We love the themed design at Walt Disney World; it’s what made us diehard followers within the first place. We additionally assume that utilizing Lightning Lanes to skip traces may be overrated and different savvy technique can work simply as effectively or higher. So it most likely comes as no shock that now we have the unpopular opinion that there are specific queues shouldn’t be skipped.
At their finest, Walt Disney World’s elaborate queues make the wait fly by, as you discover the flowery particulars and Imagineering makes use of the areas to foreshadow the attraction or lengthen their tales. Queues can play an integral opening act of the expertise, setting the stage for what’s to come back and serving to company droop disbelief.
It makes me slightly unhappy once I’m in line and go searching to see a sea of faces buried in telephones. It makes me even sadder that Walt Disney World has virtually compelled company to do that, by making My Disney Expertise so important for reserving experience reservations, ordering meals, and many others. However that’s one other rant for an additional day. The underside line is that highly-themed queues are one of many issues that separates Walt Disney World from Six Flags, and there are some that completely shouldn’t be skipped.
It is a controversial take as a result of utilizing the standby line versus the Lightning Lane can include a non-monetary price, and one which’s typically appreciable. Many points of interest have elaborately-themed queues exactly as a result of individuals are spending numerous time ready within the standby line, and the small print give them one thing to see or do.
With that in thoughts, we’re not simply placing this record collectively in a vacuum. It’s not merely a listing of ‘good queues you skip by way of the Lightning Lane.’ We’re additionally going to strategy this from the cost-benefit perspective of seeing the themed queues, and reasonableness of slotting these points of interest into an itinerary with out utilizing Lightning Lanes.
Yeah, it’s lots to juggle, however we attempt to come at as a lot as potential from a sensible planning perspective–and that features ‘only for enjoyable’ lists like this. So with that in thoughts, right here’s our record of the traces you shouldn’t skip (besides when you need to!) at Walt Disney World!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – If you happen to’re sufficiently old to learn this weblog, skipping the queue on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh may save your sanity. However when you’re studying this weblog out of necessity, there’s a very good likelihood you’ve got youngsters who will completely adore it. I consider that is what philosophers have dubbed the “Prisoner of Pooh’s Dilemma.”
The interactive queue within the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is cute and stuffed with enjoyable little video games and tactile results. Youngsters like it. We’ve heard from some mates whose households benefit from the line greater than the experience.
The interactive queue within the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is additionally loud and chaotic and is a spot microbiologists specializing in germ idea ought to examine. I hate it. If all goes in response to plan, Megatron won’t ever even know there’s an interactive Pooh queue.
Given the foregoing, many individuals (single riders and {couples}) ought to skip this queue each time potential. Others ought to do the precise reverse. A ‘better of each worlds’ strategy is doing Pooh by way of standby in the direction of the top of Early Entry or late within the night, when it’s transferring quick, so your youngsters can get a style (not actually, please) of the interactive queue whereas saving your sanity. As you possibly can see already, this can be a difficult matter!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice – It’s a considerably comparable story right here, because the Lightning Lane at Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice bypasses parts of the interactive queue. The variations are two-fold, with the primary being that the video games and interactive options listed here are enjoyable and never in the least abrasive. It brings me far more pleasure than it ought to once I can get sufficient different company to spin the jewels and get [redacted: spoiler] to seem.
Past that, it’s the element of the mine and texture of the areas that actually makes the expertise for me. The entire space is simply actually pretty, and though I wouldn’t wish to be caught right here in a slow-moving line for hours on finish, the design and particulars do make a half-hour wait on the finish of the night go shortly.
With that in thoughts, whether or not to skip the road at Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice is a really shut name. You’re nonetheless getting a style of the design and element within the Lightning Lane, and nothing above is price a 2-hour wait in line. Conversely, you received’t be ready practically that lengthy when you comply with our Finest Methods to Beat Lengthy Traces at Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, and do SDMT with 1 minute left on the clock!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – The standby queue at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance encompasses a waterfall, caverns, and collection of rooms inside that set the stage for the motion to come back. The large deal right here is pacing, because the standby queue takes you out of Galaxy’s Edge and resets the expertise as you enter the hidden outpost and put together for the mission to come back.
It is a very comparable story to Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. If you happen to’re debating between a noon 3-hour wait, there’s no query–skip the road. You’re not lacking something that’s integral to the precise attraction story. If you happen to’re capable of comply with our recommendation and do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance throughout Early Entry or on the finish of the night, the queue is price it, because it additional enhances and elevates a world-class attraction.
