Save Time at Disney Parks With These Expert Tips
Updated 8/15/17
A day at a Disney theme park is usually jam packed with can’t miss attractions, shows and food options. I love to fill our day to the max so we don’t miss out on anything. Sometimes it’s hard to fit everything in that the family wants to do though. My solution: save time everywhere we can. I find that we can get so much more done if we aren’t scrambling during transpiration or missing out because we didn’t plan ahead. I’ve got some helpful tips so you can make the most of your time at a Disney park.
How to Save Time at Disney Parks
Visit During Non Peak Season
It’s nice to plan a Summer Disney vacation, but you won’t get nearly as much done during your time in the parks. If you visit during a low crowd time of the year, you’ll be able to fit in more attractions since you won’t be waiting as long. I like to look at a crowd calendar, like this one, to plan a vacation.
Book Your FastPasses
The Fast Pass+ system allows on-site visitors to book fast passes, for attractions, 60 days ahead of their trip (30 days ahead for off-site visitors). You can book them through your My Disney Experience app. Fast Passes allow you to visit an attraction, at a pre-scheduled time, and wait in a shorter queue than those without a Fast Pass in the standard stand-by queue. You can book 3 Fast Passes per park day and then make new ones once those are used. This saves our family so much time! Our toddler can’t wait over 30 minutes for a ride, so we love using our Fast Passes.
Book Fast Passes for popular characters!
Plan Your Day Late Or Early
So many people head into the park to catch certain events. Guests like to go to the parks at opening time or a few hours prior to the nighttime shows. So mix it up instead! Go after a leisurely breakfast so you miss the park opening or head to the park after the nighttime show, when everyone is leaving.
Don’t Bring a BackPack
The trick to getting through the security lines quicker is not to bring a backpack to the park. Security is required to check every bag that a guest brings. This can be so time consuming and cause long lines.
Use New Minnie Van Service
New for 2017, the Minnie Van service is a quick transportation option through Lyft. You can download the app and be picked up and taken to anywhere on Disney property. This saves time from the bus lines.
All photos ©David Roark Disney
How to do you save time on your Disney vacations?
We have been going every summer for the last 8 years, so I have it down to a science. We never see characters anymore and by now, we know what we like, so we definitely make the most of our time there.
Great tips! The backpack is a good tip but so hard when spending a long day at the parks. As my kids are getting older it is getting easier to go without one.
These are great tips. Who wants to spend all the money it takes to get to Disney and then just wait in line. Especially when there’s so much fun to be had!
i have to admit that i am the early fast pass kind of person, but feel as if it no longer gives an advantage. My guess is going at off peak times of the years are way better than going during holidays. i do like the idea of mixing it up though! thanks for the tips!
I’ve never been to a Disney park…. I know I know shame on me but I would love to take my daughter at least once. These tips are fantastic and give me a better idea on how to plan the trip and how to make it run smoothly. Thank you so much
Those are some great tips but I’m kind of glad Disneyland hasn’t moved to the reserve your fast past so far in advance thing. I like to go with the flow on that day and not feel too scheduled.
As a central Florida resident I agree that timing is everything. It’s amazing how much more you can get done on a Wednesday morning in October vs a Saturday in June.
Booking during the non-peek season times is key. Honestly – if you can do it, it makes major difference!
Awesome!! I am so anxious about getting to see as much as we can in our first trip!
You always have such great tips. You are my number 1 site that I refer people to who want Disney info!
I loved those tips especially the off peak season visit to save time but it doesn’t always work out with kids school schedules.. Fast passes is also one of the great time savers I was able to take advantage of when I was at Disney.
Oh man I would love to visit Disney World again. When i was there we (husband and I) had plenty of time and we could moved at our own pace. xx
These are such great tips. I will definitely bookmark this for future use and will keep these things in mind.
I have never tried using Fast Passes in Disneyland. Will definitely try doing that next time we go there!
Im not sure how I could go without bringing a bag. I have two little kids. It would be impossible.
Love this! The one time we went to disney it felt like it went so fast!! Anything that gices us more disney magic is helpful
I don’t know what we would do without fast passes. Honestly with just fast passes itself one saves so much time. you have shared some really good tips here. Thanks.
We always went during off season and it was way better! Cooler weather and shorter lines is always a plus! – We were homeschooled though so that made it easier!
We visit Disneyland very often and always visit during non peak days/times. We can’t wait to be there again for spring break just one week from Monday! Great tips to help friends have a pleasant visit.
These are such great tips! We used fast passes everyday when my family and I went
I will certainly take advantage of the express transportation. That sounds like a really good idea. We plan to visit there next spring.
What great tips to make the most of the time on your vacation!! I hope to put them to use soon!!
These are great tips. I think visiting during non peak seasonw ould help a lot. I’m never going back in peak season.
These are wonderful tips, especially visiting during non-peak season. It is definitely a way to get the most out of any vacation!
So many awesome Disney tips!!!! I always tell people the off season is the best!!!! If you go during the middle of the week during the off season , shirt lines galore!!!