When you’re on your Disney World vacation, which you may have been planning for months, if not years, the last thing you want is for anything to get in the way of you having your perfect trip.
Hi There, Disney World 🥰
We’re constantly working our hardest to get you the very best tips and information to help you plan to have the best trip possible. BUT, there is one thing that happens at Disney that can RUIN your trip, and you definitely don’t want it to take you by surprise.
No, we’re not talking about spilling your popcorn all over the floor (although that would be quite sad), or the fact that your kiddo might have an absolute MELTDOWN when a torrential downpour comes and tons of rides shut down (although that too would not be ideal). What we’re talking about are…those dreaded lines.
If you’re planning a visit to Disney, especially during a popular time like holidays or school breaks, you’re probably going to be faced with more than a few lines to get to something. You might find yourself in some LOOONG lines just to get inside of a pavilion in EPCOT, when getting on a ride, to get into your resort pool(?!), to visit a new store, or to get on the Skyliner or other Disney World transportation.
We’re Not Kidding Y’All, Some of These Lines Are LONG
If you go into Disney World and aren’t expecting those long lines and long waits, they can TOTALLY put a damper on your vacation. Now, sometimes we have encountered very low crowd levels in the parks and thus very short lines. But, recently, Park Passes for various parks have been selling out on various days, and we have seen some fairly big crowds. We expect the crowd levels will likely continue to be high as we enter the summer season when many kids are off from school and families take advantage of that time to visit the parks.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Disney World in the near future, particularly during a time that is expected to be busy, what can you do about those LOOONG lines? Here are our tips.
The Rides
If you have a must-do ride, you may want to try to get into the park and in line as EARLY as possible (you may even be able to rope drop now and get into the park before it officially opens for the day). Another thing you may want to do is keep an eye on that wait time in the My Disney Experience app throughout the day to see if wait times drop (especially after 2PM once people have started Park Hopping).
This Jungle Cruise Wait is No Joke!
Especially if you’re heading to Disney World in the near future while social distancing is still in effect, the lines may seem even crazier than they really are in terms of actual wait time, since guests must be distanced so the lines will stretch out really far. You might find yourself waiting somewhere super random, like say, standing in line in the China pavilion for a ride that’s in the Norway pavilion.
WYA Elsa??
Frozen Ever After isn’t the only thing in EPCOT we’ve seen crazy lines for though. We’ve seen the wait time get up to 2.5 hours just to get into the pyramid in Mexico!
Would YOU wait 2.5 hours for a Marg? 🧐
If you don’t mind shelling out a little bit of extra cash, Disney Genie+ can help you skip the lines with their paid FastPasses replacement, Lightning Lanes! The service is $15 per day per person, plus additional charges for especially popular attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
©Disney
If you had no idea to expect this type of queue it could totally mess up with your perfect EPCOT day, but here’s our best advice: know that lines can get crazy, prioritize your top choices, and make sure you knock those out as soon as you can before crowds get too crazy or keep an eye out for drops in wait times.
If you’re totally over Disney lines, you can skip them (for a price!) Check out the full list of Lightning Lanes Included with Genie+ Here!
Navigating the Lines
Navigating the parks with these long lines can be difficult right now. What is this line for? What are people waiting over here for? Where should I be looking for the end of the line for this ride? That’s why we’ve developed a series of maps to help you!
Norway and China Pavilions
These maps show you the general entrances and exits to various stores and more around Disney (as some of these have changed due to social distancing) and the typical spots where you’ll find those extended ride queues.
- Click here to see our EPCOT map
- Click here to see our Magic Kingdom map
- Click here to see our Disney’s Animal Kingdom map
- Click here to see our Disney’s Hollywood Studios map
Mobile Order
Lines to pick up Mobile Orders can also be quite long, and sometimes if you wait until peak eating times, you’ll have to wait quite a while to pick up that order. To avoid some of the lines and waiting, try to place your Mobile Order way in advance. You can place a Mobile Order early and schedule it for a later pick-up time.
Placing the order early should give you a wide choice of pick-up times to choose from, so later on you won’t have to worry about ordering your food at 12:00PM (when your stomach is already grumbling) and realizing you won’t be able to pick it up until 1:30PM.
Mobile Order Pick Up
You may also want to consider eating at “off times” when things aren’t as busy — in other words, not right at 12:00PM. Having a late breakfast and then a late lunch, or something like that, might help you get a shorter Mobile Order line and avoid some crowds.
Click here to see the mobile order mistake you do NOT want to make.
C is for Cookie…L is for Literally the Longest Line
Besides getting into your favorite rides or restaurants, you may encounter some other more unexpected queues, like a LONG queue for the newest cookies in Disney Springs.
