The Biggest Mistake Gen X Keeps Making in Disney World

Every generation of people can and do enjoy trips to Disney World.

Unlike popular beliefs, Disney World is not just for the kids. There is so much to do and see that we adults love. Whether it’s your first time or 100th time visiting the parks, there’s something for everyone. However, we have started to notice a trend for those considered part of Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980) who are visiting Disney World, and we want to help prevent more people from making this mistake.

Gen X individuals might be visiting Disney World for the first time ever with their families, children, and grandchildren. Or you may be a repeat visitor, but it’s been a while since your last trip to the parks. Depending on your situation, the “mistake” you’re making may differ. Let’s start with those of you who may be first-time visitors!

First-Time Gen X Visitors

If you’ve never been to Disney World before but you’re hoping to visit soon, then there’s one mistake we don’t want you to make. A trip to Disney World generally requires A LOT of planning, and that is often something people don’t realize.

We recommend making your hotel reservations months, if not a full year, in advance that way, you get the hotel and room you want. Once you’ve made your hotel reservation, then other timelines begin ticking. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or select other hotels, you can start making Advance Dining Reservations 60 days out for the duration of your stay. If you’re not staying at a Disney World hotel, you’ll have to make your dining reservations 60 days out for each individual day.

Trust us, if you want to eat at table-service restaurants, you’ll definitely want to make these dining reservations at the 60-day out mark. Many popular restaurants often run out of reservations VERY quickly. This is something many people might not realize.

At seven days out, if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or select other hotels, you can start purchasing and selecting Lightning Lane Multi Passes and Lightning Lane Single Passes (all other guests can purchase them 3 days out). Not knowing these systems is another mistake we see people make, so be sure to check out our full guide on Lightning Lanes below!

FULL GUIDE to Lightning Lanes

When you’re planning, you also have to make several other decisions, such as buying Park Hopper tickets, knowing if you need Park Pass Reservations or not, and more. There’s a lot that goes into planning a Disney World vacation, and it’s best to start sooner rather than later. So don’t make the mistake of waiting until the last minute otherwise, your options will get more limited.

Returning Visitors

If you’ve been to Disney World before, but it’s been a long time, we often see the mistake of not understanding or knowing the changes that have come over the years. A great example of this is the Lightning Lane system.

From FastPass to FastPass+ to Genie+ to Lighting Lane Multi Pass, there have been tons of changes made in the past decade to the skip-the-line system at Disney World. If you haven’t been there in a long time, these new systems could be confusing.

Virtual Queues are another system that are relatively new in the past decade, and if you don’t know how they work, you might feel upset not getting to ride the few rides that continue to use them. Virtual Queues aren’t an overly complicated system, but you’ll definitely want to learn about it ahead of your trip!

Learn More About Virtual Queues Here

Planning ahead of your trip and taking the time to learn the systems may make a significant difference between feeling like you had a successful trip and not enjoying your vacation at all. We highly suggest taking the time to plan and learn all you can.

Another great option is using a travel agent to help you get ready. If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

We want you to have a great vacation in Disney World! Be sure to check out the video below to help you start your planning.

For more Disney news, keep following AllEars!

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Are you planning a trip to Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

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