Previously, we posted Part One of our WDW FAQ. In that article, we provided our answers to many common questions that come up in various online communities that we frequent. Specifically, we answered questions related to the following general topics:
- Vacation Basics
- Park Tickets
- Dining
- Entering the Parks
Today, we’ve got even more answers to everyone’s burning questions. In this edition, we will be answering frequently asked questions regarding Rides/Attractions, Disney Resorts, Disney Transportation, and Lightning Lanes. So let’s dive in!!!
Rides / Attractions
What are some of the “can’t miss” rides at each WDW park?
Obviously, this is a very subjective question, as everyone has their own personal favorites. Our favorites might not be your favorites… and that’s okay. We are all individuals, after all!
That said, the following rides generally have the longest wait times. So if you equate “wait times” to “popularity”, this list can provide a good starting point.
Magic Kingdom
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (currently closed for 2025)
- Haunted Mansion
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Seven Dwarves Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Tron Lightcycle Run
EPCOT
- Frozen Ever After
- Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’
- Test Track (currently closed but scheduled to reopen in 2025)
Animal Kingdom
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest
- Flight of Passage
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Navi River Journey
Hollywood Studios
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcom Smugglers Run
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (slated to close soon)
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Wars Rise of the Resistance
- Toy Story Mania
- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Like I said above, this is just a starting point for coming up with your own list. You should definitely read some reviews of the different rides to get a feel for them. You might find that your future favorite isn’t on this list.
I don’t like thrill rides. Will I still enjoy Walt Disney World?
ABSOUTELY!
The great and unique thing about WDW is that there are things for everyone to do. There are plenty of attractions that don’t have thrills.. the so-called “dark rides”. On these rides, you move through various set pieces, immersing yourself in some other place and time. Everyone in your family can enjoy them regardless of age, height, or thrill tolerance level. Many of the most popular rides fall into this category. You can generally tell if a ride is “friendly for all” if it doesn’t have a height requirement.
Beyond the rides themselves, all of the parks have many other forms of entertainment: parades, stage shows, theater-style shows, wandering entertainers, characters, and more.
And even beyond that, you have the food, the scenery, the people watching… the whole experience!
Why is ride X temporarily closed? When will it reopen?
All rides at all theme parks temporarily close from time to time. That’s just life.
The most common reason is weather: rain, high winds, lightning in the area. Of course, this is for guest safety.
Other reasons for a ride’s closure might be for a mechanical issue, a guest dropping something onto the ride track, or many other myriad of things that can go wrong.
When a ride temporarily closes, Cast Members generally won’t tell guests why the ride has closed or when it will re-open. In many cases, even the front line Cast Members won’t know themselves! Don’t get frustrated at them, as they are just trying to do their jobs and make sure everyone stays safe.
Depending upon where you are in the ride queue when it closes, Cast Members may offer you a complimentary Lightning Lane, so that you can return to ride when it re-opens without having to go through the standby line again. And if a ride is closes when you have a Lightning Lane reservation, the system will automatically give you a “multiple experience pass” that allows you to go through the Lightning Lane for a selection of alternative rides.
My child is just below the minimum height. Will the Cast Member take pity on me and let them ride anyway?
No, they won’t. Generally, those minimum heights are there for safety reasons. Cast Members will never compromise on safety, regardless of how nicely you ask.
Sometimes, if your child is just below the minimum height, they will give them a paper Lightning Lane pass for the ride on a future visit when they are finally tall enough.
When is the best time to ride an attraction in order to minimize my wait time?
Generally, the best time to ride an attraction is as early as possible in the morning, especially if you have Early Entry. When the park opens, you will experience the lowest crowd levels of the day. It takes a special kind of person to get up at the crack of down to be at the park for “rope drop”. Most people tend to take their time when they are on vacation – showing up when they are good and ready. As a result, wait times generally will only get longer as the day goes on.
