How long is too long?

[carly3592]

After reading a lot of member's different definitions of a "horrible crowd", I'm very curious to see what you guys consider to be out of control, horrible, terrible wait times... when you take into account, of course, the time of year, popularity of the attraction, etc...

So, do you start to freak out over an hour? Or are you reasonable up to 2? Or are you one of those people that can suck it up and stand in a line for 3 hours???

Just wondering

 

[BBG-BLT]

I usually go in Sept or Oct so I usually consider an hour too much time (plus I have a 4 and 2 year old - an hour is too long!.

This year going at TG and trying to get myself ready - wee probably won't do some of the more popular attractions if the line is too long. Therefore I am a line wimp .

 

[Taja]

Stood in the Soarin' queue for about 90 minutes once. That's pretty much my limit! *LOL*

Usually try to keep queue times to 30 minutes or less. It's rarely an issue, as I try the thrill rides once, then tend to avoid them in the future. That eliminates a few queues!

 

[fito]

Toy Story Mania.... tops for me was 40 minutes and only for this ride...

all others, i would say 30 min........

 

[dizneechic]

30 min is my max wait time (ok once I did stand by in TSM for 45), will FP and come back later anytime it's an option. I would MUCH rather sit on the sidelines and take in the sights than spend a day standing in line.

We always try to plan trips when the crowds are to a minimum, however we did attempt presidents week this year (with 5 days before crowds arrived). It reminded me exactly why we go when we do.

 

[TillyMarigold]

I don't wait more than 30-45 minutes for anything, ever (and something has to be *really* good to merit 45 minutes).

But my definition of an unmanageable crowd is when I am completely unable to go from point A to point B without needing to go around someone or multiple someones. I don't mind going and not doing rides; it's when I can't walk around and just look, or shop, that I freak.

 

[carrie1626]

If I don't have a FP and the stated time is <60 minutes I "might" wait. There is nothing at WDW that I need or would wait longer than that.

BUT, going to US to see HP attractions in Aug and I EXPECT huge crowds-that'll be a different story because I'm there for one day only and who knows when I'll be back. So I'll wait....

 

[Lidian]

Last year, we stood in line for 2.5 hours to meet the Faeries ... it was well worth it to see DD7 and DS3 (at the time) faces light up and the wonderful interactions the ladies had with the kids.

We also stood in line for roughly 2 hours for Kali River Rapids. The ETA to ride was waaay off. It was sooo not worth it.

Outside of that, we did 30 mins or less waits. We used FPs as much as possible, and we did skip a lot of attractions that never lessen the waits when we were in the parks (ie never saw less than a 2 hr wait at Dumbo, etc).

So ... I guess it depends on the attraction as to if its worth a short or long wait.

Will we stand in line for 2.5 hours for something this year? Sure, if its something that's worth it to us and the kids.

 

[branv]

There are about 4 rides I'd wait up to 45 minutes to ride, but everything else falls into the "no longer than 30 minutes." If a ride that I adore was going away for all time, I might wait 1.5 hours for that last ride, but not in any other circumstance. Don't get me wrong, I can kind of understand people who wait an hour to ride a ride (after all, for some people it's their first and last trip). But I admit I get a little "what the..?!." when I see people waiting for 120+ minutes. If the parks were really so bad that many rides are at that level, after a while I'd be doing a cost analysis in my head: trip cost $$, I've spent xx hours just standing in line but xx minutes on a ride, what % increase of pleasure value would I receive if I was instead at the hotel pool with an umbrella-style drink in my hand?

 

[DisCopper]

I've been enough where I know to plan my visits when there's going to be smaller crowds and shorter wait times, so it usually isn't a problem.

In the past, I've waited 2 hours for Splash Mountain and Soarin'. Probably never again. I usually won't wait more than 45 minutes.

I visited Disneyland in December one year, and the streets were PACKED... body to body. They were actually herding the crowds around and not letting you go the way you wanted by blocking things off. We waited two hours for Pirates and weren't able to do much else of anything. Never again.

 

[disney1990]

We carefully plan our fast passes and have never waited an hour for an attraction.

 

[michelle06]

I've been enough where I know to plan my visits when there's going to be smaller crowds and shorter wait times, so it usually isn't a problem.

In the past, I've waited 2 hours for Splash Mountain and Soarin'. Probably never again. I usually won't wait more than 45 minutes.

