A trip to Disney World may give you some of your favorite memories and be an overall incredible time, but that doesn’t mean it’s a flawless experience.

Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE visiting Disney World — obviously. The amazing attractions and experiences, beautiful hotels, and delicious eats along with all the nostalgia we feel each trip keep us coming back for more. However, even we can acknowledge that it’s not always sunshine and rainbows when visiting “The Most Magical Place On Earth”.

Whether it’s your first visit to Disney World or your 100th, there are certain aspects of a Disney World vacation that are undeniably soul-crushing. In fact, we’ve come up with seven Disney World truths that are tough to hear, even if you’re already expecting them.

You’ll Be Tired From All the Walking

We’re sure you’ve heard this before, but get ready to hear it again: Disney World is the size of San Francisco. This means you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking every single day.

It’s not absurd to assume you’ll walk around 10+ miles each park day, and that takes a toll on your feet and body if you aren’t prepared. Blisters, fatigue, and total loss of stamina are par for the course thanks to how much walking you’ll do. It’s enough to make even the most level-headed adults cranky.

We can’t promise you’ll totally negate the pain of walking several miles every day, but you can ease it with the right pair of shoes and accessories like shoe inserts. We recommend breaking in a pair — or a few — of high-quality shoes before your visit so that your feet have the best support possible. We constantly write about our favorite shoes to wear to Disney World, so check back with us frequently for shoe tips!

We Spent Thousands of Hours Testing Shoes in Disney World — Here’s What You Need To Know!

How Expensive the Trip Is

You probably already understand how expensive a trip to Disney World is. There’s the cost of lodging, theme park tickets, food, and travel to consider, and that adds up fast. However, the little things can also rack up a pretty hefty bill.

Smaller snacks can quietly eat into your budget, as do souvenirs, fees, last-minute emergency purchases, parking, and so much more. It’s likely you’ll come to Disney World with a budget and find yourself needing to stretch it to accommodate an increased need to spend.

The good news is we’re here to help. We provide all sorts of budgeting tips that will help you maximize your time at Disney World while saving a few bucks.

Not Everything Is Magical

When visiting Disney World, you’ll hear the words “Magic” and “Magical” quite a bit. However, we can attest that not everything you experience is “magical”.

Life happens. Recently, Hurricane Miton forced the Disney Parks to close and that’s a major example of things not going according to plan. Rides break down, refurbishment schedules go longer than expected, people are irritable and cranky, the weather may limit you, you run out of time to complete your itinerary, long lines will deter you, you’ll smell smells you wish you hadn’t, or you’ll face adversity that challenges your patience and threatens the vibes during your vacation.

These kinds of things are guaranteed to happen and it’s important to understand that before you spend tons of money to visit Disney World.

The best advice we can give is to always try to remain calm. Regardless of how big the problem that you run into is, keeping a calm composure will always help you navigate with the best efficiency. If you ever need to reset, seek out calm spots wherever you are and take a moment. Remember, Disney World vacations are supposed to be fun, and taking breaks can absolutely aid you in the quest to have the best trip ever.

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You Won’t Be Able to Do Everything On Your List

It’s impossible to do everything at Disney World in one trip, so, naturally, you’ll create a to-do list. Prioritizing is a really great idea before you begin your vacation and it really helps to create a tidy itinerary that helps you maximize your time. Still, there will be items on your list that you’ll be forced to leave out.

Unless you have only two rides on your list, you’re likely to experience some sort of disappointment. Even then, you’re still not safe. We’ve already talked about how ride closures happen as do unexpected breakdowns. You also have to factor in park hours and long waits, which can quickly harm your ability to do everything on your list. Unless you’re willing to pay an arm and a leg for the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you’re subject to wait times and time itself.

While we can’t promise you that everything you want to do will always be open and available to experience, we do suggest looking into Lightning Lane pass options if you have the means. These will cost you some extra bucks, but they will save you time (and time is money, right?). It’s also important to prioritize your list of priorities. Creating your own personal tier list of what you HAVE to do on vacation is crucial. We also recommend taking advantage of the 60-day reservation window for advanced dining reservations so you get to eat at all the spots that are a must for you and your family.

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You’ll Be Glued to Your Phone

Most vacations allow you to put the phone away for a bit and relax. These days, a Disney World vacation isn’t one of those instances.

Disney World’s app, My Disney Experience is a hub for all things Disney World. Mobile orders, Lightning Lanes, park tickets, reservations, wait times, maps, and more are all accessible through the app. Naturally, you’ll be looking at your phone A LOT throughout your vacation.

There’s really no workaround here. We recommend getting familiar with the app before your trip and picking up a FuelRod or portable charger so that you always feel comfortable with your phone battery level. To learn the ins and outs of the My Disney Experience app, check out our guide below!

My Disney Experience — The Online Planning Tool for Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Rain Is Inevitable

Central Florida can have some beautiful weather, but it also has a subtropical climate, which means humidity and rain.

It rains pretty often at Disney World, and it’s not always a light drizzle. It can come down pretty hard and is sometimes accompanied by thunder and lightning. When the weather gets too inclement, outdoor attractions can be shut down. Additionally, if you aren’t wearing the right outfit or have the right accessories, you can become miserable quickly.

The trick here is to expect rain. Pack your ponchos, make sure you have the right kind of shoes, and stay up-to-date on all the latest weather updates. For tips on surviving Disney World during hurricane season, check out our video below!

Avoiding Stress Is Tough

Let’s face it — all the problems you’ve seen that can arise during a Disney World vacation are a recipe for stress…but it doesn’t have to be.

We’ve got you covered year-round on all the latest Disney World tips, tricks, and hacks to help you navigate any bumps in the road when it comes to your trip. If you’ve been discouraged at all while reading this, don’t be! We are constantly visiting Disney World and finding new problems, but that also means we’re always discovering new solutions! Check out our guides and continue to follow us so that you continue to get the confidence and preparedness to make your next Disney World trip the best yet!

Stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog for the latest on all things Disney World!

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What are some harsh Disney World truths you’ve had to overcome? Let us know in the comments!