Tips for Avoiding Typical Disney Vacation Mistakes
You spend all year dreaming about your Walt Disney World vacation.
Once the big moment arrives, you want every moment to be magical.
As a relatively inexperienced Disney tourist, there are a few factors you can’t possibly anticipate, though.
Here are a few of the typical Disney vacation mistakes that people make and tips for how to avoid them.
Don’t Cut Corners on Lodging
One of my dearest friends spent a year planning a Disney vacation for his family.
Since they live in Canada, they don’t get to Walt Disney World often. So, he frequently picked my brain about strategy.
Frustratingly, the family wouldn’t listen to me about Disney lodging.
They locked into the thought process that they would spend little time at the hotel. So, they shouldn’t waste money on a nice place.
My friend, who probably won’t visit Walt Disney World again in the 2020s, spent the body of the trip regretting this decision.
The logistics at non-Disney resorts are absolutely heinous. You’ll waste time waiting on cheap shuttle service.
Alternatively, you’ll spend time and money ride-sharing to and from the parks, a strategy that comes with its own setbacks.
When you vacation at Disney, you MUST vacation at Disney.
You’ll receive excellent perks like Early Morning Theme Park Hours.
Plus, you’ll gain access to all the spectacular amenities available at your resort.
I mean it when I describe every Disney property as an architectural wonder.
Don’t Just Show Up
We vacationed at a non-Disney tourist locale last week. Because the trip was never fully certain, we didn’t plan much.
That nonexistent itinerary worked out well for us, but it would never fly at Disney. And I speak from experience here.
Walt Disney World has added several levels of complexity to trips. It’s why I always recommend friends to use MickeyTravels for bookings.
You pretty much have to work on Disney vacations all the time to plan them well these days. I wish that statement wasn’t true, but it is.
Currently, you need a Park Pass to enter Disney theme parks, even if you own valid admission.
While that statement will mostly change in early 2024, it’s an ongoing concern.
Also, you cannot Park Hop until 2 p.m. each day, leaving you stuck at your first park for half the day.
Should you pick wrong, you’ll waste your entire morning standing in long lines and regretting your decisions.
You should never experience regret at Disney. Thankfully, you can avoid it by doing your research and planning a bit.
Note that there’s no need to plan excessively. You just need to know which parks you’re visiting, how close they are to your hotel, and so forth.
Having a vague idea of where you want to eat helps, too, but even that part isn’t a dealbreaker.
Seriously, though. The safest thing to do is just speak with a MickeyTravels agent.
Their services are free, and they’ll hook you up.
Don’t Dress Wrong
You’re probably rolling your eyes at how obvious this one is, but even diehard Disney veterans sometimes screw up in this category.
The reality is that you don’t always think about what you’re wearing as you plan your park visit.
If you are, you’re likely thinking in terms of how you’ll look in pictures and maybe even anticipating compliments for your fashion choices.
For starters, you shouldn’t choose shoes on how stylish they are or whether they match your outfit.
You’re not going on a first date with the source of your first crush.
You’re vacationing at a place where you’re likely to walk at least ten miles a day.
If you don’t wear comfortable shoes, your feet may bleed. And I’m not being hyperbolic here. This has happened to me.
Similarly, you should dress based on the expected temperature. If you wear layers in the summer, you’re a glutton for punishment.
If you visit Disney in December and only pack shorts, your knees will knock, and you’ll spend the whole trip hugging yourself for warmth.
Take your outfits seriously at Disney. If you don’t, sure, the pictures will look great, but you’ll feel miserable.
Don’t Ignore the App
You will rely on My Disney Experience while you’re at the parks. Seriously, it’s your lifeblood.
You shouldn’t assume that you’ll get to Orlando and suddenly possess mastery over this app. It’s impossible.
You’ll need a few days merely to get the hang of My Disney Experience, much less understand some of its best features.
With this app, you can prove park admission, qualify for theme park discounts, pay for food and merchandise, and so much more.
The catch is that you must train yourself in how everything works.
For this reason, I strongly encourage you to download My Disney Experience immediately and start practicing.
You can glance at features like MagicMobile and add your park tickets.
Also, you can learn how Mobile Ordering works plus where you’ll find attraction wait times, maps, and the like.
You should familiarize yourself with My Disney Experience as much as possible before your trip.
Otherwise, you will spend your first few hours at Disney swaying in the breeze and feeling like you’re missing out on everything.
Don’t Overdo It, Especially on Long Trips
Here’s a recurring mistake among inexperienced Disney vacationers.
You’ve spent so long anticipating your trip that you try to go hard on the first day or two at the parks. And that’s why my feet have bled.
When you travel to Disney, you’ll probably spend hours driving or roaming airports. It’s a grueling day.
Once you arrive at the parks, your adrenaline will kick in, and you’ll want to try everything as quickly as possible.
I realize it’s a challenge to demonstrate some patience, but you really should.
You can do every bit as much at Disney by taking a relaxed approach.
The key is to understand park behaviors and plan accordingly.
For example, since you’re staying at an official Disney resort, you can use Early Theme Park Entry to beat the rush by 30 minutes.
Once you’re in the parks, you can ride something that usually requires a longer wait.
Typically, crowds don’t form until two or three hours after opening. Then, the parks experience a lull later in the afternoon.
Similarly, many guests leave after the fireworks and sometimes even after dinner.
You can use these slowdowns to your advantage. Meanwhile, you can take it easy during the crowded parts of the day.
In the process, you’ll experience plenty of attractions without exhausting yourself.
This strategy will provide a more enjoyable vacation than pushing hard the first two days and then feeling fatigued during the rest of your visit.
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