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Mouse Metrics, New Orleans, LA (2024)

06/15/2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… to go to Magic Kingdom with reduced wait times.

That’s right folks! While your mind may be racing thinking about all of the Disney holiday offerings, this little post is here to offer you something even better (assuming you hate crowds).

You guessed it!

It’s our favorite topic here at mouse.metrics - why you should visit the Magic Kingdom on a party day!

You may be thinking, “Why WOULD I visit on a party day when the parks close at 6pm?!”

And the answer to that is that any non-Disnerd is asking that same question and skipping out on the Magic Kingdom on those days.

Leaving the Magic Kingdom nice and empty.

Just how empty?

Just like the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party days, the Magic Kingdom sees a 40% reduction in wait times during the day.

This means you can fit in more rides and attractions in less time compared to a non-party day!

What about the new Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios? Unfortunately, we don’t have any data to use to make predictions here. It looks like Hollywood Studios will not close quite as early as the Magic Kingdom, so if I had to make a guess, I’d say we won’t see quite as strong of a difference between party days and non-party days here.

Send this to your friend that needs the extra nudge to book that winter vacation.

Are you team party day or non-party day? Let us know in the comments!

06/12/2023

Wondering how easy it has been to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster since its reopening?

Well, it really hasn’t been that bad.

And part of the reason for that is because things just haven’t been too bad crowd-wise at the parks.

Additionally, I’m choosing to believe that this normal-sized demand for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is due to the large amount of disappointed Powerline Fans who are bummed by the lack of a retheme, but that’s more feelings-based than data-based 😉.

Scroll through the post to see what the data actually says and just how easy (or hard) it’s been to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

Were you team R&RC retheme or stay the same? Let us know in the comments!!

06/09/2023

This little tip can be a game changer for many ⤵️⤵️⤵️

The new(ish) Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster in EPCOT is currently utilizing a Virtual Queue.

This means that guests can only enter the virtual line by obtaining a boarding group at 7am.

While this process is pretty simply and well-known, a less discussed fun fact about this process is that cast members will allow you to scan into the Virtual Queue anytime after your boarding group is called (yes, even after the hour-long window has closed).

Like I mentioned, there are a few reasons why this is a game changer for many people…

1️⃣ EPCOT is a giant park! It takes foorreeevveerrrr to get around the park. Chances are high that you will not be near Guardians when your group is called. Knowing this tip allows you to shrug your shoulders, have another festival snack, and mosey on over to Guardians when you’re ready.

2️⃣ A virtual queue still has a wait time, and like most attractions, it has the lowest waits first thing in the morning and later in the evening. By waiting until later in the day (think: close to closing), you’re reducing the time wasted waiting in line.

3️⃣ Using this tip builds more flexibility in your day. Have an advance dining reservation during the same time your boarding group is called? No problem? Have a Remy’s Lightning Lane halfway across the park at the same time? Easy choice.

🚫Please note that this tip does NOT apply to Tron: Lightcycle Run. Cast members scanning guests into Tron are strictly enforcing the Boarding Group return window (unless you bring your receipt for an Advanced Dining Reservation at the same time).

When is your favorite time to hop in the Guardians Virtual Queue?

06/06/2023

Are you looking for inspiration for your next Animal Kingdom park day?

Then and .metrics have you covered!

We’ve teamed up to combine wait time data and actual park experience to both plan and implement a park day at Animal Kingdom.

This park day strategy uses Genie+ and strategic placement at certain areas of the park to minimize time spent waiting in line and maximize the time spent enjoying the animal walking trails, eating snacks, and having fun around the park.

Like all park day strategies, this strategy should be viewed as a flexible guide for your day. Even if implementing this plan as written, it is likely you will find ways throughout the day to deviate from that plan - and that’s ok! Plans give us a rough sketch of the day, but they do not have to dictate your minute-by-minute movements (unless that sounds fun for you).

