Claudia enjoys traveling and bringing her travel tips to readers.

We recently returned from our annual vacation. This year, after a 12-year hiatus, we went on a whirlwind trip to magical Disney World. And it really is just that, with happy reminders of childhood and imagination around every corner. This was our fourth trip, though only the second with our daughter.

Things have changed a lot since the last time we went in 2006. Maybe it's because we are older and were hoping for that nostalgic feeling, but certain things seemed to have lost a little bit of their luster because of some mistakes we made.

While we still had a wonderful time, some of the experiences weren't quite as special as they could have been, so I thought I'd document the issues we ran across in the hope that other people can avoid them.

Our Trip Specifics

Before I get to the list, here are some specifics of our trip. There are an infinite amount of ways to do Disney, so I think it's important to lay out our itinerary with respect to the issues we had.

• Duration of trip: 7 nights, 6 full days
• Accommodation: Mid-price Disney resort—Port Orleans French Quarter
• Transportation: Flew in, so relied on Disney transportation
• Dining: Regular plan
• Traveling party: 2 adults and 1 teenager
• Visit time: Mid August

These are the mistakes we made based on our trip, but everyone's experiences are going to be different.

Note: We took our trip in August 2018, and this article is based on the policies and products in place at that time.

Mistake 1: Going in the Summer

I realize that many people can't go at any other time of the year, but if there is any possible way to do it, avoid going in the summer. To put things in perspective, the other times we have gone were in February and March, when the temperatures were mild and the crowds were smaller.

There are two huge reasons not to go in the summer.

• Crowds: We knew it would be crowded, but we had no idea how bad it would be. There were people around every corner. If we hadn't planned out our passes for rides, we would have been in lines for hours just to ride one thing. If we wanted to sit down for a few minutes we couldn't because everywhere we looked there were people. It was crazy.
• Heat: We live in North West Pennsylvania, so we aren't used to the heat. Wow, is it hot in Florida in August. And the humidity makes it that much worse. We kept an eye on our weather app, and most days were in the low 90s, but it felt like 103 or 104 degrees. Thankfully many of the rides have air-conditioned lines and there are plenty of shows and shops pumping out icy-cold air to help cool people down.

In hindsight, I really regret not pulling my daughter out of school and going in the late winter or early spring. We all agreed that we won't be going back in the summer.

Mistake 2: Bringing Too Few Clothes

Make sure to bring enough clothes for each day, and then pack some more. It sounds counterintuitive to overpack, but we all ran out of clean clothes by the end of the week, and we had packed extras to begin with.

We were drenched in sweat by about 11 am, and by the time we got back to the hotel room, we had to change. It was uncomfortable to be in damp clothes, and I pity anyone who was near us on the bus after our long days. At one point I spilled orange juice all over my shirt, but since I had nothing left to wear, I walked around with stains the rest of the day. Both my husband and my daughter ended up buying t-shirts just to be more comfortable after particularly warm mornings.

The good news is that extra shorts, a t-shirt, and some undergarments don't take up too much room in a suitcase. I just wish we had thrown a clean t-shirt into our park backpacks each day.

Mistake 3: Underestimating Travel Times

Disney has a wonderful transportation system of buses and a monorail. We flew in and didn't have a car and were able to get everywhere we needed with their efficient system.

That being said, we underestimated the travel times between our resort, the parks, and the shopping areas. We learned our lesson very quickly after we missed a lunch reservation. Buses run frequently, but can be full before you can get on, so you may have to wait for the next one.

Mistake 4: Overplanning

These days, it's hard not to plan when visiting Disney World. In order to get onto certain rides in a reasonable amount of time, they have a fast-pass system in place. This is a system where visitors can reserve a place in the fast line for rides at a specific time. It's a great way to avoid long lines, but it means you are committed to those times.

If you have the dining plan like we did, you also have to make reservations for the table service dinner each day. We were able to make these reservations a few months in advance.

Basically, we had our days planned out a couple of months before we went. For planners like me, it sounded idyllic, but it wasn't.

After three days we were sick of having to be somewhere at a particular time. It took almost all of the spontaneity out of things. By the fourth day, we were changing reservations and fast pass times. We ended up missing a couple of rides we were looking forward to, and it was very hard to change restaurant reservations, but it was worth it for our sanity.

On the positive side, we saw some things we weren't planning on, and that ended up being loads of fun. Because we were at a resort, and in the dining plan, it was almost impossible not to plan, but we found that changing things a bit wasn't nearly as painful as we thought it would be.

