when the kids were school age, i would take them out of school one week before school lets out for the 2 week christmas break. I would request their homework ahead of time so they have 2 weeks to complete the homework after we returned home and we still enjoyed low crowds by booking the 2nd week in December and had also enjoyed low package prices! This scenario and planning worked great and made the kids EXTREMELY happy!!! Great memories !!
Video for parents with Autism children? Or special needs in general , Recommended areas to chill out , take a break .... Least chaotic character meals ? Etc.... just a suggestion ♡
Diana you can take breaks at the baby care centers. There is one at each park. ( even if they are not a baby special needs older kids or adults are welcome)
A great trip for those traveling with older kids or no kids..is if there is a second fireworks display..attend the second one. Lines will be shorter for rides while the first display is going on afterwards and you will not have claim a spot as earlier for a second show.
Could you do a video about Disney transportation and how long it takes to get from park to park/ park to resort/ parks to disney springs? It would be really helpful in making an itinerary :)
My wife and I have been going for years. The general rule when using Disney Transportation is that it takes at least one hour to go from one place to any other place on Disney property. If you are traveling with children or those in an assisted vehicle, you should plan for more time, but that is not always the case. If you are driving and parking a car, it can actually sometimes take longer because you will need to transfer to Disney Transportation once you have parked. I have seen it be up to one and half hours, sometimes two if you are leaving a park late night to get back to the resort.
If you go early in the morning and you know you’re gunna get tired. Go back to the resort for a break during the day at around lunch time. You can get food at the resort and the buses are empty because everyone is at the parks
Tip to get out of Magic Kingdom after fireworks is to walk through the emporium. Everyone is walking down main street to exit to park so if you walk inside you avoid all those people and can get through much faster.
Only problem we've found with this is that the shops are always full of people buying last minute things before closing, so there are lots of people inside standing around that you have to walk around.
The videos you guys make truly help us with our upcoming Disney trips! We haven’t been to Disney in 6 years and the channels videos have helped us be more “up to date”! Thank you so much, I really love watching them! :)
One tip my family always uses is we go to the park at opening, ride some rides, then LEAVE AT LUNCH. Honestly, this is the best thing I can recommend, go to the park and stay until about 11/12, then go back to your resort, and swim or have lunch. It's a nice cooldown and an escape from what's going on at the parks. (Not to mention some relaxation from all the walking) Then later in the afternoon, I'd say around 2/3 go back and enjoy the rest of your day, trust me the busiest time of day is around noon, you will avoid major crowds.
We generally break for 3.5 hrs somewhere between noon and 5pm. Leave/return right before/after lunch/dinner (depending if you're eating that meal in park). Bonus is to be out of the worst heat/sun.
Great Videos!!! My crowd avoidance tips : 1) plan park days during the week and resort days on the weekend 2) Don’t go to the parks with extra magic hours in the AM as they are more crowded.
DFBGuide if you’re not staying at a Disney resort and cannot use the extra magic hours- how do find out what park has magic hours on what day so that you can avoid the crowds on magic hour days. Hope that makes sense
You are absolutely right . Parks in the weekend are naturally more crowded. So here is my tip 3: - If possible, DON'T go to Magic Kingdom in a Spring Break Saturday! I had this experience LOL
During the peak seasons (notably spring break), this doesn't work. It's actually the opposite. Most people travel on the weekends, so that's your time to hit the parks. During the weekdays, it is overloaded because that is when people's vacations are in full swing.
I have one tip: Don't leave the park when everyone else is leaving, stay a little more. I was in Magic Kingdom one day, instead of leave, we just stopped close to the train station of main street, to admire the castle a little more. A disney guy approached us and invited us to stay in the park for the disney vacation club anniversary! Free mickey ice cream and other treats, rare characters around, special fireworkds and much more . I know this is like winning in the lottery, but this mentality of doing the opposite of the crowds pays off big every time in Disney World Parks. Great Video guys!
Can I just say for restrooms, the one by imagination with figment was empty when I went in August every time throughout the day! Keep up all your amazing work, these videos are always so informative and fun!
AJ, I recently stumbled upon your channel and blog while planing my first WDW vacation by myself. The parks have changed a lot since the last time I visited. I just wanted to let you know that i love that you conquer lesser talked about subjects. I had so many questions that weren’t answered by the Disney website, but were quickly answered when I binged your videos! Thank you for all of the quick tips tricks. I am much more confident that my trip will be stress free and run more smoothly with the advice you give!
Thank you! I’ve been going to WDW for a long time, but I still always learn something when I watch these videos. You’re amazing, keep doing what you’re doing.
My tips: Don’t *ever* go during Spring break, Christmas, most of summer, or other breaks like Thanksgiving. Go during early November, January/early February. Those are the less crowded times. Also definitely stay later since there will be a lot of younger kids who’s parents will take them back to the room earlier If you find yourself at let’s say animal kingdom and you want to ride Expedition Everest but the lines are too long.. wait as late as possible, we did this once and we practically walked on the ride. Plus Everest is all lit up and cool at night. Go on rides while there’s a parade or show going on next to ride, lines will be shorter If you are going with a couple people or don’t care to ride with them then go to the single rider lines to avoid waiting longer If you really want to go on a very popular or crowded ride, get to the park as early as possible, then race to the ride. A lot of families will be pushing strollers and if you can get there fast then the line will be nothing Eat at restaurants around the less popular times like in between lunch and dinner or later after the usual dinner time **Most of these tips would apply to smaller parties of people or people with no younger children with theme.
Thank you so much for all your videos! They have helped me so much! I just went to WDW last month, and it was so much more enjoyable for my family and I because of your videos! Every Sunday, we sit down and watch your videos for advice! You guys are definitely appreciated!
I have to thank you again so much for these videos! I just went through our ride lists. Two days at Magic Kingdom we managed 17 rides on FP+. We waited for almost nothing. Those we did stand in line for we did during the fireworks or parade. and I learned all about the fastpasses completely by watching your videos!
I'll have to do the go early-stay late approach because I go to Disney with my best friends and one of them is a high school teacher so Spring Break and Summer Vacation are the only times we can all go.
