When you work at Disney World you get to spend a majority of your shift people watching.

We asked our resident Cast Member alumni to share some PAINFUL stories of things they’ve seen guests do in Disney World. Don’t make these mistakes — come with us to see the mistakes we see many people make on vacation. Don’t worry! We’ve got easy fixes for them!

As Cast Members, we have watched guests make these common mistakes over and over again. Learn from their mistakes and don’t do these four things the next time you visit Disney World!

It is Painful Seeing People Get Lost

Disney World is huge! With four theme parks, two water parks, two mini golf courses, a shopping district, and almost 30 hotels, it is easy to get lost! 

There have been countless times when we have seen people waste so much time trying to figure out where they are going. Our biggest tip for this is to know what you want to do before you arrive so you can outline your day. You can even check park maps from home on the My Disney Experience app to allow you to get a feel for the park.

One of our resident Cast Member alums shared that they were once asked to give directions to the Harry Potter area of Magic Kingdom! It can be hard to tell someone that the area they are looking for is not even at Disney World. (Harry Potter “lives” at Universal Orlando, y’all!) It is so important to do your research before your vacation to avoid any disappointments like this.

It is also possible to get lost on transportation. There are so many different modes of transportation at Disney World, and it can be confusing to remember everything! Disney World offers complimentary transportation via buses, boats, monorails, and on the Skyliner!

For example, you can take a bus, boat, monorail, and Skyliner to EPCOT, depending on where you are departing from, but you can only take a bus to Animal Kingdom! That can be super confusing! For all your transportation needs and questions, we have a page dedicated to helping you navigate Disney World transportation!

Click Here for Our Guide to Transportation at Disney World!

With how much it costs to go to Disney World, you do not want to be spending the majority of your day confused and lost. If you need directions or even a good ride recommendation, do not hesitate to ask a Cast Member! 

Do Not Worry About Missing Your Favorite Characters!

When you visit Disney World, you have to at least meet one character while on your trip! It can be fun to collect autographs and take photos with some of your favorite Disney characters. 

For example, it can be frustrating when you are just about to meet Mickey Mouse when all of a sudden he has to leave. The characters are very busy and while they love to meet you, there are certain times when they need to step away.

Sometimes Mickey has to walk Pluto or pick up dinner for him and Minnie. One previous Cast Member shared that guests would get so upset and think that the character does not want to meet them. This is not the case! If you are ever worried about missing a character meet and greet, you can always check the My Disney Experience app.

Sometimes characters even meet multiple times in a day, so do not stress! You can always ask a character attendant for more information on how you can meet your favorite characters!

Don’t Buy Water Bottles at Outdoor Vending Stands

As Cast Members, we know that paying for water in the parks is expensive. We are sometimes even guilty of needing to pick up a bottle of Dasani to stay hydrated! It can be tough to watch guests spend money on something when there is a cheaper way to buy it.

Did you know that annual passholders get a discount on bottled beverages in gift shops? Instead of buying a bottle of water at an outdoor vending stand, consider going into a gift shop nearby. Certain gift shops have fridges and you can use your annual passholder discount to purchase drinks!

If you want to save even more money, you can get free cups of water from quick-service restaurants! The ice water is refreshing on a hot day!

Or if you like to carry your own water bottle around, there are water bottle refill stations around the park! Disney recently added a map of where you can find these on the My Disney Experience app!

Don’t Get Caught Waiting in Line for Food

There have been so many times when Cast Members have had to watch people wait in long lines for quick-service food. You may wonder why Cast Members hold up signs for Mobile Order or why they ask if you would like to Mobile Order. It’s because they want to help you!

Do not fall victim to waiting in line at a quick-service restaurant if they offer Mobile Order! Mobile Ordering your food can save you precious park time. 

Our tip is to place your Mobile Orders at the start of your day. That way you can secure a Mobile Order time that works best for you. Once your time rolls around you simply head toward the restaurant, tell the app you are there, and your food starts to be prepared! 

There is no need to wait in line to order your food when a restaurant offers Mobile Order! Make sure to save yourself the time of waiting in line and order your food ahead of time.

As former Cast Members, we want you to have the best park day ever! While these four mistakes are not detrimental, they can definitely take time away from your park day.

Click Here to Read About Common Cast Member Misconceptions!

Are you a former Cast Member? Tell us where you used to make magic down below!