When going to Shanghai Disney, the most troublesome thing is waiting in line. If you can choose a date with fewer people and grasp the right time to enter the park, you can experience the joy of doing the activities almost like "booking the park" for the cost of one ticket.
Avoid peak season and choose off-season
Based on analysis of visitor flow data in recent years, Shanghai Disney's off-season generally appears about one month after major holidays. For example, after the Spring Festival and winter vacation, passenger traffic will drop significantly in March; similarly, September after the summer vacation is also a relatively free period. During these times, schools have started and the statutory holidays have passed, so the tourist base has certainly decreased. Going on weekdays in these months is the best way to avoid the crowds.
In addition to the two months of March and September, December is also a good choice in winter, especially in the early stages before the Christmas season. During this time period, the weather has only begun to turn colder, but the holiday decorations in the park have already begun to be arranged, so the play experience presents a unique atmosphere. The existence of tourists' sharing shows that at this specific time point on Sunday in early December, the time spent queuing for popular items was only about thirty minutes. In contrast, during the peak season, you often have to wait for two or three hours. In comparison, the comfort level has been greatly and significantly enhanced, and the degree of improvement is very obvious.
Take advantage of golden hours in the morning and evening
Visitors are not evenly distributed throughout the day. Around nine o'clock in the morning when the park just opened, it was the first prime time. The reason is that many tourists have not yet arrived at the park due to travel or wake-up time constraints. At the moment, for projects like "Over the Horizon" and "Seven Dwarfs Mine Cart" that have long lines throughout the day, wait times are often short or even non-existent.
From about 6 p.m., many tourists traveling with their families begin to leave the venue, or go to the restaurant to eat or wait for the night show. The evening is another time of high tourist efficiency. At this time, the number of people queuing for various projects in the park will decrease sharply. Experienced people say that it is possible to play "Thunder Mountain Rafting" or "Pirates of the Caribbean" several times in succession after the evening.
Plan efficient travel routes
Based on the accurate grasp of passenger flow time, it is possible to plan travel routes with efficient characteristics. One of the most classic routes is: after the park opens, rush straight to the Adventure Island area to experience the "flying over the horizon" experience for the first time. After that, you can visit various other theme parks in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and cleverly integrate popular projects into the entire itinerary.
It is suggested that projects such as the "Extreme Speed Light Wheel" that provide a better experience at night should be arranged after five or six o'clock in the evening. During this time, the pressure on queuing will be less. Finally, after watching the fireworks show at the Garden of Imagination, you can take a more relaxed ride on the carousel, which is a perfect end to the whole day. This route can take advantage of the time difference to the maximum extent and reduce pointless waiting.
Use official tools to save time
Before going to Disney, be sure to download the official "Disney Resort" APP on your phone. After entering the park and receiving the paper ticket, you must bind the ticket on the APP as soon as possible. This kind of operation is very important. It can not only check the queuing time of each project in real time, but also make reservations for some popular projects that require "appointment waiting cards".
On days with relatively high passenger flow, for some projects from the morning to the afternoon, you must hold a reservation voucher on the APP to queue up. Otherwise, you will have to wait until the specified time before you can enter. In addition, with the help of the APP, you can also participate in official lottery activities and have the opportunity to obtain the popular item "Fast Pass", thereby further improving the efficiency of play.
Tips for playing key projects
For some specific projects, mastering some small skills can improve the experience. When going "Thunder Mountain Rafting", waterproofing is very important. It is recommended to prepare your own raincoat in advance. If you forget to bring it, buying a disposable raincoat in the queue area is also a cost-effective investment. Especially in the evening when there are fewer people, a raincoat can be played many times in a row, and the price/performance ratio is very high.
There’s a family-friendly, storyline-based roller coaster called the Seven Dwarfs Mine Cart. When riding this roller coaster, you can pay attention to the carefully arranged dwarf mining scenes beside the track, which can effectively disperse the tension in the face of speed. Visitors with children should not miss performances like "Frozen: Sing-Along", where live interactions and special effects often make children extremely excited!
Pre-trip preparation and money-saving tips
If you want to save money, you can pay attention to the "early bird ticket" discounts launched by official channels in advance. Generally speaking, this usually needs to be purchased a few days in advance, and its price will be more cost-effective than standard tickets. For those tourists who do not want to purchase an additional exclusive card, that is, a fast lane, receiving a free "appointment waiting card" on the APP is an alternative, but please pay attention to the collection rules and usage time.
In terms of living, you don’t need to be limited to the hotel in the park. There are many partner hotels and B&Bs with different prices around Shanghai Disney. Many of them are equipped with shuttle services to and from the park, which is also convenient. Check the traffic conditions before traveling, and use Metro Line 11 or the hotel shuttle bus to arrive at the park on time more leisurely.
For you, when you went to a theme park recently, what was the most effective "trick" you used to reduce the length of queues? We look forward to sharing your relevant experiences in the comment area. If you think these strategies are of practical value, don’t forget to like them and forward them to friends in need!
