Updated: November 3rd, 2024
We visit Disney World every day. Yep, Every. Single. Day.
And from all of our park trips, we’ve learned a thing or two. Now, we’re going to share with you some of our best hacks for making the most of your time and money in Disney World!
Disney vacations are filled with fun, laughter, and lifelong memories. But you’re also going to encounter a lot of challenges during your Disney vacation, from navigating long lines to finding new favorite snacks. We’ve seen it all, done it all, experienced practically every problem you can have, and found ways to solve those problems. So, come along with us as we share some of the hacks we’ve discovered or even invented during our years in the parks!
Let’s break down our top tips for you:
Rope Dropping
You probably already know where we’re going with this, and you might already be picturing how cozy your hotel bed is, but rope dropping is a great way to ride some of the top attractions on your list with shorter waits.
If you’re wondering what “rope dropping” is, it’s just Disney terminology for showing up to the park before it first opens and being among the first people to enter Disney’s lands and attractions. And remember that if you stay at a Disney World hotel, you can get even more time in the parks thanks to Early Theme Park Entry. That allows you to enter any park (as long as you have a Park Pass for it) 30 minutes before the official park opening.
Here is how we do it to make sure we’re one of the first in the parks.
First tip: Do your research.
You’ve been reading AllEars, following us on Social Media, devouring every newsletter, and binging the YouTube videos, so you know the popular attractions in each park and that most folks make a bee-line to them as soon as they arrive in the park. So, what other research should you do besides consuming AllEars content? Study the Disney Parks Maps and My Disney Experience. You might be the first one in the park, but if you head left at the Castle when you’re planning to rope drop Space Mountain, you’ll be in for an unpleasant surprise.
On top of knowing which attractions you want to experience first, you’ll also want to scope out the best route to get there. This can help keep you at the front of the throngs of people who will be charging in with you.
So, which are the most popular rides? The ones you should prioritize? Well, that’s going to be subjective. It’ll depend on your family and what you enjoy, but these are the rides that attract the longest lines that you’ll want to ride first:
And once Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind shift off the Virtual Queue process, they’re sure to be included in the list above. You’ll want to do your research on these attractions, too. If you’re traveling with toddlers, chances are the Tower of Terror may not be on your list of “must-dos.” So make sure you check out these attractions, their height requirements, and general details to know which ones are right for your family.
Now that you know which attraction you want to hit and the best route to get there, you need to develop a plan for getting to the parks.
Our second tip is strategizing your park approach.
These are several tips in one hack. First, know when the park you’re planning to visit opens and if you have access to Early Park Entry through Disney Resort Hotel perks. Next, know how you’re getting to the park. Will you be utilizing Disney Transportation? Driving yourself? Using Rideshare? This will all factor into how long you’ll need to get from your hotel room to the park entry.
If you’re riding a Disney Bus, you’ll get the perk of being dropped off as close to the Disney park as possible, but the drawback is how long bus transportation can take. A rule of thumb is to be at your bus stop ready to go at least one hour before your park opens (90 minutes might be even better).
Once you’ve arrived at your park of choice, next comes the second layer of this hack: Choosing your tap stall and security line. It’s tempting to just jump into the closest line to you to get through security and get into the parks. But be observant. Look around, and you may find empty lanes if you just walk down a little ways. It can also be strategic to choose the lane on the side of the park where your first attraction is. This will keep you from having to traverse through swarms of people to get to the side of the park you need to be on.
Avoiding Crowds
If you’re heading to Disney World, you’ll want to know how you can avoid spending all your precious time in line, we’re breaking it all down for you!
Visit During Slower Seasons and Days
Disney’s ticket pricing and hotel pricing are date-based. Depending on the days that you visit, your stay could be much more expensive and potentially much more crowded. If you take a look at those ticket prices, you’ll see that the higher ticket prices are typically assigned to days/seasons where Disney expects there to be a higher demand. Higher demand likely equals potentially bigger crowds. Think days like Christmas, Halloween, and other holidays or holiday weekends.
Our recommendation? Try, if you can, to visit Disney World during those slower periods — typically dates in spring or fall when there are no immediate holidays or times when kids would be off from school. We know that’s not always possible, though. Sometimes Christmas vacation is the ONLY time you and your family have available to visit the parks. We totally get that.
Getting to the Parks Early
Getting to the parks early can also be SUPER beneficial. We know, we know — get up EARLY during VACATION?! We get that an early morning alarm might not be in your ideal vacation plans, but if you want to avoid the crowds, it can really help.
