How accurate are Walt Disney World wait times?

There’s a reason why Disney’s Fast Pass is so popular at Walt Disney World—they really do cut down on the amount of time guests spend in line, but just how accurate are those wait times?

If the wait lines are rather short, around 10 minutes, the prediction is pretty accurate. That is especially important for rides like It’s a Small World at Magic Kingdom where little babies and toddlers might not feel like waiting for an extended amount of time. But what if the wait time is listed as 75, 90, or even 110 minutes? Sometimes those long wait times are pretty accurate, but when Disney decides to estimate the wait, they tend to err on the side of overestimating instead of underestimating.

In other words, a 75 minute wait might clock in at closer to 60 minutes, especially if it’s earlier in the day. That’s still a long wait, especially for young children, but at least it doesn’t exceed everyone’s expectations. Sometimes a lengthy wait time is posted and guests will find themselves on the ride in half the time, making it a pleasant surprise.

The only places that don’t post a wait time are the restaurants and concession stands. When dealing with the food orders of so many guests at the same time, even Mickey Mouse can’t make an accurate estimate, so the park doesn’t try to do it—although that might end up where you spend the longest amount of time in line.