Another strategy is to jump in line right as the park is about the close, as crowds start to dissipate in anticipation of beating the crowds as they leave for home. If you are in line at closing time, Cast Members will let you continue through the line so you can still ride. It may not be as short a line as if you had rope dropped. However, it generally will be shorter than if you tried to ride in the middle of the day.
Other good times to ride are during parades or fireworks. These events tend to syphon guests away from the rides for a short period of time. If you don’t care to watch the fireworks, this is a great time to hit up some popular rides without the longer wait times. Of course, right after the parade or fireworks end, expect a huge influx of people heading back towards attractions (assuming that the park is still opened afterward, of course).
If you are a Disney Deluxe Resort guest, you can also take advantage of lower wait times during Extended Evening Hours. On certain days at certain parks, Deluxe guests can stay in the parks for an extra two hours after they close for other guests. You can get a lot done during this time if you are willing to stay up late!
Finally, you can always get a ticket to a “hard ticket” event, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, or an After Hours event. Wait times for these events are generally less than during a normal park day, as capacity is limited by the number of tickets available. However, you need to buy a separate ticket to attend, and tickets are limited.
Disney Resorts
Is it worth it to stay at a Disney Resort?
This comes down to personal preference, to a large extent.
As a Disney Resort guest, you get many additional tangible perks that are not available to guest staying off property:
- 30 minute early park entry for all guests and extended evening hours for Deluxe Resort guests
- Lightning Lane, Dining, and Enchanting Extra booking advantages
- Free parking at the theme parks
- Free water park day on your check-in day
- Ability to charge dining and shopping to your resort room tab
- Frequent and reliable transportation from your resort to the parks (some parks are even within walking distance of certain resorts)
Plus, there is the “Disney Difference”. You benefit from Disney’s imaginative theming, world-class customer service, and overall experience. People talk about wanting to be in the “Disney bubble” and there is something to be said for that!
On the flip side, the cost of an equivalent room at an off property hotel can be a lot less. So, yes, you are getting all of the benefits mentioned above, but you are paying dearly for them. Whether you think they are worthwhile is a personal choice.
On our most recent trips, we’ve done both. We will usually spend at least two nights at a Disney hotel, but then the remainder of our time is spent off property. That allows us to get a taste of the “Disney Difference” without breaking the bank!
What is the “best” Disney resort?
“Best” is, of course, subjective. There are so many factors to consider: location, amenities, theming, price. However, here are our recommendations:
If you can afford it, we think that the Polynesian is the best resort for most.
- The South Seas theming is amazing and appeals to most everyone
- The location is great! You can easily get to the Magic Kingdom by monorail, boat, or walking path. Plus, you can walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center and get on the EPCOT monorail without having to transfer.
- The amenities are outstanding. The volcano themed feature pool is fun for all ages. There are many great dining and lounge options. And if there isn’t enough at the Poly itself, the Grand Floridian and Contemporary Resort are a short monorail ride away.
- Finally, who doesn’t love watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the Poly’s beach!
If the Poly is beyond your budget, Pop Century is another great choice. It is a “value resort” so the rooms are smaller, and it doesn’t have the same level of amenities as the Polynesian. However, it still has a lot to offer. Its biggest selling point is the fact that it is adjacent to a Skyliner station. This gives you quick and easy access to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios without having to wait for a bus.
I see that I can check-in online weeks in advance. Should I do this?
We always do online check-in. This allows you to bypass the check-in desk and go right to your room. When your room is ready, Disney will text you your room location along with a link to a map of the resort. At that point, you can head directly to your room!
How much is parking at the resort?
Self-parking is free. Many resorts also give you the option to valet park. That, of course, is an additional cost unless you have a handicapped parking tag.
Can I park at any resort, even if I am not a guest there?
You can only park in a resort’s parking lot if you are a guest, or if you have a confirmed dining reservation. And in the case of a dining reservation, you can only park for up to three hours. This is to prevent people from using resort parking lots as a way to get around paying for theme park parking.
