Visiting Walt Disney World: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

Millions of people visit Walt Disney World each year. For many of those it's their third or fourth visit and they've got it down. But for many of those millions of visitors, it's their first visit to Walt Disney World. And many of those first time visitors can feel overwhelmed. If you're planning your first visit to Walt Disney World, here are five mistakes to avoid:

Trying to do it all
The biggest mistake many first time visitors make is trying to do everything during their visit. And those first time visitors who do try to do it all inevitably feel overwhelmed and disappointed. Walt Disney World is huge, it it can often take more than one day to see most of the attractions in just one park. The best approach is to plan what you and your family want to see and do and then do those attractions (for my list of 7 things that every Walt Disney World vacation must include click here). Then, if you have time, discover what else Walt Disney Worlds has to offer.

Forgetting you're on vacation
Getting up to be at the Magic Kingdom when it opens at 9am and staying all day until midnight or 1 am can be tough and to do that everyday for a week is not much of a vacation. Take a midday break and go back to your hotel for lunch or a swim in the pool. You'll beat the midday heat (and if you're visiting in the summer, we're talking upper 90s) and the midday crowds. And when you return to the parks in the afternoon you'll be refreshed and ready for the rest of the day.

Eating burgers and fries for every meal
Surprisingly the food at most of Walt Disney World's full-service restaurants is good. And while it eating at a full-service restaurant is more expensive than and takes more time than grabbing a burger, it's nice to sit down with your family and just enjoy each other and recharge your batteries. And there are some unique dining opportunities at Walt Disney World. Have you ever eaten inside a castle? At the Magic Kingdom you can. Just book a table at Cinderella's Royal Table and eat inside Cinderella Castle. Or over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, hop n a car, order your meal and watch sci-fi classics at the retro Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.

Not actually staying at Walt Disney World
There are over 30 hotels within the Walt Disney World resort. And while some Disney hotels can be pricey, there are hotels where rooms start around $79 per night. In addition to being close to the Disney theme parks, staying at a Walt Disney World hotel comes with tons of benefits that often make it cheaper to stay on-site rather than staying at an off-site. For details on those benefits, click here.

Taking to all too seriously
I've been to Walt Disney World many times and I can't tell you how many times I've seen parents yelling at their kids to "have fun"or a mom yelling at dad to run ahead and get a place in line for it's a small world. Slow down, have fun, be a kid again, and let your kids enjoy themselves. Grab an ice cream cone and watch the Magic Kingdom parade and dance with Mickey and Minnie as they roll by. Visiting Walt Disney World can be a magical experience and a great memory for you and your family so let it be and just have fun.