How to Manage the Crowds at Walt Disney World

“When should we plan our trip to Walt Disney World if we want to avoid the crowds?”
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked that question! I used to have specific times I recommended and could confidently tell clients that the crowds would be “very light.”
That’s no longer the case. Even during the “slow” times, you are still going to encounter crowds on your Disney vacation. The good news is that the masses don’t have to impact your trip at all negatively.

photo ©Matt Clare

I’ve put together a list of some of my top tips for managing the crowds at Walt Disney World…

Be realistic in your expectations.

There are plenty of “crowd calendars” available online to help you find the weeks where the parks are going to be less crowded. Just keep in mind that “less crowded” is relative.

It doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to walk right on to your favorite attractions with little to no wait at any time of day. If that is your expectation, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

What it does mean is that you are unlikely to be standing shoulder to shoulder with other guests as you walk down Main Street USA on your way into the Magic Kingdom!

Plan ahead.

A Walt Disney World vacation requires a lot of planning!

There are three things I recommend you plan in advance…

1.          Know what park you will be in for each day

2.          Plan and schedule your FastPass+ attractions for the day

3.          Make Advance Dining Reservations for any table service meals you plan to have for the day

Planning out your days so that you know what park you will be at each day and making your FastPass+ reservations in advance will make a massive difference in helping you to minimize the time you spend waiting in line.

I know what you may be thinking, we don’t want our trip to be overly scheduled. We want to go-with-the-flow. That’s an excellent idea but trust me when I tell you that once you see what a difference a small amount of advance planning makes, you’ll find it very worthwhile.

Creating a theme park touring plan is one of the services I provide to my clients as part of their vacation planning package. Following the advice in these touring plans can make the difference in your family feeling tired, frustrated, and spending most of your day in lines, or knowing the ins and outs of the crowd patterns, ticking off your “must-see attractions” (sometimes more than once!), and enjoying the day without feeling overwhelmed.

photo ©Allie Caulfield

Arrive early…

It’s your vacation and waking up early may not sound like the kind of relaxation you had in mind, but the first hour to hour and a half the parks are open the crowds and lines will be at their lowest levels. As the day goes on, the crowd levels (and the heat!) will continue to build.

Arriving at the parks just before they open officially and heading straight for the “headliner” attractions is one of the best ways to ride them without waiting in long lines.

Use Extra Magic Hours Wisely

Each day Disney opens one of the theme parks one hour early, and/or keeps one of the parks open for 2-3 hours after its regular closing time just for on-site resort guests.

I typically only recommend the morning Extra Magic Hours to my clients if they know for sure they will be at the park before it opens so they can really maximize that hour. It’s also incredibly helpful if they have “park hopper” tickets.

Why? Because the morning extra magic hour park will usually be the most crowded park for the remainder of the day. Even if guests aren’t taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, many of them will head to that park since the tv in their room and the schedule on the info screens in the hotel lobby feature that as the park of the day.

If you aren’t going to take advantage of the full 60 minutes of minimal wait times, choose a different park for the day.

Stay super late…

Early mornings not your thing? No worries!

Evening Extra Magic Hours are ideal for families with older kids and teens who are wholly opposed to getting up early, even if it means shorter lines! During the busiest travel seasons, evening Extra Magic Hours may have one of the parks open until as late as 2 am, and you can bet the crowd level is low for that kind of late-night fun! The lines, even for headliner attractions, are almost nonexistent by the end of the night.

A pro tip for late-night touring… adrenaline and activity will keep you going while you are having fun, but once you sit down and stop moving, fatigue can set in quickly. Waiting for the bus back to your resort can be tough at the end of a long night.

Consider taking the monorail to one of the resorts and catching an Uber, Lyft, or MinnieVan back to your resort. The nominal charge is worth it when you are dropped off as close as possible to your door and into your bed much faster than if you had waited for the bus!

photo ©Anna Fox

Take a break.

Mid-day is when both the crowds and the heat index are at their peak, so it’s the perfect time for a break.

Consider planning a sit-down, table service lunch. You’ll escape the heat for a bit and get off your feet. Having a chance to sit down in the A/C and enjoy a good meal can be precisely what cranky kids (and parents!) need mid-day.

Or think about returning to your resort for a break! Take a nap… go for a swim… relax for a while and head back to the parks in the evening with renewed energy.

Parades and Fireworks Draw the Crowds

Disney does a phenomenal job with their night-time entertainment! Their parades and fireworks are top notch, and most people will secure their spot to watch both well in advance of the show starting… which means they won’t be riding your favorite attractions!

