Visiting Disney World can be overwhelming, no matter if you’ve never been there or you’ve been there multiple times.

Joy at Pixar Plaza in Hollywood Studios!

You see, there’s just so much to see and do, and there’s no way you can do it all in one trip unless you literally move to Disney World. But, hey, we go to Disney World almost every day, and we are STILL discovering new things to occupy our time in the parks and at the resorts. However, here’s the thing, FOMO can be a real thing when you’re there, and we’re going to warn you about it so you don’t fall into its trap.

So what is FOMO, you may ask? Well, FOMO stands for “fear of missing out.” And Disney knows how to play on that feeling to get you to cough up even MORE money even when you didn’t plan on spending those $$$. So we’re going to tell you what FOMO things you should look out for.

New stuff

First, the word “new” can always make you feel like you need to jump on a trend, buy a piece of merchandise, or visit a certain restaurant ASAP. We will admit that this word has sucked us into its trap. It’s so easy to be hypnotized by the shiny and new, especially when it promises you something you’ve never had before (and it’s even better if you can brag about it on social media).

Something new might get you every time

For example, the pricey Cake Bake Shop just opened at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. It’s new, and that might tempt you to book a reservation there and pay $23 for a slice of cake, even if you’re not interested in that slice of cake or it’s not in your budget. Or maybe you think you need to try the new expensive Lightning Lane Premier Pass just because it was recently made available. Maybe you’ve been tempted to book a pricey room at the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Aptly-named Millionaire’s Cake

Okay, seriously, ALL of those things sound like a great experience, but new does not mean that it’s something you and your group necessarily NEEDS. So before you book something just based on the fact that it’s new, do the research and make sure they’re worth it.

©Disney

We’re here to help you make those decisions, too. You can learn more about the pros and cons of Lightning Lane Premier Pass here and read our full review of The Cake Bake Shop here. Plus we’ve been covering a LOT about Island Tower, including offering you full room tours.

Island Tower

Second, FOMO could mean you just don’t want to feel left out from a group, so if you see a ton of Disney adults doing something on social media, you might want to feel like you’re a part of that, too, even if you don’t personally think it’s something that’s worth your money. Or maybe the group you’re traveling with insist on doing something you just have no interest in.

Just because someone in your group wants to do something doesn’t mean you have to

Let’s talk about a hypothetical situation. Maybe you’re in Disney World with a group of friends who are massive Star Wars fans and they decide they want to book reservations at Savi’s Workshop to make their own lightsabers (okay, it’s actually more of an experience rather than a just make-your-own lightsaber thing). But this experience is $250.

©Disney

Sure, you might like Star Wars, and that sounds like fun. But that price tag is…EEP. But if the rest of the group is on board, you might feel some peer pressure to just suck up the cost and do the experience, too, even if you know you’ll probably never use that lightsaber again and it’s going to just end up somewhere in your house collecting dust. Sure, you might feel like you’re being a bit of a downer if you say “no” to a new experience (and new experiences can be fun), don’t be afraid to speak up and explain why this experience isn’t for you.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Let’s face it — you’re going to be doing things with your group almost ALL the time, so it’s okay to split up every once in a while so that everyone can do different things. While your friends are having the lightsaber experience of their dreams at Savi’s, you can catch a showing of Beauty and the Beast Live Onstage. Not everyone is going to want to do the same things as everyone else.

Beauty and the Beast Live Onstage

If you are planning a trip with a group, you might want some help trying to figure out what you to need to budget ahead of your trip. Oh, hey, we might be able to help with that. Did you know we have FREE Disney World planning worksheets? These worksheets come with fill-in-the-blank budgeting sheets, useful tips, packing recommendations, and more tips that you can use to stay organized in your planning.

So don’t be afraid of missing out. You should have the trip YOU want to have and not what outside pressures tell you you should have. Plan ahead and have the best Disney World trip for you and your party and don’t let FOMO get the best of you.

Stay tuned to DFB for more.

How to Soothe Your Disney World FOMO

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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How do you keep from having Disney World FOMO? Let us know in the comments!