You’ve been planning your Disney World vacation for months (congratulations!!), and it’s about time to head out the door.
But, instead of feeling excited, you might be spending more time worrying about things you could forget or what may go wrong during your trip! Whether you’ve gone to Disney once or ten times, it’s totally normal to get those pre-trip jitters.
However, we’re here to tell you about things that you don’t have to worry about the next time you go to Disney World (so you can get to relaxing even more quickly!).
Getting Sick in the Happiest Place on Earth
No matter how much we hope we won’t catch a cold in Disney World, sometimes it just happens (even though it’s a massive bummer when you want to ride Toy Story Mania three times in a row).
Although it can be frustrating when you or a family member gets sick while at the Most Magical Place on Earth, there are still ways to get around feeling ill during your vacation.
Motion Sickness
If you know that you are prone to nausea or lightheadedness after riding attractions, be sure to pack some Bonine or Dramamine with you before you head into the parks. Trust us — it can be a life-saver for the days you feel extra adventurous and ride Tower and Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster back-to-back!
If you take Bonine earlier in the day, it will probably help relieve some of that motion sickness so you can enjoy more in the parks.
Click here to learn more about how motion-sickness meds can save your day!
Dehydration
After you’ve spent an entire day in Magic Kingdom in that boiling Florida sun walking 10,000 steps and then some, hydration is KEY to surviving in Disney World. But, when you’re running from Space Mountain to sit on Main Street for the Festival of Fantasy Parade, dehydration can creep up on you quickly if you’re not drinking enough water.
While we recommend to always have a hydrating drink with you, First Aid Stations are available around the parks if you feel faint or dehydrated. The Cast Members will give you a place to cool off for a bit and sports drink to rehydrate before you go back to pound the Disney World pavement.
You can find where the nearest First Aid Station is located in each park by using the My Disney Experience app!
Click here to learn more about First Aid in the parks!
Medication Delivery
There’s no sure-fire way to get rid of a cold or the flu ASAP in Disney World, but you CAN have prescription medication delivered to your resort directly or to the First Aid Stations in each park to help curb your symptoms. Remember, if you have a contagious illness, it’s best to wait it out in your room!
Gift shops in the parks and resorts also keep a stock of different pain relief, stomach relief, allergy, and cold medications that you can pick up.
Read more about prescription delivery in Disney World here.
Although we’d all like to see and do everything we can in Disney World, one of the best ways to get better is to rest. It’s more important to take care of yourself so you can conquer a new day all rejuvenated and ready to go instead of pushing yourself too hard (and possibly making yourself feel worse).
Note: since room service won’t initially be available when the parks reopen, make sure you have a few packaged items in your room just in case you need to spend a day inside!
These are the things we’ve learned from our biggest Disney World disasters that YOU need to know!
Packing Every Little Thing You’ll Need
If you’re like us, you might be guilty of waiting until the last minute to pack (like the morning of your vacation sometimes). But, even if you plan and pack way ahead of time, leaving something important behind is a fear for many travelers.
While you may not want to forget the essentials, packing for Disney World doesn’t have to be a daunting thing. After all, you’re going on VACATION, friends!! If you’re not sure what to bring or you don’t want to leave something behind, follow along with the ultimate Disney packing list as you get everything together.
Although we all feel like we might need to pack 20 pairs of socks or eight pairs of shoes, there’s no need to overpack for your trip. If you leave something behind, you can always pop into a gift shop to pick up an extra pair of sunglasses or a new water bottle! (We don’t need to be told twice to go on a Disney World shopping spree! 😉)
Note there are a few things banned in the parks, so leave items like selfie sticks and toy weapons behind. Who wants to go through the hassle of bringing something they won’t be able to use in the parks, anyways?
Plus, you can leave bulky items like pool towels and hairdryers behind since your Disney resort will provide them to you at no additional cost.
You can also cut down on the amount you take with you by shipping things directly to your resort. The Disney resorts allow you to have anything from packages to groceries delivered right to your Disney resort.
