10 Disney World mistakes to avoid
Disney World is supposed to be the most magical experience in the world. I’ve gone to Disney multiple times over the years mainly due to cheerleading nationals. Here are the top 10 mistakes I see being made and what to do instead!
Not being strategic about when you’ll go. If your main goal is to avoid the biggest crowds, check out when the off seasons are. There are lots of websites to check for busy times, but this one is my favorite. If you want to avoid it when it’s hot as hell there, I recommend going in the winter and sometimes the fall. If you want to see the festivals, check the schedule! However, every season has its ups and downs, but by being strategic about when you go, you can ensure you’re experiencing more ups than downs. Personally, I’ve gone every season except fall and have enjoyed every season.
Not doing research into accommodation. Most Disney properties are definitely worth the money, especially if you have the dining experience and can eat at the hotel. They have transportation to the parks and each hotel has a certain theme. However, I recently stayed at the Hilton Buena Vista Palace across from Disney Springs and loved it. It was a bit nicer and less expensive than the Disney properties I’ve stayed at before and still had transportation to the parks. If none of this matters to you, or you’re going with a big group, opt for a condo you can rent. There are plenty that can definitely accommodate larger families. Once again, by discussing what is most important to you when visiting Disney, this will help you decide which works best.
Not making a plan in advance. My family has Disney down pat by now. We do all 4 parks in 2 days and know which rides we want to ride. Definitely go at the best pace for you, but if you go in with zero plan, you will be wasting a LOT of time. Get an idea of the layout of the parks, which rides you want to ride, and when/where the parades are.
Not wearing comfortable shoes. You will be walking A LOT at Disney. Wear comfortable shoes!!! I usually wear tennis shoes or my birkenstocks and don’t have a problem. However, I see some people wearing flats, flip flops, or even some wedges and that blows my mind. Find some comfortable shoes that you would be okay walking MILES in and pack those.
Forgetting sunscreen/bug spray. That Florida sun is no joke, yall. Neither are those Florida bugs. Pack your sunscreen and bug spray and be prepared! Nothing like a sunburn or a million mosquito bites to ruin your trip.
Not making advance dining/FastPass reservations. When you buy your tickets in advance (which you 100% should do), you can book dining reservations 180 days out and FastPasses 60 days out for those staying on property and 30 days out for everyone else. You should absolutely 100% do this. The best rides and restaurants get booked up as soon as the date becomes available, so mark your calendar and get ready to make some reservations! Be strategic on what rides you want to use your FastPasses on. Research which rides have them vs single rider lines. If a ride has a single rider line, do that instead of wasting a FastPass. For example, at Hollywood Studios, Rock n Roller Coaster has a single rider line but Tower of Terror doesn’t. Wait in the single rider line for Rock n Roller Coaster and then use your FastPass for Tower of Terror. This article is a great resource if you aren’t sure which rides you should spend your FastPass on.
Not buying a park hopper. If you don’t buy a park hopper, you’re missing out. The park hopper allows you to visit multiple parks a day. They’re slightly more expensive than your general entry ticket, but so worth it. Especially if you only go for a short trip, these park hoppers can make all of the difference.
Bringing too much to the parks. I feel like I say this on every post, but YOU DON’T NEED SO MUCH! You don’t need a backpack filled with all kinds of things. I bring a fanny pack with chapstick, my phone, my cards, my portable charger, and maybe some airplane bottles lol. If you must bring a big bag, remember that you’ll have to carry it alllll day and you will have to bring it on the rides. So just be aware of what you’re bringing.
Arriving late in the morning. True Disney fanatics know that the best time to be at the park is right before rope drop which is right before the parks open. Some parks have Extra Magic Hours, so research which parks are open earlier or later on any given day.
Leaving the park when it rains. Don’t leave the park when it rains! This is the best time to visit the park. Everyone else leaves so all of the wait times for the rides plummet! Either find a line for an indoor ride or hide out in a store or restaurant until the rain goes away.
Honorable Mention: You didn’t download the My Disney Experience App. This app is amazing. It shows you times of the parades/fireworks, wait times for rides and shows, you can order food at quick service restaurants through the app and skip the line. It also links to your account so your tickets, fast passes, reservations, etc can all be found on this app, too.
If you have any Disney tips, drop them in the comments!