Best attractions if you hate lines?

[kugelette]

Really, really hate lines. I know it's pretty unavoidable, but if you can't use FP+ and don't fancy a long wait, which attractions would be your top picks for each of the parks (for adults and/or kids).

 

[Lindaland]

I like the people mover in MK, that's not usually crowded and its a nice relaxing ride. The living with the land ride in Epcot is nice and educational. Also try rides while parades and fireworks are happening, the lines are usually shorter since people are at these events.

 

[Ametista]

If you hate lines it is much wiser to plan your days accordingly. Be there at RD, ride what you can, and leave when lines get too long. If you have FP+ then plan those for after 11:00 am, and leave the park when you have used them.

Its a Small World is my fave for crowded times, because its air conditioned and I get to sit for 15 minutes. I can power nap and nobody seems to notice.

 

[ancestry]

Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom rarely (if ever) has a line. Other than that lines exist at most of the rides except when the park first opens.

I would recommend that you arrive early in the morning as soon as the parks open, ride as much as you can, and when the lines get to be more than you can handle leave.

 

[Aliceacc]

The best way to avoid lines it to be in the park for Rope Drop. Those first two hours or so are gold in Disney. You can get SO MUCH DONE with minimal to no waits in line.

And maybe I'm a bit confused, but can't EVERYONE use FP+??? As I understand it, once you get into the parks, it's open to anyone with a park ticket. No, you may not be able to pre-book, but once you get into the park, head to one of the further FP+ kiosks, and make book some FP's.

I can't see going all the way to WDW, spending all that money, and being satisified with only the rides that no one else wants to go on.

In the 3 trips we've taken since 2008 (all over the summer) we've only waited ONCE for more than 20 minutes. (I mistakenly thought we could get a FP to Toy Story Mania when we arrived at DHS at noon. That made me a Rope Drop convert, and we've never looked back.) And we've hit every single headliner, multiple times, on each trip.

 

[FPminusCommando]

Here is a strategy I used one afternoon at MK during Spring Break. We had an ADR for Tony's Town Square restaurant, at the entrance of MK, for about 6pm. We walked into the entrance of MK at about 4pm and according to Lines, all the big rides had huge wait times and I had no FP's. So I needed to find fun things to do with the kids for two hours, and did not want to wait in lines.

First we took the train over to Frontierland. Then explored Tom Sawyer Island. Next we walked through Adventureland and climbed Swiss Family Treehouse and went to the Tiki Room (we had not done that in a few years so it was fresh for the kids). Finally we strolled back to the entrance just in time for our ADR. So we had a good time, saw 4 attractions, and no waits.

 

[rstamm]

TTA, Carousel of Progress, Mexico Ride and usually Spaceship Earth line isn't very long.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Magic Kingdom:
Peoplemover
Carousel of Progress
Train
Tiki Rook
Treehouse
Country Bears (it's kitschy, but nostalgic)
And watching shows like Banjo Brothers and Bob, Dapper Dans, and The Trolley Show


Epcot:
Living with the Land
Grand Fiesta Tour
Any of the World showcase acts, but especially Sergio, World Showcase Players, Off Kilter, and Serveur Amusant


Hollywood Studios:
One Man's Dream
Great Movie Ride usually isn't too bad of a line
Animation Academy
Streetmosphere Acts on Sunset
Muppet Vision 3D (you might have to wait for the theater to open, but it is in a big room where the Muppets perform rather than just standing in a line waiting)

 

[JeremysDisney]

This is what I learned from our visit last week:

Magic Kingdom: 9pm to 11pm
Epcot: 9am to 11am
Hollywood Studios: 7pm to 9pm, Fantasmic 10pm
Animal Kingdom: 4pm to 8pm

If you visit these parks at these times, then the chances are high that the lines will be very short.

 

[kermiebudge]

Definite RD, but not sure that strategy will work as it used to now that FP+ allows bookings at park opening. I'm hoping that morning EMH *may* be the best option (if we can get up)....

That said, we've been there during the busiest of times and have had pretty good luck (not always though) with:

Small World (MK)
People Mover (MK)
Nemo (Epcot)
Spaceship Earth (Epcot- mid-day/ not first thing in am)
Gran Fiesta/ Mexico (Epcot)
The Great Movie Ride (HS)

AK has been tougher when it's packed as ride options are limited....they are hit or miss...

 

[FPminusCommando]

At MK I've often found that HM and POC have only 15min waits.

My experience at DS with Movie Ride is that it's 15min for the first few hours but then becomes 30min.

At AK over the years, we have gotten the most use out of the Boneyard playground. No waiting! My kids love running around and then playing in the 'sand' pit. Since we travel with 7 people, the Boneyard/Dinoland becomes our base throughout the day and parts of the group branch out to ride EE for example.

 

[vicb]

This is what I learned from our visit last week:

Magic Kingdom: 9pm to 11pm
Epcot: 9am to 11am
Hollywood Studios: 7pm to 9pm, Fantasmic 10pm
Animal Kingdom: 4pm to 8pm

If you visit these parks at these times, then the chances are high that the lines will be very short.

This makes me very happy to hear your experience last week! I'll be there in ten days. On arrival day we plan to get to AK by 5pm to ride Everest a few times and anything else we can squeeze in before 7pm closing then heading to HS which is open till 10pm then has emh till midnight. I have FP+ for ToT and TSM before park closing.

Always do a rope drop at Epcot and have FP+ for Soarin, Living with Land and MS, will head straight for TT at rope drop.

Have a rope drop planned for MK but also returning later in the week for dinner at the Plaza at 6:30pm then staying till park closing at 11pm.

Glad you had a good trip!

 

[shelemm]

MK:
Carousel of Progress
It's a Small World
Philharmagic

HS:
Backlot Tour
Indiana Jones
Lights Motor Action
one Man's Dream

Epcot:
Spaceship Earth
World Showcase Players, UK Pavillion
Sergio, Italy Pavilion
Illuminations

AK:
Congolese Dancers at the Dawa Bar
Jammin' Jungle Parade
Pagani Forest Expedition