Going with the flow?

[Pickles516]

Hey everyone!

So, I’ve been mulling over an upcoming trip and am experiencing some trepidation as I read more about overcrowding, increased costs, less value, and all of the things people seem to be saying are afflicting the parks these days. We’re a family of six, and at time of travel our kids will be 9,7,4, and 2. The thought of standing with them for them in lines for over an hour each and rushing them around the park sounds like a nightmare. I was planning to make this the biggest family vacation we’ll go on for some time (deluxe resorts, genie+, signature dining, etc. etc). So here’s my question, if we use genie plus, purchase lightning lanes, and just plan to hit a few major attractions each day, is it possible to just go with the flow anymore?

I’m pretty laid back, and the thought of zooming my kids through crowds like a madman doesn’t sound like it would be fun for anybody.

I also have a question about wait times in general - my wife, daughter, and 3(will be 4 at time of travel) year old son are the thrill ride lovers of the family. I can take them or leave them, my oldest son is terrified of them, and the baby is a baby. Is there any way for my wife to not have to wait in line with my daughter an (more importantly) my 3/4 year old for insanely long amounts of time? I would hate for him to have to miss out on some rides, but I honestly don’t see the little Viking being able to manage an hour long line without driving my wife berserk. Any advice?

 

[_19disnA]

Even before covid, Disney was frequently crowded and lines for the most popular rides were usually the longest. When FastPass was in use, you could only pre-reserve 3 rides per day. Even if you could get additional ones during the day there was no guarantee and you really never knew how crowded any one park might be. No amount of advance planning will make the parks less crowded. Even is you have elaborate plans, they can all go out the window if some popular ride is down for maintenance or there is bad weather and some of the outdoor rides temporarily close.

In general, it is good to know the layout of the each park and which rides tend to be the most popular/crowded. Parks are HUGE and involve a great deal of walking. Walking from one end of the park to the other just to do one ride can eat up a lot of time for little benefit. Genie and the various paid options don't really solve most of those issues, you can only buy 2 rides per day and with Genie it is basically one ride every 2 hours. Even using those features, I would still expect long waits on many of the other rides. That is just reality at Disney since there is generally a large number of people in attendance.

If this is your first time at Disney, you really just have to experience it for yourself to see what works best for your family. There is no one right way to do the parks that works for everyone.

 

[loves to dive]

You didn't say if you have been to WDW before but I will tell you with younger kids a go with the flow attitude is a must. As you know, kids are unpredictable. WDW is a big place and the fact is you can not see or do everything there is to do anyway. I know when my son was little, we had to go at his pace. Which meant if he wanted to spend 1/2 hour running around the quad, well, we spent half a hour running around the quad. If he wanted to ride something over and over, we rode something over and over. When he got tired, we left and went back to the resort to either rest (usually me) or go to the pool. Nothing worse than a cranky little one. We started going long before FPs so we just waited in line, he was just shy of 3 the first time we went and I was a single mom (good times). I found it easier when he was younger since it was the simple things that made him happy.

 

[Carl Wegner]

If you are willing and able to pay to play you will have no trouble. Stay Deluxe and take advantage of early entry and after hours. Buy your individual Lightning Lanes, use Genie+ to pick up a couple of extra line skippers and then relax and enjoy yourselves.

 

[happiestpoe]

I concur with @loves to dive. Your children are so young-- they'll need breaks. And so will you!

Maybe let your two oldest pick one ride that they'd love, and one parent rides, one stays with the smaller ones. At 9 and 7 they'll be better equipped to stand in line, and they'll feel really special if they can help to plan the vacation.

 

[Mle8308]

Hey everyone!

So, I’ve been mulling over an upcoming trip and am experiencing some trepidation as I read more about overcrowding, increased costs, less value, and all of the things people seem to be saying are afflicting the parks these days. We’re a family of six, and at time of travel our kids will be 9,7,4, and 2. The thought of standing with them for them in lines for over an hour each and rushing them around the park sounds like a nightmare. I was planning to make this the biggest family vacation we’ll go on for some time (deluxe resorts, genie+, signature dining, etc. etc). So here’s my question, if we use genie plus, purchase lightning lanes, and just plan to hit a few major attractions each day, is it possible to just go with the flow anymore?

