The Fatal Disney Vacation Error Experts Say You Should Avoid

We all remember our first Walt Disney World vacation. Whether we were hugging a plush Mickey Mouse in a stroller seat or sprinting ahead of our siblings to catch the first Thunder Mountain Railroad ride of the day, that first soiree down Main Street leaves its mark.

With Lightning Lanes, Genie+, dining reservations, and extra magic hours, planning a Disney vacation has taken on a life of its own. While the Mouse House looks much different than it did even five years ago, in the words of Anna: some things never change. The Parks get scorching hot in the summer, tropical thunderstorms can strike at any moment, and crowds peak when school lets out for the summer.

But even with those nuggets of Disney wisdom, there’s room for plenty of Mickey Mouse mishaps for the unseasoned Guest.

Epic Disney Fails

To pave a smoother path down Main Street for tomorrow’s Guests, u/IAmNotYourMouse ignited a forum on the Walt Disney World Reddit to share hard-earned knowledge to improve the Disney experience.

In the original post, u/IAmNotYourMouse posed the following question:

What’s One WDW Thing You had to Learn the Hard Way

What’s One WDW Thing You had to Learn the Hard Way
by inWaltDisneyWorld

Right out of the gate (like a true rope-dropper), ​​u/puppyorbagel shared an expert tip for anyone traveling with kiddos:

Warn small children in advance that rides sometimes break down and it’s okay and don’t just yank them out of line with no explanation unless you want your normally easy going 4 yr old to suddenly go full exorcist.

Comment
by from discussion
inWaltDisneyWorld

Communication is key for children on Disney vacations. With so much anticipation, build-up, and (depending on their age) comparing notes to peers, it’s easy for the Disney magic to switch to mayhem when the day doesn’t go as planned. Along the same vein, setting the expectations for character meet-and-greets not always turning out seamlessly is a crucial Disney tip for parents.

Disney Guests of any age can fall victim to hot, humid temperatures and the unquenchable motivation to conquer all that the Walt Disney World Resort offers. With Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Disney Springs, it’s impossible to see and do everything at Disney in one trip. Disneyland, Walt Disney World’s west coast counterpart, is easier to tackle in a few days or even a weekend, but this Redditor’s comment sums up the number one error Disney vacationers make at the Florida Park.

What Not to Do at Disney

Even die-hard Disney Guests have been guilty of doing what u/phamio23 said to avoid:

Breaks/downtime out of the parks can save a whole trip.

Each of the trips my family took together when I was younger, we went full-send. We did full days in the park for 6 days straight – and this was back when evening extra magic hours had MK open until 3am and similar times for the other parks. We wound up exhausted at the end of the week and the drive home back up the east coast was brutal.

Nowadays, we like to take one break day for every two full days in the parks. Those days are just for resort exploring or casually going to Downtown Disney. It keeps the energy up for the whole trip and we’re able to enjoy everything a lot more.

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by from discussion
inWaltDisneyWorld

With or without little ones at Walt Disney World, trying to power through Park days full steam ahead is a fatal error. Not only will you get burnt out, but your feet will be toast, your legs will be sore, and the odds you left the turnstiles sunburned are pretty high. The money and time spent to craft the most magical Disney vacation make breaks seem counterproductive, but they’re crucial to truly enjoying your trip. Returning to your Disney Resort for a dip in the pool, a snack, or a Princess Aurora-inspired nap is essential.

While there are plenty of other lessons learned by Disney experts at the Parks, one thing’s for sure: take your time at Disney, and don’t forget to stop and smell the churros.