Crucial Disney World Tips | The Ultimate Guide - Top Mistakes to Avoid at Disney World
- The Family Travel Spot
- Aug 6, 2024
- 15 min read
Updated: Jan 28
SHOCKING MISTAKES GUESTS MAKE WHEN VISITING DISNEY WORLD AND TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID THEM....
Don't miss these surprising and critical insider tips! Read more below.
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TOP MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN VISITING DISNEY WORLD AND INSIDER TIPS
Are you thinking about planning a magical Disney World vacation? If you are we couldn't be happier for you! Disney has become one of our family's most beloved vacation destinations!
Over the years we have mastered our Disney World trips! We have compiled a list of the ESSENTIAL TIPS you need to know and the MISTAKES you don't want to make! We are here to help you master your Disney World trip plans.
Let us help you plan a vacation to Disney World that will feel like the trip of a lifetime! Your family will sing praises about your expert and epic planning skills. Your friends will be so jealous that you had the best Disney World vacation EVER!
It's time for you to become a Disney World planning pro!
CHECK OUT OUR CRUCIAL DISNEY INSIDER TIPS BELOW!
MISTAKE ONE: HEADING STRAIGHT TO THE PARKS ON ARRIVAL DAY
This tip might seem like a no-brainer, but we see Disney Guests make this mistake all the time. We highly recommend planning a non-park day for your arrival day. Why, you ask?? Our answer is simple. Park days are pricey and tiring. You will not get the most bang for your buck, or even enjoy the parks as much when you have limited time or feel rushed. Take our word for it, because we have also been there and done that, and it is not worth it. The best way to kick off your amazing Disney vacation is to go to your resort, relax from traveling, enjoy the resort property, and then hit up the parks the following day. Your Disney Resort will help you set yourself up for a great resort day even if your room is not ready yet. Cocktails by the pool anyone??!! THIS is truly the best way to kick off your amazing Disney World Vacation, and also takes us to our next crucial tip!
MISTAKE TWO: NOT STAYING AT A RESORT ON DISNEY WORLD PROPERTY
This is a big one. Please don’t make the mistake of staying outside Disney World property. We can’t tell you how often we have had Disney Guests list this as their biggest regret! Where you stay really can make or break your vacation. Let’s break down the reasons why this is such an important tip.
If you stay at a resort outside of Disney Property you will miss out on some important perks. This is huge, as some of the perks available to Disney Resort Guests play a big role in your family's Disney experience. Disney Resort Guests will have access to Early Theme Park Entry (All Resort Guests), and Extended Evening Hours (Deluxe Resort Guests). These extra magic hours limit the number of guests in the parks which means your family will have a better chance of enjoying those oh-so-important experiences and attractions before and after peak crowds. Disney Resort Guests are also guaranteed early access to purchase Lightning Lane Passes, and the ability to schedule dining, and enchanted extra reservations, before the crowds.
Beginning in 2025, Disney Resort Guests will have the option of visiting one of the Disney World Water parks on their arrival day as a resort perk, no ticket required. This is a new complimentary offering for Disney Resort Guests. This is a perfect additional option for your low-key arrival resort day.
Disney provides convenient and complimentary transportation throughout their resort properties. This perk to staying on property is big, especially for families with kids. Why? Imagine being in the parks all day, with no breaks, then fighting the crowds back to your car only to be stuck in traffic on your way home. Some off-site resorts do offer complementary transportation but it is not nearly as convenient, and the frequency of their busses is more limited. Staying off-site often eliminates the opportunity to take a much-needed mid-day break from the parks. The flexibility to utilize your resort for a break mid-day, especially for families with kids is...well you can't put a price tag on it. We like to head back to our resort mid-day (during peak heat and crowds), take a break, nap, or go to the pool to cool off. After a nice break, we head back out to the parks. This allows us more time in the parks later in the day when it's cooler, and the crowds are smaller. It will also set you up nicely to attend some of the spectacular nighttime shows.
Resort hopping is fun, and we couldn't recommend it more! This is another perk to staying at a Disney Resort property, you can visit the other resorts. Some, Disney World Resorts are destinations themselves with a variety of activities, dining, and experiences (FYI: you can't pool hop). We highly recommend working a full non-park day into your week so your family can experience some of the amazing Disney Resorts on property.
Lastly, staying at a Disney Resort Property will give your vacation a more magical, inclusive feel. It's hard to explain until you have experienced it, but trust us, staying on Disney Property is worth it.
