From unpopular Disney opinions to uncontrollable tears, we’re going there!
Space Mountain Minnie Ears
We have countless wonderful memories of our Disney World vacations — but these are the moments that didn’t make the family photo album! Let’s shine a light on the experiences we’ve all had on a Disney trip but we’re too afraid to talk about!
Cried Like a Baby
Let’s start off our list with the waterworks! Yup, we’ll admit that we’re guilty of letting the tears flow at Disney World. On the bright side, sometimes our tears stem from an intense positive emotion — getting our first look at Cinderella Castle or the finale of a beautiful fireworks show can definitely bring a Disney fan to tears! In these cases, we encourage you to let those emotions happen. In fact, we’re right there with you (who’s cutting onions near us?)!
Disney Enchantment has arrived in Magic Kingdom!
Of course, we’ve also had our share of not-so-happy-tears at Disney World. As magical as it is, a Disney vacation can be overwhelming.
Sometimes the heat, hunger, dehydration, or exhaustion can sneak up and cause a mini-breakdown. We can say from experience that taking a quick break inside a restaurant or even heading back to the hotel for a nap can work wonders!
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
If you do find yourself getting a bit emotional at Disney World, you can take comfort in knowing you wouldn’t be the first person to cry in the parks — and you won’t be the last, either! We’re guilty of watering up as we say goodbye to Disney World pretty much every time we go! Oh, and we’ve had some stress- and anger-induced sob sessions as well. It’s OK! We’re all human!
Click here to watch the Harmonious Fireworks at home (so no one can see you cry!)
Had Every Inch of our Body COVERED in Sweat
Get ready for a not-so-groundbreaking statement…Florida is hot and it’s humid. And it can be unbearably hot and muggy in the summer. So yeah, we are quite familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of sweating through every piece of clothing we are wearing!
An important tip here — remember to pack extra essentials like t-shirts and underwear especially if you’re traveling in the summer. We’ve definitely found ourselves changing our entire outfit multiple times a day!
Olaf
Another trick we use to feel a liiiittle less nasty — toss some deodorant, a cooling fan, and an extra set of clothes in your park bag before you head out for the day! It’s not the same as a shower (we promise we still hop in as soon as we get back to our rooms!) but it can help you make it through the day without having to run back to the hotel to freshen up.
Check out our tips for beating the summer heat at Disney World!
Had to Choose Between Peeing our Pants and Losing our Spot in Line
While a few attractions do have restrooms in their queues (shoutout to Flight of Passage for hooking us up in that inevitably long line!) most of the time you won’t get so lucky.
After learning the hard way, we always head to the restroom (ESPECIALLY when our kids are with us!) before hopping in line for an attraction with a long wait like Slinky Dog Dash or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Slinky Dog Dash
You don’t want to commit to a 2-hour wait and realize an hour in that your kid has to GO NOW and bail out of line. We try our best not to encourage peeing our pants in line at all costs. 😉
Check out the BEST Disney World bathrooms here!
Been Unimpressed by an Iconic Attraction
We all have our own opinions and sometimes they can be a little unpopular! So, what if that ride, snack, or show that your family member has been raving about leaves you feeling meh? Just know that’s perfectly okay! Not everyone loves Dole Whip (gasp!), Pirates of the Caribbean (say it isn’t so!), or Fantasmic (inconceivable!).
Pirates of the Caribbean
It’s totally okay if something in Disney World is a one-and-done for you. And you can even look up brief descriptions of rides and menu items on My Disney Experience (or here on DFB!) before your trip to get an idea of what might be up your alley.
Or, you can take it a step further by looking up ride-through videos of attractions and reviews of dining locations. Just know that if you walk away feeling less-than-blown-away by something at Disney, there’s nothing wrong with you! 🙂
Here are some unpopular Disney opinions that are probably 100% correct!
Immediately Regretted an Impulse Purchase
There are tons of “shiny toys” at Disney World and sometimes we just can’t help but indulge! Buuut…sometimes that doesn’t lead to the wisest purchasing decisions.
If you’re taking the kiddos on a Disney trip, try picking up a few things on the cheap before your trip, like bubble wands, glow toys, and plushes!
Snoap Wands
If you do end up having instant buyers’ remorse over an in-park purchase, don’t panic! Disney has a pretty lenient return policy, and you can return most items at any Disney-owned merchandise location on property. Just keep in mind that a few items can’t be returned (like personalized MagicBands and Ear Hats), so be extra sure you want those before you swipe your card!
Check out the 2022 merchandise that’s already on shopDisney!
