There are a lot of “mistakes” tourists make at Walt Disney World. Many of us come home from a Disney vacation and think “Next time I’m going to do this differently…”
Here are 5 common mistakes that tourists make. Perhaps we can learn from others mistakes and avoid a possible mishap on our next Disney vacation.
1. Not having a Plan. This is likely the biggest mistake that many people make. They get to the park, grab a park map, and then huddle around it figuring out what they want to do. Talk about wasting time!! Filling out this Disney Planning Itinerary Chart before your trip begins actually ‘forces’ you to look at the park maps and get familiar with the layout of each park. This ends up being a very good thing, as you’ll know right where to go and you won’t be looking at a map feeling lost. It will also solve the problem of “Where should we eat?!” Plan as much as you can ahead of time, but don’t try to plan every single minute of your day. Give some wiggle room. You don’t really have to fill out a chart, you can design your itinerary however you like. But having some sort of plan will save you a lot of time in the parks!
2. Wearing the same pair of Shoes. If you’ve got 2 pairs of decent shoes to walk in, bring them BOTH. Alternate wearing those pairs of shoes every other day. This will help with sore feet, blisters and other discomforts from all the walking that you will be doing. Also, avoid bringing a brand new pair of shoes that aren’t broken in.
3. Not using the Photopass Photographers. Even if you didn’t purchase a Photopass plan, you can still use the Photopass Photographers! They’ll give you a card, free of charge, and load up all the pictures that they take for you. It’s fun to look at the pictures on your computer at home after your trip. You can also hand YOUR camera over to the Photographer and they’ll be happy to snap a picture of you with your family.
4. Not taking a break. When someone in your party becomes tired, grumpy or too hot – take a break! Find a quiet spot (preferably indoors and out of the hot sun), sit, relax and eat a snack – or even a full meal. This usually helps everyone “recoup” and re-energize so they are able to move on. If you’ve got little ones with you, an afternoon break back at the resort (including naps) is great!
5. Wearing too much Sunscreen. What?! I’m not saying don’t wear it, I’m saying apply it once in the morning while still in your hotel room, then leave it at the hotel. It’s one less thing to carry! It’s true that avoiding the harsher elements of direct sunlight is wise and necessary, but avoiding the sun all together, and therefore, not getting enough direct sunlight on our skin, is even more problematic. Our bodies produce Vitamin D with sun exposure (UV-B rays to be exact). This sunshine vitamin can help protect us against a host of diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Those with low levels of Vitamin D are at an increased risk for heart attack. It’s important to get an adequate amount of sunlight for its vitamin D-boosting benefits. The list of benefits continues to increase as more research is conducted on Vitamin D and the amounts we need. So, it just might be okay to let your sunscreen “wear off” in the late afternoon or evening and soak up a few rays.
For more check out his article How not to get burned at Disney World for more info.
This “list of mistakes” isn’t comprehensive – there are certainly many many more mistakes one could make. And these “mistakes” certainly aren’t no-no’s for all; if you’ve got a pair of shoes that work for you day after day – wear them! If you’re extra sensitive to the sun and you know you need all the sunscreen you can get – slather away! It’s just helpful to know what could be a possible mistake and how to avoid that problem if possible. Are there any mistakes you’ve made at the parks?
In addition to writing for Chip & Co., Terri also writes for her own blog Walt Disney World Hints. You may follow the WDW Hints page on Facebook for even more Disney tips!
Related articles
- Everything You Wanted to know about Disney’s PhotoPass Service (chipandco.com)
- Disney World Planning Tips – Try something new Take a Tour! (chipandco.com)
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I still have 76 more days until my WDW vacation and I’ve been making plans since March. I just need to condense them onto notecards before we go. One for each day’s activities – what I most want to see; if we have a dining reservation for that day and where to see the characters. I also pack 3 pair of shoes and switch off every day and no matter what time of year I always bring sandals just to give my toes a break. And if you can downsize what you carry it is a great idea. Remember any bags usually h ave to go on the ride with you.
Like the idea of a planning chart. I’ve got work to do.
Great points! Definitely guilty of at least three of them on my first trip to WDW. But now, after much research, I’m better prepared for my trip in September. 43 days!
A 2nd pair of shoes is a good idea for if/when it rainss. I keep a pair of flip flops in my backpack if there is a chance of rain. Walking around the park with wet socks and shoes is not fun!!