Usually, the longest line in general is the Frozen Ever After ride in the Norway Pavilion. On the opposite end, the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion can have little to no wait at all.

Disney Line Cutting Policy

Cutting lines at Disney World is not permitted in any way, shape, or form, no matter how terribly you want to get to the front. There are ways at Disney World to skip lines without the consequences of cutting!

How To Skip The Lines At Disney

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Disney lines today seem like they can easily be avoided if you have the right tools to do so. Although there’s no such thing as a Disney World “front line pass,” there are still ways to get ahead! Here’s how to beat the lines at Disney World:

Skip the Lines at Disney World with Genie+

Did you know that Disney just introduced a completely new feature on it’s mobile  which will actually help you skip the lines at Walt Disney World? That’s right, the Disney Genie+ will give guests access to the lightning lane reservation system and it can significantly reduce the amount of time you wait on lines at Walt Disney World. 

For $15 per person per day, guests can use the Disney Genie+ service and choose a return time from a list of  attractions to come back and enter that ride through the lightning lane. There are also two premium rides which can be purchased separately on top of the regular Genie+ product. And although this is a premium product it is simply one of the best ways to skip long lines at Walt Disney World. 

Single Rider Lane

If you don’t mind riding alone, the Single Rider line saves you with shorter Disney wait times for rides. If you’re going on the ride and have a small child, you can opt to do the Rider Switch service, which allows one adult to go on the ride while the other adult waits, and then the other adult goes on the ride and switches positions. This Disney skip the line option isn’t on all rides, but it’s great to take advantage of them when possible.

Best Disney App for Wait Times

For the most accurate information on the average line wait at Disney World, download the official My Disney Experience app. You’ll be able to check how wait times both inside and outside the park. This way, you’ll be able to keep track on average Disney wait times online. While you’re at the park, watch for the dropping wait times, and when there’s a lesser wait, run over to the ride. So instead of asking, “how long are wait times at Disney World,” you can figure it out yourself!

Ride When there are Other Events Going On

Another way on how to not wait in line at Disney World is riding while there are other things going on in the park. For example, when the show, Fantasmic, is playing in Hollywood Studios, it would be the perfect time to ride Slinky Dog. Or when a parade or firework display is going. Basically, don’t follow the crowds!

Run to the Back

If you’re starting your day the minute the parks open, another “Disney World line pass” trick is to go all the way back to the park and go on those rides first. Usually, people tend to go to the rides at the very beginning of the park, because that’s the easiest access. But if you’re looking to avoid that line, we recommend starting from the back and working your way back to the front!

Things To Do While Waiting In Line At Disney

When you can’t avoid the line, you should make the most of it and plan ahead. Use this time to check your FastPass options. If you want another skip line pass in Disney, this is the best time to check for them, that way once you’re off your current line, you can bounce to the next ride, line free! You can always also check the app to see if wait times for rides have changed at all!

And if you ever need a break from all of your planning, it’s always fun to download an app on your phone and play a game with people in the line with you. Odds are, more people will join you for a fun, bonding experience!

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

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Our Disney Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner and chief editor at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!