6 ways to avoid theme park queues

Theme parks and roller coasters are huge fun – but there is usually a downside. Yes, we're talking about queues. If you're spending the day at one of the many theme parks across the UK, or indeed the world, this half-term, here's how to avoid achy legs and tantrums.

If you’re a theme park fanatic or have kids, you’re probably no stranger to long queues and during busy times it can become a dreary and frustrating task standing in line before getting your chance to enjoy the rides.

Whether you're visiting a theme park close to home or heading further afield, AttractionTickets.com has helped come up with half a dozen useful tips on how to save precious time during your visit, from the company's CEO Oliver Brendon.

1. School’s out

This may sound obvious, but if you want to get on all the rides without queue times, visit when children are in school. Ideally, you also want to come on a weekday during term time and avoid the packed weekends and bank holidays. Most theme parks tell you which days they expect to be the busiest: reduced park operating hours = less busy.

And although the dream ticket is visiting a theme park on a warm sunny day, if you're willing to put up with some clouds and rain, you're bound to face fewer queues. Plus, there are plenty of indoor attractions at most parks, so you can keep dry if the weather takes a real turn.

If it does start to rain, don’t immediately dash for the exit either. Stay in the park when others go home – you may be rewarded with shorter waiting times.

Waiting times at a theme park. (Image: jesuspereira/Shutterstock) jesuspereira/Shutterstock

2. Early days

The quietest period at most parks is the first 60 to 90 minutes of the day, and if you buy your tickets online and get there early, you’ll benefit from the extra time when the gates open. The most effective way to maximise your ride time is to stay overnight in the theme park hotel. For example, guests at the Alton Towers Hotel (pictured) can start queuing before the gates officially open. Plus, packages come with two days in the park, which will give you more time to relax and explore.

In Orlando, a good tip is to stay in an official Disney Resort hotel, which offers Magic Hours every day. Or stay at a Universal Resort hotel, which allows early access and may provide rides on the Universal Express. Some amusement parks have early entry for season pass holders or other special groups.

Alton Towers Hotel, UK. (Image: Alton Towers/Facebook) Alton Towers/Facebook

3. Appy holidays

Many theme parks now have their own apps available and there are several advantages to downloading them. Firstly, they will typically give you the current waiting time for the best rides in the park. This means you can avoid walking to the other side of the park to ride the biggest attraction and then discovering that there's a 120-minute wait.

The other advantage is that the app contains the most up-to-date version of the park map, so you can see which attractions are near and set reminders for show times. Download the app a couple of days ahead of your arrival to start reviewing which rides look the busiest so you can plan ahead.

4. Pull a fast one

Almost every amusement park today has some form of ride reservation or fast-pass system – whether included or as an extra fee. And while there are plenty of free ways to cut your queue times on the day, a fast pass provides extra reassurance.

Most parks have fast-track tickets for either individual rides or all rides, allowing you to skip the general queue and go straight to the front. If you’re heading to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, make sure you're familiar with their Genie app, which gives you a limited number of Lightning Lane passes. But always consider the extra cost of fast-track tickets and weigh up whether you'll get value for money.

Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida. (Image: Walt Disney World Resort) Walt Disney World Resort

5. Prepare the ground

A little bit of time doing your homework before you go to a theme park can pay off. Do some research – know the park and go over maps and guidebooks so you won't waste time figuring it out on the day. Most people start at the front of the park and work their way around. However, flipping your route and starting with the rides at the back could mean you avoid those pesky long queues.

Avoid the crowd mentality and don’t get straight in the first line you see. A great time to ride is during a parade, show or firework display. If you’re with the kids, it’s a good idea to check the height restrictions so you can manage their expectations in advance.

Finally, many amusement parks use single-rider lines to fill empty seats to ensure every train goes out full. If your party doesn’t mind being broken up you can save time doing this.

6. Skip lunch

The days in the theme parks can be long and everyone gets hungry eventually. Come lunchtime there’s likely to be a bigger queue for food than there is for the rides, so if you can, plan an early meal, bring snacks and take a later break.

If you do decide to dive into the burger joint or pizza and pasta buffet, avoid some of the faster and spinnier rides for at least 60 minutes while your food goes down. Luckily, right after lunch, this is usually the approximate wait time you can expect for the big coasters.

Lead image: Paul Rovere/Getty Images