Similarly, there are many ways to adapt this strategy before even entering the parks. Here are two of my favorites:

1️⃣ Do you have Early Entry and want to skip Genie+? You can make some tweaks that will still allow you to accomplish everything without long lines. Aim to knock out the three attractions with the longest waits during and shortly after Early Entry – Na’Vi River Journey (EE), Meet Disney Pals, and then Kilimanjaro Safaris. Continue following the rest of the strategy as is. You may need to scoot Everest to a little later in the day or use single rider to increase the likelihood of a shorter wait (its wait drops in the evening).

2️⃣ Does the idea of trying your luck at Flight of Passage 1 minute before park closing freak you out? I suggest buying the Individual Lightning Lane instead (Janaya actually decided to do this mid-way through implementing this strategy yesterday!).

There are so, so many ways to plan a park day that fits the needs, interests, and vibe of your group.

Save this to inspire your next park day plan.

And let us know your favorite way to tour Animal Kingdom in the comments below!

06/03/2023

Can we use data to help us understand and book Virtual Queues at Walt Disney World?

You already know that answer…

So let’s dig in.

In the last post, we looked at average Genie+ sell out times in May and saw that Lightning Lane availability was pretty darn good throughout the month.

Well, I’m here to tell you that we can say the same with Virtual Queue availability as well.

And this makes sense. When crowds are lower, there are fewer people competing for the same number of Virtual Queue or Lightning Lane slots. Your chances of scoring what you’re trying to get go up significantly.

But let’s look specifically at May’s data.

In case you’re new to the VQ rodeo, Disney drops Virtual Queue boarding groups for people to book at 7am and 2pm daily. They also do an additional 6pm drop on nights with Extended Evening hours.

The average sell out times for both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tron: Lightcycle run tell us a similar story - the 7am drop of Virtual Queues is vastly more popular than the 1pm drop. The 6pm drop can be a mixed bag.

This post also breaks down your chances of a Virtual Queue sell out by seconds or hours. It’s helpful to know if the VQ is selling out within seconds so that you can use your time wisely and manage expectations. The data says you need to move fast for the 6pm drop and even faster for the 7am drop.

Something that is especially helpful for park hoppers is the slide that shares the likelihood that the 2pm Virtual Queue would last for hours. Another way we could read that title is “What are the chances a park hopper could book the Virtual Queue” because one must be inside the park to book a VQ, but you’re not allowed to hop until 1 hour AFTER that 1pm drop.

Save this post to give you a rough idea of what to expect Virtual Queue-wise if you’re planning on visiting Walt Disney World during a slow season.

Are you a 7am or 1pm Virtual Queue stan? Let us know in the comments!

06/01/2023

If you’re looking to sleep in and skip out on buying Genie+ while still enjoying the major attractions at Animal Kingdom, then this strategy is for you.
metrics and .wdw have teamed up to create a strategy that works equally well for a visiting park hopper and a seasoned local.

This strategy uses wait time data, attraction location, and good old fashioned park experience to place you at certain attractions and shows when wait times are lowest.

For example, the strategy begins with shows and animals from 2-4pm. This is because it’ll still be peak crowd hours. Rather than going with the crowds to stand in long lines, this strategy has you doing line-free activities.

As the day goes on, wait times typically drop pretty precipitously at Animal Kingdom.

Na’Vi River Journey and Avatar: Flight of Passage will likely have the longest lines throughout the day.This is why our strategy has us hitting them last.

Hop in line for Na’Vi around 6:00, then explore Pandora until JUST before the park closes. As long as you’re in line before the park officially closes, you’ll be allowed to stay in line and ride the attraction.

Wait times for Avatar: Flight of Passage are typically at their lowest late in the evening. While it’s not a guarantee, it’s likely you’ll be hopping in a relatively short wait for this headliner.

➡️ Follow .metrics for more Disney data-drive tips, tricks, and strategies.
➡️ Follow .wdw for more Disney video content.

What are your favorite ways to avoid lines at Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!!

05/29/2023

Do you want to try a challenge? Try planning an all-ages ride-focused park day strategy at Hollywood Studios where only TWO rides do not have a minimum height requirement. 🥴

I asked the mouse metrics community what they wanted to see in a Hollywood Studios AM strategy, and they voted for the following:

➡️ Early Entry
➡️ Genie+
➡️ Ride-focused
➡️ Mix of adults, big kids, and toddlers

So here it is! I’ll walk you through why I made some of the decisions I made.