I visited Disneyland in December one year, and the streets were PACKED... body to body. They were actually herding the crowds around and not letting you go the way you wanted by blocking things off. We waited two hours for Pirates and weren't able to do much else of anything. Never again.

So, is herding, a crowd of "10"? I'm curious and think it adds to this thread, how do crowd predictions equate with lines? Does a 2 hr wait for Splash Mountain mean a large crowd, or is that typical? Most of you said you wouldn't wait more than 30 min, but is that during slower periods or is that even during really busy times (wondering if one has a choice then?)

 

[steph73]

I don't think we've ever waited over 30 minutes for anything at WDW. We plan our days and FPs, so waiting has never been an issue. The longest wait ever was probably for Soarin' once, in the FP line it still took about 30 minutes. I'd say on average, we probably wait 15 minutes or less for most headliners. Occasionally, we can walk straight on!

We also don't wait in long lines for characters. We always have at least a couple of character meals, and only will visit characters in the parks when the lines are very short and it's someone we're not seeing at a meal. Even at MNSSHP, we planned it right and didn't have to wait long to meet the villains.

We have waited in long lines in other theme parks, but with proper planning and utilizing FP correctly, you really can avoid long lines at WDW most of the time.

 

[dizneechic]

after a while I'd be doing a cost analysis in my head: trip cost $$, I've spent xx hours just standing in line but xx minutes on a ride, what % increase of pleasure value would I receive if I was instead at the hotel pool with an umbrella-style drink in my hand?

This is SOOOO how I think! I'm thrilled my kids love swimming pools as much as a theme park. Makes me wonder why it's worth the $$ but a day is Disney is just SO much more fun than a day at home.

 

[PatsGirl]

I've waited 30-45 minutes a few times in my many trips but we usually don't even get in line if the sign signs anything more than 20 minutes. I can't remember the last trip we didn't get on every ride we wanted in less than 20 minutes. I can't imagine standing in line with children for 45-90 minutes

That being said, we go early morning, almost always slow season, and use FPs. The only rides we don't go on are usually Dumbo (what's with the huge lines here?), ToT and RnR.

So, unmanageable crowds to me would be when most rides are more than 30-45 minutes.

 

[TillyMarigold]

So, is herding, a crowd of "10"? I'm curious and think it adds to this thread, how do crowd predictions equate with lines? Does a 2 hr wait for Splash Mountain mean a large crowd, or is that typical? Most of you said you wouldn't wait more than 30 min, but is that during slower periods or is that even during really busy times (wondering if one has a choice then?)

Crowd levels correspond to peak wait times. That's what they are.

A level 10 means peak wait times of over 95 minutes at the MK for the most popular rides.

 

[Holiztic]

Between going off season and on lowish (5-6) crowd days, using a touring plan, using fastpass wisely, our dislike of some of the most popular rides, and going to MK two days, so splitting the most popular rides between the early mornings...

I have no intention of waiting more than 20 minutes for anything, and less than 10 for most.

I checked Lines for the first time today (same crowd level, best park, etc as next Monday/Tuesday when we go) and I think I can make it happen!

 

[pickles]

I've waited 30-45 minutes a few times in my many trips but we usually don't even get in line if the sign signs anything more than 20 minutes. I can't remember the last trip we didn't get on every ride we wanted in less than 20 minutes. I can't imagine standing in line with children for 45-90 minutes

That being said, we go early morning, almost always slow season, and use FPs. The only rides we don't go on are usually Dumbo (what's with the huge lines here?), ToT and RnR.

So, unmanageable crowds to me would be when most rides are more than 30-45 minutes.

I agree with this one...I see signs that say 20 minutes and I wont get in line. I have had a few fast pass lines like at soarin be longer waits than my prefered 20 or less.
I would do Toy Story at 45 minutes or less if I didnt have a fast pass. Not an early morning person so there is a chance I wouldnt have a chance at a fast pass. I often skip it tho as it isnt a favorite of mine. If i want video games I can just stay home

 

[Artoo]

I have no problem waiting 40 minutes. Waiting an hour? It would depend on the ride. 90 minutes? I don't think so.

 

[twokids0204]

We never wait more then 30 minutes.

With proper planning you should never have to.

That being said, we did wait 2 hours to meet Tink! That was our ONLY line over 30 mins, and only because my daughter gave me those puppy dog eyes.