When is a Queue line not to be missed?

[CHEMISTSP]

Hello! I am fortunate to be taking a trip later this year with my family (wife, 3 sons ages 11-17). I am starting to make some Touring Plans around our dining reservations, and in doing so, I am starting to think about FastPasses - which I dread considering this is my first trip with the FastPass+ system. I know there is a natural instinct to rush through as many attractions as possible - but if that was less of a consideration, I was wondering, when considering FastPasses, are there any queues that should not be missed in the parks based on their entertainment value for people who have not seen them before? Based on the research I have done, I am thinking it might be worth staying in line for:

Magic Kingdom
Peter Pan
Haunted Mansion
Seven Dwarf's Mine Train

Epcot
Test Track

Hollywood Studios
Tower of Terror
Toy Story Midway Mania
Star Tours

Animal Kingdom
Flight of Passage
Expedition Everest

I was just curious about the opinions of Dis Board veterans regarding this topic. I look forward to hearing your opinions.

Thanks!

 

[720L]

While a lot of queues are really detailed, I wouldn't wait in standby more than 15 minutes, I would rather get more rides done than wait in a line--even if the lines are entertaining. But the rides you mentioned do have good queues.

 

[kmb584]

While a lot of queues are really detailed, I wouldn't wait in standby more than 15 minutes, I would rather get more rides done than wait in a line--even if the lines are entertaining. But the rides you mentioned do have good queues.

I agree.

I think Pan is one not to be missed, but even so, we'll only wait in standby if the park has just opened or we're there for MVMCP. I'm sure FoP has a fantastic standby queue, but I won't even consider FoP unless we have a FP+ for it. I can't imagine spending 3+ hours in a line just to see the queue.

 

[UrsulaTime]

Peter Pan's standby line is charming, and worth it if you go there at rope drop!

Given the option, I wouldn't choose to wait in the standby line for any of the other rides you mentioned (I do like the queues for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Expedition Everest, but I don't remember the standby line being significantly different.)

I'm a fan of wonderfully themed queues as well.

Happy planning!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

At MK, Dumbo and Winnie the Pooh both have interactive queues too. But I personally don't think any of the queues are worth standing in line for.

 

[gap2368]

Why would you stand in line for Test track

 

[WEDWDW]

The "new" Peter Pan queue is the best queue at WDW because of the interactive elements.

If you get to either of the Bedrooms and Tink is not "flying",stand "to the side" and let the other Guests pass and wait for her to fly.

IMHO,if a Guest doesn't get to see Tink fly in the Bedrooms,they HAVE NOT really experienced the queue.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The Flight of Pasage queue is really cool, but not cool enough to wait over two hours for (and when we were there Presidents Day week, the queue was rarely under two hours, based on what I saw).

I waited with a 90 minute posted wait last summer and it was closer to 60 minutes, and I would probably do that again if I were with someone who had never seen it. But two to four hours? No. I’ll go with the fastpass.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The Flight of Pasage queue is really cool, but not cool enough to wait over two hours for (and when we were there Presidents Day week, the queue was rarely under two hours, based on what I saw).

I waited with a 90 minute posted wait last summer and it was closer to 60 minutes, and I would probably do that again if I were with someone who had never seen it. But two to four hours? No. I’ll go with the fastpass.

We waited when the new queue was brand new for Peter Pan, but we ended up waiting over 30 minutes at rope drop with two impatient kids and the queue was not worth that to us. It’s cool, but with kids, I wouldn’t do it again.

 

[ShadeDK]

The short answer is “never” - but there are some queues worth experiencing if the standby wait isn’t horrible (15-20 minutes). I’d add BTMR to your list for MK - some interactive parts and a lot of little details if you’re paying attention. The Ariel ride has an interactive queue - but the standby wait is so short you usually end up walking by them.

Nothing special about standby for Test Track - although you get a “condensed” build session if you do single rider (which, if you still want the full experience, you can design your vehicle in the post-ride area first, save it to your MB and then ride).

For most of the rides you mention at DHS and AK - the queues are themed but not interactive - you’ll see part of them anyway as you’re breezing though the FP+ lane.

Perhaps not ironically - many of the rides where FP+ is strongly recommended to avoid long waits have the best queues - it’s a consolation of sorts for those without FPs but not an enticement to skip FP altogether.

