10 Common Mistakes UK Families Make on their First Walt Disney World Trip (and how you can avoid them!)

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be pretty daunting and of course, you want it to be just perfect.

Here are some Disney rookie mistakes and how to avoid them!

1, Booking the holiday and thinking that’s it. A Walt Disney World holiday is unlike any other; it is an expensive holiday with huge expectations. If you arrive unprepared, you will face long queues, restaurants you can’t get into, an app you don’t understand, hot and tired kids, and you’ll miss out on so many things your family would have loved to do, leaving you wondering what all the hype is about Disney! Instead, spend time researching before you go and make a plan that is right for your family! It can feel overwhelming, but there are resources out there to help you. My Walt Disney World Planning Guides, created for the UK & Ireland visitor, are regularly updated and make planning much simpler!

Skip the Overplanning - How UK Families Can Find More Disney Magic

2, Overscheduling! When you think you need to plan every minute of every day (something I was guilty of the first time we visited!). We all know things don’t go to plan and this can even happen in the most magical place on earth. Rides break down, a thunderstorm might cancel a parade, a family member can have a grumpy day, so you need to allow time to go with the flow. A plan is good, but don’t have it so rigid that if the kids see something they really want to do, your schedule doesn’t allow for it as it is in those little, unexpected moments that the true magic of Disney happens.

Realistic Disney World Planning for UK Families

3, Not managing expectations is an easy mistake to make. Walt Disney World is vast – 50 times larger than Disneyland Paris and it is impossible to do everything it offers in one trip. Magic Kingdom is also the most visited theme park in the world, even on a quiet day, you will be there with 50,000 people, who you are effectively competing against to get on the most popular rides and into the most desirable restaurants! You have to be realistic and prioritise what matters most: choose 3 or 4 must-do rides per park, a couple of characters to meet, food to try and agree on a spending limit for any merchandise the kids want to buy. You’ll get much more done, and everyone will be happy.

4, Not getting to grips with the My Disney Experience App – basically, anything you want to do require it, from checking wait times, finding your favourite characters, booking Lightning Lanes and checking the park opening hours. Plus, you can order food, book restaurants, find your car in the car park, and so much more! Download the app before your trip and spend some time getting familiar with it – encourage older members of the family to do the same. It will make life a lot easier once you arrive at Walt Disney World.

5, Not planning for the weather. If you are visiting Walt Disney World anytime from May to October, then you need to be prepared for the heat, humidity, and, as a result, afternoon thunderstorms (take your own ponchos – it will save you a fortune)! The humidity, in particular, makes it feel much hotter than the equivalent heat in the UK and Ireland, and it’s totally draining, especially with all the walking (6 miles or more each day). So you need a plan that includes regular breaks throughout the day. We had a rule of stopping every couple of hours for a drink and snack break, and making use of some nearby air conditioning! And head back to your accommodation when everyone has had enough and make use of the pool facilities! It’s also good to plan a park-free day every 4 or 5 days to allow time to recharge. June to November is also hurricane season, and whilst Walt Disney World has rarely been shut, flights can be cancelled. So check your holiday insurance covers hurricanes.

6, Not allowing enough travel time. I’ve already mentioned how big Walt Disney World is and this becomes even more apparent when you travel around it. Parks and resorts are spread out, and at Magic Kingdom, the car park is either a ferry or monorail ride from the entrance! Disney provides free on-site transportation, which can be slow, with full buses or multiple stops. Simply allow plenty of time for park hopping (moving between parks) or dining at a resort hotel. If staying in a Disney hotel, check your transportation options, as they might include the Skyliner, buses, the monorail, or boats!

7, Thinking you can sleep in. And why wouldn’t you? You are on holiday after all, and if you have teenagers in your party, that will be a given. However, arriving late at Walt Disney World means longer queues for top attractions; you want to avoid arriving between late morning and mid-afternoon. Instead, you have a number of options: get up early, Disney Resort guests get a 30-minute head start, and it is well worth taking advantage of. If staying off-site, aim to arrive before the official park opening (rope drop). Alternatively, head in late afternoon and stay until closing, when wait times drop –ideal for families with older kids! You can also use Disney’s paid queue-skipping service, but budget for the cost, as prices currently range from $17 to $45 person per day (plus a 6-6.5% sales tax). Which brings me on to my next point…

Understand Lightning Lanes: What UK Families Need to Know

8, Not understanding Lightning Lanes. Over the years, Walt Disney World has offered various line-skipping services. Their most recent iteration is Lightning Lanes, and the rules for using them can be a little complicated! Plus, on some occasions, you may not actually need them in all the parks, especially if you arrive early or stay late. But during busy times, they are helpful. Unfortunately, it’s too detailed to explain here, but there is a free Lightning Lane mini-guide on my website to help you understand the differences.

9, Not knowing different rules apply to on-site, off-site and international guests! I’ve already mentioned on-site guests enjoy early entry, but there are other bonuses too; extended dining (reservations open 60 days ahead for everyone, with Disney hotel guests able to book for a further 10 days ahead), access to Lightning Lanes days in advance of regular guests, plus, free transport around WDW and complimentary hotel and theme park parking. So, anyone staying off-site needs to factor these things in too and plan accordingly (btw, you can use the WDW transport too!). Some things are also a little trickier when you are an international guest – such as ESTA applications, applying for Disney’s Disability Access Service, managing jet lag and limited access to certain options, such as Enchanted Extras, tours and special event tickets, such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

10, Thinking Disney’s Magical Express still exists! Walt Disney World used to offer Disney’s Magical Express, a free service that whisked you and your luggage from the airport to your Disney Resort, but this ended in 2021 (boo!). If no airport transfer is included in your holiday package, you will need to arrange one. There are a number of paid options, including Mears Connect, which offers a shuttle service to Disney Resorts, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, private transfer companies (often with optional supermarket stops), or car hire. Important to note, UK car seats are not legal in the US, so plan accordingly if travelling with young children.

And here’s a bonus one:

11, Forgetting to check ride height requirements! It’s easy to assume a ride will be suitable for your child, only to be turned away at the front of the queue! Instead, be sure to check a ride’s description and that your child is tall enough. Equally, even if your child qualifies, it doesn’t always mean the ride is right for them! Some can be too wild, dark or scary, so it’s good to know what will be right for your age group.
Found this helpful? Then check out my Walt Disney World Planning Guides for UK and Ireland families. Guides are tailored for three different age groups – Under 7’s, 7-11’s and 12+ – and available for both Disney Resort and off-site stays. Have kids in different age groups? No problem, the guides can be mixed and matched to suit your family.