MISTAKE THREE: BOOKING DURING PEAK CROWDS AND NOT RESEARCHING THE BEST TIME TO GO
Not all weeks at Disney are created equal when it comes to crowding, and there are times throughout the year when the crowds and prices go down. Here are some tips:
Avoid Holidays and school breaks. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter draw an extreme amount of people, and prices also peak during these times. We recommend avoiding these weeks and school breaks whenever possible.
Be aware of special events and refurbishments. Disney World is often host to special events or theme days which will draw more crowds. It is also common for Disney to close down rides, and areas of resorts for refurbishments. Do your due diligence and check on these things before booking your trip. We have made this mistake and on two occasions, booked resorts where refurbishments were underway during our trip. This resulted in a pool we were looking forward to visiting being closed, and some dining options at our resort were unavailable. Had we done our research before planning our trip we would have been aware of the closures and could have modified our plans. Live and learn. So please take our advice and check into these things before you book. The Cast Members available through the chat service on the Disney World website will have this information.
Consider booking, late September to mid-October, January, early February, and March. These months typically have smaller crowds and better weather. We have had some wonderful trips in March!
INSIDER TIP: Book your vacation mid-week to mid-week and plan a non-park resort day for a Saturday or Sunday. Weekends tend to be busier and this will give you a much-needed "break day" mid-way through your trip.
MISTAKE FOUR: NOT KNOWING WHEN RESERVATION BOOKING WINDOWS OPEN FOR DINING, ATTRACTIONS, AND EXPERIENCES
Let's talk about another life lesson experience. Disney World requires planning. If you don't plan, chances are you will miss out on some important experiences, and your regrets will be many. We have been those people. We did not plan accordingly or pay attention to when our reservation booking windows opened and we missed out. Know the times and dates for when your booking windows will open, prioritize your plan of attack (go after the most important reservations first), and plan to book your dining, experience, and lightning lane reservations immediately. Popular dining reservations for table service restaurants, experiences, and attraction bookings will be full in a matter of minutes.
INSIDER TIP: Sometimes, even with proper planning you won't be able to secure everything on your list. If this happens, recheck for open reservations 48-24 hours before the time you would like and you might get lucky by being able to secure another guests last-minute cancellation.
MISTAKE FIVE: NOT KNOWING HOW TO NAVIGATE LIGHTING LANE PASS OPTIONS AND VIRTUAL QUES AHEAD OF TIME
Starting in 2024 Disney replaced Genie+ with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Disney Guests will now have the ability to purchase Lightning Lane passes, secure reservations for attractions in advance, and skip the lines. As we mentioned before, it's important to know when the reservation windows will open for your lightning lane purchases. Disney World will also still be offering virtual queues for some attractions. We recommend taking the time to understand how the Lightning Lane Passes work, as well as virtual queues before you make your initial reservations and visit the parks.
MISTAKE SIX: UNDERESTIMATING FLORIDA WEATHER
Florida weather can be downright unpredictable. During a trip to Disney World in April, we experienced crazy temperature fluctuations, and storms. Our advice? Check the weather predictions a couple of days before your trip and each morning while you are there. One morning while attending rope drop we waited in line in shorts and t-shirts in 40-degree temps. It was almost unbearable until the parks started heating up around 9 AM. Thinking that Florida would be hot in April, we didn't pack any long sleeves or light pants. This was a mistake. On another day this same trip we were stormed out of Hollywood Studios. After a miserable dash to a gift shop to purchase 4 rain ponchos, for $69 which ripped in about 5 minutes, we were drenched with soggy sneakers and miserable. So, we called it quits for the day and missed some precious park time. Check the weather, pack accordingly, wear the right shoes, and bring your own rain ponchos.
MISTAKE SEVEN: CHOOSING NOT TO MEAL PLAN
THIS is a big one. There are plenty of ways to save money on food in the parks. One thing we don't recommend though is "winging it." As with most things with Disney, having a plan in place for your meals is also important. We have planned our Disney vacations with a meal plan in place and without one. Our two cents would be to purchase an available meal plan through Disney (only available to Disney resort guests), OR set a dollar amount you think will cover most of your food purchases (this option requires some pricing research) and buy discounted gift cards in advance of your trip to cover your meal expenses. We like both Costco and Target for this. Disney resorts also offer you the ability to have groceries delivered which is a great option for some of your breakfast/lunch meals as well as snacks. Purchasing a meal plan (this will save you money over a la carte), or discounted gift cards ahead of time will also save you money and give your vacation a more all-inclusive feel. Both options will take the dreaded on-the-spot spending stress out of the equation, and there won't be a large food bill to pay when the vacation is over.