That said, if the resort is in a non-premium location and it is a slow time of year, the security guard might let you park at their discretion. But don’t expect this to work every time.
I have friends coming to visit me at the resort. Can they use the pool?
Technically no. Only resort guests can use the pools at a resort. That means if they aren’t on your reservation, they are out of luck. Most resorts enforce this by making you scan your room key to open the gate to the pool. There are a few resorts with particularly attractive pools that have a Cast Member stationed at the pool gates to further police this.
Can I pool hop (i.e. visit the pool at a different resort)?
Mostly no. There are a few “sister” resorts which allow pool hopping among guests at these resorts:
- Guests staying at Port Orleans Riverside can use the pools at Port Orleans French Quarter, and vice versa.
- Guests staying at any of the All-Star resorts can use the pools at any of the other All-Star resorts.
- Guests staying at Yacht Club can use any of the quiet pools at the Beach Club, and vice versa. Both resorts, of course, share Stormalong Bay.
Disney Transportation
Is Disney Transportation free?
Yes, 100% free.
Can guests staying off property use Disney Transportation?
Yes. There are no checks to make sure you are staying at a Disney resort.
I want to ride the monorail but I am not staying at a monorail resort. How can I do this?
If you are using Disney transportation, you can take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and transfer to the monorail from there. If you are driving, you can park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and access it from there. Of course, if you are staying off property, you will need to pay to park at the TTC.
I want to ride the Skyliner but I am not staying at a Skyliner resort. How can I do this?
The best way to do this is to park at Hollywood Studios and access it from there. Even though EPCOT is connected to the Skyliner, the Skyliner station is at International Gateway entrance (i.e. the back entrance). If you park at EPCOT and want to ride the Skyliner, you’ll need to enter the park through the front entrance, walk to the back of the park, and exit through the International Gateway. Not only is that a long walk, but you’ll need to have an EPCOT park ticket to do this.
Can I park at Disney Springs and take a bus to the parks from there?
No. No buses travel between the Disney Springs and the parks. This is to prevent people from doing this to avoid paying for parking.
Technically, you could take a bus from Disney Springs to a resort and then transfer to bus to the parks. However, that will take quite a lot of time out of your day. Besides, buses between DS and the resorts don’t stay running until mid-morning, so you won’t be able to rope drop using this strategy. The bottom line is that you are better off just biting the bullet and paying for theme park parking.
I want to park hop. How can I travel between parks?
There is some form of transportation between the parks:
- Magic Kingdom <–> EPCOT (front entrance): Monorail (will need to transfer at the TTC)
- EPCOT (International Gateway entrance) <–> Hollywood Studios: Skyliner, boat, or walking path
- All other park combinations: park-to-park buses
I see that EPCOT has both a Monorail and Skyliner station. Can I transfer between them?
Not easily. The monorail station is at the front of the park and the Skyliner station is at the back of the park. The only way to transfer between them is to walk through the park. Unless you have an EPCOT park ticket, this won’t be possible.
Lightning Lanes
For even more details on Lightning Lanes, check out some of our previous articles on this topic.
What are Lightning Lanes?
Lightning Lanes are an express line, separate from the regular standby line, that has a much shorter wait time.
That sounds great. How I do use the Lightning Lane?
Generally, you have to pay extra to access the Lightning Lane. Disney sells three different types of Lightning Lane passes:
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass: This is the most common type of pass. Prior to your park days, you can pre-select a one hour Lightning Lane return window for up the three rides from among most (but not all) attractions in the parks. Then on the day of your visit, as you redeem each reservation, you are allowed to select another ride, if there is availability. Thus, you can have up to three reservations at a time.
- Lightning Lane Single Pass: There are a handful of rides that are excluded from the Lightning Lane Multi Pass because of their high popularity. In order to access the LL for these rides, you need to buy a Lightning Lane Single Pass for them. This pass is straightforward. You reserve a one hour window for the one ride for which you are buying the pass.