✅ Early Entry: I chose to knock out the two attractions with no height requirements during Early Entry. Doing so will allow us to knock out two medium-priority Genie+ attractions without losing time from Rider Switch.

✅ Rider Switch: I gave suggestions for what the Rider Switch group can ride/experience while waiting for the big kids to get off of the big rides. Hollywood Studios can get boring real fast for littles if they’re simply waiting around for more than half of the day.

✅ Walking Strategy: Rides are intentionally lumped together to avoid criss-crossing the park and to limit walking.

✅ Saving Money: Remember how we knocked out the two rides with zero height restrictions first thing in the morning? By doing that, we have eliminated the need to buy Genie+ for the kiddos requiring Rider Switch. yw

✅ Shows & Characters: I cheated a little bit (sorry!!). I added in some shows and characters to ensure that the group was able to spend time together. An all-ages ride-focused park day at Hollywood Studios is a little bit of an oxymoron because the rides just don’t support that all-ages vibe.

✅ Rise of the Resistance: Boo and hiss all you want! Rise is an 18 minute attraction (not counting waiting in line) which causes this to be an hour-long rider switch situation. Not to mention its crazy downtime. But if you want to add it in, I suggest buying the Individual Lightning Lane for it.

And there you have it!

Save this to inspire your next HS AM strategy.

What’s your favorite all-ages tip for touring Hollywood Studios?

05/09/2023

📍Save this post to inspire your next Animal Kingdom park day strategy.

There are so many ways to experience Walt Disney World based on your unique needs and preferences.

Today’s Animal Kingdom park day strategy was created by .metrics and .haigs.on.earth and is best for people looking to experience the animal-side of Animal Kingdom (and sleep in too!).

Want to know how this strategy might play out? .haigs.on.earth will be implementing this strategy and sharing updates in her stories TODAY!.

Follow .metrics for Disney data-driven tips, tricks, and strategies.

Follow .haigs.on.earth for Disney vacation planning and Disney travel tips.

What part of the strategy are you most excited to see implemented today?

05/07/2023

Here’s a fun way to look at Disney data - comparing a ride’s average wait time to the length of the ride itself.

There’s plenty to consider before hopping in line for an attraction.

and .metrics have teamed up to share one factor one considers before hopping in an attraction’s line - the length of the attraction vs. its wait time.

Take the Magic Kingdom for example (slide 2). We see 7 Dwarfs Mine Train alllll the way to the right. This means it has the longest wait time in the park. We also see it alllllll the way to the bottom. This means it has a shorter ride duration than most (~1 min 30 secs).

The Hall of Presidents, by comparison, is allllll the way to the left. This means it has a very short wait (it’s usually a walk on). Meanwhile, it’s also alllllll the way to the top. This means it has the longest ride duration in the park (22 mins).

While wait vs. duration is a helpful metric to understand when planning your park days, keep in mind that it’s not the only metric to consider.

Overall ride satisfaction, personal interests, and location within parks are other important factors to consider when planning your park day. Otherwise, you’re going to be watching president animatronics and Tiki Birds all day (don’t do it, or do; it’s up to you).

Follow for more data visualizations on a wide range of topics.
Follow .metrics for more Disney data-driven strategies.

Comment to share the rides that just aren’t worth the wait to you.

05/07/2023

Here’s a fun way to look at Disney data - comparing a ride’s average wait time to the length of the ride itself.

There’s plenty to consider before hopping in line for an attraction.

and .metrics have teamed up to share one factor one considers before hopping in an attraction’s line - the length of the attraction vs. its wait time.

Take the Magic Kingdom for example (slide 2). We see 7 Dwarfs Mine Train alllll the way to the right. This means it has the longest wait time in the park. We also see it alllllll the way to the bottom. This means it has a shorter ride duration than most (~1 min 30 secs).

