Disney Backup Plans
Let’s face facts.
Sometimes, you’ll need to improvise during a Disney theme park visit.
That’s totally fine, though! You don’t want your vacation getting too dull anyway.
The occasional hiccup keeps you on your toes and reminds you of how lucky you are to be within the friendly confines of the Disney Bubble.
Besides, unplanned activities often make for some of the most memorable moments during a trip.
So, let’s discuss some Disney backup plans.
The Problem: It’s Too Hot
Let’s start with the most topical one.
Last July was the warmest month on record. So far, July 2024 is pacing to be even hotter.
July 21st, 2024, was the hottest day in recorded history. I hope your air conditioning was working.
In Orlando, the heat index has reached 110 degrees on multiple dates this month.
I’m a native Tennessean, and I still think that’s too hot.
The Solution: Go Inside!
Thankfully, hot weather isn’t the dealbreaker you might expect at Walt Disney World.
On the contrary, park officials attempted to solve this problem in the mid-1960s, when Walt Disney purchased the land.
At the time, the Disney land primarily consisted of undeveloped swamps. So, everyone knew it would be steamy.
Thus, several opening-day attractions, such as Country Bear Jamboree and The Hall of Presidents, provided shelter from the heat.
Since then, Disney has added plenty of indoor experiences throughout the campus.
I posted a summer survival guide with plenty of suggestions for staying indoors.
If you follow MickeyBlog and MickeyTravels on social media – and you really should! – you may have noticed our post the other day.
When the new Lightning Lane system debuted, our park reporters were grateful for Mickey’s PhilharMagic.
This delightful attraction offers solace on sunny days, and Disney pros know to target experiences like this when it’s too hot outside.
The Problem: The Ride Is Down
Yeah, this sucks, and it happens a lot at Disney theme parks because management emphasizes safety first.
Disney has implemented the industry’s most stringent safety requirements, leading to the occasional shutdown.
Automated systems stop attractions whenever an error code is detected, and we should all be grateful for that.
Still, I know the heartbreak of an attraction shut down. It can be infuriating.
The Solution: Discuss Options
When an attraction closes on you, you’re entitled to a make-good of some sort.
Often, a Cast Member will provide you with a return experience, allowing you to come back once the attraction reopens.
In some instances, that won’t be possible. So, you’ll gain a similar make-good for other attractions of similar quality.
I should stress that if Mad Tea Party goes down, Disney won’t let you skip the line at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or anything like that.
Instead, you’ll get back something equivalent to what you lost.
I realize you’ll feel disappointed if it’s not quite the same for you. After all, you picked the attraction. It’s what you want.
So, something else may not be as good. Still, you can do one other thing to retake control of the situation.
Once you recognize an attraction is down, you should whip out your phone and immediately start planning what’s next.
You can establish a mindset wherein you’re already anticipating the next thing, which takes away some of the sting of disappointment.
The Problem: No Reservations
I almost feel bad for first-time Disney vacationers. They have no idea what they’re about to face.
Walt Disney World is an industrial complex of the highest order, and it’s a de facto city with hundreds of thousands of residents.
All those people need to eat, which leads to chronic sellouts at Disney’s most popular restaurants.
If you don’t book an Advanced Dining Reservation, you’ll probably get shut out of Disney’s most popular restaurants.
That’s just math.
The Solution: Several Plan B Options
Here’s the thing, though. You can manipulate the math in your favor!
For starters, remember that people cancel reservations all the time!
So, you never know when you might stumble into a reservation you want.
That statement applies to Mobile Ordering as well. When Disney first introduced this system, few guests used it.
Nowadays, some Mobile Ordering options require an extended wait because of the restaurant’s popularity.
Again, everyone needs to eat! But stubbornness will help you here.
You can refresh your phone as much as needed to find a Mobile Order option you like or a restaurant reservation.
Then, should all else fail, remember that you can order Mobile Service to go at some restaurants.
Then, you can grab a high-quality meal and take it back to your hotel room.
The Problem: The Park Is Too Crowded
Look, this will happen sometimes. You’ll be at Disney and suddenly feel a bit claustrophobic.
If you’ve ever experienced this at a concert, sporting event, or the like, you’ll quickly realize that Disney is no different.
Sometimes, the moment gets to you, and you need to leave.
I’ve had this happen a couple of times at Hollywood Studios and on a memorable occasion at Animal Kingdom about a decade ago.
In all these instances, Disney construction was underway, making the walkways feel tighter.
That can contribute to the feeling that the walls are closing in. Sometimes, you feel like you gotta get out.
The Solution: LEAVE!
Folks, the Disney campus isn’t just a single theme park. Like, there are four of them.
So, if your current park isn’t working out for you, head to another one. The one caveat here is that you WILL need a Park Hopper ticket.
Presuming you have one, you can always leave a Disney park and visit another, eliminating your feelings of confinement.
However, let’s say you don’t have Park Hopper or simply want to get away from the parks for a bit.
You’ll still find countless options within the Disney Bubble.
For example, you can eat, shop, and dine to your heart’s content at Disney Springs.
You’ll also find multiple entertainment options there, like Cirque Do Soleil, Splitsville, and the Aerophile.
Disney hosts multiple hobbyist activities, including fishing, horseback riding, pickleball, tennis, golf, and mini-golf.
Remember that you’re on vacation. So, you don’t need to spend all your time at the parks.
Sometimes, you just might want something different as a lovely break from the thrills at Disney theme parks.
To a larger point, adaptability is critical to a Disney visit.
As you can see, no matter which issue arises, you can always do something to turn the tide!
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