While planning a Walt Disney World vacation, you might find that everyone has tips and tricks for you. From where to stay to how to tour the four Disney Parks, everyone seems to have things that you “have to do.”
Although we highly recommend doing some research and learning about the Parks, there are some Walt Disney World rules that you can break. Think about what would benefit your family and if it is the best for them.
We are going to share some of the Walt Disney World rules that are okay to break during your upcoming Walt Disney World trip.
You Have to Visit All Four Parks
Walt Disney World offers four main Disney Parks for Guests to experience. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Each of these four Parks is amazing and has excellent, magical experiences for Guests. That said, you don’t have to visit all four of them during your vacation to Disney.
If you don’t have a long time at Walt Disney World, it might be hard to get to all four Parks and truly enjoy what they offer. It might be better to slow down and spend more time enjoying one Park than trying to fit them all in for shorter trips.
While we love Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this might not be the Park for you if you aren’t into animals. Instead, you might prefer to spend additional time enjoying Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Take time to get to know what is offered in each Disney Park and then determine if you have time to see them all and want to see them all. It is okay to skip a Park.
You Need a Park Hopper
Guests traveling to Walt Disney World can choose to add a Park Hopper to their Walt Disney World ticket. This allows them to move between the four main Disney Parks after two each day. You might hear from some Disney fans that you “have to” get a Park Hopper. This isn’t a rule that you need to follow.
Although the Park Hopper allows you to move between the Disney Parks, it doesn’t work for everyone. When traveling with little ones, it can be hard to move between Parks. Kids don’t move extremely fast, and Disney transportation isn’t always the most consistent. This can take time away from your Park experience.
If you have a short period in Disney, there might be better uses of your time than Park hopping. Since hopping can take a lot of time, you might not want to spend what little time you have on Disney transportation.
Think about what Parks might be convenient to hop between, such as EPCOT and Magic Kingdom or EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These will allow for less travel time if you do choose to hop.
Not everyone needs a Park Hopper. Consider what will be the best for your travel group, and then determine if hopping is something that you want to add.
You Have to Buy Genie+ To Enjoy Rides
Genie+ is a paid feature within the My Disney Experience app that gives Guests access to over 40 Lightning Lanes across the four Disney Parks. The cost of Genie+ ranges between $15 to $35 per person per day. This is a great way to avoid long lines at some main attractions.
Although Genie+ is a good option, you don’t need to purchase it to have a wonderful time at Walt Disney World. There are still many rides, shows, and experiences that aren’t included with Genie+. You can experience parades, stage shows, and rides such as Journey Into Imagination with Figment; It’s Tough to Be a Bug, Tomorrowland Transit PeopleMover, and many more without having Genie+.
You also don’t always need Genie+ for all the Disney Parks. It isn’t created equal throughout the four Disney Parks at Magic Kingdom; Guests will find many more options for Genie+ than in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Think about your goals for each Park and then determine if purchasing Genie+ will be a good investment for the day.
You Need Dining Reservations
Our final Walt Disney World rules that we think you can break the idea that you need to have dining reservations. If you plan to eat at some top table service locations, such as Cinderlla’s Royal Table or Chef Mickey’s, you will want to have a dining reservation. You don’t, however, need to eat at table service locations to have great food at Walt Disney World.
Many fantastic quick-service locations exist throughout the four Disney Parks and Disney Resorts. Just because others love a specific Disney restaurant doesn’t mean you have to eat there. Take time to look at the menus and determine if that is something that you will want to spend time and money on.
Check out our many posts at How to Disney about some of the top quick service meals you won’t want to miss out on during your Disney vacation.
Related: Exceptional Quick Service Options in Magic Kingdom
Related: Top Five Quick Service Options at Each Disney Park
When planning a Walt Disney World vacation, getting wrapped up in everything you “have” to do can be easy. Allow yourself to break some of these Disney “rules” during your Walt Disney World vacation if they don’t work for you. This is your vacation; only you know what will work out for your family.
