Navigating the Crowds at Walt Disney World

Heading to Disney soon? You’re probably not alone, but don’t let the crowds scare you away from the magic.

Walt Disney World has become synonymous with everything from theme parks to characters, to Mickey-shaped snacks that pepper your social media feeds.

Unfortunately, so have crowds.

It’s no surprise that the Disney parks attract scores of people throughout the year, but even more so during the holiday season, spring and summer break, and special occasions like runDisney event weekends. We often steer towards off-weeks or times when crowds are typically lower, but that’s not always the case for guests who want or need to be on property along with the masses.

For the experienced park-goer, seemingly daunting crowds can be easily managed with the right arsenal of tricks and planning.

Before arrival, it’s so important to map out which days you want to visit different parks.

Aside from making park reservations – a requirement we’re happy to part with next year – you’ll want to take note of the opening times for the different gates. This way, you can work backwards to map out transportation, virtual queues, and Lightning Lane passes.

For instance, if we know we want to rope the Magic Kingdom on a particular day, we allow enough time to get our crew up and ready, head to a bus, boat, skyliner or monorail, and arrive at the turnstiles at least a few minutes from when they open. Plus, if you’re up early, there’s a much better chance of getting a coveted boarding group for popular rides like TRON, while still getting to the Seven Dwarves Mine Train before the standby line snakes around the corner.

Still, getting to the parks to rope drop doesn’t mean you’ve beat the system. When crowds are at peak, we recommend opting for Genie+ so you have the best shot of locking in the attractions that are most important to your group.

When you know your favorite rides are nearly guaranteed, it takes pressure off the rest of the day, and you can fill in the gaps with other beloved attractions that don’t require a three-hour wait.

Don’t forget that, just like checking gate times for the morning, you’ll want to know when parks close. The last thing you want is to plan your day with the intention of a fireworks finale, only to find out that a holiday party or other special-ticketed event will mean you have to leave the park by late afternoon. If this is the case, we recommend park- or resort-hopping the second half of your day instead.

And when those gates do close, know your plan for getting back to your resort. Lines may be long for Disney transportation, but everyone is in the same boat and it often means a fun story to tell later on.

If you really can’t wait to reach your pillow, Minnie Vans and other ride share services have designated areas to pick you up at park exits. Plus, if you brought or rented a car, Disney recently reinstated complimentary parking for onsite resort hotel guests.

Even the best-laid plans have potential for hiccups.

When weather, crowds, special events or a lack of dining availability threatens to put a damper on the pixie dust, we’ve learned the best move is to roll with the punches and be flexible.

Give yourself a break from the parks and try your hand at resort hopping.

In addition to year-round options for lounge dining, bar crawls and resort activities, the busy holiday season is the perfect excuse to bounce between hotels to take in the festive décor and aroma of sweet treats.

We recommend hopping on the monorail for a loop around the lagoon – stopping for cocoa and music at Wilderness Lodge, island-style decorations at the Polynesian, and life-sized gingerbread displays at both the Contemporary and Grand Floridian. Outside of the Magic Kingdom area, be sure to leave time to browse the Boardwalk, take a horse-drawn carriage ride at Fort Wilderness, and say hello to the animals on the savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

If you don’t want to use valuable park time eating, or can’t find a reservation at “peak” hours, embrace being on vacation and opt for a meal of park snacks or off-hours ADR.

Timed right, a “middle meal” can serve for both lunch and dinner, and be much easier to find via the My Disney Experience app. This not only means you can dine at a top-choice restaurant, but also that you’ll be fed and free to enjoy activities typically scheduled during more popular mealtimes.

At the end of the day, you may not be able to avoid the crowds, but you can choose to embrace the experience.

Some of our most memorable Disney vacations don’t include riding every attraction or eating at the top-rated restaurants. In fact, many of our agents claim their favorite Disney pastime is sitting along Main Street, U.S.A. or World Showcase, people-watching and nibbling Mickey pretzels.

So, if you’re planning a holiday, spring break, or event weekend to visit Walt Disney World, map out what’s most important to you and your group, and let the rest fall into place.