I’ve Visited Walt Disney World Hundreds of Times Since It Opened in 1971 – Here’s The Biggest Mistakes I See

For over 50 years, I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World, racking up hundreds of visits. Living right behind Magic Kingdom for 17 years allowed me to tour the parks regularly. I’ve written four books in The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World series, guiding visitors to have their most magical Disney day. Here are the top mistakes I see visitors make year after year.

Trying To Do It All

The Number One rookie mistake is cramming far too much into your vacation. Avoid that pitfall by sitting down with your group during the planning stages, write down everyone’s top two or three “must do” attractions and experiences, and make them your priorities. From that, you’ll have a workable plan, and everything else you can fit in is icing on the cake.

Those Who Are Inflexible, Break

Now, more than ever, it’s important to plan your theme park strategies in advance. It is equally important to know when to ditch the plan and let the magic catch up with you.

Forcing everyone to stay within the confines of a schedule when they’re hot, tired, and overwhelmed leads to mutiny by your cranky nearest and dearest, so wing it for a while – or better yet, take a long mid-day break – when the situation calls for it.

Ignoring the Complexities of Genie+

Wait times for the attractions are enough to put a damper on anyone’s enthusiasm, so it’s important to understand the added-cost queue-beating systems of Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane before you leave for your vacation, and know when to use them.

You’ll need one or the other for most major attractions and you won’t need them for shows with large capacity. Magic Kingdom benefits from Genie+ the most, and if you make those time-slot reservations for afternoon rather than first thing in the morning you’ll be well ahead of the game.

Being Late

Most guests will arrive at a theme park at 10 a.m. or later, and wait times at the attractions rise exponentially. For the first two or three days of your vacation, when enthusiasm is at its highest, arrive before or as close to opening time as possible and get three or four attractions under your belt before the hordes descend.

Venting to the Wrong Person

Even in the most magical place on Earth, things can go wrong, but don’t take your frustration out on a front-line Cast Member and definitely don’t wait until you return home to let your unhappiness be known.

Ask to speak with a supervisor while you’re in the situation, explain your problem calmly and politely, and wait for a solution. Disney wants you to be happy, and if they can make it right, they will.

Don’t Just Stand There, Line Up

You arrived at a theme park without a plan, and now you’re standing in the middle of a walkway trying to figure out what to do.

If you find yourself in that situation, head straight to the nearest attraction with your park map in hand, line up, and by the time you hammer out a workable schedule for the day you’ll be ready to board your first ride.

Planning to Eat Every Meal in The Park

Walt Disney World isn’t cheap, and that goes for onsite dining, too. Plan to have at least some of your meals offsite, or make a stop at the local grocery store before you arrive and pick up non-perishable items you can enjoy in your room.

And while the paid-for Disney Dining Plan allows you to budget for all your meals in advance, it is often far too much food, especially in the heat and humidity of summer, which tends to lower appetites.

Arriving Last-Minute for Parades or Night-Time Shows

No one does a parade like Disney, and their end-of-the-day shows are second to none, but arriving last-minute and expecting a good view or a seat is unreasonable, and pushing youngsters to the front of the crowd is extremely anti-social. Schedule these events into your day, bearing in mind it is common for guests to start staking out their spots up to an hour in advance during busy seasons.

Skipping Disney Hotel Restaurants

You don’t have to stay at a Disney resort to take full advantage of their vast array of restaurants. Some of the very best dining is found at the resorts, from the luxurious ambiance of Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian to the scrumptious crispy-sweet beignets at Port Orleans’ Scat Cat’s Club.

Thinking Walt Disney World is Just For Kids

The only thing better than a Disney vacation with kids is a Disney vacation as adults-only. Seeing it all through youngsters’ eyes is priceless, but the flexibility of a grown-up visit is pure magic.

It’s an adventure in exceptional dining, laid-back lounges, and the freedom to call all the shots, minus the stroller, diaper bag, and 3 p.m. melt-down hour. Wear those adult-sized Mickey Ears with pride!

Want More Expert Tips?

“From the new and exciting to the unexpected and often pricey, it’s no surprise that Walt Disney World has undergone many changes over the past few years,” shares Julia J., Editor, on Walt Disney World Hacks, 2nd Edition.

With 350+ simple tricks, little-known facts, and helpful hacks, the latest edition of my book can significantly enhance your Disney vacation. For example, it can help you cut wait times in half by understanding how attractions inflate their wait times at the end of the day or make the most of the Genie+ program for free digital downloads. It is possible to hack your next Disney vacation to make the most magical place on earth the absolute happiest it can be.

NEXT: The Three Best Days to Visit Walt Disney World Theme Parks Revealed

Seventy-four million people go to Orlando annually, making it America’s most visited destination. And more than half of those people who travel to Florida’s theme park capital visit Walt Disney World.

So, if you’re planning a trip to Disney, it’s essential to think about when you can avoid the crowds and the summer heat. Well, new research reveals the three best days to visit based on a crowds-to-weather score.

The Three Best Days to Visit Walt Disney World Theme Parks Revealed

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