Disney World Park Hopper Mistakes to Avoid

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Light Green Midi Dress | Pearl Shell Purse | Knotted Purple Pearl Headband | Sandals

I have been majorly missing Disney World recently.

So much so, I have even started dreaming about Disney World at night.

I feel a bit like a kid admitting that, but with how many tip and advice posts I have written on here about Disney World I’m sure it’s pretty clear, I’m a BIG fan!

So today I thought I would share with you 10 Disney World Park Hopper Mistakes to Avoid (as a follow up to this post with 5 Disney World Park Hopper Tips) to help you have the most magical experience on your next Disney vacation!

1. Waiting to Research

Life is busy, I totally get it.

But a Disney vacation is unlike any other, and it can even become overwhelming if you let it.

That’s why I highly recommend that you begin researching your trip way in advance.

If your dates are flexible I suggest looking at a variety of crowd calendars to help you determine the least crowded time to visit WDW.

So save yourself a headache and start planning early, and a little at a time, so that you can enjoy the planning process!

2. Not Making a Plan

Speaking of plans, I highly recommend making a plan when using Park Hopper.

You could end up wasting your whole day hopping from park to park without ever fully experiencing any of the magic.

While you can totally visit all 4 parks in one day (blog post tips on how to do all 4 parks in one day here & vlog here) I recommend choosing 2 parks if you don’t visit Disney World often and really want to enjoy as much as you can in each park.

Your plan can be as simple as an order of parks for each day + top rides in each park.

Or you can even list the rides you plan to go on in the order you plan to go on them (so that you don’t find yourself running back and forth across each park).

3. Forgetting to Set Up FastPass+

FastPass+ is AMAZING!!

And there are so many important things you need to know to help you get the most out of your FastPass+.

So I created a whole post with 10 FastPass+ tricks you need to know to help you skip long lines for an extra fun vacation in Walt Disney World.

Be sure to click here to read these 10 FastPass+ Tips, but don’t forget to come back here and finish this post too because I have 7 more tips below!

4. Not Using the My Disney Experience App

The My Disney Experience App is so incredibly useful.

You can do everything from order food through it, to setting up your next FastPass+ on it (while going through the line of your current FastPass+), plus it has a map of the park and a plethora of other handy tools.

This app becomes extra valuable when you plan to visit more than one park in a day and want to get the most of every minute in Disney World.

For example, you can order food right before getting on a ride so that you don’t have to go stand in another line to order food and instead it will be ready for you when you get off the ride.

You can even use it to go from one FastPass+ experience to the next (depending on the time of day/year).

While the app is super user-friendly, I recommend downloading the app well before your trip so that you have plenty of time to explore the app and discover all of the ways it can help you have an even more magical Disney World vacation.

5. Forgetting About Extra Magic Hours

This is where making a plan is a really good idea.

Because what hotel/resort you stay in will really affect what park you go tp first and last.

If you are staying at a Disney resort you most likely will want to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours because they allow you to have extra time in the park beyond the general hours.

The park and times vary from day to day, so you will need to make sure you know exactly what park has Extra Magic Hours while planning your trip.

If you are NOT staying at a Disney resort, I still highly recommend knowing which park has Extra Magic Hours so that you can avoid it right around the time of the Extra Magic Hours.

For example, if Extra Magic Hours are in the Magic Kingdom in the morning, you won’t want to go to the Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning because the park will already be full of people with long lines.

Instead, choose to go to this particular park 2nd or 3rd and have your FastPass+ already set up so that you can skip the long lines.

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6. Sleeping In

Of course, if you really need your sleep or have kids that really need their sleep, sleeping in maybe a good thing for you and for your family.

You know your family best!

But, if you really want to take advantage of your Park Hopper I highly recommend that you arrive at the park on time.

And “on time” will really vary for everyone.

For example, if you want to experience the newest ride (at any of the parks) you will want to be parked and through security 30 minutes to 1 hour before the park even opens.

This includes Extra Magic Hours!!

Oh and “new ride” pretty much means any ride that is new within the last 3 years.

I remember the second year that we went to ride on Avatar Flight of Passage the line was actually longer than when we went the first year (and both times we arrived before the park opened).

Crazy, right?

7. Forgetting to Plan for the Weather

Rain happens.

It can be hard to be flexible when you are a planner, but you may need to move things around if rain is causing rides to be shut down.

Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom are both great parks for rain as there is a TON of indoor rides.

8. Not Dressing for Your Plan

Chances are that if you have park hopper tickets, you will be doing a ton of walking.

A normal trip to Disney World can garner 5-8 miles of walking, but a park hopper day can see that jump to 10-12 miles in a day.

I have two posts that can help you plan a comfortable and cute outfit for your day(s) in Disney World, this one with Disney Outfit Inspiration and this one about 20 Things to Buy Before Your Disney Vacation.

9. Skipping Food & Drink Breaks

The last thing you’ll want to do is become hangry or dehydrated during a fun day at Disney World.

And while it can be hard to stand in line for food when you’d rather be standing in line for a ride, the truth is Disney World has some really amazing food!

But if you aren’t a big foodie, one trick to avoid lines is to order food from your phone through the My Disney Experience App.

If you are a foodie, and you know your feet will need a break partway through the day, I highly recommend making restaurant reservations ahead of time!

Oh, and one more tip: Cups of water are free anywhere that they sell fountain drinks!

Photo Details:
Light Green Midi Dress | Pearl Shell Purse | Knotted Purple Pearl Headband | Sandals