The mistakes we made during our last Disney trip have been an ongoing conversation since we drove home defeated and down-heartened two Octobers ago. We’ve made many wonderful memories at The Happiest Place on Earth, but our last trip was one tear short of an absolute disaster for a number of reasons (that most anyone with kids can probably relate to). We had some good moments, but there were many struggles. With our next trip approaching in December of this year, we have spent many hours rehashing the last trip so we can ensure this trip is nothing short of amazing.
- We underestimated our child’s personality – Granted, this is not an issue that will effect all people planning a Disney trip. But it did effect us and I know there are others that will have the same struggles to tackle. We knew our oldest son is anxious in loud, crowded, noisy environments. We also knew new experiences can send him into an absolute meltdown phase. We were naive enough to think the magic of Disney that we loved so much would soothe those nerves. It was a mistake that almost ruined the trip. Whatever your child’s temperament, don’t assume the magic of Disney will change it. Know your kid, and be realistic about what to expect from them. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you are just gonna end up with a crying kid in your memory maker photos, so just expect it.
- We stayed too busy – Right along with underestimating our child’s ability to handle the noise and crowds, we didn’t allow for any down time. By mid vacation, an already anxious child is now anxious and overly tired. Not a good mix. Knowing we wouldn’t be back for a couple of years (at least), we wanted to make the most of our time. We planned for the Halloween party, we had late reservations and we tried to hit every ride. It was simply too much for 3 kids to keep up with. It also meant that on the occasions everyone was having fun, it usually got interrupted to board a bus.
- Booking Reservations during a parade – And we were on separate ends of the park! Needless to say, we were almost 30 minutes late, but luckily (as usual) Disney was accommodating. But they don’t have to be, and it did add extra stress to the day. So, if you know your reservations are around a parade, get plan to get there beforehand so you don’t end up stuck with a parade between you and the venue (and husband).
- Not understand the Rider Swap – Referring back to #1, my oldest didn’t want to ride everything. Or really anything. I had no clue about the rider swap and we didn’t discover this feature till our last day. So, someone always missed riding a ride because we were waiting with him. Knowing on our final day that my brother and sister in law could go through the line and then swap with us (or the other way around) made the day much better.
- DISNEY GIFT CARDS! – This is a big one for me, thus the all caps. I actually only learned about the gift cards from online groups after the trip, even though I’ve been to Disney many times. There is no way we would be going back this December if I had not learned about this option and the never ending was to earn them (Thank you SavEars).
- Why do I wear cute shoes? – I think I’ve learned this one every time, but I always fail when I go back. I reason with myself that shoes can be cute and practical. But time and time again I go home declaring I am wearing my ratty, broken in running shoes next trip every time. Cute shoes are not for Disney World. They will cause you agony.
- And always forget sunscreen? – I always end up lobster red by day 2…. without fail. The Florida sun is hot and brutal. Disney World knows that, so they price sunscreen like it is laced with gold. Buy some from Walgreens before you go. I bet there is an ibotta rebate for it. Middle of day 1, and I’m already red, and the temperature was below 75 degrees.
- I’ve never used a travel agent – This trip will be my first time and I can already tell I should have started long ago. She has already saved us money through discounts we wouldn’t have known about and answered questions we couldn’t find with google. They are valuable assets and can save a ton of time and money. I never wanted to use one because I like being in control and love the planning, but I am still getting to do plenty of that. I just don’t have to set my alarm clock for 5AM for ADRs in the process.
For the record, last spring break my husband and I took a very short weekend trip to Disney World. We visited Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and Sea World. My son, who had previously declared he never wanted to go back, asked on a Friday morning if we could go. We were so excited, we were at AoA by lunch time the next day (8 hour drive, or it would have been sooner). We all had an amazing trip, especially my oldest. He is always extremely excited about our next trip and even has a list of rides he can’t wait to ride that he’s been to nervous to try during previous trips. We did a lot right on that trip, that we plan to use on our next “Big” trip.
- We were more realistic – We took our kid’s temperament into account. We didn’t try to force him to do anything he wasn’t comfortable with. Sure, we missed out on some of our favorites, but, I wouldn’t trade 1 ride on the Tomorrowland Express with him laughing and having a blast for 100 rides on Big Thunder Mountain. Disney with kids is not going to be the same trip you take on your honeymoon, or even that you had as a kid. Don’t get so caught up in what you think it should be, that you miss the wonderful experience that it is.
- We were more flexible – We had a plan, but we (okay, I) didn’t get anxious when we scrapped it for something else. I admit, my own expectations of what I think should happen have gotten in the way of everyone having fun. I accepted this and I loosened up. I still think it’s vital to have a loose schedule for a Disney trip, but there is no need to assign bathroom breaks (I’m joking. I only did that as a joke once, I swear).
- We are getting in shape – I’ve gone to Disney when I wasn’t working out regularly and I’ve gone to Disney when I was working out regularly. Disney can be physically tough. It may seem silly to some to “get in shape” for Disney, but I find I have a much more enjoyable trip when I am in shape. If you are able to do so, I think it’s very valuable to build up your endurance for a trip to Disney (and honestly it’s great just in general).
(Thanks Jessica!)