10 Disney World Mistakes First Timers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

If you’re headed to Disney World for the first time, you need to know about these 10 Disney World mistakes first timers make.

These are tips that I’ve either made or seen people make, and it can really make a difference in your Disney World vacation.

Trying to do everything

Disney World is MASSIVE. It’s designed so it’s pretty much impossible to do everything in one trip (unless you live nearby or have having a super extended stay).

If you try to do absolutely everything, you are likely going to run yourself into the ground.

I know Disney World trips are pricey, and I fully understand wanting to maximize your time. But trying to do everything is the best way to create a stressful, exhausting trip.

Instead of equating “getting your money’s worth” with the amount of things you do, try seeing it as the amount of fun you have.

And while I can’t speak for you, I definitely think you’ll have more fun if you’re less stressed and just a little more rested.

So rather than trying to get do every ride, show, and experience, do your research ahead of time and decide what your priorities are. Accept from the start that you aren’t going to get to everything.

Not having a plan

I know a lot of people like to have more relaxed and less structured vacations, but Disney World is not that kind of vacation.

This isn’t to say you have to have a plan if you’re really against it. People do wing it (at least in theory–I’ve heard of these people, but never met them).

But if you want to have the best possible Disney World experience, you should really have some idea of what parks you want to be in on each day of your trip, what you want to do in said park, which rides are a priority, which parades and shows you want to get to, etc.

You also want to do some research and see what’s going on in each park when you’ll be there. There may be something you’ll want to prioritize (like an Epcot festival) or avoid (like a runDisney event if you’re not participating).

Forgetting to hydrate

This is one of the biggest Disney World mistakes first timers make.

Hydrating needs to be one of your biggest priorities in the parks. It’s especially true if you’re there when it’s hot (which is most times of the year), but even if you’re not.

Disney World is A LOT of walking. Even without the heat, you’re exerting a lot of energy, even if you don’t realize it. And when you add in the heat, it gets even more essential.

It’s also really easy to forget to drink water when you’re on the go and prioritizing your next ride or attraction.

Keep your water bottle filled, and set reminders on your phone if you have to. You can also get free ice water at any Disney World Quick Service location.

Not making Advanced Dining Reservations

Table service restaurants in Disney World require Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs). This means making your dining reservations up to 60 days in advance. (If you’re staying on Disney Property, you can make reservations for your entire trip once you’re 60 days out.)

So if there’s a restaurant you’re interested in eating at, make sure you’re on top of the dining reservation! Especially if it’s a popular place.

Many restaurants in Disney do completely book up, so you want to make sure you’re on top of this. Set a reminder in your phone so you don’t miss out!

But hope is not lost if you’re finding this within 60 days of your trip. There are plenty of gems that are less poplar and slower to book, so you can still get some delicious food, even within the 60 day window.

You can also be on the look out for cancelations at your preferred restaurants if they’re booked solid.

Leaving too little time for travel

As we’ve covered, Disney World is MASSIVE. It’s roughly the size of the entire city of San Fransisco.

This means it takes some time to get from point A to point B. So don’t assume that just because you’re staying on Disney Property, you can make it to Magic Kingdom in 10 minutes.

While there are some hotels in walking distance to the Magic Kingdom, this isn’t going to be true for most Disney World hotels.

And if you’re very close to one park, it means you’re much farther away from 1-3 others.

Plus, while Disney World transportation is free, convenient, and generally pretty efficient, it’s still a public transportation system. So it’s going to take a little longer to get you where you want to go than directly driving yourself.

Do your research and figure out how long it should reasonably take you to get from point A to Point B. And then give yourself a little extra time.

Not walking ahead of time

This is one of my favorite Disney World mistakes first timers make because quite frankly, I think it’s a mistake a lot of repeat visitors make too.

Like we mentioned, Disney World is A LOT of walking! If you really want to get the most out of your trip, walking ahead of time will make a world of difference.

People often jump from their regular lives (which, let’s be honest, are typically desk or office bound) and dive right into their Disney World vacation. And they often have a hard time keeping up the physical demands the trip entails.

To counter this, start walking regularly at least 1-2 months before your trip. You likely still won’t come close to hitting the step count you will in Disney, but it’ll feel like much less of a stretch than if you didn’t walk at all.

It’s also good to wear the shoes you’re planning to wear in Disney World so you know they’re broken in and comfortable.

Sticking with “standard” park food

A lot of Disney World first timers don’t realize how much incredible food there is throughout the parks and resorts! So don’t make the mistake of sticking with Mickey pretzels, ice cream bars, and cheeseburgers.

(Though you can definitely grab some of those if they’re you’re favorites!)

Disney World not only has some great food, they have some really unique offerings as well. This is especially true if you’re visiting during an Epcot festival, which always offers specialty food booths.

However, not all Disney World restaurants are created equally. While there are a lot of delicious offerings, there are some less-than-great ones, too.

Take some time to do a little research on the Disney food scene in the parks and resorts you’re planning on visiting. You won’t be sorry!

Not taking breaks

As we mentioned, Disney World is big and there’s a lot to do. Because of this, it can be easy to put yourself on the go for your ENTIRE trip in order to maximize your time.

But similar to our previous point of not trying to do everything, breaks are really important to make sure you can keep up and actually enjoy your trip.

How you take a break will be unique to you. You might want to have an early morning in the parks, head back to your hotel for the afternoon, then return to the parks for the evening.

You may also like to take a day or two out of the parks to slow down a bit. (I do!)

Or you may find yourself finding some A/C to take a 10-20 minute break in the parks on every hour or two.

Do what makes the most sense of you, just make sure you’re giving yourself some rest time.

Forgetting a plan to keep your phone charged

Your phone is pretty important in Disney World.

It allows you to access the free My Disney Experience App, which gives you access to Lightening Lanes, mobile order, live wait times, and so much more.

Because of this, you will likely be on your phone more than average. And keep in mind, the Florida sun will probably mean you’ll have to turn your brightness all the way up.

This makes it important to have a plan so your phone stays charged–especially if you know your battery isn’t as strong as it used to be.

One simple (and worthwhile) choice is to invest in a portable charger, then make sure it’s charged when you head to the parks each day.

Another option is to make sure you bring your charger and plan to take a break near an outlet at some point to let your phone charge.

Do whatever works for you, just make sure you have a plan to keep some battery power in your phone.

Not spending time outside the parks

I know, the parks are the main reason to go to Disney World. But Disney has actually done a great job of creating a complete experience for their guests in and out of the parks.

Between Disney Springs and beautifully themed resorts (which you can visit even if you’re not a guest) there’s a lot of fun and interesting activities to do if you decide to have a non-park day.

So, don’t feel like you can only have fun if you’re going to the parks. In fact, here are 11 things you can do outside the parks.

What’s your biggest Disney World mistakes first timers make that you know of?