2. Assuming the wildlife is part of the magic

Image: Rusty Clark, Flickr (license)

Disney World includes over 10,000 acres of conservation land surrounding its parks. A rich variety of Florida animals call the property home, and you can’t make a Disney trip without meeting some of these charming locals. Seagulls, squirrels, banana spiders, rabbits, anhingas, and ibis are just a few Florida denizens you may encounter.

However, some guests forget that the wildlife at Disney World aren’t the same as their cartoon counterparts. The free roaming animals are not tame, and guests who forget this can actually harm both the animals and themselves.

I recall one occasion walking through Epcot when a squirrel darted across our path. A middle-aged woman ahead of us squealed with delight. She and the other members of her party proceed to flank the squirrel so she could scoop it up off the ground. As anyone who is familiar with squirrels (and their wicked-nasty-pointy-teeth) may be expecting, the little guy bit the heebie-jeebies out of her.

Image: Mbarrison, Flickr (license)

Another cringeworthy example is when parents allow their kids to chase the ducks and ibis. The animals that call Disney home are beautiful to watch, but they are also living creatures that can react with a fight or flight response. Please do not encourage or allow your kids to frighten them, or worse, injure them.

Last, feeding the animals is also a habit that should be discouraged, as difficult as it is to resist the adorable batting eyes of that family of ducks waddling by your feet. I think most of us have allowed a few crumbs to fall to the floor for the birds, but it can actually be detrimental to purposefully feed local wildlife many of the foods humans eat. Salt, for example, can be very dangerous to birds, and feeding the animals also encourages some of the bolder critters (seagulls for example) to camp out restaurants to steal food from guests.

In particular, should you see any of Florida’s water wildlife anywhere in the state—whether it be a catfish or an alligator-- please do not feed it. It’s a boon to all guests and especially to locals that wildlife never associate humans with a food source. You’ll be doing a good thing both for the animals and for the locals by avoiding this particular habit.

3. Bringing babies (without being ready)

Image: Joe Shlabotnik, Flickr (license)

This is a particularly challenging one-- in most cases, it is not necessarily cringeworthy, but it is worth mentioning. With the utmost respect and grace for well-meaning parents, please consider not bringing children under four years old to Disney World.

I know there are exceptions to every rule. I’ve seen bright-eyed babies light up at the sight of Daisy Duck and two year olds coo at their first glance at Cinderella Castle. I’ve also seen babies cry nonstop at a mere picture of Figment and toddlers break into inconsolable meltdowns at the prospect of waiting twenty minutes for a ride. Some parents can handle this, others lose it.

There’s an understandable allure to bring our tiniest little ones to Disney World. There’s something truly magical for first time parents to want to experience with their kids and kids under three get in free. My own first words were spoken at Disney World—a trip that would be my last to Disney until I was five because it was so taxing on my parents. I spent much of the trip overwhelmed, fussy, and terrified after seeing Prince John from Robin Hood.

Here is the problem. In general, children in the earliest stages of development—usually those under five years old—cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Whereas we see Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger spin as a fun and cartoonish chase after a cutout of Emperor Zurg, they actually see a giant robot who wants them dead and could destroy the world. Dumbo becomes a real flying elephant imbued with magical powers (thus why young kids love the ride so much!). Seeing an adult sized, giant-headed version of Mickey Mouse can shock small children. Rides with even minimal scare factors can prove terrifying, and many parents seem to not realize this even as their kids are visibly distressed by the experience.

Can a Disney trip with a very small child be pulled off? Absolutely, particularly for passholders and residents who have extra time to get kids used to the hustle of the parks. There are lots of tricks that can be employed, ranging from planning out naps to making sure they have earplugs for fireworks displays. I want to emphasize that parents who do this right are rock stars in my book. However, for the average family saving up for years and travelling across the country, is it really worth it when the entire family may enjoy the trip more in a few years? It’s a point worth considering.