For years, one of the most common frustrations at Walt Disney World hasn’t been ride breakdowns or weather delays—it’s been waiting. Waiting for food. Waiting for souvenirs. Waiting in lines that don’t always move as fast as promised. As Disney heads into 2026, the company is making it clear that it wants to reduce at least one part of that problem.
Disney World isn’t introducing anything brand-new here. Instead, it’s refining a system guests have already seen in action: mobile ordering.
Mobile ordering has been part of the Disney experience for a while now, especially at quick-service restaurants. Guests have also seen it used during previous EPCOT festivals, including last year’s International Festival of the Arts. But what’s changing in 2026 is how aggressively Disney is leaning into it—particularly for high-demand items that historically create long, disruptive lines.
Rather than allowing massive physical queues to form, Disney is increasingly shifting popular releases into the My Disney Experience app. Guests place an order, select a pickup window, and return when it’s time. The result is fewer people standing around and more guests free to enjoy the parks.
One little spark of inspiration… is coming to your popcorn! 🎨✨
The NEW Figment Artist popcorn bucket officially arrives TOMORROW, Jan 16, for the start of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! 🐉💜
He’s looking like a true masterpiece in his purple beret and… pic.twitter.com/qDqct8FE5S
— ThrillGeek (@thrillgeek) January 15, 2026
From Disney’s point of view, this adjustment solves several problems at once. Physical lines for limited items don’t just affect the people in them—they clog walkways, spill into nearby attractions, and create stress for Cast Members tasked with crowd control. Mobile ordering spreads demand across time slots instead of concentrating it in one place.
For guests, the benefit is just as clear. Instead of committing hours of a vacation day to a single purchase, you can lock in an order and move on. That time can be spent riding attractions, exploring World Showcase, or enjoying seasonal offerings without constantly checking how long a line has grown.
Of course, not everyone loves the shift. Some guests prefer a more spontaneous, unplugged park experience and don’t enjoy having to rely on their phones. Disney knows this feedback exists. But the company also knows what happens when it doesn’t intervene—frustration builds, tempers flare, and disappointment spreads quickly online.
What makes 2026 different is that Disney isn’t experimenting anymore. The company has seen mobile ordering work during past festivals. It has data. It knows where crowds bottleneck and how quickly items sell out. This latest adjustment feels less like a test and more like a decision.
Looking ahead, this strategy may extend beyond festivals. If mobile ordering continues to reduce congestion and guest complaints, it’s easy to imagine Disney using it for other limited-time merchandise or special event releases.
For guests planning a 2026 trip, the takeaway is simple: preparation matters. Make sure the app is ready, pay attention to release windows, and don’t assume every purchase will involve a traditional line.
Disney isn’t eliminating waiting entirely—but it’s clearly trying to make sure fewer guests spend their vacation standing still.
