Listen, we don’t make the rules — but we will encourage you to follow them in Disney World!

Getting kicked out of the Most Magical Place on Earth certainly doesn’t sound like the start of a vacation we’d personally like to have, and if you want to avoid being banned from Disney World — you need to follow these five rules!

Don’t dress up like a character!

We know how counterintuitive this might be, but you actually shouldn’t wear your super elaborate Snow White costume into the parks. If you do, you might get kicked out!

Guests who are 14 years old or older are not permitted to wear costumes, as Disney prohibits  “posing as or portraying any character in costume.” Don’t worry — your kiddo can still dress up like Cinderella as long as they’re under 14.

There are also different rules for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and runDisney races, but for the most part, adults aren’t allowed to wear costumes to Disney World.

This is a rule for a reason — other people might mistake you for the actual character hired by Disney! Those character performers are trained to act and sound like the real (fictional) thing, but Disney didn’t do the same for you. If you really want to dress like your favorite character, consider DisneyBounding (dressing in regular clothes that give a nod to the character) or visiting during Not-So-Scary!

Don’t go into a “backstage” area!

Walt Disney never wanted the illusion of the parks being one big show to fade, and that’s why you’ll notice some areas are off-limits to guests. These areas are for Cast Members only, and they’re referred to as being “backstage,” otherwise the magic is POOF! Gone.

The Disney World rules state that guests are prohibited from going backstage. It specifically prohibits “unauthorized access or entry into backstage areas or areas designated only for Cast Members.” Cast Members work hard to keep the “show” going for guests, and going backstage would likely break that illusion.

Not only that, but Disney will often use these backstage areas as storage or there may even be construction projects going on, so this rule also exists to keep you safe.

Don’t pet the animals!

We know how adorable the baby zebras are and how badly you want to see what a giraffe’s fur feels like, but we can’t stress this one enough: do NOT pet the animals you see in Disney World! We’re talking about all the animals, here — the ones you see on Kilimanjaro Safaris and the little squirrels and ducks you see wandering about the parks.

Disney’s website states that “feeding, petting, touching, harassing or harming any wildlife, including birds, is prohibited.” One key phrase there is “including birds,” so the ducks might look oh-so-cute when you’re eating your Karamell-Kuche popcorn, but touching them can actually get you kicked out of the park.

If you MUST pet animals while you’re in Disney World, you can head over to the petting zoo at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This rule is to keep both you and the animals safe — they might be comfortable with humans, but they’re still wild at the end of the day.

Don’t cut in line!

This one may seem like just sheer human decency and common sense, but it’s also an actual Disney World rule. Cutting in line will not only earn you the ire of everyone around you, but it can also get you banned from the parks altogether.

The official rule on Disney World’s website says, “Please show common courtesy to fellow Guests and our Cast Members by not using profanity or engaging in unsafe, illegal, disruptive or offensive behavior, jumping lines or saving places in lines for others.”

You may have even witnessed cutting in line when you’ve been in Disney World, and most of the time people will only get kicked out if a Cast Member happens to catch them. While you might not get caught, cutting in line is certainly not very cool and is a pretty rude thing to do to your fellow Disney fans.

Don’t bring in prohibited items!

Over the years, Disney’s list of banned items and activities has grown, and, while some of them you can probably guess (like weapons and illegal substances) others are a bit more surprising. Either way, trying to sneak in any of the prohibited items on the list runs you the risk of getting thrown out of the parks.

Don’t bring your selfie sticks, costumes, folding chairs, drones, plastic chairs, and skateboards into Disney World or you might find yourself not being welcomed back in.

So, will you really get kicked out if you break any of these rules? It’s complicated. The Disney World website states:

“We reserve the right to deny admission, prevent entry, or require a person already admitted to leave the Walt Disney World Resort or any part thereof, without refund, liability or compensation, for failure to comply with any of these rules, for unsafe, illegal or offensive behavior, to ensure safety, security or order, or if we consider that the circumstances otherwise so require, in our sole and absolute discretion.”

Following these rules isn’t hard — in fact, millions of people follow them every year and don’t get kicked out of Disney World. Rules are there for a reason, likely to keep you safe, so make sure you’re mindful of them when you’re in the parks and hotels and you’ll still be able to have a good time.

And, don’t forget to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World tips and news!

When are you heading to Disney World next? Tell us in the comments.