If you’ve already seen the parade or fireworks show (or the rides are more important to your family than the fireworks!), this is one of the best times during regular park hours to head to the parks most popular attractions.

Ready to start planning your next visit to see Mickey and friends? The perfect vacation begins with scheduling your complimentary consultation. Click here torequest a time for us to chat . We’ll discuss the details and what your vacation priorities. I’ll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

Family Fun at Universal Orlando Resort

While Disney might be your first thought when someone says “theme park vacation in Orlando, Florida,” they are by far not the only game in town! Families can enjoy more movie-themed fun at the Universal Orlando Resort as well.

What started as one small park that guests could see in one day has grown into a vacation destination unto itself. Planning a vacation to the Universal Orlando Resort can feel a bit overwhelming, but here’s what you need to know before you go…

THEME PARKS

Universal Orlando Resort boasts three unique theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay as well as CityWalk, a shopping, entertainment, and dining promenade.

The original theme park, Universal Studios Florida, feels like you’ve walked into a film set that just so happens to have some rides and attractions! Where else can your family facing a fire-breathing dragon, take part in a car chase with characters from Fast and the Furious, defend the earth from an alien attack, and join forces with Gru and friend to become an actual minion all in one day?

Universal Studios Florida has seven distinct areas that each have a unique look and feel. 

The park is home to the extremely popular Diagon Alley section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where you’ll want to be sure to experience the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure is full of adventures featuring superheroes and favorite cartoon characters. The younger guests will fall in love with the whimsical Suessland while older kids and teens will find no shortage of thrill rides such as the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. There is lots of fun for the entire family on attractions such as Jurassic Park River Adventure and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (yes, you WILL get wet… there is a chance you might get soaked!).

Probably the most popular area of the park is still Hogsmeade Village, a part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Muggles get their chance to visit Hogwarts on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Even if you don’t want to experience the ride, it’s worth going through the queue to explore the incredible detail within the castle! There is a viewing area you can sit in and wait for members of your party who do want to hop on board the ride.

Guests with a park-to-park ticket can experience the Hogwarts Express train ride between Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme parks. The enchantment of boarding at Platform 9 ¾, watching the quaint English countryside roll by outside your window, and the surprises in store make this quite a memorable train ride!

The newest addition to Universal Orlando Resort is Volcano Bay, a top-notch water park that makes you feel like you’ve been transported to an island in French Polynesia! There are rides and attractions for guests of all ages, or if you prefer, you can find yourself a beach chair and relax in the sun (or the shade!).

photo ©Universal

A unique addition to Volcano Bay is the fact that each guest is given a Tapu Tapu band when they enter the park. This free service allows you to hold a virtual space in line for attractions and lets you spend your time exploring the park rather than waiting in line. The bands will also activate interactive surprises around the park, open rental lockers, and allows you to leave your wallet behind by enabling cash-free payments to your account.

Be sure to experience the Krakatau Water Coaster inside the park’s iconic volcano for a thrill you won’t soon forget!

RESORT HOTELS

Universal Orlando Resort features six onsite resorts operated by Loews Hotels, with two additional resorts opening in mid-2019. The resorts are categorized into Value Hotels (Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites, and Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites, both of which open in June 2019), Prime Value Hotels (Universal's Aventura Hotel, and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort), Preferred Hotel (Loews Sapphire Falls Resort), and Premier Hotels (Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel).

Guests at all of Universal Orlando Resort’s onsite hotels can access early entry into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Each morning either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade Village will allow resort guests to enter one hour before the general public. This onsite hotel benefit will not only save you a significant amount of time waiting in line for the park’s most popular attractions but will also give you the chance to explore the incredible detail in these areas with limited crowds.

Guests of Universal’s Premier Hotels (Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel) also receive unlimited front-of-line access to most of the rides and attractions in the parks. Universal Express Unlimited passes are included in the price of your resort stay. This benefit is invaluable, especially during peak attendance times such as early summer and the holiday season. During the busiest travel times, Universal Express Unlimited passes can cost up to $150 per person so a family of 4 will save up to $600 per day!

photo ©Loews Hotels

All of the onsite resorts are beautifully themed and decorated and are close to all the action of CityWalk and the theme parks. Complimentary transportation is available to all onsite resort guests.

Wondering if a Universal Orlando Resort vacation might be right for your family? Planning the perfect experience begins with scheduling your vacation consultation call. Click here to request a time for us to meet. We'll discuss the details and what you are looking for in your dream vacation. I'll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams. Plus we'll show you how to get a picture like this.