The red flags are flying!
Magic Kingdom
It’s a given that not everyone is a “Disney adult” as it were, and even many who enjoy the company’s theme parks might have some wild misconceptions about them. However, some red flags are way more striking than others.
We recently posed the POV question “You’re talking to your best friend and they say _____ about Disney World, and it’s a HUGE red flag. What did they say?” and got some doozies in response.
Reader Margaret answered with: “Disney is only for families with little kids.” This was actually the most common response we got, as MANY of our readers would consider it a Disney red flag for someone to respond that Disney World is only for families and/or children. Which makes sense, considering that there is PLENTY for childless adults to do at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Barnstormer
Meanwhile, reader Amber considers it a red flag if her friends don’t use her Disney expertise. “When the(y) tell me they went AFTER THE FACT… and complain they didn’t have any fun. Well, duh! You didn’t come to me for advice and planning strategies.” Speaking of planning, several readers pointed out that any iteration of “I don’t need to plan, I’ll just wing it” is a major red flag in and itself given the need to make dining reservations, book Genie+, and etc.
Lightning Lane
Reader Susan pointed out that someone saying “Surprise! We’re going for 2 weeks! We leave September 10th!!” is a major red flag. Specifically, it’s the red and black weather warning flag, as that’s right in the midst of Atlantic Hurricane Season, the chances of bad weather are — at best — quite high.
Magic Kingdom during Hurricane Idalia 2023
A few readers shared some ride and park-specific red flags with us, including reader Crystalayn who took umbrage with anyone saying “They should get rid of it. It’s outdated” in regard to the Enchanted Tiki Room. Meanwhile, reader Heather points out the admittedly major red flag of someone saying “The second version of Journey Into Imagination is the best version.” Meanwhile, several other readers brought up the red flag of Disney World visitors asking “Where is Harry Potter?”
Wizarding World of Harry Potter… is NOT at Walt Disney World
One of our go-to Disney debates also came up, as some said that starting World Showcase in Mexico was a red flag, while seemingly an equal number of riders said the same about starting on Canada.
Canada Pavilion
Finally reader Kaitlyn leaves us with a final, major 3,000 miles off red flag: “We leave for Orlando this week and just bought our Disneyland tickets!”
Disneyland Park is not Walt Disney World
Some of these Disney red flags are more option-based, while others are facepalm-worthy just because of how easily someone could learn the truth by a simple Google search. Stay tuned to DFB for more thoughts on Walt Disney World.
Experts Reveal the 5 Red Flags To Look Out for When Planning a Disney World Trip
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I am the same age as the Florida Magic Kingdom. I was 4 the first time I went there from our Mid-Atlantic state. The Magic Kingdom was the only park at the time. The adults would organize other activities such as going to Cape Canaveral and picking oranges in an orange grove. I went to Walt Disney World for my honeymoon. As a Disney adult, I am sensitive to people with children. I try not to linger when getting my picture taken with Donald Duck (my favorite). They take 10 years in character lines with the autograph books. They run into you with strollers. On my last Disney cruise, people kept walking into us with no “excuse me”. It was bizarre. Happened so often, I asked my companions if they were noticing and they had the same observations. After covid, people are totally lacking in respect and manners.
Agreed. I first went to wdw year one. Loved it and continued loving it through the Eisner years. But since then, things have changed. Wdw has lost much of its magic, pixie dust, sparkle. It’s way too crowded and too many are rude and inconsiderate, especially with strollers. Yes, they do block the way, run into you and run over you with no qualms or apologies. They feel they have the right. Even some cast members are less than pleasant. Sadly, wdw is no longer built and run for middle class Americans as Walt envisioned (and why he first built Disneyland). More non-english speaking guests are there than Americans and encouraged to come – which is fine – except they have very different attitudes and behaviors than we do, hence why you now find alcohol sold in all the parks…and I’m not talking restaurants or the festivals….but booths everywhere! Particularly noticeable in Animal Kingdom. Walt would NEVER have allowed this. Add to this arrogant behavior, the exorbitant cost of going to a park and the stress of optimally using a smartphone – if you have one – to also buy an extra genie ticket just to get on a ride – which may still waste an hour in line – and all JOY and FUN has been taken away from a visit. The magical ‘ be a kid again’ philosophy Walt lived every day has been replaced by greed. No more free Fastpass which worked great. No more free Magical Express which had us feeling the Disney touch immediately. Very little storytelling which was Walt’s genius. Constant construction which takes away the magic but makes stockholders rich and happy. It definitely feels like the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers are being kicked to the curb to please young people and foreigners who don’t understand and remember Walt, Roy and the beginning of the Disney Company. Most of the great movies are being tossed to the side in favor of other companies and non-disney creations such as Pixar and Star Wars. We love them but they are not disney, just bc disney bought them! We want to come to escape for awhile, relive memories, have a stress-free day that won’t break the bank! Not be shoved and go into hock! Red flags? Yes! Wdw has gotten too big and too expensive. Customer service is a joke. Just trying to make a reservation will make your blood boil. Resort prices are not cheap, even so-called value resorts. People really need to do their homework before coming to wdw. Sadly, and to each his own, but I no longer think there is any fun or value in a wdw vacation. And I never thought I would ever feel this way but it’s just not fun anymore. DVC members and the wealthy are the only ones being catered to. At best, you’ll come home broke and exhausted. Better to go to your local amusement park or zoo then buy a Disney animated feature or a live action movie from years ago, pop some popcorn and enjoy a nice evening at home.
The “people completely oblivious and walking directly into you” seems to be an epidemic everywhere, unfortunately. Was it always like this and I’m just a lot older and more grumpy? Maybe?
I absolutely disagree that Disney World is ONLY for families with children. I go all the time on adult only trips. I would never bring a child to the parks! Must be 18 to go with me.
Taking very young children and thinking that it’s not going to impact their visit, that the kids won’t be any bigger handfuls, or get any more tired at Disney. And pushing other people to take their own very young children, suggesting that if they ‘wait’ until the child is 5 years old or even older, they will regret it. I personally don’t think it’s worth it to take someone to WDW if they’re not going to remember it (and no, they will not). And while I’m sure many people with strollers are respectful and follow the rules, I have had the experiences that we all have had with being run into, etc., I was even once knocked off the sidewalk by one. I have heard the entitled attitudes directly from people who have used strollers at Disney , who said that they expect other people to get out of their way, and that they don’t feel guilty about the people that they hit with the strollers. They think it’s part of the price people pay for being at an amusement park. Granted, I already didn’t think much of the people I heard it from, I wouldn’t call them friends, but the bottom line is, they said it. Completely without remorse.
Great article! I’m super curious for a deeper discussion of the merits and disadvantages of starting World Showcase at Mexico vs Canada. Fascinating! I mean, if I have my druthers, I start at UK/France having taken the Skyway or one of the boats (but mostly the Skyway 🙂 )…
Starting in Canada – is a kin to putting on a sock and a shoe and sock in a show….just unacceptable🤣🤣
I enjoyed reading these! It’s so funny when you hear friends or family members say that they could not be paid to go to Disney! But many still seem to go. However, I am slightly understanding with the “new Disney”. We have had way too many of the same rude encounters as the commenter above and it is a bit baffling. What we loved about Disney is how happy the people were to be there and how friendly everyone was….I miss that. My family tells people who don’t love it NOT to go. Let’s keep it happy and polite:)
Disney is a place for everyone because Disney fans span decades. Also, most fans who visited Disney World in the past are now loyal fans as grown-ups.