Any MISTAKES made on past trips?

[awalker1015]

Booking a short trip, thus feeling we had to go, go, go with no break.

Not scheduling a break during the day to go back to the resort, change shoes, revive. I did his one day and changing shoes mid day changed everything.

Listening to our TA, even after I realized she wasn't the right fit for us and wasn't that knowledgable about WDW. Missed out on a lot of ADRs by waiting until the last minute to cancel the ones she made us.

Not scheduling a direct flight on the way there. Wasted hours we could have been enjoying the pool dealing with the flight connection.

Booking FP+ in the mornings. Crowds were low in the park until after 10:30 and we rode most rides then. Next time I will make then for later morning, early afternoon.

Lesson learned- remembering all this for our trip next spring and am excited about our plans.

 

[KYDIZFAN]

Not realizing that DOKW doesn't have elevators No way my DMIL was going to make it up 3flights with her pre-op hip" luckily a ground unit was available

 

[bradiblue27]

Not buying a rain poncho beforehand at a Walmart or something similar! They are crazy expensive in Disney World and when it rains, it pours!

 

[disneyhousewife]

My biggest mistake was not planning enough! On my first trip I didn't make dining reservations, I didn't look at the prices of things...I didn't even know what FP was! I thought you could just wing it

My other mistakes were not taking enough pictures, not factoring in the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B and not having a ride plan.

But thanks to all of you lovely people on the DIS and your wonderful ideas, my next trip is looking like it's going to be great!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

What a great thread...fun to read...here is my summary of all the prior posts:

DON'T

• don’t pack too much
• don’t carry too much on the plane
• don’t forget your comfiest shoes (not new ones), two pairs to alternate, and flip flops for pool, water ride shoes
• don’t forget your regular meds
• Don’t start new medication right before a trip
• don’t overpack toys for kids
• don’t forget your sunscreen
• don’t buy souvenirs for everyone
• don’t travel with a love-sick teen
• Don’t over schedule
• Don’t get up early if you hate getting up early
• Don’t book an early morning flight if everyone will be too groggy
• Be careful who you travel with, and plan to split up.
• Book a separate room from snorers
• Vet your potential spouse by going to Disney with them. If they hate it, think twice.
• Don’t overeat on the dining plan
• Don’t stand downwind of fireworks smoke
• Don’t change resorts too often
• Don’t buy too many snacks and water at a grocery
• Don’t bring non-Disney people with you
• Don’t be everyone else’s tour guide
• Don’t eat frogs legs or lobster buffet right before your trip
• Don’t get your rental car keys wet
• Don’t make yourself groggy with booze or meds
• Don’t expect a room with a view of the pool to be quiet
• Don’t go to the park with early entry hours; it will be too crowded
• Don’t carry a regular purse
• Don’t wear white, it shows dirt
• Don’t think your kids will be happy carrying their own stuff in their own fanny packs
• Don’t take the boat between Epcot and the Studios if you are in any kind of hurry
• Don’t go in summer if you can’t take the heat
• Don’t make meal plans that require park hopping; you’ll feel too rushed
• Don’t do the deluxe meal plan. It’s too much food.
• Don’t skip your traditions, like getting an ornament each time.
• Don’t let go of your bag on rides.

DO

• Be ready to tell people NO when they want to tag along (or share a room)
• Do check events scheduled at your time to avoid cheerleaders
• Do take an older or ill relative for a once in a lifetime trip, but be ready to go at their pace
• Make a careful packing list and double check what you pack. Socks, diapers, and first aid stuff are expensive at Disney.
• Dress in layers. Be prepared for unusual weather.
• try Body Glide
• Double check dates. Double check you have your admission/tickets/passports/gift cards.
• If you have a problem with your room, speak up right away
• Double check your travel agent’s work
• Have a game plan for touring
• Buy stuff when you see it; consider how you will get it home
• Back up your photos each night
• Get family pictures taken, including you
• Bring extra battery and memory
• Put your name on your camera, memory, phone, etc.
• Take time to look around
• Buy a charm bracelet
• Get travel insurance
• Think about the weight of your bags before you fly
• Stay long enough and with time for the hotel; go to the pool
• Go to the dentist before your trip
• Cover your stroller against rain
• Bring a poncho for wet rides, and appropriate shoes
• Alternate who goes to ride with oldest child, and who stays with the too young one
• Do speak up if someone is cutting in front of you in line
• Do wear a string to keep your eyeglasses on
• Do bring a nicer outfit if you go to the nicest restaurants, but still wear comfy shoes
• Plan a day off once you get home to recover.
• Hydrate
• Be ready for humidity
• Build up your walking stamina
• Wear sunscreen (even on your ears and part), sunglasses, and a hat
• Keep a list of important #s, not in your wallet
• Rent an EVC if you need one
• Take a taxi or rent a car when it makes sense
• Ship stuff home
• Be flexible
• Do ask your co-travelers what they want to do
• Do save a spot for parades; bring something to sit on

CONTRADICTORY ADVICE (YMMV)

• Stay onsite to be close and for the ambiance, unless you want to get more for your money.
• ponchos; cheap ones are good because you throw them away, cheap are bad because they aren’t long enough and don’t fit over bags. Umbrellas don’t do the job. Raincoats are more comfortable.
• Dinner reservations: some want them, others want flexibility
• See/don’t see Fantasmic
• Never go with family/Go with family but set expectations and split up
• Kids nap in stroller/kids need hotel room nap
• Bring your camera everywhere/leave your camera home
• Bring snacks to the park/eat Mickey bars and pretzels instead
• rent a car/take the bus
• go to MK 1st/don’t go to MK 1st

NO LONGER RELEVANT:

• anything to do with film
• paper tickets

Great summary Dashzap! I can say with 100% certainty that now I will never eat frog legs or lobster buffet the night before I leave on my Disney trip!

