10 Things We’ll Never Do Again at Disney World
Every Walt Disney World fan has a bucket list, but the smart ones also have lists of things we’ll never do again. This isn’t like our list of easy first-timer mistakes. Rather, these are things we’ve done and said to one another: “Wow, that was stupid on our part. Let’s avoid it at all costs in the future.”
Truthfully, there are very few things at Walt Disney World that we’d never do again. Our bucket lists far longer than our “never again” lists, because most things at Walt Disney World are worth of a second chance. Menus at restaurants change, hotels are overhauled, and attractions are tweaked or re-imagined over time.
In fact, since we originally published this a few years ago, a lot has changed. Perhaps we should take the immortal words of celebrated thinker Justin Bieber to heart and “never say never.” Thankfully, Walt Disney World tends to listen to guest feedback and correct mistakes and experiences that score poorly on guest satisfaction surveys. Over the years, we’ve had to remove several things from this list because we’ve done them again (sometimes inadvertently or not by choice) and had dramatically different–and better–experiences…
To that point, we’ve removed different entries from the list:
- Dinner at Chef Mickey’s – We have a daughter now. There isn’t a single character meal at Walt Disney World that we won’t be doing in the near future. With that said, we revisited breakfast at Chef Mickey’s and it exceeded expectations. So maybe we’ll just stick to that and continue avoiding dinner?
- New Year’s Eve at Magic Kingdom – The last two times we did NYE or December 30 (basically the same) at Magic Kingdom, it went far better than expected. Crowds aren’t nearly as bad as they used to be, and usually peak earlier in the week.
- All Stars During Youth Sports – I’ve stayed at All Star Sports during two youth events (couldn’t pass up the price, even if I knew I was playing with fire) and it honestly wasn’t that bad. You still might want to avoid the All Stars during these events, but it’s no longer a “never again” for us–especially now that Pop Warner is gone from Walt Disney World.
- Step Foot in Dino-Rama – It’s extinct.
- Tomorrowland Speedway – We have a daughter now–one who loves cars and pretending to drive. Uh oh.
Another thing to note is that this list only covers things that are within our control to never do again at Walt Disney World. Over the years, the company has made the “choice” for us, by eliminating a lot of things that we’d otherwise love to do again. We’ve taken our final ride on Disney’s Magical Express and redeemed our last FastPass.
Those are things we will technically never do again at Walt Disney World, but are very much not in the spirit of this list, which is more like “NEVER AGAIN!” What won’t we do again at Walt Disney World? Here are the top 10+ things…
TODDLER TIME BONUS: Two Queen Beds – When it was just the two of us, we’d book whichever standard room type was cheapest. This often meant getting two queen beds, which was perfectly fine. We had a queen bed at home for the longest time and it was plenty of space. The other bed could be used as a workspace or where one of us unpacks their suitcase.
This does not work with a crib added to the mix. I think this is where the phrase, two’s company, three’s a crowd, was born. If you have two queen beds plus a crib (and other baby stuff), the room becomes virtually unnavigable. We never really took room size or floor space into consideration, as every resort was fine for just the two of us. Holy cow does adding one small human to the mix change the equation! It’s king rooms exclusively for us…for now.
Honestly, it feels like this is already ‘evolving’ again. That our best option is queen rooms that have a second bed that folds down from the wall and converts into a table or sofa. This is doubly true as Megatron will soon graduate to a regular bed, making the space-saving two queen arrangement the optimal one. Regardless, the two standard queen bed arrangement is two cramped–we need the convertible room for extra space.
TODDLER TIME BONUS: Split Stays – Honestly, it pains me to include this. I love split stays and this blog has advocated them for so long. All the while, parents have questioned our sanity, and now that we have a toddler of our own, we completely get it.
When traveling solo for research trips, I can pack up a hotel room in under 10 minutes. When it was just the two of us, the time was a tad higher than that. With a toddler, it’s much longer–packing is two steps forward, one step backwards on repeat. Other moving pieces of switching hotels just makes it way more trouble than it’s worth with a small child. This was one of the Biggest Lessons Learned on Baby Bricker’s Christmas 2025 Trip to Walt Disney World.
We still love split stays for a number of reasons, and recommend them to solo travelers and couples (especially those who pack light). We’ll absolutely do them again in the future once the logistics are easier, but for us for now, split stays are a no-go.
TODDLER TIME BONUS: Resorts Under Unavoidable Construction – We usually aren’t too fazed by construction at Walt Disney World, not even on the hotel side where it seems like there are perpetual projects at some resorts. A simple room request usually works wonders.
