Poll on lines.

[Pedler]

There has been some discussion on planning vs. not planning and lines and such. So here is a poll to get a feel for how DISers approach long lines. Long being over 20 minutes for a ride.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Funny, this started out as a debate over TGM.

 

[NCombs]

Funny, this started out as a debate over TGM.

And from reading the responses, quickly evolved into a much broader discussion.

 

[freakylick]

I absolutely plan in order to avoid lines. I will be the first to admit that I am not a patient person. So I plan my days so that I arrive earlier, hit the biggies in a set order and then once the long line attractions are out of the way, I play it by ear and relax a little more.

That being said, if I were a Disney veteran that goes 6 or 7 times a year, I probably would be much less concerned with a tour plan.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I chose "Long Lines bother me and I would do some simple planning to avoid them." because it was closest to my opinion.
Long lines dont really bother me unless I really dont feel it is worth waiting that long for. Overall, I plan ahead to avoid lines but I wont go crazy over it.
I am in WDW and I have no worries!

 

[grinningghost]

I chose simple planning to avoid long lines. I pretty much expect lines at WDW, if it's something I really want to do, I wait.

 

[littlestix]

I chose simple lanning to advoid the long lines. The long lines only bother me a little bit but, my son just can't stand that long. He gets bored fairly quick.

 

[babar41]

Just finished reading the TGM thread, wondered how long it would take before someone posted a poll. Have to admit, the TGM thread really had me laughing, shaking my head and wondering... is this for real?

I voted for.... Long lines bother me, I plan, read books, search the web, visit these boards, make spreadsheets, have time tables... anything and everything I can to avoid wasting time in lines. If I have extra time that I just want to visit, I can think of far more comfortable places to visit and chat than standing in a line!

The 3 who voted for "Long lines don't bother me" I have a question. Given a choice between little to no line and long line, for the same attraction, which would you choose? If you choose the long line then I have to stop standing in back of you at the grocery store! (Seems I always pick the longest line!)

 

[Aimeedyan]

If a ride has a long line, we grab a fast pass and keep moving or just skip it. I've ridden everything already and there are very few rides that I MUST ride each trip. I don't mind skipping something due to a long line - I'm impatient and hate to waste time!

I don't really know if that's a "plan" or not. We don't get there at the crack of dawn, but we do choose EMH parks and such to take advantage of that.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I usually go during times of year that aren't too crowded, so between that and Fast Pass, I don't remember the last time I worried about lines.

 

[kizmac]

I am perplexed that someone would vote that long lines bother them but they would not follow a touring plan that may help them avoid them.

Anyhow, I voted the "Long lines bother me and I would create touring plans / best days/ start early to avoid them." I have 6 small kids and standing in long lines makes for much stress. If a little planning can lessen that then I'm for it!

I'm glad not everyone would use a touring plan though because then the touring plans would all go out the window because everyone would be in the know on what to ride when,etc. Could you imagine park opening if everyone followed the arrive at opening advice! Thank goodness everyone does Disney different.

 

[mello]

Wasting time bothers me, so I prefer to avoid standing in lines, but on the other hand, the touring plans stress me out when I look at them - all the extra walking, zig zagging around the parks, and the idea of getting off a ride and having to check the plan to see what's next seems a bit over the top too. Our solution is to allow more time - at least 2 days at each park - and to have a general idea of the first few major attractions we want to do each day (within a given land or area, so we're not running all over). After the first couple hours we then take all the time we want to "smell the roses" and just bypass things with long lines, knowing we can come back to them another time.

I should clarify though, that my answer is based on Disneyland, not WDW. And from what I gather DL is a bit more low-key and thus easier to tour the way we do. The thing that's making it harder for me with WDW is the ADR's. We'll get to test out our modus operandi at WDW in a few weeks! We'll be there for 12 days, so should have plenty of time (we hope!).

 

[Uncleromulus]

Lines always bother me. But having been to WDW 29 times, I have an advantage over those first timers who, if they really want to see an attraction, must plan ahead or wind up wating in lines. Now, when we see any line over 15 minutes, we almost always skip that attraction entirely. Most likely have been on that ride several times before, and know we'll get a chance to do it again.
Most trips we're out of each Theme park by noon and on our way to a movie, shopping, a swim, or mini-golf.

 

[Leota]

I chose "Long Lines bother me and I would do some simple planning to avoid them." because it was closest to my opinion.
Long lines dont really bother me unless I really dont feel it is worth waiting that long for. Overall, I plan ahead to avoid lines but I wont go crazy over it.
I am in WDW and I have no worries!

Ditto!

I'm lucky that I have been enough times to relax & do what I want without worrying about "doing it all". I know I will be back again & can do what I missed another time. My simple planning is the extent of hitting the Parks early & doing my biggie favorites before the Parks fill up. I am an early riser anyways, so getting there early is not stressful to me at all. Other than that, my only other plans to avoid lines are Fast Passes & skipping Parades that I have seen several times already.

 

[Aliki]

I've woken up at 7am to get to Six Flags Great Adventure by 10am when the gates open

Anything to avoid lines!

 

[JRawkSteady]

Every time we go to Disney we're up every day at about 6 or 7 to get to the doors when the park opens. It's just so much better to spend the whole day in the park.
As for lines, if I HAVE to wait in one, I will without complaining, but if I could avoid that by some simple planning on my part, of course I'll do that. Just a few minutes of research and I don't have to waste the whole day in a line...

Of course, I'm way past that now...I kinda know how to beat the traffic to my favorite rides.

 

[tomerin]

with all of the free info available in the internet, expceially here at the Dis, it is so easy to get info that will help you have an easier time touring the world. if you cant find the info you need here someone here will surely point you in the right direction. lines sometimes cant be avoided but the wait times can definitly be lessened

 

[gigi1313]

we do everything in our power to avoid lines... we follow the basics of a touring plan, tailoring it to our needs/likes/wants/etc... we do pay attention to best days recommendations mainly because i need a "launching point" for drafting our itinerary... although dh is famous for pitching all planning to the wind and playing the "let's get on the first bus that arrives" game which flips me out! LOL!

 

[quiltymom]

I don't like lines (who does?) and I voted simple planning. I'm there to relax, not be stressed. If it's not a FP ride, then I wait until the lines die down a bit. If it doesn't, then there's plenty else to do. Yes, I read the guidebooks and make lists, etc., etc;, but you never know what will happen once you get there.

I must admit that during Spring Break this year I got the family up (DS6, DD4, DH & me) and at every park during EMH, which really paid off. For example, we went to the MK ad 7:00 and rode 18 rides, most of them in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, in 2 hours. All that before we had to return to the hotel by 10:00 am to get ready to leave for the airport. We got to bed early every night, though!

 

[BAST]

I voted - do anything to avoid lines. I have plans for what park/ what day and what rides to hit early in the morning. After that, it is do what we want as long as the lines aren't too bad. With DD5 and DD7 who cannot stand still in WDW and me who hates standing in line, this is the only way to enjoy WDW.

In reality, there are only a few attractions that really generate long lines. On our recent trip, we avoided EMH parks (did the next day strategy) and went early in the morning. We did everything we wanted with minimal waits. I usually reserve the shows for early afternoon and it is rare that you cannot get in right away.

The one day we did MK on a day that it had an EMH evening, long lines developed by about 1:00. POC and HM had thirty minute lines (other times, maybe five) so we simply left and went elsewhere.