Disney World vacations can be a LOT of fun, but they’re not all magic and pixie dust.
Cinderella Castle
There’s definitely a few changes Disney can make to improve the theme park experience — but that’s not all. Between long lines, the heat, and crowds, sometimes you’ve just had ENOUGH. So we asked our DFB readers: when have they almost given up in Disney World? Here’s what they said.
Rude Guests
Picture this: it’s a hot day in Disney World. The lines are long and, especially pre-COVID, the crowds are almost impossible to navigate. Naturally, people are gonna get cranky and take it out on strangers. Or sometimes, you may run into another guest that’s just plain unpleasant.
EPCOT Crowds in 2020
Guys, there were TONS of these comments. One reader told us about a lady that wanted to “hit our 4-year-old with her scooter” for being in the way. WHAT?! And you all had LOTS to say about filling in all the rows at Fantasmic!. Seems like that show used to put us all a little too close for comfort.
Fantasmic!
At least with Disney’s new safety procedures, we don’t get quite as close to strangers anymore.
Here’s Our Crowd Prediction for Disney Next Week!
Your Own Family
Yup, we said it. While we’re on the subject of people arguing…a long family Disney trip usually has a meltdown of SOME kind. And boy did you guys have meltdowns to share! Readers told us about friends who “fought like siblings,” mothers-in-law who didn’t stick with the plan, and spouses who’d given up by 9:30AM (Yes, that’s less than an hour after the park opened. We get it — sometimes it’s just one of those days.).
EPCOT
Yikes. Sometimes it really is your own family, isn’t it?
The Family Dynamic Is Interesting (to Say the Least) in This Live-Action Disney Movie, Too!
Losing a Good View
Okay, this one was RELATABLE, especially in those pre-COVID days where we had parades and nighttime spectaculars galore. Plenty of you had stories to share about waiting hours for that perfect view of Festival of Fantasy or Happily Ever After, only for someone to cut in last minute right. in. front of you.
Festival of Fantasy Parade
One reader talks about a guy who put his kid on his shoulders right in front of the reader’s 9-year-old (poor kid). Then, the guy “starts moving around to keep his kid amused and elbows me in the head!” Yeah, we’d be just about done after that, too.
Check Out the Recent Fireworks Testing in Disney World!
The Heat
The weather can be BRUTAL in Orlando — just ask our readers! And when you’re already havin’ a rough day, the heat can be the cherry on top that makes a day at Disney a STRUGGLE. One reader cited Hollywood Studios in particular, saying “that place needs some shade.” Surely a couple more palm trees wouldn’t ruin the theming of Sunset Blvd?!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Yeah, take that picture and then place yourself in it in 90-plus degree heat. Ouch.
Having Trouble Wearing a Mask in the Heat? Here’s Some Tips!
When Rides Go Down
Most of us know the pain of running to ride our favorite Disney attraction only to realize it’s temporarily closed. But let’s take that up a notch, because many of our readers have gotten STUCK on Disney rides…for a really long time.
It’s a Small World
One reader wrote about getting stuck on “it’s a small world” — and he remembers it vividly even though it happened 23 YEARS ago. He says “For nearly 30 minutes, we did not move and I was sitting next to that speaker and being subjected to that song over and over and over and…” Well, you get the point.
Check Out All the Disney Rides That Are Planned to Close in March!
Not Getting a Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group
One reader researched tips and tricks for months on how to snag a boarding group for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and then didn’t get it on her one day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. She says, “Your family looks at you with big eyes…it’s very disheartening knowing that’s it.”
Rise of the Resistance
If you’ve been in this position before (and trust us, we have to), it can be really upsetting. However, there’s now another way to get on rides like Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure with Individual Attraction Selection through Disney Genie!
Click Here to Learn About Disney Genie!
Kids
Yes, your own kids. We love ’em, but sometimes they can be a LOT. They can have total meltdowns, fight with each other, or cry about EPCOT’s macarons not being perfectly stacked (yup, that happened).
Splash Mountain
Our favorite story? “Santa” gave some kids a trip to Disney World, but in a moment of anger, the parent blurted out “Do you know how much this trip cost us?” To which the wise-cracking 5-year-old replied, “NOTHING! Santa bought it for us!” Ah, good ol’ kids.
Check Out These Great Disney Treats for Kids (and Adults)!
Technology
Between Disney Genie, Park Pass reservations, the My Disney Experience app, and Mobile Order, there can be a LOT of new tech to learn for your Disney trip. And if you haven’t quite gotten the hang of it, it can be overwhelming! One reader wrote that he almost gave up because he felt like a personal assistant to his family. Or, as he noted, all the time on his phone “drained my battery (along with my will to live).”
Mobile Order Signs
And with Disney putting emphasis on touch-free experiences, we’re relying more on our phones than ever. Just keep in mind, if you’re ever struggling with those features, ask a Cast Member for help! They’ll be happy to assist.
Our Tips for Making the Most Out of Disney’s Mobile Order!
Long Lines
This one kinda goes with crowds, but the lines can get SO unbearable they deserve their own spotlight. Many of you lamented spending so much time waiting with tired feet and sore legs. One reader mentioned the particular pain of thinking “you are almost getting to the front of the queue and find you’re just getting inside the building…with another hour of wait time.” Yikes.
Frozen Ever After Line
People, we FEEL you. These lines can be a lot. And with new paid FastPasses through Genie, you either can pay to avoid those lines– or spend all day trying food instead. We’re total advocates of that, too.
Check Out This Wait for the SKYLINER!
