How Single Rider Lines at Disney World Work

If you’re headed to "The Most Magical Place on Earth" by yourself or are visiting with friends who don’t like the same type of rides, you may want to take advantage of single rider lines at Disney World. These lines can be a big win for solo riders because it cuts down on wait times, allowing you to get more out of your visit.

Here's what single rider lines are, which rides have them and other ways you can skip the line at Disney World.

Single rider lines allow guests to wait in a separate line to embark on a ride as a solo rider, instead of boarding and sitting with a group. Guests in these lines fill the remaining available seats and often help reduce waiting times.

You don’t have to be alone in order to use single rider lines — but if you and your group do use one, you likely won’t be seated together, and you may even board the ride at different times. However, if that’s not an issue, you may be able to shorten your time in line.

Few rides at Disney World offer this service. Most don’t have a single rider line, so you’ll have to wait in the standby line like everyone else — or pay extra for either a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or a Single Pass.

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So which rides have single rider lines at Disney World? Not many. As of this writing, four attractions let solo riders queue separately. Below, you can see which rides offer this option and the location of each. You’ll notice that no attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom have a separate line for single riders.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain.

Disney’s Epcot

• Test Track.

When available, single rider lines may allow you to get on these rides faster instead of having a potentially longer wait in the general boarding line.

How much faster will you get on the ride? That depends. In some cases, you may be able to walk right on, but at other times, the wait might be just as long as the standby line. While it can be a bit of a gamble, typically the wait will be shorter.

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All you need to do is show up at the attraction and get into the single rider line. You don’t need a pass or any special permission. Once in line, you’ll make your way to the front of the attraction and can fill an empty seat when a staff member tells you to do so.

This service is completely free. Unlike rides with a Lightning Lane entrance, you don’t have to pay to enter a single rider line. A day at Disney World is already pricey when considering admission prices and food and drink costs, so this is a win for your wallet.

It’s worth mentioning that single rider lines at Disney World aren’t always in operation and may not be available when you visit. However, if the service is open on the day of your visit, don’t miss out.

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Are you looking for other ways to reduce ride wait times while at Disney World? Here are three additional ways you can get on a ride faster.

Pay for Lightning Lane passes

Guests who invest in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass (previously Genie+) can reserve Lightning Lane entries at select attractions. If you're staying at an eligible Walt Disney World hotel, you can purchase this service up to seven days prior to your visit.

Eligible hotels include:

• Walt Disney Resort hotels (jump to see included properties).

• Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort.

• Walt Disney World Swan.

• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.

• Shades of Green.

All other park visitors can book up to three days in advance of their visit through the My Disney Experience mobile app. Prices vary by date.

Buy Lightning Lane Single Passes

For some attractions and experiences not offered through the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, guests can purchase à la carte Lightning Lane Single Passes. Prices vary by date, park and attraction. With this method, you can buy one Single Pass at a time for a total of two entries per day.

Of course, these options come at an additional cost. It may not be feasible for every guest to pay extra to trim line wait times after already spending so much to visit Disney. Before buying Lightning Lane ride access, take some time to review your vacation budget.

» Learn more: What to know about the Disney credit cards

Book a Disney VIP tour

Another way to skip the line at Disney is by booking a private Disney VIP tour. While pricey, this service allows you to skip the lines and enjoy a custom tour with a guide. You and up to nine friends can participate in this unique experience as a group. Simply tell your guide what you want to do and they’ll make it happen. You also get door-to-door service from your hotel to the parks.

Not waiting in long lines can be a massive win if you want to experience as much magic as you can in one day. This service must be reserved in advance and doesn’t include park admission. Prices range from $450 to $900 per hour, and tours must be booked for a minimum of seven hours. If your vacation budget allows for it, your Disney experience could be much different than that of the average guest.

It can be hard to see everything you want when visiting Disney World, and waiting in line can be a bummer when you’ve got a lot you want to do. Whether you’re traveling solo, are enjoying a ride by yourself or don’t mind splitting up your group to reduce wait times, single rider lines can give you more time to experience the Disney magic.

(Top image courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort)