FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

5. Not Planning for Park-Hopper

Image: Disney

Fans know that Walt Disney World is a resort that contains within its grounds four separate theme parks - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As second nature as it seems to you and I, that’s already a confounding setup for many guests. Layer on the complex ticket options and the budget-shattering reality that to see all four parks, you’d theoretically need at least a four day ticket (and hotel stay) and suddenly the idea of Park-Hopping sounds alright!

Adding the Park-Hopper option (for between $65 and $85 per ticket based on length of stay) gives guests the opportunity to visit more than one theme park on any given day. In theory, it means you can hit up Magic Kingdom in the morning, take a Monorail to Epcot at noon, and finish off your day in Animal Kingdom. A two-day ticket with Park-Hopper costs a lot less than a four-day ticket without, so it sounds downright tantalizing to see it all with much less expense.

But of course, it’s not that easy. Firstly because FastPass+ reservations can only be pre-booked for a single theme park, not multiple, so if you do hop, you’ll be looking at all Stand-by lines at the second park (unless you miraculously score a big win after using your third FastPass at the morning park). And even then, recognize that Disney itself recommends “allowing 1.5 hours to travel to your destination when traveling within Walt Disney World property.” In other words, Park-Hopping isn’t as simple as walking next door… it is a time-intensive process that eats away at precious in-park hours. Is it worth it? For most first-timers or infrequent visitors, probably not… unless you’re hoping to hop at the end of the day and jump into the Stand-by line for a single, can’t-miss ride at the second park.

6. Decoding Dining

Image: Disney

Introduced in 2005 (alongside Magic Your Way tickets), Disney Dining Plans have a fairly simple purpose today: to simplify your vacation by making it “all inclusive.” With four levels of plan to choose from (from 2 casual, strictly Quick Service meals to 3 full signature, sit-down meals per day), the idea is that you are debited an assortment of meal and snack “credits” each day that carry over, redeemable with a touch of the MagicBand. As with FastPass, many words have been shed across the Internet about whether or not Dining Plans are “worth it.”

The answer, though, is fairly simple: monetarily, of course not! It should be fairly obvious that Dining Plans - especially the lower tiered ones - are priced in Disney’s favor. While it’s possible to come out ahead, doing so would require guests to pick the most expensive options at each and every turn, eschewing what they want to eat in favor of strictly redeeming and tracking credits laboriously. If the grunt work it takes to “profit” sounds like a fun challenge to you, have at it. Conversely, if you’re willing to accept overpaying in exchange for the “all-inclusive” peace of mind that comes from having prepaid, all the better.

Image: Disney

Either way, opting for or against a Dining Plan without decoding it first is only one of the dining-related issues first-time guests tend to encounter. Frustratingly for many, Disney World opens dining reservations an almost-outrageous 180 days out, meaning that in April, you will need to know not only what park you’re visiting, but what time you’re eating lunch in October. It's probably worth it for some of Disney World's cool restaurants, which made our list of Disney World Exclusives that Should Make Disneyland Fans Jealous.

Even if you decide not to go with a Disney Dining Plan or to make any reservations for sit-down restaurants at all, please do yourself one final favor: don’t relegate yourself to hot dogs and hamburgers. Challenge yourself to really try the unique offerings Disney Parks create, even if they’re just at Quick Service stops! 

7.  Weather woes

Image: Disney

We know, we know - you’ve heard it before: Florida is hot. But hearing it and feeling it are two very different experiences. Believe it or not, there are thousands and thousands of people out there who have visited Disney World exactly once, in July, August, or September, and have approximately zero recollection of anything but misery. Like, you don’t understand until you’ve been in the unforgiving, blasting sun in record relative humidity for twelves hours. Yes, the rare 95-degree day at Cedar Point or Six Flags is bad. The much more typical 95-degree day at Disney World is far worse. Florida’s hot air carries immense humidity which drastically reduces the effectiveness of sweating and turns the air into a soup of sweat, heat, and smell.

Most famously, Florida’s tropical climate lends itself to almost daily afternoon thunderstorms June through September. The daily downpour puts only a momentary stop on the action at Disney World, but frankly, summers in Orlando are brutal. It’s not that you can’t or shouldn’t visit Disney World during the summer, but you must be prepared for the realities the weather brings.

Just the opposite, folks all too often pack shorts and tank tops to visit the parks in January or February. Sure, snow in Florida is rare… but the average low in January is 49 degrees, and that’s likely to hit during your morning rope drop or your nighttime spectacular, with many days hovering in the mid-60s - definitely sweatshirt weather, even in Florida. The point is, don’t be caught off guard by Florida’s weird weather, and pack, prepare, and hydrate appropriately. It’ll literally make a big difference in your enjoyment.

8. The school break surprise

Image: Disney

Who wouldn’t want to be at Walt Disney World during the holidays? Yes, Disney Parks look their best during seasonal celebrations, from Halloween and Christmas to springtime and the Flower and Garden Festival. It’s not just that the parks are decorated, it’s that they’re stocked with special entertainment offerings, extended hours, and exclusive snacks! And also, y’know people. It’s pretty surprising how many people have the bright idea to take their kids to Disney World over Spring Break or Christmas Break and are aghast at how crowded the parks are. 

The harsh reality is that if your child is out of school, everyone else’s kids are out of school, too. Crushing crowds of tourists descend on Disney Parks any time school is out. Your sneaky plan to use Memorial Day weekend as a family vacation might not be as brilliant as you think... At the very least, you'll definitely want to look through our list of "low-wait" attractions and Disney's outrageously high-capacity rides.

 

Image: Disney

Lately, Disney’s been on a mission to redistribute crowds throughout the year. Major price hikes, new ticket tiers, and Annual Pass blockouts are all meant to stem the flow of people packing into the parks during the busiest seasons. One of the more interesting outcomes of that has been surprising and somewhat unpredictable shifts to the way crowds ebb and flow, eliminating the “off season” in September, October, January, and February, and actually making summers a bit quieter (if you can stand the heat). 

Ultimately, picking a “bad” time of year is just one of those things many first-timers have to experience firsthand before they vow to never do it again.

 
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Add new comment

About Theme Park Tourist

Theme Park Tourist is one of the web’s leading sources of essential information and entertaining articles about theme parks in Orlando and beyond.

We are one of the world’s largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe.

Find Out More About Us...

Plan Your Trip

Our theme park guides contain reviews and ratings of rides, restaurants and hotels at more than 80 theme parks worldwide.

You can even print them.

Start Planning Now...