Things NOT to Do at Walt Disney World

We talk a lot about what you should do to maximize your Disney visit. That’s only half the story, though.

You should also be aware of mistakes that can ruin your dream vacation.

Here are nine things not to do at Walt Disney World.

Don’t Act Inconsiderate to Others

You want to get to the front of the line. You can’t wait to meet your favorite characters. And you want your food asap.

Congratulations, you’re just like everyone else at Disney!

We’re all in the same boat once we reach the park, which puts us on the same team.

Please be a team player. Show respect and deference to others, and you can safely expect your karmic reward.

People will do the same to you. That’s the secret sauce that makes Disney such a perfect vacation destination for all of us.

Don’t Crisscross the Parks

This one’s hard to understand until you’ve been at the parks for a while, but please take my word for this one.

Some Disney attractions do NOT go together as a combo because you’ll wear yourself out walking from one to the other.

As an extreme example, you’ll drive yourself crazy and probably need a nap when you book Na’vi River Journey and Expedition Everest consecutively.

The design of Disney’s Animal Kingdom places Pandora – the World of Avatar on the opposite side from Asia.

At Magic Kingdom, the same premise applies to Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Similarly, you don’t ever want to ride Spaceship Earth and then head straight to Frozen Ever After.

Do yourself a favor and study a park map before you decide which attractions to try.

Then, set a course where you stop along the way and experience attractions rather than walking straight across the park just to ride something.

Don’t Dress Foolishly

I get that you love flip-flops. Yes, they’re very comfortable.

And I know that your social media pictures will look better with those new tennis shoes you bought specifically for this trip.

You’re setting yourself up to fail, though. At Disney, you’re going to walk a ton.

As proof, EPCOT’s World Showcase covers 1.3 miles, and that’s just if you follow my advice and don’t crisscross the park.

Then, we have the weather consideration. In the summer, you should dress to protect yourself against hot weather.

During the winter, you should wear layers because, yes, even Florida (and California) can get cold.

But the most important part is that you dress like you’re going to burn at least 500 calories and walk ten miles.

Otherwise, those new shoes will cut your heels, or the flip-flops will get your feet stomped on the entire vacation. 

Don’t Just Eat Wherever

Walt Disney World is a foodie’s dream. I realize this statement doesn’t make sense to those who haven’t been to the parks yet.

Still, the fact remains that every Disney theme park owns and operates a restaurant featuring delicious haute cuisine.

You’re doing yourself a disservice and artificially reducing the potential quality of your trip if you just eat at the first place you see.

Sites like MickeyBlog post countless articles about the best Disney dining options, of which there are literally dozens.

You’ll find dining options like The Hollywood Brown Derby, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Yak & Yeti Restaurant, and Le Cellier Steakhouse.

That’s just one I like from each theme park, not even a real list of the best places to go.

I could just as easily mention Quick Service options like Flame Tree Barbecue, Woody’s Lunch Box, Sunshine Seasons, and Casey’s Corner.

The food becomes part of the experience during a Disney vacation.

Do some research and planning so that your tastebuds will have a spectacular vacation, too!

Don’t Miss the Classics

You may feel tempted to skip some of the older rides in order to prioritize the new stuff.

Since Disney’s newest attractions often require the longest waits, they’ll naturally take up a lot of your time.

Still, you should make sure that you take in the classics during your visit as well.

Attractions, like It’s a Small World, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain, define the Disney experience.

You want to savor these moments as best you can by riding all of them at least once…and I’d suggest multiple times for several.

The good news is that the waits are typically shorter on some of these attractions since they can host more guests in an hour.

Don’t Sleep In

Here’s a biggie. I know that you’re on vacation and want to take it easy. That’s not something you should do at Disney, though.

At a Disney theme park, you’ll discover something called Rope Drop.

That’s when all the other park guests arrive at Disney and enter the park the moment it opens.

Those who participate in Rope Drop are rewarded with short lines for all but the most popular attractions.

So, I strongly encourage tourists to arrive at the parks at least 45 minutes before they open to participate in Rope Drop.

Sometimes, Disney lets guests in even earlier, which is a massive competitive advantage.

Even if you don’t want to wake up and visit the parks that early, you’ll find that pre-noon visits are often quite good.

For various reasons, the parks don’t typically peak in attendance until the afternoon.

By waking up early, you’ll face the smallest crowds of the day. It’s an excellent trade-off for not sleeping in.

Don’t Stare at Your Phone All Day

This conversation has been an inflammatory one on Disney sites for about 20 years now.

For some older Disney fans, there’s nothing more disrespectful than staring at your phone all day.

To those of us who understand modern society, it’s just a basic part of living, even at Disney.

Over the years, Imagineers have embraced this cultural shift by adding more and more online features.

At this point, My Disney Experience qualifies as a ubiquitous part of any Disney visit.

Still, I’d strongly encourage you to put down your phone and enjoy your surroundings more than normal.

Disney theme park attractions don’t start when you board the ride; They begin when you enter the line queue.

At Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you’ll immediately notice all the signs of miners prepping for a hard day.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure relays information about the Disney Princess’s career since the movie ended.

My current favorite, Frozen Ever After, even takes you into the same store seen in the first film.

Magical touches like these enhance the immersion at various Disney attractions.

You’re missing the forest AND the trees by staring at your phone the whole time.

Don’t Stay Off-Site

This one’s a button for me, as I’ve had friends do so despite my stern warnings.

Then, they returned home and informed me that they wished they’d listened to me.

I just mentioned the immersion of Disney rides, and that statement applies to the official Disney hotels as well.

The theming at these places will blow you away, but that’s only a small part of why you should stay there during your visit.

Disney also offers world-class amenities for guests staying on-site.

Most notably, you can use Early Theme Park Entry, which is like Rope Drop on steroids.

This amenity is only available to guests staying at official Disney resorts.

Qualifying tourists can enter the park 30 minutes before it opens for Rope Drop, all but assuring that you can ride something early.

This amenity can fundamentally change your early morning success at Disney. It’s that much of a difference-maker.

So, please speak to an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at MickeyTravels to learn more about staying onsite.

These Diamond Earmarked agents are literally the best of the best when it comes to booking Disney trips.

Even better, they offer their services free of charge to you…and they’ll offer a few more tips on what not to do at Disney!

Don’t Yell at Cast Members

Just don’t. It’s such an indefensible thing to do.

Look, I’ve had plenty go wrong on Disney vacations. It happens, even at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Sometimes, you get double-billed, or you miss your reservation window due to unforeseen circumstances, or something goes wrong.

That’s just a part of life. When some sort of frustration occurs, please don’t take it out on Cast Members.

Disney’s theme park employees might as well have been born in a manger. They’re that kind and well-intended.

These professionals could do anything they want with their natural customer service skills.

They choose to spend their days bringing magic into the lives of others. We should cherish them for that.

So, when Junior doesn’t quite reach the height requirement, please don’t try to berate the Cast Member into letting them ride.

That Cast Member is protecting your child’s safety and deserves your respect.

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