This is an entry for “wait time” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. For answers to frequently asked questions about wait time at Disneyland Resort, keep reading after the entry.
Wait time is the projected amount of time, in minutes, that guests entering an attraction queue will spend in that particular queue. Wait times are typically posted on signs at the entrance to each attraction as well as on “tip boards” in the Disneyland app and in the parks. These are estimates and subject to surges in guest interest, maintenance issues and other factors. When you enter a queue, a cast member may occasionally ask you to carry a lanyard with a red card through the queue to the boarding area: this process helps cast members track wait times.
Thank you for reading this entry about wait times at Disneyland Resort. For more Disney definitions in under 101 words plus FAQs, please explore our Disneyland 101 Glossary.
For tips on enjoying your time in line, see Make the Best of Your Time in Line at Disneyland and Have Fun and check-out 5 Fun Lines at Disneyland Resort: Enjoy These Magical Queues. And, for answers to frequently asked questions about wait times, keep reading.
Wait Times at Disneyland Resort, FAQs
What follows are some answers to frequently asked questions about wait times at Disneyland Resort. For our ultimate guide to reducing wait time, please see Maximize Your Disneyland Experience: Beat the Lines & Save Time.
Where can I find estimated wait times for Disneyland Resort attractions?
Wait times at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park ebb and flow throughout the day. If you want current wait time estimates for individual attractions, you can look in a few different places.
Disneyland Mobile App
These days, most folks reach for their mobile devices when they want quick answers. Accordingly, the Disneyland mobile app is the first place many guests look for estimated wait times. This is free and easy to do (as long as you have an electronic mobile device).
First, you will need to download the Disneyland mobile app. We suggest doing this before your Disneyland visit. The app has tons of features, and it is really a pretty powerful little tool, especially for something that is free. If you take the time to learn the app before your trip, you can make the best use of it, and you do not need to be inside Disneyland Resort in order to use most of the features, like…
Disneyland App Tip Board
Within the Disneyland mobile app there are a couple of places you can find wait times. The first is the in-app “Tip Board.” In the Tip Board, all of the attractions for a single park are listed alphabetically. Under the name for each attraction, you can see that attraction’s wait time and, when applicable, the earliest available reservation time for Lightning Lane users. Plus, when you select an individual attraction, you can see hourly forecasted wait times for the day (along with lots of other attraction information).
Disneyland App Map Screen
You can also check wait times from the map screen in the Disneyland mobile app. Make sure the heading “Attractions” is highlighted above the map (this is usually the default). Above individual attractions, you should see bubbles showing estimated wait times. If you do not see this, try zooming in.
When you select any of these bubbles, you should see more information for the attraction. And if you select that, you should see more detailed information still. The last screen you land on should have they same information you reached from the Tip Board, including a bar graph showing forecasted wait times for the day by the hour.
Entrance Land Tip Boards
Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park also have physical tip boards near their main entrances. These are large signs digitally displaying wait times for all over the park.
The information here should match what you find in the Disneyland mobile app. Still, if you like to limit time on mobile devices, this can be a nice reference point. Additionally, there are usually guests services cast members here who can help you with questions you may have.
The Disneyland Park Tip Board is on the north side of Main Street, U.S.A. The Disney California Adventure Park Tip Board in on Buena Vista Street just inside the main entrance.
Queue Signs
Each attraction at Disneyland Resort also has its own wait time posted at the entrance to the attraction queue. If you see a short wait time as you are strolling by an attraction, perhaps you will decide to jump in line!
Third Party Sources
Finally, some third parties offer apps or websites with their own wait time estimates.
How accurate are the wait time estimates provided by Disneyland Resort?
Overall, we find the wait time estimates at Disneyland Resort to be fairly accurate. If anything, they sometimes lean toward the… more pessimistic side. Meaning, the estimate is often longer than the actual wait. This is presumably because people would prefer to be pleasantly surprised by a shorter wait than disappointed by one that was longer than expected.
Times when wait times are less likely to be accurate are right at opening and closing. At opening, lines build very quickly, and wait time estimates do not always keep up. At closing, Disney may inflate wait times to discourage guest from entering the line. But remember, as long as you are in line before the park closes, you get to ride!
Other times when actual wait times may increase faster than the estimate is when an attraction has just opened after a temporary closure or when a show has just let out nearby. Of course, unexpected closures can also increase your wait time or close the ride altogether: cast members should keep you updated regarding this.
Also keep in mind that surprisingly low wait times attract guests. Anyone with the Disneyland app can see when popular rides have shockingly low waits, and they come running. (Unfortunately, sometimes literally.) When this happens and wait times balloon before the signs can change, cast members will often make an announcement about this to guests in the queue. You can then adjust your expectations or choose to leave the queue.
What can I do while I am waiting in line at Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park?
Fortunately for guests, Disney Imagineers have made some pleasant and entertaining queues at Disneyland Resort. We wrote about our favorite ones here: 5 Fun Lines at Disneyland Resort: Enjoy These Magical Queues.
Still, the wait can drag, so we also have an article about how to make the most of that time. You can find it here: Make the Best of Your Time in Line at Disneyland and Have Fun.
How can I reduce the time I spend waiting in line at Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland Resort has services both paid and free that can reduce the time you spend waiting in line. Furthermore, a good strategy around when you visit and what you ride when can really make a big difference. We write about all of that here: Maximize Your Disneyland Experience: Beat the Lines & Save Time.
That page pulls together advice from all over this site. Want to learn how to join a virtual queue or get the best value out of your Lightning Lane pass? Go to that page. It also happens to be part of our free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep, which we advise you to check-out if you are planning a visit to Disneyland Resort.
Thank you for reading this Disneyland 101 Glossary entry for wait times.
We hope you have found it helpful, and we encourage you to explore other Disney definitions under 101 words plus FAQs at Disneyland 101 Glossary. Thanks again for reading!