One of the questions I get asked the most is ‘I love Disney, but how do you go back over and over again? Haven’t you seen it all?’.
Well, it is true, I have done quite a lot, but there is so much even with 30+ trips under my belt I haven’t done it all. Even if I had, I love the magic, fun, and excitement of Disney so much – that each time I go it feels like a brand new family adventure.
To many other people, Disney is expensive, hot, and crowded. They went once, without the proper research or planning in place, and then vowed never to return.
After talking to a few people I quickly found out that they were making one (if not all) of these 8 common planning mistakes.
NOT BOOKING EARLY ENOUGH
My very best advice on timing is to book as soon as you know you want to go to Walt Disney World and your dates have been released – this could be over a year in advance.
Otherwise, try to at least book 8-9 months in advance. There’s really no downside to booking early.
From a financial perspective, Disney offers a flexible payment plan and a modest $200 deposit requirement. Plus you can begin a savings plan for your vacation package.
Additionally, the longer you wait to secure your desired Resort and room view, the more opportunity Disney has to increase their prices. If you book early, you lock in the best rate. Think you can “beat the system” and hold out for a discount or free dining promotion? I cover why 90% of the time you will actually pay more in this article: “
There are several reasons to book as soon as possible:
- Get your first choice of resort or resort room type
- Secure the BEST room/package rate
- Meet all the deadlines for the dining window and any other required reservations (flights, special events, etc.)
- Start saving your vacation dollars
It’s possible to book a last-minute vacation (I’m doing it right now for a client visiting on a holiday weekend), but it’s a very different experience than a ‘once in a lifetime’ or ‘once in a long time’ trip.
CHOOSING THE WRONG RESORT
With over 30 on-property resorts it can be a daunting challenge to make a decision on the best resort for your family.
Mix in the hundreds of hotels, condos, VROBs, etc. in the Buena Vista area, and it’s a real puzzler for the casual Orlando area visitor.
A lot of people I talk to say, “We just need a place to sleep.” And I understand their sentiment. I understand the hotel portion of the package is one where you have the most flexibility to consider your overall budget.
But typically, it’s a huge mistake to think your hotel is ‘just a place to sleep’.
First of all, it’s a resort . . . not just a hotel. That means there are amenities and benefits that vary greatly depending on a variety of factors.
The real estate term, “Location. Location. Location.” matters when selecting a Disney World vacation home base too. Choosing the resort with the best transportation, proximity, and onsite features influence your park touring options, dining plans, and overall time you spend ‘getting to the fun’ versus ‘having fun’.
Matching resorts to families is a specialty of mine and one of the first decisions made when I work with clients.
BOOKING THE MOST POPULAR DINING RESERVATIONS
Too many people try to move heaven and earth to get a reservation at the “most popular” restaurants without considering if they are the right fit for their unique family.
They find they are underwhelmed or have spent too much money on a meal they don’t enjoy.
With over 400 places to eat, over 100 of those as table service locations, and of those a dozen or more character meals, there’s plenty of choices and no need to settle on something not fitting for your family.
ADDING THE DINING PLAN (OR CERTAIN TICKET OPTIONS) WITHOUT DOING THE MATH
There are two main reasons to add a dining plan to your Disney World room and ticket package:
- Convenience
- Save Money
The convenience of having your meals paid for in advance so the sticker shock of food prices in the parks doesn’t become a stumbling block for enjoying your vacation is definitely a good reason for adding a dining plan. When it’s all paid for and all you have to do is choose which delicious entree to order meal times become times to unwind and reconnect without worrying about the mounting credit card bill.
On the other hand, if you have a sit-down restaurant planned for every meal and all the kiddos will eat is a handful of fries and a chicken nugget or two, then pre-paying for the deluxe dining plan probably wasn’t the best way to spend your vacation dollars.
There is a middle ground. A place where you select the right restaurants for your family – the ones that fit into your touring plan, where everyone will enjoy the food, and when you do the math, it makes fiscal sense to add the correct dining plan.
Same concept with Park Hoppers, Water Park, and more ticket options: there’s a perfect scenario when those add-ons make sense – both touring-wise and budget-wise. And there are many scenarios where they are not needed.
NOT UNDERSTANDING CROWD PATTERNS
A minute-by-minute, step-by-step touring plan may sound like a good way to tackle your “must-do list” at each of the theme parks, but it goes right out the window as soon as one ride goes down or an average wait time turns into a much longer than anticipated wait time.
If either of those things happen, your touring plan is thrown out of kilter and you’ll be scrambling to try to keep on track.
Overall, a touring plan is a terrific idea. My preference is one with interchangeable elements that can adapt and flow around ride closures and delays. Not to mention unscheduled snacking opportunities, potty breaks, and catching sight of a character cavalcade or the Dapper Dans.
Understanding when to weave and bob and how the majority of the crowds will flow through the parks means creating a plan with a big-picture mindset. One land at a time, taking into account everyone’s desires for the magic they want to experience in the parks.
TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH
Which brings us to – trying to do too much. It’s an easy mistake.
Especially if this is a ‘once in a lifetime’ or ‘once in a long time’ trip. We want to get the most bang for our buck!
And we plan early morning and late nights and forget (or do not realize) that we will be walking 10-15 miles a day and that the heat/humidity of Florida will zap our energy levels
Even if we’ve let go of the “We want to do everything!” mantra, we still over-plan.
Instead, try letting everyone pick one thing they want to do. One ride, one dining/snack experience, or one extra something and see what your touring plan looks like if you just incorporated those elements in.
If you planned just one thing per hour in the park (including dining and transportation), then the conversations will flow easier, waiting in line becomes a time to play games like ‘Heads up’, and there’ll be no need to rush to the next thing because the next thing is enjoying the magic of the day.
NOT PACKING ESSENTIAL ITEMS
Don’t blow your souvenir money on essentials.
You are going to need to hydrate a lot while in Florida, so a case of water for your room is a smart investment. Along with breakfast foods, snacks for the queues, disposable ponchos, and common medicinal items.
If you drive, you can pack these items to bring with you. If you fly, a grocery store or Amazon delivery option is a good alternative.
NOT USING A PROFESSIONAL DISNEY FOCUSED TRAVEL ADVISOR
The best way to plan an amazing, carefree, personalized vacation is with a professional Disney-focused travel advisor.
They know all the questions to ask to be sure your family has a spectacular vacation.
When your travel advisor plans hundreds of Disney vacations, keeping up with all things Disney, all of the time, as well as visiting the parks themselves multiple times per year. . . they are going to know the ins and outs of how to avoid the common mistakes.
And because they are professionals and not planning vacations as a hobby, they are going to know how to translate their knowledge to fit YOUR FAMILY’S travel style too.
Working with a professional Disney-focused travel advisor will save you time, save you money, and is the best way to start planning the Disney World vacation of your dreams!