Mistake 5: Packing Snacks From Home to Save Money

When researching our trip, I read many articles that suggested bringing snacks from home to save money. That may be good for families with young children, but it was a complete waste for us.

I dutifully went to the store and bought loads of snacks that could easily be packed in the suitcase and then dispersed out to take to the parks. I think we ate one pack of cookies. The rest came home with us and took up valuable suitcase space.

With the dining plan, we got two snacks per day and there were some delicious ones to choose from. Additionally, some days it was too hot to even bother with a snack. Luckily we could get beverages with the plan, so we got those instead.

Let's be honest, the snacks in the parks are far too delicious and tempting to pass up for a dry package of crackers from home. Unless you have specific dietary needs or young ones who like to have snacks all the time, leave the food at home and take advantage of all of the yummy treats.

Our Favorite Rides

For the most part, we are old school with our top rides, but some of the new ones are awesome too. I could have ridden Avatar Flight of Passage many more times. What a great ride!

That's one of the best things about Disney, everyone has their own special memories and experiences, and they are all wonderful, even if you make a couple of mistakes along the way.

If you go, have a magical time!

I'd Love To Hear From You

If You've Been To Disney World...

© 2018 Claudia Mitchell

Comments

Claudia Mitchell (author) on August 08, 2020:

I sure is a fun trip. Wish I could go back there soon. Thanks for reading.

Abby Slutsky from America on August 07, 2020:

Thanks for sharing. I have been to Disney several times. It is always an enjoyable trip.

Dominique Cantin-Meaney from Montreal, Canada on January 03, 2020:

I haven''t been to Disney World since I was a teen and would love to take my kids. I'll definitely keep these in mind, when we take the trip.

Amelia on May 07, 2019:

I loved I’m only 9 and this is the best place I,v ever went to It’s my dream to be there it was amazing

Claudia Mitchell (author) on January 09, 2019:

I'm with you on the dates to visit. Never again. Thanks for reading Maureen.

Maureen Bruecks on January 09, 2019:

Thanks for the tips! We already avoided mistake #1 - as our last trip to Disney was late August. Not even a free dining plan could entice us to go to Disney in July/August again :)

Claudia Mitchell (author) on August 22, 2018:

Yep Heidi - We liked Disney Springs too. If I'd have let her, my daughter would have shopped there all day! Thanks for reading.

Liz Westwood from UK on August 22, 2018:

I am also well known for over-catering for guests. I blame it on childhood memories of my mother under-catering.

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on August 22, 2018:

One of my friends moved near Disney World. I've been there a couple of times. Usually I visit her during off-peak times. So if we do go to the park, it's not that bad in terms of crowds and wait times (plus, she has a Fast Pass).

Totally agree about the snacks thing. Although I really did want a Starbucks at the park!

But if I had my choice, I'd rather hang out at Disney Springs. Just saying.

Good tips! Thanks for sharing.

Claudia Mitchell (author) on August 22, 2018:

That is a long flight, but it's worth it. We went to Washington a few years ago and loved it. You are closer to Disneyland so that could be an option. Glad you enjoyed the article.

Claudia Mitchell (author) on August 22, 2018:

Linda - It is really a fun place, for all ages. I was 34 when I first went and really loved it. Thanks for reading.

Claudia Mitchell (author) on August 22, 2018:

Hi Liz - I'm notorious for that too, also for making too much for when we have guests.

Liz Westwood from UK on August 22, 2018:

Very useful tips. I am often in trouble for taking too many snacks on holiday, which then return in the suitcase!

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on August 21, 2018:

You've shared some great tips. I enjoyed reading them even though I'm never likely to visit Disney World. It was fun learning about the site.

Linda Lum from Washington State, USA on August 21, 2018:

We have been to Disney World but it was a long time ago. I know that my daughter wants to go again, but I hate flying clear across the country (Washington to Florida is a long haul). I tend to be an "over-planner", so will definitely keep in mind your hints. Thanks for a great article.

Claudia Mitchell (author) on August 21, 2018:

Thanks Flourish! I don't know what we were thinking when we brought those snacks. Oh well, lesson learned and at least my daughter has lots of snacks for her lunch when school starts!

FlourishAnyway from USA on August 20, 2018:

Great tips! What’s vacation if you bring a bunch of snacks from home? You might as well splurge while you’re there. We went during Spring Break and it was perfect.