Everyone’s got their own way of enjoying Disney World.
Magic Kingdom
Maybe you’re the kind that goes clockwise around the World Showcase. Maybe I go counterclockwise. Maybe we both dip everything into plastic cheese. And maybe we’ll never see eye to eye over a pongu lumpia. Now, you’ve probably heard your fair share of tips on how to best enjoy your time at Disney World. So have we. We’ve definitely heard some wild Disney World tips over the years, but these ones straight up baffle us!
As we were saying, when you’re planning a trip to Disney World, it always seems like everyone and their mom comes out of the woodwork with their best tips for how you can have the best time at Disney World, but we’ve heard a couple of them that are just baffling.
Spend Every Waking Moment In The Parks
Okay, so, if you like the idea of being a zombie by day three of your trip, then sure, spend every waking moment in the parks. But truly, Disney World is not a sprint. It is a marathon.
Canada Pavilion at EPCOT
That means you’re going to need downtime. Whether it’s a lazy morning by the pool, a breakfast in your pajamas, or even just coming back to the room for an afternoon nap, you’ll find that breaks are essential. Plus, how else are you going to have the energy you need for that fireworks show at the end of the night?
If You Come As A Group, You Stay As A Group
So, there’s this idea that you have to do everything as a group. Umm, no thank you. I get that you’re on a trip together, but trying to move like a giant herd through Disney World is just madness.
Hollywood Studios
You’ll find out pretty quickly that not everyone wants to ride Space Mountain for the fifth time, and you know what? That’s okay! Splitting up for a bit can be the difference between having a great day or ending up in some kind of a passive-aggressive standoff. Disney is way more fun when you let everyone enjoy their individual interests.
You Have to Stay on Property
Let’s talk about this thought that you HAVE to stay on property. Okay, sure, Disney hotels are themed to the max and have a bunch of perks, but let’s face it, they’re not always the most budget-friendly option.
Coronado Springs
You can find your fair share of off-property hotels that offer great amenities, and sometimes at a fraction of the cost. So, just know what you’re looking for and what’s in the budget, bu don’t feel pressured to stay in the Disney World bubble just because everyone says so.
It Doesn’t Matter When You Visit
This one definitely makes me laugh. You’ll find out extremely quickly that with Disney World, Timing is EVERYTHING. The crowds vary wildly depending on the time of year, week, and even day, and that means that the experience can be totally different.
Magic Kingdom
For example, when you go during the holidays, it’s a festive wonderland, but if you visit during a random hot week in August, you’ll probably feel like a roasted marshmallow. One of the best bits of advice is to plan your trip when the crowds are manageable and the weather isn’t trying to melt you.
Just Wing It. You Don’t Need a Plan
Okay, so here’s the thing. Disney World is not the place to just wing it. To be sure, over planning can suck the fun out of anything, but having a loose schedule is key.
Animal Kingdom
You don’t want to waste half the day wandering aimlessly or standing in long lines because you didn’t make a plan. Make sure you’ve got those must-dos figured out ahead of time, and then leave room for spontaneity. Trust me, if nothing else, your feet will thank you.
You Don’t Need to Worry About Water
As someone who experiences the Florida heat firsthand all the time, let me tell you—this is TERRIBLE advice. You’ve GOT to stay hydrated! It’s essential.
Owala Water Bottle
Florida is hot, humid, and will sneak up on you if you’re not careful. Make sure you bring a reusable water bottle, pack some cooling towels, and for the love of Mickey, don’t forget your sunscreen. You’ll thank yourself later.
You Can Do All of Disney World in One Day
So let’s talk about the idea that you can conquer all of Disney World in a day. Well…technically, you could park hop to all four parks in one day, but why would you want to?
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
You’d be running around like crazy and you’ll potentially miss out on a lot. It’s best to slow down, savor the moments, and remember that Disney World is best enjoyed one park at a time. Besides, you’re on vacation! No need to rush!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
So, there you have it — some of the most baffling tips we’ve ever heard, and now we’d love to hear from you! Until then, we’ll be here with our eyes peeled for all the updates from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest!
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I wing it sometimes (when children and grandchildren are not with us)!!! I like it that way! I don’t always go to the parks for the rides, but sometimes just like to watch other people and their madness at not understanding how to do the parks!
Some of these are actually great advice – for people who know what they are doing, like annual passholders! We go several times a year and have been doing so for about 5 years, so while we have not done “everything”, we now find that the best Disney vacation includes a lot of things outside the parks but on property. We had a blast doing the four park challenge because we also tried to use different types of Disney transportation for each park switch, for example. We even got a few resorts into the day! And I have done park open to park close trips, but only when I have been with people who will probably never go again and we only had 2-3 days to do it all. I would never do that on my own family trip. So I think these tips really take some perspective.
I agree, Coral Schober. WDW is such a pretty place. I love people watching, reading tee shirts, not rushing.
IMO the worst advice I’ve ever heard are two things: table service is never worth it and staying on property invovles no real perks. Granted, whether table service and on-site resorts are a good idea for a given visit or not depends on what you’re looking to get out of your experience, but many people go to WDW only once or very few times in their lives. The value of much “advice” depends on what kind of visit it is. I’m an annual passholder too and regular Disney visits are family tradition. But when people ask me for Disney advice, one of my very first questions is, “What are you looking to get out of it?” Another is, “Will you have a car, and are you looking to drive yourself around (or not)?” There are so many factors involved. But hydration and reasonable expectations are good advice for everyone. If you’re traveling there and not a local APH, I agree that planning is essential.