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14 most common Disney mistakes (+ how to avoid them!)

By September 27, 2019December 18th, 202033 Comments

If you’re considering a Disney family vacation, there’s so much to learn, plan for and anticipate! Whether you have your eyes set on Disneyland, Disney World or another Disney park worldwide, you’ll want to read these common Disney mistakes—and what you should do instead.

Avoid these common Disney mistakes: Here's how to save money, time and headaches at Disneyland and other Disney parks. To & Fro Fam

These family travel bloggers have gone before you—and so very thoughtfully made more than a few Disney mistakes. Here, they’ve graciously shared those stumbles so you don’t have to follow in their footsteps!

I learned quite a few Disney tips and hacks, too. So whether you have a Disneyland vacation coming up or you’re simply dreaming of a getaway to Disney World, you’ll definitely want to learn from these expert family travel bloggers. Read on for common Disney mistakes that cost you money, cost you time, cost you fun—or end up in meltdowns! Then read their best Disney tips to make the most of your family vacation.

Avoid these common Disney mistakes: Here's how to save money, time and headaches at Disneyland and other Disney parks. To & Fro Fam

This post contains affiliate links, which have no extra cost to you. These links earn me a small income that allows me to continue to bring you free family travel advice.

If you want even more Disney goodness—and I’m 99% sure you do—then download these Disney quote printables, all for free! When you sign up, you’ll get five designed Disney quotes that’ll inspire your next trip.

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Disney quotes on happiness, inspiration, imagination and travel - plus free printables of beautiful Disney quotes! To & Fro Fam

Expensive Disney mistakes

Uh-oh, these Disney mistakes can cost you a lot of money! Make sure you don’t make these mistakes so you have plenty of money for your next family vacation… or at least enough to get an extra Dole Whip.

Not budgeting for your full vacation

MISTAKE: Not budgeting
DISNEY DO IT: Researching and planning your Disney costs—even the sneaky ones

Family holidays are rarely cheap these days, but a trip to Disney can be in a different league when it comes to cost. People are often attracted by a cheap flight cost, or a special deal for accommodation or park tickets, and then the Disney vacation is suddenly happening without much thought to the total cost of the vacation.  

These 14 Disney hacks from family travel bloggers help you sidestep common problems at Disneyland and beyond! To & Fro Fam

We would highly recommend creating a budget for your Disney vacation so that you have a clear idea of what the trip might cost you and allow you to plan and save for this dream vacation. 

Some of the elements to think about for you Disney vacation include:

  • the costs of getting to Disney, including flight costs and all the added extras
  • accommodation costs including any resort fees
  • park tickets
  • in-park experiences
  • non-Disney activities
  • food and drink costs
  • visa or travel insurance costs
  • how you’ll get around whilst you’re on your trip

When you think of, and budget for, how much the entire Disney vacation will cost, you’ll be much more prepared. And when there are fewer (expensive) surprised on your family trip, you and your kids will be able to fully enjoy your Disney vacation.

Ellie writes at Family Travel Pro, a site that shares insider travel professionals’ advice for tips to travel better with your kids.

(If you’re looking for places to trim your budget, take a peek at exactly how I saved more than $2,000 on a Disneyland vacation. And don’t forget to compare prices of hotels near Disneyland—take a peek at the map and booking tool below.)

Booking.com

Paying full price for souvenirs

MISTAKE: Paying out the nose for Disney souvenirs
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Buy your Disney souvenirs outside the park and bring them in

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the price tags at the gift shop on our first trip to Disneyland. I was so glad I didn’t make the expensive mistake of paying full price for souvenirs!

If you want to save money on Disney souvenirs, plan ahead! You can buy nearly identical mouse ears, bubble wands, plush toys and more outside the park for a fraction of the cost.

How to save money on Disney souvenirs / To & Fro Fam

We don’t get our kids a ton of souvenirs—we tend to travel on a tight budget—but I did want to get Maxine and Edie a few special mementos from our first trip to Disneyland. So beforehand, I bought them each a stuffed Minnie.

