There’s a lot involved in planning a great Disney World vacation. But it goes beyond just booking your hotel and park tickets. There are some common mistakes that beginners tend to make on their first trip to Disney World. By being prepared you can set yourself ahead of the pack. This post will give you the top 7 mistakes to avoid on your Disney World vacation.
1. Not packing for the weather
The weather in Florida can be unpredictable. It’s a good idea to do a little research about the typical weather during the time of year you are visiting. It’s not unusual for it to get chilly in the winter, to the point where you would want a jacket and pants.
Even during the warm months, I recommend having a light sweatshirt for evenings or when you are in an air-conditioned building. Another key thing to prepare for is the rain. Just a little preparation can save you from being really uncomfortable, or from spending a fortune buying sweatshirts and ponchos in a gift shop.
For a guide to what I recommend packing in your Disney park bag click here.
2. Not understanding Disney Transportation
One of my favorite things about staying on Disney property is not having to worry about driving or parking. I love that there are many transportation options to get you where you need to go, but it can be a little complicated. Should I take the bus or the monorail? What about the Skyliner? What time do I need to be at the bus stop if I want to be at the park before it opens? How much time do I need to leave to make it to my dining reservation on time? It pays to know the answers to these questions ahead of time.
If you’re looking for a complete guide to Disney Transportation, including a tool that gives you recommendations from pretty much any starting and ending point, WDW Prep school has an amazing one here.
3. Under planning
Gone are the days of being able to roll up to a Disney Park the day of with zero planning. Not that I have ever done that, because planning is kinda my thing. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have any spontaneity in your trip, but you do have to do at least a little planning.
For one thing, you are going to need to make your Park Pass Reservations in advance. I also recommend having a general idea of what your top priorities are for your visit. It also helps to have a general understanding of the layout of the park before you arrive. That is also very helpful to avoid unnecessary walking. Because trust me, you will be doing a lot of walking.
4. Over planning
Although I don’t recommend going in without a plan, there is a danger of doing too much planning. One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to remain flexible.
Don’t schedule every minute of your day, and leave yourself some buffer time. Go into your trip knowing not everything is going to go exactly as planned. And that’s ok! Some of the best surprise experiences can happen when you need to pivot.
Another piece to the overplanning puzzle is scheduling too many table service dining reservations. Don’t get me wrong, I love a table service meal. But if you plan three meals a day as table service meals, that is taking a huge chunk out of your time in the parks. It also adds a level of stress in timing your day to be sure you get to your reservation in time. In general, I usually recommend a maximum of one table service meal per day.
5. Not planning for meals ahead of time
DO NOT wait until you are hungry to decide where to eat when you are visiting Disney World.
For any table service meals, you will want to make those reservations 60 days in advance of your trip. Even if you are doing quick service dining I recommend scoping out your options in advance. That doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind, but at least you will have a better idea of what places have items you will like.
I also recommend placing your mobile order early in the day to be sure you have your choice of order window options. A little bit of planning can save you from some big meltdowns. You can view my guide to mobile ordering in Disney World here.
6. Not planning for top priorities
I highly recommend taking some time to think about the top few things you want to be sure to experience on your trip. Maybe your kids are most excited about riding Space Mountain. Or perhaps you have a little princess who really wants to meet Cinderella. If you don’t plan out your priorities you run the risk of running out of time and ending up disappointed.
I recommend getting one or two “must-do” items from each person in your travel party. Be sure to schedule time for each of those things first. You’ll feel more relaxed knowing you have a set time so you won’t miss out. Be sure not to forget a few things YOU want to do when making your list!
7. Setting unrealistic expectations
No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to see and do everything. You will only stress yourself out and end up exhausted and disappointed if you try. Once you have your list of things you “must do”, take some time to think about your “nice to do” list.
It’s also important to remember that just because you paid a ton of money for this vacation doesn’t mean that every single member of your travel party is going to be perfectly happy during every moment of your trip. People are going to get cranky, it’s going to be hot, and you’re going to have to wait in some lines that are longer than you would like. Expect there to be a few meltdowns. If you anticipate them and do not make a big deal out of them then they are less likely to put a damper on your trip.
I hope this post helps you avoid some of the common pitfalls that beginners experience in Disney World.
If you want me to walk you through the planning process so you will know exactly what to do each day of your Disney World vacation click here to book a planning call.