I’m pretty laid back, and the thought of zooming my kids through crowds like a madman doesn’t sound like it would be fun for anybody.

I also have a question about wait times in general - my wife, daughter, and 3(will be 4 at time of travel) year old son are the thrill ride lovers of the family. I can take them or leave them, my oldest son is terrified of them, and the baby is a baby. Is there any way for my wife to not have to wait in line with my daughter an (more importantly) my 3/4 year old for insanely long amounts of time? I would hate for him to have to miss out on some rides, but I honestly don’t see the little Viking being able to manage an hour long line without driving my wife berserk. Any advice?

The kids are not old enough to go on or wait in lines by themselves, so your wife (or you) would have to wait in line with them. Hopefully you can work Genie+ to lessen your waits. And like others have mentioned, take advantage of early entry and extra magic hours at night for deluxe resort guests. Edit - I may have misunderstood, you could possibly do a rider swap where one of you waits with the youngest child while the others ride, then the person who waited can go back through the LL to go on the attraction. However, one person/group will still have to go through the standby line first (or the LL if you were able to secure one through Genie+ for that ride).

 

[Donna M]

We took our 2 and 3 year old grandkids this past October and had a wonderful time. We got to the MK at rope drop and rode Peter Pan´s Flight with minimal wait and then used Genie+ for the rest of the day. We went back to Wilderness Lodge for dinner and a break, and returned to the park later till closing. The kids slept well in the stroller which helped. We ate one quick service meal in the park each of the two days we went. I didn´t want to spend a lot, so we ate most meals in our DVC unit.

It sounds like you have the budget to pay for everything that will get you a better experience. There is an extra vip service that takes your group to the front of all the lines, but it is pricey.

You didn´t say when you´re going or how many parks you plan to do. That makes a difference with crowds.

We took an adult only trip this past Feb and HS was packed and Genie+ did not work for us. It was a frustrating day, luckily only one park day.

If I wanted to do a big trip for the kids to remember, I would wait a year or two, now is not good for Disney; they need to get their act together. There are a lot of people that want to get out after staying in their homes and Disney is very crowded with less to offer.

 

[Pickles516]

The kids are not old enough to go on or wait in lines by themselves, so your wife (or you) would have to wait in line with them. Hopefully you can work Genie+ to lessen your waits. And like others have mentioned, take advantage of early entry and extra magic hours at night for deluxe resort guests. Edit - I may have misunderstood, you could possibly do a rider swap where one of you waits with the youngest child while the others ride, then the person who waited can go back through the LL to go on the attraction. However, one person/group will still have to go through the standby line first (or the LL if you were able to secure one through Genie+ for that ride).

My concern was really the 4 year old. He’s a Viking that fears nothing, and will want to go on any ride that they let him on. However, I don’t see him spending an hour in line without causing some sort of incident. I was more wondering if there was some way I could maybe have him do a return time or something if mom and big sis waited for the duration. I’m assuming not, but figured id

We took our 2 and 3 year old grandkids this past October and had a wonderful time. We got to the MK at rope drop and rode Peter Pan´s Flight with minimal wait and then used Genie+ for the rest of the day. We went back to Wilderness Lodge for dinner and a break, and returned to the park later till closing. The kids slept well in the stroller which helped. We ate one quick service meal in the park each of the two days we went. I didn´t want to spend a lot, so we ate most meals in our DVC unit.

It sounds like you have the budget to pay for everything that will get you a better experience. There is an extra vip service that takes your group to the front of all the lines, but it is pricey.

You didn´t say when you´re going or how many parks you plan to do. That makes a difference with crowds.

We took an adult only trip this past Feb and HS was packed and Genie+ did not work for us. It was a frustrating day, luckily only one park day.

If I wanted to do a big trip for the kids to remember, I would wait a year or two, now is not good for Disney; they need to get their act together. There are a lot of people that want to get out after staying in their homes and Disney is very crowded with less to offer.