Then when we were getting ready to walk to the park, I exclaimed, “What is that green sparkly light in the sky?! It just zipped by—was it a dragonfly?”

The girls went to investigate. While they were gone, I placed these Minnie dolls in their stroller seats. My kids rushed back and told me I’d probably seen Tinkerbell! Then they noticed the toys—and nearly lost their little minds. They guessed that Tinkerbell had left them presents!

Maxine and Edie still talk about my Tinkerbell sighting and the Disney souvenirs she left behind.

See, you can get Disney magic—while staying on a budget!

-me!

Time-wasters at Disney

You planned. You budgeted. You endured your child melting down at the airport on the way. You deserve to enjoy your family vacation at Disney!

Unfortunately, many people make the common Disney mistakes that eat up that precious time.

Here are Disney mistakes that waste time—and what to do instead.

How to save time at Disney World and Disneyland / To & Fro Fam

Wasting time waiting for food

MISTAKE: Eating at restaurants and waiting in line at fast-service spots
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Use mobile food ordering on the My Disney Experience App

We were Disney World first-timers back in April, and our preference was for more Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, visits with Belle and Jasmine, Jedi Training, and the Frozen Sing-along and less time for Pecos Bill Nachos, Dole Whips and Backlot Express burgers. Unfortunately, though, we wasted a ton of time waiting in line to grab some grub.

The best way we could have saved those precious minutes was by doing a mobile food order in advance at a quick service restaurant—the ones where there are no servers and are just ‘order at counter’ places to eat.  

Simply pull up your My Disney Experience app to locate “Mobile Food Orders.” Search for the restaurants and add your order, including custom requests like dressing on the side. Hit “Purchase” and your order will be loaded. When you are in the vicinity of the restaurant, hit “prepare my order” and the kitchen will start making your food.

Pick up is quick and easy (most restaurants have a specific area for online order pick ups) and you can avoid some really long lines, particularly during peak eating hours. However, what I did not realize is that you cannot use your gift cards for online orders (which is another reason it did not work for us—we were paying for everything with gift cards). All orders are either attached to your main Disney account or you can pay with a credit card.

Avoiding restaurants and standing in line for food means more time for Mickey, Mulan and memories!

Lori Green LeRoy writes about family travel at Maps, Memories & Motherhood.

Plan the best family vacation to Disney by avoiding these common mistakes / To & Fro Fam
Lori’s son was excited to meet Mulan! You can read more about their adventures here.

Wasting time waiting for the It Rides

MISTAKE: Spending all your time trying to get on the most crowded rides
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Focus on rides and attractions with low traffic to make the most of your time at Disney

The most common mistake that people visiting Disney theme parks make is chasing the fads of the most popular rides. These are the rides that are all the buzz—everyone wants to get on at the same time. Some of such rides, like Radiator Springs Races in Disneyland, consistently have wait time of over sixty minutes.

On a typical afternoon, some of these attractions have lines just to get the FastPass. For some rides, FastPasses are completely gone by midday. If you’ve stood in line to get a FastPass, you might have wasted an hour of precious time for a ride that only lasts 5 minutes or so.

To avoid this Disney mistake, visitors should draw their attention to less popular (but no less fun) rides, attractions and activities that are never busy. For instance, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park or the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride in Disneyland are wonderful attractions—without the wait.

The best hidden places to relax and let kids play at Disneyland / To & Fro Fam

There are nearly a dozen of such rides and activities in Disneyland and California Adventure parks combined, ranging from educational encounters with President Lincoln on Main Street USA to the exciting exploration of Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island to a self-guided tour of Boudin Bakery (bread tasting included free of charge!).

If you’re worried about hitting the It Rides, you might want to focus instead on doing more with your limited time. Don’t stress out and enjoy your visit!

Tatiana Sorokina blogs about family travel at Family Road Trip Guru.

