How Can I Avoid the Crowds at Disney World?
When people think of Disney World, they think of thrilling rides, time with family, and new experiences. They don’t want to think about the crowds at Disney World, which is understandable. More people visit Disney World than any other amusement park worldwide.
Over 58 million people visit Disney World each year, which means the park can get very crowded. However, there are some tips you can use to get around the crowds at Disney World.
1) Go when the park isn’t as busy.
This may seem obvious, but if you want to avoid the crowds at Disney World, go at times of the year when the park isn’t as busy. There are predictable times of the year for large crowds at Disney World. For example, you’ll want to avoid Thanksgiving Week, the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s, and Spring Break time in March and April.
You also don’t want to go most days in June and July when the park sees more visitors than at any other time. By avoiding major holidays, you lessen the chances you’ll run into large crowds at Disney World.
Not only should you avoid major holidays, but you need to know that weekends are the busiest. Crowds at Disney World tend to be lighter in the middle of the week, such as Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
2) Choose your time wisely.
Avoiding the crowds at Disney World isn’t just about the time of year or even the time of the week. You can also lower the wait times and long lines by choosing times of the day when the park is less crowded. If you are a morning person, take advantage of that.
You can make a breakfast reservation for one of the restaurants inside the Magic Kingdom before the park opens. That way, you’ll already be inside the park for the 9 a.m. opening.
Also, mornings at Disney World tend to be less crowded.
If you are a morning person, and your family are early risers, you may want to try the Early Morning Magic feature of Disney World. You pay $70 per person, but you get into the park to ride the biggest attractions before anyone else, and there’s a buffet breakfast as well. This may be one of the best ways to maximize your time in the park and avoid those crowds.
In general, the times of day with the largest crowds are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.–which is also the hottest part of the day in Florida. After 6 p.m., the crowds at the park thin considerably.
Depending on the time of year, Disney World is open until 11 p.m. or later, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the park. Also, if you stay at a Disney-affiliated resort, guests have an extended time in the park–sometimes until 1 a.m., so think about finding a hotel that offers extended hours for guests at Disney World.
3) Make Use of the My Disney Experience App
This handy app is available for both iPhone and Android phones, and it allows you to keep track of wait times at any of the Disney Parks all through the day. If you don’t have small children and can travel back and forth in the park, this app is amazing because it allows you to see when one of your favorite rides isn’t busy, so you can jump in line.
4) Take Advantage of Line Skipping Deals–But Be Prepared to Pay
If you use the Disney Genie+ service, you get to skip the standby lines and use the Lightning Lane line instead. This service isn’t free, but it’s a timesaver. You can begin to make reservations for your favorite rides beginning at 7 a.m. on the Genie+ service for the day of your visit.
Also, if there are rides you know you can’t miss, you’ll want to use the Lightning Lane passes. These are available for purchase every morning, but once they are gone, you’re out of luck until the next day. Like the Genie+ service, you’ll pay for Lightning Lane passes as well. Pro tip: only use those Lightning Lane paid passes for rides everyone wants to ride, such as the Milennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run.
5) Go VIP
Want to really be treated like a VIP? There are a couple of extra tricks if you have some extra dollars to spend. First, you can choose to stay at a Deluxe Disney Resort.
Disney World has three tiers of lodgings. There are the Budget resorts, which are the most reasonable, the medium resorts, which are more expensive, and the Deluxe Resorts, which are pricey but come with perks.
If you are going to stay at a Deluxe resort, you can upgrade to a Club Level ticket package. This allows you to pay a per day charge per family member and get passes to rides with usually long lines, so you can skip right through the wait.
Along with the timesaving perks, Club Level has a members-only club room with complimentary drinks and snacks, with other perks such as extra security, and separate entrances and exits.
Let World Class VIP Navigate Disney World for You!
The amount of information out there about lines and ride reservations is mind-boggling. However, with a little time and preparation, you can maximize your family’s experience at Disney World and minimize your stress level. You can also opt to spend a little extra cash in return for fewer people online at your favorite rides.
However, if the thought of planning for your Disney World trip leaves you breathless, we can help. World Class VIP can give you the VIP experience without all the hassle.
It’s our job to plan your Disney VIP Tour with some of the best Disney VIP Tour Guides in the business. We can plan your trip, get tickets to show, and help you avoid long lines. If you want someone else to handle the headache of planning your Disney World vacation, contact us today for a free quote.