8 Things to do on a Busy Day at Theme Parks
READ TIME: 8 MINS
Screenshot of wait times at various parks and resorts
With spring break crowds at their peak, and summer vacation crowds just around the corner, the parks have been extremely packed to say the least. It’s easy to get discouraged about visiting the parks during this time because of that; however, in this article we’re going to talk about a few ways to still enjoy your theme park visit even when experiencing the rides and attractions aren’t an option for the day!
If you want to learn how to maximize your day, read this article here! The article you’re currently on is for enjoying your day when you’re not in a rush to experience the most attractions.
Relax and Enjoy the Themed Dining and Drink Locations
Space 220 at EPCOT in Walt Disney World (Photo Courtesy of Disney)
One of the best parts of visiting a theme park is being able to experience some unique dining! However, it’s easy to stop at a generic fast food styled location and order something generic when you’re in a rush. On busy days where there’s time to explore, go out of your way to find more unique dining and drink locations. Being able to sit in a more immersive atmosphere and enjoy some quality food and drinks is well worth the extra effort. Dining experiences are one area that every park has been working on improving, so no matter where you find yourself, there’s usually at least one location that stands above the rest.
2. Experience the Shows and Live Entertainment
Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort (Photo Courtesy of Disney)
When the parks are busy and you’re trying to get the most rides in during your day, our usual advice would be to stay away from the shows. However, if rides are out of the question and you still want to check some experiences off the list, then this is the perfect time to check out some of the shows and live entertainment! Theater and arena shows are very high capacity, which means that wait times are typically very low when arriving before the show time. Every park has a unique lineup of entertainment. There are oftentimes street level performances throughout the park as well. In fact, sometimes the street performances can be just as fun, and even more engaging, than the bigger theater shows!
3. Explore Lesser Traveled Paths and Areas
If the crowds get to be too much, be sure to take some pathways that are often less traveled! Go exploring and see what you can find! In each park, there are always secluded pathways that are quieter and very well themed. It’s always a breath of fresh air to find these areas and take a moment to relax from the business of the parks.
4. Check Out the Unique Smaller Shops and Stores
Wiseacres in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida
Of course every park has a generic gift shop up by the entrance; however, you can usually find some neat locations tucked around corners or hidden deeper into the park. It’s always a fun time to explore and find these merchandising locations. You don’t have to purchase anything to still be able to enjoy the theming and experience of exploring and finding something that you’ve never seen before, or typically walk right past on a normal day.
5. Explore Using the Extra Mobile App Features
Bounty Hunters game interactivity MagicBand+ (Photo Courtesy of Disney)
Most parks are currently stepping into the modern digital age. Because of that, there are often some neat features to a park’s mobile app! A lot of these features can enhance your experience of the parks, or even teach you a thing or two! For example, at Galaxy’s Edge located in Walt Disney World and Disneyland in California, downloading the Disney Play app can drastically increase the immersive experience of the land! This app will allow you to join the Resistance or the First Order, and it’ll even send you on special missions for each side! With this app you can also scan crates to see what’s inside of them, as well as decode aurebesh (Star Wars text) throughout the land! Although Galaxy’s Edge is a drastic example of this point, most parks do include extra features to their apps, whether it’s fun facts and trivia, hidden games, scavenger hunts, or more - there’s always something extra to experience!
6. Learn About The History of the Parks
As a theme park nerd myself, one of my favorite things to do at a park is learn about and admire the history of the parks, as well as the real world history that the parks are themed from! In the video posted above, I pointed out a neat building located on Sunset Blvd at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that has some very significant history to the Walt Disney Company and to Hollywood as a whole! Be sure to check out the video to know more!
7. There Are Always Attractions With Lower Wait Times
Although this point may be obvious, it’s worth mentioning. No matter how crazy a park gets, there will always be a handful of attractions with reasonable or low wait times. Just because a park has massive waits for their popular attractions doesn’t mean that you have to leave the park without riding a single thing. For example, during our trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the large attractions ranged from a wait of 80 mins to 150+ mins all day long. However, I was still able to walk onto Star Tours with no wait at all. Also, here’s a bonus tip - look out for single riders. ‘Single Riders’ is another great way of experiencing attractions without waiting in long lines!
8. Don’t Forget to Explore Outside of the Park
Of course, every day must come to an end at some point, and likewise, so must this list. So as we metaphorically leave the park together, here’s our final tip. Remember to explore what’s surrounding the parks! Resorts have amazing properties right next to the parks that are often within walking distance! At Universal, there’s CityWalk, which includes plenty of dining and entertainment locations. They also have some neat resort hotels that you can explore! One of my favorite places to stop at is Bar17 on top of the Aventura hotel! I love to sit back, enjoy a drink, and watch the sunset over my favorite resort. However, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the SkyLiner has an amazing view of the Walt Disney World resort! It takes you overhead a handful of resorts, and it can even take you straight to EPCOT! If you’re visiting a park that is not part of a resort, there are oftentimes neat independently owned businesses right next door that offer some unique experiences. Don’t miss the opportunity to see more of the sights while visiting the parks!
A photo of Disney Springs, a shopping district located right next door to the Walt Disney World parks
What do you enjoy filling your day with when the parks are busy? If you have any other tips for getting the most out of your busy park day, leave a comment down below! And don’t forget to catch up on this article here for how to maximize your time while at a theme park!
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