Even at an all-time low in 2020, Disney parks around the world managed to draw in over 43.525 million visitors. Clearly, the happiest place on Earth is a renowned and in-demand vacation package even at the worst of times, and why wouldn’t it be? Disney has everything for children and adults alike.
If you’re planning an adventure to one of these theme parks, it’s important that you avoid the most common mistakes with Disney vacations. Read on to learn what these mistakes are and how you can have the best trip of your life.
1. Underestimating the Cost: One of the Top Mistakes With Disney Vacations
The average Disney World trip costs around $5731. Many people choose to go to the park without knowing that the cost is so high. Some try to get by on less than half of this cost, which will leave you high and dry part of the way through your trip.
Make sure that you understand the costs upfront and budget accordingly. Set aside money for hotel rooms or get a timeshare. You can learn more about this option by looking at info. for DVC sellers.
2. Not Creating an Itinerary
An important part of budgeting is creating an itinerary. Itineraries are also important because they let you hit all of the attractions that you’re most interested in while on your trip.
Go on Disney World’s website and do your research on the attractions that you see there. If something looks uniquely interesting to you, put that attraction in a Google Doc. Once you have a bunch of things that you want to do, order them from most to least important.
From there, you can build an itinerary out of the things that you most want to do. Make sure that you allocate an appropriate amount of time for each attraction. For example, don’t try to do Epcot in two hours- you need a full day.
3. Overstuffing Your Itinerary
While Disney has a lot of great stuff to do, you can’t get everything done in a single trip. To try is an extremely common rookie mistake. You need to prioritize the things that matter most and have fun at those rather than overstuffing your schedule.
Remember that resting is important. Being exhausted at a theme park completely ruins the experience. Set aside time to relax within the schedule and make sure that you stick to them.
You also should consider that you’ll find compelling things at Disney that you hadn’t planned for. Leave breaks in your itinerary for impromptu adventures. This is especially important if you’re going with a group of adults and don’t need to schedule every second of each day.
4. Refusing to Take Breaks
Some people who go to Disney understand why breaks are important on principle but refuse to take them anyway. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” might sound like a compelling argument, but you’re going to become tired, cranky, and miserable if you aren’t well-rested.
You also are likely to get sick from the heat and too much exertion if you don’t plan rests throughout the day. Avoid this problem by taking breaks and resting appropriately.
5. Forgetting to Make Reservations
Disney is an exceedingly popular destination and attractions can only accommodate so many people at once. If you don’t choose what to do months in advance and reserve tickets to it, you’re going to be out of luck. You can’t just expect to go to the park and do things.
Make sure that you keep receipts and confirmations for all reservations that you make. Store tickets on your Smartphone for easy access. Link them to your My Disney Experience app to ensure that you don’t misplace or accidentally delete them.
6. Forgetting to Care for Your Body
When you’re having an awesome time at Disney amusement parks, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself.
Dehydration is really common among theme park visitors and can lead to serious issues including fainting and heatstroke. Make sure that you carry a large water bottle with you at all times and drink it frequently. Set an alarm to remind yourself to drink if you think you’ll forget.
If you begin to overheat, you also will want to find a shady area to sit in if you’re outdoors. Ducking into one of the many shops or indoor attractions around the theme park is also a great idea. The AC will keep you cool while you get some R&R.
7. Not Using the My Disney Experience App
The My Disney Experience app exists on both iOS and Android devices to make your life easier while at the park. You can use it to check into the park at the beginning of the day without waiting in line. You also can order food at most restaurants and go pick it up when it’s ready (instead of needing to wait).
Another awesome thing about the app is that it lets you see wait times for rides and attractions. If you want to get last-minute tickets for something not on your itinerary, you can see how long it will take you to snag a seat on that ride or a ticket to that exhibit. Tickets and hotel reservations are also easy to link to the app so that you can manage them from your mobile device.
Plan Your Magical Adventure Today
While planning a trip to Disney can be a challenge, it’s well worth it. Whether you’re taking kids or having a memorable time with adult friends, there’s a lot to explore.
Now that you know some of the top mistakes with Disney vacations that you don’t want to make, it’s time to get some more awesome tips for your journey. Check out the ‘travel‘ tab on our home page for more information about packing, getting ready for your adventure, and more.
