It used to be that Walt Disney World had it’s “busy times” and it’s “slow times” – but these days, they are bringing in the crowds each and every day – which is great for business, and amazing that so many people want to experience that “Disney Magic” – but navigating the sea of people can be tricky for most – so learn from us Disney Addicts, who have done it all & battled all the crowds (and lived to tell about it!). Read on for our top tips for handling those Walt Disney World crowds:
Extra Magic Hours – This is a huge perk of staying on WDW property (Read about more of those perks here), and it basically boils down to more Park time for you, as certain Parks will open early/stay open late on specific days, and these extra hours are only open to guests staying at the WDW Resort Hotels. I personally prefer morning Extra Magic Hours to evening ones, as I can get there early right when the park opens, and it’s nice and empty, and I can ride all my favorite rides (sometimes multiple times in a row!) without much wait at all. I highly recommend utilizing the Extra Magic Hours whenever possible!
Utilize Fastpasses– The Fastpass+ system is amazing, and if you haven’t heard of it, it’s main goal is to get you on the most popular rides as quickly and efficiently as possible by essentially “skipping” the standby line and going through another (shorter) line. You can book 3 fastpasses ahead of time online or via the Walt Disney World app on your smartphone
Pro Tip: Speaking of your smartphone, be sure you download the Disney World app before your trip – it is SUPER useful, you can book dining, fastpasses, check ride wait times, and view maps on it, too!
Planning your Meals – Since you can make your Advance Dining Reservations, or ADR’s, 180 days before your trip, you can plan your sit down meals and which parks to visit around those meals, and you can pick other places you might want to eat in advance as well by checking the Disney website/app which lists all the restaurants and their menus. I also recommend trying new restaurants, ones that are off the beaten path – there are some amazing restaurants at the WDW Resorts, and it’s a great way to escape the crowded Parks and enjoy a new meal in a new setting!
Eating at Odd times – This is a common tip that I have seen published a lot, and it’s definitely worthwhile to make your ADR’s for weird times, like a 2pm lunch, or a 10:30am breakfast. It’s also a good tip to follow when looking to grab a counter service meal at the Parks, as everyone will tend to want to eat around noon for lunch, and around 5 or 6 for dinner. If you are willing/able to eat outside the standard meal times, you will find less crowded restaurants and shorter lines, which adds up to more time for touring and rides/attractions
Have A Plan – Now, there are many spreadsheets/planners/apps etc that can help you plan out your days at the Parks, and some of them are very intense and have you planning your days down to the minute. I like planning, but that’s too much even for me! I usually will make a rough outline, including our ADR’s and working in which Parks we will go to around those, and I also will make a list of “MUST SEE” rides/attractions for each Park, and I try to keep it short (under 5 items per park, so I don’t feel overwhelmed with things I HAVE to do while at the Parks), and above all I try and remember to be flexible, that crowds can end up affecting my plans, and that is ok, I will get to do all the things I want to do (eventually!)
Take a Break before you Breakdown – I have found that the best way to handle the Parks is to arrive early (when they open if possible), and spend the morning on your favorite rides/attractions, and then once lunchtime hits, to escape back to your WDW Resort for lunch, and a swim or a nap (or all three!). This is a tip you hear a lot, and that is because its one of the best tips out there – especially if you have kids, by about lunchtime they might start to get cranky and hungry, and its much better to avoid this by heading back to the hotel and grabbing lunch there (where it will be less crowded than the Parks). Note that this also works for adults who are prone to crankiness and meltdowns (trust me, I would know!). Once you are all rested and rejuvinated, you can head back to the Parks later in the afternoon/early evening, where the sun won’t be as hot, and the crowds will have thinned out some, allowing you more quality Park time!
So while it used to be that there were “busy times” at WDW, but recently it seems that there is always some kind of promotion or special event going on, which makes pretty much every time a ‘busy time’, which is fine by me, the more people that go, the more attractions/resorts they will build and the longer WDW will be around for future generations to enjoy! At the end of the day, the best advice I can give is to assume it will be crowded, and plan accordingly!
Some of the above may seem obvious, or they may be things that you already do, or you may have better ideas than me, so I want to know: What do YOU do to deal with the crowds at WDW?
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started Now for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
- Tips for staying cool while visiting Walt Disney World - June 18, 2022
- Disney DIY – Theme Park Map Picture Frames - May 28, 2020
- Favorite Walt Disney Quotes - October 29, 2019
