Going with NO LL or smartphone!

[slo]

I tip my hat to you OP - I really do and I hope it works out well for you.
I have wonderful memories of days past when I would make an itinerary for each day, and carry that paper around with me - it had parade times, ADR confirmation numbers and more. But in 2026, it's not that simple anymore. To answer your question, we have not tried it, and to be honest, it's not for us to do it that way anymore. We like to see all the ride times, do mobile food orders on our phone and more. Yes, you are on your phone a lot, but we are ok with that - my DD22 and I take turns so we aren't both doing it. My advice, even though I know you aren't looking for advice, is to be open minded to using your phone. Don't be to stubborn about it, because you may end up not having as a delightful of a trip that you are hoping to have. I hope that is not true, and that you have a wonderful time with lots of great memories

 

[lovethattink]

I tip my hat to you OP - I really do and I hope it works out well for you.
I have wonderful memories of days past when I would make an itinerary for each day, and carry that paper around with me - it had parade times, ADR confirmation numbers and more. But in 2026, it's not that simple anymore. To answer your question, we have not tried it, and to be honest, it's not for us to do it that way anymore. We like to see all the ride times, do mobile food orders on our phone and more. Yes, you are on your phone a lot, but we are ok with that - my DD22 and I take turns so we aren't both doing it. My advice, even though I know you aren't looking for advice, is to be open minded to using your phone. Don't be to stubborn about it, because you may end up not having as a delightful of a trip that you are hoping to have. I hope that is not true, and that you have a wonderful time with lots of great memories

OP posted on the previous page that it worked out for their family.

 

[slo]

OP posted on the previous page that it worked out for their family.

Thank you - I didn’t realize this was from last year.

 

[elvispursley]

We to did our trip last August without LL. We did. however. take our phones. We mainly just toured the parks and if we wanted to ride something and the standby time wasn't too bad for by our standards, we hopped in it. If it was too long, we'd circle back to it later. We had family with us who didn't want to do any TS restaurants so we would play meals by ear. It was kind of how it was back in the "old" days, with the exception of not everyone was in the standby queue

For our trip in July, we'll probably end up buying LLs as we don't know how the park crowds will be (arriving right after 4th of July). But for late August/September visits, we'll save our $$ and go sans LLs again.

 

[pindecisive]

...
2. I laughed at your "catch a long line or two." Unless you're there at a very very very not-busy time (maybe mid-August?) you are going to catch more than a long line or two. More like all the most desirable attractions, some with 2- or 3-hour waits.
...

You haven't been in 10 years, so you haven't been to Pandora at Animal Kingdom and experienced Avatar Flight of Passage, arguably the best ride in all 4 parks. The line for this can be 3 or 4 hours long.

You also haven't seen Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at DHS. Star Wars Rise of the Resistance is an amazing attraction with innovations not seen before at WDW. The only way to ride this without a long line is at park opening, when it's sometimes not open yet, or at park close. Sure, you could do single-rider line, but that line skips two of the most fun parts of the attraction. I advise against it.

10 years ago in 2015 I used the app but it wasn't really required. These days having no phone will handicap your family to a pretty significant degree as some spots are Mobile Order only (as in, you cannot walk up and order at all).

 

[kitkat4622]

I take my phone but I don't buy LL. I have been several times since 2014 and actually don't have issues with stand by lanes. I pick my priority rides and go from there. I also don't usually go during peak vacation times like easter. Summer. Thanksgiving or Christmas

 

[leebee]

I bought my very first cell phone ever in October 2025 in prep for my November trip, only because I was traveling solo and there is no way for Mears to contact me about pick up to go back to MCO without a phone. They said they can do it via email but don't guarantee that I'll have updated info and missing my bus would be on me, so... I haven't used the phone for anything but as an alarm clock since that trip in November.

