Are you planning a Disney vacation, but you’re scared that you’ll do it wrong? Disney is expensive, and for some families, it’s a once in a lifetime trip. You want to make sure you’re prepared in advance so you can actually enjoy this “magic” everyone talks about. Don’t show up unprepared. Trust me, Disney can be the most magical place, but you need to know what you’re doing. To help Disney newcomers or those who are trying it again because maybe you did it wrong the first time, I’ve come up with five mistakes you need to avoid. And if you want more expert tips and tricks, scroll to the bottom to see where you can find me! Without further ado, let’s get started!
Mistake 1: Showing up with a strict schedule
This first one is super important. Have an itinerary, but be flexible! I suggest having a list of you and your parties top must-do’s, and then let the other details fall into place. Having a minute by minute schedule is going to stress you out – no matter how Type A you may be. You can create a detailed schedule, but realize that some of the most fun and memorable experiences at Disney are the ones you don’t plan for – like a character walking by or a quick stop to watch a stage show. Plus, sometimes rides break down or dinner reservations run late. You need to be okay with being flexible. If you’re acting stressed, it’s going to stress out whoever is with you. Just do your research in advance so you feel prepared, but don’t over plan to the point where you feel rushed or unable to go with the flow. Trust me, there’s no one in my family that plans more than I do. But some of my favorite Disney memories were not planned. They were spur of the moment, fun experiences that easily fell into place between my existing plans because I was living in the moment, not stressed about sticking to schedule.
Mistake 2: No rest days
If you have time for it, plan a rest day. Disney can be exhausting, especially if you’re a rope drop to close person like me. This means I usually show up as soon the park opens, and I leave when it closes. It’s hard not to feel like you have to pack everything in all at once. For a lot of people, Disney is a once in a lifetime trip, and you might not know if or when you’ll be back. You can still pack it all in and make time for rest. When I say rest, I don’t mean you have to lounge by the pool or take a nap. You can sleep in one day. Grab breakfast, and get to the park a little later. Some parks, like Animal Kingdom, are often less busy in the afternoon, and you can get quite a lot done in a short amount of time. If you’re traveling with kids, let them nap. And don’t forget to feed everyone. A hungry group can get cranky real quick. You don’t want to start dealing with that.
If you have an extra day to spend at a Disney Resort, I highly recommend it. There’s so much to do in the resorts, and don’t forget about Disney Springs, the waterparks, and the mini golf courses. This is your vacation. Plan it so that it feels like a vacation, not a race to check off every single box. This leads me to my next tip.
Mistake 3: Staying off property
Some people are die-hard “we never stay on property” people. Well, I’m not. In fact, I’m quite the opposite. I think you should stay on property at a Disney resort. And here’s why.
There is nothing like staying at a Disney Resort. Walking in at check-in, smelling the unique scent of your resort, getting celebration buttons and walking in the gift shop. There’s a feeling of pure excitement in the air. It is absolutely my favorite part of any Disney vacation. Staying in the Disney “bubble” allows you to be fully immersed in the magic. Some resorts are an attraction on their own. Not to mention, they have everything you need. One of the most important being complimentary transportation to the parks. Sure, your off property hotel might have a shuttle. But that shuttle is only going to depart and arrive at specific times, so good luck trying to go with the flow and do what you want.
One of the biggest complaints I hear about staying on property is that it’s expensive. It definitely can be, but there are options for everyone’s budget! If you have a big party, you can get connecting rooms even at a value resort. You don’t have to stay in a large suite, though it is quite nice to splurge on it. You won’t have to drive through Orlando traffic to get to the parks. You won’t have to book an expensive Uber or Lyft that can’t even drop you off at the parks’ front gates. And if you have any problems with your tickets or your vacation in general, the Guest Services lines at the resorts are much, much shorter than the parks. There’s food at every resort, and some have extra special restaurants! Plus, you may even see some of Mickey’s friends walking around!
Mistake 4: Not Using the My Disney Experience App – especially for mobile food ordering!
The My Disney Experience App is an absolute game changer. I know, I know – you probably don’t want another app on your phone. But this one is worth it. With the Disney app, you can keep track of your hotel reservation, tickets, dining reservations, and enchanting extras all in one place. Plus, there are park maps (which you can use to get step by step directions), wait times, show times, and character meet and greet times listed in the app as well. My favorite part of the app, though, is mobile food ordering. With mobile food ordering, you can completely skip waiting in a long, crowded, hot line to get food. You can browse entire menus, place an order on your phone, choose what time to pick it up, and voilà. Your food could be ready to pickup in as little as five to ten minutes. And if you’re like me, you can order your food in one part of the park and by the time you’ve walked to the restaurant, your food is ready for pickup. No long lines. No pushy people. Just quick, easy service. A total game changer.
An extra tip: You can get a free cup of ice water at most quick service locations! No need to pay for water bottles.
Mistake 5: Bringing one pair of uncomfortable shoes
This last one seems simple, but it can truly make or break your trip. Even though you’ll have plenty of opportunity to sit down and rest throughout your trip (if you plan for it), do not underestimate the amount of walking you will be doing. But the worst part is the standing. You don’t know sore feet until you’ve been standing in line for rides all day on concrete, and then you have to walk back to your hotel room in sweaty, damp, uncomfortable shoes. Save yourself the pain, and bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. I recommend your favorite tennis shoes or sneakers, or even a pair of Sketchers just for Disney! They’re not super expensive, and they’ll keep your feet from pounding. And bring an extra pair! The last thing you want is to ride a water ride, get off with wet shoes that won’t dry in the Florida humidity, and then have to wear them again the next day. Don’t forget extra socks as well.
Want more expert Disney tips?
If you’re planning a trip, like what you’ve read, but you still want extra help – consider using a 407&Beyond travel agent to book your Disney vacation. Our agents are real people with real Disney experience, and they always stay up to date on everything Disney. You can book your Disney trip without an agent, but once you use a good one, you will never want to go back to planning alone. Our agents can be as involved or as uninvolved as you want them to be. We handle all the stressful details, give you expert advice, and we can retroactively apply discounts to your vacation if they’re ever available. The best part? It’s completely FREE to use a 407&Beyond agent!
If this is something you’re interested in, fill out the quote request form on our website here, and we’ll get back to you ASAP. Or if you’re an expert planner and think you might want to become a travel agent, consider applying today at https://407andbeyond.com/
