You plan nothing and think you can just 'wing it.' After all, that works fine at other amusement parks. Walt Disney World has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and over 25 resorts. It's the size of San Francisco! You need a plan for what, where, when and how. At least an outline at a minimum. For 2023, guests need to make Park Reservations for each day. This is in addition to understanding how park hopping, My Disney Experience and Genie+ all work.
You do the opposite and you plan too much. As fun as it is, Walt Disney World is a LOT. Like a LOT of sound, color, action all coming at you. Some families go park open to park close, and that's fine if it works for them. They pack in tons of dining, princess makeovers, light saber builds, every attraction and shut the parks DOWN every night. Cool! However, in my experience, most people need a break in the day. Whether you choose to take a nap, go for a swim or simply ride the monorail around, getting off your feet someplace cool can recharge your batteries. This way you are not just ticking items off a list of must do's, you are actually enjoying them as well.
You forget to take weather into consideration. Central Florida is HOT and HUMID most of the year and it rains often. Bring a change of clothes, if needed. Drink LOTS of water (a refillable bottle is your best friend). Wear lightweight clothing suitable to heat and humidity (think gym wear).
All the Walking! OMG all the walking!! This is a classic way to have a bad time at Walt Disney World. People underestimate the amount of walking and think school age child doesn't need a stroller. I know your 5,6, 7 year old probably doesn't use a stroller at home. But Disney is different. You can easily put in 20,000 steps or more each day. Plus standing in lines. That stroller can be a life saver. Not only does it save little feet, but it's also a great place to take a break from the constant sensory input or even take a nap. BONUS: you can stash your stuff in the basket underneath the seat. (But take valuable with you on the attractions).
Not carefully planning when to visit. Not knowing when the busy days or times of year are can make for a nasty surprise. Some folks are surprised that Walt Disney World stay pretty busy year round. Christmas week is the busiest for all the parks. Not to worry though. I can help you work around crowds but you need a plan. If you are flexible, we can work out when the best time to visit is for your family.
Listening to every single person give you all the well-meaning advice. Listening to friends or family who are very different from you can make your trip not so magical. They mean well. They do! But every family is different. And, if their trip was a year ago or more, then so many things have changed that the advice isn't even useful. The details of planning for Walt Disney World and Disneyland change constantly. I am on top of the updates and can make sure you have a great plan.
Another mistake is not planning far enough in advance. I recommend planning a minimum of 90 days in advance, preferably longer. Some resorts will sell out for certain dates like Christmas time. If you wait, you may miss out on your preferred resort (I'm looking at you Disney's Polynesian!) or the dining you want. Planning ahead means we can have the best planning for you, including making your dining reservations. A package with resort and tickets only requires a $200 deposit that is fully refundable so it's easy to get that trip on the books.
You will have some disappointed folks if you are not asking everyone in the family to select some Must Do's. You may be surprised at the attractions on their list. Pro Tip: Doing 10 attractions makes for a really great day at a Disney park. So, get each person to list their top 3 to 5. Then you can plan around that. There will surely be overlap. If you're not sure, watch some videos on YouTube to get an idea of the attractions in each park.
Another mistake is not downloading and updating My Disney Experience. It's a fact of life. You must have the app on your phone and learn to use it. I know it can be a bummer to be on your phone all the time, but the app has all the information in it: wait times, dining locations, mobile order for quick service, your Lightning Lane reservations. Everything. So, learn to use it for the Best Day Ever!
The worst one of all is to decide it's not worth it and not going at all! I know it sounds overwhelming, but not going it all would be so sad. You can have a magical time with proper planning. With my help, your trip will go smoothly - I will do everything I can to make sure of it. Listen to my advice on planning and you can make magical memories with your family!
Mary Graham, Certified Travel Associate owns Trips by Mary, an affiliate of Cruises & Tours Unlimited and is celebrating seven years in business. With extensive experience in planning cruises, European itineraries, Adventures by Disney vacations, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and all-inclusive resorts, she takes the stress and hassle out of planning.
Contact her by email: mary@tripsbymary.com
or call 919-817-4081.
Visit her website: www.tripsbymary.com.
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