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Moms Make it Magical
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14 Ways to Avoid Lines at Disney World

14 Ways to Avoid Lines at Disney World

Highly Sensitive Kids

Are you wondering how to avoid lines at Disney World? Disney World is notorious for its crowds, long wait times for rides, and lines for EVERYTHING. The immersive theming, the nostalgia factor, and amazing cast members put Disney on top when it comes to theme parks. And this…

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Welcome to Moms Make it Magical. Find out how to navigate Disney World with kids who are highly sensitive and easily overstimulated.

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momsmakeitmagical

•supporting parents of highly sensitive kids - at disney, at home, and beyond
•homeschooling since 2020 📚
🇰🇷🇨🇦|📍metro detroit

susan | disney & mom life with highly sensitive kids
which do you prefer?⬇️ honestly there are pro which do you prefer?⬇️ honestly there are pros and cons to both. ⭐️TEAM PUSH THROUGH WITH PONCHOS⭐️ crowds will be SO low. my oldest and my husband hopped on seven dwarfs mine train with a 5 min wait. no that’s not a typo. FIVE minutes 🤯 we had lunch at columbia harbor house with just a handful of others upstairs. our longest wait that day was jungle cruise at 25 minutes. if avoiding crowds and long wait times is your top priority, definitely take advantage of the rain! ⭐️TEAM REST AT THE HOTEL⭐️ if your kids are sensitive to getting wet and being in the rain, cutting the day shorter might make more sense. if things like parades, stage shows, and outdoor rides are more your speed, you won’t be missing out on a lot by taking the chance to rest. you’ll also get to take advantage of some indoor resort activities that you might not have had time for otherwise. and your family might be in better spirits for another less-rainy park day! ✨for us, we take a mix and match and approach. the low crowds is SO nice for easily overstimulated kids. my youngest is also my resident puddle jumper (he loves water play! 💦). but if the kids are starting to get cold and tired and it’s near the tail end of the trip, we might head back a little bit earlier than originally planned. so, tell me. which team are you? 🤔 follow @momsmakeitmagical for more on doing disney with highly sensitive, sensory sensitive and anxious kids. ❤️ #rainydayatdisney #disneyworld #magickingdom #lowcrowds #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #sensorysensitive #highlysensitivechild #disneytipsandtricks #disneyrestday #disneywaittimes #wdw #ig_wdw
doing, and paying for, MORE doesn’t always equal doing, and paying for, MORE doesn’t always equal more magic, more fun, or better memories. this applies to disney trips AND the busyness of this holiday season. it’s ok to do less. and when it comes to highly sensitive kids, it actually might be better to do less. so i beg you: ✨don’t rush from rope drop to park close ✨don’t pay for genie+ for everyday of your trip ✨don’t do more than one dining reservation in a day ✨don’t force your kids onto rides if they’re legitimately terrified ⬆️this is a recipe for more stress rather than more magic and fun. who’s in favor of a more minimalist approach when it comes to vacations and holidays?🙋🏻‍♀️ #lessismore #disneyworld #wdw #disneyvacation #disneywithkids #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #disneytipsandtricks #disneymom
“sometimes the smallest things take up the most “sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” -winnie the pooh no matter what you’re going through and what challenges or joys you may be facing, my hope is you can find at least ONE small thing which fills your heart. and may that lead to gratitude & hope, even during this busy and hectic time of year. happy thanksgiving from our family, to yours. ❤️ #winniethepooh #epcotcharacterspot #ukpavilion #gratitude #disneybound #disneybounding #happythanksgiving
