Top 10 Mistakes That Frequent Disney Parkgoers Make

As a Disney World annual passholder and frequent visitor to the parks, I often help plan trips for friends, family, and co-workers. Although I have a wealth of knowledge, there are several mistakes I still make when planning a trip to Disney. There are so many things to do and see that sometimes important things can easily slip through the cracks.

These mistakes can be as little as forgetting to pack sunscreen on a sunny day, or as big as forgetting to make dining reservations in advance, both of which can easily ruin a day at Disney. I always recommend keeping checklist of all the things you need to do before each upcoming Disney trip as well as what to pack in your Disney park bag each day. We all know planning Disney trips can be stressful, however the payoff is huge when you are adequately prepared!

Regardless of which Disney park you are visiting, there are several things you absolutely must do before your trip. Learn from our mistakes and please consider the below 10 items that even frequent Disney parkgoers make!

1. Missing Dining Reservation Windows

The Disney parks have some of the best restaurants of any theme parks in the world, and guests often want to experience the food just as much as the amazing Disney attractions! Although some table service restaurants may have same-day availability, forgetting dining reservations can be a detrimental mistake. Especially if you have your heart set on eating at a popular restaurant, you should be prepared to make reservations as soon as you are able. For both Disneyland and Disney World restaurants, you are able to make reservations 60 days in advance! Even many Disney pros forget to set reminders to make dining reservations, and lose out on coveted spots at popular restaurants.

Dining reservations for both Disneyland and Disney World typically open at 6 AM PST/9 AM EST on the 60 day mark, so it's also important to set your alarm clocks especially if you live on the west coast. Many Disney guests will be booking their dining reservations first thing in the morning, and the popular restaurants can book up within minutes! If you're unable to get the reservations you want, I would recommend booking your next choice and then checking back periodically to see if another time opens up. I have gotten lucky once or twice to snag a last minute reservation at popular restaurants by checking the mobile app or website.

If you are visiting Walt Disney World and purchased the Disney Dining Plan with table service option, you are still required to make your own reservations. Having the Disney Dining Plan does not guarantee any reservations at the available restaurants.

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2. Forgetting to Hydrate

Forgetting to hydrate is one of my most common mistakes at Disney. It can be so easy to forget while you are busy walking around the parks, however it is extremely important to continuously drink water or electrolytes throughout the day. The Disney parks allow guests to bring in their own reusable water bottles, and also offer free ice water at quick service locations. I am always thankful when I remember to bring my water bottle as there are so many conveniently located water bottle refill stations throughout the Disney parks. Be sure to review our tips and locations of water refill stations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Bottles of water and sports drinks are always offered for purchase at restaurants and snack kiosks, however they are often very pricy. The high costs often deter guests from drinking enough water, making it another costly mistake even for frequent parkgoers. However, you have to remember to drink even more water than a normal day at Disney due to all the walking and potentially high temperatures. Staying hydrated is especially important to those guests enjoying alcoholic drinks throughout the day.

3. Wearing Uncomfortable Shoes

I have seen so many guests fall victim to not wearing comfortable shoes to the Disney parks. Not only should shoes be comfortable, but they should be durable enough to last long days of standing and walking. These shoes typically consist of running shoes or sneakers. For longer trips, I would even recommend bringing multiple pairs of shoes as well as plenty of comfortable socks.

As a Florida resident I frequently wear sandals, and unfortunately there have been warm days where they just weren't the best choice. Even if they are comfortable for several hours, there is still a risk of blisters or discomfort during a longer day. Many guests disregard wearing comfortable shoes because they want to dress up or Disney bound, however it's not worth the potential discomfort!

4. Visiting During Peak Crowd Times

Although this might be unavoidable, many frequent parkgoers forget to consider crowd levels at the Disney parks when planning their trip. Although it is possible to still have a fun day at Disney during peak seasons such as Christmas or spring break, sometimes it can come as a very frustrating shock to see the long lines and large crowds. I try to always check the crowd calendar at Disney World or Disneyland to be prepared for larger crowds, or even reschedule a trip based on the calendar.

If peak seasons are the only available times to visit Disney, it shouldn't deter you from visiting! However, I always recommend booking dining reservations and/or Lightning Lane passes in order to experience everything on your Disney wish list. We have created helpful guides on Lightning Lane reservations at both Disneyland and Disney World.

Crowd levels are also important to consider if you plan on watching the parades, fireworks, or other nighttime shows. During peak seasons, it's very important to arrive early and stake out a good spot if the parks are particularly busy that day.

5. Forgetting to Book Lightning Lane Passes

As I mentioned previously, booking Lightning Lane passes are very important especially if there are certain “must do” attractions on your list. Disney resort guests are able to book their Lightning Lane passes seven days before their date of check-in, and all other guests can book their passes up to three days in advance. There have been many times where I have completely forgotten to book my Lightning Lane passes or set my alarm to wake up in time which has resulted in missing out on some of my favorite rides due to the long lines.

