7. You tried to do it all in a day

Image: Disney

We’ve already mentioned this, but Walt Disney World is huge! Many guests try to squeeze Walt Disney World visits into 1-2 days only to realize they saw just a fraction of the resort. While there are some excellent trip plans available online for 1-2 day visits, you are likely to end up feeling worn out and frustrated if you try to force a Disney vacation into a single day.

A four-day visit the bare minimum to cover all four of Walt Disney World’s parks-- keeping in mind you may not see all attractions in those four days. For some guests, Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Epcot can be visited as half-day parks. An ideal Walt Disney World trip merits a 6-9 day visit if you really want to see it all.

8. You didn't rest

Image: Disney

Tying in with the previous two issues, the worst thing you can do during a Walt Disney World day is trying to power through without any breaks. While there’s an understandable urgency to wanting to see everything Disney has to offer, you can tire yourself out to the point of burnout if you don’t pace yourself. On particularly hot days, the situation can even turn dangerous if heat exhaustion sets in.

The average Walt Disney World visitor walks a whopping 10 miles a day. Rather than treating a Disney park day as a non-stop sprint, plan breaks to allow yourself to recapture some energy. One great strategy is to arrive at the parks at opening gate, hit your favorite attractions while crowds are still low, then leave the parks for a mid-day retreat when crowds start to swell around lunch time. You can always return in the evening, refreshed and ready. This is one of the areas where staying at a Walt Disney World resort can prove invaluable due to convenience.

9. You didn’t listen to your kids

Image: Disney

This is one of the sadder ones on the list, but it seems like an inevitable sight on most Disney visits—frustrated parents and frustrated kids. Sometimes, in our zeal to create a perfect family vacation, it’s possible to miss the mark when it comes to paying attention to our kids’ needs.

Children under 4 may need some special sensitivity when visiting Walt Disney World, both when it comes to energy levels and what attractions they can handle. Some kids take to Disney like fairies to pixie-dust, but others can get overstimulated and scared by an environment as intense as Disney. Characters and attractions that may seem innocuous to an adult can register as terrifying to a kid.

Sometimes, with the best of intentions, parents inadvertently project their dream Disney experience onto their kids then grow frustrated when their little ones seem to not be enjoying themselves. In these moments, instead of losing your temper, gauge if it may be a good time to take a rest, have a peaceful snack, arrange a nap, or choose an attraction that maybe fits your kid’s speed better. Many parents have reported that their babies, in particular, ended up loving the resort pool better than any other part of the vacation!

Set reasonable boundaries and expectations, keep an eye on kids’ mood levels, and don’t be afraid to go off-script or employ some clever hacks to make sure they’re able to enjoy Walt Disney World as much as you do.

10. You had a bad attitude

Image: Sam Howzit, Flickr (license)

Sometimes people just have a crappy attitude. Approaching your Walt Disney World vacation with a sense of indignancy, entitlement, chronic negativity, or general rudeness is the surest way to ruin your own Disney vacation. Our words and attitudes have incredible power over our perceptions. If you show up to Walt Disney World expecting a disastrous trip, you will probably have what you expected. A bad attitude costs you the battle before you even arrive.

Above all else, Walt Disney World is a place to abandon our pre-occupation with the world’s drama, let go, and dream. Embrace the atmosphere of positivity. Let sour encounters roll off your back and continue on your way. Exercise gratitude and enjoy the moment. If stuff goes wrong, that’s all right. Bad stuff feels bad, and that’s okay, but it doesn’t have to wreck your vacation. Ultimately, your attitude can make or break your vacation.

What other ways do you think people ruin their own Walt Disney World vacations?