Time Saving Hacks at Walt Disney World

With so much to do at the Disney Parks, you'll want to make sure you take advantage of everything the parks offer! What are the best ways to get the most out of your time at the parks? I share my best time-saving hacks below!

Mobile Ordering

ordering has become even more prevalent since the pandemic, with many quick-service locations requiring guests to place mobile orders before entering a restaurant. Mobile ordering is available at 20 locations across Walt Disney World and Disney Springs. You can mobile order anything from burgers and fries to snacks like Dole® Whip and coffee. Place a mobile order by tapping the "order food" button in the My Disney Experience app. Next, pick a location, select an arrival window, and prepay for your order. Head to the restaurant during the arrival window, and tap "prepare my order." You'll get a notification once the order is ready and pick it up at the "mobile order pickup" line.

The great thing about mobile ordering is that you don't need to wait in a long line to order food, which is beneficial if you dine during peak lunch or dinner times. Your arrival window allows you to order food while waiting in line for a ride, on Disney transportation, or sitting somewhere outside the restaurant. You decide! 

Tip: You cannot place a mobile order when paying with cash. Save your credit card information in the My Disney Experience app before your trip to utilize mobile ordering.

Genie+ Time Savers ​

The best way to save time waiting in line for attractions is by purchasing Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane passes. These services allow you to skip the standby line at over 40 Walt Disney World attractions. While these services are time savers in themselves, you can save even more time with the Genie+ grace period, which adds on an automatic 20-minute buffer for your Genie+ return window. The grace period starts five minutes before your return window begins and ends 15 minutes after the return window closes. You can enter the Lightning Lane during these times even though you're technically outside your one-hour return window. This is great if you find yourself at the other end of the park towards the end of your return time. There is no need to run through the park Home Alone style to make it on time! 

Another time-saving hack is to take advantage of the "120-minute rule," which allows you to select an additional Genie+ attraction two hours after your previous selection (as long as the park is open), even if you haven't returned to the first attraction yet. 

MagicMobile

MagicMobile is a great way to save time while entering a park, using Genie+, or unlocking your Disney Resort room. MagicMobile essentially turns your smartphone or smartwatch into a MagicBand. Both passes have many of the same features and functionalities, including linking park tickets and charging purchases to your Disney Resort room. The best part? MagicMobile is a FREE feature inside My Disney Experience! 

Standby Line Hacks

Genie+ is the best way to save time waiting in line. However, if you choose not to use Genie+, there are a few ways to cut down how long you wait in the standby queue. First, try to visit popular attractions during off-peak times, like when the park first opens or during fireworks and parades. Another hack if you're staying at a Disney Resort is to take advantage of early entry and get to the parks 30 minutes earlier than other guests.
Another way to cut down on standby wait time is to use the Single Rider line. It's usually much shorter than the regular standby line. Although it means you may not get to ride the attraction at the same time as the other members of your group, the time you'll save may be well worth it!

Shop at Night

Don't waste time shopping for souvenirs you'll have to carry around with you in the middle of the day (unless you're dodging a summer thunderstorm!). Some stores, like the Emporium at Magic Kingdom, stay open for an hour or two after the park officially closes. If your family can handle a little extra time at the parks at the end of the night, do your shopping then!

Disney Vacation Planning with Just Add Magic Travel®

The ultimate time-saver is to work with a knowledgeable travel agent who specializes in Disney Destinations. When you work with Just Add Magic Travel, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, we cut down on the noise, filter out the rumors, and take care of the little details for you. Get a complimentary quote here. For more planning tips for Disney and Universal vacations, view our blog. Sign up for our mailing list for theme park news and planning tips delivered to your inbox.