5. Narrating

We’ve all met this guest - some of us have even unwittingly brought them into the parks with us (the horror). This guest likes to show that they are not a first-time visitor, but in the process, they cheapen the first-time experience of others. They are the attraction narrator. You’ll almost always encounter this offender at The Haunted Mansion and The Tower of Terror, where pre-show spiels in holding rooms provide a tempting opportunity to the revisiting thespian. In the darkness of the rooms, they lurk, serving as the off-rhythm, karaoke-esque echo of the pre-recorded, Disney-created narration - and they often can’t resist the urge to throw in a shrill scream somewhere in their performance, for good measure.

I understand this urge, but if you must act on it, audition for a role. This is the only appropriate way to be a part of the show, folks.

6. Character domination

Walt Disney World is a favorite location for family reunions and group visits. Matching shirts and hats, color-coordinated bags, and high-rising flags often mark these packs, and most will include visitors from multiple generations and family arrangements. These guests enjoy the same park experiences as everyone else, but they sometimes split up due to different interests and tolerances at rides. One thing everyone in the group seems to enjoy is having some face time with the characters.

Ride queue wait times are usually spot-on, but character greeting queues can be thrown completely off by one family alone. My wait time at a character greeting recently went from a posted 5 minutes to a reality of 20 when the family of 7 in front of me took over the encounter. Everyone should expect pleasant meet and greet opportunities at a character spot, but when a family so large breaks into individual photos, generational photos, all the ladies/men groupings, couples breakdowns, and then start hunting through their backpack for a working pen while their youngest tot slowly flips through their autograph book for a free page, it can really throw a Mickey wrench into the day of those still waiting.

Characters are in no short supply throughout the parks. It’s worth considering your photo sessions a bit more carefully to avoid character domination. Have pens and autograph books open and ready. Know your planned photo groupings in advance, and consider spanning them out a bit. This also makes the photos more special and less repetitive - a win-win situation!

7. Communication breakdown

This is the big one - the one that horrified guests report all over the Internet in forums and reviews - the communication (or lack thereof) between parents and children. This offense has two levels, and they couldn’t be more dissimilar, though equally mind-boggling. In most places, we don’t see children splashing in decorative public fountains, or digging up the deliberate designs within a landscaped display. But at Walt Disney World, this is sometimes considered acceptable behavior. While the parks are certainly wonderlands of fun and play, boundaries are clearly apparent.

As a former Fantasyland Cast Member, I oversaw the colorful Ariel’s Grotto playplace. This area housed water features throughout rocky structures, which children could not seem to resist climbing on. Regardless of how many times Cast Members instructed children to avoid climbing the rocks, it fell on deaf ears, and rarely did a parent even emerge for back-up. Undoubtedly, the large number of falls from the rocks led to the short-lived nature of this attraction.

Of course, children running amuck is a natural expectation at Walt Disney World, but safety and respect should still come into play. One of the best ways to teach these behaviors is to demonstrate them. Sometimes, the overwhelming nature of a Disney visit can wear on even the most mild-mannered guest. It’s easy to understand how anyone can lose their cool after a long hot day on a park-conquering mission - made even more difficult if you’ve encountered the aforementioned offenders, as well - but the most heartbreaking thing anyone can witness at a Disney park is the parent who unleashes on their child. All humor aside, we all know that a tired, discontent, hungry child can be a challenge of monumental proportions, but it’s not uncommon to find accounts of parents dragging or screaming in the faces of their children when frustration hits.

One of the most frequent complaints from parents to children at the parks seems to center on the amount of money spent in the visit and the child’s lack of interest in maximizing the value of the visit. When a child breaks down, they break down, and they are often unable to comprehend a vacation budget enough to respect it. Before you snap, take advantage of the many areas available to rest, recharge, and calm down. Chances are, your child will do the same, and your visit will continue smoothly, with no emotional scars to mar the day.

It’s often said that you need a vacation from your vacation after visiting Walt Disney World, and the resort certainly is jam-packed with opportunities to keep you busy throughout your stay. Just remember to expect the unexpected, take it in stride, consider your fellow guest, and keep your manners and common sense on hand. This will go a long way toward your quest for pleasant memories and a magical stay for all!