HERE ⬇️ 8. Pay for Genie+ ✨this is probably HERE ⬇️ 8. Pay for Genie+ ✨this is probably disney’s preferred way for folks to bypass lines for rides. BUT do not blindly purchase this or you are wasting your money and it might not even help you much. 9. Use the DAS (Disability Access Service) Pass if You Qualify ✨this is a great option for those who qualify. but disney is cracking down on those abusing this system. this is a way to skip the traditional queue by waiting the same amount of time as standby folks, but doing it elsewhere. it applies to those who cannot tolerate a traditional queue due to disability. mobility-related disabilities do not qualify. 10. Reserve Dining Packages or Dessert Party Packages ✨this can be a great way to skip the waiting for fireworks viewing! 11. Use Mobile Ordering for Food ✨by far, one of my favorite features on the app. it’s not offered at ALL quick service but when it’s there, use it!! 12. Eat During Off-Peak Times ✨no wait for getting your food OR finding a spot to sit. we just had a late lunch at columbia harbor house in MK and the entire upstairs was practically empty. we enjoyed the quiet and shade while we ate. ❤️ 13. Reserve Character Dining ✨skip the lines for food and characters by getting 2 in 1 with character dining! you get served your meal (…unless it’s a buffet, and i have strong feelings about that with young kids🙃) and the characters come right to your table 14. Use Merchandise Mobile Checkout ✨SO convenient when buying merch. scan the items on your phone, pay, and show the cast member your QR code as you leave the store. i used this twice during our most recent trip. comment LINES and i’ll dm you my full blog post detailing all 14 strategies on how avoid lines at disney world. #disneylines #waitinginline #disneywithkids #disneyintrovert #highlysensitivechild #disneywithtoddlers #sensoryoverload #skipthelines #wdw #epcot #disneystrategy #disneytipsandtricks
and that’s a wrap on another disney trip 🥰 se and that’s a wrap on another disney trip 🥰 see my highlight in my profile for all the deets. now time to plan the next trip 🤪 my friend and i want to do a moms’ trip back to wdw but the rest of our friend group doesn’t seem convinced quite yet. 😉 how would YOU convince non-disney adults that an adult-only trip would be so much fun?!⬇️ #disneyadult #disneymoms #disneymomtrip #adultsonlydisneytrip #trattoriaalforno #disneyboardwalk
what can you do at the disney resorts? ✨pool ti what can you do at the disney resorts? ✨pool time ✨crafts ✨playgrounds ✨rent surrey bikes (boardwalk, saratoga springs) ✨watch animals (animal kingdom lodge) ✨SO many great restaurants ✨check out holiday specific decorations ✨live music (grand floridian) ✨smores ✨movie nights ✨go horseback riding (fort wilderness) …and i’m only scratching the surface. 🙃 if you have sensitive kids who are more prone to overwhelm and therefore dysregulation, especially inside the theme parks, take advantage of what the disney resorts have to offer. did you know there are families who do resort-only vacations at disney world? 🤯 nothing wrong with that, especially if you’re hoping for a more relaxing experience. follow @momsmakeitmagical for more on disney and mom life with highly sensitive kids. #disneyresorts #disneyvacation #highlysenstivekids #disneyresortactivities #ig_wdw #animalkingdomlodge #disneyfamily #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #highlysensitivechild #sensoryoverload #dysregulation #momsmakeitmagical
HERE⬇️ there were a lot of things i would’v HERE⬇️ there were a lot of things i would’ve done differently that first trip. but the most unexpected mistake was… booking WAY too many dining reservations. why was it a big deal? ❌ didn’t allow for much flexibility in our schedule with two young kids ❌ too time consuming ❌ it was another thing we had to rush to (not great with sensitive kids!) ❌ not budget friendly ❌ not great if you’re not big eaters or super picky after our second day, i realized that trying to keep all the dining reservations i made was just NOT working for our family. i ended up cancelling a bunch and it made our vacation SO MUCH more relaxing. ✨what was the biggest mistake YOU made on your first trip to disney world? follow @momsmakeitmagical for more on disney, travel, and mom life with highly sensitive kids. #disneyworld #mistakesweremade #ig_wdw #disneydining #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneywithbabies #disneyplanning #disneytipsandtricks #disneymom #disneyfamily #highlysensitivechild #momsmakeitmagical
