I did Disney World so wrong. I made these Disney World mistakes to avoid and didn’t realize it.
Admittedly, decades have passed since my last visit. I also had two kids under 5 with me, which changed what I wanted to do at the park.
But now that I’m back, with some distance from it all, and have taken in more social media about Disney World than I thought possible, I realize I didn’t really do it right. I made so many Disney World mistakes. I had a great time, but I wish I could do it all over.
Here are the Disney World mistakes to avoid that I didn’t think about until it was too late, and how to fix them.
The Disney World Mistakes to Avoid That I Didn’t Avoid
Disney World Mistake 1 – Narrow View
As I mentioned in the retelling of my trip, I felt intimidated by my visit to Disney World. Growing up in East Texas, I spent most of my amusement-park time at Six Flags Over Texas. We would hustle from line to line, riding the roller coasters. The way I was trained as a teenager.
I didn’t know Disney was less an amusement park and more a theme park.
We wanted to ride every ride and didn’t think about the other things the park offers. We also didn’t want to wait in line with our toddlers for long, if we could avoid it. So, we moved like nomads between the worlds.
Disney World Mistake 2 – Limited Food Pallet
Also, traveling with two young kids, we didn’t really plan our meals; we went into survival mode. We rushed to restaurants to find things my kids would actually eat. Pizza and chicken strips felt like the safest bet since most of the food was expensive. I didn’t want to buy the kids something we thought looked delicious, only for them to do what they always do, turn up their noses and say “ewww.”
Food in the park costs so much, on top of all the money we paid to get there. Buying interesting-looking food for my toddler felt like too big a risk. However, that attitude cost us the chance to explore some of the park’s better parts.
We also avoided most shops because of the toddler rage that ensues when we have to explain to a 4-year-old that we can’t buy the costly toy. For our sanity, we didn’t explore all the nooks and crannies around each section of the park.
Disney World Mistake 3 – Not Noticing the Story
Each area within the parks tells its own story. When you’re in Toy Story land, you see everything Toy Story related. But do you notice Andy’s giant footprints on the ground?
The sections create a world of imagination. When you are rushing between roller coasters, you miss out on some of those details. If you want, you can immerse yourself in the world. You could leave yourself behind and become a toy in that world.
It might be a little bit easier to see in some of these sections, like Galaxy’s Edge or Toy Story, but Magic Kingdom does a lot of that as well. There are little touches and hidden spots all over the parks that can help you change your reality to whatever section you’re in.
Of course, some rides tell stories as well. I was surprised by how many of these types of rides there were, but that adds to the world creation.
It’s really sad, as a writer, that I missed all of the storytelling aspects of the park in my rush to get to the next thing.
My Plan For Next Time
Next time I go, I don’t want to rush.
I’m glad that we got most of the things ridden during our last trip, so now, we won’t miss out if we don’t get to ride them. Also, we know some rides can make my wife sick, so we won’t have to ride them again (although I would love a shot at Smuggler’s Run with someone who can actually figure out what you’re supposed to do).
I want to explore each section more. Our time in the Galaxy Edge section sent my kids into a Star Wars frenzy. I’d linger longer in each section, exploring all that each section had to offer.
Each section feels like a Renaissance faire. I want to go to Galaxy’s Edge and try a drink and some food from Star Wars. I’m not sure how possible that is with my kids in tow, but it would probably do us good to slow it down and really explore. I wouldn’t even mind playing a character, dressing as I belong there, and interacting with others.
We would do well to find more experiences like the Kylo Ren experience we stumbled upon. That moment defined my kids’ experience at the park. They still talk about it a month later. The giddiness I felt during that moment made me feel like a kid again. I can only imagine what it feels like to immerse yourself even deeper in the content.
These types of moments create lasting memories.
There are also hidden spots I would love to discover. Those secret spots that Disney has hidden in the parks add value to your trip just by searching for them. It puts you in the role of the hero of a story. You’ll probably find more on your journey than the actual destination that way.
Of course, there are also parks we haven’t even set foot in yet, so there’s still much more for us to explore. I’d love to delve deeper into the stories in each section.
For My Next Trip
I loved my time at Disney World, and I can’t wait to go back. I definitely have turned into a Disney adult.
That said, next time I go to the park, I want to take it slow and really enjoy the park’s theme, find the secret spots, and let the story the park is trying to tell unfold.
No matter what I do, I want to make these lasting moments again, and rushing from ride to ride isn’t how you do that.
If you like my Disney content, make sure you check out my Top 5 Practical Tips for Disney World and the episode of Adventures and Mousecapades I guested on.
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