6. Disney's Hollywood Studios: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Rock 'n’ Roller Coaster is an indoor favorite at Hollywood Studios, and it’s located fairly close to the front of the park, so the line can grow early in the day. If you’re a thrill seeker, head toward this and its neighbor Tower of Terror as early as you can.

7. Disney's Hollywood Studios: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, the Tower of Terror is one of the few thrill rides available in Walt Disney World. Hit it up early to avoid longer lines. By the end of the day, these Sunset Boulevard attractions can have wait times around an hour.

8. Disney's Animal Kingdom: Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest is the one and only big thrill ride in Animal Kingdom, so if that’s what you’re after, hop in line early for a walk-on experience. (Dinosaur is relatively thrilling as well if that’s what you’re into, but it will enjoy a shorter wait for much longer.) If the line is already starting to grow by the time you make it to Everest, use the single rider line to bypass much of the wait. Keep in mind that Everest is an outdoor attraction, so it will not operate if there’s lightning in the area.

9. Disney's Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris is a good early morning choice for two reasons. The most obvious is that you can often get there ahead of the line if you head straight back to Africa. The less obvious perk is that you can enjoy some really great views of the animals during early hours. In the heat of the day, many animals will take a long nap or laze away in the shade. In the morning, they tend to be more active. Even if you have a FastPass+ reservation later on, you may want to try a morning safari just so you can see the difference.

Many parts of planning your day will naturally happen on the fly, but keep these attractions in mind if you want to make the most of quieter park hours before the big rush. Keep in mind, however, that crowds vary with the season and there’s no foolproof way to avoid all the lines. Improvise when you have to, but keep at least a few big attractions in mind when you make it to the parks early so you don’t waste these precious hours meandering around.