Even if your kid will only eat a certain kind of granola bar or you need enough diapers for two toddlers, you don’t have to worry about packing them. Get just what you need for the length of your trip delivered to your hotel instead of cramming it all in your already-full suitcases!
Find out how you can Disney Parks food delivered to your hotel!
Need even MORE packing advice? Watch our Ultimate Packing List video here!!
The “Perfect” Vacation
This is a big one, folks — things go wrong on vacations all the time. We can’t predict when our kids will have meltdowns or when you’ll be late for an Advance Dining Reservation. It’s important to roll with the flow when you’re in Disney World without freaking out if something doesn’t go exactly to plan.
Since there are plenty of unexpected factors that can’t be planned around, your plans could always change, depending on what is happening that day. If something DOES go wrong, though, Cast Members are there to help you fix things like dining reservations, ticket mishaps, and more. (Hey, you might even get lucky and snag one of those No Strings Attached Passes!)
Besides, everyone in your party will not have the same definition of a “perfect” vacation. Your grandmother may just want to chill at one of the restaurants, while your kiddos could love doing all the character meet-and-greets. You may be the person who can hop on every attraction and stay in the parks from rope drop until closing, but someone else with you might REALLY need that afternoon nap.
You’ll have to consider what everybody you’re with wants to do to make sure everyone has a magical vacation.
It’s all about compromise, folks! Even if you DON’T want to watch PhilharMagic for the hundredth time, your family member could consider it one of the best parts of their vacation. Keep everyone’s opinions in mind and make time for each person’s favorites.
You DEFINITELY don’t want to do these 8 things when you’re planning your Disney vacation!
Not Finding a Good Spot for the Fireworks or Parades
You know the spiel where you “HAVE” to look for a spot at LEAST thirty minutes or more before the parade or fireworks start, or you won’t have a good place to watch them? If you’re looking for a very specific spot right in front of Cinderella Castle, this might be true. But, for the most part, you can still enjoy that Disney magic without sacrificing your time in the parks.
Now, when the parks reopen, there won’t even BE any fireworks or parades, so BAM — problem solved. 😉 But once the parades and fireworks come back (and we know they will!), here are a few great tips to create a little more zen for you as you plan.
We’ve found a few spots that are GREAT for fireworks viewings that most people don’t hang around during the show! These spots are best for folks who’ve seen the shows at least once before and already had the full experience. Although you might not be able to fully watch the projections, you can get a one-of-a-kind view of the fireworks in each park that offers them in places like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the entrance to Tomorrowland, and next to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Part of the fun of Disney vacations is trying new things, so maybe you can find a NEW favorite spot to watch the fireworks the next time you’re in Disney World!
Parades are a teensy bit different than the fireworks, however, since you can’t always find a spot to stand or sit if it’s crowded.
In general in Magic Kingdom, the very start or very end of the parade route is typically the easiest to get a close view last minute. But even if you happen to find a last-minute place standing next to a trash can or at the very end of Main Street, the parade is still just as enjoyable. You can take in all the floats, dancers, costumes, and music from wherever you’re at as the show passes by you (don’t forget to wave to Mickey!).
However, if you’re willing to shell out some extra cash for an extra great place to watch a show, there are multiple dining packages in the parks that will give you a VIP viewing section. You can snack on some desserts as you watch Happily Ever After, feast on a great lunch before Festival of Fantasy, or have a nice dinner with your family before watching Fantasmic!
Disney Resorts even offer some great fireworks viewing locations, like Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort! Dinner and a show sound like a great evening, right??
Take a look at the best Disney World restaurants with a fireworks view!
Although we totally understand the stress of worrying about things that could go wrong during your vacation after all that planning, take a deep breath and ENJOY it! You still get to go to the Most Magical Place on Earth with your family. So, if you’re feeling worried, remember a very important lesson from Timon and Pumbaa — hakuna matata, friends!
For more great tips and solutions to problems…
Here’s what you should do if your Disney trip turns into a HUGE failure!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What are some of the things you worry about the most before your Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments below!
TRENDING NOW