Okay, y’all, we are DAYS away from 2024 — and we have some advice for you.

We have reporters in the parks every single day, so we learn what some big mistakes are very quickly– by making them ourselves. With the New Year right around the corner, we want to share some of those mistakes with you so you can avoid them! Since Disney trips take a lot of planning and preparation, we want to give you all the tools you need to have the BEST trip ever — even if that means admitting to our mistakes. 

It is human to forget things, make mistakes, and feel overwhelmed. We get it, we’ve been there. It’s okay to take a step back, take a deep breath, and let us tell you about mistakes that you can avoid in the parks in 2024!

Not Paying Attention to Park Hours

Park hours at Disney World can make or break your trip. They are the one thing that determines how long you officially can spend in a park and may be one of the most important things to pay attention to.

However, you want to keep an eye on the park hours as your trip gets closer. Disney reserves the right to change their operating hours whenever they’d like, for whatever reason. This can either be something that is really great or something that can cut hours from your park day.

Let’s talk about the bad side of this first. There are many events at Disney World throughout the year– and sometimes those can be added into the calendar after you booked your trip. This means that the parks close early to make time for those different events. This can be done for anything from cast member appreciation days to someone booking out the entire park. Whatever the reason, it is good practice to keep checking on the park hours for the date of your trip every once and a while.

On the flip side of that, this could benefit you! They don’t only shorten hours at Disney World, they also extend them! Sometimes Disney will change the operating hours on the calendar to extend how long you’re allowed to be in the parks– no extra ticket needed. This could add tons of extra time to your day and allow you to do so many other magical things.

Your Ultimate 1-Day Plan For Magic Kingdom

Not Keeping an Eye Out for Closures

Every so often things will close at Disney World. Whether it is for a major refurbishment, a retheme, or a smaller refurbishment– things close all the time, and sometimes with little warning. This goes for attractions, transportation, shows, resorts, and more. They do this to keep things fresh for you and to ultimately improve the vacation experience as a whole. However, these shutdowns and refurbishments can make a BIG impact on your vacation.

One of the biggest closures that is currently happening and will continue into 2024 is Splash Mountain since they are re-theming it to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. They plan to open this attraction in late 2024 for all of us to enjoy! Another closure happening in the parks in 2024 is Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom. This attraction is set to temporarily close on January 8th for a refurbishment, and we are unsure of when it will reopen. There are other attraction closures set to happen at some point in 2024, and we’ll share more information as we hear it.

Closures don’t only impact attractions. Keep an eye out for transportation closures, resort closures (or other construction work), and the water parks. The water parks will close if the weather is too cold, so if you’re looking to take a trip during the colder months make sure you keep your eyes out for that!

A List of 50 Restaurants and Attractions That Close EARLY in Disney World

Overspending on Your Hotel

This is one of our favorite tips from 2023, so we knew we had to bring it back for 2024.

Disney World is an expensive vacation. If you’re planning on spending the majority of the time in the parks, maybe booking a super expensive deluxe hotel may not be the best option. There are a ton of “moderate” and “value” hotels on property that can save you hundreds — or even thousands of dollars that you could use elsewhere. You may not have as many different dining, entertainment, or swimming options — but you’ll still have some and you won’t feel guilty for using your hotel room just for sleeping and showering. Deluxe resorts are beautiful and an amazing experience, so if you think it is worth it, please do! However, if you’re not planning to spend a lot of time there, a moderate or value resort may give you the best bang for your buck.

The PROS And CONS Of Staying At Disney World’s Value Resorts

Buying Genie+ for EVERY Park Day

We love Genie+ and appreciate the service when it is a busy park day or a peak season. However, there are some days when Genie+ isn’t necessary, and it is important to keep those things in mind. Not buying Genie+ Could save you tons of money — especially if you’re traveling with a big group of people.

Genie+ is great for a busy park day at Magic Kingdom so you don’t need to wait in those long lines. However, if you’re in a park like Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it may not be super necessary. We tend to notice that the wait times may be longer for some of the major attractions, like Flight of Passage, but for the most part, you can get on every attraction without too much of a wait. Of course, this is all personal preference, and if you want to bypass every line at every park– go for it!

Don’t Make My Mistake. These Are the Days When Disney Genie+ is a Waste of Money.

Wearing Uncomfortable Clothing

Spending an entire day outside in the Florida heat can take a toll on you — especially if you’re wearing the wrong clothes. 

By wrong clothes, we mean things like high heels, uncomfortable fabrics (we’re looking at you, denim), and things that may cause you general discomfort throughout the day. We have found tons of ways to be cute while at the parks — even in athletic wear. Wearing the wrong clothing can make or break your trip to Disney so make sure you’re choosing the best outfit options for you in the hot Florida sun.

We really want to highlight shoes here. You spend a ton of time walking around at Disney World, and wearing the wrong pair of shoes can really ruin your day. Make sure you bring broken-in, comfortable shoes to wear in the parks. Don’t forget those extra socks, too — the rain can come at any time!

We Wore Crocs in Disney World All Day. Here’s What Happened.

Not Preparing for Rain

Florida and rain are almost synonymous at this point. 

Spending time in Florida means that you’ll encounter a random mid-day thunderstorm at some point during your trip, and it is important to be prepared for that. This means having a poncho, extra socks, and possibly some waterproof shoes. It is impossible to avoid the discomfort of being rained on completely, but having these things with you will make a good jumping-off point to being prepared for the rain. Throw on those ponchos and continue walking around the park and heading to rides (keep in mind, outdoor attractions are closed for inclement weather!) while everyone else is hiding in shops to avoid the rain and spending $20 on one poncho.

3 Terrifyingly Easy Ways to Ruin Your Disney World Vacation 

We know there are tons of mistakes that can be made at Disney World, and hopefully, you can learn from some of ours. We’re constantly experiencing new things at the parks, so we’ll keep you updated with some things to avoid as the year goes on. Keep checking in with us to see what we find next!

The Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip

What is one mistake you’ve made at Disney World that you want to warn others about? Let us know in the comments below!