Wasting time to meet Disney characters

MISTAKE: Not using FastPass on Disney characters meet and greets
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Use those FastPasses to make your kids’ dreams come true

On her very first trip to Disney World last summer, all my 4 year old daughter was interested in was meeting Disney princesses. I am so thankful that someone told me to use some of our Fast Passes on the character meet and greets to ensure that we met her favorites.

If you’ve got small kids in tow and they are set on meeting their favorite Disney characters, book those character meet and greets ahead of time to avoid major disappointment! The best thing we did was book one for the first thing in the morning. Then, we rope-dropped the park and headed straight to the meet and greet.

If there was a short line, we didn’t use the Fast Pass reservation and just got into the regular line. We then changed the Fast Pass reservation for something else so we didn’t lose it.

Don’t underestimate how long the lines can be for Disney meet and greets, even for the less popular characters.

Shannon Elizabeth shares inspiration and real-world advice for parents traveling with their kids at Grab My Passport.

These 14 Disney hacks from family travel bloggers help you sidestep common problems at Disneyland and beyond! To & Fro Fam

Disney mistakes that disappoint

Your kids are so freaking excited for your Disney vacation!!! (Heck, you are, too!) Unfortunately, some Disney mistakes can put a damper on that enthusiasm.

Here are common mistakes that dull that Disney magic—and how to make the most of your trip to Disney.

Trying to do too much in 1 day

MISTAKE: Cramming all of Disney into a single day
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Take your time to explore a Disney park without the rush

Sometimes it’s a cost thing or a time thing, but lots of parents ask me if one day is enough for a Disney World or Disneyland. And the answer is that, sure, you can do it. But you aren’t really going to get the most out of your time or your very expensive entrance fee. At best it will be rushed and underwhelming. At worst it will be stressful for you and a meltdown in the making for your kids.

Getting to the park early always makes sense. Lines do get longer as the day goes on. And the after-dark parades and shows have special effects that are really incredible; you want to catch them. That’s a long day. If you try to power through, by the time the fireworks are exploding over the castle, your kids will be too cranky to care, or sound asleep in your stroller. There’s nothing magical about that.

Tricks to meet Disney characters and other time saving Disney hacks / To & Fro Fam

A second or third day also allows you to take a midday break, be it with a leisurely lunch or a return to your hotel for pool time and a nap. Extra time also allows for do-overs when things go wrong and patience when the line for that must-meet princess is long. It also gives you room to ride Peter Pan’s Flight three times over because your kids love it or pause to watch that parade you didn’t know would happen that your kids are enthralled by.

Finally, we loved having time to just walk around the parks and absorb all the great little details and hidden fun that make Disney parks unique. The animatronic Tiki Hut is a tucked away, low-key attraction that we never would have taken the time to see if we were rushing through a one-day visit. But we absolutely loved it. And it’s the little moments like this that provide the best memories.  

Eileen Gunn shares family travel tips at FamiliesGo! Check out her post on advice for families going to Disney World for the first time.

Letting hunger ruin your trip

MISTAKE: Not bringing enough snacks into the Disney park
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Stock up on balanced munchies to hold you and your kids over between meals.

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made on our Disney vacations is not bringing enough snacks for our family into the parks. Without fail, we’d be in a long ride line when one of us would start to get cranky. That person would then get the rest of us cranky. And all this usually stemmed from someone being hungry.

I suggest people pack easy to eat snacks so they can stay fueled up in between meals. One of our favorite snacks are the Mickey-shaped goldfish crackers you can find at Target! We also like to bring snacks with protein, like shelled pistachios or beef jerky.

On our last trip to Disneyland, we actually had groceries delivered to our hotel, which was awesome! That meant we could bring in grapes, baby carrots, little bottles of fruit smoothies, and yogurt drinks. We stored these in a little cooler bag that we kept in our backpack and things stayed fresh all morning.