let’s teach our kids bodily autonomy & consent ⬇️ ok, i get it. as a parent, you want that frame worthy snapshot of your child hugging mickey or holding cinderella’s hand. but as we teach kids about consent and bodily autonomy, remember that this applies to meeting disney world characters too! if we want our kids to know how to assert themselves when they’re uncomfortable or scared, they need to be heard and listened to in ALL contexts. this is especially important if you have highly sensitive, slow-to-warm-up, or anxious kids. putting that extra pressure on them to give hugs when doing character meet and greets (when that might already feel out of their comfort zone as it is), does not result in an enjoyable experience. it’s ok if they don’t want to hug mickey. it’s ok if they don’t want to hold cinderella’s hand. the disney cast members are AMAZING at reading and matching the child’s comfort level, so don’t feel badly about it if your kiddo is just not feeling it in that moment. instead of saying, “give mickey a hug!”➡️ say “would you like to give mickey a hug?” if they say no, respect their no. provide other options like a high five or fist bump, but be ok if it’s a no to all of it. instead of saying, “she’s not scary!”➡️ say “i see you’re feeling a little scared and uncomfortable. that’s ok. i’m here with you, you’re safe with me” ✨who else is on team no forced hugs?⬇️ p.s. i miss 1900 park fare 😭 #bodilyautonomy #consentmatters #nomeansno #parentingtips #highlysensitivechild #disneyworld #disneycharacters #disneycharactermeal #disneycharactermeetandgreet #disneytips #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers
not gonna lie. the last few weeks have been pret not gonna lie. the last few weeks have been pretty rough on a personal level. momming ain’t easy. and when you like to have plans (aka #typeapersonality) but they continue to fall apart for various reasons, it adds a whole different dimension of stress. will be back with more disney and travel tips soon. but in the meantime, share this amazing @disneyonice clip with a friend who might relate. ❤️ #momlife #momstruggles #mentalhealthmatters #motherhoodunplugged #littlemermaid #ariel #disneyonice #disneyfamily #disneymom
which situation do you relate to? ⬇️ if you h which situation do you relate to? ⬇️ if you have neurodivergent or sensory sensitive kids, you are probably all too familiar with meltdowns. no, not tantrums. but MELTDOWNS. there’s no redirecting or breath work or magic phrases that are going to stop it when you’re in the middle of it. as a parent, it is SO hard to keep the calm and it’s very easy to become triggered during a big big meltdown. when it happens at disney world, the trigger level can go up a notch. while i didn’t grow up going to disney often, i have had a huge love of theme parks in general since i was kid. i had a season pass to our local theme park and i would spend long summer days there with family and friends. when my kids don’t seem to have that shared love of theme parks and thrill rides, there can be feelings of disappointment and frustration that arise. once i can start catching myself starting to “lose it” when my kid is having a hard time, it gives me a moment to pause and think about WHY i feel like i’m going to lose it. underneath it all, they are not trying to taint my childhood memories. they are not trying to ruin family fun. they are not being spiteful, ungrateful, and demanding. in that moment, they are just having a hard time. and that’s why i am all about helping parents adjust their expectations before heading to disney world with their highly sensitive, sensory sensitive, or otherwise neurodivergent kids. your trip doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. the point is to find ways to enjoy your time together as a family. even if it feels impossible, i promise there are ways to make it happen. this seemingly overwhelming place…doesn’t have to be overwhelming. #sensoryinclusion #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #meltdowns #disneyworld #sensoryoverload #parentingtriggers #neurodivergent #mindfulparenting #disneytips #wdw
how to avoid lines at disney world pt. 14! here’s the LAST strategy in the series: ⭐️merchandise mobile checkout⭐️ ➡️swipe through to learn exactly how to use merchandise mobile checkout, and find out WHERE you can use it. you’ve probably spent enough time waiting in lines or being in crowded areas at disney world. don’t waste another minute if you have the option to buy your disney merch with your phone! ✨SAVE this handy tip, and share it with a friend who has an upcoming trip to disney world. #disneyworld #wdw #ig_wdw #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #merchandisemobilecheckout #mydisneyexperience #avoidlinesatdisney #avoidcrowds #disneymerch #shoppingatdisney #disneystrategy #disneymom