This is a mid-2023 trip and, this may be a “now or never” type situation. We have the money now, but may not later. I don’t mind splurging on deluxe resorts for the extra hours, or on Genie+, but a VIP tour is not something I can swing since the tour alone costs more than my car. We’re planning to do a week, hopefully hitting each main park and one water park.

 

[Mle8308]

My concern was really the 4 year old. He’s a Viking that fears nothing, and will want to go on any ride that they let him on. However, I don’t see him spending an hour in line without causing some sort of incident. I was more wondering if there was some way I could maybe have him do a return time or something if mom and big sis waited for the duration. I’m assuming not, but figured id


You may be able to do rider swap with him. Mom can take the other kids through the line first, then when they get off, you take the 4 year old and enter through the LL . Have your wife talk to the CM at the entrance and let them know you want to do a child swap. One of the other kids may get to go again, too. I am not sure how many additional people they allow to accompany the swap parent. It’s at least one. That might work! You’ll just have to keep him entertained while they are in line. Good luck!


This is a mid-2023 trip and, this may be a “now or never” type situation. We have the money now, but may not later. I don’t mind splurging on deluxe resorts for the extra hours, or on Genie+, but a VIP tour is not something I can swing since the tour alone costs more than my car. We’re planning to do a week, hopefully hitting each main park and one water park.

 

[Kerr84]

My concern was really the 4 year old. He’s a Viking that fears nothing, and will want to go on any ride that they let him on. However, I don’t see him spending an hour in line without causing some sort of incident. I was more wondering if there was some way I could maybe have him do a return time or something if mom and big sis waited for the duration. I’m assuming not, but figured id.

You and your daughter can wait in the standby line, while your wife, 4 year old, and daughter get a rider swap. That way your daughter gets to ride twice and the 4 year old gets to ride going through the lightning lane

 

[Miffy]

There's no way to predict what crowds will be like in mid-2023, but I can tell you from my experience with G+ in mid-December last year . . . it's not all it's cracked up to be unless you want to be in a park from open until close.

My sister and I did ETPE at MK. We were not at the front of the line but there were thousands (literally) of people behind us at the entry point, so we were hardly at the back. By the time we got to Peter Pan, the wait was already an hour. We doubled back and did Pooh instead, where there was no line, however, by the time we exited Pooh, the estimated wait time was already 40 minutes and the park hadn't even opened yet.

We got exactly one ride (HM) at MK out of G+ since by the time we could book the second ride, all the times available were for late in the afternoon or early evening, which didn't work for us.

The parks were all very crowded when we were there. Maybe you'll luck out and by 2023 the crowds will have died down.

We got the most use out of ILL$ (Individual Lightning Lanes, which are separate from Genie+). They are expensive--for example, RotR is $15 (translation: $15.98 with tax)--but not having to stand in an hours-long line is wonderful.

We were there in May last year when there was only standby, and it was far easier to navigate all the parks, the standby lines weren't as bad, and we weren't spending extra bucks for something that often had zero value.

There are definitely people on this board who are able to max out their G+s. Maybe they are visiting at less crowded times or perhaps they don't mind staying from park open to park close or maybe they just got really lucky and were able to stack a lot of rides before the G+ selections were sold out. I do not know. I just know that, for us, ILL$ worked--G+ not so much.

 

[Pickles516]

There's no way to predict what crowds will be like in mid-2023, but I can tell you from my experience with G+ in mid-December last year . . . it's not all it's cracked up to be unless you want to be in a park from open until close.

My sister and I did ETPE at MK. We were not at the front of the line but there were thousands (literally) of people behind us at the entry point, so we were hardly at the back. By the time we got to Peter Pan, the wait was already an hour. We doubled back and did Pooh instead, where there was no line, however, by the time we exited Pooh, the estimated wait time was already 40 minutes and the park hadn't even opened yet.

We got exactly one ride (HM) at MK out of G+ since by the time we could book the second ride, all the times available were for late in the afternoon or early evening, which didn't work for us.

The parks were all very crowded when we were there. Maybe you'll luck out and by 2023 the crowds will have died down.