You might think that the parks don’t open until their set opening time, so what’s the point in arriving early? BUT, in our experience, the parks will actually let guests in a little bit before their official opening time. That means before the parks’ official openings, you could actually sneak in a few rides with pretty low wait times!
Skip the Weekends
Generally speaking, weekends at Disney World tend to have some larger crowds. It’s not always the case, as we have seen some SURPRISINGLY low crowds on some weekends.
If your stay is long enough and you have some “off days” that you’re going to use during your trip to stay at the hotel, go in the pool, etc., you might want to consider placing those “off days” on the weekend. Then you could spend your weekdays in the parks, and spend the weekends doing things outside of the parks to try and avoid some of the crowds.
Consider Activities Outside of the Parks
This sort-of goes hand in hand with what we mentioned above, but especially on days when large crowds are expected or the parks are expected to reach capacity, you might want to consider doing activities outside of the parks! Instead of spending the day waiting in LONG lines, you could take that time to do some of the more unique things you might have never thought about before.
Have you ever been horseback riding in Disney World? How about mini golfing? Ever take archery lessons at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort? Days when the crowds are expected to be large in Disney World are the perfect ones to do all of these things. These activities generally have limited capacities and are spread out, away from the park crowds. You might just get the chance to do things you’ve NEVER done before and otherwise really wouldn’t have taken the time to do!
When to Eat
If you’re in the parks and trying to avoid the crowds during meal times, you might want to consider eating during off-times. If you decide to grab your food or place a Mobile Order for your meal right at 12PM, you’ll likely hit that lunchtime rush of crowds. You could face a huge line of guests also waiting to pick up their Mobile Order meals at the same time. And, if you wait until 12PM to place your Mobile Order, you might find that the next available pick-up time isn’t for a WHILE.
To beat the crowds, consider eating a bit earlier or later than 12:00PM. You might even want to consider having a big “breakfast/brunch” at around 10:30AM, and then not eating a bigger meal again until about 2PM or so, to help avoid the crowds. (And you could ALWAYS snack in between!)
Another big tip is to remember to use Mobile Order! In many Quick Service places, Mobile Order is highly encouraged or essentially required. But, the real tip here is to place your order early in the day! Consider ordering your lunch fairly early in the morning and (if possible) scheduling it for a pick-up time that isn’t right at 12PM. Placing your order early will help you have a greater number of pick-up times to choose from and will ensure that you’ve already got that order placed before the rest of the crowds decide to place theirs.
Quiet Hidden Spots
In the parks, there are often quite a few quiet, relaxing spots where you can escape the crowds and just catch your breath for a moment — but, you have to know where to look!
Basically, the advice here is don’t just settle for the only seating areas you might find right in front of you. Keep checking around — sometimes you’ll find lovely, quiet spots that you’ll just have to walk a bit farther to get to. It might involve a bit of searching, but it could give you some great peace of mind to sit in a place that’s more spread out and relaxing.
Check Those Wait Times
This is a big tip for any day (low crowds or not) but it’s especially important on days when the crowd levels are high. Be sure to look at the wait times for rides BEFORE you walk over to them! If you’re deciding what ride to go on next, look at the wait times on the My Disney Experience app BEFORE moving those feet.
Believe us when we say, it’s much better to see that Pirates of the Caribbean is at a 60 minute wait, while The Haunted Mansion is only at a 30 minute wait, before physically walking ALL the way over to Pirates to find it out for yourself and then walk ALL the way over to the Haunted Mansion to ride that instead because the line is shorter. If you check the times before you move, then you can be sure to head over to the rides with the lowest wait times to try and avoid the bigger crowds!
Take a Mid-Day Break
Another way to avoid the crowds is to leave the park when things get really busy, and come back later in the evening when some of the crowds have left. To make sure this is a good plan though, you’ll need to check those park hours.
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to go ALL the way back to your own hotel for a bit of an out-of-the-park break. Say you’re staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, for example. Well, one day you could be at Magic Kingdom and just looking to get away from the crowds for a minute. You don’t need to go ALL the way back to Pop Century. You could place a Mobile Order for some delicious pork nachos and a refreshing drink at Capt. Cook’s in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and just hop on the monorail to get over there. You could take your snack outside, and just relax for a bit, away from the bigger crowds.