14 Disney mistakes - and what to do instead

By bringing snacks into the Parks, it’s a great way to keep your family happy and stick to a budget. Plus, by saving money at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you can splurge on your favorite Disney treats like churros, Dole Whip, or Mickey bars!

Marcie Cheung writes an all Disney, all the time family travel blog at Marcie and the Mouse.

Being surprised—in a bad way—by rides

MISTAKE: Not researching rides ahead of time
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Look up height requirements, scariness level and other ride factors before you go

Save yourself and your kids from disappointment and stress with a little research ahead of time! Every park has different ride and show options but not every attraction is an option for every kid due to their height and/or sensitivity level. Measure your children’s height before you travel to Disney and make notes on which rides they aren’t tall enough to ride. (You can also filter rides on the Disney app by height requirement.) Don’t waste a fast pass on a ride only to find out later that your entire family can’t participate or it leaves one of your kids in tears.

Don't make these common Disney mistakes. Here's what you should do instead!
Photo courtesy Explore More, Clean Less

Once you know which rides are an option in terms of your kids’ height, take the time to watch videos of them on YouTube. This extra step before you go to Disney allows you to screen for intensity and scary parts. Even innocent-sounding rides, like the Snow White’s Scary Adventures, can be terrifying for little ones!

Sometimes the actual ride might not be scary but the introduction or theming might create an issue for a sensitive kid. Screening rides before you go to Disney will let you both prepare for anything unexpected. If you know what you need to avoid ahead of time, you can ask for work-arounds. For example, the introduction to the Haunted Mansion often spooks kids more than the actual ride but cast members can help you bypass that part of the attraction. That way, you and your sensitive kiddos can skip straight to the ride! This keeps the trip fun—not terrifying—for everyone.

Stephanie Woodson blogs at Explore More, Clean Less, where she shares her Disney World 5-day itinerary.

Forgetting to rest

MISTAKE: Not planning for a down day
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Include a day for playing at the beach, splashing in the pool and just hanging out

Our family loves Disney, but we only get to go once every few years. So when we go, we go hard: all day, every day. But on our last trip to Disneyland, by day two, everything hurt. We were only four days so we were relentless and pushed on. Our kids begged to use the hotel pool, but we were there for Mickey! 

By day three, my feet were beyond painful, and I took Advil around the clock. By day four, it was all a daze. We left for home, never dipping our toes into the hotel pool. 

Save time waiting in lines—and other ways to avoid wasting time and money at Disneyland

It honestly didn’t occur to us to take a rest day. That trip, while still magical, would have been so much more thoroughly enjoyed if we’d planned time to rest.

For our next trip to Disneyland, we’ll plan a day in the middle without any walking, with no dinner reservations or “must do” bucket list activities. A day to relax poolside while the kids enjoy freedom to play, and our only decisions are what to order for dinner or whether to take a nap. (Maybe a massage or even a pedicure for me—hey, a mom can dream!) After all, the next day, Disney awaits!

Heather Hicks writes about outdoor Oregon adventure at Oregon Outdoor Family.

Saving money by scrimping on magic

MISTAKE: Reserving lodging outside the park
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Stay on-property at one of the Disney hotels

One of the biggest mistakes I have seen my friends make when planning a Disney vacation is staying off-property. Walt Disney World Resort is more than just a destination. It is an entire experience, and staying at the resorts on property is just as much a part of the experience as the theme parks. 

The legendary Disney magic begins prior to arriving to the Disney resorts if you take advantage of their Magical Express transportation. Your luggage is taken care of once you check-in at your home airport and you are taken to the resort property, only seeing your luggage again once you get into your room! 

But even if you get to the Disney hotel on your own, you will feel the pixie dust from the first minute you check-in. The resort cast members sprinkle Disney magic with every interaction, just as they do in the theme parks. 

Each hotel has its own theme, which sets the stage of transporting you to another land.  The hotels are full of activities to keep the kids busy, from the pools to game rooms, restaurants, characters, craft rooms, and special activities often corresponding to the resort’s theme. There is so much for the kids to do on off-park days, that you can easily stay at the hotel and still feel like you are at Disney.  

