How to Shorten Your Wait Time at Walt Disney World WITHOUT FastPass

With FastPasses currently unavailable, wait times in Disney World can seem extra intimidating. And with limited capacity and other safety procedures currently in place, Disney has given no indication of when their Fastpass option could return.

But even without that opportunity to skip the lines, there are still some ways to shorten your wait times — and here at AllEars, we’ve got you covered.

Check My Disney Experience Frequently

The My Disney Experience app is your best friend now that experiences like ordering food — and even buying merchandise! — have gone contactless. But you can also use it to keep a close eye on wait times.

If you don’t have a particular order you want to experience various attractions, keep checking My Disney Experience. Wait times will vary throughout the day, and you can hop over to an attraction when the line looks low. Also keep an eye out for when rides temporarily close. If you catch them right when they reopen, you may find little to no wait.

Just be quick when checking the app! If you linger, a shockingly low wait time could be back up to normal by the time you arrive to ride.

Did You Know You Could Do These Things with the My Disney Experience App?

Ride Popular Attractions at Park Open or Close

You may be surprised by just how much you can get done in Disney World before the parks open! We recently went to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios early in the morning to test how many popular attractions we could knock out before the official opening (spoiler: it was a lot).

If you want to ride fan-favorite attractions with some extra-low wait times, get to the park a little earlier than its official opening. You’ll also have to be pretty quick once you get there. Have a strategy; know exactly where you’re going and how to get there. Plenty of people have the same plan as you!

You can also ride attractions right before the park closes — wait times will be much lower. Don’t be intimidated by that long posted wait time! Disney often overstates wait times at the end of the night.

You can hop in line the minute before the park closes to truly shut down the park. For example, if Magic Kingdom closes at 9PM, you can still hop in line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at 8:59! As long as you’re in the line before park closure, you will be able to ride.

Check Out Everything We Did in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Before the Park Opened!

Take Advantage of Early Theme Park Entry

This goes hand-in-hand with arriving to the parks early, but if you’re a resort guest, take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry! With this feature, guests of Disney World hotels can head into the park a half hour before opening every day. This differs from Extra Magic Hours, which used to let resort guests into a park an hour early (or two hours late) on select days rather than a half hour every single day.

Make use of Early Theme Park Entry if you want to get some rides done early in the day, before the crowds arrive.

Learn More About Early Theme Park Entry!

Make the Most of a Rainy Day

Tempted to stay in the hotel room or enjoy indoor activities on a rainy day? You could be missing out on some short wait times in the parks! While outdoor attractions may be closed for weather, you’ll be able to experience an emptier park overall if it’s raining.

The same goes for other weather! On a chilly day, hop on Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids if you can stand the chill. Most people won’t be up for it! Go against the grain, and you’ll find much shorter lines.

Check Out Our Best Tips for a Rainy Day in Disney!

Take a Private VIP Tour

This is the priciest way to shorten your wait time, but it may be worth it if you’ve got some extra room in your budget! With a Private VIP Tour, you’ll be able to jump to the front of the line for many of your favorite attractions. Your tour guide will share plenty of fun stories and trivia as you park-hop and enjoy a day in Disney World completely customized to you.

This tour ensures you wait in virtually no lines. However, it’s expensive! It’ll cost you anywhere from $425-$750 per hour — and it must last at least 7 hours. And don’t forget to tip your tour guide!

Pandora

Also note that the cost doesn’t include your park entry, so you’ll want to set aside some money to buy your tickets, too. But if you want an efficient way to get as many rides done as possible — and if budget isn’t as much of a concern — a Private VIP Tour may be for you.