3. Deciding what you will want to eat 6 months in advance

So what’s the biggest problem with booking reservations 180 days out? How on Earth are you supposed to know what you will want to eat on which day? A hearty meal might sound like a great idea right now, but what if you’re overtired and overheated 180 days from now? What if you keep your kids out till 11:00 p.m. at Downtown Disney the night before, and they’re too tired and cranky for that 7:30 a.m. booking at Cinderella’s Royal Table? There’s no easy way around this, so give it your best guess and try not to worry. Plan a mix of heavy table-service meals and lighter options to keep you from getting bored throughout the week.

4. Predicting the weather, your physical condition, and other day to day influences

The other major problem with booking dining reservations so early, which is compounded by the need to book FastPass Plus reservations well in advance, is that it takes flexibility off the table. In days gone by, a park hopper ticket was all you needed to give yourself plenty of options. Is it raining on your Animal Kingdom day? Hop over to Epcot and spend the day exploring enclosed pavilions. Is the Magic Kingdom unusually crowded? Switch over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios instead. Now, with everything carefully choreographed months in advance, changing parks on the fly can completely derail your entire plan. There’s not much you can do about this, but try to minimize the effects by only pre-booking your true must-dos. Leave as much unplanned time in your schedule as possible to allow for day to day challenges.

5. Prepping to walk a marathon

First-time visitors often have trouble wrapping their brains around just how much walking a Disney vacation truly involves. According to bloggers and Internet reports, the average day at Disney generally requires 7 to 10 miles of walking, while more hard-core walkers report upwards of 15 per day. Even using the lower end of the estimates, during a week-long visit you could easily rack up more than 50 miles of walking! Unless you plan to use a wheelchair, scooter, or stroller, it is important to get in shape in advance. Think of Disney as a marathon rather than a sprint, and make sure you factor in proper hydration and blood sugar levels. Nothing kills a good time faster than dehydration, hunger pangs, and muscle cramps.

Seasoned Disney veterans have tried and true techniques for planning the perfect trip, while newbies can easily become overwhelmed. No matter where your level of previous experience falls, however, you can always learn something new to make your next trip a bit more special. What skills do you use? What’s the one tip you would give someone trying to plan a Disney vacation? Share your thoughts in the comments!