🎄christmas at disney without the crowds? YES. 🎄christmas at disney without the crowds? YES. it’s possible. disney world is known to be the most crowded the week between christmas day and new years. and if crowds aren’t your thing, especially as a highly sensitive person, then you NEED to avoid visiting during that time. instead, consider going early-mid november, or the first week of december. enjoy all the christmas decor WITHOUT all the crowds. the first christmas decorations at disney world start going up after halloween. the first mickey’s very merry christmas party at magic kingdom starts on november 9 this year. EPCOT’s festival of the holidays starts on november 24. have you ever been to disney world for christmas? #avoidcrowds #disneyintrovert #highlysensitiveperson #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #christmasatdisney #wdw #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #disneyfamily #disneymom #momsmakeitmagical
who does this?! 🙋🏻‍♀️ it happens all who does this?! 🙋🏻‍♀️ it happens all the time in everyday mom life, but at disney, it takes a whole new level 🤯 don’t forget about booking your first genie+ LL at 7:00am either. no wonder we’re exhausted before we even start our day. ⭐️FULL DISCLAIMER: i am not a total advocate for this SPECIFIC schedule. if your kids are already super early risers, then go for it! and maybe you can have a day here or there where you go hard and try to knock out as many rides as possible. but this would NOT fly every single day of your trip. and it would also be problematic with highly sensitive kids who hate being rushed (it’s a guaranteed meltdown in our fam!). if we do have a certain time constraint, i just build in lots and lots of extra time in my “mom math” to account for their slower pace so i don’t need to yell “hurry up!!!” do you do this too? share this with a fellow disney mama friend. ❤️ #mommath #momreels #disneyreels #disneyearlyentry #disneyropedrop #magickingdom #disneywithkids #disneyfamily #disneymom #highlysensitivechild #momsmakeitmagical
never will you ever see me at disney world… ⭐ never will you ever see me at disney world… ⭐️the last two weeks of december ⭐️spring break(s)—virtually most of march and april ⭐️any long weekend i know homeschooling isn’t for everyone. but this benefit of FLEXIBILITY has been an amazing one for our family. sure, there are some commitments we have to keep during the year. but overall we are able to travel—not only to disney, but beyond—with much more flexibility. this usually means: ⭐️ lower cost (hotels and flights are cheaper during non-peak travel periods) ⭐️ lower crowds (less people around when public schools are in session) i consider this a WIN when traveling with highly sensitive kids. susan @momsmakeitmagical #homeschool #disneyhomeschooler #travelschooling #lowcosttravel #lowcrowds #disneyfamily #disneymom #disneywithkids #highlysensitivechild #neurodivergent
highly sensitive people become easily overwhelmed highly sensitive people become easily overwhelmed by long lines and crowded places. here’s strategy 1️⃣3️⃣ on avoiding lines at disney world! this one is all about ✨RESERVING CHARACTER DINING✨ this can be a great way to skip waiting in line to meet characters at traditional meet and greets. but keep in mind that: ⭐️ not ALL characters have character dining options ⭐️ some character dining spots can be overstimulating (garden grill at EPCOT was one of the more relaxing character dining experiences i’ve had) ⭐️ character dining reservations can be difficult to snag - make sure to start booking 60 days before your trip starting at 6AM EST. and keep checking since cancellations always pop up. make sure to save this post and check my highlights for the rest of this series. follow @momsmakeitmagical for more on disney, travel, mom life with highly sensitive kids. #disneyworldlines #wdw #avoidlines #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #disneyfamily #disneymom #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneywithbabies #disneydining #disneycharactermeetandgreet #disneycharacterdining #highlysensitivechild
