Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Disney
No matter how much you research, prep or plan for your Disney vacation, there’s always an unexpected detail you miss. You can never truly expect anything about a situation until you’ve experienced it, and the same applies to your first time in the Disney Parks. Check out the things I wish I knew before I visited the Disney Parks.
1. You can’t do everything in a day- trust me
I once visited Disney for a day while visiting colleges in Florida. My mom’s favorite park is Epcot and mine is Magic Kingdom, so naturally we tried to do both in one day. Between all the walking, waiting in the lines for our favorite rides, meeting the characters and taking food breaks, we were pooped. The next day, my feet felt like they were going to fall off. So, if you’re planning a trip to Disney, be sure to plan ample time to do all the activities you want to do.
2. Wear comfy shoes!!
I can not stress this tip enough. Sure, you think you’ll be comfortable in your flip flops for the hot weather, but looks can be deceiving! Flip flops have little support for your feet, and after walking all day long, you’ll definitely be paying for it later. Wearing sneakers with good ventilation to keep your feet cool and comfortable is your best bet in the parks.
3. Renting a stroller for younger kids can be a lifesaver
Disney parks are fun for the whole family! However, nobody will be having fun when your child is tired and cranky after walking the whole park all day. If you’re interested in bringing your own stroller, that’s fine too! The strollers you can rent at the parks are only $15/day and are very light to push (no matter how big the kid is inside!). You can also store souvenirs inside so you don’t have to carry around the bags all day, and your child will conserve their energy for the big things!
4. Character meals are a must!
One of the best parts of Disney is definitely meeting all your favorite characters, snapping a picture and getting their autographs! A great way to save a bunch of time is to book character meals that feature the characters you most want to see. That way, you can spend a little time with them, eat a great meal and chill out for a little bit all in one sitting. There’s no guarantee that you’ll see the characters you want just walking around the parks, so definitely do the research about character meals before your Disney visit.
5. Post-Disney sadness is real
Once you visit for the first time, you’ll want to go again and again. Leaving for the airport or hitting the highway home, you’ll definitely feel a little sad that you’re leaving the most magical place on earth. On the bright side, you’ll have all the photos, souvenirs and memories from the trip to last a lifetime! Plus, it’s totally an excuse to plan your next trip to Disney ASAP!
Special thanks to Molly Kelly for writing this article! Molly Kelly is a loyal Disney fan of 22 years who aspires to become every Disney princess combined into one. She is a recent graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh in Upstate New York with a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Marketing. Some of her lifetime goals include being an annual pass holder to Disney, to own many dogs, and to incorporate Disney magic into her day, every day.