Visiting any of the Disney Parks is an exciting occurrence, but it doesn’t come without needing to know many things. From knowing what time the park opens to getting the right ticket, understanding park hopping, and hitting all the top attractions, it can be tough to keep it all straight!
Along with those more logistical items to keep track of, there are also quite a few “unwritten rules” to be aware of. Learn this secret code of Disney park etiquette here so you don’t unknowingly make a faux pas on your next visit!
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Understanding the Unwritten Rules of Disney
This may seem like a confusing concept when, as we mentioned, there’s already so much to learn and understand about the Disney parks in general. But not to worry—many of these rules are pretty much commonsensical things that come down to being considerate of others and their experience.
Examine the list below and you’ll be ready to visit the Disney parks and ensure you don’t impede on your own good time—or anyone else’s!
Try Not to Block Anyone’s View
A big part of visiting the Disney parks is enjoying the magic that accompanies the shows. From nighttime spectaculars to exciting parades, these shows attract quite a crowd.
While it can sometimes be tough, work to minimize blocking someone else’s view from where you stand. There are a lot of little ones who are excited to see all the action, so an unwritten rule (that is unfortunately not always followed these days) is to not block someone’s view by holding your smartphone in the air to record the show. Instead, be present, enjoy the moment, and be considerate of others who are trying to take it all in! While it’s up to each individual whether they want to do this, the extra nice thing to do is to let kids stand in front of you, since they’re usually shorter and it will help them have the best view possible.
Don’t Stop in The Middle of a Walkway
Everyone at Disney parks tends to be on the move! For that reason, it’s important to not abruptly stop in the middle of any kind of walkway. This can be tough when you’re tempted to snap a quick picture of the castle while walking down Main Street or if you need to grab your next Lightning Lane selection on your phone. However, be considerate to others who are in transit and move to the side where you can stop without blocking the path of others. The same goes for not blocking doorways. Disney parks are almost always busy, and blocking a doorway can cause an unwanted collision and a lot of frustration.
Treat Cast Members with Kindness and Respect
Disney parks employees are referred to as “Cast Members.” These are special individuals who love their jobs and all things Disney. They also work hard to make every visitor’s time in the parks extra magical and special. For that reason, it’s important to be kind and respectful to cast members during your trip. Even in moments of frustration, show them the kindness and patience you’d wish someone to show yourself!
Also, if you receive stellar service from a Cast Member that you’d like to recognize, remember that you have the chance to do so. All you have to do is go into your Disney app and go to the “cast compliment” section. There, you’ll fill out a brief questionnaire about the memorable service you received! You can provide the Cast Member’s first name and hometown (as listed on their name tag) for this, so make note of it if you plan to give a compliment. I’m sure doing so will make their day!
Take a Midday Break
Building in breaks to your park day schedules can be tough. We know just how tempting it is to go, go, go, and how badly you don’t want to miss a minute of the fun! But building in breaks, particularly midday during long park days, will really save you from getting overtired and will help your feet from getting too sore (Disney days require a lot of walking!).
Especially if you have little ones in tow, you don’t want to let anyone become too exhausted and cranky at the parks. A few hours of rest and relaxation will do wonders when it comes to making the most out of your time at Disney. Plus, there are so many fun ways to take a break that it doesn’t have to be seen as boring. Hit up your resort’s pool area, relax in the lobby of one of the Disney hotels, or you can even visit Disney Springs to see a movie or get a snack. There are many ways to make the most of your downtime while still experiencing all that the Disney Parks has to offer.
Respect People’s Personal Space
While there can certainly be a large crowd at any of the Disney parks on any given day, that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to be in someone’s personal space. For instance, when you’re waiting in line for an attraction, make sure that there is an appropriate amount of space between you and the person in front of you. Remember—following the person right in front of you too closely isn’t going to make the line go any faster!
Be Mindful When Using Your Phone
In today’s world, we all rely so heavily on our phones. However, when visiting Disney, it’s nice to show consideration when talking on the phone or listening to music. Don’t listen to music or videos at a loud volume (use your headphones if you must!) and refrain from talking on speakerphone or FaceTiming when you’re in the parks. You should also silence your phone as you enter rides and shows to prevent disruptions to the experience. Remember that everyone around you is looking to revel in the Disney magic, and we recommend putting your phone away (for the most part) to soak it all in while you’re there, too!
