You know it’s going to be a busy day at Disney World when Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes start selling out quickly.

With so much fluctuation around spring break crowds lately, predicting the Disney World crowds from day to day has proven to be a challenge. If you stalled on purchasing Genie+ (Disney’s skip-the-line service) and those Individual Lightning Lanes, then later realized everything sold out, what do you do then?

Most days, you can have a little time to decide whether or not Genie+ is “worth it” to purchase for the day. However, it usually pays to play it safe and purchase Genie+ as early in the day as possible. There are times of the year when Genie+ can sell out for the day very quickly, and that’s been happening a LOT lately.

We’ve seen the multi-park option sell out for Genie+ before some of the parks are even open (which could thwart your Park Hopping plans if you were planning to use Genie+ in multiple parks for the day).

In addition to Genie+ selling out, you’ll typically see the Individual Lighting Lanes sell out as well. Taking today, March 29th, for instance, all of the Individual Lighting Lanes (except for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind) were sold out very early in the morning.

This probably leaves you feeling like your whole day could be ruined, right? WRONG! We’ve got some tips and tricks to help your day go as smoothly as possible, even when extra help like Genie+ isn’t available!

Time for a Nap

Alright, first on our list might seem a bit unconventional but it’s worth it! OK, on a serious note, there are plenty of great places (and rides) to nap around Disney World without having to head back to your hotel room if you don’t want to. We’re experts with this tip! If the park is looking especially crowded midday and the lines are long, take a break and find some air conditioning.

Trust us — a quick nap can provide a much-needed break from the crowds and the hustle and bustle of everything else going on around you. It is so beneficial to refocus your mind and energy. In fact, maybe it’s not totally farfetched to take that midday dip in the pool your kids have been begging for all day!

When the parks are feeling unbearable, your resort may be the place to go instead! There are plenty of cool things to do at the Disney World hotels like lawn games, community halls, and recreational activities like bike rentals to keep you busy for hours!

Have you already seen all there is to do at your hotel? Take an opportunity to explore another hotel you’ve always wanted to check out (it’s a great opportunity to research where you want to stay for your next visit)!

Plan What You Can… Even Down To Food

We’re going to be straightforward here and say that if Genie+ is sold out for the day, it’s probably realistic that the Disney World theme parks are busy. With more people in the parks, there are more bodies to feed. So, planning your next meal times ahead will work in your favor!

Use other tools to your advantage, like mobile order, to purchase your food in advance. We recommend you pre-order your food BEFORE you plan to eat because the quick-service lines tend to get LONG around lunch and dinner. You might also want to plan to eat before or after the peak meal times if you can help it. Avoiding a popular time to dine for lunch or dinner will keep you from waiting longer for your meal, and you’ll likely have less trouble finding a table to eat.

Prioritize High Capacity & Low Wait Time Rides

You might feel a bit defeated if you’re waiting multiple hours in line for your next ride, but imagine how many smaller rides you could get knocked out during that same timeframe!

By prioritizing high-capacity rides like Carousel of Progress, Hall Of Presidents, or Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, you’ll be able to get through several attractions with minimal waits!

This is also a great time to take in a show or two! If you’ve not already made time to belt out the Arendelle national anthems during For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along, this is your chance.

Wait Until the End of the Night

This might sound super confusing, but patience is a virtue, and most of the time, it pays off!

Lines for some of the most popular attractions and rides tend to dwindle when the park nears closing for the night. Usually, it’s a good strategy to wait until the last few hours of the night (especially if you’re willing to miss the nighttime show or fireworks) to really make your time count around the ride wait times.

We’re always sharing our best tips, tricks, and secrets to help you make your next Disney World visit the best one yet! Be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for even more to come!

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Do you use Genie+ when spending a day at Disney World? Tell us your strategy in the comments below!