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Get there as early as possible.
Utilize the Fastpass System.
Disney offers Fastpasses for specific rides. When you arrange your trip you are allowed to select Fastpasses in your MyDisney account. Once you have tickets you can make selections as early as 30 days before you arrive—starting at 7:00 AM Eastern Time. If you are staying at a Disney Resort on property you can make your FastPass+ selections up to 60 days prior to check-in for the entire length of your stay.
You pick which rides you want a Fastpass ticket to and you are assigned a time to ride that specific ride. While you wait, you can go enjoy other attraction, then when the time comes around, return to that ride and you get to cut the line. This is a necessity for the rides in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. There are many rides at the Magic Kingdom that have fast passes. Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railway, and the Jungle Cruise. For a three minute Peter Pan ride, the lines can be over an hour. Children + Waiting in Long Lines = Not Fun. Using the Fastpass system instead will save you hours of standing in line.
How to Get More FastPasses
Once you have used one of two of your Fastpasses you can pull up your Disney app and select more Fastpasses! How great is that. If you do not have the app, don’t worry. They have kiosks in the park where you can make new selections.
Child Swap – Use the rider’s switch card!
Disney offers a child swap program at certain attractions. Ask a cast member about which rides offer it. The idea is that both parents can ride on a thrill ride, when their child cannot. One parent rides, while the other waits with the child, then they swap. Without having to wait in line twice.
If you have a young child with you that can not ride the ride or doesn’t want to ride, walk up and ask for a rider’s switch card. To do this you go up to the fast pass return place for that specific ride. Let them know you need a card. They will want to see all of you to verify who is riding first and who is riding next. They also want to see the kid that makes you eligible for the card. It is that easy. And the best part is you get to use the fast pass lane with that card.
Catch The Nightime Shows
It can be tough to stay all day when you start early, but if possible stay for the fireworks show. Consider leaving for lunch and coming back in the evening, especially if the Magic Kingdom is having the Extra Magic hours at night the day you are there.
Lunch At The Pool
To break up the day and not to get overwhelmed, go to a park in the morning as I suggested at the beginning. Then at lunchtime, go to your hotel, grab some food sit by the pool for a few hours. To get refreshed, shower and change, then head out to another park at night.