Believe us when we say there are so many mistakes for Disney World first timers to be had. You’re not alone as we have made some of these mistakes ourselves. But hey, we have lived and learned. Now, we’d love to share some of our insight with you all too. Read on to see what the top mistakes for Disney World first timers are.
Booking Your Trip Last Minute
One of the top mistakes for Disney World first timers is booking last minute. Ultimately, this will only put more stress on you and on your wallet as well. The best deals usually come when you book as far in advance as possible. You may even be able to get a promo deal like free dining or a certain percentage off your room if you book early.
Now more than ever, Disney World is a place that requires a great deal of planning. Knowing that it’s possible to have a dinner reservation at Beast’s castle and all of your food ordered 6 months in advance should tell you all you need to know. It takes a lot of research and planning to have the best experience possible. (Hence the reason we made this site.) This is also part of the fun.
Forgetting that the other guests paid good money to be here as well
Sometimes when we pay a high premium to experience something like Disney World, we tend to forget about everyone else around us and the fact that they paid just as much to be there as we did. Always, be aware of others when in the parks.
There’s a simple park etiquette that when followed, improves everyone’s experience. Things, like not stopping in the middle of walking paths to check your My Disney Experience app, or moving all the way down a row when there’s a full show at The Festival of the Lion King, can go a long way. Always listening to cast members directions can help as well, so just be aware of your surroundings and keep your ears open.
Only going to Magic Kingdom
While Magic Kingdom is the fan-favorite for most, one of the top mistakes for Disney World first timers is only visiting it. We believe the other parks have a lot to offer and are definitely worth spending at least one day in as well. Each park has its own unique experiences.
If you have children, they’ll certainly love Animal Kingdom. Epcot is geared a little more towards adults where Hollywood Studios is great for adults and children. We love them all and always recommend a minimum of 4, if not 5 days, to have enough time for all 4 parks.
Missing out on the early-morning hours at the parks
We all love sleeping in, but the best time to find short wait times is typically when the park first opens. Head straight for one of the attractions that generally has the longest wait times or one you weren’t able to get a FastPass for. If you do decide to not go to the parks early, try to avoid the park that has early extra magic hours for that day, as it will already be crowded.
Not taking Florida weather into consideration
Florida is basically broken up into 3 different seasons, Summer, Hurricane and Winter. During the Summer and Hurricane seasons, you need to be prepared for 2 things, the heat and the rain. Florida will have pop-up showers daily, so be sure to bring a poncho. The Winters aren’t extremely cold, but it can get pretty chilly at night. Be sure to pack a sweatshirt if you plan to visit at this time.
Buying the wrong park tickets
Another top mistake for Walt Disney first timers is buying the wrong type of ticket. Disney has a lot of options when it comes to park tickets. You really need to do some research before you start purchasing them. Disney offers standard tickets, park-hopper, and now even mid-day tickets. The tickets also get a little cheaper when you buy multi-day tickets.
Sometimes you may even find savings if one person in your party buys an annual pass. This will save money on things like food, parking, and merchandise. We recommend booking with a travel agent to ensure you get the best deal. You can do this at no extra cost.
Not knowing height requirements before you go
This is great for families with kids. It’s a great way to set expectations before you go on vacation. There are going to be some rides your kid won’t be able to ride due to height requirements. Let them know before you go instead of waiting until you get in line and then risking a tantrum.
Visiting on a major holiday
If you don’t like crowds, you definitely need to book your vacation around holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter. These are the busiest times and will, therefore, have the longest wait times for attractions. Some Disney World first timers will think holiday trips will be the most enjoyable, but they may also be some of the most stressful. The best times to visit are on non-holidays when school is still in session.
Eating only pizza and hamburgers
When you think of “theme park food”, these are the first ones to come to mind, but Disney World has a lot more to offer than just pizza and hamburgers. Venture out and try something that is original to the parks. Disney is constantly concocting seasonal and themed foods that you won’t find anywhere else. Epcot is one of our favorite places as each country has an original food from there.
Magic Kingdom also has lots of options when it comes to food. Check out our post on the quick-service restaurants in Magic Kingdom to learn more.
Not realizing how many steps you’re going to put in
It’s not crazy to say that you’ll check your Apple watch or pedometer at the end of a full park day and see that you’ve walked 10+ miles. Make sure you’re prepared for this before you get to Disney World. This is especially true if you have children. It’s totally okay to bring a stroller, no one will shame you. Just check the sizing requirements on that before you come as well.
Never leaving the “Disney Bubble”
Many times people come to Orlando and never leave Disney property. The restaurant scene has taken off in the Central Florida area. Check out subdivisions like Winter Park and Winter Garden for some great food and “shopportunities.”
Skipping out on Disney’s FREE transportation
If you didn’t already know, Disney has several types of free transportation they offer throughout the resort. Being able to get to any destination in Disney World no matter where you are is a great convenience. Be sure to take advantage of this. Some of the forms of transportation can be a pretty fun experience, like the Skyliner and the Monorail.
Just make sure you always plan enough time for transportation. It can sometimes take some time to get from your resort to the gates of Magic Kingdom. Remember, Disney World is about the same size as Manhattan.
Under-planning
As we stated before, Disney takes a lot of planning and research. It’s important that you come prepared and have a plan to help your vacation go smoothly. Know which parks you want to go to on which day. If you’re staying on Disney property, be sure to check when the extra magic hours are available at each park.
It’s also a good idea to be familiar with what is offered at each park. Prioritize which rides are most important to you and try to knock those off your list first. Find out which parades/night-time shows are at each park and when they start.
Also, be sure to make your FastPass and dinner reservations ASAP, so you’re able to experience everything you can. Read our post All You Need to Know About Disney FastPass+ for more info about strategies for reserving your FastPasses.
Letting one missed/bad experience ruin your whole vacation
There are many different legs to a Disney World vacation. Like we said before, you need to do lots of planning to ensure you have a great time. However, the plans don’t always go 100% to script.
You may not be able to experience every attraction you had originally planned. If you’re going in the summer/hurricane seasons, the weather will be very unpredictable. A ride may be shut down or a show might get cancelled. Don’t let this be the be-all, end-all of your trip.
Here are some more mistakes for Disney World first timers by DFBGuide.
Conclusion
The list above is not far-fetched when it comes to vacations. We wanted to help you see what needs to be done early, what can be avoided and what kind of attitude to have when going on a Disney vacation. Hopefully after reading these you won’t have as many mistakes as a Disney World first timer. What do you think? Is there anything else you’re curious about? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to chat.