And, with nearly 30 different hotels and resorts at different price points, ranging from value to deluxe,  there is a Disney hotel for almost every budget. There is even Fort Wilderness where you can camp in a tent, RV, or a cabin! 

Guests staying on property are also eligible for Extra Magic Hours (meaning you can beat the crowds with early park entry or stay past closing on certain days) which is not offered to off-property guests. 

And, with free transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, you can’t beat the convenience of staying at a Disney hotel.  Whether you travel by monorail, bus, boat, or minivan (think Uber in a Minnie Mouse outfit), staying at a Disney hotel should always be top of your list when planning a Disney vacation. Staying off property just cannot compete with the extra magic and convenience families get from staying on property.

Keri B. was a Disney cast member for two years and now blogs about family travel at Bon Voyage with Kids. Read her post on traveling with kids for the first time for excellent tips and advice!

Disney World properties and other ways to make the most of your Disney vacation
Kidani Village is one on-property hotel within Disney World.

Disney mistakes that take a toll on comfort

Punishing your poor feet

MISTAKE: Wearing the wrong footwear
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Choose comfortable shoes that stay comfy as you walk for miles

One thing people do not realize when they plan a Disney vacation is the amount of walking that will do. On average, people will walk anywhere from 10-14 miles in one day at Walt Disney World. There is a lot of ground to cover before you even enter a park.

To give you an idea of the size of the parks, the loop around World Showcase in Epcot is more than one mile! Add in all of the standing in lines for rides, attractions, and character meet and greets, and your poor feet and legs will be exhausted by the end of the day. 

How to make the most of your first trip to Disneyland

Supportive shoes are one way to combat the stress and fatigue your body will face. Wear your favorite sneakers (make sure they have sufficient support!) or buy shoes specifically for your Disney trip. Brands like Teva, Tom’s, and Keen are perfect for a day at Disney. Give your new shoes time to break in by wearing them before the trip. Finally, pack band-aids and moleskin blister protectors in your park bag just in case you get a no-fun blister.

Lauren Stites blogs about family travel at Where The Wild Kids Wander.

Renting a stroller at Disney

MISTAKE: Using a Disney rental stroller
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: BYO stroller for everyone’s comfort

I’m surprised how often I hear people recommend renting a stroller at Disney. After just one experience renting a stroller at Magic Kingdom with a toddler, I will never do it again. We didn’t plan on renting a stroller in Disney, but one day we left our stroller at our rental home and decided to save ourselves from battling traffic and parking by renting one at the park.

Since we were visiting family and only had one day at Disney, we decided in advance to have our 18-month-old nap on-the-go. The nap and ride technique isn’t something we do often, but in his reclining stroller with a shade it’s not a problem.

The rental strollers at Disney, alternatively, are hard plastic with no shade and only a single belt versus a 5-point harness. As you can imagine, our little guy fought a nap on that hard stroller and almost slid out of it several times.  He woke up early into the nap and ended up falling asleep in my arms for the first time since he was a baby.

While the Disney strollers may work if you want a backup for an older toddler whose legs are tired, I definitely don’t recommend them for babies or younger toddlers. Lesson learned!

Amanda Emmerling writes about all things travel with a little one at Toddling Traveler.

How NOT to carry your toddler at Disney - and what to do instead!

Keeping your tots strapped in

MISTAKE: Keeping your toddler either strapped in the stroller or strapped in a ride
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Let your toddler roam and get those wiggles out

To avoid kid meltdowns, I’ve found it helps to calm their minds and remove them from all stimulation. There are a few good spots on the Disneyland property that are a little secluded and can help your child relax and unwind from the day. 

The first place is the Baby Care Center that has amenities like private nursing rooms with rocking chairs, a main room with TV and seating, and other things parents many need in a pinch. This is perfect to get away from it all and it’s very clean inside. 

