Last week, we brought you the start of a new series, Four Unexpected Disney Situations To Be Prepared For, that you will start to see more of from time to time on The DIS. This is where we share some of the things that can take a turn during your Disney days that they don’t show on the official planning videos. Information is power, so the more you discuss the possibility of some of these situations, the more potential you have to handle them positively if they occur. Today, we are adding four more situations to the list to be prepared for.
Your Wait Time Is Twice What It Was Expected To Be
Your estimated attraction wait time is calculated based on a little red card carried through the line by one guest; the time it takes to get from the entrance to the onboarding station is measured. If an unusual number of people enter the line behind the cardholder, the wait time could quickly become much longer than the estimate shown. Keep talking with your family about the wait times shown being estimates only. They are there as a guide to help you manage expectations, but, at times, they can be a fair way off the actual time it will take you to wait in line. Sometimes for the better, but often for the worse. On one trip to Toy Story Mania (many years ago), we were handed the card and asked to carry it through when the ride was signposted at 60 minutes. It took us two and a half hours to get through the line. Tempering expectations is important in keeping a go-with-the-flow attitude.
Your Lightning Lane Booking Might Be Changed
When you book a Lightning Lane, it can be quite a sense of achievement. In a (Disney) world full of wait times and standby queues, there is something satisfying about having a [scheduled] time to be somewhere. This makes it all the more disappointing when the reservation you are headed to suddenly disappears from your app. If your attraction has temporarily closed, the pass will be converted into a different type of entry that can be used on a similar level of ride (read more here), but that doesn’t always solve the disappointment of missing the ride you planned to enjoy. If you have a must-do ride, I like to head to it first thing in the morning, even if I plan to do it again using Lightning Lane later in the day. That way, I’ve covered all of my bases and can’t be left with no time to reschedule that last-minute ride if it temporarily closes. Also, always check your next LL before making your way to that attraction. There is nothing worse than not noticing the ride has closed and spending the time traversing the park to get there anyway.
Your Stroller Might Not Remain Where You Left It
You can always spot a first-time guest (or a first-time stroller-wielding guest) in the Disney Parks when the shock and confusion of losing the stroller appear as they exit an attraction. Let me guess. When you entered, all of the strollers were neatly self-parked in the correct area, but now they are all completely gone. We’ve all been there. Cast members frequently move strollers for a variety of reasons, and there is an excellent chance that when you leave a ride or show, your stroller will not be where you left it. This is an entirely normal part of Disney life that you will get used to, but the first time, you can feel confronted. Stay calm and look around; they will be visible somewhere nearby. Be sure to make your stroller identifiable and follow our other tips when bringing one to the parks.
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Photo by Christian Lambert on Unsplash
Your Perfect Parade Spot Might Be Cleared as a Walkway
You’ve followed all the blog advice, staked out your parade-watching location early, and settled in for the long wait until the entertainment begins. After the space around you starts to be filled in with more people finding their best viewing spots, you’ll start to feel extra happy with your little patch of Disney concrete, that is, until a cast member begins to assemble walkway ropes and asks you to move. It’s happened to the best of us, but it’s not a mistake you make more than once. Some areas of the sidewalk will be sectioned off as dedicated walkways to allow guests to move through and around the park while the parade is underway. Be sure to look around you and choose a spot that is far away from any obvious through-traffic zones or near the sloped areas of pavement designed for wheelchairs and strollers to move up and down the curb. Cast members would like to keep a clear zone around those for people to stand in as they wait for their turn to cross the parade route, so try to stay away from being immediately on either side of those as well.
If you’ve got some unexpected situations to add to the list, put them in the comments below.