Haunted Mansion – House to one of many extra controversial interactive queues, Haunted Mansion’s standby queue is–at minimal–price experiencing for your self. The Lightning Lane skips the interactive portion completely, selecting up on the ‘basic’ starting of the attraction.
The cartoonish type of the interactive queue might contradict the in any other case foreboding tone of the Haunted Mansion’s opening scenes, and like a little bit of a caricature of the ghosts within the attraction. The ‘professional’ aspect of that’s it supplies an approachable car for foreshadowing what youngsters will see inside, and will undercut apprehension youthful company might need.
If you happen to put aside all of that controversy and the way the interactive queue suits (or doesn’t) the environment of Haunted Mansion, it’s numerous enjoyable. By itself phrases, there are neat gags and enjoyable interactive options (that also work!) together with an extension of the lore and storytelling inside.
As a lot as purists might grouse about its execution, I feel the argument could possibly be made that the Haunted Mansion interactive queue is a gateway into caring extra in regards to the backstory and historical past of the attraction, and that’s a very good factor.
Toy Story Halfway Mania – The defining function of the Toy Story Mania queue is the Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics determine within the standby line. Mr. Potato Head acts as a barker of kinds, interacting with company and cracking jokes. There was a time when the Mr. Potato Head AA was among the many most superior at Walt Disney World, however I don’t assume that’s the case anymore.
Nonetheless, I’d argue that that is the best factor about your entire experience. The standby line additionally has extra of every thing, which means references to basic video games and toys that you simply received’t see within the Lightning Lane. The counterpoint is that the standby line can get actually, actually lengthy and there’s nearly all the time Lightning Lane availability for Toy Story Mania, even later within the day.
Furthermore, when you’ve spent about half-hour on this line, the entire “particulars” start blurring collectively and also you discover that you simply’re basically in a boxy warehouse with a bunch of switchbacks. However mid-morning or early-evening? That’s the right time for Toy Story Mania by way of standby, with out a lot alternative price.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – The Single Rider line at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run skips over nearly the entire queue and the pre-show, and we extremely advocate avoiding it in your first ride-through because of this. The Lightning Lane is a special story, although, as you continue to see the pre-show and a part of the queue.
Whether or not to skip the standby queue in favor of the Lightning Lane right here largely comes right down to the posted wait time and the way massive of a Star Wars fan you’re. The common line takes you thru the upkeep areas of Ohnaka Transport Options by way of catwalks above the place broken ships are being repaired.
This space is completely brimming with particulars and Easter Eggs courtesy of the Imagineers, each within the visuals and audio. You’ll even have an important view of the bottom of the Millennium Falcon by way of the home windows. Oh, and when you’re among the many .01% of company nonetheless doing the Play Disney App, you positively received’t wish to go up the standby line.
Tower of Terror – It is a flawlessly executed expertise from the second you first spot the Hollywood Tower Lodge from the top of Sundown Boulevard. The view is the establishing shot, the stroll down Sundown feels just like the opening credit scroll, and the outside gardens are foreshadowing of what’s to come back. I may gush and gush in regards to the brilliance of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (and have); for me, that is the quintessential queue at Walt Disney World.
Fortunately, you get near the complete expertise irrespective of the way you do it. You’ll miss a few of what’s outdoor within the gardens by way of the Lightning Lane, however except you’re a diehard fan of the Twilight Zone in search of each single episode Easter Egg, that’s most likely okay. The merge level right here occurs contained in the foyer, and also you’ll nonetheless see one of the best parts of the queue and the entire pre-show.
As a type of aforementioned Twilight Zone followers who likes to linger right here (and eve has the complete background music loop on my playlists), I’m most likely a little bit of an odd duck on this one. Most common individuals aren’t going to be lacking a lot by way of the Lightning Lane.
Peter Pan’s Flight – One of many old style Fantasyland darkish rides, the standby queue of Peter Pan’s Flight acquired an enormous plussing with an all-new interactive space a number of years again. Previous to this, it was all normal switchbacks…which remains to be the case with the Lightning Lane, which skips the whole thing of the interactive queue.
The indoor interactive space takes company into the Darling family to expertise enchanted encounters and endearing results. This consists of Tinker Bell flying across the room, and quite a lot of different shadow and lightweight interactive options. There’s lots right here, and for teenagers, this may be much more magical than the attraction itself.
As a sensible matter, this can be a powerful one. We love the combo of sensible results and fashionable expertise, which produces some actually particular outcomes that may wow kids (and adults!). From that perspective, it’s effectively price seeing.
Alternatively, this is only one portion of the Peter Pan’s Flight line, which may be each interminably lengthy and transfer at a glacial tempo. One of many many causes why we advocate doing Peter Pan’s Flight throughout Early Entry! (Throughout or instantly after the fireworks works, too.)
