PHOTOS: Wait Times Very High Across Walt Disney World During First Weekend of October

Shannen Michaelsen

crowded star wars: galaxy's edge near tie fighter

PHOTOS: Wait Times Very High Across Walt Disney World During First Weekend of October

Crowds and wait times continue to grow across Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Disney Springs reached capacity twice in September. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been particularly busy and this Saturday was no different.

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We found some areas of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge difficult to navigate, with crowds making social distancing almost impossible.

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Toydarian Toymaker had a line winding out of the marketplace.

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Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run had an 80-minute wait.

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Meanwhile, Star Tours had a line that almost reached Muppet Courtyard. Last we checked My Disney Experience, it had a 30-minute wait.

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Slinky Dog Dash continues to be popular with a 90-minute wait and a line that stretches to Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

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With approximately a 60-minute wait, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s line took up much of Sunset Boulevard.

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Here are some more long wait times at Walt Disney World today:

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: 90 minutes
  • Frozen Ever After: 75 minutes
  • Soarin’ Around the World: 70 minutes
  • Avatar Flight of Passage: 60 minutes
  • Peter Pan’s Flight: 55 minutes
  • Haunted Mansion: 55 minutes
  • Splash Mountain: 50 minutes
  • Na’vi River Journey: 50 minutes
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Crowds are focused on Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which has the draw of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and EPCOT, which currently has the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Some exceptions include Magic Kingdom’s most popular attractions, such as Splash Mountain and Peter Pan’s Flight, and Animal Kingdom’s Pandora attractions.

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Wait times have been fluctuating. Smuggler’s Run dropped from 80 minutes to 40 minutes as the day went on. Slinky Dog Dash later fell from 90 minutes to 70 minutes. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway consistently has the longest line, being the newest attraction in Walt Disney World. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, which guests can usually walk on, had a 35-minute wait. Meanwhile, attractions like TriceraTop Spin and Gran Fiesta Tour have sat at five to ten-minute waits.

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Test Track, Journey Into Imagination With Figment, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train were all temporarily closed today. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is usually one of the busier attractions at Magic Kingdom, so its closure may contribute to longer lines at other rides.

The only popular attraction with no posted wait time is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which uses the virtual “boarding group” system. But this system has been plagued by issues, meaning it can be difficult for guests to secure a spot on the ride for the day.

Author

  • Shannen Michaelsen

    Shannen has been a Disney Parks fan and lover of dogs since childhood, despite Pluto's attempt to eat Shannen's Minnie Mouse doll the first time they met. They've made up now. You can email Shannen at shannen@mail.hkdrnt.com.

7 thoughts on “PHOTOS: Wait Times Very High Across Walt Disney World During First Weekend of October”

  1. Cmon’ Disney! Why hasn’t D’maro added back fast passes! As much as I love WDW, they are their own worst enemy. They are crying about layoffs, and money, yet they have ample opportunity to increase park hours, bring back fast passes, and eight million other things that could EASILY, and within State guidelines, fix these issues, yet they continue to complain about the lack of guests???!!! ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, NOBODY WANTS TO STAND IN THESE LONG LINES, WASTING WHAT PRECIOUS LITTLE TIME THEY HAVE AT THE PARKS! It’s just not worth it. I thought Josh D was smarter. How disappointing.

  2. They need to expand the park hours, have magic hours, or bring back fast pass. I have contacted a Disney representative. They seem to think that the reporting of crowds is exaggerated by the blogs. Wait times on their ap proves there are long lines.

  3. Since it’s nearly impossible to social distance and it doesn’t seem like Disney is enforcing any real safety measures, then it’s time to shut them down for non- compliance

  4. Y’all are right – time to reinstate FP+ and extend park hours and EMH! This current operating model is not sustainable. Disney needs to find a way to have better crows absorbtion in all its parks by opening as many dining locations, shops, attractions and experiences as possible.

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