5 Mistakes That Ruin Your Disney Vacation

5 Mistakes That Ruin Your Disney Vacation

As a native Floridian, the rumors are true, I have been to Disney World nearly a hundred times, possibly more. I have been going to Disney World since before my memory formed. Because of this, I have learned the ins and outs of what makes a good trip. In the early years, I was most guilty of making mistakes that ruined certain trips. After knowing what I know now, it pains me to see how other families ruin their trips over simple mistakes that could have been avoided if only they were aware of them beforehand. 

Come with me as we dive into the 5 mistakes that ruin your Disney Vacation.

1. Not Planning/Over Planning 

Too many times have I seen families, book their tickets, flights, and hotel, and embark on their journey blindly. Rather than carefree fun, they find themselves running to opposite ends of the park over and over, upset over wait times, crying over missed character meetings, and unhappy with their food choices. Disney is massive and there are a thousand elements moving at one time. Without proper planning, it is very easy to overwhelm yourself and every family member on the trip. At Disney World, it is essential to plan at least the basics of the park and decide what kind of trip you want to have beforehand. That way you can decide where you want to be at certain times and ensure everyone is having a good time.  

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I also find families overplanning their Disney trip. Though planning is necessary in order to enjoy a Disney vacation, it’s important not to stick to a strict itinerary. Things constantly change around the park, whether it be by weather, delays, distances, or spur of the moment opportunities. Being on an over planned schedule does not leave time for the exciting unknown surprises that make Disney so special. Though I am a planner through and through, often the most exciting moments happen in between the plans. That is part of what makes Disney so magical. 

So, if you are plan-obsessed or plan-deficient, I would recommend planning moderately. Like I said before, just the basics. Where you want to eat, what rides are most important, and what events you want to see. This way you have time to wander, explore, and enjoy all the secrets Disney world has to offer without feeling lost. 

2. Eating After You Are Already Hungry 

Occasionally a Disney trip is stressful. There is so much going on at once and the many places to be. The last thing you want to be in the middle of this hustle and bustle is hungry. Hungry would be fine if it was a simple gurgling feeling in your stomach. However, for most of us, being hungry is followed by anger, tiredness, irritability, headache, and an inability to make decisions. If you wait until you are hungry and hangry, tensions will rise and people will be shouting. You will be feeling a way you don’t want to feel on vacation. I have been guilty of making this mistake for years. Eventually, you learn your lesson and make smarter decisions.

Instead of waiting until you get hungry, I recommend taking note of when you and your family usually eat lunch and eat lunch an hour before then. For example, if you usually get hungry at 1 pm, head to your favorite restaurant at 12 pm. You can either pick one person to keep track of time or set an alarm for it. That way you are clear-headed enough to decide where you want to eat. You won’t have to deal with the discomfort of being hungry in the middle of all the Disney craziness. 

3. Sleeping In 

We are all guilty of this one. Though it is tempting to sleep in, you will find that you are missing out. I see way too many families sleeping until noon and complaining that they didn’t get to do what they wanted. This is one of the major mistakes that ruin your Disney World Vacation, because it prevents from even having one. The parks are huge, the lines are long, and there is so much to do. Though it is nice to get rest on vacation, I always recommend taking a full resort day for resting rather than using that time on a park day. You will always need a full day in the park. I am talking sunrise to sunset to even scratch the surface of the parks, especially Magic Kingdom.

If you only have one day per park, I recommend waking up early and arriving as soon as the park opens. Not only do you have time to enjoy the park, you also get to ride the rides that get crowded after noon. If you are worried about tiredness, take care to get a good night’s rest the day before, a filling breakfast, and make use of the many coffee stands on and around Disney property. Once I stopped making this mistake and started arriving within an hour of the park’s opening, I found that it allowed me to do the majority of the park, with time to lounge around, take pictures, and not stress about wait times. 

4. Visiting On A Holiday

I would say this is one of the biggest mistakes that ruin your Disney World Vacation. I see many repeatedly make it each year. Though you might think it will create an exciting core memory for your children, visiting Disney World on a major holiday has more negatives than positives. Sure, the decorations are cutely themed and it is on a day you are already off, but at what costs? When you visit any of the theme parks on a major holiday, expect outrageous crowds. Wait times are over two hours long for every ride. There are long lines for food. You’ll have to suffer through minimal walking space for your party, strollers, and wheelchairs.

Though you and the kids have the season off, you will find yourself miserable, overwhelmed, and not having fun. Even more than that, you’ll find yourself spending more money to try and enjoy yourself. Such as spending extra money for those big ride lighting lanes and expensive restaurant reservations that are the only ones left. You likely will end up having to skip your favorite ride, unable to eat what you wanted to eat, and unable to experience the Disney magic around you. Disney during any major holiday is chaos and it is best to avoid it completely. Instead, plan your family trip for off-season days before the holidays, that way decorations and seasonal activities are still up, but without the unbearably heavy crowd. 

5. Not Checking The Weather 

As everyone knows, Disney World is in Florida. Though Florida is often referred to as the sunshine state, many may not know how frequently it rains. Even more so, how frequently the weather changes. A rainy day or a heat stroke can take a trip from fun to terrible if one is not prepared. The best practice is to check the usual weather during the month of your trip. Then check a week before your departure and the morning of. The weather can vary, but the month you are traveling can tell you a lot. 

Though the image of summer at Disney fills your head with heat and bright skies, it is important to take into account the thunderstorms that rage through the central Florida area all throughout the summer. Be sure to pack umbrellas, ponchos, waterproof shoes, and a change of clothes for the kids. Then, be aware of the indoor rides that still run during the rain. Lastly, make sure to keep a bright attitude and remind your kids that rain doesn’t mean the party is over. 

If the weather calls for clear skies and sunlight, you’ll want to pack your biggest hats, sunscreen, UV protecting tops, and prepare to fill up on water. Then, if visiting in the months of December, January, or February, you don’t want to arrive in flip-flops and t-shirts. It can get pretty cold and you don’t want the family shivering when they are expecting a warm getaway. 

Though the weather won’t make or break a trip, not being prepared for the weather can be disastrous. Always check thoroughly before arriving and be prepared for dramatic changes. 

Now You Are Ready 

All in all, a trip to Walt Disney World has the potential to be ruined. Though the magic is powerful and the Disney dream clouds our better judgment. Today we have learned there are quite a few things in our control that can change the tide of your trip. Today you have also learned that it doesn’t have to be that way. Replace these mistakes with the good habits of moderate planning and a good attitude and you’ll be surprised how easy, breezy, and lemon-squeezy your Disney World trip will be.

Are you travelling to Disney World during Spring Break? Here are my tips for surviving Disney World during spring break!