Right on target, AJ! I go every year to the Food and Wine Festival partly because it isn't as crowded as other times of the year. Plus I go on a weekday because it's less crowded.
honestly they were wrong for me a lot. it told me that splash mountain would be an hour and a half wait and it ended up being three hours. this happened with multiple rides. once it gets over 45 minutes i found that the timings were more inaccurate.
i have one tip request, could you make a "Best spot to view Parades" video. I have my itinerary on lock down but that is the only thing that is missing.
164dragonmaster one of my favorite spots to view Festival of fantasy when I have kids with me, is right next to the Roy and Minnie bench. It’s shaded and it’s where the parade ends. Cast members often let little ones get a better seat once the parade comes around. The characters pay more attention to the children since there are less of them at this spot. It’s honestly the best spot!
This is true about anywhere. Best place is for viewing, personal choice. Best place for TIME MANAGEMENT, near the starting point. Everyone plans to get there before starting time to claim their spot, all about the same time. If you are at the beginning, you see the end of the parade while most is seeing the middle. Maybe it hasn't even got to them yet. So you were at the point where the end of the parade goes by at the earliest possible time. You can make a break for the rides while a lot of people are still waiting for the whole parade to go by.
Wow... this was so wonderfully informative! We're coming down in June with our grandchildren 8,7, and 6, so all your suggestions and info have been great!! :)
Can you do a video on best travel must haves for Disney? Such as what type of shoes(so your feet are not screaming by the end of the day), clothing, bags, weather items, things for when its to hot, etc.Or if you have already done a video where can I find it?
We always plan our meals early (which makes sense for us because we're coming from an earlier time zone anyway) and thus the restaurants aren't busy yet (counter service in particular) - never fails, then we can chill out during the busiest time in the park (often we leave then to our resort and then return when people are leaving). So, definitely what you're saying! Even during the busiest time of the year, it works.
I’ve seen other websites suggest never going to parks on Extra Magic Hours as a way to avoid crowds. Do agree with rope drop! Takes at least 1 hour in MK to start feeling the crowd. Thanks, AJ!
On days with extra park hours (late night), start your day at another park. Everyone tends to go to the park with extra hours, so the other parks are less crowded.
this is a great one! We usually split our day between parks anyway since we like a rest in the afternoon. This way you get to see all of them both early morning and late at night, without actually spending 12-16 hours walking!
Greg Smith where do you find out the magic hour schedule?? We are not staying at a Disney resort so we will want to avoid the parks that have magic hours
I find overall the parks that have EMH often are the most crowded park of the day. If EMH is early, I will get there early, for many will not make it there early. But usually mid day, I jump to another park. If the EMH is after and is late, I will sometimes return then because many families do not stay out that late.
Just remember the Swan and Dolphin operated by Westin (not Disney), DOES have the perk of using Extra Magic Hours AND 60 Days in advance FastPass+ bookings! Great video as always! :)
mini golf is a great thing to do when you trying do something thats not the parks. We like to do beaches and cream kitchen sink for lunch, then mini golf at fantasia garden then back to boardwalk to hang out and wait for dinner at cape may. Also could do broad walk after dinner, lots of cool entertainers.
THANK YOU! Another great video. Any chance you could do a short video on the options for disabilities at Disney? Like the DAS card and such? I’ve not been able to find much information first hand from Disney about this and am interested in how this works for my trip this year as I would be such a massive help! 😊 Thanks & keep em coming!!!
Holly Oberhansly I have a medical condition called POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome - which is a form of dysautonomia. I’m not sure if you are familiar with it or not but I am a wheelchair user because I am unable to stand/walk for long periods of without fainting or having a seizure. I am not unable to walk and try to do as much as I can as safely as possible, but due to the unpredictable nature of my condition and my lack of tolerance to standing I use a wheelchair for occasions such as this. Amongst many other issues that go along with this condition, I have severe heat intolerance so i wouldn’t be able to cope with the heat while waiting in a long line. My main concern is the queues. I have been given some information via the virgin holiday disability assistance team about the Disability Access Card at Disney which if I am able to obtain one, would give me the chance to get a return time for an attraction without having to stand or wait in the heat in a regular queue. I don’t want to be the person expecting to cut queues or anything like that, I just would like some more information based on these issues that could make my trip more tolerable and enjoyable for me and my family. I will make all the necessary adjustments to my trip to cater to my needs but this is one thing there’s not much information on and would make life ALOT easier! I have been to Disney world many times before, but since my last trip a few years ago my condition has professed severely and so I know I will need to take a different approach this time to accommodate. If you have any tips or advice I’d be grateful!
Disney tries very hard to accomodate you and your party, there are many separate ride entrances for handicapped and those in line just don't know any particulars. after 20 years I am now having trouble getting off spaceship earth onto the turntable. Customer relations told me to tell the cast member at the end and they would slow the ride and table down, aho now we know why that happens. it's stopped for wheelchair transfers.
My husband was in a wheelchair last visit due to an injured tendon, we didn't use the disability services but all of the rides we went on had a place where a second castmember pulled us aside and asked if he could walk/how far/did he need help. They offered to slow some of the ride vehicles for him but he was okay short distances with a cane so we declined. It was February so temps in the high 70's low 80's not so bad really and I planned out shows and rests for him through the day because he has some severe eczema and the sun is not his friend. The fastpasses were beyond a lifesaver as well as none of them had us waiting any longer than ten minutes and again, it was after the queue that they would ask if he could stand so he could remain sitting in his wheelchair, mostly in the shade until that point. I would say to go during a colder time of year and abuse the heck out of the fastpasses. Make three early in the day then refresh refresh refresh until you nail down a good one for your next. As soon as you scan your pass for the next ride then make another. It should keep you out of those lines you're dreading I hope!
I remember a few years ago, my Dad and I went to Hollywood Studios a few minutes after rope drop. We went on Star Tours (one of the most popular rides in the park) 3 times, with little to no wait. And this was during one of the last Star Wars weekends too! If there is a ride you absolutely MUST go on, you should at least contemplate going early that day, and sleeping in at some other time.
just so everyone knows in the first week of may into the second there is a huge cheer competition so there will be over 5,000 cheerleaders and there family’s all coming to the parks so it will be super crowded
it's the same in february! there was some cheer competition and festival of the arts at epcot with a lot of school bands and it made the wait times a lot worse!
