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The number one mistake most Disney World travelers make is having regrets after their vacation is over. With so much to do and see, it’s hard to check everything off your list in one trip.
To help you avoid these common pitfalls and guarantee you get the magical vacation you deserve, we’ve compiled the top 15 regrets visitors often have after a Disney World trip. By learning from the experiences of others and following our expert tips, you can sidestep these mistakes and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
15 Mistakes Disney World Guests Make
Many guests want to do Disney the right way, but in pursuing what’s “right,” they end up straying from the path. Here are the top 15 regrets that you could experience.
1. Not Planning Ahead
One of the biggest mistakes Disney World visitors make is not planning ahead. Disney World is massive, with four theme parks, two water parks, over 25 resort hotels, and so many dining and entertainment options. Without advanced research and planning, you’ll likely miss out on popular attractions, dining reservations, and special experiences.
To avoid this regret:
- Make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance
- Book Genie+ for each park day
- Research the parks, rides, shows, and dining options to prioritize what’s most important to your group
- Make a daily itinerary to maximize your time
2. Underestimating the Size of the Parks
Many first-time visitors are shocked by the massive size of the Disney World parks. Each park is huge, with the largest, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, spanning 580 acres. Attempting to see and do everything in one day is simply impossible and will leave you exhausted and frustrated. Plus, you’ll walk a lot. On our last trip, we were hitting around 25,000 steps a day!
To prevent this regret:
- Plan to spend at least one full day in each park from open to close
- Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk several miles per day
- Use the Disney transportation system like buses, boats, and skyliner to save your feet
- Take midday breaks to avoid exhaustion
- Make sure you add important items like sunscreen to your packing list
3. Not Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel
We get it. The off-property hotels look cheaper on paper. But trust us when we say staying on resort is extremely worth it, as long as it fits in your budget. Not only do you get access to early park entry and free transportation, but you also get to experience the Disney bubble. Here are just some perks you get to enjoy when staying on Disney property:
- Extra Magic Hours – access the parks before they open or after they close to the public (additional fee for after magic hours)
- Complimentary transportation to and from the parks
- Ability to book virtual queue reservations right at 7:00 am.
- Experience the Disney bubble
- Package delivery from the parks to your resort room
4. Skipping the Single Rider Line
If you’re not interested in purchasing Genie+, we highly recommend using the single rider line. Four of Disney’s most popular rides have a single rider line that is often much shorter than the regular queue. Guests in the single rider line fill empty seats, so your party will be split up, but you can drastically reduce your wait times. Rides offering Single Rider include:
- Test Track – Epcot
- Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Hollywood Studios
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Hollywood Studios
A few key things to note about single rider lines at Disney World:
- There are no single rider lines offered at Magic Kingdom
- The minimum age to use the single rider line is 7 years old.
- When using the single rider line, you will be separated from your party in order to fill in empty seats.
- Single rider lines are not always open. They may be closed at the beginning or end of the day, or on days with lower attendance.
So in summary, if you don’t mind riding separately from your group, the single rider lines at these four attractions can be a great way to save time without paying extra.
5. Not Taking Advantage of Genie+
Yes, we hear you. Another additional cost? But trust us, Genie+ is absolutely worth it. By booking lightning lanes, we were able to ride all of the top rides pretty much by mid-afternoon. Then we could focus on doing all the filler attractions and enjoying more of what each park has to offer. No one likes waiting in lines. It’s probably the worst part of a Disney vacation. Just don’t look anyone in the standby line in the eyes as you walk right passed them!
Tips for maximizing Genie+:
- Book Genie+ right at midnight of your park day. It can sell out.
- Prioritize the most popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Avatar Flight of Passage, Slinky Dog Dash, and Frozen Ever After
- Refresh the My Disney Experience app frequently to snag hard-to-get lightning lanes that may pop up from cancellations
6. Eating Only Park Food
While Disney World has stepped up its theme park dining game in recent years, some of the best food can be found at the resort hotels and Disney Springs. Many guests regret limiting themselves to burgers and chicken nuggets when a world of gourmet pasta awaits just outside the parks.
