What’s Actually Worth Having Anxiety About (and What’s NOT) in Disney World, From a Professional Disney Adult

We go to Disney World every day, and it is in our team’s job description to be professional Disney Adults.

Since we are always in the parks and around the resort, we have learned some lessons the hard way on our journey to becoming Disney World pros. A vacation to Disney World should not revolve around stress, but we understand that a trip can be once in a lifetime, and it is human nature to be anxious about having the perfect trip. While some things are worth having anxiety over and planning in advance, there are some things that are out of your control that you should not worry about as much.

Disney World is the Most Magical Place on Earth, but with so many moving pieces, it can feel like the Most Stressful Place on Earth. We are here to help calm your anxieties. Take it from our AllEars team, which is full of professional Disney Adults; here are a few things that are worth and are not worth the dreaded Disney anxiety. 

Let’s just get it out of the way: here is what is worth getting anxious about.

Sticking to Your Budget

It is always a good idea to set a budget before arriving at Disney World and while planning your trip. You need to ask yourself a few questions. Are you going to purchase Lighting Lane? What type of meals are you aiming for? Quick service? Table service? Character dining? How many souvenirs do you want? 

It can be challenging to stick to your budget, especially when spur-of-the-moment things happen. So give yourself a little bit of wiggle room to try and be able to stay under or just right at your set budget. We like to put our budgeted amount on gift cards, then we get a discount when purchasing them, we can easily keep track of what we spent, and we know how much money we have left in the budget without having to do tons of math!

A Realistic Budget For Your 2025 Disney World Trip

Snagging a Virtual Queue Boarding Group

Currently, two attractions at Disney World still utilize Virtual Queue. In EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and in Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure uses this service.

It can be stressful to be the one assigned to snag Virtual Queue for your whole group. While it is okay to be anxious about this, remember, you get two chances to join, one at 7 AM and one at 1 PM. If you are unsuccessful, you can also consider purchasing Lighting Lane to be able to ride these attractions.

Leaving Magic Kingdom After Fireworks

We won’t sugar coat it: Magic Kingdom, after nighttime spectacular wraps up, can be a bit of a mess. People are trying to squeeze in last-minute rides, people are rushing to catch transportation, and Main Street always feels like it is just pure chaos.

If you plan to watch the fireworks, think about what you want to do after the show is over. Do you want to go back to your resort? Do you want to ride more rides? When picking your spot for the show, you can plan your next move once the show is over. For example, if you want to head into Tomorrowland, choose a spot where it is easier to get into the land once the fireworks are over. If you want to exit the park right after, it may be a good idea to stick to the back of Main Street, U.S.A.

Finding Character Meet and Greet Times

Meeting characters may not be a priority for every group, but it can be a big deal for others. While the My Disney Experience does list character meet and greet times and locations, sometimes it can just list a range of times when the character will be out. 

All Character Appearances in Walt Disney World

If you are worried about missing out on meeting the characters, it can be a good idea to book a character meal, as you can meet multiple characters without having to wait, and they come right up to your table! 

Learn All About Disney World Character Meals

And now, let’s get into what is not worth getting anxious about.

Spending Every Minute in the Parks

We know that a trip to Disney World is not the cheapest, so it makes sense that you may want to get your money’s worth and spend all day, every day, in the parks. We are here to tell you that it is totally okay to take a rest day!

Disney World is so much more than the parks, and a rest day can help you recharge for your next park day. You can spend the day by the pool, exploring your resort or other resorts. You can visit Disney Springs, go mini-golfing, or check out a water park. 

The Weather

It is no secret that it rains a lot in Central Florida during the summer months, and it can also get very hot. Even Central Florida has its chilly days. Disney World can’t control the weather, and neither can you. It is not worth getting anxious about a rainy day since it is out of your control.

The best thing you can do is be prepared for the rain, or the heat, or the colder days, depending on when you plan to visit. 

Being Able to Do Everything

We are about to get real honest. You can’t do everything at Disney World, and that is okay! That just means you have another reason to come back and experience more!

It is a good idea to talk to your group and get everyone’s must-dos ahead of time and shoot for those goals first. If you have more time after you do everyone’s must-dos, then you can check out other things.

Now, there is one thing at Disney World that our team is on the fence about, and that is, should you be anxious about Advance Dining Reservations? Yes and no.

If you want to dine at some of Disney World’s most popular restaurants, then yes, absolutely; you should be on the My Disney Experience app 60 days before your trip to snag your reservations.

If table service meals are not as important to you, it is okay not to stress about grabbing reservations. You can always try a walk-up, check and refresh the My Disney Experience app the day of, or even check OpenTable for reservations at some third-party restaurants. 

Hopefully, this can help you figure out what to prioritize your energy on and put you at ease ahead of your upcoming trip to Disney World. For more Disney tips and to stay up to date on the latest Disney news, make sure to continue to follow along with AllEars!

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Are you planning a trip to Disney World in 2025? Let us know in the comments!

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