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4. Consider splitting up

Expedition Everest
Image: Disney

This strategy alone was one of the main reasons my family enjoyed years of wonderful Disney vacations—we knew when to split up into different areas of the parks.

My dad and I enjoyed thrill rides; my mother and grandmothers did not, so we purposefully planned times apart during Disney vacations. This gave one part of the family freedom to leisurely explore areas like World Showcase while the thrill-ride lovers could get into queues for E-Ticket attractions.

It was a game changer that can really help with pace differences in a party, as well as giving one parent a temporary break from childcare. This same principle can also be helpful if you have a mix of introverts and extraverts in your group—the introverts may want some time to explore alone. So long as they aren’t children requiring supervision, lean into this.

There are scenarios where splitting up may not be possible due to childcare needs or limits of a small party. In these scenarios, planning variety and extra time into itineraries to consider pacing issues is a good idea. In other cases, however, the idea of splitting up can be jarring to personal values—we might struggle with the concern that if we don’t do everything together on a vacation, it’s not a family vacation. In truth, sometimes a little space can make the family time more satisfying and enjoyable. Once again, it’s about finding a middle ground where everyone can feel included and valued in some way without feeling smothered or like they aren’t being heard.

5. Take advantage of the Rider Switch system

Little girl with Mickey doll in a stroller lighting up at seeing Mickey
Image: Disney

One of the reasons many families tailor their vacation to young children is due to concerns about height restrictions and scary rides—why wait in a line for a ride that little ones aren’t going to be able to do anyways, no matter how much older kids and adults want to ride it?

Disney actually has a system in place for this very situation—Rider Switch. Rider Switch allows families on select Disney attractions (typically those with height restrictions) to split into two parties so those who want to ride can do so while children are still being watched. Typically, it follows this pattern:

1) Check in with a cast member to confirm Rider Switch is available at the attraction and let them know you’d like to do a Rider Switch.

2) They will have you split into two parties. Party 1 is the group who will wait in the queue and ride first. Party 2 is usually made up of the adult watching the kids who don’t want to ride (or the other non-riding guests) and those who aren’t riding. They will be given a Rider Switch pass and told to wait in a designated area, usually outside of the attraction.

3) Party 1 goes and rides the ride. When they are done, they come and meet up with Party 2.

4) The adult (or adults) who want to ride in Party 2 go to the cast member and will be directed into the Fastpass+ queue so they can ride without waiting in a long queue again.

In the past, Rider Switch actually provided an opportunity for some family members to ride twice, though this has recently been limited due to misuse. Check with the cast member for specifics on the current system and who you can bring with you if you are in Party 2. The latest signs seem to indicate you can only bring one person, though rumors indicate Disney may be moving to limit even this.

Rider Switch is a game changer for families with small kids or major temperament differences—it opens up the possibilities dramatically for attraction choices.

6. Plan for snacks, meals, and hydration

Woman and girl at Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Image: Disney

Tempers flare when we are hungry, dehydrated, and fatigued. These three factors can play havoc on pace differences and family temperament during a theme park visit.

You’ll be expending a lot of energy visiting a Disney park. Not only can both Florida and California get steaming hot in the warm months, but you’re likely to walk more than 20,000 steps a day. If you don’t plan for snack, meal, and hydration breaks, your merry troop may quickly devolve into Mopey, Hangry, Testy, Whiney, and Salty.

First off, it’s just good sense to bring some snacks with you to a Disney park—especially if you have kids. Not only will you have an option if hunger pangs strike at an inopportune time, but you’ll save money and avoid some impulse buys. A good quality water bottle is also a good idea, particularly one with some sort of filter (Florida’s water can smell and taste… curious at times). If you find yourself in Disney parks without one, you can easily get free water from any location with a soda fountain or get a large cup to go after eating at a Disney restaurant.

Beyond these, simply make sure and plan—or be willing to slow down—for meal and snack breaks to help with pace differences in your party. If you have family members who tend to lose steam quickly without regular meals and hydration, plan accordingly. Also do what you can to book dining reservations as far in advanced as possible. You can sometimes get last minute reservations or onto walk-up lists due to cancellations, but don’t count on these options.

 
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