food IS a theme park
If you’ve been wanting to ride every ride on Disney property as many times as you’d like, the day has finally come.
Virtual Queue at Tiana’s
This controversial Disney system is leaving Magic Kingdom and EPCOT tomorrow!
Disney World is magical, but let’s face it. Waiting in long lines isn’t exactly part of the fantasy.
That’s a long line!
If you want to maximize your time, skipping the lines is key. Two of the best strategies are using Disney’s Lightning Lanes or arriving early for rope drop. But which one works best for you? Let’s break it down so you can plan the perfect park day.
If you are looking to skip the line at some of Disney World’s most popular attractions, you may have considered purchasing Lightning Lane.
Mad Tea Party Lightning Lane
Lightning Lane is Disney World’s pay-to-skip-the-line service, and it recently replaced Genie+, and Genie+ replaced FastPass+. There are three different versions of Lightning Lane, which can get confusing. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is similar to both Genie+ and FastPass+. Lightning Lane Single Pass is the replacement for Individual Lightning Lane. The newest Lightning Lane offering is Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which some have compared to Universal’s pay-to-skip-the-line service, Express Pass.
Some people have very strong opinions about Lightning Lane as the service is not free; while everyone is entitled to their opinion, there are five Lightning Lane myths that you should stop believing.
Many Disney fans have heard of rope dropping. The term rope drop can mean different things for different people, but typically, rope dropping is when you are in the park, past the turnstiles, BEFORE the park opens.
Hollywood Studios at Rope Drop
Usually, people arrive about an hour before the park opens to ensure that they are at the rope in front of each of the lands. You will hear a lot about rope dropping on your Disney trip and how it might be worth it. But, we are here to hold your hand and tell you some hard truths about rope dropping that others might not tell you.
Disney World is a place where dreams can come true and imagination has no limits…but that doesn’t mean we’ll do absolutely everything each visit.
A gloomy Magic Kingdom
As a millennial, I can safely say that our generation just does Disney World differently. There are quite a few of us on the DFB staff and we don’t shy away from expressing our thoughts and feelings about a Disney vacation. From examining Disney trends to reminiscing in old Disney nostalgia, Disney Adult millennials have a lot to say about the Disney Parks, including all the things we REFUSE to do when we visit Disney World.
What’s your rope drop strategy for Magic Kingdom?
Magic Kingdom
With dozens of attractions, this park can often be the most challenging to tackle in the morning — how do you choose where to go first?! If you’re a Disney Resort guest, you can enjoy Early Theme Park Entry in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, but the other lands of the park are free game for everyone when things officially open. And now, Disney has added a new factor into the mix.
Waking up and arriving at the Disney World theme parks can be like an Olympic sport as well as a team effort.
Magic Kingdom
We totally understand wanting to soak in as much time as possible in the parks, especially if you have saved up for a trip to Disney World for years. There is so much to think about when it comes to getting to the parks early that we are stressing ourselves out just thinking about it, and it made us wonder, why does this Disney World problem even have to exist?
What pops into your mind when you think about Hollywood Studios in Disney World?
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is home to some pretty iconic rides like Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash, and Rise of the Resistance. And those aren’t even half of all you can explore and do. That being said, there are some hard truths you need to know about this park.
EVERYONE has their own park strategy for Disney World, especially when it comes to rides.
Magic Kingdom entrance
Many of us are not going to get up early to rope drop, no matter what (we like our sleep). We’ll just get Genie+ (Disney’s paid skip-the-line service) and hit a ride’s Lightning Lane (the exclusive, paid, shorter line) later if it’s available (although with the new Genie+ changes, sleeping in may be a bit more convenient). Others are going to be at the parks BEFORE they open, either using Early Theme Park Entry, or standing in line at the front gates to get in for rope drop — then we’re going to speed walk to our favorite attractions. If you fall into that latter category, there’s one ride in Disney World you won’t be able to rope drop — even if you try.
Magic Kingdom is one of, if not THE busiest Disney World park on most days.
Magic Kingdom
It’s also home to the most attractions, even though it’s the smallest park. Rope dropping Magic Kingdom is a great way to get a head start on your day and experience some of the most popular attractions at lower waits, BUT there are some rides that we absolutely do NOT recommend running to during rope drop — know them now so you don’t make the same mistakes we have in the past!
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