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Let’s face it, theme park food lines can be brutal.
You’re hot, you’re hungry, and the last thing you want to do is wait for ages to grab a burger and fries. These long waits can lead to “hangry” meltdowns, especially for little ones, and eat into valuable park time that could be spent on rides, shows, and exploring.
Thankfully, many theme parks now offer mobile ordering through their official apps (some better than others). This innovative service allows you to bypass the traditional lines altogether, saving you precious time and maximizing your park fun.
This short article will run through some mobile ordering strategies that can help you save time, money, and a whole lots of meltdowns.
Before we hop into this, I want to run through a couple of cons of mobile ordering you should be aware of:
- Most apps require you to be inside of the park to see their menus and thus order food.
- All of the apps I have downloaded that have mobile ordering require you to sign in to the app, and if you happen to download this in-park, this small detail can be annoying if you don’t know your log in credentials.
The Benefits of Mobile Ordering
But don’t worry, the pros outweigh the cons.
Skip the Lines
The most significant benefit of mobile ordering is undoubtedly the ability to skip the often-lengthy food lines. This frees you up to spend more time enjoying the park’s attractions and experiences.
You can even order while in a line to see which ends up being faster (I’ve definitely tried this) and nine out of ten times mobile order wins when the line is longer than a trek to Timbuktu.
Order Flexibility
Mobile ordering allows you to browse menus at your leisure, customize your meals exactly how you like them, and pre-pay for your food – all from the comfort of your phone. No more scrambling to decide what to order or fumbling with cash at the register.
This is my favorite aspect of the mobile order – I don’t have to deter anyone else in line waiting on me to order and I can take my time to make my order. It’s great whether you’ve got a more structured day or a spontaneous one, especially when you see your favorite ride’s stand-by time is low!
Group Ordering Made Easy
Ugh, group orders are a pain. With mobile ordering though it makes it a breeze, especially with picky eaters.
Mobile ordering eliminates the wait-time squabbles. Everyone can browse the menu on their own phone, place their individual orders, meet up at the designated pick-up time, and you all find a table together, too. Truly an easy experience.
Real-time Order Tracking
With your park’s mobile ordering, you can let them know when to start your order so that you can pick up your order on your own schedule. Because of that, there is order tracking in the apps, too, so you can see how much time it’ll take to prepare your order and get it out to you.
Mastering Mobile Ordering Strategies
Downloading the Park’s App
The first step to mobile ordering mastery is downloading the official app of the theme park you’re visiting. Once you have the app, explore the mobile ordering section to familiarize yourself with the process and available options.
Here’s a list for the top 10 theme parks in the USA and the top operators:
Walt Disney World
Disneyland
Dollywood
SeaWorld
LEGOLAND California
Universal Orlando
Universal Hollywood
Silver Dollar City
Busch Gardens
Kennywood
(if this is akin to Lake Compounce’s app, I don’t recommend downloading)
Six Flags
Cedar Point
Knoebels
Hersheypark
Planning Your Attack
A little pre-planning goes a long way. Research the park’s menus and popular food stands beforehand. This will help you decide what you want to order and locate the mobile ordering options for those specific vendors.
Timing is Key
Order during off-peak hours
Theme park food lines tend to be longest during peak meal times. To avoid the worst of the wait, consider placing your mobile order during off-peak hours, such as mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
Pre-order meals for later pick-up to avoid missing out on rides
Don’t want to miss out on a thrilling ride while waiting for your food? Take advantage of the option to pre-order meals for later pick-up. This way, you can secure your food without interrupting your park adventures.
Leverage Location Services
Let the app suggest nearby mobile ordering locations!
Instead of walking your way across the park for funnel cake, check the app to see if there’s a location closer so you’re not dying in the heat.
Helps with Special Considerations
Do you have dietary restrictions or allergies? Many mobile ordering systems allow you to filter menus by dietary needs. Additionally, some apps offer express pick-up options for guests with special dietary requirements.
Pro Tips for Mobile Ordering Success
Link your payment method for a smooth checkout process
Save yourself time and frustration by linking your preferred payment method to the app beforehand. This allows you to breeze through the checkout process without fumbling for your wallet at the last minute.
Plus, as more parks go cashless, you won’t have to worry about bringing cash in anyhow.
Take advantage of special offers and discounts available through the app
Many theme parks offer exclusive discounts and promotions through their apps. Be sure to check the app for any available deals before placing your mobile order.
For example, SeaWorld Orlando has mobile-exclusive food and bundle deals – so even if you didn’t want to think about using mobile ordering before, maybe this will!
Consider mobile ordering for snacks as well as full meals
Mobile ordering isn’t just for full meals! You can also use it to grab quick snacks like popcorn or pretzels, saving you time waiting in line.
Be mindful of order pick-up locations and wait times
While mobile ordering helps you skip the main line, there might still be a short wait at the designated pick-up location for your order. Be sure to factor this into your planning when placing your order.
Download park maps to navigate efficiently to pick-up locations
Having a park map downloaded on your phone can help you navigate efficiently to the mobile order pick-up location for your food. This saves you from wandering around the park lost and saves you battery life if you’re not coming in with a portable battery pack.
Recommended: What to Pack to an Amusement Park
Mobile Order Your Way to Theme Park Fun!
Hopefully this helps you out if you’re deciding on whether or not mobile ordering is worth your time.
Because by incorporating mobile ordering strategies into your theme park visit, you can save precious time, avoid unnecessary frustration, and maximize your enjoyment of all the park has to offer. So ditch the lines and embrace mobile ordering.
And if you haven’t as of yet, please follow us on our other social media channels (YouTube, Instagram & Tik Tok – @themeparkbites) to stay up to date on food reviews. Thank you for allowing us to be your tasty theme park companion!