I Fell for This Disney World SCAM — and I Won’t Let It Happen Again

Don’t let the songs, bright colors, and smiles fool you, scams can be found all around Disney World.

We’re tired of falling victim to scams like souvenirs you’ll pay way too much for in the parks. We’re here to help you spot any scams before your next trip to DisneyWorld!

Let’s face it — not everything you’re going to encounter at Disney World is going to go off without a hitch every single time. We’ve fallen victim (yes, victim… hear us out) to MANY a Disney World scam, and because we have first-hand experience, we’re here to help you LEARN from our mistakes.

Now we’re not really talking about SCAMS in capital letters here! Disney isn’t in the business of scamming you — but we do have one serious scam warning to bring you. And we’re tossing in some of those things we spend money (or emotional currency!) on over and over again in Disney World that are definitely WANTS and not NEEDS. Let’s dive in!

Fake Pizza Companies

Ok, while we had some lighthearted fun with this first one, we’re switching gears with the next. Real money scams can (and have) come to Disney World property before, and we want you to be prepared if you’re ever faced with it.

We (and Disney) will caution you to be very suspicious of any pizza companies that may slip a flyer under your room door. We’ve heard tales of instances in the past where exhausted folks just looking for a decent meal that didn’t require having to leave their room much, picked up the phone to place a pizza order, and were scammed out of their hard-earned money.

Should this happen to you and you even remotely consider it, we’re begging you to pick up the phone and research the restaurant thoroughly ( even call down to your hotel’s front desk to ask about them) BEFORE you place an order and hand your credit card information. It could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. You can order food to your Disney World hotel, but we encourage you to go through a restaurant chain you already know or an app like Door Dash.

Fireworks

How could fireworks scam us you say? We’ll tell you how! One word — emotionally.

Every time we talk ourselves up for the approximately 18-minute-long performance of Disney World fireworks, tell ourselves that THIS will be the time we’re able to make it all the way through (just once) without crying.

Obviously, this is a lie we tell ourselves, and we’re left emotionally scammed (even if it is of our own doing). Will this keep us from seeing future performances of fireworks? In short, obviously no, we’ll totally keep coming back even if it means leaving the park in a full ugly cry because they’re just so beautiful.

Park Hopper Ticket Options

While park hopper ticket options can be an invaluable addition to some, it’s not a one-size-fits-all option. Sometimes you may add park hopping to your ticket and realize after it’s done and paid for that you didn’t really park hop. Park hopping can be great if you like to move around and don’t mind taking the time out of your day to move from park to park (it can take up to an hour, y’all!). BUT, you can also have a great vacation by planning to visit just once park per day (and save some $$$ in the process).

But… again, this is a time when we ask ourselves “Will we do this again?” and obviously, that answer is yes. It’s just one of those things that you might not need all the time, but you’re really in a pickle if you need it and don’t have it!

Air Conditioning

Listen, no two Disney parks are created equal, so why would we think Disney air conditioning would be?

Over and over again we’re scammed into trusting that the AC in each store we walk into on a blazingly hot day at the parks will just instantly blast us with icy fury. Imagine our disappointment when we realize that the store’s open (yet inviting) doors negate the expected blast of cool air. This is a scam we fall for repeatedly though out of desperation, so find a great store for AC and make THAT one your go-to!

Shiny Medals

Sometimes the greatest scams are cloaked with the best intentions. Admittedly, we’ve signed up for a runDisney event just for the character-themed medal (looking at you, Muppets)!

Yes, folks, this is a scam that’s played out with us over and over again. We tell ourselves we’re not going to repeat it– no way, no how. Yet, that runner’s high (and the look of it hanging in accomplishment on our wall) creeps in, and we find ourselves stalking the runDisney registration sites for the next year’s sign-up almost as soon as the race is complete.

So take it from us, Disney World is full of “scams” — you’ve just got to decide which ones are worth repeating and which to avoid at all costs! We’re always talking about Disney tips and tricks, so be sure to stay tuned with us for the latest!

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Have you ever fallen for any SCAMS at Disney World? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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