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We talk about Disney wait times a lot around here, and for good reason! While they might not be top of mind if you’re a frequent visitor, wait times can significantly impact your trip. An extended wait can affect which attractions you get to experience or even force you to adjust existing plans.
Understanding and interpreting these wait times is crucial. During our research into wait times at Walt Disney World, we stumbled upon some intriguing claims. Many believe that Disney might pad wait times for standby queues, meaning you might not always wait as long as the posted times suggest.
Credit: Disney
Why Would Disney Pad Wait Times?
There are a few reasons Disney might pad wait times. First, it encourages the use of Lightning Lane Passes, a paid service that allows you to reserve access to specific attractions for a flat rate. Lightning Lane has sparked debate since its introduction.
Second, inflated wait times can drive guests to purchase Individual Lightning Lanes for high-demand rides, with prices fluctuating based on park capacity—ranging from $15 to $30.
Finally, by adjusting wait times, Disney can help manage guest flow throughout the parks. With mobile devices and Magic Bands tracking your location, Disney can redirect you away from crowded areas or boost traffic to underperforming retail spots.
Credit: Disney
Instances of Potential Padded Times at Disney Parks
While researching, it seems this has been going on for years. There are many accounts of guests being told their wait time would be substantially longer than it actually was. It isn’t easy to believe that Disney could sometimes miss wait time estimates by as much as up to an hour, but it happens. Some instances are only a few minutes shorter than the suggested waits, but there are a lot of significant stories of more considerable disparities—too many to be ignored.
Although this is from a couple of years ago, X user @jeanineshattuck suggests that her wait time at Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios was actually 55 minutes compared at the quoted 100.
Disney usually inflates their wait times to push people to buy Genie+ Unless @WSJ paid someone to stand in line multiple times and time exactly how long they waited before and after the change, this is a skewed measurement
Credit: Disney
Twitter user @LMGVids had this to say in response to a Wall Street Journal article that suggested wait times are not inflated.
This user (@tanviG10) suggests that the majority of their wait times were also inflated.
Credit: Patrick Konior, Unsplash
My Own Research at Walt Disney World
Not so long ago, I read an article from a different site that suggested Disney does inflate their posted wait times. To better understand if this could be true, I went on a bit of a mission. I rope-dropped Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a friend who timed their standby wait times and compared them to the posted wait times in the My Disney Experience App. The results were telling.
Slinky Dog Dash – Posted Wait Time: 70 Minutes; Actual Wait Time: 47 minutes
Rise of the Resistance – Posted Wait Time: 120 Minutes; Actual Wait Time: 95 minutes
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Posted Wait Time: 60 Minutes; Actual Wait Time: 30 minutes
Star Tours – Posted Wait Time: 20 Minutes; Actual Wait Time: 12 Minutes
Smuggler’s Run – Posted Wait Time: 45 Minutes; Actual Wait Time: 20 Minutes
Hollywood Tower of Terror – Posted Wait Time: 60 Minutes; Actual Wait Time: 40 Minutes
You can draw your own conclusions from the information provided. These wait times were recorded on a busy Friday after school let out for summer break, and there appears to be a notable difference between the posted and actual wait times.
While it’s great to wait less than expected, it does raise questions about the accuracy of these estimates. Given the frequent accusations and the potential motive behind Disney inflating wait times, it’s not hard to believe that this might be the case.
What are your thoughts?