We got the most use out of ILL$ (Individual Lightning Lanes, which are separate from Genie+). They are expensive--for example, RotR is $15 (translation: $15.98 with tax)--but not having to stand in an hours-long line is wonderful.

We were there in May last year when there was only standby, and it was far easier to navigate all the parks, the standby lines weren't as bad, and we weren't spending extra bucks for something that often had zero value.

There are definitely people on this board who are able to max out their G+s. Maybe they are visiting at less crowded times or perhaps they don't mind staying from park open to park close or maybe they just got really lucky and were able to stack a lot of rides before the G+ selections were sold out. I do not know. I just know that, for us, ILL$ worked--G+ not so much.

My plan with Genie+ (as I understand it) is to grab something early, then book my later in the day reservation and a ride or two with ILL for the premium rides we want to go on. If those reservations happen to be later in the evening, maybe pop back to the hotel for something to eat and maybe some naps or something and then back for our reservations in the late afternoon/evening. Is that allowed?

 

[simbaella]

We always say we are going to chill out and not rush here and there, but we never do. We just join in the frantic chaos. We have great memories of great trips, but I'm not certain this trip will be. I really hope we can stick to go with the flow

 

[Miffy]

My plan with Genie+ (as I understand it) is to grab something early, then book my later in the day reservation and a ride or two with ILL for the premium rides we want to go on. If those reservations happen to be later in the evening, maybe pop back to the hotel for something to eat and maybe some naps or something and then back for our reservations in the late afternoon/evening. Is that allowed?

Yes, of course that's allowed.

Just be aware that you have to go to your reserved park first before you can park-hop, i.e., if you're park-hopping. It's one of the finer points of the new system that may not be fully understood by everyone. For example, you can't hang out at your hotel until 2 pm and then go to a park you don't have a reservation in just because you have a park-hopper. You always have to go to your reserved park first--and tap in.

The other thing you might want to be aware of is that G+ rides can sell out, sometimes early in the day, so you could get shut out of G+s for rides you wanted to use it for. There is no way of predicting this. At least, not one that I'm aware of.

 

[wweazel]

There are so many magical things that don't require lines - for example, you can see characters at meals, instead of trying to see them in parks. Chip and Dale Campfire, I know the pirate cruise is not happening now but maybe it will be in a year?
at those ages my kids were captivated by the monorail, and the boat ride, and the topiaries, and the make your own Mickey snacks at Disney Springs. They still talk about the ice age at TREX
We also spent an hour one day on the bridge at MK quacking at the ducks so much for Mom's plans!
They remember the hotel pool, and the movie under the stars, and the performers on the boardwalk, but just a couple of the favorite rides.
I agree with PP that suggests having everyone pick one thing that is the priority every day, and then just slowing down and looking around.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

So, I can relate. This isn't our first rodeo with Disney but we usually try to go at lower crowd times (I won't say LOW crowd, I don't think there is such a thing at Disney) and we've always had a fabulous time. But now with all the overcrowding and the changes with Genie+, I'm overwhelmed and I'm stressed that it's going to be PACKED and CRAZY and STRESSFUL. We like to do Disney in a relaxed way that actually feels like a vacation - so, like you said, zooming around and waiting in lines for hours is just not our cup of tea. That said, we rented DVC and we are committed to an 11 night stay, so I'm in the process of re-framing my expectations and trying to dial into my inner "go with the flow" girl (sidenote, I am a total Type A planner so this is 100% unnatural for me)

Some things I'm considering as we go into this that might also help you:
-We will likely be buying Genie+ for most days of this trip, and THAT IS OKAY....
-....even if we wind up barely using it and fleeing the parks midday. It is STILL OKAY.
-It is OKAY to only do partial days in the parks.
-It is OKAY not to ride every ride.
-We will make the ADR's but IT IS OKAY to cancel if we're not feeling it.
-We are staying at deluxe resorts we love. Considering we might be spending more time on those resorts than normal, this is really important. If you're not staying somewhere you love, see if you can upgrade to somewhere you do. I have a feeling that home base is going to matter A LOT.
-We'll be there during Flower & Garden, so if other parks feel too crazy, it IS OKAY to go eat and drink our faces off instead.

