If you spend any time reading about, talking about, or in Disney World, there is one thing you are absolutely guaranteed to hear — complaints about waiting in line. It’s kind of amazing, in its own way. I, for one, never cease to be amazed when I hear someone say they will never wait more than twenty minutes for a ride. That seems like a lot of missed rides and frustrated walking around the Parks to me. Sure. I’ll level with you. No one enjoys standing in the Florida sun for hours waiting for a ride. But there’s also no reason to automatically cross an experience off your list because the wait time is creeping up, especially if you have to go during a busier time of the year when the chances of low waits are next to nothing. Instead, learn to make the most of your wait and turn it into part of your Park experience!
Come along and stand around waiting with me while I show you some of the ways I ensure the inevitable lines don’t rain on my vacation. Feel confident knowing these are tried and approved by an Aspie who will wait in any line for my little girl — including three hours for Mine Train because it was important to her.
A few ways to make sure waiting in line is not the end of the world at the World…
- Stay off your phone. I know. The travesty. But that’s why I’m starting with this one. I will go ahead and give the disclaimer that I don’t even own a smartphone and generally discourage standing/sitting around on it all the time in any circumstance. In lines at Disney, though, I’m particularly against it. When everybody in your family plugs into their phone, it is very isolating. Rather than spending this valuable time together, you are lost in your feed/stats/news/cat pictures. Instead, take the time to actually talk to each other. Plan your day. Talk about the rest of your day. Connect. You’ll find the line goes by much faster, and you won’t end up as one of those people who doesn’t keep the line moving forward even when there’s space. No one wants to be one of those people
- Stay on your phone. And we do the flip and switch. There are some times when pulling out the old phone can be beneficial to your queueing. Waiting in line is a great chance to browse My Disney Experience to find the next snack or meal you want to enjoy, or figure out how to get to the next ride. You may even have fun searching out where you’re going to sit for the fireworks (Liberty Square, right? Right.) or your trick-or-treat path during the Halloween party. Get the whole family involved in thinking about what’s next
- Stay on your phone some more. If you happen to be waiting for one of the attractions included in Disney Play, jump in and play the games! They are a blast and a fun opportunity to spend time with your whole group. Bubba and I are currently in training to take down our Space Mountain record
- Pay attention to what’s around you. The queues for Disney rides can be attractions in of themselves. Some of the bigger rides have incredibly intricate experiences (I see you, Haunted Mansion, Dumbo, Mine Train, and Peter Pan’s Flight), but even the ones with less elaborate themes can hold some amazing details. Next time you’re waiting, take some time to just look around. Pay attention to not just what you see, but also what you feel, hear, and smell. Did you know Disney uses all these senses to create atmosphere around their attractions?
- Think of it as a break. Sure, you’re still standing, but being in line can actually be an amazing break from your busy day. Have you ever gotten overwhelmed just thinking about what you’re going to do next? When you’re in line, you don’t have to make any more decisions for a while if you don’t want to. You’re already at the next ride! Just relax, enjoy the air conditioning if you’re inside, and know you have something fun coming your way.
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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist, but Taryn also likes to indulge her Disney passion on her Etsy shop It’s Better in Vinyl.
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