Even the very best Disney World tips can age poorly over time…
If you’ve spent any time planning a Disney vacation, you’ve probably fallen down the rabbit hole of “must-do tips.” While there are so many useful tips that can literally save your vacation, there are some common Disney tips that have clearly become outdated — and fans are pushing back.
In a recent AllEars Facebook, we asked our readers about common Disney World tips people SHOULDN’T follow, and ya’ll had plenty of thoughts.
One piece of “advice” that really hit home with a lot of fans has to do with what age is ideal for visiting Disney World. Reader Brian wrote, “Waiting til kids are ‘old enough to remember’ to go to Disney World” as a piece of advice that fans shouldn’t listen to.
It’s not uncommon to hear that you should wait for your kids to be older before taking them to Disney World. The truth? Go when you want to go! In fact, children under the age of 3 get free theme park admission, making it an even more affordable trip. Not only that, but small babies deserve to experience the magic of Disney just like everyone else — so if you’re game to take small children, go ahead and do so with confidence!
Speaking of kids, Reader Nadia wrote, “People telling you that your 5 yr old definitely doesn’t need a stroller because they are old enough to walk. My 5 year old napped 2x in the stroller (she never naps during the day lol). And it made life SO much easier lol! Bring the stroller 1000%!”
Whether you bring your own stroller or rent one from Disney, knowing you might need one is half the battle. A Disney day will take a lot out of everyone, regardless of age. Knowing your limits before your trip will save you a hassle when you and your kiddos are already exhausted.
Disney trips are all about preferences, and one tip that fans should stop following, according to Reader Kara, is to “prioritize big attractions. If you want to go on a big attraction, that’s fine, but you can still have a great time doing things as they come. Last time my family went to Magic Kingdom, we did smaller things like listening to Grayson (the piano player at Casey’s Corner) and still had a great time doing bigger AND smaller attractions.”
Ultimately, Disney experts can only guide you on the best ways to attack certain rides, but that doesn’t mean you need to prioritize those specific attractions. Your itinerary is 100% up to you!
For years, Disney advice has leaned heavily into hyper-planning, but fans are over it. A common sentiment? Overplanning can actually ruin your trip. Instead of enjoying the parks, you’re glued to your phone, stressing about the next Lightning Lane or dining reservation. The new mindset is to plan the important things for you and leave breathing room for everything else.
The last point I want to highlight comes from Reader Angela, who said guests shouldn’t “rope drop. It’s so much more relaxing to start your day later and end it even later in the evening.”
Rope dropping sounds great in theory because you should be able to maximize your day. But fans say this tip is a fast track to burnout. Trying to do both ends of the day can leave you exhausted.
Picking one — early mornings or late nights — can be a much better strategy.
The biggest takeaway from Disney fans right now? Stop trying to have the “perfect” trip. Have a plan… but don’t forget to have fun! At the end of the day, the best Disney trips aren’t the most efficient ones — they’re the ones you actually enjoy.
Of course, it never hurts to keep up with the latest Disney trends and tips just to know if the old ones are no longer useful. Be sure to keep it posted right here at AllEars to stay in the know and give us feedback when you come across some advice that you think other Disney fans should know about!
Use These 10 Disney World Tips Before We Ruin Them
Let us know some of your favorite — and least favorite — Disney World tips in the comments below!
Over the years we have learned A few things. First if you have young kids, recognize that if you love WDW, you will go back, so plan on not getting everything done.And do not make all the decisions: let the kids help plan: let them pick their top three rides, showing them there might be long waits for some of them..
Second, pack food or buy food at the resort or have it delivered and eat breakfast in your room instead of using up time and money in the parks.
Third. You have tickets for the whole day. Plan accordingly and go to the park On the day that is open late. When the kids get cranky and start to whine and cry,go back to the resort and take a break and nap and do some pool time. Then go back to the park. DO NOT use going back to the resort as punishment or consequence of behavior. Tell the kids ahead of time there will be a break during the day when you get tired so everyone can go back to the resort and recharge.
Lastly give them each a Disney gift card with a set amount on it for a remembrance of the trip: t shirts or a toy.