Best "Busy" Rides

[GatorChris]

Heading there in two weeks and I imagine with Vet's day on a Wednesday, Avenger races, and overall 60th crowds, it'll be fairly busy by the afternoons and evenings. What would you suggest we "save" for those busy times. Railroad? Lincoln? The theater with the cartoons?

And don't forget DCA!

 

[figment_jii]

I would try to get FPs for the mid-afternoon/early-evening when the crowds are the highest. Otherwise, yes, things like Mr. Lincoln and the railroad (once on), are good options. Other options might include Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Buzz Lightyear in TL, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through, Tom Sawyers Island, and Mark Twain/Columbia in DL. Over in DCA, I would look into the Aladdin Musical, the Ariel ride, Monsters Inc, the Animation Academy (except maybe A&E), Maters (that one seems to have a short(ish) line a lot), Carousel, and some of the smaller attractions over in Paradise Pier. It's also a good time to have a meal/snack or do some shopping or tour the hotels/DTD.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

DL: Mickey and the Magical Map. Buzz's Astro Blasters, especially if there are still fastpasses. Flag retreat ceremony. It's not like you can see it at another time of day, but it's a nice ceremony and we don't begrudge the time because those are exactly the kinds of entertainment options we are looking for when the parks are busy and ride lines are long. Railroad sometimes. The wait to get on can be long, but then you can make the full circuit.

DCA: Honestly, when it's really busy we will do Toy Story if it's 50 minutes or less because everything else has long lines in the afternoon on a really busy day and Toy Story is hardly ever less than 35 minutes after that first 15-30 minutes of the day when I would often rather be doing something else. Mater's: This one is weird because you can go by sometimes when the park seems really busy and find a 15 minute wait but at other times when expecting 15 minutes find instead a 30 minute wait, so if we're in the area we at least check. The Newsies and Five and Dime. Ride the red car trolley. Check what musical performance is going on at the stage near Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. Animation Academy.

 

[Angrose]

Yep, @figment_jii pretty much nailed it. I would only add some of the other DL shows like Mickey and the Magical Map (huge theater so you don't have to get there early) and the Frozen show at the Royal Theatre (not sure if they're still doing FP for this, but it wouldn't count towards the others). Also, I think that Buzz FPs might still be disconnected so that's helpful. We like to ride the Monorail in the afternoons as well. There never seems to be a very long line. Try riding in the cockpit, super cool!

 

[Angrose]

Honestly, when it's really busy we will do Toy Story if it's 50 minutes or less because everything else has long lines in the afternoon on a really busy day and Toy Story is hardly ever less than 35 minutes after that first 15-30 minutes of the day when I would often rather be doing something else.

You know, this is a really good idea. I've never been on TSMM and have always been intimidated by the wait, but you're so right, if you're going to wait 35min anyway, then what's another 15 when everything else is packed! Might use that strategy for Peter Pan too since I haven't been on it since the changes.

 

[taniahappy]

I would try to get FPs for the mid-afternoon/early-evening when the crowds are the highest. Otherwise, yes, things like Mr. Lincoln and the railroad (once on), are good options. Other options might include Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Buzz Lightyear in TL, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through, Tom Sawyers Island, and Mark Twain/Columbia in DL. Over in DCA, I would look into the Aladdin Musical, the Ariel ride, Monsters Inc, the Animation Academy (except maybe A&E), Maters (that one seems to have a short(ish) line a lot), Carousel, and some of the smaller attractions over in Paradise Pier. It's also a good time to have a meal/snack or do some shopping or tour the hotels/DTD.

This. Exacty what we do.

 

[GrandBob]

Otherwise, yes, things like Mr. Lincoln and the railroad (once on), are good options. Other options might include Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Buzz Lightyear in TL, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through, Tom Sawyers Island, and Mark Twain/Columbia in DL. Over in DCA, I would look into the Aladdin Musical, ...

First, I agree with you. But seeing it all spelled out, it makes me realize (smacks head) how much trouble we're gonna be in when we take DGD during her Spring Break (which is everyone's Spring Break). It's gonna be busy. And I guess I never put 2 and 2 together to realize that most of the closures that start in January are exactly the fillers that we usually use during busy times. Oops! It's gonna be interesting...

Bob

 

[ZoZo]

In addition to FPs, try the single rider line for some of the rides! We used SRLs to great advantage this last weekend. Never waited more than five minutes for: RSR, California Screamin', and Soarin'. Could easily have ridden them all over and over again if we wanted, even RSR!

When I saw the hordes of people going for FPs for RSR, I wanted to yell "Try the single rider line instead!" But of course, I didn't yell! Most folks don't realize there are SRLs - even my friend who I was with, a SoCal resident who goes to the parks at least 4 or 5 times a year, didn't know they existed!

 

[ZoZo]

First, I agree with you. But seeing it all spelled out, it makes me realize (smacks head) how much trouble we're gonna be in when we take DGD during her Spring Break (which is everyone's Spring Break). It's gonna be busy. And I guess I never put 2 and 2 together to realize that most of the closures that start in January are exactly the fillers that we usually use during busy times. Oops! It's gonna be interesting...

Bob

One good thing about spring breaks - they're not all the same week for all schools! Usually they spread out over a four or five week period, so it tends to spread the crowds out a bit over a larger timeframe. I know at WDW, spring breaks tend to spread out over the second week of March all the way through the third week of April, with the biggest "clump" the two weeks bracketing Easter. And because Easter falls at such different dates (sometimes in March, sometimes in April), it helps to spread out the crowds even more. Some schools tie their spring breaks to Easter, but others always have spring break the same week (say, the first week of April), regardless of when Easter falls.

Christmastime, on the other hand, all happens at the same time for everyone - so those two weeks tend to be the most crowded of the year.