Gideon’s Bakehouse
The Gideon’s Bakehouse line is notoriously long, and while they do have a virtual queue, it could still be hours before you get called to return to the store. So, we wouldn’t necessarily suggest trying to stop by Gideon’s if you’re on a time crunch.
It’s Finally Cookie Time ⏰
If Gideon’s is a must-do for you, be prepared to do some other things around Disney Springs while you wait! This way you won’t be disappointed by a potentially long wait, or have to skip out on those delicious creations.
Click here to see a step-by-step guide to getting Gideon’s Cookies in Disney Springs!
We Found a Line WHERE?
Lately, it’s become pretty normal to see lines in strange places around Disney World, but recently we found one that was VERY unexpected. If you’re hoping to take a dip in your resort pool on your next Disney Vacation, brace yourself!!
Look at that LINE!
At some hotels, resort guests sometimes have to wait in HUGE lines just to get into the pools!
Though pools across property are open for guests, there are still capacity limits like many other features at Disney World.
Some dedicated pool fans!
We’ve also seen some pools utilizing virtual waitlists, like what we’ve seen at some stores around Disney World. If your pool has a virtual line, the Cast Members will let you know how to get added, and you’ll generally receive a text when it’s time to return.
POOL TIME!!
If you have a full resort day planned with other activities in mind while you wait for your turn at the pool, this might not be such a big deal. However, if your family is used to coming back to the resort to hand out for a few hours and take a swim before heading back to the parks, long pool lines could put a wrench in your plans. Bottom line: like with a lot of lines in Disney, if you want to beat ’em, you may want to join ’em early.
Click here to see more details about a HUGE pool line we found at Disney World!
Morning Traffic
And of course, we couldn’t talk about lines without touching on what might be the most annoying kind of line: lines for transportation. So many people spend a lot of time and energy planning their perfect day in each Disney park, maybe even down to the minute. But it can be VERY frustrating if that schedule is set off by a long wait for transportation to get to the parks.
The Skyliner 😎
Due to limited capacity and social distancing requirements on the different forms of Disney transportation, the lines to get on these forms of transportation can back up quite a bit. That’s particularly true for Disney World’s newest form of transportation — the Skyliner.
LONG lines!
Lately, the Skyliner lines have been VERY long at times. Sure, the ride itself only lasts a few minutes, but it could take you quite a while to even get on in the first place!
Everyone Wants to Ride the Skyliner Today!
One of the best tips for avoiding Skyliner traffic (or really, any crowds on Disney transportation) is to get there early — are you noticing a theme here?
Hello, France!
The Skyliner generally starts running about one hour prior to the earliest park opening. So if Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the earliest park opening and is opening that day at 9AM, you probably won’t want to show up to the Skyliner line by 8:30AM because the line could already be bogged down.
Time for a Quick Trip in the Sky
In reality, this is not new. Disney transportation can get crowded right around park opening and at park close since that’s when the most people are using it. If that’s not your jam, you can always arrange for other options, like walking if you’re close enough, looking at ride-share, or seeing what other options are available.
Click here to see more of our advice about dealing with those Skyliner lines!
So, the main takeaway here is that the possibility of hitting some long lines in Disney World is an important thing to keep in mind as you plan your trip. Don’t let these long lines take you by surprise and ruin something you and your family have been really looking forward to!
It’s ~Golden Hour~
Try to get to the parks early if you can, try to get to those Skyliner lines early too, keep an eye on those wait times, and check out all of our tips for avoiding those lines. And, try to come prepared for those long lines — download some games, maybe even the Play Disney Parks app, or think of other games to keep the family entertained. While it’s highly likely you’ll have to wait in lines for some things in Disney World, with a few tips and tricks you can hopefully avoid some of them or at least be better prepared!
Click here to see how you can SKIP those long merchandise checkout lines in Disney World!
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Can one survive at Disneyworld without a cell phone??
Is it worth your money for this type of vacation it seems like a lot of money and work more than usual before the pandemic . Disney is always been money and work but it is getting worse . If you have small children or older family members is it really worth it . Yes and NO it depend on what you want out of your vacation .I am happy just being at the resorts I have been going for 22 years so I had my time in the parks . I love to go but I am a D V C Member so my resorts stay s are a maintenance once a year . So it would be for my advantage to go .
John, it’s possible.
We got to go to Gideon’s on a Tues and because of DFB I knew we had to go first to Gideon’s to get in the virtual queue. We were told 2 hours so we had something to eat and I bought too many pins. Then we went back and waited about 2 minutes before the text came to get in the real line. We bought 3 cookies and 2 gigantic slices of cake and it took 5 days to finish them off!