It's your vacation, and you make of it what you will. You CAN go with the flow. We always make the ADR's so we have them if we want/need them, but we also don't hesitate to re-evaluate and cancel if we're not feeling it. In fact, our last trip was a split stay and by the end of the first leg we didn't feel like "having" to be anywhere for the next couple of days, so we just up and canceled every reservation we had for the last three days of our trip. We had tons of fun snacking around Disney Springs and Epcot instead.

 

[Kerr84]

accidental post from my toddler!

 

[Nixali]

Hey everyone!

So, I’ve been mulling over an upcoming trip and am experiencing some trepidation as I read more about overcrowding, increased costs, less value, and all of the things people seem to be saying are afflicting the parks these days. We’re a family of six, and at time of travel our kids will be 9,7,4, and 2. The thought of standing with them for them in lines for over an hour each and rushing them around the park sounds like a nightmare. I was planning to make this the biggest family vacation we’ll go on for some time (deluxe resorts, genie+, signature dining, etc. etc). So here’s my question, if we use genie plus, purchase lightning lanes, and just plan to hit a few major attractions each day, is it possible to just go with the flow anymore?

I’m pretty laid back, and the thought of zooming my kids through crowds like a madman doesn’t sound like it would be fun for anybody.

I also have a question about wait times in general - my wife, daughter, and 3(will be 4 at time of travel) year old son are the thrill ride lovers of the family. I can take them or leave them, my oldest son is terrified of them, and the baby is a baby. Is there any way for my wife to not have to wait in line with my daughter an (more importantly) my 3/4 year old for insanely long amounts of time? I would hate for him to have to miss out on some rides, but I honestly don’t see the little Viking being able to manage an hour long line without driving my wife berserk. Any advice?

I also have this concern of not wanting to dart back and forth from one end to the other ALL DAY with my 5 yr old. Honestly, after reading everything, I think going with the flow is probably the best way to do it. I purchased Genie+ but I absolutely refuse to spend every minute on my phone obsessing over wait times. We might catch a few rides as we do plan to rope drop, but regardless, we will find whatever IS available to enjoy as much as we can. Overall, it's disappointing that spending thousands still doesn't guarantee we'll get to go on all the rides we want. *eye roll*

 

[Kerr84]

I also have this concern of not wanting to dart back and forth from one end to the other ALL DAY with my 5 yr old. Honestly, after reading everything, I think going with the flow is probably the best way to do it. I purchased Genie+ but I absolutely refuse to spend every minute on my phone obsessing over wait times. We might catch a few rides as we do plan to rope drop, but regardless, we will find whatever IS available to enjoy as much as we can. Overall, it's disappointing that spending thousands still doesn't guarantee we'll get to go on all the rides we want. *eye roll*

And they keep making the park hours earlier and earlier, so if you want to rope drop, you have to be up way early! I know a lot of toddlers get up early, but mine is so cranky when she doesn't get to wake up naturally. My expectations for what we get done during our March trip are way low.

 

[Nixali]

There are so many magical things that don't require lines - for example, you can see characters at meals, instead of trying to see them in parks. Chip and Dale Campfire, I know the pirate cruise is not happening now but maybe it will be in a year?
at those ages my kids were captivated by the monorail, and the boat ride, and the topiaries, and the make your own Mickey snacks at Disney Springs. They still talk about the ice age at TREX
We also spent an hour one day on the bridge at MK quacking at the ducks so much for Mom's plans!
They remember the hotel pool, and the movie under the stars, and the performers on the boardwalk, but just a couple of the favorite rides.
I agree with PP that suggests having everyone pick one thing that is the priority every day, and then just slowing down and looking around.

Spot on. (Even though I haven't been yet!

And they keep making the park hours earlier and earlier, so if you want to rope drop, you have to be up way early! I know a lot of toddlers get up early, but mine is so cranky when she doesn't get to wake up naturally. My expectations for what we get done during our March trip are way low.

My toddler would happily sleep until 9:30 if I let her! Haha. Rope drop is the plan, but with kids there's always the chance that nothing will go as planned.