You might not expect these places to have lines at Disney World…but they will!

During the busiest week of the year, it’s not just attractions that rack up long waits, it’s everyday things you usually breeze right past without a second thought. From transportation to snacks to spots you’d never think twice about on a normal park day, these hidden lines can quietly eat up your time if you’re not prepared.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World between Christmas and New Year’s, you should already know to expect long waits for rides. What often catches folks off guard, though, are the lines you don’t see coming — the ones that sneak up on you and quietly eat away at your park day.

During the busiest week of the year, nearly everything can turn into a wait. Here are some of the most surprising places lines pop up this week, plus we’re giving you the BEST tips on how to plan around them so you don’t lose valuable vacation time.

Quick-Service Restaurants

Holiday week turns Disney World hotels into destinations all on their own! Value and Moderate resort food courts regularly experience increased wait times for breakfast and dinner, even with the use of our secret weapon, Mobile Order. Return windows for picking up your food can jump far out, making a “quick bite” anything but quick.

Here’s the best tip we can offer when wait times increase: order meals earlier than usual, or place Mobile Orders well in advance of your preferred mealtime when possible.

Transportation

The line might not be for an attraction…it’s for the bus (or monorail, or boat, or skyliner!) After nighttime fireworks, Disney hotel transportation queues can stretch far beyond the usual boundaries, especially at Magic Kingdom and for value resorts.

Disney’s Skyliner is usually a smooth ride with smooth sailing in the queue line — but not this week. Midday and park-closing lines can stretch far back, especially at EPCOT and Hollywood Studios (and that’s not counting the folks traveling back and forth between the area hotels, too).

Here are the best tips we can offer when waits seem endless: stick around after fireworks for shopping or dessert, or wait 30–45 minutes before heading out. Additionally, make plans to ride early in the day or later at night when crowds thin for your best chance at the lowest wait times.

Merchandise Checkout Lines

World of Disney, Emporium, Creations Shop, and holiday-themed stores can have checkout lines snaking through the shop. And while you might think options like mobile checkout can help, you’re still in the store waiting for the Cast Member to verify your checkout.

Here’s the best tip we can offer when lines stretch further than you can see — shop during parades or fireworks, or first thing in the morning, for your best chance at getting in and out.

Character Meet & Greets

Characters in holiday outfits are hugely popular, and even “normally easy” meets can jump to 45+ minute waits solely from the influx of crowds.

Here’s our tip for when you’re ready to snap your character photos — check character wait times early and prioritize the ones you truly care about.

Security Checkpoints

Late morning and early afternoon security lines can back up fast. And most of this will be backup from people who have very little experience successfully traversing a trip through Disney World security in one fell swoop without being scooped aside for additional screening.

Here’s our best tip for getting to the park entrance quicker — arrive earlier than you think you need to and pack light. Additionally, if you have a high concentration of metal in one place of your bag, umbrella, or even eyeglass cases, hold those out in your hands and away from your body before you approach the checkpoint.

Transportation Between Parks

Park hopping sounds easy, but buses, boats, and Skyliner routes can all develop long queues during peak hours. Then there’s the additional anxiety-inducing worry that you might get to the park after they’ve reached capacity for the day — especially for our Annual Passholder Disney friends!

Here’s our best tips to park hop as smoothly as possible — avoid hopping between the early afternoon when crowd flow is heaviest, and if you’re worried about your chosen park reaching capacity, plan to be there well in advance and be ready to stay put through the evening.

Between Christmas and New Year’s, everything becomes a line — not just rides. Planning for these hidden waits can save you hours over the course of your trip and make even the busiest week of the year feel manageable.

A little awareness goes a long way, and during the holidays, it can be the difference between frustration and magic. We’re always sharing our best secrets and tips to help you WIN your next Disney World vacation before it even starts. Be sure you’re following along with us right here at DFB!

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Does the idea of visiting Disney World during the holidays sound like your ideal time to visit or do you avoid it at all costs? Tell us your vacation strategy in the comments below!