The lines and extreme heat did not make it very fun this last trip. We went the last week of May first of June 2021. I doubt we’ll do a repeat summer trip. The heat just takes it out of you so we couldn’t stay in the parks as long as we wanted. That coupled with the uninspiring dining options for breakfast and most quick service have us questioning if too much of the magic has been lost due to cuts. It was scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, Mickey Waffles, and potatoes for the main breakfast option at most quick service and sit down restaurants. The character meals are too distanced and the menus match what I get at the budget resorts, so it is very uninspired. The college program is not in full swing so the service is good but not as good as in previous years. I tried to scoff at the naysayers as I planned our trip, but I am “Dis-appointed” with how few benefits are afforded those who stay on site. Still NO extra magic half hour as promised months after the idea was promoted, no fast passes, loooong hot lines, very limited menus for any restaurant and any meal time, but an over all increase in prices….I cherish the time I spent with my family, but this experience does not inspire me to return any time soon.
I know it’s probably the privilege of being a Florida resident talking, but even though we had not been to Disney world in more than a decade, we didn’t feel compelled to stand in long lines. Sure we had a little heart break at not being able to do Haunted Mansion and we didn’t do ROTR. But at the end of the day, we had such a better time just moving on to the next closest thing with a shorter wait time. Not spending hours in long wait times allowed us to experience so many things like the shows, table service restaurants, or the ferry boat in MK that we’d never done before. We were more relaxed, less grumpy and had a lovely time. Maybe it’s the thought that we are not too far and can come back even if we don’t have immediate plans to do so.
Just when you think you have it figured out WDW moves the goal line & jacks up prices. WDW customer service has deteriorated. Universal has stepped into the void—they’re so nice over there. Just like WDW used to be…
What is going to happen when the Genie and Lightning lines get hours long. Everyone can’t be first. You will be standing in a long line, just like the people who did not pay extra. So, now you are not only still standing in a long line, you paid extra to stand in that line. Enjoy.
Before I add my 2 cents let me just state that it was a blessing to take another Disney vacation this past July! I don’t want to ever take for granted the fact that it’s a privilege to take any kind of trip especially a Disney trip.
Of the 5 vacations I’ve taken to WDW, this past one was the most disappointing.
Between the reservations, fewer perks, no Fastpass, no magic hours, early park closings, closed rides and shows and the ever increasing prices, we did not get our money’s worth. We had 5 days of PARK HOPPER PASSES PLUS passes and it was a WASTE of money. Although we spent MORE TIME in the parks than our previous vacations we got to do MUUUUUCH less and only park hopped ONCE! We only got to spend a couple of hrs at Blizzard Beach!
The lack of FP meant that we spent much of our time standing in lines. The reservation system much is more difficult to just do what we wanted where we wanted.
I’m not a parks expert but I do pretty well. I’m sure some folks could manage their visit just fine BUT this year we did far fewer rides & attractions, although we had much more time, than we had in previous years.
I want to go back but I’m not doing park hopping again. I’m not planning on paying for the new paid Fastpass. Disney is becoming a very expensive SIX FLAGS under both the Bobs leadership.
Iger was greedy and money hungry. Chapek is BOTH but he lacks vision & inspiration. Iger had that, although his vision of sucked and was guided by politics, but I don’t feel that Chapek and the Disney leadership really understand what makes Disney special. Just look at ENCHANTMENT & HARMONIOUS! Compare those to WISHES or HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
There’s nothing “special” about those shows. It’s just a collection of clips with music, projections & fireworks.
I mean it’s the 50th for crying out loud and there’s NOTHING celebrating Walt & Roy, very few of the classics and all that brought us here to 50 yrs of WDW.
They’re not bad shows but they’re not special either. They’re not memorable!
Plus, look at what was lost by adding that ugly barge for Harmonious!
(It’s also quite disgusting to have a message of “UNITY” for Harmonious while doing business with China and their concentration camps, political prisoners, suppression of religion and free speech!)
Neither Iger nor Chapek understood what EPCOT was about and I fear it’s just another collection of IP’s.
I LOVE what Walt and all of the wonderful people have created over the decades. I HATE what the current leadership is doing to Walt’s legacy!
I never take one and I do fine.
Our August trip involved waiting in lots of lines, but we found posted wait times to be way off. Sixty minutes meant forty…ninety meant fifty or so. Games on the phones and conversation with strangers kept us going while we waited.
Bravo Jason Alexander
You’ve completely captured our sentiments
My husband and I left Harmonious wondering what the heck we just witnessed
Everything else you’ve said is absolutely spot on!!
The lines and the crowds are what have made me postpone another Disney World trip any time in the near future. We keep hearing about people hurting because of inflation……you wouldn’t know it, because they are all flocking to Walt Disney World. Lines and crowds, the two things that I dislike most on vacations. Seems there are NO slow times left and it makes me sad to think I may never go back there again.