Angelina Klimbach-Monti in the grand scheme of things though, that’s hardly going to make a difference to the wait times as it’s very unlikely that everyone will be at the same park on the same day. Even if it’s 10,000 attending, split between 4 parks will hardly be noticeable. Maybe an extra 10-15min wait at most.
Angelina Klimbach-Monti Not only in May, December is actually more crowded because its cheer nationals at the ESPN center, I went in December and the crowds were awful and cheerleaders can be very rude
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Can You make a vid on where to find the best food in the monorail loop (polynesian contemp and grand floridian) and compare the restaurants (i.e. Narcoosees to California) THX!!!!
DFB has a huge sweet tooth so if you're a more moderate person like myself I rank them like this: The Wave Kona Cafe Grand Floridian Cafe 1900 Park Fare Cali Grill Citricos Captain Cook's Narcoosees Chef Mickey's Ohana (I am hugely not a fan) Contempo Cafe (they really have a thing with the word "cafe") Victoria and Albert's and somewhere another 30 empty spaces down- that awful spirit of aloha show at the polynesian I'm not counting super duper snack places, lounges or bars on that list but I can if you'd like me to. I'm also happy to explain any number of why whichever place is where in my opinion.
Kalli Maynard thank you so much. I agree with your list besides maybe putting the wave at the top (they are better for a cheaper option in my opinion) this helps a lot. Thanks!
My tip to outsmart crowds during season of high crowd levels: 1. Avoid the parks with extra morning magic hours. It seems like a good idea but the parks with those hours get crowded really quickly. 2. Go to the park when rain starts to hit. I know it's weird but when those rain showers end, lots of rides end up cutting their wait times by half or more. 3. When going to the parks, start doing attractions all the way in the back and work your way towards the entrance. Less wait times for those rides. 4. Use the WDW app!!! My family and I were doing Epcot for most of the day but needed to go to Hollywood Studios (HS) to watch Fantasmic. We left Epcot at 4ish and rode the boat to HS and entered the park at 5:35ish. Right when we entered, I got us a FastPass for The Great Movie Ride at 5:45. Right after riding the ride, we got a FastPass for Fantasmic.
Our family loves going each year and we stay at the Contemporary. The kids go over early in the morning to Magic Kingdom,,,super easy because they can walk over from the Contemporary and be at the Magic Kingdom in about 5 minutes. Around noon they come back to grab a quick lunch at the Contempo Cafe inside the resort and than off to the pool to relax until about 4:30. We go back over in the evening and stay until closing. It always seems to work out for us.
Tip if you can’t get a Fastpass for something at MK go right after firework so as soon as they end book it to the line I got on 7 dwarfs in 30 minutes in the stand by line the year it opened
When we went in February, we went to 3 parks (Epcot, animal kingdom, MK) and on our AK day we went in super early for the Avatar rides. Also on our MK day, we were able to stay until about 11:20ish
Hey! Great video! Love your channel; you give great tips! Can you make a video about the best shows/attractions to see at Disney World? Just a suggestion :). Thank you!
normally go in October but now that i have graduated i am for the first time going in December i have gone ever year since i was born last year was my 18 or 19th time going and this time i think it will be my 20th i always went on fall break and its the best time to go if u book ahead
So many (but not all!) of these tips will also work for Disneyland. The two Disneyland parks are often open from 8:00am until midnight, so it's easy to hit the parks super early, come back to your hotel for a rest, and then head back out again late at night.
A lot of the shows like country bear jamboree(magic kingdom), hall of presidents (magic kingdom), the American adventure show (Epcot), tiki room(magic kingdom) are great places to rest and take a break from the heavy crowds :)
Two words: Mobile Ordering through my Disney experience you can attach a credit card and order at many counter service locations before you even get there, then once you arrive, hit I'm here and they make your food and you don't have to wait in any line. You get a message, and emailed a receipt once your order is up and you pick it up. I have skipped so many crazy lines doing this.
About your first (and third) point... In my experience, I'd recommend that you should AVOID parks with Extra Magic Hours. It's actually an incentive for a lot of people to chose one park over another. I tried some parks with and without EMH and the experience is much smoother when the park doesn't open early (because the queues tend to be full much earlier while still having the 2-4pm peak anyway). Last time I went on a park with EMH was Animal Kingdom and it was really crowded throughout the day (and Rite of Passage had a queue of 4 hours at regular park opening !!), whereas at other parks it was surely not as crowded in comparison with queue lengths that were somewhat bellow from what I've remembered from previous trips. Sure, skipping EMH might feel frustrating when you're staying on property, but I'd rather have a somewhat crowded 9am-4pm window over having an empty 8am-9am with a really crowded 9am-4pm. But otherwise staying late is always nice. I love Disney parks when the sun is down and the lights are on. :D
This may sound strange, but I've found it less crowded to avoid the park that has the extra magic hour in the AM. It seems to be overloaded with resort guests especially during peak hours. I just experienced this down in DW during the Southern spring break.
Thank you so much for the videos. They are a great help. We would like to watch the electrical water pageant AFTER we have checked out of the resort. Is this possible? And can one go to any of the other resort, when we are not resort guests?
Hi AJ! I was wondering if you could do a video for people on honeymoon. I’m planning my next visit as my honeymoon and want some ideas too do around May
Lots of good advice here. Definitely recommend getting to rope drop 30 mins early. You will either get to wait in a shorter line for the most popular newest ride or be able to go on several of the older but still much-loved rides in short order. Not all of the parks do a rope drop, though. Last October AK just let everybody right in before opening and the de facto rope drop was the entrance to Avatar. We went to some parks to take advantage of morning extra magic hours and some that didn't have them. We found that the parks with the extra morning hours got busy and stayed full until late afternoon while the parks without the extra hours tended to be less busy in the morning hours. Kind of a reverse-psychology thing. Maybe it was just our imagination, wanting to believe that we had beat the system and the crowds a little. Not scheduling meals at typical meal times is also a great tip- less busy in the restaurants and less waiting for rides (but not a ton). Eating snacks saves cash and time- have one big meal later in the day or early evening when you're tired and need a break. A great time to get on those rides you love but aren't gonna waste a fastpass on is during the fireworks or parades. I hate to miss them but you can often walk right on to many of the rides and usually can get repeated rides with zero wait.
