Walt Disney World is a place where guests arrive and tend to leave the outside world behind. They long to forget about bills and mortgages and work and troubles and anything that just isn’t so pleasant. Trust Doctor Disney when he says that is something he always used to do when vacationing at Walt Disney World and still does during his daily visits…but you’ve got to remember a few things.
Those things you need to remember is that even though Walt Disney World may seem perfect and like a sanctuary away from the real world, it still does unfortunately exist…in the real world.
99 percent of the people around you are strangers.
There is no dome over Disney World.
Technology isn’t perfect.
That’s why you need to pay attention to the most obvious things that you may end up forgetting or ignoring, simply because you’re in Walt Disney World. These might help you realize that you shouldn’t stress or get angry at things that are bound to happen, but you didn’t think they would.
1.) Don’t leave your personal items on unattended strollers/wheelchairs
Really don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone mutter, “Can’t believe someone would steal something from someone at Disney,” or “Oh, just leave it. We’re in Disney World. No-one’s going to take it.”
Some people see this as the time to do a little shopping
Yes. Yes, they will. All walks of life come to Walt Disney World, and that’s not saying everyone is riff-raff, but we all know that thieves can be the nice old lady you see at the grocery or your neighbor. You don’t know the people walking around the parks and a bag of belongings or even just one of those spray bottle fans hanging on an unattended stroller or wheelchair can be picked up and taken without even breaking walking stride.
Coming from Doctor Disney who was with someone in the Magic Kingdom on the night their personally-made wheelchair was stolen from outside a restroom on Main Street…yes, anything can happen.
2.) It’s going to be hot and it’s going to rain
This is Orlando, Florida. 10 months out of the year, it is in the 80s and most times higher and that makes it brutally hot. There are going to be those times in November and December where it may be in the 20s one day and then in the 80s the next. You’re in one of the furthest south cities in the country…it’s going to be hot. Why is this a shock to people?
Rain is a staple in the Disney area, and that’s even outside of the “rainy season” which is typically from April until about October. Almost every single day, you’re going to get some rain. It may be for a whole day or it may be for 15 minutes, but it’s coming. Oh, and chances are…those 15 minutes are going to be an absolute nightmare with a downpour, heavy winds, and worse.
3.) There will be lines and there surely will be crowds
Once again, it’s Disney World. There are going to be big crowds and long lines at time, if not during your entire time at the parks. There are what can be considered “down times” and there is what can be considered “peak season.” No matter when you come though, you’re not going to be the only people in the parks all day. It’s just not going to happen.
People should be happy and thrilled that there is a FASTPass system in place at all because it’s not a requirement for theme parks to have them.
Can I borrow some for a Casey’s hot dog?
4.) Walt Disney World is expensive
So is Universal. So is Six Flags. So is Sea World. So is LegoLand. So on and so forth.
It’s a vacation. It isn’t intended to be cheap. Let’s not forget that it is the largest and most popular theme park vacation destination in the world. For some reason, it still always shocks me when going around the Disney World parks and hearing complaints about how much this costs or how expensive that is. Sure, it’s all pricey, but you kind of should have known that before heading south.
One incident that will never leave my head is the day I was walking past the Mad Tea Party and heard a guest exclaim, “Disney World…where even water isn’t free. They make you pay for water here.” Sir, it’s sort of been that way since bottled water began being sold back in the 1980s.
5.) Things are going to break down or be out of commission or not work
No matter how much advanced technology Disney puts in or how many Cast Members (repairmen, engineers, etc.) they have working…things are going to break down. You can say “This shouldn’t happen at Disney” or “This is not very Disney-like,” but it’s going to happen. All things at Disney World are man-made and therefore will have errors and breakdowns and problems.
Disney can do maintenance from the moment the parks close until they open, but things still just happen. It’s why there have to be cranes visible during the day, it’s because no matter what you think…magic can’t make a two-month project be done in one day.
So many complaints and questions come my way, wondering why Disney World has to do maintenance work during the day or is taking so long to get something done. They are all human, just like the rest of us. Time is needed and mistakes do happen. Let’s cut them the smallest bit of slack.
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About the water being Free, yes it is!! There are drinking fountains, and if you go up to ANY restaurant and ask for a glass of water they will give it to you for FREE!! I am actually allergic to Disani water, they use Sulfur as a filter agent and its give me REALLY bad headaches. So, when I brought this up to customer service this is what they told me. Just because you don’t plan ahead, doesn’t mean you can bad mouth Disney.
Exactly!! I always bring in a nice big Gatorade bottle that I froze overnight. By the time we get there (we live about an hour away) it’s halfway melted. When we finish it, we just rinse it out and go to a quick service location and ask for a few cups of ice water. Since Gatorade bottles have a wide neck, the ice usually goes into the bottle too (well, most of it lol) and we have nice icy cold water all day long!
Wonderful! Now please print this out 65,000 times and hand it out to guests as they walk through the gates. Seriously, Please??
Love Steve’s Idea!!!! They can pass them out in pamphlet form at the toll plaza
Because they won’t read it. Like when they ask a CM what time something is at, while holding a Times Guide which lists exactly what they are looking for, which they never read.
“What time is the 3 o’clock parade?”
we recently went to Busch gardens and used navigation in the rental car. . .it took us to the employees entrance. the very kind security guard was used to it – they had preprinted maps that he gave us along with explanation. along with the car in front of us. . . and at least the three cars behind us. . .
Wanna talk about not reading? How about the guests that purchase the dining plan, yet have absolutely no idea what they get with each meal. When they sign up for it, bam info is there. When they check in, bam a pamphlet. When thwy go into the food court, bam it is posted.
My daughter was a CM and every time she would visit the parks she would just bring a Brita water filter bottle and just fill it at the water fountain. Saved her a ton of money and she got filtered water.
Great article. One thing that should be added I think is “yes there are rules”. As a former cast member it was amazing how many people would get mad at the certain rules we had. It’s all for everyone’s protection and so that everyone can enjoy the park.
As a former CM myself, I fully agree with you.
For my husband and I, it is all about the Camelbak. You can get them off-brand reasonably priced. We go to the parks every other weekend or so and they’ve saved us a bundle. We fill them with ice and then water and the cold water lasts almost all day. They are small enough to take on every ride but have enough storage for the essentials: sunscreen, extra socks, snack, lip balm, band aids and tylenol. Added bonus: I put my pin collection on mine!
This should be required reading for EVERY SINGLE PARK GOER!
Thank you, and I agree.
I REALLY started a fire here! I wish someone could make a device that stopped flash lights from working on the haunted mansion ride, we were just at Disney 3 weeks ago and this lady was shining a flashlight over everything! This has happened the last 3 times we were there, if its scary don’t go on it!
Amen!!!!! All these are spot on. Yes it’s expensive. But think, of this. I live near St. Louis. If u, went for 6 night 7 days, paid for meals lodging entertainment comparable to Disney (there is none) you will spend way more. I guarantee that