Rides with lowest wait times during big crowds?

[DWLA]

We are going to be taking our trip in a high crowd time. Our first day we come into the park on a Sunday evening (ouch).

We're taking it easy on what we plan to do, but for the entire trip it could be really helpful to know the traditionally easiest rides to get on WITHOUT fastpass and during high crowds.

For instance, from our last trip we saw Buzz Lightyear and Under the Sea both seemed to never get too far out of control on wait time. We'd like to keep a mental list of some good rides to keep the kids entertained.

Thanks!!!

 

[lalasmama]

Generally, the continually-loading rides have the least wait at busy times... So, rides like Buzz and Little Mermaid are two good bets. Goofy's Sky School generally has a short-ish line.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Download the free DLR app if you haven't already. That can help give you an idea about current wait times throughout the day. And keep in mind that even if a ride looks like it has a really long line from the outside, if it is a fast loader, the wait time won't be too bad.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

Depending on how much time you have to fit rides in, we have had a great time doing some of the lesser known activities - Great Moments with President Lincoln, stopping in to see old Mickey movies, Tom Sawyer Island, Animation Academy, etc.

 

[Chris9ty]

The carousels never seemed to have a long line since they hold so many at once.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that the continious loaders (e.g., Little Mermaid and Buzz) tend to have shorter lines (relative to other attractions) during the busy periods (just note that this does not necessarily include Haunted Mansion). Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and the Tiki Birds usually don't have super long lines either. I'd also look into some of the larger capacity shows (e.g., Mickey & the Magical Map, Frozen Sing Along) because while there might be a line and you have to get the timing right, the theaters do hold a pretty good size crowd.

 

[Mysteryincorp]

Big thunder's line always seems to move quickly, even during crowded times. Even when it winds around outside the entrance the wait it is never usually more than 30minutes.

 

[ADLFAN]

Sometimes the rides on Paradise Pier like the Swings, the zephyr, Goofy's Flight School, King Triton's Carousel, and the Little Mermaid have low lines all day! Same with the rides in A Bugs Land. I hate to say, it may be because they are the least unique rides in the parks... In DL, I haven't noticed as many consistently low lines. Definitely utilize the Fastpass system during the busy afternoons. Maybe you can use the busiest times to meet characters, take Photopass pictures, eat at a nice table service restaurant and shop

 

[ADLFAN]

And Mickey and the Magical Map is an awesome show!

 

[Congo Queen]

It is always good to have this list of relatively easy to get on rides and attractions. Here are the ones I veer toward when crowds are heavy (there is no guarantee these won't have a wait but they tend not to):

• Tiki Room - You can always get into the next show (its been decades since I had to wait through more than one show cycle for a seat)
• Tarzan's Treehouse - your kids will happily exhaust their legs climbing the many many stairs that keep this from ever having a line up
• Mark Twain/Sailing Ship Columbia - just wait for one of them to come back to the dock and you can get on it
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - you can always get in, large area to roam around in
• Sorcerer's Workshop in the Animation Building can take a lot of people
• Pinocchio Daring Journey and Snow White Scary Adventure - these are more hit and miss - sometimes a line but fairly often not much of one (unlike Peter Pan, Toad's or Alice that have regular lengthy wait times)
• King Triton's Carousel in Paradise Pier - not much of a line

 

[DWLA]

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions! We'll be adding them to our travel plans for later this month!

 

[superme80]

Monsters Inc was always very fast for us. Little Mermaid was fairly quick as well. Toy Story was about 20 mins, but seemed to go faster.

 

[tarheelalum]

Monsters Inc.

 

[qa4ever]

Golden Zephyr holds a ton of people, that was a walk on yesterday afternoon during peak time. Little Mermaid was only 10 minutes in the middle of the day. I think swings were pretty short also but we didn't do that one.