From Magic Hours to Fastpass/Maxpass, we’re sharing 6 Ways to Deal with Peak Times at Disney Resorts!
Halloween Time and Holiday Time at the Disney Parks is upon us! With that comes some of the busiest times of the year. Mix that with all the new openings that have happened lately, such as the new Pixar Pier in Disneyland AND Toy Story Land in Walt Disney World. As exciting as all of this is, the only true thing people hear are crowds. CROWDS! A lot of CROWDS! Some people cannot handle the mayhem that ensues and it ultimately ruins their trip that was supposed to be so magical. I absolutely cringe when i hear these stories of sadness and regret…..I never want anyone to not enjoy their Disney trip, so I made a list of a few ways to deal with the peak times, and hopefully make that trip better!
1. Go early!
The parks are notorious for filling up in the afternoon and evening. If you get to the park right when it opens or if you have an Extra magic hour, take advantage! You can get A LOT done in those first few hours. Using the same concept, stay LATE! Most families will pack up and leave after the fireworks shows, especially if they have little ones. Closing out the park will increase your odds of getting on that popular ride without waiting 3 hours for it.
2. Utilize the Fastpass/ Maxpass systems!
I cannot stress this enough! Make sure you pick your fastpass times on the first day you can schedule them (if you’re going to Walt Disney World) and grab the most popular ride fastpass at the beginning of the day at Disneyland. You never know when the ride fastpasses will run out! Do your research and find out which rides have the longest lines and snag those fastpasses first. No one has time to wait 3 hours for a ride! The new Maxpass system in Disneyland is the most amazing invention ever! For a small fee per person per day, you can have instant access to fastpass selections direct on the Disneyland App. Once you pick a ride to go on, it will link the fastpass to your park ticket! No more running all over the park to grab fastpasses! It’s so convenient and easy to use. You can get most of the big rides done in a few hours with this system. Take advantage of this option especially if you’re doing a solo or couples trip.
3. Do NOT leave!
Some days during the peak season, the park will close to capacity. This means that once the park is full, it will close it’s gates and will not let anyone enter. Even if you have bought a ticket for that day, they will NOT let you in if it’s at capacity. They will let people in slowly as guests start to leave. This also means, if you are in the park in the morning and leave for a quick nap or lunch break….you cannot re-enter if it’s at capacity! No matter if you’ve already been in the park or not. So my suggestion is, if you do not want to take the risk of getting locked out, do not leave once you are inside.
4. Avoid the ultra peak days.
This goes without saying….if you can plan your trip around those times then just do it. Holidays and weekends will be the worst. If you think you can go on a trip Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday instead of Friday and Saturday, then I would recommend that. I would also avoid the week of Christmas if at all possible. We do understand that sometimes that’s unavoidable because of a child’s school schedule or your work schedule….so if you HAVE to go during that time, try for the weekdays more than the weekends.
5. Take a longer trip!
Most people who go to Disneyland, can plan a 2 or 3 day trip with no problem….you normally will be able to get everything done twice in that amount of time. During the peak season, however, that’s not the case. Plan for a 5 day trip instead…that way you can go at your own pace and relax. There’s nothing worse than a super busy Disney park and no time to mess around.
6. Take a lot of Patience and Stamina!
People who go into a peak time trip with the mindset that it will all be smooth sailing, is just setting themselves up for failure. You need to go into this trip with the knowledge that it WILL be busy and there’s nothing you can really do about that. You also need to think positive thoughts and know that you will have an amazing time regardless of the crowds. Take everything slow and have patience. It is the only way you will stay sane and have a great time. It all starts with your frame of mind. If you first step on property and see an hour long wait to get into the parks, it’s hard not to get discouraged or angry. But with the right mindset, you can think of the best time you will have no matter how busy it is. Just be prepared for it, and it will all fall into place.
You’re at the Happiest Place on Earth no matter what time of year it is…don’t let the peak season make your trip unhappy. There are memories to be made every time of the year! Think Happy Thoughts!
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