There’s nothing quite like finally making that long-awaited tourist to your favorite theme park or vacation spot. On the flip side, there’s no bigger downer than waiting in ultra-long lines — especially if you end up spending more time waiting than enjoying the experience you came for.
If you want to avoid the queues on your next vacay, look no further. A recent study by Play US analyzed data from millions of TripAdvisor reviews to pinpoint the worst offenders when it comes to long waits — and the results might surprise you.
Amusement Parks with the Longest Lines
When it comes to amusement parks, you might think Disney would outdo them all as far as making people wait. After all, the Magic Kingdom is synonymous with crowds and never-ending lines.
Surprisingly, Disney parks didn’t make the top 10 list in the U.S. — Disneyland Park in California ranks #22, while Walt Disney World Resort® in Florida doesn’t even crack the top 50.
So, who leads the pack? The honor of Most Line-Intensive Amusement Park in America goes to Hersheypark in Hershey, PA, which ranks #8 in the list of attractions people complain about most. (But if you absolutely have to visit, at least there’ll be plenty of sweet treats to munch on while you wait.)
Cedar Point in Ohio also made the list at #13. And with the opening of a new record-breaking roller coaster called Siren’s Curse next summer, their lines are sure to get even more brutal.
Historical Sites and Museums with the Biggest Wait Times
If you’re a history buff, you might want to think twice before heading to Salem, Massachusetts, despite its fascinating lore. The Salem Witch Museum ranked as the second worst destination in America overall for its seriously long lines for tourists.
Other historical sites and museums that made the list include the NASA Johnson Space Center (#3), the American Museum of Natural History (#7), the TITANIC Museum Attraction (#19), the Kentucky Derby Museum (#20), the Pearl Harbor National Museum (#42 in the U.S., and the #1 most complained about in the state of Hawaii), and Colonial Williamsburg (#49).
Destinations to Skip Across the World
But America isn’t the only place with groan-inducing queues. Play US also looked at the biggest tourist attractions worldwide and found that Penang Hill in Malaysia takes the unfortunate title of worst line offender across all attractions. Planned construction on the Penang Hill cable car will probably create congestion all on its own, meaning even longer lines.
The Calgary Stampede in Canada also made the list, ranking #8 for line complaints. Canada, on the whole, has a surprising number of attractions in the top 100 list, with ten making the cut — the most for any country outside the U.S. Maybe our neighbors to the north are too polite to tell the people in front of them to (respectfully) hurry it up.
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Final Thoughts
If you’re dead set on visiting a place infamous for nightmarish wait times, here are some tips to help you beat the crowds:
- Go off-season. If it’s possible and weather or timing aren’t factors, try to visit during the off-season when there will be fewer tourists around.
- Get there early. Be one of the first people in line when the attraction opens.
- Get tickets in advance. Buying your tickets ahead of time saves you from having to wait in line at the box office.
- Try mobile apps. Some theme parks now offer apps that let you virtually wait in line (so you don’t have to actually stand there feeling like a chump).
- Be flexible. If you run into long lines at a particular attraction, don’t be afraid to change your plans and visit something else.
Long lines are the price we pay for awesome experiences. But with some careful planning and a little patience, you can make sure your vacation is worth the wait.
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