If you can go off season. We are going in Oct. which is less crowded. I took my niece she she was 7 at the end of Aug. We got to Magic Kingdom right when it opened and Fantasy Land had no crowd.
I always arrive at rope drop and stay late unless I park hop. I always take advantage of Extra Magic Hrs. Last time I only used Fast Pass for rides. Never waited long in ride lines. Longest lines were for character meet and greets without FP+. Im a solo traveler so easier for me to move around and squeeze into places. The worst crowds last vacation were Epcot 35 and MNSSHP MNSSHP was alot worst in 2015 where u couldnt move.
So We are planning a huge family trip to Disney World for next Christmas. I had suggested that we go in the beginning of December, however since it’s going to be my younger niece and nephew’s first Christmas without their dad because he’ll be deployed, their mother decided that we should go and be there on Christmas Day. So my question is where is the best place to be on Christmas day?
How does the waiting in line right before park close work for flight of passage? That ride can be up to a 4 hour wait..so does that mean they keep the park open till midnight just for flight of passage? How does that affect transportation since they only run a hour and a half after official park closing?
ProtoEon They will stay open until everyone is out. Most people do not stay in the line when the park closes because it can be late and children don’t like late. Especially if they need to wake up early the next morning. Most people leave after fireworks, anyway.
Also we used our magic morning pass to go on all the rides at magic kingdom because that one gets sooooo busy and we just walked onto all the rides. And at Disney land they used to ? They might still do give away free fast passes so when the park opened we would run around and collect as many fast passes as possible xD lol
Question: Getting in line before the park closes... How would that work with a ride with an uber line like FoP? If youre in the line before close, but it's generally a 2+ hr wait.
One time at disney land california adventure park we went on the water slide over and over again before closing caus no one wanted to get went during the night but who cares right we had a blast
Is it true they announced Galaxy's Edge opening at DW for 8/29? We already have a trip booked for September and one for April. To be honest I as hoping the opening would be after our September trip. I want to go to the new park, just not when it first opens lol. It will be a mad house! Love your vids AJ!!. My wife and I love your channel!!
We got to ride haunted mansion,big thunder, and splash mountain during fireworks with no wait. We came back after fireworks where done to see the what’s and haunted shot up to 45 min
I am curious to know what rides have single rider lines and where they are hiding. LOL I couldn't find any on my first visit to Disney World. Would have been nice to find one of them as I was by myself.
If you get three Fastpasses ahead of time, do you have to use them before you can get more? So would it be better to get them for the morning to get more once those are used or would it be better to get them for the afternoon when the lines are the longest?
You can only get the additional ones after you have used your initial 3. As far as when to use them, that is really a choice up to you and your party. We alternate trips once a year and twice a year and have been doing that for 5 years now and all I can tell you from our experience is, as long as you plan ahead you will be fine. Some of the more popular rides will fill up fast so book those first and then base the others on that. Disney is going to be crowded so just accept it and stay positive. We always see people who get upset or try to run from place to place. Just enjoy yourself and take your time, you will have plenty of time to do most of the things you want. If you try and worry too much about times and having to be somewhere, it will ruin the experience. Have fun and hope you enjoy your trip! We have one next month and are ready to go lol.
It's the unused building between Future World and the World Showcase (on Mexico's side) at Epcot. I think it used to be a restaurant, but now it's only open for special events.. but their bathrooms are usually available, and no one knows about them... so they're usually empty!
Dickson Head Id have to agree with that, only issue is if you push slightly after 4pm smaller kids get hungry and start to want dinner. The thing is it's always busy at peak times no matter what time you eat lunch, but if your building up 10-15 mins here and there it makes a big difference so don't underestimate!
when the kids were school age, i would take them out of school one week before school lets out for the 2 week christmas break. I would request their homework ahead of time so they have 2 weeks to complete the homework after we returned home and we still enjoyed low crowds by booking the 2nd week in December and had also enjoyed low package prices! This scenario and planning worked great and made the kids EXTREMELY happy!!! Great memories !!
Video for parents with Autism children? Or special needs in general , Recommended areas to chill out , take a break .... Least chaotic character meals ? Etc.... just a suggestion ♡
Omg yes. We need that.
Yes.
Diana you can take breaks at the baby care centers. There is one at each park. ( even if they are not a baby special needs older kids or adults are welcome)
There is a Facebook group call Disney World special needs Junkies
As an autistic teenager, yeah, I'll need that
While everyone lined up to watch Fantasmic one night, I managed to ride Rock 'n' Rollercoaster four times in a row in about 20 minutes.
Malcolm Talley Ugh that sounds so fun, it’s my fav ride lol
Malcolm Talley dude, that sounds great
A great trip for those traveling with older kids or no kids..is if there is a second fireworks display..attend the second one. Lines will be shorter for rides while the first display is going on afterwards and you will not have claim a spot as earlier for a second show.
People always say this, but since when do they do a second fireworks show? There's only ever one!
HerHollyness let me know if you find an answer lol
"crushed by other humans"
Most accurate way to describe crowds in July
"Scar, Brother, Help me get to the Ride!"
"Long live the King"
Could you do a video about Disney transportation and how long it takes to get from park to park/ park to resort/ parks to disney springs? It would be really helpful in making an itinerary :)
There is a website that helps with this. I saved it as a quick link to my iphone and iPad. Google search olp WDW transportation wizard.
My wife and I have been going for years. The general rule when using Disney Transportation is that it takes at least one hour to go from one place to any other place on Disney property. If you are traveling with children or those in an assisted vehicle, you should plan for more time, but that is not always the case. If you are driving and parking a car, it can actually sometimes take longer because you will need to transfer to Disney Transportation once you have parked. I have seen it be up to one and half hours, sometimes two if you are leaving a park late night to get back to the resort.
Amanda Swartz OMG! That website is so helpful! Thanks for sharing!!! 😀😀😀
juddd0n lol no
If you go early in the morning and you know you’re gunna get tired. Go back to the resort for a break during the day at around lunch time. You can get food at the resort and the buses are empty because everyone is at the parks
Tip to get out of Magic Kingdom after fireworks is to walk through the emporium. Everyone is walking down main street to exit to park so if you walk inside you avoid all those people and can get through much faster.