Then, you could do some shopping in the stores there, check out the decor in the hotel, and then quickly get back to Magic Kingdom once the crowds have died down a bit or you’re just ready to return. Keep in mind that generally right now to resort hop you do need a dining reservation or Mobile Order or a reservation at that hotel.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass
But, let’s face it. Lightning Lane Multi Pass can be complicated. Although it has made some changes for the better, understanding how to use it can be challenging on its own, let alone trying to figure out how to maximize the service. So, that’s why we are giving you the Lightning Lane HACKS you need to know about for your next trip. Let’s dive in!
Get Lightning Lanes as Early as Possible
First things first, let’s talk about purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. You can buy these services either 7 days in advance if you are a Disney World hotel guest or 3 days in advance if you are NOT staying on Disney World property. It opens up at 7AM ET.
It’s a good idea to buy as soon as you can so you have access to the BEST Lightning Lane options. You can book three Lightning Lanes initially with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. A Lightning Lane Single Pass will only allow you to skip the line on eligible rides one time with the purchase.
It hasn’t happened recently, but when the service was called Genie+, we saw it sell out several times. This is rare and will most likely only happen on the busiest days. Just in case, don’t wait until the last minute to purchase it, and then you’re stuck without it on a crowded holiday.
Furthermore, if you are planning on using Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass, but not until later in the day (maybe you have a dining reservation or are at a slower park in the morning), don’t wait until you need it to purchase. Not only could you risk it selling out, but you can actually choose later times when picking your first three Lightning Lanes. Getting a head start on those selections is a good idea so that you don’t get to your park in the afternoon and the ride selections you were hoping for are all booked up.
Stack Lightning Lane Selections
Now that you can select rides ahead of time with Lightning Lane Multi Pass, we thought stacking was no more…but we found a loophole! You have a time frame of one hour (plus a 15-minute grace period) to redeem Lightning Lanes. After that time, it’s assumed you’ve missed it. However, we’ve tested multiple times and can confirm with you that’s NOT true!
Inside the My Disney Experience app, your Lightning Lane selection will show as expired after your hour-long window is up, meaning you can now book another one. However, we’ve found out that, even though the app shows that it’s expired, you actually have 3 HOURS to redeem your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection! BUT you can still book an additional one to “replace it” after an hour — so stacking Lightning Lanes IS possible!
We don’t recommend using this all the time, but it’s worth a shot if you are accidentally late to your time window. It is up to the discretion of the Cast Member and can change so be polite to them if you get turned away. We’re just sharing our experience that happened while testing out the new system!
Breedlove has tried this out himself multiple times in different parks and was able to stack 10 RIDES at one time!
Refresh the App
When you are trying to find a Lightning Lane selection that works for you, sometimes it might feel like you can’t find one that fits into the schedule you were hoping for.
While staying flexible is an important way to enjoy your trip to the fullest, don’t give up on snagging a time that works for you best. Sometimes refreshing the app will show you times that weren’t available at first. Be patient, and keep trying!
Pin Your Favorite Attractions
Speaking of refreshing the app, don’t forget to customize your Disney Genie. While you’re looking for that perfect Lightning Lane selection, scrolling all the way to your attraction of choice can waste valuable time.
Make sure you pin the attractions you’re most looking forward to doing so that they are at the top of your board! When you refresh your screen, you’ll see your favorite options faster. You can do this by customizing your day in the Disney Genie section of the My Disney Experience app.
Modify Your Selections
Since Disney’s new skip-the-line system debuted in 2021, it has seen a few changes! Most notably, guests can now modify their Lightning Lane selections. Make sure you’re taking advantage of this transition!
Previously, if you wanted to adjust your plans, you’d have to cancel your current Lightning Lane selection and try for another — hoping for the best! But now, you can take a look at available selections without having to cancel your current selection.
This can be especially useful if you stacked your Lightning Lanes for later in the day, and were hoping to snag an earlier selection if it became available. If an earlier one does become available, you might be able to grab another Lighting Lane sooner!
Prioritize High Demand Attractions
While it might be tempting to try to snag a Lightning Lane for a low-demand ride if one is available soon, many of these rides typically have short wait times. Don’t stress about filling up your day with these rides at the expense of getting a more valuable Lightning Lane selection later in the day for a high-demand ride.
Picking Lightning Lanes that are later in the day but for more coveted rides is a good way to make sure you’re using your Lightning Lane Multi Pass purchase on the attractions that really benefit from it.
Did you know you can scan in 5 minutes early to your Lightning Lane selection? While it might not seem like a big help, 5 minutes adds up when you’ve got a full day of plans to carry out!
