How do I avoid long lines at Disney World?

Question

We're going to Disney World for the 4th of July weekend any tips for avoiding long lines? My kids are 4 and 6 so we'll spending most of the time in the Magic Kingdom but will be visiting all of the parks.

Answer 1

The fourth of July weekend is the second busiest time of the year to visit Disney right behind Christmas, so long lines are inevitable.

http://mouseadvisor.com/travel-planning/when-to-go/

However with a little planning you should be able to see quite a bit. Try to get to the parks early. I know you're on vacation but if you can be there for the "rope drop" (when they drop the rope to open the park) you'll be ahead of the game. Instead of trying for full days at the park try leaving after lunch for a swim in the pool or nap back at the hotel. If the kids will take a nap you've got a shot bringing them back and staying later in the park when the lines are less crowded. Learn to use fastpass to your advantage, if you pay attention to the times printed on the tickets you can secure two fastpasses at once. Here's a link to a guy who shows you how and did every ride in Fantasyland in under 4 hours on Memorial Day weekend!

http://www.mousemanual.com/blog/fantasyland-4-hours/

I see some of the people recomend getting a wheelchair there is a $10 fee for regular wheelchairs and $30 for electric ones. While it may "work" I don't think it's the right thing to do, but as Jimminy Cricket would say "let your conscience be your guide"

Answer 2

There's a couple of options I can suggest. First and easiest is the FASTPASS. Basically you grab a FASTPASS ticket and it says come back during a certain time period and you avoid the lines. Now the FASTPASS isn't available at every single ride though and the number of passes given out per day are limited.

Second is going to the parks early, the earlier you get there is lower the line. But keep in mind it will get busier and there will be long lines regardless of the time of day. I recommend getting the park hopper option on your tickets so you can check out a different park in the afternoon to get away from the crowds (Magic Kingdom is going to be the busiest park and so you can go there in the morning and check out a different park in the afternoon).

Last but not least, I suggest trying to stay on site and the reason why I say that is when you stay on site you can take advantage of what is called extra magic hours. The extra magic hours are when Disney opens a certain park an hour early and a different one up to 3 hours late. Disney has a schedule of which park will have these extra magic hours. Now which ever park is offering the extra magic hours will be a lot more crowded so just keep that in mind. Disney has about 30 resorts so keep in mind that all those people will be using the extra magic hours too. If you're going to do take advantage of the extra magic hours though, I would do like I suggested before and only spend half a day at that park and go to another.

Before you go I would also check out some fan sites and maybe some travel books.

Answer 3

Wow, hate to break it to you, but I've heard that Fourth of July weekend brings in some heavy crowds. :( Regardless, you can still have fun of course, and here are some tips that have always worked for us:

~Use Fast Passes. If you don't know how they work, ask a Cast Member as soon as you enter the park. If you don't know what they are, they are basically free tickets that offer you a time frame to go to a particular ride/attraction and pretty much walk right on/in.
~ Don't dash inside if it rains- most everyone else will duck into a restaurant or gift shop, and you will find shorter lines as a result.
~ Skip the parades. Since so many people (especially those with children your age) will be sitting, waiting for, and watching the parade, you should get at least a good hour or so to hit some attractions you may have skipped earlier in the day.
~ If you're staying on property, see if any of the Extra Magic Hours are for the Magic Kingdom either of the days you are there. There is a calendar with updated hours on the official Disney website.
~Eat at "off" times. Most people stick to eating at traditional times. If you can get your family to eat earlier or later than the crowds, you often find shorter lines for rides (and the restaurants are packed anyway).

Have fun, and as an important side note, don't get so worried about missing out that you push yourselves too far. I haven't been to WDW on the Fourth, but I have been during July, and the heat can be brutal! Make sure you make time to relax a bit, too. ;)

Answer 4

Regardless you're going to have to deal with lines and crowds especially during this time of year and that particular weekend (one of the busiest) but some ways to avoid the lines is too:
1) Arrive at the entrance to the parks at least 30 minutes before park open (people do line up early)
2) Head straight for the "biggest" attractions and collect there fastpasses (you can hit those attractions up any time after the first time given)
3) Rider Swap Passes, for those that your little one can't or doesn't want to go on (It's only good for the second rider though), go to FastPass entrance and ask the Cast Member for information
4) Pay BIG MONEY for a tour guide during your stay
5) If staying at a WDW Hotel go/stay for the Extra Magic Hours, they are alot less crowded, but only select attractions are open.

