How to Enjoy Walt Disney World Parks When They're Most Crowded

7.  … or, leave the parks altogether

Don’t take your resort amenities for granted.  Enjoy the pool (especially mid-day when the crowds are at their worst) or other special activity at your resort, or visit Disney Springs (it’s usually more crowded at night).

8.  Use My Disney Experience to monitor wait times

Hopefully you’ve ridden the most popular rides or your must-do’s either early in the morning, during a special event, or with a FastPass. If you haven’t, avoid waiting in a very long line unless there seems to be no other time to ride the attraction.  Utilize the My Disney Experience app to check updates wait times, rather than wandering and reading the posted times. It’s much easier to decide how to best use your time when you can see a map of the entire park and the wait times for each attraction all at once.

9.  Use knowledge, planning, & FastPasses to your advantage

The early bird gets the worm, and the guest who rope-drops gets on the most rides.  Both are generally true. Remember that most guests who attend the parks have probably done far less planning than you have, and use your knowledge to your advantage.  If you are equipped with a few pre-planned FastPasses and a general idea about the park layout and which attractions get the longest waits as the day goes on, you’re far better prepared to handle Walt Disney World crowds than the average guest.  Take on the day and enjoy- there is no “bad day” at Walt Disney World!

What are your favorite ways to contend with the crowds at Walt Disney World?  Do you shudder at the thought of visiting during a peak time, or do you embrace the craziness with your own strategies for keeping sane?  We’d love to hear what you have to say!