The best place in Disneyland for toddlers
The Pirate’s Cove in Disneyland is one of the calmest spots in the park.

The other spot, which is my all time favorite, is Pirate’s Liar on Tom Sawyer’s Island. It literally is away from it all and doesn’t have any rides, lines, vendors, stores, or anything that would be overstimulating. Your child can just walk around in the serene environment, much like a park, or sit down to watch the boats and canoes pass by. You can even escape from the heat under a shady tree or rock cave. The best part is the lack of people.

It’s the ultimate parent Disneyland hack to avoid meltdowns in your day!

Christy Mindell, who goes by Cree, writes the blog Wild and Cree, where she shares her photography and travel tips.

Not taking advantage of accommodations

MISTAKE: Not getting a Disability Access Service Card if you need one
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Take advantage of disability accommodations at Disney parks

One thing that’s so magical about Disney parks: They are 100% set on making sure you have a magical time. To that end, they include accommodations for visitors who need special services.

Do you use a wheelchair? Do you have a child who is on the autism spectrum? Do you have some other disability that makes you squirm when thinking of standing in all those lines?

The Disney Disability Access Service Card allows visitors with a disability (including ones that aren’t visibly apparent) to get return time passes to rides, activities and park features. You just have to request the card at a Guest Services kiosk. You’ll fill out some paperwork and take a photo (so you can’t just give the card to someone else). It’s pretty straightforward.

If you or someone in your family has a disability, the disability pass at Disney could mean you have a much more wonderful trip to Disney. Why not use it?

If you have anxiety, or you’re feeling overwhelmed and nervous about your upcoming trip, I wrote a post all about how to overcome Disney anxiety—in planning your trip and while you’re there. I hope it’s helpful!

-me!

Plan a fun Disney vacation by avoiding these mistakes

I have a Post-It note taped at my desk: It reads

Failure is just information.

It totally inspires me to take a learner’s mindset so I don’t get too self-critical when I slip up.

Consider this post, then, full of the most useful information to help you plan a fun Disney vacation.

By learning from these family travel bloggers’ Disney mistakes, you get to avoid them! Chances are, you’ll make some different Disney mistakes. After all, we’re human.

Once you do, though, come back here and share them with us! And don’t wait until the last minute to book accommodation. Make sure you get the best price by reserving your hotel early!

Booking.com

Do you have any Disney mistakes that you’ve made—and learned from? Share them below in the comments!!!

PS – If Disney is on your mind, you’ll definitely want to read my post about the Disney PhotoPass. I break down the pros and the cons of using this feature—and share if the Disney PhotoPass is worth its cost.

These 14 Disney hacks from family travel bloggers help you sidestep common problems at Disneyland and beyond! To & Fro Fam
If it's your first trip to Disney or your millionth, you'll want to learn how to save time and save money at Disneyland and Disney World.

33 Comments

  • Christy says:

    What a great list for every parent to read before going to a Disney property. Thanks for the feature

  • M.R. Maximo says:

    It has always been my dream to visit Disney World. Gonna keep this in mind for future reference and motivation. Great post!

  • Georgina says:

    You have covered everything parents need to know when visiting Disney – wish I had this when I visited with my kids years ago. Thank you!

  • Rudy says:

    I agree, plan ahead and rank the attractions you want to see, get your fast passes early and don’t try to do everything in 1 day. Those are the rules that I live by when visiting any theme park Otherwise you will set yourself up for a big … and expensive … disappointment.

  • These tips are great and would have helped me when my kids were young, as we spent a lot of time queueing up for things like food and photos at Disneyland. Prices of souvenirs are ridiculous. I like your Tinkerbell trick.

  • Wow, there are so many things here I would not have thought about. I love your tips with buying souvenirs outside the park, plus the App for food outlets. What a great idea!