Not Bought Something and Regretted It
On the other hand, sometimes our impulse control is TOO good! If you passed up a souvenir that you now realize you just HAVE to have, all hope isn’t lost! Check the Shop Merchandise section in My Disney Experience to see if that must-have merch is available elsewhere.
Sometimes things are available to purchase directly in the app, while others are available in-store only. But wait, there’s more! The app will also show you all the merchandise locations on property that carry the item!
©Disney
That way, you can swing by the closest location to try to snag that perfect memento!
Click here for our ultimate guide to the top rides in Disney World!
Been Very Confused by the Genie
Disney Genie is still a very new program in Disney World, and lots of people were super confused when it first came out. If you still don’t understand everything about it, you’re not alone!
©Disney
Before your trip, try to learn everything you can about the Genie, Genie+, and pay-per-ride systems. Remember that Genie is the free planning tool that can make suggestions for your day; Genie+ is the paid FastPass replacement that allows you to make reservations to skip the line on some attractions (for $15 per ticket, per day); and pay-per-ride is how you can pay an extra fee to skip the line on the most popular attractions, which aren’t included in Genie+.
Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane
And if you get confused while you’re in the parks, stop by Guest Services to ask someone for help! The Cast Members there are always happy to walk you through the process and give you some tips.
Here’s EVERYTHING you need to know about the Disney Genie.
Tripped Over the Tracks and Curbs on Main Street, U.S.A.
Well, there’s not much to say about this one, other than watch your step! That’s easier said than done given the sensory overload that is Main Street, U.S.A.
As distracting as the crowds, the castle, and the Disney magic can be, be aware of the trolley tracks that run down the middle of Main Street in the Magic Kingdom! And the curbs outside of the shops can sneak up on us as well!
Main Street, U.S.A.
Try to really take your time and mind your step as you’re entering Magic Kingdom — ending up with a rolled ankle or scraped knee isn’t a very magical way to start the day (but it has happened to us!).
Here are the most surprising things in Magic Kingdom!
Had One Too Many Drinks Around the World
There are so many amazing beverage options in the World Showcase at Epcot — sometimes it’s hard to control ourselves! How can we say no to a margarita at La Cava del Tequila or an ice-cream martini at L’Artisan des Glaces?!
With all of the fun and delicious choices, we admit that we’ve overindulged a time or two (we don’t encourage it, but it happens!).
Cheers to Mexico!
But, we’ve learned the importance of pacing ourselves with our drinks around the world! And given the Florida heat, it’s essential to stay hydrated — so drink plenty of water between those boozy beverages.
Breaking up those drinks with a snack is helpful as well. And with the incredible food options at Epcot, we definitely don’t mind snacking AND sipping!
Check out the 1 drink you should get from each EPCOT pavilion!
Taken a Power Nap on the Bus
We’ve had some loooooong days at Disney. So we’ll take our zzz’s where we can get them! We’ll admit that we’ve enjoyed a few precious minutes of shut-eye on Disney buses, monorail, and even on some attractions (sorry Carousel of Progress, we still love you!).
Carousel of Progress Desk Plate
As long as you’re in a safe spot and someone in your party is awake to keep an eye on you (and your belongings, and the rest of the fam!) we fully support a little snooze where you can find it. Just remember to wake up when you get to your bus stop!
Here are 13 Disney World Hotel rooms that are totally worth the upgrade!
Had a Meltdown
We’ll come full-circle with another mishap that is often exhaustion-induced — the dreaded meltdown. Whether it’s you or another member of your family, Disney World can be overwhelming enough to trigger some fighting.
When we find ourselves here, we find it’s best to cool off, both literally and figuratively. Head back to the hotel and enjoy a much-needed nap, or swing by the pool for a quick reset.
Disney’s Riviera Resort Pool
With all of the intense emotions swirling at Disney World, sometimes meltdowns can happen. Just know that it doesn’t have to ruin your trip! Taking a little breather can work wonders and help get your vacay back on track!
From the sweaty to the sleepy, the boozy to the breakdowns, and the tears to the tumbles, these are the things we’ve alllll done in Disney World — that nobody talks about! So, the next time you find yourself experiencing one of these struggles, know that you’re not alone and there are ways to power through!
“Are the Hall of Presidents wearing any underwear?” and other burning questions about Disney World we have to discuss!
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Had fast passes preplanned and then disney gave those to everyone and wait was still over a hour long, and pirates want on magic hour, only thing we could get on was the bus, skyline and reserved restaurants. May never go again
Haha I had to march down Main Street for with my schools marching band and I was terrified that I was going to trip over the trolley tracks and fall on my face in front of everyone! To make it even worse I play the drums so I couldn’t see the ground in front of me AND I was marching right in the middle of the two tracks. Luckily I was able to avoid them somehow. 😂😂
I got teary-eyed as I walked thru the gates at Magic Kingdom. I imagine I’ll do the same on my next trip since it’s been over 10 years.
