A trip to one of the Disney Parks is a dream vacation for many of us. A family trip to Disney World can be such a magical experience.
There are several things you can do to make your Disney vacation less stressful and even more fun. And there are several things you can do to ruin your vacation.
Don’t let one of these simple things take away the magic from your Disney Vacation.
10 Disney World Mistakes You’re Making
1. Not Doing any Research
Not doing any research before booking your trip to Disney World could cost you a whole lot of money. And not doing any research before going to the park could cost you not only time and money but also some of the magic.
Do your research! Look into different places to stay, check the crowd calendar, figure out how the fast pass system works, and check what rides have height requirements are just a few things you should try to figure out before you go to Disney World.
Related Post: 10 Things I wish I knew Before Going to Disney World
2. Trying to Pack It All In
While doing research before your trip is important, the biggest mistake you could make is trying to pack it all in.
Walt Disney World has so many things to do and see you can’t pack it into a single vacation.
And isn’t that what makes it wonderful? Each time you go back you can experience something new!
So how should you plan your day at Walt Disney World? I recommend picking the top few things that you really want to do or try each day and making sure those things happen.
Most likely you will be able to do several more things than those few things on your must-do list. But by not setting super high expectations you will enjoy your day no matter how many things you get to do.
3. Not Using the Fast Pass
Using Fast Pass+ is our favorite way to do Disney. It’s a great way to maximize your time and not spend as much time waiting in lines.
Pro Tip: Book your fast passes for in the morning starting about an hour after the park opens. Do them back to back and then after you use the 3rd one book another one and after you use that one book another.
Our last day trip to Disney World we only did 3 rides without fast passes and that’s because we did them first thing in the morning when the lines were still short.
4. Not Knowing the Rules
Before you haul your cooler or stroller to the park make sure you know what you can take in with you and what you can’t. It will save you a lot of time and frustration if you know what’s allowed in the park before your trip begins.
5. Expecting Too Much From Young Kids
I have seen parents yelling at their kids several times at Disney World. That’s one quick way to change a fun vacation into a really expensive nightmare.
Don’t expect too much from your kids. If it’s stretching for them at home then it’s probably too much at Disney.
Naptime
If your kids typically take a nap each day don’t think that you can skip it on your vacation. Take them back to the hotel or put them in the stroller and let them fall asleep while you sit and enjoy the magic of the park.
Walking
I have heard so many people say that they hate bringing strollers to Disney. I personally think they are crazy! Our son hardly ever rides in the stroller but at Disney he does.
Unless you want to be carrying around a heavy kid in the Florida heat I can promise you that with young kids you will want a stroller. We don’t use the stroller all day. Usually, in the morning we will park it and leave it for a few hours and then come back and get it for the rest of the day.
Everything Else
Another thing we as adults often get going and don’t realize that it’s been a while since we have eaten. If the kids start acting up chances are pretty high they are hungry so don’t forget to snack often for happier kids.
No matter what comes up with your kids don’t expect them to be perfect. Just take a deep breath and you got this.
6. Missing out on the Food
Seriously one of the highlights at Disney World is the food. Yes, you can save money by bringing in your own food, but give yourself a small budget at least to try some of the magical foods in the parks.
Related Post: Foods You Need To Try at the Magic Kingdom
7. Going to Fast
Each time we visit Disney we so many people rushing from place to place. I feel bad for them because they are missing so much of the magic. There are so many little details in each of the parks that make it extra special.
I remember one day at Disney when our oldest was about 2 he fell asleep in the stroller and Jared and I just sat on the main street and watched everything going on. We saw The Dapper Dans (Disney’s barbershop quartet) perform right in front of us.
Slow down and enjoy all the little things going on that make Disney so magical. You might not hit every ride but you will have a magical day.
8. Going at the Wrong Time of Year
There are several things to consider when planning a trip to Disney and the time of year you want to visit is a big one. Be sure to check the crowd calendar to see when the slow season is, not that it even exists at Disney.
You should also consider other factors not just crowds when deciding what time of year to visit.
Florida gets extremely hot and humid during the summer. If you have anyone that is sensitive to heat in your group you might want to consider visiting during another part of the year. Summer also brings Hurricane season to Florida and daily rain showers.
During the slower season at Disney World park hours are often shorter and some shows and attractions don’t happen daily. This is also a time when some rides are closed for maintenance.
9. Not Planning Enough Days for Your Vacation
Knowing how many days to plan for your Disney Vacation can be a challenge. If you have visited Disney World before you might have a good idea of how much time you want to spend in each park.
If it’s your first trip to Disney World and you want to visit all 4 parks I would recommend planning a full day in each park and then a day or two to go back and hit your favorites again.
It’s also a good idea to plan a down day or two if you can where you stay at the resort and relax or do some other fun more low key things around Orlando or maybe even hit up the beach.
I think a 10 day Disney World vacation would be ideal!
10. Not Having Any Idea Where Things are Before Going to the Park
Take a look at the maps for each park before your trip, it will make your day at the park so much easier if you have an idea of where things are located.
You can print out a PDF of the park maps and mark what rides you want to do, which ones the kids aren’t tall enough for and even write down some of the foods you want to try.
Here are links to get a printable map of each park (just click Guide map under Location):