Yes! That's one of our Trip Hacks in this video: ua-cam.com/video/FmauSNCa73s/v-deo.html
Only problem we've found with this is that the shops are always full of people buying last minute things before closing, so there are lots of people inside standing around that you have to walk around.
The videos you guys make truly help us with our upcoming Disney trips! We haven’t been to Disney in 6 years and the channels videos have helped us be more “up to date”! Thank you so much, I really love watching them! :)
That's great! So glad the videos are useful!
That's exactly our case. Thank you very much, greetings from the Dominican Republic
Been watching Disney food blog videos daily in anticipation of my first trip in early May. Thanks for all you guys do and keep the videos coming!!
Thanks for watching!
One tip my family always uses is we go to the park at opening, ride some rides, then LEAVE AT LUNCH. Honestly, this is the best thing I can recommend, go to the park and stay until about 11/12, then go back to your resort, and swim or have lunch. It's a nice cooldown and an escape from what's going on at the parks. (Not to mention some relaxation from all the walking) Then later in the afternoon, I'd say around 2/3 go back and enjoy the rest of your day, trust me the busiest time of day is around noon, you will avoid major crowds.
We generally break for 3.5 hrs somewhere between noon and 5pm. Leave/return right before/after lunch/dinner (depending if you're eating that meal in park).
Bonus is to be out of the worst heat/sun.
Great Videos!!! My crowd avoidance tips :
1) plan park days during the week and resort days on the weekend
2) Don’t go to the parks with extra magic hours in the AM as they are more crowded.
Great tip to maybe hit up Extra Magic Hours, then hop to another park that will be less busy!
DFBGuide if you’re not staying at a Disney resort and cannot use the extra magic hours- how do find out what park has magic hours on what day so that you can avoid the crowds on magic hour days. Hope that makes sense
Claire Sherwood those hours are listed on the my disney experience app
You are absolutely right . Parks in the weekend are naturally more crowded. So here is my tip 3:
- If possible, DON'T go to Magic Kingdom in a Spring Break Saturday! I had this experience LOL
During the peak seasons (notably spring break), this doesn't work. It's actually the opposite. Most people travel on the weekends, so that's your time to hit the parks. During the weekdays, it is overloaded because that is when people's vacations are in full swing.
I have one tip: Don't leave the park when everyone else is leaving, stay a little more. I was in Magic Kingdom one day, instead of leave, we just stopped close to the train station of main street, to admire the castle a little more. A disney guy approached us and invited us to stay in the park for the disney vacation club anniversary! Free mickey ice cream and other treats, rare characters around, special fireworkds and much more .
I know this is like winning in the lottery, but this mentality of doing the opposite of the crowds pays off big every time in Disney World Parks. Great Video guys!
Can I just say for restrooms, the one by imagination with figment was empty when I went in August every time throughout the day! Keep up all your amazing work, these videos are always so informative and fun!
AJ, I recently stumbled upon your channel and blog while planing my first WDW vacation by myself. The parks have changed a lot since the last time I visited. I just wanted to let you know that i love that you conquer lesser talked about subjects. I had so many questions that weren’t answered by the Disney website, but were quickly answered when I binged your videos! Thank you for all of the quick tips tricks. I am much more confident that my trip will be stress free and run more smoothly with the advice you give!
Thank you! I’ve been going to WDW for a long time, but I still always learn something when I watch these videos. You’re amazing, keep doing what you’re doing.
My tips:
Don’t *ever* go during Spring break, Christmas, most of summer, or other breaks like Thanksgiving. Go during early November, January/early February. Those are the less crowded times.
Also definitely stay later since there will be a lot of younger kids who’s parents will take them back to the room earlier
If you find yourself at let’s say animal kingdom and you want to ride Expedition Everest but the lines are too long.. wait as late as possible, we did this once and we practically walked on the ride. Plus Everest is all lit up and cool at night.
Go on rides while there’s a parade or show going on next to ride, lines will be shorter
If you are going with a couple people or don’t care to ride with them then go to the single rider lines to avoid waiting longer
If you really want to go on a very popular or crowded ride, get to the park as early as possible, then race to the ride. A lot of families will be pushing strollers and if you can get there fast then the line will be nothing
Eat at restaurants around the less popular times like in between lunch and dinner or later after the usual dinner time
**Most of these tips would apply to smaller parties of people or people with no younger children with theme.
Thank you so much for all your videos! They have helped me so much! I just went to WDW last month, and it was so much more enjoyable for my family and I because of your videos! Every Sunday, we sit down and watch your videos for advice! You guys are definitely appreciated!
I have to thank you again so much for these videos! I just went through our ride lists. Two days at Magic Kingdom we managed 17 rides on FP+. We waited for almost nothing. Those we did stand in line for we did during the fireworks or parade. and I learned all about the fastpasses completely by watching your videos!
As someone with severe anxiety, sensory processing disorder, and a service dog.. I appreciate this video so much!! Thank you!😊
I'll have to do the go early-stay late approach because I go to Disney with my best friends and one of them is a high school teacher so Spring Break and Summer Vacation are the only times we can all go.
Right on target, AJ! I go every year to the Food and Wine Festival partly because it isn't as crowded as other times of the year. Plus I go on a weekday because it's less crowded.
No recommendation of the WDW app? I found that it is a good way to see at a glance what the ride times are like when you are between fast passes.
honestly they were wrong for me a lot. it told me that splash mountain would be an hour and a half wait and it ended up being three hours. this happened with multiple rides. once it gets over 45 minutes i found that the timings were more inaccurate.
Jason Birzer They aren’t accurate
i have one tip request, could you make a "Best spot to view Parades" video. I have my itinerary on lock down but that is the only thing that is missing.
164dragonmaster one of my favorite spots to view Festival of fantasy when I have kids with me, is right next to the Roy and Minnie bench. It’s shaded and it’s where the parade ends. Cast members often let little ones get a better seat once the parade comes around. The characters pay more attention to the children since there are less of them at this spot. It’s honestly the best spot!
Charlie Gambasica where exactly is the bench??
center, town square, magic kingdom ,and I just googled , it's gone for refurbishment
This is true about anywhere. Best place is for viewing, personal choice. Best place for TIME MANAGEMENT, near the starting point. Everyone plans to get there before starting time to claim their spot, all about the same time. If you are at the beginning, you see the end of the parade while most is seeing the middle. Maybe it hasn't even got to them yet. So you were at the point where the end of the parade goes by at the earliest possible time. You can make a break for the rides while a lot of people are still waiting for the whole parade to go by.
