Is now the right time to visit Disney World? 6 key points to consider for your trip

I visited Disney World in July 2020, on the day the parks reopened after a lengthy closure.

As I took my first major trip during the pandemic in the summer of 2020, I felt a mix of fear and anxiety walking through the Magic Kingdom gates—despite it usually feeling like home. However, that anxiety faded quickly.

By October, I was ready for my second visit, and it was evident that Disney had implemented effective measures for social distancing, capacity limits, masks, plexiglass barriers, and more. Having just returned from my third pandemic trip to Disney World in April 2021, I'm excited to make regular visits to a place that feels truly magical for my family.

While my family continues to enjoy our time at Disney World despite the new adjustments and rules, that doesn't mean it's the ideal time for everyone to visit.

Here’s what the current experience at Disney World is like, and tips for deciding if the trip is right for you.

Disney World is more crowded now—but still maintains capped capacity.

Although Disney World's capacity was initially set at 25% in 2020, it has since been raised to 35%, per the latest update from Disney.

However, don't assume that the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are only a third as busy as they used to be before the pandemic.

Some days feel much busier than 35%. This is likely due to the fact that even during normal times, Disney World rarely reaches full capacity—typically only one or two days a year (which we recommend avoiding). So, if it's 35% of a number that’s seldom reached, it actually feels more like over 35% of the average crowd pre-pandemic.

Additionally, keep in mind that some ride vehicles are left vacant for social distancing; FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours are unavailable; operating hours are still somewhat limited; and not all restaurants, shows, and hotels have reopened. This results in a more concentrated crowd in the parks.

Therefore, while you might still stroll through Epcot's World Showcase without frequently encountering strollers, you may still face waits exceeding an hour for popular attractions. If you're in a busier area of the park on a crowded day, it will definitely feel packed.

That reminds me ...

Wait times can often be misleading

On a weekend at Disney World, you’ll frequently encounter wait times exceeding an hour—even for some mid-tier rides. During our visit to Epcot in October, the wait time for Soarin' indicated 50 minutes. Yet, just 20 minutes later, we were settling into our seats for takeoff.

On the same trip at Epcot, both Journey Into Imagination with Figment and the Gran Fiesta Tour displayed 20-minute wait times, but we walked straight onto both attractions without any wait.

During our October visit to Disney's Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had a posted wait time of 45 minutes, but the actual wait was under 15 minutes. Splash Mountain indicated an 80-minute wait, yet the real wait was closer to 30 minutes.

On our recent trip in April, this trend continued. Several rides at Epcot displayed a wait time of 25 minutes, but we experienced waits of 10 minutes or less.

While it’s common for wait times at Disney World to be exaggerated right now, this isn’t always the case.

On a particularly busy morning, Splash Mountain showed a 25-minute wait right after the park opened, but it actually took 35 minutes.

Pirates of the Caribbean claimed we’d be setting sail in 20 minutes, but it actually took 30 minutes for the dead men to begin their tales. While that's not a significant delay, it highlights that you can't always trust the posted wait times. If you encounter a ride cleaning cycle, expect an additional delay of at least 10 minutes.

Lines may look daunting—but they move quickly.

If the often unpredictable and inflated wait times don’t deter you, the sight of the lines just might.

The line for the soon-to-be-rethemed Splash Mountain can extend from Frontierland into Adventureland. Similarly, the entrance for the Haunted Mansion can feel miles away from the Doom Buggies. At Hollywood Studios, the line for Slinky Dog Dash can stretch out of Toy Story Land and wrap around the area for Disney Jr. characters several times.

To ensure distancing, the physical lines extend well beyond the usual queue boundaries.

This often leads to spending significant time in the sun as you manage your own social distancing until you reach the main part of the line. When you encounter a narrow "chokepoint," like near Peter Pan in Fantasyland on a crowded day, it can feel like the lines are merging into one another.

The silver lining is that these long waits generally progress swiftly since there’s no FastPass+ line to break up the flow. So, while busy days may require some patience, you can visibly see your movement toward the front. However, expect a brief pause of about 10 to 15 minutes every couple of hours for regular disinfecting of the rides.

Optimal times to experience the rides

The well-known theme park wisdom that wait times are at their lowest early in the morning and late in the evening still holds, though there are some key nuances to consider.

To further reduce lines and congestion, Disney World’s parking and transportation services from resort hotels to the parks only begin about an hour before the official opening time. While this might seem like ample time to get there and be first in line, it can be tight if your goal is to "rope drop" a ride (i.e., arrive when it genuinely opens).

Additionally, due to distancing measures, you might not be able to board the first or second boat or bus to the parks, as they aren't running at full capacity. Plus, the parks often open earlier than their stated hours.

We're not just talking about a few minutes of an early start—many parks are opening a full hour ahead of schedule. If you arrive at the gates exactly at the posted opening time, your chosen park has likely been welcoming guests for a while, leading to increasing wait times at the top-tier attractions.