INSIDER TIP: Consider which table service restaurant experiences, if any might be essential to your trip and factor them into your meal plans. If you are considering more than one table service experience, a Disney Dining Plan may be the way to go.
MISTAKE EIGHT: NOT CONSIDERING WAYS TO CUT COSTS OR SAVE MONEY IN ADVANCE
There are plenty of great ways to cut costs for your Disney World vacation. Unfortunately, most Guests start with their accommodations, which is something we don't recommend. The internet is a host to a sea of information on this subject, some of which is legit, and some of which is not. We have found a few tried and true ways to cut costs and save money for our trips over the years which we will share.
We touched on this subject in the previous section, but we purchase pre-paid Disney gift cards at a discount from places like Target and Costco before our trips. Costco often offers steeper discounts than Target, but you have to watch for these deals. Keep an eye out for them around Back Friday and through the Holidays. If you have a Target Red Card you can purchase gift cards with the 5% Target discount. This may not seem like much but trust us it adds up and you can purchase the gift cards over time, they don't expire! We like to use the pre-paid gift cards for purchases in the parks. You can use them for souvenirs, experiences that cost extra, and for food. Do some research, create a must-do Disney World list, and set a budget goal for your gift cards. Keep in mind Disney is expensive, so setting a realistic budget is important. This will keep you from coming home to a large bill after your vacation.
Take advantage of credit card points. This is one of our favorite tips. We love free money, and that is exactly what you get by using credit card miles for travel. Free MONEY. Two of our favorite cards are the Capital One Venture Card and the One Key Card. We have saved thousands of dollars on travel using points/one key cash from these cards and there are a whole host of perks to go along with their points. Both cards typically offer hefty sign-on bonuses, which equates to free travel money. We run as many of our week-to-week expenses as possible through our cards to continue earning points. We also use them to book flights, and we take advantage of their other perks. If you choose to take advantage of this option, pay the cards in full at the end of each billing cycle. This is important. If you carry a balance on the cards and pay the high interest rates it defeats the purpose of earning points, so track your budget and spending when using them.
Budget a set dollar amount per month to automatically be set aside from your paycheck for travel. Over time, even if this is a small amount, it will add up.
Plan a Non-Park Day. We love this tip for a couple of reasons. First, Disney World is tiring. A Non-Park day in the middle of your trip is essential for a little recovery. Plan a leisurely day mid-trip, enjoy your resort, or visit some of the other fun resorts on Disney Property. There are plenty of casual things to do outside of the parks, and a rest day will give your family a much-needed break. It will also save you some serious cash by eliminating the need to purchase park tickets for that day.
Skip Park Hopper. There we said it. As much as we love Park Hopper, when it comes to sticking within a budget, it is one of the first things to go. Although it is an incredible perk, we have done multiple trips without it and wouldn't you know we still had an epic time.
Consider renting DVC points and book your accommodations that way. Renting DVC points will save you some serious cash off-the-rack rates. We have two companies that do a splendid job in helping you plan your vacation this way. Check out our full article here: How To Save Big On Disney Deluxe Resorts
To a point we made earlier, have groceries delivered to your resort. Having food on hand for a few breakfasts, and lunches, as well as snacks, will save you money if you do not opt for a meal plan.
Consider booking a Disney Vacation Package through a Travel Agent, or with Costco. Both options will ultimately save you money, and will most likely get you some extra perks.
MISTAKE NINE: NOT CONSIDERING WHICH SPLURGES MAKE THE MOST SENSE
This may seem like a counterintuitive follow-up to our money-saving tips, but some Disney World splurges are worth it IF (note the IF) your budget allows.
Lighting Lanes. When you consider the monetary investment it takes to gain entry into Disney Theme Parks, standing in line for an hour plus for one attraction multiple times during the day doesn't make a lot of sense. Lightning Lane Passes are an extra fee, but it's an extra purchase we feel is worth it to help you get the most out of your experiences in the parks. Your family will be able to experience more attractions when you can skip the lines. This is especially true if you have to travel there during peak crowds.
Park hopper. Park Hopper is a game changer, but it also comes at a price. If your budget allows, we highly recommend adding this option to your trip. Park Hopper allows you the flexibility to go between the parks on the same day, which allows more opportunities to experience everything.
