Disney World vacations aren’t cheap, so it’s not surprising that most pre-trip research focuses on how to avoid wasting money, what is overrated vs. what is worth it, or how to budget effectively during your trip. Although with a vacation spot as big as Walt Disney World, it’s not just money that can easily be wasted – it’s time! Time equals money, and some Disney World “hacks” are actually Disney World time-wasters that cost you hours without you even realizing it.

In this guide, we’re breaking down 10 things you should stop wasting time doing at Disney and what to do instead. 

Staking Out a Parade or Fireworks Spot Hours Early

I highly recommend carving out time in your day to watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade, and you don’t want to miss the Happily Ever After or Luminous: The Symphony of Us fireworks spectaculars! What I don’t recommend is waiting hours for a “perfect spot”. 

The parade route runs from Frontierland all the way down Main Street U.S.A., leaving guests with plenty of viewing options. Waiting hours for a spot means missing out on riding rides, meeting characters, or seeing a show. As for fireworks, yes, there are projections on Cinderella Castle that are wonderful. However, 90% of the entertainment is in the sky and can be viewed from many locations. 

If being in the perfect spot is a priority for your trip, arriving 30-45 minutes early should be plenty to secure a good spot on a normal day. Add extra time when traveling during busy seasons such as spring break or Christmas.

Hiding From the Rain

If you aren’t familiar with Florida’s tropical weather, this one is probably confusing. It makes sense to hide out in a restaurant or a store when the skies open up, right? The problem is – everyone’s doing the same thing. Some of the lowest wait times occur during rainstorms, especially when the rain will probably only last 20 minutes max. 

If rain is in the forecast, pack ponchos or rain jackets to make the walk between attractions. Not only will this result in more rides checked off the list, but it may also be one of the kids’ favorite memories. It’s important to note that if there is lightning in the area, outdoor attractions will close. However, this tip would still apply to indoor attractions.

Park Hopping Without a Real Plan

In theory, park hopping means that you’ll get more accomplished in one day. However, if you don’t have a park hopping plan, you can end up spending too much time deciding what to do, how to get there, and waiting for transportation. 

To make the most of your park hopper ticket, pick only two parks and have a set plan. The most time-saving options include park hopping between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner, or Magic Kingdom and EPCOT via the Disney Monorail. Disney recommends allowing 60-90 minutes for Disney bus transportation, and sometimes it really does take that long. No one wants to spend 90 minutes traveling between parks, especially with these ticket prices.

Booking Too Many Table-Service Meals

Similar to using Disney transportation, Disney table-service dining can also take 60-90 minutes each, especially at signature dining locations. If you’re booking sit-down dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that’s 3+ hours you could spend experiencing the parks. Disney dining has become a quintessential part of a Disney vacation, but if it isn’t planned strategically, it will cost you. 

Instead, plan one table-service option per day and mix in quick-service dining in between. This avoids spending hours dining and lets you choose quick-service options based on your location, rather than racing across the park for a reservation. 

The one exception to this would be a character dining meal: combining dining and meeting characters at the same time knocks out two birds with one stone!

Wasting the First Hour In the Parks

If riding as many attractions as possible is a priority, sleeping in is the worst time-waster at Disney World. Rope dropping – a.k.a. arriving at the park prior to park opening – is the easiest way to hit multiple rides with low wait times. If you’re staying on property, missing early entry access is even worse! 

Leisurely strolling into the parks can mean the difference between riding a handful of attractions and nearly all of them. Alternatively, prioritizing your top attraction and heading there first will eliminate hours of waiting later in the day. Rise of the Resistance, Tron: Light Cycle Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind are all great examples of rides with consistent 1+ hour wait times that you can most likely get on and off of in 30 minutes at rope drop. 

Additionally, if you already plan to rope drop but then spend the first 30 minutes in the park taking photos or grabbing a coffee, it completely defeats the purpose. Photo ops will always be there, and the Disney PhotoPass Memory Maker photographers do a great job of capturing the best possible photos for guests. When you arrive at the parks, head right for the rides!

