We never stand in line for more than 20 minutes.
Does your dd have coping skills? Ds at that age always wore a baseball cap and sunglasses everywhere, and I brought a blanket when he'd start to get really overwhelmed. He likes to hide when things get to be too much.
Honestly, though, Disney World is like the best therapy ever for ds. In the real world, he is terrified of people, he acts out in school, he eats an incredibly limited diet, any change in routine or schedule ends up in out of control tantrums for hours, even sometimes days. He has pretty severe behavioral problems. And taking him to Disney World always results in some anxiety for me. His social behavior is very delayed, so for instance, at 7 his social and self help skills are at about a young 3 year old level. Just to give oyu some back ground. But at Disney World, it's amazing. the first few days he is really rigid, but before long he starts eating things he would never touch before. He enjoys trying new things. Meeting new people. He volunteers for stuff. He rarely cries or misbehaves. It's like the sweet little boy that is underneath all of the neurological issues is able to finally come out. He doesn't even hardly have tics when we're there.
So for us, and my son, all my worries about how he will do in crowds has been pretty unfounded - at Disney World. That's not to say that he is miraculously just like every other kid his age, he still has issues. We have to use a stroller because he darts off, especially at night, he hides in the stroller when things get to be too much, every now and then he will call people bad guys or start talking in the baby voice (it's like this bizarre alter ego). So he's not perfect, but for us who take care of him all the time, the changes are amazing. We're cognizant of what he needs and when, but in general he does very very well at DW. Honestly, I think it is because every new thing he tries ends up being a positive experience, and unfortunately, real life isn't like that.
So, my advice is, go in armed with your dd's coping skills in hand a plan, but keep an open mind that you may not need them. Have fun.
Oh, and I have to say, the
Disneyland and Disney World employees have been fabulous with my son. Even when he is acting kind of weird and other adults start getting nasty, they have always been wonderful. I think they must have some training, because they could not have been better when dealing with him. I still get teary eyed thinking about how kind everyone at the Jedi training was with him. And that is without me telling them anything, they were just nice to him just because.