Disney World Mistakes I Won’t Make Again
It’s an exciting time in every young Disney Nerd’s life when they are finally old enough to plan (and fund) their own Walt Disney World trip. And with all of that excitement, and my natural predilection for planning, I went in hard on planning every detail of a whirlwind trip with my husband (a Disney newbie at that point). While much of that planning paid off, some of it was definitely, well, overkill. Here are a few lessons I learned on that trip that I hope can help you as you gear up for your next adventure in the park.
Taking Any and All Advice
There’s a LOT of Disney World advice out there, and I’d say that almost all of it is very well-meaning and has value to certain type of guests. But, that doesn’t mean that all of that advice is meant for you and your party. Case in point? I found one Youtuber who I really enjoyed, but didn’t think about the fact that all of their advice was focused on parents of small children. If you have children, you know, the needs of a small child throughout the day are very different from the needs of two grown adults. Which leads me to my next key point…
Packing My Entire Life in My Park Bag
Taking all of that advice lead to my next key learning - you do not need to pack everything you own in your park bag, especially if you are not carting around a troop of toddlers! I had everything from ibuprofen to back up flip flops (for both myself and my husband) packed in my backpack because everything I heard from the creators I liked told me I needed to be prepared for anything. By the end of the day, my back hurt (not from Space Mountain) and I used five small things out of my bag - a water bottle, a phone charger, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and sunscreen. Lesson learned.
Getting (Really) Dehydrated
Florida is hot, and humid, and you’re going to sweat at almost any time of year. Plus, you’re walking more than you think, and probably not ordering water over that signature glow cube drink when you stop for a meal. All of that means that it is very very easy to get very very dehydrated, and fast. Even if you, like me, drink water all day every day at home, you need to make an effort to stay hydrated in the parks. Water bottle slings, electrolyte pouches, even salt tablets (thank you, RunDisney for that discovery), will really help you stay hydrated and happy so you can enjoy your trip.
Skipping the Resort Day
You’re in Disney, you’re there for the parks, right? Well, yes. But Disney World is a resort, and there’s so much else to do in the bubble that will give you a little bit of a rest, and let you see even more of the Disney magic. From the pool outside your door, to fine dining at another resort, to shopping at Disney springs, or a round of mini golf, there’s plenty to do at a slower pace on your resort day.
Forgetting to Take Pictures
This is a rare problem in the age of smart phones, but when I got back from that first grown up trip, I was disappointed to realize I had almost no photos from my time in the parks, I was in the moment, which is great, but having those memories to look back on is also nice. It’s a fine balance, but it’s worth achieving. And if you really don’t want to stop for a selfie, consider adding the memory maker package so that you have professional photos to look back on for years to come.
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