Expedition Everest – For a curler coaster, Expedition Everest has a surprisingly robust story. The encompassing space begins by introducing company to Serka Zong, a quaint little village that homes native mother & pop companies, together with Norbu and Bob’s Himalayan Escapes journey company, the place company will begin by reserving their journey up the Forbidden Mountain. From there, we journey via Tashi’s Common Retailer and Bar, small household residence, monastery and shrines, and the transformed yeti museum.
The cumulative impact of those areas on the visitor is an understanding of the reverence locals have for the Yeti, and in addition an understanding of the creature’s significance and energy. It’s established as highly effective, however not painted as a villain. You’re given a way of trepidation in regards to the journey, but additionally pleasure and intrigue. In a manner, it’s kind of like getting overvalued for climbing Everest, besides your ascent will likely be a lot faster given the entire curler coaster factor.
The queue for Expedition Everest additionally holds a humiliation of artifacts (each actual and reproduced) that legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde and his staff sourced from Nepal. You get a style of this within the Lightning Lane, however removed from the complete impact. Given how straightforward technique is for Animal Kingdom, doing standby right here outdoors of noon is our apparent recommendation.
Beneath the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – I’d argue that the Little Mermaid darkish experience has essentially the most underrated queue at Magic Kingdom. This consists of interactive components (slightly crab scavenger hunt-sorta recreation), gorgeous particulars of Prince Eric’s fortress and the grotto round it, passing beneath waterfalls, and navigating via rocky coves and caverns.
Even when the attraction is a walk-on, which is commonly, we take our time to stroll via the queue slowly. As a result of the Little Mermaid darkish experience usually has a brief wait and provided that the queue is so good, we view this one as important. Do it by way of standby not less than as soon as.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – I discussed above that it makes me unhappy to see different company with their faces buried in telephones whereas in line. Properly, one other factor that makes me unhappy is individuals urgent towards the far proper wall within the Cosmic Rewind pre-show, eager to shave 45 seconds off their wait time by being first into the loading space. Don’t comply with their lead and (erroneously) assume there’s some sense of urgency to get into that space. There may be not. However that’s not the purpose of this submit, because the pre-show is after the merge level.
Earlier than that merge level, there’s a lot that the Lightning Lane skips in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Mainly, your entire Wonders of Xandar exhibit, which features a nice gallery stuffed with nods to Walt Disney, EPCOT Middle, city planning, and (after all) the Guardians of the Galaxy films and characters.
I can not fathom lacking this queue on my first time via. That’s doubly true whereas the digital queue remains to be in use for the standby line, provided that the choice is a dear Particular person Lightning Lane. This one is a no brainer–do the common line for Cosmic Rewind.
Avatar Flight of Passage – The longest and costliest queue (most likely?) ever inbuilt Walt Disney World has additionally gained some notoriety for the lengthy traces it has held (they actually added a mid-queue restroom as a consequence of this), nevertheless it also needs to be famed for its exceptional consideration to element.
This queue takes company via a number of totally different environments from outdoors via Pandora’s mountain vary (a vista that gives one of the best view of Pandora’s floating mountains) to inside caves to RDA bunkers, with a lab that comprises one of many coolest results in all of Pandora. There’s a ton of magnificence within the first a number of sections of this queue, and it’s attention-grabbing to observe how nature has began to reclaim a few of the deserted check amenities.
The Lightning Lane skips nearly all of this. Nice information for individuals who wish to shave steps off their go to to Walt Disney World’s largest theme park, however horrible information for followers of Imagineering’s lavish consideration to element and storytelling. All of that queue that the Lightning Lane skips is vital to the story, and is price seeing as soon as. It’s additionally an vital tactile counterbalance to the screen-based nature of the pre-shows and attraction.
This record isn’t numbered for a motive, but when it have been, Avatar Flight of Passage could be the #1 queue that you simply shouldn’t skip. That’s sure to be a controversial or unpopular opinion provided that the attraction has the longest common wait time at Animal Kingdom, routinely within the triple digits. It doesn’t matter. Discover a approach to expertise Avatar Flight of Passage not less than as soon as with out resorting to the Lightning Lane. It’s effectively price your time, even when that’s 100 minutes or extra.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Any queues that you simply advocate first-timers do by way of standby as an alternative of Lightning Lanes? Which queues do you assume are important to expertise at Walt Disney World? Or, do you skip all of them each time potential? Do you agree or disagree with our picks and cost-benefit evaluation of those standby traces at Walt Disney World? Any queues you like or hate? Any recollections of slow-moving queues which have made you say by no means once more? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
