Walt Disney World Touring Plans

Walt Disney World is among the most popular vacation destinations in the United States, drawing visitors from around the world. With this popularity comes large crowds and long lines for many attractions, especially during the busy summer and holiday seasons. Nothing puts a damper on a long anticipated vacation like lengthy waits in the Florida heat, but it is possible to minimize the time spent in lines with a little advance preparation and planning. Factors such as the day of the week and the time of day can have a profound impact on the amount of time spent in line, and a touring plan that takes these factors into account can make for a far more enjoyable Disney vacation.

Arriving at the Walt Disney World theme parks early in the morning, approximately 30 to 45 minutes before the official park opening, is an excellent way to experience some of the top attractions before the crowds peak later in the day. Because most people enjoy sleeping in when on holiday, there are fewer people in the parks first thing in the morning than later in the day. This translates into slower lines and an ideal time to ride Disney World's newest and most popular attractions.

Choosing the right day to visit each park is another way to minimize wait times for rides and attractions. Disney offers guests at on-site resorts a perk called Extra Magic Hours, which adds either one hour in the morning or three hours in the evening to normal park hours. Admittance for these extended hours is limited to guests of onsite resorts. If staying at a Disney owned resort, the extra park time offers another opportunity to experience popular rides with shorter waits, but visitors staying off site should avoid the park offering extended hours because of the program's popularity with Disney resort guests.