Noteworthy resort dining includes:
- ‘Ohana – Polynesian Village Resort
- California Grill – Contemporary Resort
- Sanaa – Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Topolino’s Terrace – Riviera Resort
Disney Springs standouts:
- The Boathouse
- Jaleo by José Andrés
- Morimoto Asia
- Raglan Road Irish Pub
7. Not Budgeting Enough
A Disney World vacation is expensive, from park tickets and hotels to food and souvenirs. The average individual spends around $2,000 for a complete Disney World trip. Our best tip? What’s another $35 here and there? You’re on vacation, so you deserve to have a little fun. Buy that Figment plushie, eat at that expensive restaurant, and make your memories last long after the trip ends. Just don’t think about the bill you get at the end of your stay!
Here are our best money-saving tips if you have a tight budget:
- Buy discounted Disney gift cards at Target or Sam’s Club to pay for dining and souvenirs
- Bring refillable water bottles and snacks into the parks
- Share meals – Disney portions are often large enough for two (or order from the children’s menu!)
- Skip the Park Hopper option if you plan to spend one day in each park
8. Visiting at the Wrong Time
Disney World is busiest around holidays and school breaks, leading to huge crowds, long lines, and high prices. Guests often regret visiting during peak times as it can be stressful and exhausting battling the masses. We have a complete crowd calendar for Disney World in 2024, so you should plan your vacation around these dates.
Best times to visit for lower crowds:
- January-early February
- Late April-early May
- Late August-September
- Early November
9. Not Using the My Disney Experience App
The My Disney Experience app has become a permanent resident on our phones. Not only can we check ride wait times from miles away, but it also is an essential tool inside the parks. The app controls your lightning lanes, your virtual queue times, mobile food order, ride wait times, and so much more. There are even fun games you can play inside the park that make the experience just that much more immersive. Here is a full list of the app’s features:
- Park Reservations: Make theme park reservations to visit Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom.
- Tickets: Purchase park tickets directly through the app.
- Dining: Make dining reservations at table service restaurants up to 60 days in advance.
- Resort Online Check-In: Complete your resort check-in, add a payment card, select arrival time, and opt in or out of housekeeping.
- Room Ready Notification: Receive a notification when your resort room is ready along with the room number.
- MagicBands: View and manage your linked MagicBands for each guest. Deactivate lost bands and reset PIN codes.
- Digital Room Key: Use your phone to unlock your resort room door instead of a MagicBand.
- Charges: View all resort charges and spending for each member of your party.
- Resort Maps: Access resort maps to locate shops, dining, and other points of interest.
- Directions: Get walking directions and estimates for how long it will take to get from place to place.
- Resort Info: Find details on recreation, shopping, spa, tours, and entertainment at your resort.
- GPS Map: Navigate the parks with the interactive, GPS-enabled map.
- Genie and Genie+: Utilize the free Disney Genie service for a personalized daily itinerary, or pay to access Genie+ for Lightning Lane reservations.
- Tip Board: See forecasted wait times for attractions and make Lightning Lane reservations.
- Mobile Order: Order food and drinks from quick service locations for pickup.
- Virtual Queues: Join virtual queues, when available, for high-demand attractions.
- PhotoPass: Link PhotoPass photos taken by Disney photographers to your account.
10. Skipping the Shows
With so many exciting rides, it’s easy to overlook Disney World’s amazing shows and entertainment. Visitors often regret missing out on Broadway-caliber productions like Festival of the Lion King and Fantasmic!
Must-see shows include:
- Festival of the Lion King – Animal Kingdom
- Fantasmic! – Hollywood Studios
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage – Hollywood Studios
- Finding Nemo: The Musical – Animal Kingdom
- Frozen Sing-Along – Hollywood Studios
11. Not Taking a Break
Trying to power through from rope drop to fireworks without a break is a recipe for meltdowns – both for kids and adults. Taking a midday break to nap, swim, or simply relax can recharge your batteries for a more enjoyable vacation. If you’re in the parks, consider taking a food or snack break or ride something less thrilling like the PeopleMover!
