Disney World is a magical place full of exciting attractions and rides that can make a vacation unforgettable.
Cinderella Castle
However, since Disney World is such a popular vacation destination, and has been for decades, it means that people from all over the world come to visit, and that’s a LOT of people in one place. Not only does that mean you’re surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of people each day in the park who may be very different from you who have ALL paid thousands of dollars to experience Disney magic on their trip just like you, but it also means that Disney has to do their best to manage that audience, which is easier said than done. In the parks, you may notice certain trends develop over the past few years — we asked our readers on Facebook to share with us which trends they’d wish would go away for good, and you may find yourself emphatically agreeing, or shaking your head in disbelief.
Price Hikes
Now this is one almost everyone can agree with in our experience — every year for the past MANY years, Disney has had annual price hikes on their park tickets, hotel stays, food, merchandise, and practically everything in between. It can be REALLY hard to save for a Disney World trip when your saving plan has to change every year!
Storybook Treats
It also means that some people who would have been able to afford a Disney World trip 5-10 years ago aren’t able to anymore because it’s just moved FAR too much out of their budget. And the unfortunate part? It doesn’t seem like these price increases are stopping anytime soon.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
We keep an eye on all the prices each week to make sure we let you know as soon as possible if prices have fluctuated so you know how to plan accordingly for your trip. But in the meantime, we’ll groan and stomp our feet right along with you each time we see prices increase.
Being Rude. Period.
Another frequent comment we saw that we wholeheartedly agree with is that guests are tired of hearing other guests be rude to those around them. While we mention the importance of being kind and courteous to Cast Members constantly, it’s also important to remember that being kind to fellow guests around you is just as important.
Hollywood Studios
And listen, we don’t mean to tell you how you should and shouldn’t talk to your own family, but being rude to your travel party isn’t okay either. Yes, we know Disney World is a stressful place, and if you’ve missed your Virtual Queue window for TRON Lightcycle / Run a dining reservation lasted longer than expected, or your toddler had a bit of a meltdown because they’re overstimulated (it IS Disney World, it’s a lot to take in for all ages), getting angry with the Cast Member is never okay, but also keep in mind how you’re talking to your family and friends in public around tons of other people.
Haunted Mansion
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve overheard parents SCREAMING at their children who are tired, sunburnt, scared, and/or overstimulated in the wild land that is Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Often it’s because they don’t want to go on a ride or meet a character, or the child is getting upset because they’re too hot/tired and don’t feel well and just don’t know how to express it. We all know how that feels! Granted, as adults we can (usually) manage our emotions a little better and know what steps to take to turn it around, but a child doesn’t! It breaks out heart every time because we know that NO ONE is happy in the situation, and nothing is really being done to fix it.
Lightning Lane
Bottom line, if you find yourself getting testy, go inside, get a cup of water and a snack and sit in the AC for 15-20 minutes. Trust us, you’ll be amazed at how much it’ll help everyone!
Not Paying Attention to Those Around You
As much as we all dream of having a day in Disney World by ourselves or only with our closest friends and family and exploring an empty park, the closest we can get to that is Disney’s after hours events. That being said, paying attention to those around you, or just remembering that you and your party are far from the only people in the parks, is beyond important.
Animal Kingdom
So what do we mean by this? Well our readers said things like stopping in the middle of walkways and making people detour around you, not realizing your kids are running and climbing over tons of things they’re not supposed to because you’re busy doing something else, or stepping in front of ECVs and motorized scooters that can’t stop on a dime are just a few examples.
Magic Kingdom
We know, you’re on a mission and trying to get where you’re going, BUT so is everyone around you! Pull off to the side when you need to do something on your phone or talk to your group, keep an eye on the younger members of your party to make sure no one is stirring up trouble (or the older members too, if they’re prone to troublemaking), and just remember that the people around you want to have a magical vacation as much as you do.
Star Tours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
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Unfortunately, we came across screaming parents more than once on our last vacation. I hugged my 17 years old son every time.
Oversized strollers especially on the buses. Giant jogging strollers, even when folded are heavy and parents hit people with them on the buses. They simply are not necessary.
Stepping in front of people already set to see a show or parade, blocking their view is very rude. I use an ECV and a lot of times had my view blocked by a “butt” who came at the last minute.
Also kids on shoulders blocking everyone’s view.
The motorized scooter thing makes me crazy. I’ve literally had people trip over my mom’s scooter because they are so busy looking up or at something else that they don’t see it.
Totally agreed Disney World would be much better with a lot less people on top of each other. I understand getting hot and tired, if only Disney offered multiple indoor shows/experiences with AC. Oh wait they do and they normally don’t have a line, even if they do have a line the line is also indoors with AC.
It would be nice if people would face the direction that they’re walking. A quick glance to the side is one thing; facing to the side for a prolonged time while walking forward is how people get hurt. Also, people shouldn’t get in line for rides until their whole party is together. I would NEVER cut in front of other people just because somebody I knew was already in line ahead of me. It makes me sad that anyone thinks that’s okay.
Let’s not forget The people with strollers and the motorized wheelchairs that will run you down, or at least hit your legs and ankles without stoping or even excuse me. Was just there a week ago and this was actually dangerous.
Hi! Im the problem! It’s me! I have to admit I’ve been guilty of not paying attention to others around me and have stepped in front of scooters without even thinking about it, especially in my early park years. From the bottom of my heart I apologize!! I am so sorry
Strollers. Hate them. Most kids in strollers are more than old enough to walk, and the parents act like their the only ones in the park. I know this will never happen, but I long for “adults only” Disney weeks where we can enjoy the parks without parents or kids.
It’s nice for me a grandma seeing my grandkids big an small at Disney watching their face Telling me about the ride they were just on. I would rather see this than ride the rides. Disney is for kids big ones and small! A granny in Irwin PA
Also people who have their noses in their phones, etc and neglect to realize that there are other people around. This just doesn’t happen in DW, it happens everywhere.
Also the scooter drivers who drive like a bat of he**, honking like crazy and just being unsafe are super annoying.
I think Disney should limit the number of people in the park. We ended up leaving before the fire works because the crew was packing us into the area so tightly we didn’t feel safe. I think touching the person in front of you is very uncomfortable and dangerous. They just kept saying step forward until you can’t see any ground around you.
I have to use a scooter in the parks. When it’s crowded, I go the pace of everyone walking. I also leave a “safe stopping distance” in front of me so I’m not clipping anyone’s heels. But because of the gap I leave, people will step right in front of my scooter with their toddler in tow and then get ticked off that I “RAN OVER” their child! Umm… HELLO?!? That was all you, dad! I was doing my due diligence. YOU were the reckless one!
I am headed in 7 days and I am worried that needing to have my nose in the My Disney Experience app is going to cost me to be one of these people. I’m not usually a phone in my face kind of person in fact I get annoyed with people that are but is the need for timekeeping and lightning Lane things as well as using the app to find my next water refill station, going to keep me on my phone all the time?