How To Beat The Crowds When Entering And Exiting Disney Parks

Crowds at Disney World are unavoidable, and entering and exiting the parks can feel very congested at times. If you or someone in your family is sensitive to crowded spaces then you will definitely want to strategize to accommodate for the crowds during your trip. Entering and exiting the parks can be an overwhelming transition, but with the right tips and tricks you can easily beat the crowds!

Arrive After Opening and Stay Late

Most of the crowd will be arriving to the parks as soon as they open, and leaving as soon as they close. This can make for long lines for entry, and a mass of people leaving the park all at once. One method to avoiding crowds during entry and exit is to arrive an hour or so after the parks open, and remain the parks after closing until the crowd dwindles away. By arriving after the park opens you are avoiding the swarm of people who are arriving for rope drop. An hour or so after the park opens you generally see fewer people in the lines for transportation, security, and park entry.

Many guests don’t realize that you don’t have to leave the parks immediately upon closing. While Cast Members will move you to the front of the park, you don’t have to actually exit right away. Choose a spot to relax while you watch the crowds dwindle away, and take advantage of the empty entryway and take photos with your family.

Rope Drop and Leave Early

Another option for those wishing to beat the crowds is to arrive prior to the park opening for rope drop, and leave prior to the park closing. While rope dropping can attract a significant amount of crowds, the crowds generally dissipate quickly upon entering the park. Arriving 30-45 minutes prior to the park opening can make a big difference in crowd levels when compared to arriving right at opening or just after.

Most guests choose to leave the parks as soon as they close, or right after any nighttime entertainment has concluded. If you care about having a less-crowded exit, then you might want to consider leaving the parks during nighttime entertainment such as fireworks, rather than waiting until they conclude. By leaving prior to the park closing you are beating the rush of people exiting, and can potentially skip any lines that may occur at the bus stops.

Be Prepared For Security

One of the areas during park entry that attracts the most crowds is the security line. Typically these lines move fast, but sometimes things happen that can back up the line. If you prepare ahead of time then you will be able to move through the crowd much faster. Guests move through security through contactless scanners, meaning that bags don’t need to be checked unless the scanner flags them. Some common items that get flagged by the scanners are glasses cases, umbrellas, magnets, phone chargers, and portable batteries. If you are traveling with any of these items, remove them from your bag and hold them out in front of you in order to avoid having to wait for a bag search.

While there will always be crowds at Disney World, there are ways to make your transitions into the park, and exits, a little more comfortable. Do you have any tips for navigating park entry and exit? Let us know in the comments below!

Featured Photo: Megan Woodard.