How to Spend Your Time in Line at WDW

Among other things, our good friend Goofy is known and loved for his enjoyable series of “How to…” cartoons. He humorously covers everything from “How to Dance” to “How to Play Baseball” to “How to Sleep.” Most recently on Disney+, he explained “How to Stay at Home” (during the pandemic).

One thing Goofy hasn’t covered: How to Wait in Line at Walt Disney World. Well, we’re here to rectify that omission right now!

First, I think it’s worth noting that Robert Benchley (one of my favorite humorists) once observed, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who do not.”

I think it’s safe to say that when you’re at WDW, there are two kinds of people waiting in line with you: those who are looking at their phone and those who aren’t.

Let’s be honest: even with the use of the TouringPlans Lines App, you’re going to spend some (hopefully minimal) amount of time standing in line for attractions or for food even if you use Mobile Ordering. But there are ways to maximize your enjoyment as you stand in line – honest!

First, we present “Three Ways to Wait in Line – Using Your Phone.”

1) Use the Lines app to see where you should head next. While I’m not an expert, you can read all about it here.

I can’t stress enough how useful this tool is – and while using it requires a subscription, even the paid version costs less than treating a family of four to Dole Whips and may be the best money you spend on your entire trip. You can see wait times, get recommendations about whether to ride or wait and even create your own customized touring plans!

2) You can use the Lines App to be part of our in-park data team by posting your wait times so others benefit from the info. This data is constantly monitored and used to update the information you can benefit from, all thanks to others. It should be stated that the wait times posted by Disney outside of attractions do not necessarily reflect actual wait times. That’s where this app comes in!

3) Play with Disney parks app on your phone. As we’ve said, “The Play Disney Parks app offers something for Guests of all ages to enjoy for those visiting both the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. The fun includes in-queue attraction games, hacking into droids at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, activating show effects, earning achievements for completing in-park activities, discovering official Disney Parks playlists through Apple Music and more.”

Read about it here or here.

And now we present “Three Ways to Wait in Line – Without Using Your Phone.”

(These are the old-school techniques that I tend to fall back on.)

1) Enjoy the queue! The Imagineers have worked hard to create an experience for you as you wait. And going through the queue can actually enhance your enjoyment of the attraction. It tells a backstory in some cases, and in others prepares you for what you’re about to experience. It can be an interactive or passive experience, but in most cases, totally worth it! In the Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight are two great examples; any queue in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is awesome; And new attractions like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, take waiting in line to a whole new level! You can read more in this article – while it was written a while back, but details the perspective I’m touting.

2) Stretch! With all the walking and standing a day at Disney World entails, this is a great time to stretch. Take off your backpack and roll your head and neck; flex your shoulders. Turn from side to side. Stand on tiptoe; touch your toes (or at least in my case, bend forward a little bit…seems my toes get farther away the older I get…). Just make sure you don’t smack anyone around you – and maybe they’d like to join in the fun.

3) You can also play these FIVE games that don’t require electronics.

Finally, a few last words before you head off to your next line.

Waiting in line can be a great time to rehydrate. It can also be a good time to enjoy a snack you packed (remember to use sanitizer before you indulge). And you can always strike up a conversation with a stranger – we’re all family at WDW, after all, and who knows – you may leave your line having made a new friend!

How do you spend your time? Tell us in the comments below.