5. Five kinds of technology

Walt Disney World has free WiFi, so at first glance it might seem like great fun to take your smartphone, tablet, e-reader, laptop, and anything else you can think to connect to it. In reality, your smartphone can probably do everything you’ll really need it to during your vacation. For most people, that extra technology ends up being just one more thing to try and fit in your bag and protect from the rain. If you absolutely must take it, make sure you have a quality protective case on it because theme parks can be rough, and there’s nothing magical about a shattered screen.

It's worth noting that Disney's Wi-Fi is also pretty unreliable due to the sheer volume of guests that connect to it on a daily basis, so don't expect to be able to stream Neflix on your tablet while waiting in that 180 minute line for Toy Story Midway Mania. 

6. Dress shoes

Unless you have reservations at one of the few restaurants on property with a dress code, like Victoria and Alberts, there’s no need to pack multiple pairs of shoes. Take something comfortable for the parks and a pair of flip flops for the pool and you’re set. In Florida, you can go just about anywhere in flip flops and fit in like a local. This includes a lot of fine dining locations. In the parks you’ll find sweaty families in shorts and tank tops everywhere you go anyway, so you don’t need to make yourself uncomfortable just to make the occasion feel special.

7. A detailed itinerary

I’m a big fan of guests educating themselves about everything Disney has to offer before they get to the parks, but if you have a minute-by-minute plan of how you want to spend the day, you’re probably setting yourself up for failure. Down times are unpredictable and often unavoidable. By all means have an idea of your top three or five rides, but also come to the parks with a healthy flexibility.

Don’t hang all your hopes on a single attraction and you won’t feel that your whole trip was wasted if you can’t get on it. Accept the possibility – and even likelihood – of rainy afternoons, thunderstorms, closed attractions, moody teenagers, and more than a few guests pushing past you in line because they couldn’t stay with their party. Then shrug it off and “just keep swimming” and you’ll find you can have a magical time regardless.