Theme Park Shark tracks live wait times at 9 major theme parks across the United States, collecting data every 10 minutes from park open to close. This page explains how we collect, process, and publish that data.
Our Data at a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total wait time records | 44,325+ |
| Parks tracked | 9 |
| Collection frequency | Every 10 minutes |
| Data range | 2026-03-17 to present |
| Collection method | Automated API polling |
Parks Covered
| Park | Records | Average Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Disneyland | 10,449 | 28 min |
| Magic Kingdom | 9,566 | 29 min |
| Disney California Adventure | 5,247 | 45 min |
| Islands of Adventure | 4,517 | 46 min |
| EPCOT | 3,347 | 49 min |
| Universal Studios Florida | 3,276 | 37 min |
| Epic Universe | 3,213 | 53 min |
| Hollywood Studios | 2,736 | 56 min |
| Animal Kingdom | 1,974 | 39 min |
How We Collect the Data
Our automated system polls official wait time APIs at each park every 10 minutes during operating hours. Each data point includes the ride name, park name, posted wait time in minutes, and a UTC timestamp. The system runs on a cron schedule and stores data in a local SQLite database for analysis.
We collect posted wait times, not predicted or estimated times. These are the same numbers displayed on the signs and apps at each park. When a ride is temporarily closed or shows no wait data, we skip that data point rather than recording a zero.
How We Use the Data
Our guides and articles draw directly from this database. When we report that “Hollywood Studios averages 56 minutes per ride” or “Disneyland’s lowest-wait window is 8 AM at 13 minutes average,” those numbers come from real measured waits, not predictions based on school schedules or historical attendance estimates.
All times in our articles are converted from UTC to local park time: Eastern Time (ET) for Florida parks, Pacific Time (PT) for California parks.
How This Differs from Other Sources
Most crowd calendars predict wait times using school schedules, holiday calendars, and historical attendance patterns. Those predictions are useful for general trends but miss real-time signals like hotel discount patterns, ride closures, and adjacent events that actually drive crowd levels.
Theme Park Shark measures actual wait times. We do not predict. We record what happened, then analyze the patterns. When we say a park is busy, it is because the posted wait times were high. When we say a time of day is better, it is because the average waits at that hour were lower across our dataset.
Accuracy and Limitations
Our data reflects posted wait times, which parks sometimes round or adjust. A posted 60-minute wait may result in an actual experience of 45-65 minutes. Posted times are the industry standard for wait time reporting and are what guests use to make real-time decisions.
Our dataset began in March 2026 and grows daily. Seasonal patterns will become more reliable as the dataset spans more months and years. We note the data range and record count in every article so readers can assess the sample size themselves.
Data Access
Theme Park Shark’s wait time data is proprietary. We publish analysis and findings in our free guides. For media inquiries or data partnership requests, contact [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is Theme Park Shark’s wait time data?
Our data reflects the official posted wait times at each park, collected automatically every 10 minutes. These are the same numbers displayed on park apps and signs. Posted times are the industry standard for wait time reporting.
How often is the data updated?
The database updates every 10 minutes during park operating hours. Our published guides are refreshed weekly with the latest data.
How is this different from TouringPlans or other crowd calendars?
Most crowd calendars predict crowds based on school schedules and historical patterns. Theme Park Shark measures actual wait times from official sources. We report what happened, not what we think will happen.
How many data points do you have?
As of March 2026, our database contains over 44,325 individual wait time records across 9 parks.
