4. Failure to keep amusement tools on-hand

Even with Fastpasses and dining reservations, you will find yourself spending time in lines, or waiting for shows to start. Younger children especially find this activity challenging at times. That bubbling of excitement present in the little ones is a great thing to see, but you’ll often see frustrated parents when the child reaches their breaking point with waiting for the next amusement. This one is usually pretty easy to solve - just plan for emergency amusement.

Walt Disney World offers to deliver your purchased merchandise to your hotel, or even your home, and this is a beautiful option I highly recommend. It may be wise to purchase an item or two to keep on-hand for that moment when your children get bored, as well. If you want to keep souvenir costs down, it’s just as easy to pick a couple of favorite items from home to conveniently keep in a pocket, purse, or diaper bag instead. Light snacks in sealable containers, or a small blanket to encourage a nap are also smart options. Plan for the down times to guarantee that you and your little ones avoid boredom breakdown.

5. Forgetting to leave time for the spontaneous

Speaking of Fastpasses and dining reservations… absolutely take advantage of these opportunities! Pre-planning some of the most popular attractions and dining experiences will save you valuable time and sanity. What some people don’t understand is that some of the best, most beloved experiences don’t need or even offer advance reservations. If you’re a planner, and your travel companion is spontaneous, meet in the middle for a perfect vacation experience.

Do a little research into your own personal list of must-dos. Inevitably, some will average 90 minute waits or more, and some will be typically available to walk right onto. Don’t waste a Fastpass reservation on Journey Into Imagination With Figment, for example. It rarely has more than a ten minute wait, if that. On the other hand, you should avoid the standby line at Toy Story Mania whenever possible. It rarely dips below an hour in wait time.

When it comes to meals, the best practice is to pre-plan and reserve your breakfasts and dinners. Many of the most recommended dining options are during breakfast hours, and some dinner experiences include viewing for fireworks and other nighttime shows. These are also easier meals to plan time for. I’ve seen many friends and family members with three meals a day reserved, only to find that lunch time reservation clashing with the progression of their day. Who wants to feel compelled to leave a line they have time invested in, or nervously glance at their watch during a show because they’re trying to determine if they have time to run to the restaurant they planned to dine in at the show’s end? You’ll encounter many surprises as you stroll the parks - don’t find yourself in a position to rush past them due to a reservation. Plan to grab lunch spontaneously, when the mood and free time present themselves. Sometimes a quick, counter-service restaurant simply appears at the perfect moment, offering an option that won’t demand a great deal of time or marathon skills. Most of these still fall under the dining plan, too.

6. Forgetting to bring an extra suitcase

It’s no coincidence that there are luggage shops all along the tourist zones in the Orlando area - usually right next door to a gift shop. Again, Walt Disney’s World’s package delivery option is a fabulous concept, but if you don’t wish to use it, or if you do any shopping off-property, you may find that those bags you crammed tightly before leaving home aren’t capable of accommodating your newly acquired treasures from your Orlando adventure. If you plan on shopping, it would probably be wiser to plan on an extra bag rather than waiting to buy one here, where price hikes are in full effect.

A simple rule of thumb when planning a visit to Walt Disney World - expect the unexpected. Sure, we all arrive at the park gates ready to be transported to a time and place where everything is perfect and nothing can go wrong, but every now and then, a little kink can arise in even the most flawless itinerary. With a little pre-planning, and a little awareness of the unique nature of a Disney vacation, even the snafus can be taken in stride, and overcome with a smile.