Long lines, expensive fast passes at Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld

Of all the things to be thankful for on Thursday, waiting in long lines at Orlando-area theme parks probably won’t be one of them.

Thanksgiving Day in the parks is known for its high crowds and long wait times for popular attractions. And if you want to avoid these queues, you can expect to pay high prices.

Here are some of the rides that typically have the longest lines:

Magic kingdom

Mine train of the Seven Dwarves: Heigh ho? No no. The waiting time for this fun rollercoaster ride with Snow White and her male companions is often the longest, averaging around 72 minutes, but at peak times it can take up to 3 hours.
Space mountain: “All systems go!” For the indoor roller coaster, the waiting time is on average 50 minutes, but at peak times it can take up to 2-3 hours.
Peter Pan’s Flight: There are usually long queues for this nostalgic ride that takes guests across London and Neverland, with waits of around an hour or more on busier days.
Jungle cruise: Known for its witty, pun-filled adventure guides and long queues, with wait times of around an hour on normal days and up to 2 hours on busy days.
Haunted house: This haunted tour has an average wait time of 45 minutes but can last up to 1.5 hours during peak season.
Tomorrowland Speedway: If you want to be Lightning McQueen, this line probably isn’t for you. Wait times for this trip average 45 minutes, but can be at least 1.5 hours during peak times.

Test track: Again, you may feel the need for speed, but the line will not alleviate that feeling. This trip often has the longest waiting times, averaging around 89 minutes. On peak days there can be a wait of more than two hours.
Frozen forever: With an average wait time of about 75 minutes, this ride designed for the film’s younger audience could be stressful for parents. Three words to you: Let it go.
Ascending: If you want to place Hang 10 over some of the world’s most famous monuments, you’ll have to wait. There are usually long lines for this ride, with an average wait time of around 65 minutes, but it can take up to two hours.

Hollywood Studios

Slinky Dog Dash: My goodness, that’s a wait. Located in Toy Story Land, this roller coaster often has the longest wait times, averaging around 94 minutes. Apparently these times skyrocket on busier days. Note: If you see a line of people standing on the way to Toy Story Land, it’s probably the queue for the ride. Be prepared.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: You may be itching to do your part in overthrowing the First Order, but this popular ride has an average wait time of 144 minutes — meaning you should be content to wait on a day like Thanksgiving.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Who knew you had to wait to “discover what lies beyond the 5th dimension”? With an average wait time of around 53 minutes, you can easily expect to wait two hours on your holiday trip.

Avatar Flight of Passage: Irayo Si – The Na’vi word for “say thank you.”.” There are often incredibly long wait times on this journey, averaging around 92 minutes. It’s best if this is on your Thanksgiving must-do list: Be one of the first in the park that morning and jump right in line.
Na’vi River Trip: Another popular “Avatar”-based ride with wait times of up to 57 minutes, but it may be longer on holidays. You can actually skip this as it is actually the “Avatar” version of a small world. (We saved you two hours and a lot of disappointment)
Kilimanjaro safaris: Need an excuse to visit your chiropractor? Be sure to take this truck tour of Animal Kingdom’s Menagerie. If standing in line for an hour or more on Thanksgiving Day isn’t causing strain on your back, it’s probably the truck’s lack of shock absorption.
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain: Are we there, Yeti? If you want to ride one of Walt Disney World’s most popular roller coasters, you’ll have to wait. On a typical day, this journey takes on average about half an hour; On public holidays and peak days, you can easily triple or quadruple this amount. Pro tip: You’ve probably had a lot of family time. Try the single rider line. You won’t be riding with your people, but you’ll get on the ride quicker.

If you’re planning on visiting Disney theme parks on Thanksgiving Day, it might be worth considering options like the Lightning Lane Premier Pass to skip the lines, but be prepared.

A Thanksgiving Day Lightning Lane pass normally costs $449 per guest at the Magic Kingdom — and it’s already sold out.

Hollywood Studios typically charges $349 per guest on Thanksgiving.

Epcot is a little easier on the wallet, with a typical price of $249 per guest.

And a relatively cheap deal is Animal Kingdom’s Lightning Lane pass, which usually costs around $199 on Thanksgiving Day.

This is in addition to your park admission and these passes usually sell out well in advance.

Universal

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: “Never mess with goblins, Harry!” The average wait time for this Wizarding World excursion is typically 30 to 140 minutes, but on busy holidays like Thanksgiving, guests can expect significantly longer waits of up to three hours.
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem: Kanpai! Fuel yourself! If you want to hear more Minion chatter, be prepared to wait. The lines for this hideous adventure can be up to 120 minutes long.
Transformers: The Ride 3D: More than meets the eye, this ride typically has long lines, with wait times of around 60 minutes on an average day. Expect a longer wait during the holidays.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit: “I will Survive.” If you want to jam to Gloria Gaynor’s classic hit while zooming through the air in Orlando, be prepared to wait. The average waiting time for this ride is usually between 30 and 70 minutes. On Thanksgiving, guests can expect significantly longer wait times of two hours or more.
Revenge of the Mummy: “The curse – it’s real!” It’s not just a queue for the ride, but also applies to the waiting times. On a typical day, guests can expect to wait an average of 60 to 70 minutes in line. Wait times on public holidays can be up to two hours or more.

Adventure Islands

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: “Spiders? I hate spiders.” You can go on this adventure in a floating closet, but there is no floating queue for this ride. Forbidden Journey often has the longest wait times, particularly around lunchtime with waits of more than two hours.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster: One of the most exciting rides on site. This rollercoaster race against Blue and her team of velociraptors can involve waiting times between 60 and 120 minutes.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong: With typical wait times of up to an hour, riders usually leave this “adventure” wondering, “Why did we wait so long for this ride?” Pro tip: Spend the time waiting in line toward VelociCoaster waiting – or literally anything else. Churros, anyone?
The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster: Hulk Smash. The big green roller coaster, one of the first rides to open at Islands of Adventure, has an average wait time of 15 minutes, but can quickly increase to an hour or more on busier days.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Adventure: “Uh, don’t bother with the Thestrals.” On Thanksgiving Day, this trip averages between 60 and 120 minutes.

If you plan to visit the Universal Studios parks on Thanksgiving Day, consider a Universal Express Pass to skip the lines.

The Express Pass starts at $89.99 per guest and the Express Unlimited Pass starts at $99.99 per guest. but both can go up to $379.99 depending on the size of the crowd.

These are in addition to park admission and usually sell out quickly.

Mako: The shortfin mako may be the fastest shark, but don’t expect that to be reflected in the lineage. This trip often has the longest wait times, especially around lunchtime. On crowded holidays, wait times can be an hour or more.
Infinity Falls: Another popular ride with wait times of up to 30 minutes.
Journey to Atlantis: There are usually long lines for this ride and the wait time is around 20 minutes on a typical day.
octopus: This ride has an average wait time of 15 to 30 minutes on a typical day. Expect longer waiting times with a larger holiday crowd.
manta: This ride has a typical wait time of up to 30 minutes. According to the park, the maximum wait time for Thanksgiving 2023 was under 40 minutes, according to queue-times.com.

Long lines, expensive fast passes at Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

Related Post

Expert predictions for the College Football Playoff round

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Premier League preview, team news, stats and head-to-head – BBC Sport

Vieira is cautious against Turin despite Genoa’s good start

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Expert predictions for the College Football Playoff round

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Premier League preview, team news, stats and head-to-head – BBC Sport

Vieira is cautious against Turin despite Genoa’s good start

Dick Vitale shares update on fight against cancer