Disney World can be incredibly magical…but it also can be insanely stressful.
You’ve paid so much money to be there — hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars — and want to have the best vacation possible. We get it! Yes, we have team members who are in the parks every day, but we also have others who work from home all over the country, which means when they go to Disney World, THEY’RE paying all that money for their trip! And sometimes, things are going to go wrong on your trip. If you plan to head to a Cast Member to see if they can do anything to assist, here are a few things you need to know before you do so.
The Weather Will Do What it Wants
Here’s the thing — bad weather in Disney World almost always stinks. And we’re not talking about that little rainstorm/thunderstorm that happens pretty much every day at some point during the summer. No, we mean when it’s full-on storming with lightning, thunder, pouring rain, wind, the whole package.
You can be prepared as possible and still get a day “ruined” by storms. Here’s the thing though — there’s really nothing any Cast Member can do about this. It’s not safe for outdoor attractions to run with lightning nearby, but indoor attractions will still continue to run, so there’s still plenty to do if you don’t mind walking in the rain from ride to ride.
The only time Cast Members can do something to assist is if you’ve specifically paid for an After Hours party ticket (especially holiday parties). In rain/storms, characters won’t come out to greet guests and a lot of live entertainment can’t take place, both of which are really big parts of the price tag for After Hours ticket. In this case, you can politely (POLITELY) go up to a Guest Services Cast Member and ask if there’s anything they can do. In this situation, they can sometimes offer for you to return for another party night, or potentially the next party (for example, if your Halloween party got rained out, they may offer you a Christmas party ticket if you can’t make it to another Halloween party) to make up for the experience. This is never guaranteed, but it is worth asking!
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Check The App First
Many people are surprised to learn just how helpful the My Disney Experience App can be! Not only can you mobile order, check wait times, book Lightning Lanes, and so much more, but you can also see what times characters are coming out, see what rides are down, check for your ride and PhotoPass photos, the list goes on.
However, there’s also a very helpful search feature in the app! You can use this to search up a variety of topics and the app will attempt to direct you to what you’re looking for. As an example, we looked up “how to use lightning lane” and it brought us to a whole article telling us about the service!
This can save you a ton of time in the parks, especially if you feel it’s something you need to head to Guest Services for, only to find out when you get there that they’re just going to show you how to do it on the app. Now you’re frustrated because you spent all that time waiting in a line you didn’t mean to! Instead, we recommend using that search feature in the app first, and if you can’t find anything or you still have questions, then head to Guest Services!
Learn all about the My Disney Experience App right here!
Your App May Glitch — Take Screenshots!
When using the My Disney Experience App, either for Lightning Lanes, dining reservations, mobile ordering, or anything in between, it’s entirely possible that you will run into a glitch at some point. Sometimes this glitch isn’t a big deal, but other times, it can affect your day pretty heavily.
This is why we highly recommend taking screenshots of important things when they happen in the app! Got your spot in the virtual queue for Cosmic Rewind? Take a quick screenshot of it! Just placed your mobile order? Take a screenshot! Made a Lightning Lane reservation? Another screenshot, just to be safe.
It’s much easier for Cast Members to help out if you have a screenshot proving that it was on your screen at some point! Now, that’s not to say that Cast Members can’t help if you don’t have one, but it will be harder for them. So make their job easier, and therefore also make it an easier problem to solve, and just take all those screenshots.
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Remember…They Work There
Sometimes Disney fans feel that since they’re huge fans of the parks, they know better than the Cast Members working. We’ve seen this happen too many times and uh…the politest way to say this is that it’s important to remember that THEY work there.
Now, this isn’t to say that mistakes aren’t made — we’re all human! If you feel you’re being told information that is incorrect and will negatively impact your day (ie. miss a reservation, send you in the wrong direction, etc.), there’s nothing wrong with saying thank you and choosing to ask another Cast Member the same question, or politely asking if you could chat with a team lead. Again, this is only for if the information you’re being given would immediately be a detriment to your day (you could also see if the answer is on the My Disney Experience App!).
We have reporters in the parks every day AND have former Cast Members on our team, and yet we all recognize that things change in the parks all the time, and that what was true 6 months ago may not be true anymore — we NEVER know everything that’s happening. It’s also important to remember that some information cannot be given out by Cast Members, but instead of flat out telling you they can’t answer, they may have been instructed to give a different answer or to skillfully evade the question.
Cast Members are there to help you have the most magical day you can, but it’s always incredibly important to show them kindness and respect. No one likes being yelled at, so you’re much more likely to get assistance on what you need in the way you’re hoping for when you’re polite! Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney World news!
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What else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!
I do not have a smart phone. Can someone tell me if it is even possible to go to Disney World without one?
It’s possible. Just be prepared to wing it a lot more and potentially stand in long lines for any popular must-do attractions. If you’re willing to settle for more quick service dining – aka counter service restaurants – instead of table service experiences, you’ll do just fine, because the table service restaurants aren’t easy to simply walk up to without reservations. There are rare cases when you might catch a break, however, and some restaurants, like Spice Road Table and Mama Melrose, aren’t highly coveted reservations, so they’re easier to get.