Keep Your Language Clean
Remember that Disney parks are a very kid-centric place to visit, so it’s best to avoid swearing or using foul language throughout your trip. This can definitely be tough if you’re not used to being around kids, and of course, everyone slips up here and there. But, try your best, as you don’t want to be disrespectful around young ears!
Help Keep Disney Parks Clean
Disney Cast Members go out of their way to keep the parks clean and tidy! That means that we should do the same when we’re visiting. There’s no shortage of garbage cans around the parks. In fact, that is part of the design, which is specifically meant to prevent litter.
Be sure to clean up after yourself and throw all of your trash and recyclables in the correct containers to do your part in keeping Disney looking pristine. It's not hard to do our part to avoid littering and keep the magic alive.
Be Mindful When You’re Holding a Table
At peak meal times at the parks, quick-service (also known as counter-service) dining areas can get pretty swamped. If you’ve ever been in the situation of looking desperately for a table to sit at to enjoy your meal, you know why this unwritten rule is an important one!
When first-come, first-serve tables are in demand, make sure that you promptly leave yours after you’re finished with a meal. This is the considerate thing to do to make room for everyone who is looking to enjoy their meal from the comfort of a (highly coveted) table.
Make Your Stroller Easy to Identify
Disney parks are usually a sea of strollers, given how many kiddos are always visiting. For many attractions, you’ll have to park your stroller before entering the experience. This can make it difficult to locate your stroller once you get off the ride or out of the show.
To prevent this, make sure your stroller is easily distinguishable from the many others that yours will be parked near. Whether it’s a customized sign, a colorful ribbon, or a balloon tied onto the handle, do something to make spotting your stroller a quick and fool-proof process. This helps you and everyone else, as no one wants to end up taking the wrong stroller by accident. Plus, this is a fun way to get creative in preparation for your trip to Disney!
Be Polite on Disney Transportation
There are many methods of Disney parks transportation, including buses, ferries, the Skyliner, and the Monorail. As you’re in transit, make sure that you are considerate of other guests. Don’t take up more seats than you actually need, and offer your seat to those who may need it more than you if the opportunity arises.
The end of the day travel back to the hotel from a park can also be a time when kids are cranky and whiny, so offer some empathy in those moments if you’re someone who has a sleeping child with you or no kids at all.
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These all resonate. But by all you hold holy, do NOT stop abruptly or make a sudden turn abruptly. That’s a sure-fire way to either get hurt or hurt someone else. I’ve seen chain reactions of people colliding all because one person either stopped in the middle of foot traffic, or inexplicably changed their direction without looking to see if the way was clear. We all know it’s crowded, so don’t let your excitement get in the way of your common sense. Treat it like you’re crossing a street and look, not just both, but, all ways before moving.
Totally agreed!!
What a JOKE I have been going to the arks since MK opened!! All of the above suggestions are broken ALL THE TIME!!!
people think they pay to go so they do what they want constantly and do not care or respect ANYONE the parks have gotten so bad over the past few years and unfortunately it’s not going to change
strollers as big as Volkswagens! are over crowded everywhere. Mobility scooters used by people that just do not know the speed controls!!! Children are unruly and loud and not corrected by parents. Crowds make it unbearable to get a good view. Disney needs to hire Cast members to do crowd monitoring and management and NOT BE ABUSED BY TOURISTS!!! Something needs to change it’s only getting worse
Strollers, wheelchairs and scooters…These do not give you license to cut in line, or pass without an ‘excuse me.’ And don’t get me started on trying to cut in line…..
Line cutting!!!!
I have no issue early in the line, someone goes potty and joins their group. But I have been in KILLER lines where people (multiple people) join at the last minute. Hey I didn’t enjoy waiting over an hour either!
When the line stretches way beyond the entrance to the ride I am not OK when you go past me inside the ride line, you had a half hour and sometimes much longer to catch up with your group befor then ….then I wish cast members would stop them.
As a Disneyland AP for years (over 20) – the most annoying and rude thing is the abrupt stopping in the middle of traffic (especially with strollers), the 8 or 9 family-member meetings right in the middle of a busy walkway (they can’t move to the side???), the 4 or 5 people cutting in line to get to the ONE person holding the spot that’s way ahead, and the fake “no hablo ingles” when asking people not to cut in line. CM are not immune – the worst is the vacant stares and “sorry – you need to go to City Hall” for even simple questions. CM are not that friendly anymore at all – there’s a noticeable decrease in the ‘magic”. Where’s MAYNARD when you need him???