12. Not Buying Souvenirs at the Parks
This one kind of goes hand in hand with our budget tip, but part of the fun of a Disney vacation is completely immersing yourself in the Disney magic, or bubble. You should have wiggle room in your budget for taking a gander at each gift shop’s merchandise. Who doesn’t love an exclusive Mickey plushie or Loungefly?
I don’t collect Loungeflys. But I was at Disney World, so I knew I wanted to buy at least one. We had a breakfast booked at ‘Ohana where we planned to meet Stitch.
So I found an exclusive Loungefly at Hollywood Studios and decided that it would be my Loungefly for the rest of the trip. Turns out it became the highlight of my vacation because I got so many compliments, even from Stitch himself. That’s right, when we met him at ‘Ohana, he pointed at the bag and gave me a big hug. It was one of the best moments of my life!
13. Not Exploring the Resorts
One of the biggest regrets most Disney World travelers have is not adjusting their schedule for resort hopping. The best 7-day Disney World itinerary would ideally include at least one resort hopping day (preferably on a Saturday when everyone is in the parks). As a Disney World resort guest, you can visit every Disney World resort for free. Last year, we stayed at Pop Century but managed to visit Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian. Who knows? You might just find your next Disney World stay!
MUST-SEE Resorts:
- Animal Kingdom Lodge – see African animals on the savanna
- Polynesian Village Resort – watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach, also explore the gorgeous beach
- Art of Animation Resort – pose with giant Disney character statues
- Wilderness Lodge – take a boat to the Magic Kingdom
14. Skipping the Dining Plan
Disney’s dining plan is back and better than ever. It allows you to prepay for your food with the convenience of a refillable MagicBand. While not always a money-saver, many guests find the dining plan to be a stress-free way to stick to a food budget. It’s like going to an all-inclusive resort. You’re on vacation, so you should be able to eat or drink whatever you want, without money being a concern.
Here’s the two that you can choose from:
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan:
- 2 Quick-Service Meals (per night of stay)
- 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)
- 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug
Disney Dining Plan:
- 1 Quick-Service Meal (per night of stay)
- 1 Table-Service Meal (per night of stay)
- 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)
- 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug
15. Not Slowing Down to Enjoy the Magic
In the rush to do and see it all, many visitors forget to slow down and savor the little moments that make Disney World so magical. Don’t regret racing through the experience – take time to appreciate the details, people-watch on Main Street, and soak up the atmosphere that can only be found in the most magical place on Earth.
Get in line to meet your favorite characters, sing along to the catchy tunes both on and off attractions, get sprinkled with pixie dust at the Magic Kingdom. There are so many little details that make a Disney World trip truly memorable. Take a moment to stop and smell the flowers.
Final Thoughts
By learning from the regrets of past Disney World visitors, you can plan ahead to maximize the magic of your dream vacation. Remember, Disney World is not a race to be won, but a journey to enjoy with your loved ones. Slow down, plan wisely, and be excited – after all, what’s so wrong with believing in a little magic?
FAQ
We’ve outlined the frequently asked questions about Disney World to make sure you don’t have any regrets on your next vacation!
What’s the best time of year to visit Disney World?
The best times to visit Disney World for lower crowds and prices are January-early February, late April-early May, late August-September, and early November. Avoid holidays and school breaks if possible.
How far in advance should I plan my Disney World trip?
Ideally, start planning your Disney World trip 6-12 months in advance. This gives you time to research, make dining and FastPass+ reservations, and take advantage of any promotions or discounts.
Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?
The Disney Dining Plan can be a good value if you plan to eat a lot of table service meals or character dining. However, it may not save you money if you prefer quick-service dining or are a light eater. Crunch the numbers based on your eating habits to decide if it’s right for you.
What’s the best way to save money on a Disney World vacation?
There are many ways to save money on a Disney World trip, such as visiting during off-peak times, staying at a value resort, bringing your own snacks and water into the parks, sharing meals, and buying discounted Disney gift cards at places like Target or Sam’s Club to pay for dining and souvenirs.
How much walking should I expect to do at Disney World?
Expect to walk several miles per day at Disney World, especially if you plan to visit multiple parks. Wear comfortable shoes and take breaks as needed. Utilizing Disney transportation like buses, monorails and boats can help save your feet.
