Navigating High Crowd Volumes During Your Walt Disney World Vacation: Tips and Strategies.
Lucky for you, you are reading this because you are most likely planning a trip to Walt Disney World Soon. Specific times of the year, as well as random times of the year can create high crowd volumes at the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Learn when the highest crowd times are and have an action plan. Maximize your Walt Disney World experience by navigating high crowd volumes. Learn when the busiest times are and plan accordingly.
Disclaimer: I am by no means responsible for closures due to anything and including whatever can and will go wrong during your WDW vacation. Always visit on My Disney Experience or on Disney’s website https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/planning-your-trip/ to check for times and closures. I am a Mother of 2 boys who travels to Walt Disney World often and these are my opinions and suggestions.
The highest peak crowd times during the year are usually as follows but subject to change at anytime:
⭐Christmas Week – the week of Christmas leading into New Year’s Eve
⭐President’s Day Weekend
⭐Spring Break Times – range from March through Mid-April *especially Easter week
⭐4th of July (sometimes the month of July)
⭐Thanksgiving Week
My family and I battled two of the highest crowd times – just before Covid hit. New Year’s Eve day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. On this day Magic Kingdom closed at capacity not letting anymore guests inside the park. It was shoulder to shoulder cruising across the park. We also did Spring Break week of 2019.
Below are MY TIPS for conquering crowds and still having the most magical time ever!
TIPS TO NAVIGATING HIGH CROWD VOLUMES
RESERVATIONS
Try to talk out and plan with your travel party what days you would like to visit each park of your trip. ✨Make your reservations well in advance! Including hotel reservations so they do not book up and because discounts also expire!
✨Plan out each day to know which park you will be in. Have those dining reservations set.
✨Make your Advanced Dining Reservations – ADR’s – 60 days prior to check in! Make note on your calendar. Your Dining Reservations will be your escape from crowds in a nice seated air conditioned room! You can make your Walt Disney Dining Reservations on the My Disney Experience APP or you can click here – https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dine-res/availability
BE AN EARLY BIRD TO NAVIGATE HIGH CROWD VOLUMES
✨Rope Drop! Click here to learn how to Rope Drop at WDW!
✨By staying on Walt Disney World Property you can take advantage of the extra magic hours that are offered – early park hours. Get there an hour before the park opens.
✨Arrange a layout of what rides you will hit in which order for once the park is open. Have a plan of the most important rides and attractions to tackle while crowds are still low. *If you are a deluxe resort guest then on select nights you will have late extra magic hours for after the park closes. Its so beautiful to walk around the parks at night, all lit up without the sun beating down on you!
TAKE A MID-DAY BREAK / NAP TO CONQUER CROWDS AT WDW
✨Take a mid-day break / nap or perhaps swim in one of the resort pools, and then head back to the parks at night. Typically parks are at their highest crowd times in the afternoon. Wait lines are also longest at this time.
Click here to read why you should consider staying at a Walt Disney World Resort!
PARADES OR NIGHT SHOW: HOW TO TRIUMPH OVER CROWDS ON YOUR WDW VACA
✨If you are watching a parade – get your viewing spot about 15 minutes to 30 minutes prior to the show. Don’t forget your sun umbrella! Have a member of your party run for snacks.
✨For a Night Show – you will want extra time to find your perfect viewing spot and camp out about 45 min – 30 min prior to the show. Bring snacks, drinks and sunshades since the sun takes a while to set.
BEAT THE CROWDS WITH GENIE PLUS:
✨Genie plus might be a good investment during the busy times. It will help you skip a lot of the long lines. Learn how to “Stack” rides and general Genie Plus Useage!
KNOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS
✨Have a pep talk with your party prior to vacation and make sure to remind them they need to wear their Patience Pants. It is much easier if you can get the members of your travel party to agree to a go-with-the-flow type attitude. If you are traveling with babies then the guardians need to adjust their attitudes. Babies through age 4 tend to have some of the worst meltdowns I have ever seen at WDW – remember how overwhelmed adults get? – Well the it is even worse for the little ones. Make sure you plan lots of down play time for those little ones. All the resorts have playgrounds and neat pools to unwind in. The parks even have playgrounds located inside.
✨Transportation will be as equally as crowded.
✨Consider staying at a Resort in the Magic Kingdom Loop Area or the Epcot / Hollywood Studios Boardwalk Area – if you can afford it. These resorts help alleviate some of the extra stress caused by waiting for a bus because you have more transportation options such as boat, monorail or maybe Skyliner.
Resorts Closest To Magic Kingdom are:
- Contemporary
- Grand Floridian
- Polynesian
- Wilderness Lodge
Resorts Closest To Epcot and Hollywood Studios are:
- Yacht and Beach Club
- Boardwalk
- Swan and Dolphin (a good neighbor resort)
Resorts that have the Skyliner are:
- Art of Animation
- Caribbean Beach
- Pop Century
- Riviera
Click here to read about The Best Times to Vacation at Walt Disney World!
One thought on “Navigating High Crowd Volumes During Your Walt Disney World Vacation”