 

[EdmondD]

The queue is scene one, so enjoy it if you have to, I say.

But take Test Track off your list. Due to an odd confluence of circumstances, I found myself doing standby for Test Track in November, with a posted wait time (accurate, btw) of about 70 minutes. (And I'm one of those people who brag about never doing more than 20 minutes.) You are basically snaking around one room for 85 percent of that time. The music is unpleasant, unrelenting, and on a short loop. What there is to look at in the room gets old very fast.

 

[CHEMISTSP]

I just want to thank everyone for their comments and perspective. I truly appreciate the opinions of Dis Members. I will take all of the wisdom you have imparted when planning my days at the parks.

 

[puffkins]

Peter Pan is one of the best rides/queues in all of WDW but it is also very slow loading. If the wait is 40 minutes or so (or less) then I would absolutely stand in line. Haunted Mansion is one of the largest capacity rides so don't be too intimidated by the wait times. However, there is essentially no queue entertainment for HM. You are outside (mostly under a canopy) until you enter, either in standby or FP. All of the fun is after you get past the waiting area. Flight of Passage wait times are enormous. Nothing is worth standing in line 3+ hours for. The queues for both Test Track and Tower of Terror are underwhelming. Expedition, as a ride, will probably appeal to your sons more, although the queue at Seven Dwarves is far superior.

I hope you can do all of them on your list (along with additional ones like Splash Mountain, Rockin' Roller Coaster, Soarin', etc.) Have fun!

 

[Chef Louis]

The only two queues that I wouldn't miss are the Harry Potter rides down I-4

 

[kenthanson]

The line for Peter pan might be the single worst line at wdw, I can't think of any other that is worse.

Edit: apparently there is a new interactive line for Peter pan that most people are saying is amazing. I never liked that line and son is over that ride so we skipped it last month, I guess we shouldn't have.

 

[LandonDunes]

We waited when the new queue was brand new for Peter Pan, but we ended up waiting over 30 minutes at rope drop with two impatient kids and the queue was not worth that to us. It’s cool, but with kids, I wouldn’t do it again.

Really? 30 mins even at rope drop? Wow.

 

[Happiest.Haunt_999]

Peter Pan is one of the best rides/queues in all of WDW but it is also very slow loading. If the wait is 40 minutes or so (or less) then I would absolutely stand in line. Haunted Mansion is one of the largest capacity rides so don't be too intimidated by the wait times. However, there is essentially no queue entertainment for HM. You are outside (mostly under a canopy) until you enter, either in standby or FP. All of the fun is after you get past the waiting area. Flight of Passage wait times are enormous. Nothing is worth standing in line 3+ hours for. The queues for both Test Track and Tower of Terror are underwhelming. Expedition, as a ride, will probably appeal to your sons more, although the queue at Seven Dwarves is far superior.

I hope you can do all of them on your list (along with additional ones like Splash Mountain, Rockin' Roller Coaster, Soarin', etc.) Have fun!

Are you forgetting the interactive queue here for the HM?!?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

We waited when the new queue was brand new for Peter Pan, but we ended up waiting over 30 minutes at rope drop with two impatient kids and the queue was not worth that to us. It’s cool, but with kids, I wouldn’t do it again.

30 minutes at RD is definitely not the norm. We RD PP on nearly every trip and it's typically a walk on....the only delay is people stopping to enjoy the queue.

 

[slpeters]

We did EMH every day so we actually ended up seeing a lot of the regular queues (no FP during that period). Many of the rides on your list we did both ways (FP and standby) and I don't recall any queue that would warrant waiting longer in line intentionally. We only did FP for Peter Pan, SDMT or FOP so I can't comment on those. Now in the interest of fair disclosure we were there for the third week of November last year and we didn't really have extended waits for anything (our two FOP FPs were by far our longest waits in line) so it's possible there were very cool things we just sort of sailed past. But, I guess I don't regret sailing past any of it.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

30 minutes at RD is definitely not the norm. We RD PP on nearly every trip and it's typically a walk on....the only delay is people stopping to enjoy the queue.

It was when the queue was new so I suppose everyone had the same idea we did: Rope drop PP and get fastpasses for other rides.

I don’t know that it’s necessarily unheard of now. When we were there just over a week ago SDMT was down first thing as was Space Mountain. Most everyone headed for PP. The line to get to the line was really long even before the park opened.