  • Smita says:

    This is a gold mine of information! Very great tips that I would not have been able to think ahead – especially things like staying on property and giving the less famous rides a go! Loved your Tinkerbell story, very sweet! 🙂

  • I’ve been to Hongkong and California but never been to Disney World yet. I’m trying to remember all these mistake tips. When we went to California, we ended up splitting because the boys or my son wanted to go to the boys’ thing while my daughter likes princesses.

    • I think splitting up part of the time can be a great strategy. That way, you don’t have kids dragging their feet and complaining while they’re doing the things their siblings want.

  • Great tips. I love the idea of ordering your food ahead of time on a food app and to plan for a down day. I seem to forget this tip on any trip that I take. And I’m sure a down day, especially with kids is pertinent.

    • Yes! Ordering food ahead of time is SUCH a time saver at Disney. And I’m with you – I often forget to include down time on trips for myself, though I’ve gotten into the routine when I travel with my kids.

  • I can’t wait until we can take a family trip to Disney. At what age do you think children do best or enjoy it the most?

    • I think the perfect time to go to Disney depends a little on your child’s temperament and personality, but I think 3 is an ideal age for a first Disney trip for most kiddos. At that age they’re able to participate in most things, have enough energy to do a half-day or even full day at a park, and they’re interested in the Disney movies and characters. My 3-year-old loved going!!

  • PegP says:

    Have to disagree with the table service restaurant “mistake.” We go to Disney every year and make at least one ADR for each day we’re there. For starters, it’s a nice break from the constant walking in the sun. Some of us (including children) need to be able to sit in the air conditioning for a little bit in order to recharge. Also, it’s a great way to kill two proverbial birds with one stone. Many table restaurants are also character meals. You can get, for example, a FastPass to meet Cinderella, but that’s not going to let you meet Prince Charming or the evil stepsisters (1900 Park Fare dinner). And I’m not sure where you can meet Lilo & Stitch at besides breakfast at Ohana. Lastly, the food’s a lot better (usually). I don’t eat fast food for every meal at home. I certainly don’t want to do it on vacation.

    And my number one budgeting mistake I made on our first trip to Disney was forgetting about tips! I didn’t even think about the meals since I’d gotten the Disney Dining Plan. I was in sticker shock when I saw how much the amount of money for tips was adding up!

    • Thank you for your comment! Yep, quick food to go isn’t for everyone (though I often get a salad or something like beans and rice from the fast restaurants, and some of them allow you to eat at their tables even though you don’t do table service).

      You make SUCH a good point about tips! I have never done the Disney Dining Plan but probably wouldn’t have considered automatic tips. Good call to budget that! Do you remember about how much you ended up paying in gratuity per day?

  • Mila R says:

    haha this is a great one! I live close to big Disney Park but still haven’t visited it. Hopefully soon! This can save me some pain!

  • I think for all the time-wasters, the best answer to this is to NOT BUY A SINGLE DAY TKT. When we were young, my parents would buy 3-day passes so we can go to Disney more than one day. We explore certain sections per day, and take our time.

    We also never queued to see any Disney Character. We just waited for those we see on walking on the streets. And there are lots of them really.

  • Charlene says:

    This is such a great post! I love all the time wasting tips. Or rather the tips for NOT wasting time! My husband’s family went to Disney World earlier this year and my in-laws about drove me CRAZY with how much time they wasted! It’s a good thing my husband and I had just gone to Disney by ourselves the year before so I wasn’t *too* upset about it this time around. haha Oh and it helped that his parent’s payed our way as a Christmas gift from the year before. So really I was more thankful than upset. But still. haha

  • blair villanueva says:

    I agree with your tips! When we visited Tokyo Disneyland, I brought some Mickey Mouse headbands that I’ve got from Manila for a dollar each, because the same headbands costs $20. There is a Japanese dollar store called DAISO where they sell licensed Disney products which are better than buying souvenirs inside the Disney resort.

  • Becca says:

    This post is incredibly helpful!! We are going to Disneyland for Christmas break and are going to need all the help we can get. I didn’t know about mobile food ordering, that is going to save us so much time! Totally doing that.

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