If you’re heading to Disney World soon, we’ve gotta have a chat!

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you’re probably dreaming of all the magical moments you’ll have, Mickey-shaped treats, and riding the classics like Space Mountain. And while Disney World is absolutely the place where dreams come true, there are some brutal truths about the “Most Magical Place on Earth” that you’re probably not ready to hear, but trust us, you’ll be better for it!

As we were saying, we’ve gotta talk about a couple of brutal truths about Disney World that you might not be ready to hear. Let’s dive right in!

Say Goodbye to Your Phone Battery

I know you think that you’re coming to Disney World to escape reality, but the truth is you’ll spend half of your day glued to your phone. The My Disney Experience (MDE) app is going to be your new best friend (if you like it or not).

Whether you’re booking Lightning Lanes, ordering food, checking wait times, or even just navigating the parks it all happens in the app. Need to get into the park? Guess what? Your phone can be your ticket too.

Now, add to all that the urge you’ll have to capture every magical moment, and your phone’s battery is most likely going to be toast by noon. You better bring a portable charger (or two).

We recommend bringing a FuelRod charger for a few reasons. They work great as a portable charger. Also, you are able to exchange them in the parks for a fully charged FuelRod. Now, we do recommend buying these before you get to the parks because it is usually cheaper that way!

VIEW ON AMAZON

There’s No Such Thing as “Off-Season”

Once upon a time, there was a magical thing called the “off-season,” where crowds thinned out and you could skip through Fantasyland like it was your own private kingdom. But now in 2024? Forget it.

Disney World is always pretty crowded. Between school vacations, long weekends, and people timing their trips around Disney’s special events, you’ll be dodging crowds no matter when you go. You might as well just accept the fact that you’re going to wait in line…a lot.

Disney World Is Bigger Than You Think

When people say Disney World is huge, I hope you know they’re not just talking about the Magic Kingdom. They mean the whole thing (the parks, resorts, shopping areas, golf courses, etc.). It really is like its own city.

Also, you can’t just hop from one park to another in 10 minutes. Getting around takes planning, stamina, and patience. You’re going to want to be ready for 20,000+ steps a day while you’re here. If you think you’re ready for that, make sure you bring comfortable shoes.

Disney’s Bus System Will Test Your Patience

Here’s the deal with Disney transportation: it’s mostly good…unless you need to travel between hotels, or worse, get back to your resort at the end of the day. The buses can take forever, especially during peak hours.

And after fireworks, when you and what feels like 500 other sweaty, exhausted guest are crammed onto a bus back to your resort? Well, let’s just say it isn’t the most magical experience. You might end up wishing you had rented a car, or better yet a teleportation device.

Budgeting for Disney? Good Luck!

It’s harder than ever lately to be able to a budget properly because Disney loves their variable pricing. For example, you might find the cost for a Lightning Lane may cost one thing on Monday and another on Friday.

Also, food prices keep creeping up (they have a tendency to increase every October). Now, about ticket prices, well, those are basically a moving target at this point.

Long story short, you’ll want to be prepared for unexpected expenses, because no matter how much you plan, it feels like there’s always something that could squeeze a few more dollars out of you.

Think Twice About Summer or Christmas Trips

If you’re planning to visit in July, August…you might want to reconsider. Seriously. Florida’s heat in the summer is suffocating and the crowds are overwhelming. You’re picturing sunny days, but I promise, you’re underestimating the heat, the crowds, and just how far you’ll walk.

And the same is true if you’re wanting to come anytime around Christmas. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. It’s just packed.

The bottom line is that if you do go during these times, hydrate, wear breathable clothes, and for the love of all that is Disney, invest in the best walking shoes you can find. You’ll thank yourself later.

For more Disney news, keep following DFB!

BEWARE of the Loading Zone on These Two Disney World Rides

Will you be heading to Disney World this fall or winter? Let us know in the comments!