Disney World is huge, and you might be surprised by just how long it takes to do everything on your to-do list for the day. Give yourself some extra grace and show up to your attraction 5 minutes early, and you might be surprised how much it can come in handy!
Snacks
Boozy DOLE Whip Margarita
First, purchase a classic Dole Whip over at Swirls on the Water. Then, grab yourself a Blood Orange Margarita from Dockside Margaritas.
Pro tip: we asked for a second cup to split up the margarita so we had enough room to add the Dole Whip. As it turned out, we had plenty of Dole Whip for both! Then, add the Dole Whip on top of the margarita and enjoy! Seriously, we mean ENJOY this drink — we loved ours!
Refillable Popcorn Bucket
Bring Your Own Snacks to the Parks
We also recommend packing some snacks in your park bag. Even if you are planning on having your meals at a Disney restaurant, snacks are great to have on hand when you’re feeling a little peckish and don’t want to drop $15 at a food kiosk.
We like to bring granola or protein bars because these are satisfying and can hold us over until our next meal. Another great option is a smoothie, which you can buy premade from a local grocery store. You can either pack your smoothie in a lunch box or pour it into an insulated tumbler, and then you have a cold drink to refresh you during those long, hot days!
Plus Up Your Snack for About $1
Many snack kiosks and quick service locations have sauces you can purchase on the side which can range from $1-$2. You can get options like that melty, cheese sauce, sweet chocolate sauce, extra icing, and even rich peanut butter sauce.
Have things for your pretzel, churro, corn dog nuggets, or bakery case selection, can really enhance those snacks.
Saving Money
Use Gift Cards
Buying gift cards to use at Disney World might not seem like a hack at first — why spend money to just end up spending it somewhere else? The reason we included this on the list is because it’s a great way to not only save for your trip but also to budget once you arrive. Leading up to your Disney vacation, instead of setting money aside that you might be tempted to use for other purchases, use it to buy Disney gift cards. You can find them at Target or the Disney Store in varying increments. These gift cards can be used for all things Disney, even theme park tickets! It’s a super easy way to save for big purchases.
We also like to use Disney gift cards for budgeting while on vacation. It’s easier to stick to a set budget when you allocate gift cards for certain categories of purchases, like food or merchandise. Sure, having your credit card attached to your MagicBand is super convenient, but it’s also very easy to overspend. Carrying cash can also be an annoyance, so instead opt for gift cards. If you’re traveling with kids and they want to get their own souvenirs, you can give them their own gift cards for spending throughout the trip. When it’s gone, it’s gone! This is how we stick to our budget and we think it works great!
Use a Travel Agent
Want to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your trip? Nervous about staying up-to-date on all the deals? Stressed about having to plan your trip? You don’t have to do it all alone — using a travel agent could help you save money and take away some of the stress of planning a Disney trip!
We recommend our friends over at MEI-Travel’s Mouse Fan Travel. Why? Their services are totally FREE, they’ve got tons of knowledge about ALL things Disney, and their talented team can really help you plan the trip of your dreams (and answer all of your questions).
They stay up-to-date on the latest deals and can help make sure you’re choosing the spot that’s best for you. Plus, you won’t be spending any more than what you’d normally spend on your trip.
Travel During the Cheapest Days
If you’re really looking to make your 2025 trip as cost-friendly as possible, you’re not going to want to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth during major holidays or other big events. Instead, you’ll want to start by looking at the dates on which ticket prices are their LOWEST. These typically fall during Disney’s “slower” periods, when fewer crowds are expected.
Here are more dates you’ll need to know about:
- January — Cheapest dates: January 6th-8th, and 13th-$139 per day
- February — Cheapest dates: February 1st, 2nd, and from 6th-9th — $154 per day
- March — Cheapest dates: March 4th-6th — $154 per day
- April — Cheapest dates: April 30th — $149 per day
- May — Cheapest dates: May 7th-8th — $144 per day
- June — Cheapest dates: June 1st-5th, 16th-19th, and 23rd-25th — $149 per day
- July — Cheapest dates: July 14th, 16th, and 21st-31st — $154 per day
- August — Cheapest dates: August 19th-22nd and 25th-28th — $119 per day
- September — Cheapest dates: September 2nd-4th, 9th-11th, 15th-18th, and 23rd-25th — $119 per day
- October — Cheapest dates: October 6th — $149 per day
- November — Cheapest dates: November 3rd-6th — $154 per day
- December — Cheapest dates: December 4th, 5th, 9th-12th, and 15th — $159 per day
As you can see, a visit on certain dates in August and September could save you big bucks on park tickets compared to a trip on other dates.
