You might know about a lot of the things you shouldn’t do in the Disney World theme parks, but what about in the hotels?

There are so many different kinds of hotels you can choose from in Disney World, you’re bound to find something that works for you and your group. We have tips about how to book hotels, what to do if you can’t get the reservation you wanted, and more, but do you know what you should NEVER do at the Disney World hotels? We’re here to tell you.

Smoke

You may remember a few years ago when Disney got rid of all of their smoking areas in the theme parks. Now, you can only smoke in designated areas OUTSIDE of the parks. The resort hotels are also non-smoking, but they do have smoking areas. However, you absolutely cannot smoke in your hotel room, including on the balcony.

Smoking in your room or on the balcony will earn you a $250 to $500 room recovery fee from Disney. So, it’s a lot less expensive to just use the actual smoking areas at your hotel. There are usually several different smoking areas available at the Disney World hotels.

That being said, keep in mind that while cannabis laws vary from state to state, it is illegal in Florida, and you are not allowed to smoke marijuana at all in Disney World.

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Bring Weapons

It might seem obvious, but weapons of ANY kind are prohibited in Disney World, including in your hotel room. This includes things like firearms, ammunition, and knives, as well as self defense items like pepper spray. Even if you have a license, weapons are still banned.

In addition to this, objects or toys that look like firearms or weapons are not allowed either. You might have noticed that Disney doesn’t even sell any toys that look like weapons, unless they are extremely obviously made of foam or plastic.

So, it’s a good idea to leave any of these items at home.

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Bring Balloons or Plastic Straws

Balloons and plastic straws seem harmless, right? Well, they might be at some Disney World hotels, but not at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Animal Kingdom Lodge (along with Animal Kingdom itself) do NOT allow balloons or plastic straws on the property. This is likely to protect the animals and goes along with the park’s environmental mission and mindset.

So, if you’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and want to bring that Mickey balloon from Magic Kingdom back to your room, think again. In addition to these locations, balloons are also not allowed at ESPN Wide World of Sports, and balloons and plastic straws aren’t allowed at Disney’s water parks.

But, don’t worry — there are still straws at these locations! They’re just made of things like paper instead of plastic, as they are around most of Disney World.

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Ignore What Your Resort Has to Offer

Something you should definitely never do at your Disney World hotel? Not take advantage of what it has to offer! Especially if you’re paying some big bucks to stay at places with a lot of amenities, we’d suggest spending some time at your resort to check everything out. A lot of the Disney World hotels have really cool pools, and some of them even have spas!

There are also usually a lot of activities available at your Disney hotel like arts and crafts, pool games, free movie nights, and more. Additionally, some resorts, like Fort Wilderness, have a ton of outdoor activities like archery, horseback riding, kayaks, and more.

And, you know we have to talk about food! Some of the BEST food on property can be found in the Disney World hotels — not just the theme parks! You can check out ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Geyser Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort, and more. Even if you’re not staying at a hotel with places you want to eat, you can make a dining reservation at a different hotel restaurant and check it out!

Not only are there great table service restaurants, but there are a lot of good quick service options too! And, some of the coolest bars and lounges on property are at the Disney World hotels, like Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, Enchanted Rose, Scat Cat’s Club, and more.

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Be Loud and Rude

This should go without saying, but some people might need a reminder! Please, please, PLEASE be aware of your surroundings and other guests when you’re staying at a Disney World hotel. Those hotel room walls can be pretty thin, meaning people will be able to hear you if you’re being loud.

Be especially conscious of this super early in the morning and late at night. Kids do not need to be running up and down the hallways at 6 in the morning! Other people are on different schedules and are trying to enjoy their trips, as well, so please keep that in mind.

This also goes for playing loud music, watching TV super loud, etc. As a general rule, don’t throw a party in your hotel room! You definitely don’t want to get a visit from the hotel staff asking you to pipe down, or worse — asking you to leave.

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Misuse the Appliances

Speaking of things you shouldn’t do in your hotel rooms, don’t use the appliances for things they aren’t designed for! You might be thinking, “uh, duh!” but, there have been videos circulating the internet of how to make food in your hotel room using things that come with the room.

For example, using the coffee pot for things other than coffee, like ramen noodles or boiling hot dogs. Or, using the iron to make a grilled cheese. First of all, this might totally stink up your room and/or the hotel hallway, which is very unpleasant. But also, this could go horribly wrong! Do you really want to deal with explaining why you broke the coffee maker to hotel staff? If you break it, odds are you might have to pay for it as well.

We’d suggest bringing foods with you that don’t need any cooking appliances besides a microwave. Or, to avoid this altogether, just buy something to eat at your hotel or have some food delivered. That Disney hotel grilled cheese will probably taste a lot better anyway.

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Overpay

The final thing we suggest you NEVER do at a Disney World hotel is OVERPAY! What we mean by this is don’t spend your money on one of Disney’s more expensive hotels if you don’t plan on spending some time at that hotel. If you’re going to be in the parks your entire trip and are just using your hotel room as a place solely to sleep and shower, we’d suggest not dishing out a small fortune on somewhere like a Disney Vacation Club villa.

Instead, we’d recommend opting for a more affordable option, like a Disney World Value or Moderate resort. Obviously, this is totally up to your preference and budget. But, there’s really no sense in spending a ton of money on a hotel you’re not going to be at very much. Part of the reason these hotels are more expensive are because of their amenities, so if you’re not using them, then you’re really just overpaying for a bed. Disney also releases discounts quite often, so make sure you look out for those when booking.

Our friends over at Small World Vacations offer a FREE service and will do their best to make sure you aren’t overpaying for your Disney World trip!