by Darren Wittko

I’m often asked about the best time to visit Walt Disney World to experience shorter lines. In recent years, Disney has been great at keeping the place busy all year long so there are fewer slow periods. The days of walking onto attractions without any wait, are gone. Here’s why:

Switching to Date-Based Ticket Pricing

Date-based ticket pricing not only generates additional revenue during peak times but it also allows Disney to boost attendance during off-peak times by offering cheaper tickets. And many people do take advantage of that. 

Special Events and Conventions

Special events like the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and the runDisney marathons also boost attendance during off-peak travel periods.

Reduction in Staff

With the help of technology and date-based tickets, Disney has become extremely efficient at staffing based on the number of people visiting the parks on a given day. For example, if crowds are light, it may staff at 60% or 80%. We sometimes have this notion that Disney has all the Cast Members working all the time but that’s not so.

I like to use Pirates of the Caribbean as an example. By mid-afternoon, the typical wait for this classic attraction is 30-40 minutes. This is true in July when the parks have high attendance, and it’s true in September, one of the least crowded times. How can this be? Wouldn’t fewer people in the park mean shorter wait times? When there are fewer people in the parks, Disney reduces Cast Members, it runs fewer ride vehicles and they may even shut down some load areas. The end result is a consistent 30-40-minute wait.

Another example I like to use is the quick-service restaurant, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe located inside the Magic Kingdom. This quick-service restaurant has 3 bays where guests order food. There is almost always a line to order food, even when all three bays are operating. But on less crowded days, Disney operates only one bay, leaving the other two unmanned.

In a perfect world, Disney would operate all three bays at Cosmic Rays all the time, no matter what the crowd level. There would be no such thing as a line. But then we can imagine numerous Cast Members standing around with nothing to do on less-busy days.

How to Avoid the Crowds

The days of walking onto rides without any wait maybe a thing of the past but the good news is that there are still ways to avoid long lines.

Arriving at the parks as soon as they open will give you an opportunity to enjoy some headliner attractions before the crowds arrive for the day. I recommend being at the parks about 30 minutes prior to the posted opening time as they sometimes open 10-15 minutes early.

Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, a benefit to all Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests. Each day, a select park or parks will open early or remain open past general closing, just for Disney Resort hotel guests. You probably won’t notice shorter waits during evening Extra Magic Hours, but most morning Extra Magic Hours can be a great benefit.

I wholeheartedly believe in the great work being done at TouringPlans.com. The actual wait times they provide though their Lines app are more accurate than Disney’s posted times. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to avoid standing in line at Walt Disney World.

If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can make your FastPass selections 60-days in advance. That’s 30-days ahead of the general public! You’ll have a head start on the most popular attractions and get the best times.

Even though attraction wait times might be consistent through most of the year, there is still something to be said for going during less crowded times: late August, most of September, October, and early November. April and May are also great months to visit, just avoid Easter and holiday weekends.

For special offers on Walt Disney World Resort hotels, visit the Offers Page