Waiting in line is an inevitable part of the theme park experience, especially at popular destinations like Disneyland and Disney World. With so many people visiting these parks every day, some crowds and queues are to be expected. But a 13 minute wait time is considered quite short for many major Disney attractions.
So what does a 13 minute standby wait really signify at a Disney park? Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from an approximately 13 minute wait and how it compares to other wait times at Disney:
It’s Lower Than Average
Across all Disney parks, the average wait time for rides and attractions is about 20-30 minutes. So a 13 minute wait is on the lower end of typical wait times at Disney. For really popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Avatar Flight of Passage, the average wait can be well over an hour and often extends to 2-3 hours on peak days.
Considering how many guests visit Disney and how much demand there is for certain rides, a 13 minute wait is actually quite low in comparison. It means you’re waiting for one of the more moderate or less popular attractions that doesn’t draw extreme crowds.
You’ll Generally Stay Outdoors
Many Disney rides feature extensive and detailed indoor queue areas that wind through scenes matching the theme of the attraction. But for a shorter 13 minute wait, you’ll generally be standing outside in the basic switchback line instead of experiencing these immersive indoor queues.
Indoor queued areas are designed to accommodate much longer wait times over an hour. So if your wait is just 13 minutes, the line will usually be simpler and completely outdoors. The exception would be on a day with bad weather when some outdoor lines are brought indoors.
It’s a Slow Time of Day
Wait times at Disney fluctuate a lot throughout the day. When the parks open, wait times start smaller and gradually increase throughout the morning until hitting peak wait times in the afternoon. A 13 minute wait probably means you’re riding first thing in the morning or later at night when fewer guests are in the park.
Periods like parade or showtimes also thin out ride lines for a short window of time. So if you strategically ride attractions during a parade, you’re more likely to hit these lower 13 minute wait windows versus peak afternoon times.
Higher Wait Times Are Coming
Seeing just a 13 minute posted wait is a sign that wait times are still on the lower side at that point in the day. But especially on busier days, 13 minutes means the crowds are building and you can expect longer waits to come as the day goes on.
Ride early when you see these shorter wait times, because that number can double or triple later in the day when crowds peak. A 13 minute wait early in the morning could become 39+ minutes for the same ride by late afternoon.
The Experience Will Feel Relaxed
A short 13 minute wait generally means a more relaxed overall experience than slogging through an extremely long line. You can take your time and breeze through the queue at an easy pace. With less time waiting, there’s not that antsy feeling of impatience.
The ride experience also feels more seamless when you’ve waited less. Within just 13 minutes, you’re on and off the ride and can quickly move on to the next attraction. Longer waits sometimes lead to built up anticipation, so the ride itself feels quicker.
It’s Worth Waiting Again
When a ride has a 15 minute or shorter wait time, that’s an indicator the experience is worth repeating to ride again. You won’t have to invest too much additional time waiting, so going on the ride multiple times is achievable.
If you really enjoy a ride but the wait is an hour, riding it again likely won’t be an option due to the long repeated wait. But a 13 minute wait makes hopping back in line for a second ride feasible and worthwhile.
Comparison to Other Disney Wait Times
To fully appreciate a 13 minute Disney wait, it helps to compare it to wait times for other attractions. Here’s an overview of typical wait times for different ride types:
| Attraction Type | Typical Wait Time |
|---|---|
| Headliner Rides | 50-120 minutes |
| Popular Attractions | 25-60 minutes |
| Moderate Attractions | 15-30 minutes |
| Shows | 15-60 minutes |
| Character Meets | 25-50 minutes |
Based on this breakdown, a 13 minute wait falls into the range of moderate attractions and is on the very low end for shows and character meets. It’s an exceptionally short time for headliner rides which normally have waits of an hour or much more.
So if you see a 13 minute posted wait at Disney, you’re likely about to experience a mid-tier attraction that has moderate popularity and isn’t a brand new headliner draw.
It’s a Lower Crowd Day
Seeing wait times of only 13 minutes or less systemwide around the park is a sign you’re visiting on a lower crowd level day. On the busiest days like Christmas week or spring break, even moderate attractions will have 30+ minute waits throughout most of the day.
So if multiple rides have under 15 minute waits, that indicates a lighter park attendance day where guests are more spread out across different activities. Lower crowds naturally lead to reduced wait times across the board.
Standby vs. Lightning Lane
Disney also offers the Lightning Lane paid line skipping service to access rides faster. Typically the Lightning Lane wait is reduced by 50-90% versus standby. So on a 13 minute standby day, the Lightning Lane wait might only be 5 minutes or less.
However, Lightning Lane wait times can also rise higher on busier days when more guests have purchased the service. So a short 13 minute standby wait doesn’t necessarily guarantee an instant Lightning Lane access.
Park vs. Land Factors
Wait times also vary across different lands within each Disney park. In Magic Kingdom, for example, Tomorrowland rides often have lower waits than the busy Fantasyland. So the specific land a ride is located in affects its typical wait times too.
Additionally, parks like Epcot and Animal Kingdom generally have lower wait times across all rides versus Magic Kingdom. There are factors like park size and attraction types that drive differences in wait times park-to-park.
Most Types of Rides Will Have This Wait Time
From thrilling rollercoasters to family dark rides, a 13 minute wait can happen at most types of ride experiences at Disney. Quicker loading attractions like transports and omnimovers typically have the lowest wait times, while highly detailed immersive rides have higher waits.
But a wait in the 10-15 minute range is common across many ride genres on lower crowd days. There’s no single ride type that is known for having this exact wait length.
It Varies Week to Week
While 13 minutes is an uncommon wait for the most in-demand Disney rides that regularly have 60+ minute lines, wait times change week to week even at the same ride. One week a ride could average a 5 minute wait, while the next it may be 25 minutes.
Many variables like holidays, weather, park hours and special events cause Disney’s wait times to fluctuate day to day and week to week. So a 13 minute wait reflects that moment in time rather than a constant average wait.
Conclusion
A 13 minute standby wait at Disney is considered a short to moderate wait time in comparison to the higher waits common for Disney’s most popular attractions. It generally indicates a lower crowd level day, slower morning or nighttime park hours, and potentially rising wait times later in the day as crowds peak.
While not an instant walk-on, a wait just over 10 minutes allows you to breeze through the line and quickly experience the attraction multiple times if desired. Overall, it’s a convenient wait time that park goers are usually happy to see!