Disney World and I go way back. Like WAY back (think of days as a kid with your Mickey ears permanently glued to your head kind of way back).

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years about Disney World is that, Disney sure knows how to separate us from our cash, especially when it comes to options to increase the convenience for you (looking at you Lightning Lane). All of that can make it a bit tough to try to plan out a budget that works well for your trip, but that’s what we’re here for. We’ve tried every single Lightning Lane option under the sun at Disney World, and good news! We’ve got some ways for you to avoid paying for any of them!

As we were saying, if you’re not careful on your Disney World trip, you can become separated from your cash faster than you realized. So, to that point, we want to remind you of something. Say this with me: “You don’t have to pay for Lightning Lanes to have an amazing Disney day!”

I’ll skip the rest of that exercise where I have you repeat it again, and then tell your neighbor (you get the drift). Seriously though, you don’t need to pay for the option to skip the crowds. Take our word for it. We’ve tried every Lightning Lane option there is and we’ve picked up some clever hacks to avoid forking over extra cash while still skipping those endless lines. So, let’s dive right in!

Don’t Pay for Lightning Lanes at All

Let’s start with the basics: you don’t HAVE to buy Lightning Lanes (sorry to be a broken record, we just want you to get it). Yes, Disney’s been hyping them up like crazy lately, especially with that new Lightning Lane Premier Pass (which costs a small fortune and is only available to deluxe resort guests). Sure, they’re convenient.

But if you’re strategic, you can bypass the crowds without spending a single extra penny. Here’s how:

Go When Disney Is Less Crowded

If this is going to be your first trip to Disney World, you’re going to learn really quickly that timing is everything when it comes to avoiding lines at Disney. If you can swing it, plan your trip during Disney’s off-season. This means avoiding peak times like:

• School breaks (spring break, summer vacation, holidays)
• Weekends
• Holiday-specific events like Christmas and Halloween parties

Instead, you’ll typically want to aim for late August or September when the kids are back in school. Or you could try mid-January to early February when the post-holiday lull sets in. As an added bonus the prices for tickets and hotels are often lower during these periods, too. Fewer people = shorter lines = less stress.

Wake Up for Rope Drop (It’s Worth It, I Promise)

If you’ve been around Disney fans for five minutes, you’ve probably heard of “rope drop” which is a fancy term for getting inside the parks right when they open. This is one of the BEST ways to knock out popular rides before the lines explode.

Here’s how to do it like a pro:

• Arrive 30 minutes before opening. Sometimes Disney opens the gates a bit early for guests to start queueing, so you want to be there ASAP.
• Hit up the biggies first. In Magic Kingdom, this means rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. At Hollywood Studios, beeline it to Rise of the Resistance.

And then afterwards, you can “reward yourself” with Disney coffee after you’ve crushed a couple of rides. Priorities, right?

Take Advantage of Early Theme Park Entry

If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, or one of their good-neighbor hotels, you’re in luck. Early Theme Park Entry gives you access to the parks a full 30 minutes before they officially open. Thirty minutes might not sound like much, but trust me — it’s enough to get a solid jump on the crowds.

Here are some of the rides we’ve hit up during Early Entry:

• Fantasyland rides like Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom
• Toy Story Land rides like Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios

On top of that, if you’re staying at a deluxe resort, you get an extra perk: Extended Evening Hours, which let you enjoy select parks for an additional two hours on certain nights. Fewer people and cooler evening temps? Sounds like a win-win to me.

Become One With the Night Owls

If mornings aren’t your thing (I see you, fellow night owls), this strategy might just be your golden ticket. At Disney, as long as you’re in line before a ride’s posted closing time, you’ll still get to ride even if the park officially closes while you’re waiting.

For example, I’ve hopped into the line for Flight of Passage just 15 minutes before Animal Kingdom’s closing time. Even though the line was still long, Disney always makes sure everyone in the queue gets to ride.

I do want you to know, however, that this strategy is a gamble. If the ride goes down for maintenance or, heaven forbid, a “protein spill” (Disney’s polite way of saying someone got sick), then you’re out of luck.

Sacrifice a Nighttime Spectacular

Okay, hear me out. Disney’s nighttime shows are incredible—fireworks, projections, music, tears of joy, the works. BUT if you’re willing to skip a nighttime spectacular, you can take advantage of the fact that most guests will be watching it instead of riding rides.

For example, at EPCOT, I’ll choose to hop in the line for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure during my Early Theme Park Entry time, and then 20-30 minutes before Luminous begins towards the end of the day, I’ll jump in line for Frozen Ever After!

It’s all about priorities. Sure, I love a good fireworks display, but sometimes knocking out a few extra rides is just worth it.

Our Final Thoughts

Sure, Disney might be nudging you to spend extra on Lightning Lanes, but that doesn’t mean you HAVE to. With a little strategy and planning, you can dodge long lines, ride your favorites, and still have an amazing Disney World day without spending a dime on extra passes.

In the meantime, make sure to keep it right here at Disney Food Blog, and we’ll keep you updated on the latest Disney news!

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What are your favorite tips and tricks for avoiding and altogether skipping the crowds at Disney Word? Let us know in the comments down below!