HERE👇 3) role play and prepare beforehand! wat HERE👇 3) role play and prepare beforehand! watch some disney character meet and greets on youtube and talk about some possible ways you could interact. a high five? wave? hug? comment on something they are wearing? now, this isn’t necessary for ALL kids. these are suggestions if you have slow-to-warm-up, kind of reserved, anxious and sensitive kids. 🙋🏻‍♀️ and if meeting characters is a hard no for them, that’s ok too. ❤️ disney world can be enjoyed by ALL: ⭐️as long as the most sensitive family members have the support and accommodations they need to make it happen. ⭐️AND we all adjust our own expectations on what a “good disney trip” looks like. ✨what has helped you or your family members be more comfortable with character meet and greets? #disneyworld #disneycharactermeetandgreet #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #disneyfamily #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneymom #ig_wdw #disneyreel #disneyblogger #anxiouskids #highlysensitivechild #slowtowarmup
🙋🏻‍♀️ who feels me? follow @momsmakei 🙋🏻‍♀️ who feels me? follow @momsmakeitmagical for tips on doing disney (and travel) as a family with 3 kids, who prefers to avoid super crowded places, sensory overload, and rushed vacations. 💕 #disneyvacation #disneytrips #disneyfamily #wdw #magickingdom #sensoryoverload #sensorymeltdowns #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneywithbabies #disneyintroverts #introvert #highlysensitivechild
the key word here is: STRIVE. no one gets it per the key word here is: STRIVE. no one gets it perfect. it’s an action and choice we make daily, even moment by moment, to love. just like belle did with the beast, it seems the ones hardest to love actually need it the most. ❤️ sharing this as a reminder and encouragement to myself as a mom. that i can’t change or control my kids—they are not preprogrammed robots. even if it’s hard to understand them and i feel overwhelmed by them, i need to continue to strive to accept them as they are. susan @momsmakeitmagical 🎥: be our guest at magic kingdom (@disneyparks) #misterrogers #misterrogersquotes #fredrogersquote #beourguestrestaurant #beautyandthebeast #wdw #ig_wdw #acceptance #encouragement #momreel #momlife #disneymom
this strategy is great for avoiding lines for food this strategy is great for avoiding lines for food AND rides while at disney world: ✨eat your meals during “off peak” times✨ ➡️ swipe through for more info on how this works. ⭐️ would you consider using this strategy? or do you need to stick to specific meal times for your family? #avoidlines #avoidlinesdisney #avoidcrowds #disneyworld #ig_wdw #disneymeals #disneyplanning #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #disneystrategy #disneywithkids #disneyfamily #sensoryoverload #momsmakeitmagical
HOW TO PLAN OUT DISNEY RIDES👇 if you’re goin HOW TO PLAN OUT DISNEY RIDES👇 if you’re going to disney world with kids, especially highly sensitive or sensory sensitive ones, it is SO important to have a game plan on how to approach rides. here’s my step by step process: 1️⃣ figure out everyone’s heights—this will automatically rule out some rides for the littler kids 2️⃣ watch POV youtube videos of the disney rides you’re considering. i encourage you to do this WITH your kids. *also: find videos that include footage of the queue 3️⃣ read ride reviews/sensory ratings. this considers other factors like sudden noises, getting wet, drops, spins, scary visuals, etc. i have some up on my blog and am continuing to add to it. ✨ 4️⃣ have a discussion with your family and use a ride planner tool to write down each family member’s initials for which rides they’d like to try (or not). ⭐️remember: we don’t want to FORCE our kids into rides that they really don’t want to do or have elements that you know are going to set them off. one traumatic experience can impact the rest of the day (or the trip!). the whole point is to enjoy your time together, even if it means they choose to sit out on a ride. (TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RIDER SWITCH IN THESE INSTANCES) tell me: do you have a game plan for rides at theme parks? or do you just go with the flow? #disneyrides #disneyattractions #disneytrip #disneytripplanning #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #disneyfamily #disneymom #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneydisability #sensorysensitive #spdawareness #highlysensitivechild #stepbystepprocess
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