Magic Bands. Most may find this controversial but let us explain. Yes, you can use the My Disney Experience App on your phone, and also on some smart watches. The app serves as your ticket holder, room key, etc. This is why Disney did away with offering magic bands as an inclusive perk with your booking as they are not needed. So, if this is the case, why do we recommend them? There is something to be said for how easy Magic Bands make everything. All you need to do is hold up your wrist and go. There is no fumbling with and pulling out the phone, you can pack it safely away, and there is no dealing with an unreliable app on a watch. Magic bands are easier to use and are a fun little souvenir from your trip. Consider ordering them ahead of time and gifting them to your kids as a surprise when you first tell them about their upcoming Disney Adventure.
Character dining experiences. Yes, Character Dining is often expensive. Each time we visit Disney we select one or two character dining (table service) experiences. These experiences are so much more than the food. They are incredible family memories that your kids will cherish forever, and the food is usually pretty darn good. During a dinner at the Beasts Castle, our five-year-old (at the time), slid a napkin across the table to us that said "Disney is Epic", and proceeded to tell us it was the best day of his life. It's hard to put a price tag on that. Our kids still rave about their dinner there, years later. If your budget allows, do a Character Dining experience.
MISTAKE TEN: OVERPACKING FOR THE PARKS
Florida is hot, the parks are huge with a lot of walking, and some queues are short on space. So how should you prep for the parks? We recommend ditching the big backpacks and wagons and packing light.
Have a plan and pack accordingly. Always check the weather, and plan your shoes and outfits to work with your itinerary for the day. Skip the refillable drink mugs, bottles, etc, and opt for the free water available throughout the parks. Most snack and quick services counters have ice water readily available. Outfit your family with crossbody bags (yes even the boys-they make them for men), pack the essentials, like sunscreen sticks, hand sanitizer, etc, and call it a day. Crossbody bags are lightweight, will hold a good amount of essentials, and can be worn on most attractions. We don't recommend, lugging a bunch of food for meals, or extra clothes into the parks. We know people who have done this to try to save money and time, and they all have said never again. With the heat, and amount of walking it makes for a complicated day when you have a lot of stuff to carry around. Instead, if you don't plan to buy food in the parks for meals, eat at your resort before you go, then head back to your resort for a mid-day break to eat. This is another reason why we recommend staying on Disney Property. It allows for more flexibility.
MISTAKE ELEVEN: IGNORING TRANSPORTATION TIMES
There will be times throughout your vacation when the transportation times won't matter. However, if you are attending a morning rope drop, or if you have specific times scheduled for dining or experiences, you will want to pay attention to the transportation schedules. Disney makes this incredibly easy to do through their app. If you miss your window, you may be waiting another 20-30 minutes for a new ride which could cause your family to miss out. Keep this tip in mind throughout your trip.
MISTAKE TWELVE: NOT BEING FLEXIBLE
As they say, when in Disney, you have to remain flexible. We like to say, that when on vacation in general you have to be flexible. Sometimes unforseen things happen. As we said before the weather can be unpredictable, sometimes rides need to shut down, or other things happen. It's the nature of travel. This is why we recommend having a well-planned trip in place and having a firm grasp on all of these tips. If things come up during your vacation it will be easier for you to work around them.
INSIDER TIP: Above all set your family's expectations. Help them understand that sometimes they will have to be flexible, and there are no guarantees. This might help you avoid some meltdowns if plans have to change.
MISTAKE THIRTEEN: REFUSING TO CONSIDER BOOKING WITH A DISNEY TRAVEL AGENT
Did you know working with a Disney Travel Agent won't cost you an additional penny? In fact, it might save you money, and also get you some added perks and bonuses. Disney Travel Agents work off commission paid to them by Disney through the travel agency they work for. These travel agencies can secure block rates and discounted pricing on park tickets and additional Disney experiences. A Disney Travel agent will be able to help you plan your trip from start to finish, and will often help you secure a better price for your vacation over booking yourself through the Disney World website. Honestly, it's a no-brainer
Do you have some essential Disney World tips we may not have mentioned? We would love to hear about them in the comments below!
Until our next "Disney Tips" installment,
Cheers!
Martha
PS - Don't forget to PIN this post so you can find it later!
Martha is a Family Travel Planner, Blogger, and member of The Main Street Travel Co. Martha thoroughly enjoys living life in gorgeous Upstate NY with her husband, two boys, and two dogs.
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