Take Advantage of Discounts
Disney often offers discounts for various affiliate members, like Annual Passholders, D23 members, DVC members, and Disney VISA Card holders. Whenever you’re about to make a purchase, be sure to check with the Cast Member about any applicable discounts.
Disney also offers vacation discounts to Florida Residents, U.S. Military, and even seasonal discounts, so check before you book or use a travel agent to help monitor and apply those discounts for you.
Packing
Break in Your Shoes Before Arriving
We have suffered many a blister from wearing our new shoes to Disney World without breaking them in first. Don’t make the same mistake! It is important to have relatively new shoes that aren’t worn down from use, because they’ll provide better support for your feet. But that doesn’t mean brand new out of the box!
Get some steps in ahead of your trip to get rid of the stiff feeling that comes with a new pair. Walk on the treadmill or around your house! Whatever works for you. If you’re still concerned about blisters, try using moleskin to protect your feet. Just stick it to any area where your shoe rubs, and you’re ready to hit your steps goal with no pain!
THIS AMAZON ITEM SAVES OUR FEET FROM BLISTERS!
Track Your Stroller and/or Luggage With Technology
When you arrive to one of the parks, you will be met with a sea of strollers. When you’re pushing it around, that’s fine! But when it’s time to park your stroller to get on a ride or head inside for your dining reservation, finding it afterwards is another story. Your stroller might not be in the same spot you left it in because Cast Members will rearrange stroller parking areas as people come and go.
Our solution? Use a tracker like a Tile or AirTag. These are easy to pair with your phone and can help you track down your stroller or luggage in case it get lost. This will save you time, meaning more opportunities to hit up attractions! The AirTag is especially useful, because if you have an iPhone 11 Pro or newer, you can view what location the AirTag is in and how close it is down to the foot.
Bring a Laundry Bag
Whether you plan on doing laundry while on your trip or are waiting until you return home, it’s a good idea to bring a laundry bag with you. Having a bag to separate your clean and dirty clothes helps you keep track of what’s been worn already. This is also particularly useful when you are traveling with little ones who tend to make a mess!
Your laundry bag doesn’t have to be fancy; a drawstring bag big enough to hold your clothes will do. We like this one because it is made of mesh and very lightweight! If you’re planning on doing some laundry at your resort or hotel, you can easily collect your dirty clothes throughout the trip and then you have a bag to easily transport them to and from the laundry room! For those who are planning on waiting until they get home, it’s convenient to have all of your dirty clothes in one spot, plus you can separate them from any clean clothes you might have in your bag.
Pack ZipLock Bags
Wet clothes after Kali River Rapids? Saving a giant lollipop for later? Want to organize your kid’s pressed pennies? Throw a few plastic baggies in your Park bag.
They won’t take up a lot of space, but TRUST me: you will find 100 reasons to use one.
Don’t Forget a Portable Charger
For all the work your phone is going to do in the Parks — like taking photos, capturing video, and using My Disney Experience — you’re going to want to make sure it has ample battery!
Bring a portable charger from home, or grab a FuelRod in the Parks. You purchase it once, and then you can swap it out as needed for a fresh battery.
There’s the run down of all of our Disney World hacks to help you have the most amazing Disney vacation! Keep reading AllEars for even more tips and tricks!
6 Practical Hacks for Your Next Disney Trip
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Perhaps the biggest hack of all is to stay outside of Disney property! My wife and I have never felt that the value of staying on Disney property matched the cost. We’ve been going to Disney yearly for 15 years and we have always looked for ways to save for an expensive Disney trip. While staying in one of Walt Disney’s beautiful properties is incredibly convenient and comes with perks like Disney themed hotels and extra time in the parks, it’s going to be ridiculously pricey!
Instead we found for maybe 25% of the cost of staying at Disney we search VRBO (formerly HomeAway), for nearby villas with their own private heated pool & jacuzzi. There are so many affordable places to stay nearby that are basically luxury. Rather than paying thousands for a weeks stay at a Disney resort that has public pools and hot tubs and 1-2 bedrooms , we find a villa that has everything we want like a pool and a grill, and we negotiate by sending the person who posted the villa on VRBO. There are also plenty of nearby gated communities where you can rent a villa for less and not need to rent a car because they will provide complimentary shuttles to and from Disney parks. If staying in Disney is paramount to you over cost then I would say that there is a lot to appreciate there, but in terms of saving money I don’t think there is a better way to slash the cost more drastically then staying off site in a luxury villa!