Most accurate wait time apps

[seatrav]

We are heading to DL next week. We will have 2 small kids with us, so short wait times are a priority over specific rides. What are your favorite apps for wait times, fast pass info, etc.? Is the Disneyland one accurate?

 

[cmph]

Is the Disneyland one accurate?

Hit or miss, if you ask me. And the "misses" were almost laughably so during our trip about 2 weeks ago. Saw a 15min wait posted on the app for the little coaster in Toon Town, went there and watched the 2 CM's putting out extra posts/rope to extend the queue. I made a comment to one about the "15min wait" and he said, "Oh, yeah, this is more like 40, 45min. We'll update the app." While I understand you will always have a bit of unpredictability as crowds surge, etc, that was pretty silly. It didn't go from 15 to 40 in the span of a couple minutes, and the CMs were clearly unaware of what the app said, not to mention it would be at least a few more minutes before they got around to updating the app. You're better off asking a CM near the back of the line, b/c they'll know more than the app!

The fastpass info was more accurate than wait times, but be forewarned that you'll need to move quickly if you see a time you want. Usually when we saw a time we liked for a non-high-demand ride, we hightailed it, but typically by the time we got there, it was an add'l 20min or so into the future. This wouldn't apply to RSR or other high demand rides.

I originally had another wait time app on my phone, but I decided I would make myself nuts to constantly cross-compare the two. Plus I had terrible connectivity in the parks. In the future I will just plan to eyeball it and look at the signs AT the rides, most likely.

 

[figment_jii]

I've had pretty good luck with the Disneyland App (at least relative to the non-official wait time apps), in that the App is pretty accurate, but can be about 5 to 10 minutes behind in terms of updating. For example, I was standing near Space Mtn watching the crowds and the FPs just ran out. The App continued to show them as being available for about 5 minutes before updating that they were no longer available. Similar in terms of the wait times; the sign outside the attraction would change and somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes later, the App would show the updated time. Also, as mentioned, the App's information is only as good as the information it is given. So there will be times when you get to the attraction and the wait time says one thing, but the actual wait can be markedly less or more.

All that being said, you have to use some judgement when it comes to the FPs. There were several times on one trip, where the App indicated that the HM was out of FP, but when I got there, FPs were still available. So, if seems odd that an attraction has run out of FPs, it might be that the App is having trouble connecting to that information source. So, use your judgement and if something seems unlikely to be out of FPs at that point, but is showing as being out, there is a chance that it might be out. Overall however, I've had pretty good luck using the app to estimate wait times and FP return times.

 

[agamble]

Some of the rides have digital signs and some have old fashioned turn the number signs. I imagine those with digital signs would be more accurate on the app because they're updated more regularly. A ride like Gadget's Go Coaster in Toon Town is reliant on the CM updating the app. A ride like RSR uses the little lanyards they send through with guests on occasion and scan. Also be aware that the turn the number signs outside the rides can be tampered with by guests. I've seen an empty line with a sign showing 60 minutes, someone just flipped the number dial to be a nuisance.

The other apps you can find are all reliant on guests. They're fairly accurate, but full of error too. Someone may walk by Pirates and see the sign says 45 minutes so they put it in. Someone else may actually ride pirates and put in the wait time is 25 minutes because that's how long they took to get through. Which is more accurate? Well that depends. Maybe it was a 25 minute queue, but after he waited 25 minute the line doubled in length. Or maybe it really is a 25 minute wait, but the CM over estimated and set the time at 45 minutes. Or maybe some bozo turned the number on the sign. So even the third party apps aren't perfect.

 

[disneychrista]

The Disneyland is likely going to be the most accurate, even if it is not ALWAYS accurate. All other apps are user updated, which means anyone can update it with any information or not update it at all. At least the Disneyland one is updated by Disney.

 

[mich311e]

We use the Disneyland App while in the park. We'll sometimes look at Mousewait while in the park...mostly for curiosity or to see what other people are posting while in the park.

We can't be the only ones who look at the apps when we're home, right? lol

 

[seatrav]

Thanks all for the helpful info!

 

[Frozen2014]

The Disneyland is likely going to be the most accurate, even if it is not ALWAYS accurate. All other apps are user updated, which means anyone can update it with any information or not update it at all. At least the Disneyland one is updated by Disney.

One strange thing that I've noticed twice when checking the Disneyland App...Tonight for example, I looked at it at 7:30pm and it said that the next FP time was 5:05pm - 6:05pm. So obviously this was not so accurate. Saw similar example the other day.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

We use the Disneyland App while in the park. We'll sometimes look at Mousewait while in the park...mostly for curiosity or to see what other people are posting while in the park.

We can't be the only ones who look at the apps when we're home, right? lol

Ha! Not at all! My trip is in 2 months but I open the app daily and look at the times!!

 

[mich311e]

Ha! Not at all! My trip is in 2 months but I open the app daily and look at the times!!

We like to play "Guess the wait time for....." haha!