I've never purchased a LL, never checked a wait-times app, never mobile ordered. I have a MARVELOUS time when I go to Disney (annually, solo or split with other parties). I also don't spend hundreds of dollars a day because I travel based on discounts offered at Disney, juggle credit cards and take advantage of sales. Airfare is on SW rapid rewards points (but probably not for long.. they no longer make travel a breeze, so...), hotel rooms are paid for with Disney VISA points. I stack rewards at BJs to buy discounted Disney gift cards or use my Target RedCard to buy Disney gift cards at a 5% discount. These are used for offsetting anything at Disney that I don't have enough VISA points for. Sometimes I purchase my park passes thru 3rd party, approved vendors, sometimes I buy they directly from Disney, depending on the discounts and what saves me more money. Meals? I do a grocery order for breakfast and then take it as it comes. Yes, I make ADRs if there is some place we HAVE to eat, but always pay for it with the Disney VISA to rack up more points. It takes planning- ALL Disney trips take planning- but I am not spending hundreds of dollars a day, per person, even when we are asleep!

 

[lovethattink]

Last week we ran into a no phone issue. My dh doesn’t have an MDE app or account. I do everything and manage it in mine. He went to get a passholder discount and they wouldn’t accept his hard ticket. He had to get me to pull it up on mine. Not sure if there is an alternative if I didn’t have a phone with me either?

 

[Judique]

10 years ago in 2015 I used the app but it wasn't really required. These days having no phone will handicap your family to a pretty significant degree as some spots are Mobile Order only (as in, you cannot walk up and order at all).

Which places are mobile order only? Is there a list somewhere?

 

[Judique]

Last week we ran into a no phone issue. My dh doesn’t have an MDE app or account. I do everything and manage it in mine. He went to get a passholder discount and they wouldn’t accept his hard ticket. He had to get me to pull it up on mine. Not sure if there is an alternative if I didn’t have a phone with me either?

Interesting. I am quite capable with my phone but I truly reject the idea that in order to enjoy a theme park you have to bring your smart phone. Yes, I've used it to bring up my AP for discounts, but if I didn't actually have a phone with me (probably not going to happen) I would expect that I should be able to get a discount some way unless somewhere they have put it in the small print that 'discounts are only for people who carry a smart phone'. I could understand if they asked for a picture ID or driver's license to back up the AP card.

I've never bought a LL. I have no plans to do so. And I wander through the park not checking wait times. Full disclosure - I wouldn't do most of the rides anyway as I don't ride anything that may be 'thrilling'. I do get to parks on some days at opening because I usually want to be back out by 10:30 or 11am and maybe return later to a park for a few hours in the evening. Still, for some visitors and family if they can afford it, go for it. For me, mostly been there done that, not stressed if I don't get on and some lines don't bother me if they have shade and if I want to saunter along taking pictures of whatever.

I still enjoy myself and when I have friends or family with me they are encouraged to go ahead and I'll join when it works out for us all.

I do sometimes chuckle when I see people going through LL lines for some of the old attractions that have minimal waits most of the time such as Living with the Land. And I'm amazed at some rides that actually have the queue and are now 'busy' that never were before. The other thing is sometimes the times are inflated. Disney is managing people nicely and making them open their wallets because people fear they will miss something.

 

[pindecisive]

Which places are mobile order only? Is there a list somewhere?

To my knowledge there is not a list. At DL Cozy Cone has always been only Mobile Order all of the times I've visited it.

At TDL Huey, Dewey, and Louie's Good Time Cafe was Mobile Order only as well.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Which places are mobile order only? Is there a list somewhere?

I’m not aware of any places at WDW that are Mobile Order only. I know 2 years ago while Pop’s food court was being refurbished it was MO only but that’s no longer the case.

I’m sure if there are any MO only locations at WDW, someone will share here.

 

[lovethattink]

I’ve seen cashless at WDW, but not mobile only recently.

 

[bluezy]

For those curious.. YES we did it and YES it was just fine. We had a great time, focused on laughter love and having fun without stressing every window for waiting in line. When we saw a line was too long we simply went to another ride and didn't waste time staring at phones or money buying passes.

I'm just curious -- when was your trip and how many rides were you able to get on at each park? We always buy LLs because we actually find it allows us to have a more relaxed trip, but we're not *those* people who have our nose in our phone all day at Disney. We do our pre-scheduled LLs, schedule a new one, and put the phone away. Wash, rinse, repeat. We're not constantly playing the Disney Slots to try and get better times for our LLs (for the most part -- it does happen occasionally). DH & I have a trip coming up in May and it's just the 2 of us (rather than all 14 of us with kids/spouses/grandkids) and it's going to be a very relaxed trip. I'll buy LL for some days, but I'm thinking about just going with the flow for a few days.