10 Mistakes to Avoid when Preparing to visit Disney
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be complicated and very involved. To help you get started with your planning, we’ve got 10 mistakes to avoid when preparing for your trip. These mistakes are pretty common for guests visiting Disney World so take a look and then take steps to avoid them.
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RESEARCH
Walt Disney World is a huge resort! 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and over 30 resort hotels, there is so much to learn about. Take the time before your trip to do a little bit of research so you can be prepared once you arrive. Read articles here on Disney Addicts, listen to Disney podcasts, and watch YouTube videos. Knowing the Disney basics will help you not be overwhelmed and stressed out during your trip.
MORE IN-DEPTH RESEARCH
As part of your research about Disney World, you’ll want to learn about each park’s specific offerings. Read about the rides and attractions; their location, if they can cause motion sickness, the height requirements, etc. Knowing this information beforehand can help keep frustration and meltdowns at bay.
BECOME FAMILIAR WITH MY DISNEY EXPERIENCE
The Walt Disney World app, My Disney Experience, is free and essential for guests visiting the resort. Before you visit, download the app and get familiar with everything it offers. The app provides essential information such as wait times and helpful features such as mobile ordering and Genie+. If you learn how to use the app’s features before your trip, it’ll make your vacation easier.
PRIORITIZE YOUR GOALS
No matter how long your trip is, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to do it all. Make a list of your priorities for each park before you go. Have each person in your group list out their must-do’s for the trip including rides, snacks, shows, etc. Having this list will help you successfully tour the parks.
PLAN FOR THE WEATHER
Yes, Walt Disney chose the location for Disney World because Florida has basically great weather year-round. But don’t make the mistake of thinking the weather is always perfect! Disney gets rain almost daily in the summer and the fall is hurricane season. Bring rain gear (a poncho at minimum) so you don’t end up soaked and miserable. The summer months also bring lots of heat! Plan for the high temperatures as well. Cooling towels, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and fans will help you stay cool.
RESEARCH GENIE+
A new service available to guests is Disney Genie+. Guests can add it to their tickets for a starting price of $15 per ticket per day. While that is an extra cost for families, make sure you learn about the service before deciding if it’s worth it for your trip. Plus, learning about the service will help you use it better if you decide to purchase it.
MAKE A PLAN FOR DINING
Walt Disney World has SO MANY dining options! To help you save time while visiting the parks, it’s very helpful to have a plan for dining. Disney has table service restaurants (with waitstaff) and quick service restaurants. Table service locations require reservations but you can sometimes get lucky with the wait list. If there is a restaurant you want to eat at, plan it out in advance and make a reservation! You can make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance.
Quick service locations don’t require reservations but you can order your food through the app at most of them. Using Mobile Order saves time and is super convenient!
STAY HYDRATED
Don’t get so busy trying to do everything that you forget to stay hydrated! You’ll be doing a LOT of walking and if it’s hot during your visit you can get dehydrated fast. Disney allows you to bring in your own food and drinks so make sure you take in water and other beverages. You can also bring in refillable water bottles and the quick service locations will give you a small cup of ice water for free.
DON’T TRY TO DO IT ALL
Like we said before, Disney World is huge and you most likely won’t be able to do everything. Don’t make the mistake of trying to do it all. You will exhaust yourself and end up disappointed. If you try to rush from place to place to fit it all in, chances are you will be frustrated and many in your party will have meltdowns. Adult meltdowns are real, even at Disney! Take your time and use those must-do lists we discussed earlier.
TAKE TIME TO FEEL THE MAGIC
This is a very common mistake! Don’t be so focused on rushing from ride to ride that you miss the magic. Take time to slow down. Let your little one explore the park and see the magic through their eyes. Stop and experience the smaller things that most guests walk right past. Take a break and sit on a bench and people-watch. You’ll be glad you slowed down and experienced the true magic of Walt Disney World.
BONUS: Use a travel agent
My bonus tip is to use a travel agent! They don’t cost any extra and can provide you with many tips and advice for your vacation. They can also help with making advance reservations and take a lot of the stress of planning off of your shoulders!
If you’d like help with planning your next Disney World vacation, contact me today! I am the preferred travel partner with Disney Addicts and my services are complimentary. I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
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