 

[Punchy]

Don't rip the neckline of your Disney poncho when it's too hot and choking you. It migrated half-way down the poncho by the end of the night.

Don't bring your in-laws. Oh, regret.

 

[SingingMom]

Don't rip the neckline of your Disney poncho when it's too hot and choking you. It migrated half-way down the poncho by the end of the night. Don't bring your in-laws. Oh, regret.

Ha! Don't bring ANYONE but your initial party!!! Adore my mom. Dad was no problem. I was about to leave Mom, with her wheelchair, in lost children area! Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Ellsbells]

Slowly making my way through all of this and making notes. I've been three times but this is the first trip that I'll be doing with parents or a big group of people and also stayin on resort for such a long amount of time.

 

[Mysteria]

Don't rip the neckline of your Disney poncho when it's too hot and choking you. It migrated half-way down the poncho by the end of the night.

Don't bring your in-laws. Oh, regret.

They would have replaced it for you. Just so you know for next time!

 

[bopper]

Don't rip the neckline of your Disney poncho when it's too hot and choking you. It migrated half-way down the poncho by the end of the night.

Don't bring your in-laws. Oh, regret.

They would have replaced it for you. Just so you know for next time!

New In-laws? Awesome!!!

(jk my in-laws are great)

 

[SingingMom]

New In-laws? Awesome!!! (jk my in-laws are great)

I was thinking the same thing! LOLOLOL

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Blakelynn]

Last time we went was also our first time. I wish I'd done some research. I had no clue about anything. I thought Fast Passes cost extra money. We were cheap and ate pizza in our hotel room for dinner every day, after skipping lunch and eating pop-tarts in the hotel room for breakfast. We got to the parks late every day, had no clue about parade and fireworks schedules. It was a mess. But we still had tons of fun. This time I'm learning, planning, budgeting, etc so we can have a more organized, less lost and confused trip. And I have a ban on pizza this trip! haha

 

[Zooshoveller]

After researching as much as I could for our first family trip, we over packed. Not our suitcases, but our park bags. Our backs and feet hurt so bad! The next trip we went either bag less or extremely light! Ahh...

 

[bluezy]

After researching as much as I could for our first family trip, we over packed. Not our suitcases, but our park bags. Our backs and feet hurt so bad! The next trip we went either bag less or extremely light! Ahh...

I've made that mistake as well. I used to try and anticipate anything that could go possibly go wrong while we were in the park and then cram all of my "MacGyver" supplies into a medium-sized cross-body bag. I finally took a good look at what we used out of that bag over the last 4 trips and realized that we used very few things. Now I carry a small wallet on a string type bag (about the size of a deck of cards) that basically holds some cash, credit card, tissues, 2 or 3 bandaids, and occasionally a cheapy rain poncho. I realized that most of what I was carrying around was not needed and on the off chance we *did* need it, I could probably get it at a gift shop or first aid station in the park we were in. (For the record, many of the gift shops stock basic pain relievers, pepto, tissues, and other "drug store type supplies" behind or under the counter. If you need something (like tissues!!!) and don't see them, just ask a CM because they probably do have it and if they don't, they can tell you where to find it.) The best part about carrying that tiny bag is that it fits in my pocket and I don't have to go through bag checks!!!!

 

[Kristina4109]

My biggest mistake was when we had a family reunion trip with 14 people and we tried to all stick together all day long. It was ridiculous. We had too many people with different interests. By the end of the trip, we would all go to the same park, split up, and meet for dinner. Worked much better.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I've made that mistake as well. I used to try and anticipate anything that could go possibly go wrong while we were in the park and then cram all of my "MacGyver" supplies into a medium-sized cross-body bag. I finally took a good look at what we used out of that bag over the last 4 trips and realized that we used very few things. Now I carry a small wallet on a string type bag (about the size of a deck of cards) that basically holds some cash, credit card, tissues, 2 or 3 bandaids, and occasionally a cheapy rain poncho. I realized that most of what I was carrying around was not needed and on the off chance we *did* need it, I could probably get it at a gift shop or first aid station in the park we were in. (For the record, many of the gift shops stock basic pain relievers, pepto, tissues, and other "drug store type supplies" behind or under the counter. If you need something (like tissues!!!) and don't see them, just ask a CM because they probably do have it and if they don't, they can tell you where to find it.) The best part about carrying that tiny bag is that it fits in my pocket and I don't have to go through bag checks!!!!

So wish I could get away with a wallet sized bag. But, I have allergies, sinus and skin as well as very fair, non-tanning skin. So, I have to carry tissues, meds, sunscreen, soap (can't use what's in the restrooms or any hand sanitizers), etc. I also have prescription glasses (practically blind without), so have to carry both my regular glasses and sunglasses.
Bleh. So much to carry for a single adult.

 

[BongoFury]

2 - Not having (or knowing about) BodyGlide. My then overweight body paired with jean shorts and humidity cause some major chafing and a lot of pain. I may be much healthier now, but I'm still taking some BodyGlide!
.

Thanks for the info on BodyGlide. I'd never heard of it before and was just looking into it online. It will definitely come in handy!

 

[heyitsangie]

We decided to do tarzan's treehouse on the first day (swiss family robinson for wdw). It was fine, and we are both in pretty good shape, but something about climbing up and down all those stairs at the end of the first day gave our legs a workout and we were super sore for the next few days! I would do it again, maybe just not on the first day...

 

[Tomlyger]

Biggest mistake... Coming Home

 

[run13point1]

Biggest mistake... Coming Home

Love it!! Agreed!!