Visiting Walt Disney World Here’s When To Expect The Lowest Wait Times

Disney is one of those places that's always crowded. But is there a better time to visit? Definitely. The crowds are always the largest whenever kids are out of school. This means summer, holidays, and especially the Christmas holiday season. No matter when you visit you're going to be spending time waiting in line. You can purchase Genie + which will get you a shorter wait for a few rides, but even that won't have you skipping to the front of every attraction. Obviously, the "best time" to visit Walt Disney World is when there will be the lowest wait times.

So how do you know when that is? Well, a study by FinanceBuzz analyzed wait times for every attraction at Disney parks over the course of a year. This led them to be able to see the times of year Walt Disney World has the lowest wait times. They also collected data and determined the rides with the longest and shortest wait times in each park. One interesting statistic is that the average wait for a ride is 36 minutes. That's 4.5 times the length of the average ride (8 minutes).

The park where you can get the most "bang for your buck" is Magic Kingdom. That comes as no surprise as there are the most rides in that park. You can expect to ride 1.7 rides per hour or 20 rides in a 12-hour day, at this classic Disney park.

Keep reading to find out the best time to by and the shortest and longest waits in each park!

When the kids first go back to school! While many parents take their kids out of school to go to Disney, it's rare those vacations are happening in the first few weeks back. Finance Buzz found that the last week of August, the first week of September, and the first week of October have the lowest wait times.

The average wait time in the month of September is just 15-28 minutes.

These are the ones that if you are going to pay for Genie Plus you should prioritize!

Average Wait: 80 minutes

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has been open for several years but is still consistently the longest wait in Magic Kingdom. It's the newest "thrill ride" but still can appeal to a large range of people.

Average Wait: 68 Minutes

Average Wait: 64 Minutes

Average Wait: 84 minutes

World Showcase needed more rides and that's what we got with Remy's which opened in 2021. This family-friendly dark ride averages close to an hour and a half wait.

Average Wait: 67 Minutes

Average Wait: 58 Minutes

Average Wait: 91 Minutes

The last time I was at Disney I got in line for this ride with a 180-minute wait. I ended up off the ride in less than 2 hours, so it could be overinflated. But regardless, it's worth it. This ride is an immersive experience into the world of Pandora and it's just that fun!

Average Wait: 127 Minutes

I haven't been since this ride opens but it is THE ride in all of Walt Disney World these days. You can expect long wait times and Genie Plus to sell out almost instantly. Those who ride it though rave about it. While I'm not a Star Wars fan I'm excited to check this out the next time I find myself in Orlando.

Seemingly long lines everywhere you go? Check these fun rides out for a minimal wait.

Average Wait: 87 Minutes

Average Wait: 5 Minutes

Hard-core Disney fans may crucify me for this but to my knowledge, I've never ridden this one. And I don't really have any desire to. But at just a 5-minute wait you don't have much to lose.

Average Wait: 16 Minutes

Average Wait: 16 Minutes

Average Wait: 11 minutes

Kids will love this interactive experience with Finding Nemo's favorite turtle. Plus the air conditioning lasts even longer as the exit is into the aquarium! That alone would make it my dad's favorite.

Average Wait: 12 Minutes

Average Wait: 13 Minutes

Average Wait: 12 minutes

It's Dumbo with dinosaurs. If you've got small kids they will love it. If you're a big kid at heart you might enjoy it.

Average Wait: 13

Average Wait: 28 Minutes

Average Wait: 11 Minutes

I love the muppets so I love this 3D show! And with just an average 11-minute wait you're essentially just waiting for the previous show to end. And with all the major rides (aka LONG waits) it's nice to be able to do something without an hour in line.

Average Wait: 15 Minutes

Average Wait: 26 Minutes

Don't want to wait in line? Here's what you can expect at each of the 4 parks.

Number of Attractions: 23

Average Ride Length (minutes): 7.3

Average Wait Time Per Attraction (minutes): 29

Attractions Per Hour Possible: 1.7

Average Attractions Per Day Possible: 20

Cost Per Ride (based on average attractions per day): $6.90

Number of Attractions: 11

Average Ride Length (minutes): 9.2

Average Wait Time Per Attraction (minutes): 26

Attractions Per Hour Possible: 1.7

Average Attractions Per Day Possible: 20

Cost Per Ride (based on average attractions per day): $6.90

Number of Attractions: 12

Average Ride Length (minutes): 8.7

Average Wait Time Per Attraction (minutes): 41

Attractions Per Hour Possible: 1.2

Average Attractions Per Day Possible: 14

Cost Per Ride (based on average attractions per day): $9.86

Number of Attractions: 8

Average Ride Length (minutes): 7.3

Average Wait Time Per Attraction (minutes): 34

Attractions Per Hour Possible: 1.5

Average Attractions Per Day Possible: 17

Cost Per Ride (based on average attractions per day): $8.12

Number of Attractions: 54

Average Ride Length (minutes): 8

Average Wait Time Per Attraction (minutes): 36

Attractions Per Hour Possible: 1.4

Average Attractions Per Day Possible: 16

Cost Per Ride (based on average attractions per day): $8.83