Wait Time Reaches 14 Hours at Disney Park, Guests Risk Heat Stroke

Committed Disney fans withstood extreme heat this week for a theme park line that stretched on for over 14 hours.

While Disney’s theme parks aren’t exactly known for their short lines, we have seen some particularly extreme cases of lengthy wait times in recent years.

Just this week, guests hoping to purchase DINOSAUR merchandise launched just ahead of the attraction’s closure formed lines that weaved through the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Disneyland Paris has previously seen four-hour lines for guests hoping to meet the likes of Santa Stitch, while EPCOT also saw five-hour lines when it initially launched Figment’s meet and greet in 2023.

Further afield, Shanghai Disneyland was forced to call in security when the line for newly-launched Duffy and Friends merchandise reached eight hours in early 2024. Some guests reportedly suffered fainting episodes while waiting to get their hands on backpacks shaped like Duffy and CookieAnn.

This week, a similar incident has reportedly occurred at the same theme park.

Line Reaches 14 Hours at Disney Park

According to Sina, guests waited in a queue for 14 hours to secure items from its new Summer Ocean Party merchandise line. This included keychains of Duffy and Friends characters that were initially sold for 179 yuan ($28), but have since been sold by resellers for 499 yuan ($56).

Resellers are often the reason behind the long lines at Disney parks. Some guests have admitted they wouldn’t normally wait that long, but do so out of fear that resellers will buy up all the merchandise before they get a chance.

Shanghai Disneyland has previously attempted to tackle its reseller issue by introducing an ID requirement for guests, deterring scalpers from purchasing and reselling theme park tickets outside the park gates.

Guests reportedly started joining the queue from 5 p.m. on July 7 in order to be first to purchase the merchandise when the park opened on July 8. In the past, these queues have started to form at 10 p.m., meaning guests started to wait a whole five hours earlier than usual.

“On the afternoon of July 7, I skipped work and rushed to Disneyland an hour early,” one guest told Sina (translated simplified Chinese). “When I arrived at the nearby subway station at 5:30, there were already more than 50 people queuing along the railings. Among them were uncles and aunts with gray hair. Everyone came for the new product release on July 8. You need to draw lots to obtain the purchase qualification of the new dolls. The earlier you enter the park, the greater the probability of winning.”

Some guests reportedly also booked rooms at Shanghai Disneyland’s hotels (Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel) in order to take advantage of early entry so they could purchase the selected merchandise before anyone else.

While waiting in line outside a theme park for 14 hours sounds gruelling at the best of times, Shanghai is currently in the midst of excessive heat warnings with temperatures tipping over 100 degrees Fahrenheit earlier this week. Residents have been warned of an increased risk of heat stroke, with anyone who experiences symptoms such as a high fever, convulsions, confusion, or loss of consciousness after staying outdoors for too long encouraged to seek medical attention.

Shanghai Disneyland Takes Action To Reduce Impact of Heat

In June, it was confirmed that Shanghai Disneyland is taking immediate action to minimize the impact of extreme temperatures on guests and cast members alike.

Shanghai Disneyland will reportedly monitor both official temperatures and the heat index throughout the summer to adjust resort-wide operations as needed.

For parades, The Paper reports that the park may reduce the number of floats and performers, speed up the route, or postpone and cancel the show entirely in extreme heat. Fire effects may be scaled back, choreography toned down, and new water stations have been added so cast members can hydrate mid-performance. Before and after the show, performers now have access to shaded areas and air-conditioned lounges.

The park may also temporarily close outdoor attractions to protect guest safety, similar to measures seen at Disneyland Paris. For performances, high-temperature protocols include shortening show durations, limiting outdoor meet-and-greets, and avoiding midday performances between noon and 2 p.m. whenever possible. Some shows are relocated to shaded or covered areas.

To support these efforts, cooling infrastructure has expanded across the resort. Spray fans, overhead units, mobile coolers, and new air-conditioned tents have been installed in high-traffic areas. With 80% of attractions already indoors or semi-covered, guests have many places to cool down.

Backstage, Shanghai Disneyland has built 50 air-conditioned lounges for cast members and set up rest tents near stage exits. Cast are also equipped with sun hats, water bottles, portable fans, ice stickers, and ice collars to stay safe and cool.

Would you wait in a 14-hour line for Disney merchandise?