Five DONT'S at Walt Disney World
You are ready to start planning and are thinking about maximizing every second you will be at Walt Disney World, you want to get a BANG for you buck. Let me give you five DONTS while at Walt Disney.
DO NOT WING WDW if you have not been there in two years. Honestly, it's never a good idea to wing WDW. I do not just go to WDW, and we are there 3 - 4 times a year! There are too many experiences that require reservations. Lines can be very long for rides, and unless you are prepared for that, you will not want to wait 75 minutes for It's a Small World. If you do not want to plan your trip, hire a Disney Planner. In most cases, they are FREE to you, and they are experienced in Disney. Unless you are a frequent guest of WDW, do not show up expecting to have a good time. 100% of people who hate Disney did not have a well-thought-out planned trip.
Uzima Springs Pool - Jambo House Pool
DO NOT...go to the parks the day you arrive. I know you are so excited to be here, and you want to go STRAIGHT there. Pump the breaks! Traveling is exhausting for adults, but we can rally. If your kids are under twelve years old, they cannot. Take the day you arrive to explore your resort, head to the pool, or head to Disney Springs. Additionally, you cannot control travel delays. Do not risk missing your park day, especially now that we reserve them in advance.
Boardwalk Villas
DO NOT...forget that stroller! If your kids are eight and under, you need a stroller. We take 2, a double, and single, and most times, by the end of a long day, all FOUR of our kids have squeezed themselves into the strollers. You walk an average of 8 miles a day while at any Disney park. There are plenty of places to rent strollers in Orlando, including inside the parks.
DO NOT...wear brand new shoes. Break those puppies in before you get there. I know you bought super cute Minnie Adidas shoes and don't want to get them dirty. But I promise you will thank me later! Break those bad boys before you wear them!
DO NOT...starve the kids for a character meal. Bring snacks to the parks to feed the kids. I know you have dining reservations, and you don't want to fill the kids up with junk. If you want to avoid tantrums at the park, keep your kids hydrated and fed.
My daughter 2018 - 3 years old - Reservation time 8:25 pm - DEAD TIRED
*BONUS*
One last don’t! Avoid super late dinner reservations. I know you wanted to go to Cinderellas royal castle SO BAD. You got the 8:45 pm reservation, and you booked it. Your four-year-old is dead-weight asleep. All they wanted was to see cinderella. This goes back to my parenting tips of knowing your kids. They are not going to rally because you are at Disney. Do not spend the money on late reservations for kids under ten years old. They may not make it, and you will be upset you just spent $37 per child that is asleep. Don’t book anything later than 7:30 pm, UNLESS you are have planned a half-day, and the kids have rested all morning and slept in!
I hope these five "don'ts" help guide some of your decisions when you start planning! Check out what I bring in my park bag to keep my four kids happy and some suggestions for waiting in line!