Wow... this was so wonderfully informative! We're coming down in June with our grandchildren 8,7, and 6, so all your suggestions and info have been great!! :)
Can you do a video on best travel must haves for Disney? Such as what type of shoes(so your feet are not screaming by the end of the day), clothing, bags, weather items, things for when its to hot, etc.Or if you have already done a video where can I find it?
I walked onto Expedition Everest about 6 times while people were watching Rivers of Lights in AK last week.
We always plan our meals early (which makes sense for us because we're coming from an earlier time zone anyway) and thus the restaurants aren't busy yet (counter service in particular) - never fails, then we can chill out during the busiest time in the park (often we leave then to our resort and then return when people are leaving). So, definitely what you're saying! Even during the busiest time of the year, it works.
I’m gonna be marching in the New Years parade! It’s gonna be so crowded. Thanks for the tips.
I’ve seen other websites suggest never going to parks on Extra Magic Hours as a way to avoid crowds. Do agree with rope drop! Takes at least 1 hour in MK to start feeling the crowd. Thanks, AJ!
On days with extra park hours (late night), start your day at another park. Everyone tends to go to the park with extra hours, so the other parks are less crowded.
this is a great one! We usually split our day between parks anyway since we like a rest in the afternoon. This way you get to see all of them both early morning and late at night, without actually spending 12-16 hours walking!
Greg Smith where do you find out the magic hour schedule?? We are not staying at a Disney resort so we will want to avoid the parks that have magic hours
+Claire Sherwood The park hours section of the WDW website. disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/calendars/five-day/
I think you can check it on Disney World website and on the My Disney Experience app
Your voice is easy on the ears. Love your videos.
I find overall the parks that have EMH often are the most crowded park of the day. If EMH is early, I will get there early, for many will not make it there early. But usually mid day, I jump to another park. If the EMH is after and is late, I will sometimes return then because many families do not stay out that late.
Just remember the Swan and Dolphin operated by Westin (not Disney), DOES have the perk of using Extra Magic Hours AND 60 Days in advance FastPass+ bookings! Great video as always! :)
mini golf is a great thing to do when you trying do something thats not the parks. We like to do beaches and cream kitchen sink for lunch, then mini golf at fantasia garden then back to boardwalk to hang out and wait for dinner at cape may. Also could do broad walk after dinner, lots of cool entertainers.
THANK YOU! Another great video.
Any chance you could do a short video on the options for disabilities at Disney? Like the DAS card and such? I’ve not been able to find much information first hand from Disney about this and am interested in how this works for my trip this year as I would be such a massive help! 😊
Thanks & keep em coming!!!
Leigh Boyes yes I would like her to do that as well. Would help alot.
What type of disability? My husband is in a power wheelchair, we go to Disney World every other year, and he can do a ton.
Holly Oberhansly I have a medical condition called POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome - which is a form of dysautonomia.
I’m not sure if you are familiar with it or not but I am a wheelchair user because I am unable to stand/walk for long periods of without fainting or having a seizure.
I am not unable to walk and try to do as much as I can as safely as possible, but due to the unpredictable nature of my condition and my lack of tolerance to standing I use a wheelchair for occasions such as this. Amongst many other issues that go along with this condition, I have severe heat intolerance so i wouldn’t be able to cope with the heat while waiting in a long line.
My main concern is the queues. I have been given some information via the virgin holiday disability assistance team about the Disability Access Card at Disney which if I am able to obtain one, would give me the chance to get a return time for an attraction without having to stand or wait in the heat in a regular queue. I don’t want to be the person expecting to cut queues or anything like that, I just would like some more information based on these issues that could make my trip more tolerable and enjoyable for me and my family. I will make all the necessary adjustments to my trip to cater to my needs but this is one thing there’s not much information on and would make life ALOT easier!
I have been to Disney world many times before, but since my last trip a few years ago my condition has professed severely and so I know I will need to take a different approach this time to accommodate.
If you have any tips or advice I’d be grateful!
Disney tries very hard to accomodate you and your party, there are many separate ride entrances for handicapped and those in line just don't know any particulars. after 20 years I am now having trouble getting off spaceship earth onto the turntable. Customer relations told me to tell the cast member at the end and they would slow the ride and table down, aho now we know why that happens. it's stopped for wheelchair transfers.
My husband was in a wheelchair last visit due to an injured tendon, we didn't use the disability services but all of the rides we went on had a place where a second castmember pulled us aside and asked if he could walk/how far/did he need help. They offered to slow some of the ride vehicles for him but he was okay short distances with a cane so we declined. It was February so temps in the high 70's low 80's not so bad really and I planned out shows and rests for him through the day because he has some severe eczema and the sun is not his friend. The fastpasses were beyond a lifesaver as well as none of them had us waiting any longer than ten minutes and again, it was after the queue that they would ask if he could stand so he could remain sitting in his wheelchair, mostly in the shade until that point. I would say to go during a colder time of year and abuse the heck out of the fastpasses. Make three early in the day then refresh refresh refresh until you nail down a good one for your next. As soon as you scan your pass for the next ride then make another. It should keep you out of those lines you're dreading I hope!
some great tips, we are going this november for three weeks, hoping it won't be too busy :D
I remember a few years ago, my Dad and I went to Hollywood Studios a few minutes after rope drop. We went on Star Tours (one of the most popular rides in the park) 3 times, with little to no wait. And this was during one of the last Star Wars weekends too! If there is a ride you absolutely MUST go on, you should at least contemplate going early that day, and sleeping in at some other time.
In the summer, we did early mornings, then back to resort over midday (too hot and crowded), then back to park in afternoon
just so everyone knows in the first week of may into the second there is a huge cheer competition so there will be over 5,000 cheerleaders and there family’s all coming to the parks so it will be super crowded
it's the same in february! there was some cheer competition and festival of the arts at epcot with a lot of school bands and it made the wait times a lot worse!
Angelina Klimbach-Monti in the grand scheme of things though, that’s hardly going to make a difference to the wait times as it’s very unlikely that everyone will be at the same park on the same day. Even if it’s 10,000 attending, split between 4 parks will hardly be noticeable. Maybe an extra 10-15min wait at most.
