Travel Guides Family Friendly Disney
Ben F. Silverio
When you visit a Disney Park for the first time, it’s understandable to want to do everything you possibly can. While it’s literally impossible to meet all the characters, ride all the rides, eat all the snacks, and see all the shows in one day, that doesn’t mean a first-timer won’t try their darnedest to make it happen. And then, to top it all off, they’ll likely want to look to the skies and take in the spectacular fireworks display before heading home after the most magical day ever.
As special as that first time is, guests can make each subsequent visit just as magical. For instance, maybe you want to spend a day strolling down Main Street U.S.A. as you take in all the sights, sounds, and smells you may have missed before. It’s hard to listen to the Dapper Dans of Disneyland when you’re running to the Indiana Jones Adventure to beat the line after the rope drop, right? Or maybe you might prioritize the Broadway-caliber stage productions that take place every day at the parks. You might even go to the Magic Kingdom specifically to hunt down Hidden Mickeys. But if your next trip will be dedicated entirely to riding as many rides as possible, then there’s one thing you should consider eliminating from your itinerary.
Enjoy lower wait times for popular rides
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One of the hardest things to navigate at any Disney theme park are the lines. Some of the most popular attractions can have wait times that exceed an hour or more throughout the day. Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes can help you beat the waiting game at Disney, but there is an easier way to do that without dishing out the extra bucks.
The first step is to arrive at the park early. Typically, the wait times are a lot lower during the first two hours of operation. Take that time to ride your most desired rides. After squeezing in one or two of those heavy hitters, proceed to the rides that are lower on your list. If you’re lucky, you can catch the moderately popular rides with wait times anywhere from zero to 30 minutes and sprinkle a handful of those attractions into the middle of your day.
Then, by the time you’ve had the opportunity to cross some of the mid-tier rides off your list, check your show schedule to figure out when the parades and the fireworks are set to begin that day. Those times will often be the best opportunities to get back to the more popular rides. While many of the park guests are looking to the night skies or the elaborate floats, you can hit up Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, or whichever ride calls to you at that particular moment.
See the fireworks from a new vantage point
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When it comes to skipping the fireworks, there are two different results that could make you and your party very happy. First, if you’ve had a long day at the parks and are ready to head home after spending some time checking out how different Batuu, Radiator Springs, or Avengers Campus look at night, you can beat the traffic out of the Mickey and Friends parking garage and start your journey home with relative ease.
However, for an extra dose of magic before heading back to the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy, you can choose to ride an outdoor attraction like the Astro Orbiter, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover to get an unparalleled view of the nighttime spectacular. It’s hard to beat the view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the top of the hill on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
If you’re somewhere in the middle of those two scenarios following your wonderful day, there’s an answer for you as well. You could always find a good spot to watch the fireworks at the beginning of Main Street U.S.A., which is close to the entrance/exit of the park. Not only are you in the perfect position for a speedy getaway after the show’s finale, but you’re also in a great spot to see all of the projections on the buildings around you while still having the castle in your sightline.
