I often frequent Disney World forums, and I’ve noticed that many people ask questions about budgeting their time at Disney World. Generally, these people have allotted a specific amount of time for certain tasks, and they’re wondering if their estimates are realistic. Usually, they’re not.
There are so many things to see and do at Disney World, and it’s simply human nature to want to experience all of it. However, there are some things that take more time than you realize, and it’s best to know these things in advance so you’re not unpleasantly surprised when you arrive.
8. Eating without a reservation
Most full service Disney restaurants accept reservations, and having one can save a ton of time when lunch or dinnertime rolls around. With a reservation, you can usually expect to be seated within fifteen minutes. Without one, however, it could be hours, and some popular restaurants don’t even take walkup diners.
Before we understood Disney’s dining reservation system, my family attempted to walkup to Le Cellier (yeah, I know). We were quoted a three-hour wait time for lunch. We eventually left and ate at a restaurant off Disney property. Obviously, having a reservation would have helped us tremendously in this situation, but you live and learn.
If you’re hungry and without a reservation, open the My Disney Experience app on your phone and find one. You can quickly see all open times this way, and making a reservation is quick and easy. I’ve made reservations for 1:45 at 1:30. It’s an easy way to secure a table without planning ahead, though your restaurant choices will be limited to whichever ones are available.
7. Watching the Carousel of Progress
Unless you’ve seen it before, the time you’ll spend in the Carousel of Progress may surprise you. The show lasts about twenty minutes, and audiences are rotated through four different scenes. Guests can’t exit the theater before it’s over. If anyone inside the theater attempts to leave early, the animatronics will reset, and you’ll see that whole scene over again. This happens more often than you might think. I once sat through a scene three times because someone tried to leave twice. It’s a relaxing attraction, though, so I didn’t really mind the wait.
6. Experiencing the World Showcase
Many first time Disney World guests try to go through the whole World Showcase in just an hour or two. It can be done, but you’ll miss so much.
If you stop to eat, shop, and appreciate the many different exhibits, the World Showcase could easily take an entire day by itself. That’s why I split Epcot between two different days.
Future World goes by pretty quickly, but I like to take my time and appreciate all that the World Showcase has to offer. This is especially true during the Food and Wine Festival. If you try to hurry through this part of Epcot, you’ll end up tired, sweaty, and disappointed. It’s best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
5. Walking pretty much anywhere
Until you get the lay of the land, take whatever amount of time you’ve estimated for walking around the parks and double it. On average, you’ll walk about six miles per day on a Disney World vacation. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to walk to the far ends of each “land” from the castle hub at the Magic Kingdom. That time adds up when you’re running back and forth from one attraction to another.
The same is true for resorts. Some of the largest resorts are huge. My husband and I were once thirty minutes late for a breakfast reservation at Animal Kingdom Lodge because we parked at the wrong end of the resort. We walked as fast as we possibly could, but it was literally a thirty-minute hike from our car to the main building. We’ve also stayed at resorts where the food court was a solid ten to fifteen minutes from our room. You’ll definitely get some exercise at Disney World.
4. Using a stroller or wheelchair
Unfortunately, walking between attractions takes even longer when you’re using a stroller. First of all, a stroller or wheelchair is difficult to maneuver through the crowds. Then, once you get to an attraction, you have to park the stroller, take the child out, take out any valuable items, and carry it all to the ride entrance, which is usually a fair distance from stroller parking.
The same is true for wheelchairs if you decide to park them, though most attractions are at least slightly wheelchair-accessible. All in all, the parking process only takes about five minutes, but that’s five minutes before and after every attraction, which can really eat into your day.
3. Riding Ellen’s Energy Adventure
To be fair, Disney does warn you that Ellen’s Energy Adventure is long. But most guests just don’t understand how long it really is. The whole thing supposedly only takes 45 minutes, but parts of it just drag.
However, I really enjoy this ride when I’m hot, tired, and just a little bit sleepy (it’s air conditioned and quiet). It’s not such a fun experience when I’m holding a fussy toddler who has to go potty. There is no escape from this ride once you’re seated, so consider yourself warned.
2. Leaving the Magic Kingdom after the fireworks or at closing time
If you leave a Disney World park during the day, it’s not a big deal. It may take you a few minutes to get to your car, or you may have to wait on a bus for a while, but you’ll probably be back at your hotel or rental home within 45 minutes or so. If you leave the Magic Kingdom right after the fireworks show or right at closing, however, it’s a whole different ballgame.
It’s like a mass exodus, a throng of people all charging for the gates at the same time. Main Street is packed, the monorail and the ferry are packed, the buses are packed, the tram that takes you back and forth to the parking lot is packed, and there’s no escaping the people; they’re everywhere. I once waited an hour for a tram with a sleeping toddler on my shoulder only to be cut off by a rude guest when it was my turn to board. You can escape this chaos by either leaving earlier or by hanging around the stores for about thirty minutes after closing so the crowds can thin out a bit.
1. Getting into the parks
Sadly, getting into the parks takes a long time, too, especially if you’re staying offsite. Even resort guests must wait for a bus, ride the bus, disembark, walk to bag check, go through bag check, walk to the gates, scan their Magic Bands or tickets, and finally enter the park. The whole process can easily take an hour, but thirty to 45 minutes is the norm.
Guests who drive have an even longer wait. You’ll have to wait in the car line, pay for your parking pass or scan your Magic Band, park your car, gather your belongings, wait for a tram or walk to the gates, and then go through the same bag check and scan as resort guests.
The procedure is even longer at the Magic Kingdom. Here, you must get to the Transportation and Ticket Center and ride the monorail or ferry over to the gates first. Only then can you go through bag check and scan your Magic Bands.
This whole process, from the parking attendant line to actually entering the Magic Kingdom, can easily take over an hour.
Everything on this list is worth the wait, though. Just stay calm and prepare yourself for the inevitable delays at Disney World. A schedule can be quite useful, but consider it more of a guideline than a stringent plan. After all, Disney World is most enjoyable when you’re relaxed and having fun.
