You might feel like you have taken on another full-time job as you plan your Walt Disney World vacation. Determining where to stay, where to eat, and how to tour the Parks might make you feel overwhelmed by all the decisions.
We have planning mistakes that you won’t want to make as you plan your vacation. We want to help you avoid these mistakes to have a magical time during your break.
Forgetting a Portable Charger
Our first mistake you won’t want to make during your Walt Disney World vacation is forgetting your portable charger. This can significantly impact your overall experience at Walt Disney World.
My Disney Experience, Disney’s official planning app, is essential to a successful trip to Walt Disney World. It is through this app that Guests will see wait times, manage meal time, and stay connected to the magic in the Park and at the Disney Resorts.
Although the app is beneficial, it also drains your battery quickly. You will want to ensure that your phone remains charged by having a portable charger. This will prevent you from having a dead phone or from having to purchase a Fuel Rod throughout the Parks.
Connecting to the app is extremely important; you don’t want to be frustrated without a charged phone.
Related: Critical Items You Don’t Want to Forget When Packing for Disney
Not Using the Extra Park Time
For those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel during their Disney vacation, don’t make the mistake of not using the extra Park time you are given. Each morning, Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can enter any of the four Disney Parks thirty minutes early.
If you have earlier risers, this is a great way to experience a Disney Park with lower wait times and smaller crowds. You can get ahead of the crowd by taking advantage of this extra time in the Park. This will save you time all day long.
Another way to have extra time in Disney Parks is by staying at a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort or Deluxe Villa Resort. Those staying at these Resorts will have additional time at specific Disney Parks following the closing of the Park.
Once again, if you can stay up late, these additional hours are a fantastic way to tour the Parks with less crowd and lower wait times.
Don’t make the mistake of not knowing about these additional times in the Parks. Take advantage of them to achieve as much as possible with lower wait times.
Not Planning Time for Transportation
We love that Walt Disney World offers complimentary transportation. Make sure you schedule in time for transportation as you plan your days. Time to the Parks and between the Disney Resorts can take 30 to 90 minutes each way.
You will also want to plan how you will get from the airport to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. There are a lot of different options to choose from. Think about if a private company or a ride-share would work the best for your family and then get that booked early.
Related: Top Options for Getting to Disney from the Airport
As you plan for your vacation, make sure you also process transportation. Your trip will be less stressful if you aren’t constantly rushing to and from different parts of Disney.
Always Using Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes
One big mistake that Guests make with the new Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane is that they think they need to pay for these features every day of their vacation. Although you can do so each day, you might not need it. Depending on when you are visiting, what Park you are visiting, and your goals as you arrive at the Park can all impact your need for these options.
As you begin your daily planning for specific Parks, look into your goals in each Park. If you aren’t going to focus on the E-ticket rides such as TRON or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, you won’t need to purchase Individual Lightning Lanes.
If you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a good touring plan can help you experience everything without needing Genie+.
Related: How to Tour Disney’s Animal Kingdom Without Genie+
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to purchase these services to have a magical time at Walt Disney World. Instead, look into what Genie+ offers and have that help guide you in your decision-making.
Thinking You’ll See It All
Don’t go into your Walt Disney World vacation thinking you will see it all during this one trip. No matter how long or short your trip to Disney is, you won’t be able to get it all done. With four Disney Parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, mini golf courses, and an outstanding Disney Resort with fantastic dining options, one trip is never enough time.
Don’t head into the trip thinking that you will be able to accomplish it all. Take time to think through your goals and use that to guide your plans. We also recommend having a general idea of what your must-do experiences are before arriving. This will help ensure you don’t miss those essential experiences.
There is a lot that goes into planning a Walt Disney World vacation. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and stressed during this process. We hope that you will feel more confident about your trip by letting you know about some of the more significant planning mistakes people make as they prepare for Walt Disney World.
