How to get Through Lines Faster At Disney (Nope, it's not only with a fastpass!)

Today is a quick tip for those of you who like to save time or enjoy walking past others stuck in line. This trick can save you minutes which add up to an extra ride or two per day, and it's just three words. 

Look and listen.

What? Listening can get you on rides faster?

Yep!

Let me explain. When a group of people gets onto a ride, let's say for example, Winnie the Pooh, there is a split seat, meaning two can ride in the front, and two can ride in the back. On The Great Movie Ride (Sadly, now closed) Or DINOSAUR where there is a bench style seating, 6 or more can go at once. Attractions like Star Tours have individual seats, but each person is directed to a row. The Cast Member who is sending people though is counting heads, trying to make sure that if possible,  every single spot is filled.

If you have a family of two getting onto a ride that has a split seat, or a group of 3 getting onto a bench style seat there are going to be open spaces or seats. That vacancy means it takes longer for the line to move, because the attraction was sent through the seats without them all being filled.

If you keep your eyes on the Cast Member letting people though and listen carefully, you will very often hear this:

“Any groups of 3 or less? 3 or less?”

“Any parties of 4? Parties of 4?”

“Any 2 riders? 1 or 2 riders?”

That's them, trying to fill up those extra spaces. The smart Disney go-er who was paying attention will get to go through ahead, if he or she is listening. A few examples from our trips of how listening can pay off.

When just one of my kids and I ride Winnie the Pooh, as we get closer and have maybe 6-8 groups in front of me, I stick two fingers up in the air. Almost every time, I hear “2 in the back! This way!” I've just walked past those groups, and saved myself several minutes. Do that a few times a day, and that's an extra ride or two.

It also happens frequently on Star Tours at Hollywood Studios, so again, as we get closer, my fingers will go up and I try and make eye contact with the Cast Member letting people through. Two, three, whatever, number of riders we are, I hold up those fingers and usually, we get sent through ahead of other riders because the Cast Member is saved from shouting out repeatedly over the noise of everyone talking and jostling and snapping photos. On longer rides like Star Tours, that can be 10 minutes or more, saved!

On our last trip, we were in one of the queues for The Great Movie Ride, and we were at least 4 vehicles away from getting on. The kids were tired and wanted to sit (and that switchback was very narrow!) and it looked like it could be another fifteen or twenty minutes before we got to ride, when I looked over to my far right near the wall. There was a manager, his mouth moving, and hardly any sound coming out because it was so loud. I thought I heard him say “...4 or less?” so I raised up four fingers and looked at him, making that eye contact. He waved us over, (I grabbed Mr. Disney and the boys who had been watching the video screen and didn't notice) and opened up the queue rope on the side so we could get out of the maze and we climbed aboard and took off, seated next to a party of two. 

Next time you are in line and are getting closer you might be able to save some time too!

LOOK around.

Does the Cast Member look like he or she is scanning the crowd?

LISTEN or WATCH their mouth

Does it seem like they are calling for people to fill the ride?

FINGERS UP in the air

Raise those fingers! Most people won't have heard the Cast Member, and even if they were a party of three that could have gone on, it's going to be YOUR party of three that gets to go, because YOU were paying attention. The worst that could happen is someone else does the same and you have to wait for your actual ride time, but it sure doesn’t hurt to try!

Do you already do this? Any other ideas for getting through the line a little faster? (And honestly!)