A big difference between booking Lightning Lane passes at Disneyland vs Disney World is that you choose your first three attractions at Disney World at the time of purchase, which can be up to seven days in advance. At Disneyland, you can choose which attractions you want to use your Lightning Lane pass on as soon as you enter the park. Therefore, it's more important for Disney World guests to purchase Lightning Lanes as soon as they are able to in order to choose their attractions as early as possible. For Disneyland guests, it's more important for you to arrive to the park early in order to book your Lightning Lane passes before there are none available.

Lightning Lane passes can be confusing for first time guests, but even Disney park pros can get caught missing out on their own reservations. Therefore, it's something everyone visiting Disney should consider before their trip.

6. Overspending and Ignoring Discounts

As we all know, Disney trips can be very expensive! However, there are ways to save money on tickets and hotels by shopping around. For example, our trusted partner and Disney reseller Get Away Today is always running specials on trips to Disney, Universal, and other theme parks. Additionally, many times Disney offers special rates on their hotels on their website. Typically these deals include specials for local residents (Florida for Disney World or Anaheim for Disneyland), military members, annual passholders, or deals during low peak seasons.

Additionally, anyone can save a bit of money by finding discounts on Disney gift cards. Members of wholesale clubs such as Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's can often find discounted gift cards, and credit card holders of certain cards including the Target Red Card or Disney Chase Visa can also get discounts on gift cards to use on their next trip!

Even if you are a Disney pro and are fully aware of these perks, sometimes you can get too busy to consider the specials on tickets, hotels, and gift cards during the Disney parks planning phases. These discounts can add up quickly and significantly help with the cost of any Disney vacation.

7. Ignoring Park Hours

Especially as we approach the end of the year, it's important for all guests to pay attention to Disney's daily hours of operation. I was recently helping a friend plan her Disney World trip this November, and she mentioned wanting to see the Happily Ever After fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Even though she was planning on spending two full days at Magic Kingdom, I realized the two days she was looking at both had a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party scheduled. Disney often puts on after hours events such as Halloween and Christmas parties which cause the parks to close early. If she would have visited Magic Kingdom on either of these days, there is no doubt she would have been upset to realize that the park closes at 6 PM, and she would miss out on Happily Ever After.

It's also important to check daily park hours if you are staying at a Disney resort and want to take advantage of early theme park entry for resort guests. Some parks such as Animal Kingdom open earlier than the others, and therefore you cannot always assume the parks open at the same time. Even self-proclaimed Disney pros such as myself have fallen victim to forgetting to check the daily park hours.

8. Skipping Breaks Throughout the Day

Although it can be tempting to rush from attraction to attraction throughout the day, everyone needs to listen to their bodies and take a break when they need it. I cannot count how many times I have avoided taking breaks and regretted it! Especially during trips where you are spending consecutive days in the parks, you absolutely need to take breaks throughout the day. Breaks are a great time to make sure you are staying hydrated as I previously mentioned, as well as giving yourself a mental and physical rest. Disney days can be extremely taxing, and if you push yourself or your members of your group too hard, it can turn out very badly!

Disney provides tons of seating throughout the parks, such as benches, covered tables, and shops where guests can take a rest without having to purchase food or drinks. Although a big part of going to Disney is walking around and waiting in line, it's also important to take breaks to make sure you stay happy and energized throughout the day.

9. Forgetting to Pack Appropriate Weather Essentials

Comfortable shoes and clothing are obviously very important for Disney trips, but weather is also a big factor in planning trips to Disney. Disney World can be a fun summer vacation destination, however, you must plan for both hot and humid temperatures as well as summer storms and heavy rainfall. At Disneyland, guests can experience hot and sunny days even in the fall months which should also be considered. We highly recommend checking out our weather calendars for both Disneyland and Disney World before your trip. However, I also recommend checking the weather forecast over the few days leading up to your vacation.

I have been caught in the rain so many times at Disney World because I forgot to check the forecast and pack a raincoat. Although Disney is very good about selling ponchos and umbrellas, it's definitely easier and cheaper to bring your own if you can. Don't let the weather ruin your Disney vacation – typically all attractions stay open even during bad weather unless the attraction is outdoors and there is heavy rain or lightning.

10. Ignoring the Magic in the Atmosphere

Last but definitely not least is forgetting to enjoy the magic throughout the Disney parks. I see so many families getting angry over missing their favorite show, attraction, or character. I myself have gotten unnecessarily upset over ride closures or delays during my Disney vacations. However, it's so important for guests to remember how lucky they are to get to experience Disney with their loved ones.

Some of the best days at Disney are simply walking around and enjoying the amazing cast members at work. I have core memories of trading Disney pins and friendship bracelets with cast members and other guests, watching a parade go by, or sitting on the hub grass at Magic Kingdom and people watching. It's easy to get wrapped up with Disney planning and forming unrealistic expectations about your trip. Even if it doesn't work out exactly as you planned, make sure to take time to truly appreciate the incredible Imagineering that took place to create some of the best theme parks in the world.

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