The Hall of Presidents, by comparison, is allllll the way to the left. This means it has a very short wait (it’s usually a walk on). Meanwhile, it’s also alllllll the way to the top. This means it has the longest ride duration in the park (22 mins).

While wait vs. duration is a helpful metric to understand when planning your park days, keep in mind that it’s not the only metric to consider.

Overall ride satisfaction, personal interests, and location within parks are other important factors to consider when planning your park day. Otherwise, you’re going to be watching president animatronics and Tiki Birds all day (don’t do it, or do; it’s up to you).

Follow for more data visualizations about a wide range of topics.
Follow .metrics for more Disney data-driven strategies.

Comment to share the rides that just aren’t worth the wait to you.

05/05/2023

That’s right, gang! All hope is not lost if you missed out on the 7am drop of Guardians or Tron virtual queues!!

While the 7am drops of both Tron and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queues pretty consistently sell out within seconds, their 1pm drop pretty reliably lasts longer.

On low and medium-low crowd days, we’re looking at these virtual queues lasting several hours.

On medium-to-high days, the virtual queues can last anywhere from a seconds to minutes.

In general, the busier the park, the faster that 1pm drop is going to sell out, so make sure you’re INSIDE the park and ready to book that virtual queue right at 1pm on busy days.

Share this with a Tron or Guardians stan who might otherwise lose their 💩if they don’t get that 7am drop of virtual queues.

Comment with your favorite virtual queue tips and tricks - we’re in this traumatic virtual queue scramble together 😵‍💫

04/28/2023

It’s here! The handy dandy Animal Kingdom static post!

Save this bad boy to inspire your next Animal Kingdom park day strategy (or use it directly - we’ve already had success implementing this strategy!).

This strategy was created by and .metrics to merge wait times and real park day experience to plan the perfect late start strategy.

Remember, there are a couple of key features to keep an eye out for in this strategy:

➡️ There is virtually no backtracking in this strategy. Once you enter, you turn right to Dinoland U.S.A. and slowly make your way across the big loop over the course of the day.

➡️ Animal Kingdom Genie+ has good availability, so expect to get near-immediate Lightning Lane return times.

➡️ In fact, the only modifying you may have to do to your Genie+ Lightning Lane selections is to change them to even later return times.

➡️ Be mindful of showtimes. Timing those just right are the key to avoiding backtracking. Here are our showtime recommendations - Nemo (11am), Feathered Friends (1:30pm), Lion King (5pm - last showing of the day!!).

➡️ Avatar! Hop in line right before the park closes, not only do you avoid wasting park hours, but waits are typically pretty low. When Kayla tested it out, her wait was ~30 mins (a lot better than 2+ hours!!)

✅ Follow .metrics for more Disney data-driven tips, tricks, and strategies.
✅ Follow for Disney travel planning services and first timer tips.
✅ Comment below to let us know your favorite way to tour Animal Kingdom!!

04/25/2023

I grew up in the 90’s in a very “not wealthy or even median income-y” home. Yet we somehow went to Disney World pretty often.

I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out how this happened. Are my parents master money savers? Did they know some kind of discount hack? Were we in perpetual Disney debt? What was it??!

After spending too long trying to figure it out on my own, I just asked my mom.

And her answer was pretty simple.

“It was just a lot cheaper to go to Disney World back then.”

So that got me wondering, just how much cheaper was Walt Disney World when I was a child?

And how much cheaper was it when my mom was a child??

So I did what any totally normal person would do and spent half of my Sunday researching this exact question.

Enjoy the fruits of my labor, but please keep a couple of things in mind:

🔵 I tried to be mindful of inflation and the fact that all prices rise over time (except Arizona tea 👀). I did this by adjusting the cost of ticket prices in the past for 2023 inflation (see slides 3 and 5). Doing so showed that ticket prices are still significantly higher even when all prices are adjusted for inflation.

🔵 I also tried to contextualize the ticket price increases by comparing it to the median household income. You can see this on p. 6. This is where we really see how a family in 1995 had a better chance at affording a Disney vacation than one today.

🔵 There are many reasons for price increases at a theme park as large and complex as Walt Disney World that I aimed to address this on slide 7. There are some real and understandable reasons for price increases just as there are some less than understandable reasons.

