The Biggest Problem in Disney World

Disney World is the most Magical Place on Earth…right?

While there’s no denying that Disney World is magical, that doesn’t make it perfect. And when we reached out to our readers on AllEars Facebook to get their take on what Disney World’s problems are, they had a lot to say.

Crowds

When visiting Disney World during a holiday or busy time of year it will likely come as no surprise to you when you see lots of people.

But, what about the times of year that aren’t supposed to be so busy? Many of our readers shared that crowds have been plaguing Disney World throughout the year, leading to longer wait times and more people-y parks.

So, what can you do about it? Well, if long wait times are your problem, Genie+ may just be your solution. The paid FastPass+ replacement allows you to skip the lines through Lightning Lanes — but it comes at a cost. And that price is subject to change depending on how busy the time of year is.

Additionally, the most popular ride at each of the parks is available separately from Genie+ as an Individual Attraction Selection. That means you can pay a separate price per person for these rides to skip the line through Lightning Lanes. This is another option that will have price changes depending on the day.

There are also some general tips for avoiding crowds. Avoiding visiting on the weekends, and visiting during a slower time of year will help you avoid the worst of the crowds. You can read more of our tips on avoiding crowds year-round here.

Genie+ and Dependency on Technology

Speaking of Genie+, one comment we saw again and again from our readers was that Disney World’s biggest problem was…Genie+.

The complaint was two-fold — of course, many readers are not a fan of paying for the FastPass+ replacement, when the previous FastPass+ came complimentary with entry.

However, the other issue came with the free version of Genie as well, and that’s a dependency on technology. There’s no denying that you will be relying on your phone a lot now when visiting Disney World. From Lightning Lanes to making dining reservations, you will likely have your phone out plenty during your trip.

So, what can you do to help? Well, two things. One tip that will ensure that your phone lasts throughout the day is to pack a portable charger. We always recommend bringing one along to make sure you don’t lose access to your phone (and thus access to many Disney shortcuts) during your trip.

A tip to help you stay off your phone however is to plan out as much as you can before entering the parks. Not all of this will be possible, but when it comes to Individual Attraction Selections and dining reservations, make them as soon as you can. If you’re staying on the property, you’ll be able to make an Individual Attraction Selection at 7AM. You can also place any mobile order you want earlier in the day before heading to the park.

Now, there will be exceptions here. For example, you will need to keep bringing out your phone to continue making Genie+ selections throughout the day. However, doing what you can before entering the park will mean you won’t need your phone quite as much as you spend your day in Disney World.

Cost

Disney World is expensive, there’s no denying it. And a lot of our readers shared that the “prohibitive cost” is what they consider to be the biggest problem at Disney World.

This year we saw a variety of price increases at Disney World, from tickets to Genie+ to price increases for food and merchandise.

While there’s no way to avoid all these price increases, there are ways you can save money in Disney World. For tickets, you can choose to travel during the cheapest days, by looking at the dates on which ticket prices are their LOWEST. Month by month, the cheapest dates are:

• March — Cheapest dates: March 27th, March 29th, and March 30th — $144 per day
• April — Cheapest dates: April 2nd to April 4th — $139 per day
• May — Cheapest dates: May 1st-May 2nd, May 8th-May 10th — $139 per day
• June — Cheapest dates: June 5th, 12th-15th, 19th-22nd, and from 26th-28th — $134 per day
• July — Cheapest dates: July 24th to July 28th — $134 per day
• August — Cheapest dates: August 22nd to August 25th and from the 29th to the 31st — $109 per day
• September — Cheapest dates: September 5th-7th, 12th-14th, 18th-21st,  and 26th-28th — $109 per day
• October — Cheapest dates: October 2nd, October 10th-12th, 16th-19th, and 23rd-26th — $140 per day
• November — Cheapest dates: November 1st-2nd, 6th-8th, and 14th-16th — $140 per day
• December — Cheapest dates: December 3rd, from the 7th-8th, 12th-15th, and the 18th-20th — $149 per day

There are also other ticket deals certain people can take advantage of, including specially priced tickets for US Military Members, Florida Residents, or AAA Members.

Disney also frequently releases special pricing on their hotels for your travel. Additionally, you can get many of the same perks of staying on-site at a much cheaper price by staying at a Disney Springs hotel. 

There are also some smaller ways to save money, from bringing your own snacks, to making sure you pack to avoid extra fees in the park (bringing your own water, charger, and poncho can save quite a bit!).

Planning a Disney World trip to 2023? We got you! Make sure to read our biggest planning and packing tips before you go!

• 10 Ways Disney World Is Changing in 2023
• Disney World Tips to Save Money on Your 2023 Vacation
• The Dates You NEED to Know for 2023 in Walt Disney World
• 10 Tips for Disney World for First Timers in 2023

What is the biggest problem for YOU in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

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