Hate Disney lines? Superfans share 12 tips to avoid them.

Every Disney expert interviewed for this story emphasized the importance — nay, the absolute necessity — of showing up before a park even opens. The good news for early birds is that not everyone can swing this miracle of morning organization.

“You can tell everyone to get there early and they’ll still show up late,” said David Vaughn, a theme park content creator based in Southern California.

Brown, who is also a travel agent, blogger and podcaster, advises to arrive an hour before you’re officially allowed to enter. That means you’ll have time to park or take alternative transportation, make it to the gate, go through security and still be near the front of the line to enter — and among the first to get in line for rides.

“In those early hours, you can knock out a lot,” he said. Visitors should know in advance what they want to ride, tackle popular options while morning crowds are still thin and build the rest of the day from there.