🔵 This isn’t intended to be an indictment on Walt Disney World raising prices. Instead, it aims to provide a data-driven look at ticket prices over the year to better understand the extent to which parks have become unaffordable for

What are your thoughts? Totally normal growth in ticket prices? A bit too much? Somewhere in the middle? Let us know in the comments.

03/24/2023

Want to skip the bumpy/scary coasters at Magic Kingdom and still have a great time?

Then this strategy is for you!

This strategy was created by .metrics to meet the needs of our pregnant strategy tester, Georgia from . This means no bumpy coasters and avoiding excessive spinning (sorry, teacups). It also means that this strategy works well for toddlers too!

While the strategy is intended to be flexible, here’s a rundown of what this strategy might look like when implemented.

1. Before 7am, purchase G+ & set to book Jungle Cruise ASAP. Add Haunted Mansion to Standby Skipper for an ASAP return time after Jungle Cruise is booked.

2. Arrive to the park before 9am and head straight to Town Square Theater to meet the mouse.

3. Head straight to Adventureland after. Aim to ride Jungle Cruise and both standby rides within the first hour. Then head over to Haunted Mansion to redeem your Lightning Lane booked by Standby Skipper. Add both Peter Pan and Meet Cinderella to the app for evening return times.

4. If you have any remaining time, feel free to hop in some low wait rides. Use the My Disney Experience app to check waits.

5. Take a break! The captain will begin stacking your Lightning Lanes.

6. By the time you re-enter the parks, you should have some Lightning Lanes booked. Add all of your remaining rides in the app for ASAP return times. For the rest of the evening, let your Lightning Lanes, standby rides, and your whims be your guide.

And that’s it!!

Save this handy dandy post to serve as inspiration for your next trip.

Follow .metrics for more data-driven tips, tricks, and strategies.

Follow for travel planning services and to follow this strategy’s implementation in stories.

02/10/2023

Ready to avoid the crowds and skip the lines at Walt Disney World?

Me too, so I’ve put together my favorite 5 tips for avoiding lines at Disney World!

While this list isn’t exhaustive, it does contain my favorite go-tos when planning my own Disney World park days.

My tried and true tips are as follows:

1. Invest in Genie+ & Individual Lightning Lanes - I hate that I put this as #1 because I fundamentally do not believe in a pay-your-way-ahead-of-others model, but it’s the model we have, and I think you skip the most lines this way.

2. Be an Early Bird - Taking advantage of Early Entry is not for the faint of heart. You need to get to the parks early, like really early, and crowds are sometimes a little wacky and competitive. BUT, you will see the lowest wait times of the day during this time. Use this time to either

3. Be a Night Owl - A lot of families head to dining reservations or back to their resorts starting around 5pm leading to lower wait times across the park. Use this to your advantage to hop in some lines when wait times are typically lower.

4. Timing is Key - Plan your trip during slower off-season months for shorter wait times and lower crowds. In general, late August, all of September, early December, mid January until mid-February, and are all good times to visit crowd-wise. There are additional smaller windows of low crowds which is why crowd calendars such as the and calendars provide insight when planning your trip dates.

5. Make a Plan - Use wait time data to create a customized park day strategy. Maximize your time and experiences by having a clear plan for what you’re riding during Early Entry, as a Genie+ Lightning Lane, or as standby.

What’s your favorite tip for avoiding lines at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

02/09/2023

Genie+ is a great way to skip some of the longests lines in Walt Disney World, but in typical Disney fashion, it’s also confusing af.

An experienced Genie+ user can strategize with Genie+ to do things like stack lightning lanes, modify lightning lane reservations, and pin and refresh to get better return times.

But before getting to that, we need to clarify some of the 101 basic terms and processes related to buying and using Genie+.

This handy dandy Genie+ 101 guide defines some key terms, provides details on purchasing, and gives you a rundown of how it works including a fancy schmancy flow chart.

What do you want to know about Genie+ in the 201 and 301 posts? Let us know in the comments below!!