Angelina Klimbach-Monti Not only in May, December is actually more crowded because its cheer nationals at the ESPN center, I went in December and the crowds were awful and cheerleaders can be very rude
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Can You make a vid on where to find the best food in the monorail loop (polynesian contemp and grand floridian) and compare the restaurants (i.e. Narcoosees to California) THX!!!!
DFB has a huge sweet tooth so if you're a more moderate person like myself I rank them like this:
The Wave
Kona Cafe
Grand Floridian Cafe
1900 Park Fare
Cali Grill
Citricos
Captain Cook's
Narcoosees
Chef Mickey's
Ohana (I am hugely not a fan)
Contempo Cafe (they really have a thing with the word "cafe")
Victoria and Albert's
and somewhere another 30 empty spaces down- that awful spirit of aloha show at the polynesian
I'm not counting super duper snack places, lounges or bars on that list but I can if you'd like me to. I'm also happy to explain any number of why whichever place is where in my opinion.
Kalli Maynard thank you so much. I agree with your list besides maybe putting the wave at the top (they are better for a cheaper option in my opinion) this helps a lot. Thanks!
Kona Cafe is the best breakfast. I could eat those Gouda grits every day.
Kalli Maynard what’s you’re favorite part about the wave? I still need to go there!
There is a playlist of videos that includes reviews of all the resorts.
My tip to outsmart crowds during season of high crowd levels:
1. Avoid the parks with extra morning magic hours. It seems like a good idea but the parks with those hours get crowded really quickly.
2. Go to the park when rain starts to hit. I know it's weird but when those rain showers end, lots of rides end up cutting their wait times by half or more.
3. When going to the parks, start doing attractions all the way in the back and work your way towards the entrance. Less wait times for those rides.
4. Use the WDW app!!! My family and I were doing Epcot for most of the day but needed to go to Hollywood Studios (HS) to watch Fantasmic. We left Epcot at 4ish and rode the boat to HS and entered the park at 5:35ish. Right when we entered, I got us a FastPass for The Great Movie Ride at 5:45. Right after riding the ride, we got a FastPass for Fantasmic.
Our family loves going each year and we stay at the Contemporary. The kids go over early in the morning to Magic Kingdom,,,super easy because they can walk over from the Contemporary and be at the Magic Kingdom in about 5 minutes. Around noon they come back to grab a quick lunch at the Contempo Cafe inside the resort and than off to the pool to relax until about 4:30. We go back over in the evening and stay until closing. It always seems to work out for us.
Do a video for children with special needs, best places to relax, or just where to go if you're not doing rides
Tip if you can’t get a Fastpass for something at MK go right after firework so as soon as they end book it to the line I got on 7 dwarfs in 30 minutes in the stand by line the year it opened
You have taught me stuff that I can tell my mom a little extra tips thanks DFB
Love your videos and your voice. Keep them coming :D
I love leaving the parks to go eat at a resort. Less crowded and I think the food is better prepared. I haven't hit all the resorts yet but someday.
You mentioned a restroom video. Look up WDW Loo Review. They do specials on the restrooms that could give you great information!
Thank you so much for all of these videos!
When we went in February, we went to 3 parks (Epcot, animal kingdom, MK) and on our AK day we went in super early for the Avatar rides. Also on our MK day, we were able to stay until about 11:20ish
Hey! Great video! Love your channel; you give great tips! Can you make a video about the best shows/attractions to see at Disney World? Just a suggestion :). Thank you!
normally go in October but now that i have graduated i am for the first time going in December i have gone ever year since i was born last year was my 18 or 19th time going and this time i think it will be my 20th i always went on fall break and its the best time to go if u book ahead
A great trip and I think my favorite thing was the refillable drink mugs.
Thank u guys.... these videos are a lifesaver !!!!
Thank you for some great tips . Can you make a video for a solo trip. That would be a great video ;)
So many (but not all!) of these tips will also work for Disneyland. The two Disneyland parks are often open from 8:00am until midnight, so it's easy to hit the parks super early, come back to your hotel for a rest, and then head back out again late at night.
I got to hold the rope to open animal kingdom one time... it was awesome! Definitely worth getting there super early.
A lot of the shows like country bear jamboree(magic kingdom), hall of presidents (magic kingdom), the American adventure show (Epcot), tiki room(magic kingdom) are great places to rest and take a break from the heavy crowds :)
Two words: Mobile Ordering
through my Disney experience you can attach a credit card and order at many counter service locations before you even get there, then once you arrive, hit I'm here and they make your food and you don't have to wait in any line. You get a message, and emailed a receipt once your order is up and you pick it up. I have skipped so many crazy lines doing this.
Thanks for the videos!!!💕
Something I find useful, if there's a huge crowd and you need to get to somewhere fast u can usually shortcut through shops
You should make a vid we're you ride every ride in Disney world pleaseee
Great job as usual AJ thanx!!
These are great tips thank you! 😊
About your first (and third) point... In my experience, I'd recommend that you should AVOID parks with Extra Magic Hours. It's actually an incentive for a lot of people to chose one park over another. I tried some parks with and without EMH and the experience is much smoother when the park doesn't open early (because the queues tend to be full much earlier while still having the 2-4pm peak anyway). Last time I went on a park with EMH was Animal Kingdom and it was really crowded throughout the day (and Rite of Passage had a queue of 4 hours at regular park opening !!), whereas at other parks it was surely not as crowded in comparison with queue lengths that were somewhat bellow from what I've remembered from previous trips.
Sure, skipping EMH might feel frustrating when you're staying on property, but I'd rather have a somewhat crowded 9am-4pm window over having an empty 8am-9am with a really crowded 9am-4pm.
But otherwise staying late is always nice. I love Disney parks when the sun is down and the lights are on. :D
This may sound strange, but I've found it less crowded to avoid the park that has the extra magic hour in the AM. It seems to be overloaded with resort guests especially during peak hours. I just experienced this down in DW during the Southern spring break.
I was able to book 63 days before when staying on property !
Thank you so much for the videos. They are a great help. We would like to watch the electrical water pageant AFTER we have checked out of the resort. Is this possible? And can one go to any of the other resort, when we are not resort guests?