If you're aiming for a low wait time on attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, or Pandora: Flight of Passage, a bit of extra strategy is essential.

During our April visit to Epcot, we arrived 30 minutes before the official opening, and while the World Showcase was still relatively quiet, it was evident that the park had been open for some time. Nonetheless, arriving early allowed us to enjoy a very brief wait for the Frozen ride.

Walking to the Magic Kingdom from Disney's Bay Lake Tower, the Contemporary Resort, or the Grand Floridian can help you get in before the official opening time. (Access to those parking lots requires a hotel or breakfast reservation.)

Staying at, or finding parking at, Disney Swan or Dolphin, Disney Yacht Club, Boardwalk, or Beach Club, and then walking to Epcot or Hollywood Studios is another effective strategy.

If you enjoy hotel hopping at Disney during your trip (especially now that nightly housekeeping is on pause), this might be an ideal time to choose your accommodations based on their closeness to the parks. This way, you can easily walk to your destination and sidestep transportation hassles. All Disney World theme parks, except for Animal Kingdom, offer several hotels within walking distance.

If that doesn’t work out, consider returning for the last few hours of operation, when crowds and wait times usually decrease.

Having a dining strategy is essential

The days of making dining reservations at Disney World 180 days in advance are behind us (thankfully), but having a plan is still crucial.

Sit-down restaurants now allow reservations up to 60 days in advance, and popular options are filling up quickly. This includes reopened character dining experiences like brunch with characters at Topolino's Terrace atop the new Riviera Resort, breakfast with Mickey and friends at Chef Mickey's, or a festive meal with Minnie and her friends at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios.

No matter where you wish to dine, it's wise to secure a reservation at a sit-down restaurant if you're comfortable doing so, just to be safe. You can always modify or cancel your booking if your plans change. While policies may evolve, Disney is still limiting dining capacity and ensuring tables are spaced at least 6 feet apart (or utilizing plexiglass dividers), despite Florida being fully reopened.

If you're craving a sit-down meal but lack a reservation, consider using the "dine now" walk-up waitlist available in the Disney app.

To order from a quick-service counter, you'll need to place and pay for your order through the Disney app. In fact, you can't even enter a quick-service restaurant until your order is confirmed in the app. Epcot food stands are somewhat easier to access since there are numerous options available right now during the modified festival.

If that sounds overwhelming, midday is a perfect time to head back to your hotel for a few hours and grab a bite off-property. Alternatively, you can always bring along your own snacks like chips and sandwiches.

Pinch points are starting to emerge

As rising demand and soaring prices collide with capacity limits, ongoing staffing shortages, and fewer amenities, it’s inevitable that some pinch points will arise, even at Disney.

During my last trip, while waiting quite a while in the lobby for our dinner reservation, I overheard several guests expressing their dissatisfaction after spending a lot on their trip but feeling they hadn’t received the full experience.

For instance, regular housekeeping services at Disney resorts haven't fully resumed, but staff still need to check rooms daily. I've heard that this sometimes results in waking up sleeping children, as guests cannot be in their rooms during the checks due to COVID-19 protocols.

There could also be a wait to use the resort pool due to capacity limits. Some reopened restaurants might be overwhelmed, as we experienced when we waited an additional 45 minutes to be seated past our reservation time. Plus, if you don’t secure a Park Pass reservation well in advance, you likely won't be able to enter the park you desire (even with a ticket).

Is now a good time to visit Disney World?

Of course, this is a complex decision that only you can make.

If you were hoping for a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to experience Disney World with walk-on access and empty backgrounds in your photos, that chance has mostly passed. The number of visitors has significantly increased compared to when the park first reopened in 2020.

Nevertheless, on certain weekdays, you can still experience Disney at a more relaxed pace than before the pandemic. So, while lower crowds on select days can be a good reason to visit, it shouldn't be your only motivation, as it’s not guaranteed.

For travelers looking for a warm, sunny getaway with enforced face mask and distancing requirements, Disney currently offers a suitable option. Conversely, those who dislike wearing masks or have children who struggle with them may want to wait a bit longer.

However, with tens of thousands of guests each day, it's likely that you'll encounter someone not fully distancing or not wearing a mask, as required. If this will affect your enjoyment, it might be wise to wait or at least prepare mentally for this possibility. You can always choose to leave the situation if you're uncomfortable. Also, remember that you can now remove your mask for outdoor photos at Disney.

If you’re comfortable with the current guidelines and enjoy watching short parades (cavalcades), waving at characters, riding attractions, munching on churros, and soaking in the atmosphere on Main Street, then now is a pretty good time to visit Disney World. Just don’t expect perfection, as there can be delays and quirks that weren’t there before.

Disney World isn’t the same as it was prior to the pandemic, nor is it as quiet and empty as it was during those initial weeks after reopening.

Having completed three successful pandemic-era trips with our Mickey ears, I’ve now booked several more visits to Disney World for the upcoming year. For us, this is an excellent time to go, as we find it strikes a great balance between safety measures and the classic Disney magic we love.

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