Waiting in Line for Every Character Meet-and-Greet

Meeting characters at Disney World is a must-do experience for littles and adults alike. But the lines can get long, especially for characters meeting outdoors that require frequent breaks. You can easily spend a few hours waiting in line if you aren’t prepared. 

Instead, research which characters are must-do’s. Prioritize those top characters and let any additional meet-and-greets be a bonus. If you have interest in seeing as many characters as possible, consider booking a character dining experience. Each park offers at least one character dining meal where guests can meet four or five characters while also enjoying a meal.

Most importantly, don’t waste a Lightning Lane on a character experience unless it is an absolute MUST. Plus, if you have the extra time, many Disney Deluxe Resorts offer character dining outside the parks, completely eliminating the need to use park time to meet them.

Standing in Food Lines

When everyone tries to eat lunch or dinner at prime times, it’s a recipe for disaster. Waiting to order, hunting for a table, and finally being able to eat can result in over an hour wasted at mealtimes. While taking breaks is important, there are ways to ensure they don’t end up being more of a hassle than a welcomed rest. 

To avoid wasting time, place mobile orders through the My Disney Experience app for your quick-service meals while waiting in ride queues and eat at off-peak dining times. Avoid the 11:30 AM- 1 PM lunch rush and the 5:30 PM- 7 PM dinner rush. 

Trying to “Do It All” Instead of Prioritizing

One of my top 5 Disney tips is to not try to “do it all”. Not only does this waste time, but it also causes unnecessary stress, meltdowns, and exhaustion. It is impossible to do everything Disney World has to offer in one trip. I’ve been visiting for over 30 years, and there are STILL things I haven’t done or seen at Walt Disney World. Attempting to hit every ride, every show, every character, and every viral dining experience will have you and your party exhausted by noon, and you’ll spend more time walking back and forth and waiting around than enjoying yourselves.

The best thing to do is gather everyone for a group meeting, have them choose one or two top-priority attractions or shows, and plan the itinerary around those. This strategy allows everyone to have a say in the plans, avoids arguments throughout the day, and then you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you get to experience things off the list with all the extra time you have! 

Not Having a Good Lightning Lane Strategy

Lightning Lane passes are a key way to save time – if they are used correctly. Having a good Lightning Lane strategy is crucial to avoid wasting time and the money you spent on them. For example, if you are booking Lightning Lane passes at Magic Kingdom and you choose Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland, then select Space Mountain in Tomorrowland next, then your third choice is back to Frontierland to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, this requires more time walking back and forth across the (pretty large) park than you probably would have spent just waiting in a nearby standby line. 

For your trip, download the My Disney Experience app and study the park maps. This research will help you book your Lightning Lane passes as strategically as possible. The goal would be to book them all within the same or neighboring sections of the park. In Tomorrowland, for example, Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin are a short walk apart, so you spend your time riding instead of crossing the park. Once your original 3 are completed, then you’d choose Lightning Lanes based on both wait times and location. 

Waiting in Line When a Ride Breaks Down

Disney World may be a magical place, but it isn’t perfect. More than likely, at least one time during your trip, a ride will temporarily close, forcing you to decide whether to stay in line and wait it out or exit the queue for another adventure. There’s one right answer and one wrong answer here, and the wrong one is staying in line. 

Most likely, if you’ve made it close enough to board the ride, cast members will scan your ticket for a free pass to return later in the day, once the ride reopens. If, for some reason, the ride does not reopen, there are other attractions for which the redemption pass is approved. If you’re far enough back in line where you don’t get that option – sitting and waiting to “be the first” back when it reopens is a complete waste of time. 

Cast members have no idea how long the attraction will be down. It could be 30 minutes, it could be hours, or it could even not reopen the rest of the day. Take that time you’d be waiting for the unknown to experience other attractions, grab a meal, or see a show. Keep checking the My Disney Experience app for reopening, and factor that attraction back into your plans for later in the day. 

Comments

What is the biggest Disney World time waster you’ve encountered? Let us know in the comments if yours made our top ten!