Remember not to get stressed out otherwise it will affect your kids enjoyment, then it will be nothing but a HUGE waste of money. Just relax and enjoy your trip, for you will be at the "Most Magical Place on Earth".

PS The "wheelchair trick" DOES NOT work, they have to wait in line just like everyone else...

Answer 5

During the 4th it is pretty much impossible to avoid. You are going during one of the busiest times for Disney. Most of the parks will likely close to capacity. Meaning, no more people can fit it, so lines will be long. I'm going over that time period as well and still considering whether I am going to the parks on the 4th.

But, to give you a few ideas. When you enter the parks, go left instead of right. You may be able to avoid some lines this way. Get a fast past ASAP for the more popular rides, they will likely runout, so you will need to get them as early as you can. Be sure to take advantage of any extra magic hours. Finally, don't go to the fireworks and/or parades. Everyone is there to see them and if you don't go, there is pretty much no line.

Answer 6

1. GET THERE EARLY! Don't get there when the park opens, get there when the employees do ;)

2. Fast Pass. Find the ride everybody wants and as soon as you are close to it get a Fast Pass and then go let the kids play in the water or other climbing parks.

3. If staying on property leave the Park mid afternoon and come back. Check the hours but people start dieing off from the heat and you would be surprised how few stay till closing.

4. Pack umbrellas, rain gear and change of clothes then pray for rain. It will chase folks indoors or out of the park ;)

5. When you get so hot you can't take it any more do the Bugs Life.

6. Plan! Get a map before you go, find the rides the kids want and hit those ASAP because they are going to be dead by mid afternoon.

7. Hats! Sunscreen! Good shoes! Lots of Rest Before hand! Good Breakfast! WATER WATER WATER!!! Bring in your own bottle, those fanny holders or otherwise to strap water on everyone is a good idea.

8. The 4 year old may not want it but I'd grab a stroller or bring one. They work great for carrying the extra stuff around and like I said he will be dead by mid afternoon.

Answer 7

Use FastPass whenever you can, espesially if you will have children with you. We went in November and this saved us from standing in lines for those hugely popular rides. You use the room key card. Insert it into the FastPass machine and it will give it rght back along with a ticket that has your ride time stated on it. When it is time, you just get into the FastPass line instead of the regular one and they take you right in. The was a few minutes wait when we got to the entrance to some of the rides, but it was mainly because the previous riders had not been unloaded yet. The people that didn't use FastPass were standing in line for over an hour at the more popular rides.

On a side note, I also recommend using a backpack if you have kids with you. You can carry your camera supplies, your PhotoPass cards, snacks and drinks for the kids and it saves your back and arms because you will do A LOT of walking. Have Fun!!

Answer 8

Plan plan plan. If you are staying at a Disney resort look into the extra magic hours that's when the park stays open later or opens earlier for resort guest. Also look into information about the Fast Pass which lets you get into a much faster shorter line in the big attraction. The fact is you are going during a very busy time. My best advice is to save your money, stay home and go to Disney world in August or September. The weather is perfect and there are almost no crowds. Your family will enjoy it MUCH more!
PS: Also look at allearsnet.com the is the best Disney planning site!

Answer 9

My family just got back from Disney World. Some of the rides have the fast pass where you can insert your pass and it will give you a time to come back. Example 4:00-5:00 When you go back to the ride during that time frame you can walk right in and the wait time is cut in half most of the time. I don't know if you know or not but you can take things like bottled water and snacks into the parks. It saves on money big time! Hope this is helpful info for you and you guys have lots of fun!!

Answer 10

Good Luck. It's summer, peak season and the lines will be long.
Hard to avoid no matter what. Try getting there early in the morning for Fast Passes.... but if too crowded, they run out before the end of the day. Best times to go is off peak season, March/October/Early November. Good Luck