What about the dark spots on the TTA, for some in the dark PDA?
Good list! I’ll add one more. Walked until you couldn’t walk o n e m o r e s t e p. Your legs ached, knees were buckling, feet were achy but you still had to walk to get to your resort or transportation.
That was me about 20 years ago walking out of International Gateway at Epcot. Even though I only had to make it to BC, it was as if I was walking through quick-sand. These days I walk about 8 miles/day just to stay in form for Disney park visits!
I, for one, can safely say that I have never done at least 2 of those things. First, I don’t drink alcohol, so I’ve never done the “drinks around the world” challenge in EPCOT. Also, I watch my steps, so as not to trip over the curbs or rails while going down Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom. That is to say while I’ve had the ability to walk in the parks. While in a stroller (first trip was when I was 2), I had no control over where we went, and I’m sure the wheels may have gotten stuck in the rails once or twice..
All of the above! And always regretting not getting the black & white pirates Dooney & Bourke… Still so sad and it’s been years!
In 1983 I went to WDW for the first time and when we went on the monorail through the Contemporary Resort I told my parents that one day I would stay there. Flash forward 36 years later, I was left with a few dollars of inheritance and I booked my family with a theme park view room in May 2019. When I saw the view, I actually teared up and sad out loud, “thanks mom”. It was a very special trip with memories made.
I am not ashamed to admit that I cried when I turned the corner and saw the castle the first time I went home after the shutdown. I really needed that Disney magic by then.
I even worked in Magic Kingdom and still found myself tripping over the Trolley Tracks. LOL There is always some wonderful entertainment and sights to see around the Main Entrance by the flagpole and on Main street. LOL Hard to walk looking down with soooo much fun going on around you!
I should know better than to click on these stupid DFB posts. I have never had too much to drink in a Disney park — I rarely drink at all, and if I do drink, it’s only one drink. I’ve never had a meltdown. I’ve never felt like I was going to pee my pants if I stayed in a line. I’ve never regretted a purchase I’ve made. I’ve certainly never been disappointed by an “iconic” ride, since I rode all those rides when I was a kid and loved every one of them. Given that we just returned from our 36th WDW vacation, I’d say it’s very easy for people to not have done many of the things on this list.
Cry with tears of joy when we first see the castle down Main Street. Cry with tears of sadness as we stand looking at it on our last night. Never fails.
I’ve had non-buyers remorse a couple of times recently. The first was the march of the year before last. At California adventure, i saw an old timey aviator’s cap, as well as a shirt printed to look like an aviator outfit. At Disneyland, there was a drawstring backpack that was “haunted mansion” themed. And a few week ago, i was in downtown Disney and saw a number of pins for the anniversary of “fantasia” and purchased all but the one of “dance of the hours” which is my favorite segment.
I am a bit of a klutz, so as far as i know, I don’t think I have ever tripped over anything, never mind the tracks and stuff, even marching down Main Street, which astounds me
I SHANT ALLOW THE PIRATES RIDE TO BE DISLIKED….. unless of course your just a really bad egg…. Drink up me hearties yo ho.
Waited 4 hours for Avatar Flight of Passage! I had to run to the restroom three times – and the cast members were amazing and, I might have been the only one doing that, because they remembered me the third time I had to GO!!!!! I don’t regret it for one moment.
The “taken a nap” one made me chuckle. When our daughter was little (she’s now 21) we would always find a cool, dark, indoor place to have her…and dad…take a little nap. Our favorite place was The American Adventure in EPCOT. It’s a solid 20 or so minute opportunity for everyone to get a refresher power nap in. Even when we go now (and everyone is an adult), we still make our way there in the afternoon. Napping in the park gives everyone a fresh start without having to trek back to the resort hotel and waste a lot of time…and prevents unwanted melt downs!
I was going through a rough patch at work and when we walked up Main Street USA and saw the castle for the first time that trip, I instantly knew I could forget about the Salt Mine for a week, I could relax, and it was OK to be 9 years old again. Yes, a few tears rolled down my cheeks. I was with my family at WDW. Life is good, and everything will be OK in due time. And it is!
I’ve definitely taken a power nap on a bus. In 2017, My family and I went to animal kingdom (so our car was there) then we had tickets to the Christmas party. So after the party we went to get a bus… it didn’t come until 2am then we didn’t get to the hotel until 3 💀