Disney Mishaps to Avoid: Know Before You Go!
by Becky Criswell12.19.19I’m constantly talking about my tips and tricks for Walt Disney World. People ask for recommendations based on my many experiences. However, I wasn’t always an experienced Disney-goer. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and that’s another benefit to using an experienced travel agent. I can share my live-and-learn moments with you to keep you from making the same mistakes. Here are my top five:
- Be prepared to wait for your luggage to be delivered to your room. If you are flying into Orlando International Airport, Disney’s Magical Express will retrieve your luggage for you and transfer it to your hotel room. They warn that your bags may not arrive for up to three hours after you have gotten to your room. I have been aware of this and always advise people to pack their essentials like medications, snacks, and of course their magic bands. But just like anything else, things don’t always go as planned. Magical Express can get backed up and on the rare occasion, you may end up waiting longer than those three hours. This is what happened to us on our last family trip. When you have three children under the age of four and you’ve been traveling all day, the last things you want to be without are their pajamas and bedtime necessities! I believe it’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes, pajamas, and whatever your children will need for bedtime in your carryon bag.
- Almost everyone plans at least one night to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Often, the fireworks coincide with park closing time. When this happens, don’t expect to exit the park easily or get back to your resort quickly. I’m not at all saying to skip the fireworks! They are the best fireworks you will ever see. But be prepared for large crowds exiting the park, and for long lines to get on the buses, boats, and monorail. Even if you drive to the park, you will need to wait in line to take the monorail back to the parking lot. It helps to be mentally prepared for this because it can be disheartening to see the long lines when you are tired and expecting to get right back to your car or room. If you are concerned about this, you can try to avoid it by watching the fireworks near the park exit so you can be one of the first to leave. You could also wait until some of the crowd clears out. Grab a park bench and people-watch. You could also visit the shops on main street because they remain open after park-closing.
- During the Fall and Winter, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party happen in the Magic Kingdom on select nights. You may not be thinking about this when you are planning out your vacation months in advance. If you do not have a ticket for the party and you happen to be in Magic Kingdom on one of the party days, you will have to leave the park at 6:00 pm. Be careful to schedule your park days around this!
- Don’t try do everything!! It is impossible to see and do everything Disney has to offer in one trip. Make a priority list, and everything else is a bonus. Don’t wear yourself out. If at all possible, take a rest day in the middle of the week. It’s nice to stay at the resort and relax by the pool to give yourself a break from the parks. A Disney trip can be exhausting, especially if you are traveling with little ones. Know your children’s limitations and also your own so no one is pushed past their breaking point. I’ve been there – done that!
- Lastly, be prepared for rain at any time! Florida is famous for spontaneous rain showers. While they usually move through quickly, you could be soaked in a matter of minutes. My husband and I learned this on our last trip. We entered Rainforest Café in Disney Springs for dinner. The skies were blue and neither of us had one thought of rain. We parked our double stroller and had a fun dinner with our 4-year old and 2-year old twins. Little did we know that while we were in the middle of the rainforest having a delicious dinner, the rain was also pouring outside! When we came out our stroller was completely soaked. We had planned to spend the rest of the evening in Disney Springs and then we still needed to take a bus ride back to our resort. We had to buy beach towels at the World of Disney Store to cover up the stroller so the kids could sit down. Thank goodness for hair dryers in hotel rooms! We spent a good amount of time drying our stroller that night to prepare for the next day. Lesson: Pack your ponchos, cover your stroller, and protect your belongings even when there’s no rain in sight!
If just one of these tips prevents a Disney problem for you, then this blog was worth writing! I’d love to help you plan your next Disney vacation and share more of my tips and lessons with you. Email me at beckyc@wishesfamilytravel.com!