Hey there and welcome to planDisney, Lindsay. I’ll be more than happy to answer that question for you!
Vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort is my ultimate vacation. To be honest, I think it’s the only family vacationing spot we’ve been to for the past 6 years. I also count the Disneyland Resort in that number.
Our Disney World vacations have all been during different times of the year, but most happen in
April, for my birthday. We also tend to visit during what I guess is called “busy season” which is when the kids are off from school. Think spring break, fall break, winter break, and summer break. So learning to navigate the crowds has been a specialty of mine.
While there is no magic spell that can give us an idea of when the parks won’t be so busy, I can help generate some ideas to maximize your time
in the parks. Number one, you must rope drop! Rope dropping is when you arrive at the theme parks just before they open so that you can be scanned in, and ready to go the moment they open. Arriving early allows you to enjoy more
attractions with a shorter wait time.
I also suggest planning your meals outside of the traditional dining times. For example, push lunch up or back a few hours so that you aren’t trying to find a table in a busy restaurant. You can also maximize your time by staying until the park closes. My family likes to rope-drop, head to the
resort for lunch or a nap, and then come back in the evening to stay until the park closes. We’ve noticed that following a schedule similar to this helps us avoid “peak time crowds”.
Lindsay, I hope this helps answer your question. If you need any other tips on how to navigate a busy park day, you know where to
find us!
Shantel