Hi AJ! I was wondering if you could do a video for people on honeymoon. I’m planning my next visit as my honeymoon and want some ideas too do around May
Lots of good advice here. Definitely recommend getting to rope drop 30 mins early. You will either get to wait in a shorter line for the most popular newest ride or be able to go on several of the older but still much-loved rides in short order. Not all of the parks do a rope drop, though. Last October AK just let everybody right in before opening and the de facto rope drop was the entrance to Avatar. We went to some parks to take advantage of morning extra magic hours and some that didn't have them. We found that the parks with the extra morning hours got busy and stayed full until late afternoon while the parks without the extra hours tended to be less busy in the morning hours. Kind of a reverse-psychology thing. Maybe it was just our imagination, wanting to believe that we had beat the system and the crowds a little. Not scheduling meals at typical meal times is also a great tip- less busy in the restaurants and less waiting for rides (but not a ton). Eating snacks saves cash and time- have one big meal later in the day or early evening when you're tired and need a break. A great time to get on those rides you love but aren't gonna waste a fastpass on is during the fireworks or parades. I hate to miss them but you can often walk right on to many of the rides and usually can get repeated rides with zero wait.
If you can go off season. We are going in Oct. which is less crowded. I took my niece she she was 7 at the end of Aug. We got to Magic Kingdom right when it opened and Fantasy Land had no crowd.
A video covering the advantages for veterans and active duty military would be cool
You're AWESOME AJ thank you so much
Could you guys do one maybe with the souvenir cups around disney please.
Please make a video of new Disney news like rides and restaurants
I always arrive at rope drop and stay late unless I park hop. I always take advantage of Extra Magic Hrs. Last time I only used Fast Pass for rides. Never waited long in ride lines. Longest lines were for character meet and greets without FP+. Im a solo traveler so easier for me to move around and squeeze into places. The worst crowds last vacation were Epcot 35 and MNSSHP
MNSSHP was alot worst in 2015 where u couldnt move.
So We are planning a huge family trip to Disney World for next Christmas. I had suggested that we go in the beginning of December, however since it’s going to be my younger niece and nephew’s first Christmas without their dad because he’ll be deployed, their mother decided that we should go and be there on Christmas Day. So my question is where is the best place to be on Christmas day?
How does the waiting in line right before park close work for flight of passage? That ride can be up to a 4 hour wait..so does that mean they keep the park open till midnight just for flight of passage? How does that affect transportation since they only run a hour and a half after official park closing?
ProtoEon They will stay open until everyone is out. Most people do not stay in the line when the park closes because it can be late and children don’t like late. Especially if they need to wake up early the next morning. Most people leave after fireworks, anyway.
I think the most you wait at FoP at park closing is 90 minutes, but it's usually closer to 45-60 minutes.
And don't pay attention to the sign with the minutes posted, it always says 120 minutes at the end of the day even if it's really 60min.
Also we used our magic morning pass to go on all the rides at magic kingdom because that one gets sooooo busy and we just walked onto all the rides. And at Disney land they used to ? They might still do give away free fast passes so when the park opened we would run around and collect as many fast passes as possible xD lol
Question: Getting in line before the park closes... How would that work with a ride with an uber line like FoP? If youre in the line before close, but it's generally a 2+ hr wait.
You guys are awesome, my whole trip was based on your vids!
One time at disney land california adventure park we went on the water slide over and over again before closing caus no one wanted to get went during the night but who cares right we had a blast
Gaston's restroom!! I always use it since it is tucked away
Thank you. How did you capture the iPhone screen, please ?
great pointers!!!
Is it true they announced Galaxy's Edge opening at DW for 8/29? We already have a trip booked for September and one for April. To be honest I as hoping the opening would be after our September trip. I want to go to the new park, just not when it first opens lol. It will be a mad house! Love your vids AJ!!. My wife and I love your channel!!
We got to ride haunted mansion,big thunder, and splash mountain during fireworks with no wait. We came back after fireworks where done to see the what’s and haunted shot up to 45 min
I am curious to know what rides have single rider lines and where they are hiding. LOL I couldn't find any on my first visit to Disney World. Would have been nice to find one of them as I was by myself.
Awesome video 😀
You should make a video "how to get discount
If you get three Fastpasses ahead of time, do you have to use them before you can get more? So would it be better to get them for the morning to get more once those are used or would it be better to get them for the afternoon when the lines are the longest?
You can only get the additional ones after you have used your initial 3. As far as when to use them, that is really a choice up to you and your party. We alternate trips once a year and twice a year and have been doing that for 5 years now and all I can tell you from our experience is, as long as you plan ahead you will be fine. Some of the more popular rides will fill up fast so book those first and then base the others on that. Disney is going to be crowded so just accept it and stay positive. We always see people who get upset or try to run from place to place. Just enjoy yourself and take your time, you will have plenty of time to do most of the things you want. If you try and worry too much about times and having to be somewhere, it will ruin the experience. Have fun and hope you enjoy your trip! We have one next month and are ready to go lol.
Can you please do a video about food at the Bordwalk in Walt Disney World.
Can you plz make a video of the best places to shop in the parks 😁😁
The Odyssey restroom is my secret place! Don't put it in your next video! ;)
agltbialik first time to Disney world in April. Where is odyssey?
It's the unused building between Future World and the World Showcase (on Mexico's side) at Epcot. I think it used to be a restaurant, but now it's only open for special events.. but their bathrooms are usually available, and no one knows about them... so they're usually empty!
HA! I thought that was MY secret...it is always empty
Now too bad I know where that is
@@spiderspartianProductions The entire Internet knows where it is now
I may have missed a video, but what are the best off-peak times for lunch and dinner reservations? Say 2-4pm for lunch or after 8pm for dinner? Or...?
Dickson Head Id have to agree with that, only issue is if you push slightly after 4pm smaller kids get hungry and start to want dinner. The thing is it's always busy at peak times no matter what time you eat lunch, but if your building up 10-15 mins here and there it makes a big difference so don't underestimate!
I love your videos AJ!
Oh yeah AJ again!!!!
Great tips! Does anyone know if i can choose fastpasses at midnight, florida time, 60 days out?
Are Extra Magic Hours for everyone or just passholders? What if one in a group is a pass holder but no one else is, do all guests get to stay extra?