01/20/2023

We’re getting closer to the closure date of Splash Mountain. What’s going on with the ride’s wait times?

and have teamed up to dig into the data and provide us all with some answers!!

We’re comparing Splash Mountain’s wait times to the Magic Kingdom’s average wait times and the average temperature of each day.

Why are we doing that?

Tracking Splash Mountains wait times alone won’t give us a complete picture of what’s happening. There’s typically a correlation between Magic Kingdom wait times and Splash Mountain’s wait times (Splash Mountain IS inside the Magic Kingdom after all). Weather also impacts Splash’s wait times - higher temps = longer waits while lower temps = shorter waits.

By looking at all three of these metrics together, we’re better able to pinpoint changes in Splash Mountain’s wait time behavior.

Data used in this video sources from and ThemeParks.Wiki.API.

Share this with anyone you know hoping to get that last Splash Mountain ride before it closes for good.

01/17/2023

If you’re aiming for a chill vibe when visiting EPCOT at Walt Disney World, this laid-back EPCOT park day strategy from the brains of and .metrics is for you!!

We’ve teamed up to create a park day strategy that minimizes time spent in lines to maximize laid-back moments of sipping Choza margaritas, eating a croissant, and simply living in the moment while in the parks with the people you love.

How might one adapt this strategy?

No early morning Remy’s Lightning Lane - If you didn’t have fast enough fingers to snag that 9am Remy’s Lightning Lane, consider rope dropping Remy’s first and eating that buttery croissant second.

Front Entrance - Skip the French Bakery and instead enjoy some Joffery’s Coffee near the front gate or explore the aquarium with little-to-no guests around.

No Early Entry? No problem! - Enter the park at the official park opening and head straight to the Imagination Pavilion.

No rider switch needed - If you do not need to do rider switch with a little one, then we think you should go for BOTH the virtual queue AND Individual Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind - it’s that good! You could also consider adding Test Track to your late evening G+ attractions.

Data from

Send this post to a friend you know could use a solid plan for EPCOT with their kids (and a margarita.)

PS: a version of this itinerary will be available inside ’s newest Guide to EPCOT. Find the waitlist link in her bio 🙋🏻‍♀️

12/22/2022

Are you a park open to park close kind of person? Then this EPCOT park day strategy is for you!!
metrics and have teamed up to meld the theory of Walt Disney World wait time data and with the practice of actually following a strategy in the parks.

This strategy works best on days when the crowd sizes are low-to-medium.

But how might one adapt this strategy?

✨ International Gateway - If entering through EPCOT’s back entrance, flip the Early Entry strategy around and start with Remy’s

✨ Busier park days - Consider buying Genie+ and booking Remy’s (and possibly Frozen) through Genie+ instead of rope dropping them.

✨ No Early Entry? Either book Genie+ or plan to ride some of the Early Entry rides shortly before park closing (I recommend the former due to the park’s size)

✨People serious about hating lines - Pairing Genie+ with this strategy will ensure you wait in hardly any lines all day.

Data from

How does this park day strategy compare to your ideal park day? Let us know in the comments!

10/04/2022

What to do when you love Disney but hate crowds and lines? Wake up suuuppper early and take advantage of the Disney hotel guest perk known as Early Entry!

On most days, the first 30 minutes of the day sees the lowest crowds and wait times. This is because Disney restricts entry to guests staying at Walt Disney Resort hotels and select partner hotels AND because many people want to sleep in.

In my opinion, the low crowds and minimal waits of Early Entry > sleep. Besides, you'll knock out so many of your favorite rides early on that you'll have time to nap later.

Not eligible for Early Entry? While you may miss out on the shortest waits of the day, you can still take advantage of some shorter waits and lower crowds if you plan on arriving just before official park opening.

Data courtesy of

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10/04/2022

I don't know about you, but I love going to theme parks but haaaaate waiting in lines. This sparked a passion for analyzing wait time data in the parks and developing strategies to minimize waits and maximize the amount of time spent on things I want to do. Before we can jump into the data or the strategies, let's take a look at some basic terms that are key to navigating a trip to Walt Disney World or Disney Land.

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