PlanningThe ParksTips

Reasons Why Disney Is Hard Right Now

We absolutely love our vacations to the Walt Disney World Resort, but there is no denying that trips to Disney aren’t as easy as they used to be.  After visiting Walt Disney World recently, we have some reasons why we think a Disney vacation is hard right now, but also how you can overcome some of the hardship by being prepared when you head to a Theme Park.

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Credit: WDW Cast and Community Facebook

Changing Health Guidelines

Walt Disney World is constantly working to keep the Guests and Cast Members safe around the Theme Parks and Disney Resorts.  In order to do this, Disney is having to make adjustments and changes to their health and safety procedures.

This can make a Disney vacation hard to plan for as you aren’t sure what to expect when you arrive.  Although Disney is keeping Guests up to date with push notifications on the My Disney Experience app as well as on the Know Before You Go page, it can be hard to plan ahead.

To make sure you are ready for changes, we recommend that you have masks with you during your trip.  Currently the only place masks are required are on buses and on the monorail.  As this can change any day, having a mask with you will make it less stressful.  You can just grab those masks and head on out to the magic.

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Credit: Inside the Magic

Heat and Rain Are Back

With the arrival of spring and summer means the arrival of heat and rain.  The weather during these upcoming months can be hard to navigate.  Be prepared for rain by having rain gear packed and knowing how you can still enjoy Disney in the rain (see our thoughts HERE).

Another weather related issue that can make Disney hard during the upcoming months is the heat.  Heat in Walt Disney World makes touring and evening standing in line difficult.  Be prepared to tackle this by having lots of water, fans, and cooling towels.  By having these items you will be more prepared for the heat when it comes.

Also make sure you take time to cool down in the air conditioning.  Having a nice meal, rest at your resort or visit a show.   By taking time to cool your body down, you will be able to handle the heat longer.

MK Entrance Crowd

Crowds and Lines

Crowds are back in Walt Disney World.  2022 has seen record numbers of people coming to Walt Disney World evening during what are normally the slower months to start the year.

Spring break crowds have hit capacity at the parks and with that it means lines are long for many of our top rides.

Because of these higher crowds and longer lines, navigating Walt Disney World can be hard right now.  Know ahead of time that you will probably be waiting in lines and come across crowds of people.

If this is hard for you to do, consider what options you have to stay out of those situations.  You can look into purchasing Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection to lessen your wait times in the Parks.

Leaving the Disney Park in the middle of the day is another option for navigating the crowds as is staying late or arriving early.

We have tips for navigating the crowds HERE as well as places to escape the crowds HERE.  Use these and other resources to help you be better prepared for the crowds and lines you will come across during your Disney vacation.

credit: Disney

Disney Genie, Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections

Right now Disney is hard as we all try to navigate and learn the new Disney Genie system for the first time.  Disney Genie is the free planning tool that was added to the My Disney Experience app in October.  Here Guests can set up favorites and then Disney Genie will provide them with suggested touring plans.

Genie+ is a paid option ($15/day/person) that Guests can choose to add to their tickets.  With this, Guests are given access to the Lightning Lanes (think actual path to get to the ride) that allows them to bypass the standby lines.

This new feature can really help Guests lower their wait times; however, it can be hard to navigate and figure out how it all works.  Make sure if you are going to use Genie+ that you do some research on how to purchase it, how it works etc so you get the most out of your money.

At each of the four Disney Parks there are a few rides that aren’t currently part of the Genie+ option.  These are considered Individual Attraction Selections or Individual Lightning Lanes.  In order to use the lightning lanes for these rides, Guests are to purchase it al-a-carte.

For Guests staying on property, this starts at 7:00 am on the app.  This really makes sleeping in during a Walt Disney World vacation extremely hard.  Guests that want to really get the most out of these paid features need to be up and on their phones right at 7 am.

Although we think there are some things that Disney could change (see our opinion HERE), it is a good option for Guests if they want to use it.

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credit Disney

Technology and More Technology

Finally, a Disney vacation is hard right now because of how much you have to rely on your phone and the My Disney Experience app to navigate your trip.

It is through this app that Guests are able to make their Genie+ reservations, mobile order, see wait times and so much more.  It is great having all of this information in one spot, but it is hard to be glued to your phone during your vacation.

Technology as we all know can be super frustrating as well.  There are times when the app glitches or you can connect because of poor wifi or service.  This can leave you behind when it comes to Genie+ or just frustrated that you can’t get to the information you need.

Make sure you have taken time to learn about what the app has to offer and take time at home to mess around with it.  Check those wait times, practice navigating mobile order and see what Genie is all about.  By doing this at home, you will have less frustration when you are in a Disney Park.

Disney is hard right now for many reasons, but by knowing what to expect ahead of time and taking time to prepare you will still have a magical time in Walt Disney World.

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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