Disneyland is known as the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’, but unfortunately, it can also be the ‘Most Crowded Place on Earth’.
This is especially true during holidays when people visit with their families, resulting in massive queues at rides and attractions.
So what are the average wait times at Disneyland?
When planning a visit to Disneyland, remember that there will be varying waiting times at different attractions and rides.
However, the average wait times at Disneyland are estimated to be at least 60 minutes. This can go up or down depending on the ride, the time of day, and which season you’re visiting, for example:
- During off seasons, you can expect the waiting times to be around 30 to 60 minutes.
- Wait times during peak holidays can be anywhere between 60 to 120 minutes.
However, don’t let these long waiting times keep you from visiting the Disneyland theme park. It will still be great fun for you and your loved ones!
Even with such long waiting times, Disneyland is still the most visited theme park in the world. So let’s find out which rides at Disneyland have the longest queues and whether there’s any way to reduce these waiting times.
5 Disneyland Rides With the Longest Wait Times
When visiting Disneyland, everyone makes it their top priority to go for the most famous and fun rides. This can result in long lines and massive average wait times.
Here are the 5 rides with the longest wait times:
1. Matterhorn Bobsleds at 49 Minutes
Inspired by the mountain between the border of Italy and Switzerland, the Matterhorn is a pyramid-shaped peak with one of the highest summits in Europe.
The Matterhorn Bobsled ride goes around a similar peak and is the world’s first continuous-track roller coaster. Because it’s such a fun ride, the waiting time averages 49 minutes.
Getting the Genie+ service can save you a lot of time and reduce your waiting fatigue.
You can use it to make Lightning Lane reservations, allowing you to skip lines at the most popular rides with the longest queues.
2. Indiana Jones Adventure at 52 Minutes
Ride along the legendary Indiana Jones as you traverse the treacherous underground tunnels and temples.
You ride a military vehicle that protects you from the supernatural powers that guard the treasures.
This dark and augmented motion ride is a unique attraction at Disneyland, making it alluring to many people. Because of this, the average waiting time for this ride is 52 minutes.
3. Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run at 53 Minutes
No Star Wars fan will ever miss the chance to ride the Millenium Falcon, so you’ll see massive queues in front of this ride.
It is a part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, allowing visitors to experience the iconic freighter in all its motion-simulating glory.
The ride accommodates 6 individuals at a time, each given a different task during the mission. To experience such awesomeness, the waiting time averages 53 minutes.
4. Space Mountain at 70 Minutes
Anyone wanting to experience the thrill of being launched into space with bright and shiny starlights comes to Space Mountain ride.
This roller coaster is a dark ride that takes you up a mountain surrounded by spinning lights. It’s one of the most enjoyable rides at Disneyland, resulting in long waiting times of around 70 minutes.
Weirdly, even though Genie+ was supposed to reduce waiting times, it has resulted in a 20% increase in wait time since its introduction.
5. Rise of the Resistance at 120 Minutes
One of the latest attractions opened at Disneyland, Rise of the Resistance, is another Star Wars-themed ride that takes you across the galaxy far away.
Being new and popular, you get the longest wait times for this ride at 120 minutes. This is one ride where utilizing Lightning Lane can be a lifesaver!
Average Wait Time for the Top Five Rides
If you take all 5 top rides in Disneyland and their waiting times and take out their average wait time, you get around 68 minutes.
So, you can expect to wait more than an hour for the most popular rides. However, don’t let this bring you down, and postpone or cancel your Disneyland trip.
5 Ways To Reduce Wait Time
Here are 5 ways you can cut down on your waiting time during your Disneyland Trip:
1. Genie+ & Lightning Lane
You can download the official Disneyland App and get the Genie+ service. This will allow you to use the Lightning Lane entrances to enjoy quick access to your favorite rides.
You will be given a specific time to enter the attraction so that you can do something else. Once the allowed time window approaches, you can check in and enjoy the ride.
2. Plan Your Trip in the Appropriate Season
To avoid visiting Disneyland when it’s the most crowded place on earth, plan an off-season trip or during the non-holiday weeks.
The periods when you can expect lower crowds are:
- Mid-January to mid-March, before the summer vacations.
- Mid-September to mid-November, before Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the winter holidays.
Less crowded means the lines will be smaller, and you won’t have to wait too long at every popular ride.
3. Be the Early Bird
Most people start arriving at the park at or after 11 am.
So reaching as soon as the park opens at 9 am (make sure to check the opening timings!) will give you ample time and space to visit your favorite attractions and rides without the long queues.
If you’re staying at one of the Disneyland Resorts hotels, you can enter the theme park 30 minutes before the official opening times.
This gives you an even better chance to avoid long lines during later hours.
4. Take Advantage of the Single Rider Line
If you’re visiting with your friends and don’t mind sitting separately, you can avail of the Single Rider Line service.
This single-rider queue allows you to fill up individual ride seats without waiting with your group, reducing the wait time.
Some people are uncomfortable sitting with strangers, so this is not an option. However, if you don’t mind screaming your heart out on rides, even sitting next to strangers, this is the way to go.
5. Use the Disneyland App To Make Reservations
By downloading the official Disneyland app, you can make reservations beforehand.
For example, you can purchase on the app using the mobile ordering service. This way, you can skip the queue and continue to the pickup window for most of the refreshments and goods at Disneyland.
You can also use the application to navigate the theme park map to see the locations of the attractions and rides you wish to visit. Knowing the way beforehand will allow you to reach your destination earlier.
Conclusion
Long waiting times at Disneyland are a given, but that doesn’t mean you should let it get you down when planning the trip.
The average wait times at Disneyland are a bit high, estimated to be at least 60 minutes. This can go up or down depending on the ride, the time of day, and which season you’re visiting, for example:
- During off seasons, you can expect the waiting times to be around 30 to 60 minutes.
- Wait times during peak holidays can be anywhere between 60 to 120 minutes.
However, don’t let these long waiting times keep you from visiting the Disneyland theme park.
After all, there’s a reason why Disneyland is at the top of the most visited theme parks in the world! It’s a wonderful experience and fun for you and your loved ones!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Lines at Disneyland So Long?
Being one of the most visited theme parks and attracting millions of guests from all over the world, the rides and attractions in Disneyland tend to get crowded.
Are There Any Rides in Disneyland That Have Short Waiting Times?
Yes! A few rides and attractions won’t have you waiting long, maybe 10 to 25 minutes. These rides are:
- The Haunted Mansion
- Winnie the Pooh
- King Arthur Carrousel
- it’s a small world
- Mad Tea Party Cups
However, the waiting may be longer during peak hours and busy seasons.