We found that all of these hit close to home for us — seems like a lot of these Disney frustrations are universal! We’re just keepin’ it real with you guys. But don’t worry. These are just small moments that are hopefully part of a bigger and better trip overall. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and tips, so you can have fewer times like the ones mentioned above.
Here’s Some Disney Changes We’re STILL Struggling With
Here are 45 tips for those traveling to Disney World in 2021!
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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!
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Several of these offer the possibility of, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” When it gets hot, rainy, super humid, the crowds are overwhelming, the lines for the attractions we want too long, the kids are, well, being kids, rides go down…change the battle plan! Whatever I’d planned for that part of the day is kaput, anyway, so might as well enjoy the time and experience.
This is when Carousel of Progress, People Mover, Disney Railroad, It’s Tough to be a Bug, Enchanted Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents, Sea Base, any Hotel lobby, or just any hotel at all, resort boats, Living with the Land, Liberty Square River Boat, Muppet Vision 3D or any theater like show – you get the idea – are life savers. If it looks like it’s going to be a tough day, I’ve been known to save those types of attractions or escapes for later in the day when things are likely to get a little grumpy around us.
If those are busy or you’re not near, grab a treat at the nearest cart or quick service, find an out-of-the-beaten-path location (best if seated and in shade, but sometimes just leaning up against a wall) and people watch while the world slows down for you. Create stories and dialogs for the grouchy visitors (just not too loudly!). Melt with joy watching the elderly couple holding hands (that’ll probably be us), or the adults with little littles still managing to be amazing parents despite all that’s going on. Or spot someone who looks lost and confused and ask if you can help.
And if that won’t work, maybe it’s time to do the Monorail bar hop and just write off the next couple of hours to grooving with the flow!
I’ve *never* had a bad day at a Disney park. Even when my wife had a medical emergency at Epcot. The medical cast members are *beyond* awesome. Granted, some days more amazing than others, but never bad. Even with our three great nieces who were 6, 8, and 10 at the time. In fact, that was an amazing trip! I’d planned out all these attractions, activities and Fastpasses, then discovered they wanted every princess signature they could get. So we completely readjusted our plans for each day so they could get their most magical experience, and we lived vicariously through them! (OK, we did incorporate a few adult beverages for ourselves along the way).
I agree there is no reason to threaten to run over a 4 year old, but, being a person who has to use a scooter to navigate Disney, I feel the woman’s pain. Did the four year old and his family walk mindlessly into the path of the woman without even looking? Did the woman ask politely, “Excuse me” 10 times, before yelling, “Move it” in frustration? I’ve had people playing with their phones walk right in front of me with inches to spare. Because on the scooter I’m lower than most adults, they act like I’m not even there. I’ve been whacked in the head with backpacks and had people walk right into me. So there’s two sides to every story!
Another complaint: people who are staring at their phones, looking down, not watching where they’re walking & bumping into people. Also parents who are looking down only at their phones, instead of guiding their kids, who may dart out of the crowd suddenly into the path of a scooter or stroller or someone walking. This happened to me and when I quickly Slammed on the brakes & swerved to avoid hitting her. I certainly didn’t expect a sorry, or thank you from anyone. But Both her parents decided to look up from their phones for a second to tell me I was going too fast. Which I wasn’t. Of course they couldn’t see that because they were both looking down at their phones constantly. So instead of a thank you for Skillfully avoiding their daughter’s misstep of Jumping out of the crowd into a solid traffic lane, they both yell at me. As I shook my head, another park goer Who had seen the whole thing, shook her head & Gave me a thumbs up. (She saw I was close to crying). Thank you to her for her simple act of kindness!
It’s like you learned in kindergarten: words can hurt and words can help. People spend a lot of money to go to these wonderful places & to have a great time, and other park goers can greatly influence someone else’s vacation. Don’t chuck your manners at the park gate!
Last word: I Hope those distracted parents keep their child out of road traffic at home. Kids are precious.
(Thanks for letting me get this off my chest, I’ve been thinking about it for a whole year.)
You nailed it with the HEAT, TECHNOLOGY and LONG LINES. Here’s another one: EXHAUSTION. When I went to the Disney Villains After Hours event in 2019, I ended up staying from park open to a half hour before the event closed. My feet were KILLING ME! To make matters worse, my room in the Polynesian was all the way near the TTC. I walked all the way close to there trying to find my room. At one point, I think I nearly PASSED out. Long story short, do NOT make the same mistakes I did.
I, we, my family never had a melt down at WDW. I guess that is because we were lucky enough to spend the first week in December there, every year, from 1990 to 2005, before the crowds when things were really great. I regard the Michel Eisner/Frank Wells years, from 1984 to 2000 the golden age of WDW. What a great time to enjoy all of the build up and change.
I have to say that reading about all the crap one has to go through to get on Rise of the Resistance, I don’t even want to go on it. The process is beyond ridiculous! What was Disney thinking? Poor Walt, must be rolling in his grave…that ride is enough to eliminate the concept of “Happiest place on Earth”!
We were just there a week ago. We went to rope drop at Magic Kjngdom. We were literally right behind one line of people behind the rope, heading towards the Mine Train Ride. There was a woman and her daughter behind us, with hundreds of people behind us in mass. They dropped the rope and we began to walk and this woman proceeds to wedge her arm between me and the lady next to us elbowing us to push her way between us. We tell her she didn’t need to assault people to get to the front. We let her and her daughter pass. But seriously so rude!! She was in the front of all these people but still felt like she wasn’t far enough in front. If you are in front, seriously no need to hit people to get further up, when everyone was going to the same ride. People just be kind!!!