- Lightning Lane Premier Pass: If you want VIP access, this pass is for you. When you purchase this pass, you can access the Lightning Lane for every Single Pass or Multi Pass ride once for a single park at any time during the day. No reservation times needed. Of course, you are going to pay a premium for this premier-level access!
Are the Lightning Lane Passes worth it?
As always, it depends. When you pay for one of the Lightning Lane Passes, you essentially are trading money for extra time.
Generally, we feel that buying a Lightning Lane Pass is most worth it for the following people:
- People who visit Walt Disney World infrequently, so they want to see and do as much as possible, as efficiently as possible.
- People who are visiting during a peak time (Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
How much do Lightning Lane Passes cost?
Disney uses “demand pricing”. That means that Lightning Lanes will cost more for demand for them is higher. That usually means that they will be most expensive during holidays and other peak times, when you’d probably need them the most!
The cost also varies by park. Generally, Animal Kingdom and EPCOT are the least expensive, while Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are most expensive.
Generally, Lightning Lane Single and Multi Passes range from $15 – $40 per person, depending on the park and date. Meanwhile, Lightning Lane Premier Passes range from $150 – $400, again depending upon what park and date you select.
You can usually see prices up to 21 days in advance in the My Disney Experience app.
When can I purchase Lightning Lane Passes?
- If you are staying at a Walt Disney World hotel, Swan/Dolphin, or Shades of Green, you can book for any day of your stay up to 14 days (check-in date through check-out date) starting 7 days prior to your check-in day, at 7am ET.
- If you are staying “off property” and have a date-based ticket that does not require a Park Reservation, you can book for any day that your ticket is valid starting 3 days prior to the start day of your ticket, at 7am ET.
- If you are staying “off property” and have a non-date-based ticket that requires a Park Reservation (ex: Annual Pass, military tickets, certain other ticket types), you can book 3 days before each park day, at 7am ET.
I am park hopping, but I don’t see a Lightning Lane Multi Pass Park Hopper option. What’s up with that?
There is no specific LLMP Park Hopper option because, technically, every LLMP allows park hopping. Your first three pre-selections need to be for one park – the park for which you purchased the LLMP. However, once you check into your first attraction on the day of your visit, you can immediately book another LL reservation at ANY park.
So if you are park hopping from, say, EPCOT to Magic Kingdom, you can purchase LLMP for EPCOT, pre-select your three rides at EPCOT for the morning. Then as you use your LL’s in EPCOT, book your new LL’s at Magic Kingdom for later in the day when you park hop.
Which Lightning Lane Multi Pass rides should I pre-select?
While a lot of this comes down to your ride preference, you’ll likely want to book rides that have long wait times. That way, you get the biggest “bang for the buck”. Of course, since you are limited to only three pre-selections (and even then, you can only pre-select one “Tier One” ride), you’ll also want to target attractions that aren’t likely to have same day availability.
Generally, the attractions that meet these two criteria (higher wait times, limited same day availability) are:
- Magic Kingdom: Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- EPCOT: Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Animal Kingdom: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Navi River Journey
- Hollywood Studios: Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
I bolded the rides that should be your #1 choices, as they have the most limited same day availability.
I am staying off property, so I can’t book until 3 days out. Will I be at a disadvantage?
Short answer is “yes”. Disney resort guests will already have had time to have their pick of the litter. There will still be some availability for most rides, but you might not have as many time slots to choose from. Disney did this intentionally to entice more people to stay at one of their resorts.
If you have a date based ticket, you can make up some ground when you book days on the back end of your trip. A good strategy would be to target the later days of your ticket for getting the most coveted LL’s.
Wrap Up
That wraps up our FAQ’s. Did we miss anything? Would you have answered any of these questions differently? If so, leave us a comment and let us know!
AD: We hope you enjoyed this post. If you are coming to Central Florida and need a place to stay, please consider the Encore Magic Villa. It sleeps up to 12 and features a game room, theater room, themed bedrooms, and private pool… located within a short drive of the Magic!
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