That’s still mostly our perspective, but after our Holiday Hotel Horror Stories at Walt Disney World, we will definitely be a little less cavalier about the unavoidable or all-encompassing projects. In particular, anything involving the lobby at a resort where the rooms radiate from the lobby, or any future projects at the tower-style hotels where everything is under one roof.
Note that this only applies while we’re traveling with a toddler and when it comes to unavoidable projects. We’d have zero hesitation to stay at Port Orleans Riverside between now and 2027 during its room overhauls, but would avoid the A-frame of the Contemporary if the Grand Canyon Concourse were redone. It’s a case-by-case basis.
10. Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along – This is a tricky one. We came of age during the Disney Renaissance and are huge fans of Beauty and the Beast as a result. On top of that, we’re new parents who cannot wait to share the movie with our daughter.
However, we also hate the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along with the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns. I’ll spare you that rant again, but there’s a reason the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is dead last on our rankings of all 87 attractions at Walt Disney World. It’s worse than the worst direct-to-video sequel, and even the authors of bad fanfic could’ve penned a better script.
For us, this is a delicate needle to thread–making Megatron a big fan of Beauty and the Beast, while preventing her from ever learning of this atrocious show’s existence. One of my big fears is that we will succeed at the first, but fail at the second…which is a recipe for disaster.
Instead of never doing this show again, we will do it every single time we visit EPCOT. It’ll become the attraction we do more than anything else at Walt Disney World. Our frequent viewership alone will single-handedly prop up guest utilization numbers and inadvertently help keep this show around. We will become the villains.
9. Magic Kingdom on ‘Red Flag’ Days During Party Season – Magic Kingdom crowd dynamics during Party Season have been one of the key discussion points of our August through December crowd calendars for several years.
We’ve strongly recommended readers visit Magic Kingdom during the day on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party nights, and Park Hop elsewhere around 4 pm. Conversely, we’ve recommended avoiding Magic Kingdom on non-party days.
There’s an added wrinkle to this from mid-October through December, Party Season “expands” from 2-3 days per week to 3-4 days per week. This results in some 4-5 days stretches when Magic Kingdom is only one until 10 pm or 11 pm once, and closes early all other nights. This creates major problems, especially on Main Street, as there are several days of crowds consolidated into a single date by virtue of those concentrated 6 pm closings.
If you do make the mistake of going–perhaps even on purpose as you want to see Magic Kingdom at night and it’s your only option–at least heed this one piece of advice: stay far away from Main Street before, during, and after Happily Ever After and Starlight Night Parade! Seriously. It can get downright uncomfortable and feel unsafe.
8. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Animal Kingdom – Let’s just say that there’s a reason why Animal Kingdom is now the “cheapest” park for Lightning Lane Multi-Pass. We beg of you: do not be fooled by this. It’s not actually a deal if it’s something you don’t need!
Even on busier days, you do not need LLMP at Animal Kingdom with even a scintilla of strategizing. This is discussed in countless posts, including in our Best Time-Saving Strategies for Walt Disney World, which says all you need to know for DAK is “don’t go during the middle of the day and stand in long lines.”
Seriously, that’s about it. Arriving early or staying late work perfectly fine for beating the crowds because most guests still treat it like a half-day park and attendance is significantly lower at Animal Kingdom than any other park at Walt Disney World.
As a result, a lower advertised base price for Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom is almost meaningless. This is especially true on days when Animal Kingdom is under $20–crowd levels are never bad enough on those dates to justify LLMP in the first place!
There’s one big exception to this, which is strategic Park Hopping. Some Lightning Lane power users might be able to leverage LLMP at DAK by pairing it with another park, savvy strategy, and a strong refresh game!
7. Pinocchio Village Haus Lunch Rush – We covered this one in Magic Kingdom’s Biggest Love-Hate Restaurant. After a fast and furious morning racing through Fantasyland, it’s common for kids and parents alike to hit a wall, needing food immediately or risking a meltdown. Enter Pinocchio Village Haus. Literally, they all enter Pinocchio Village Haus because it’s the nearest restaurant when the clock is ticking on a nuclear meltdown.
The core demographic of Pinocchio Village Haus during the midday rush is “hangry families that are 90 seconds to midnight on the WDW Doomsday Clock.” This is exactly why merely mentioning it can send shudders down the spine of longtime fans. We’ve almost all been there, with the war stories to tell about Pinocchio Village Haus and eerily similar not-so-fond memories of the restaurant.
Pinocchio Village Haus is the most infamous Magic Kingdom large-scale eatery, but it’s a similar story with the other high-capacity counter service restaurants. We’ve wandered aimlessly at Cosmic Ray’s trying to find a table and had people literally run into us rounding corners at Pecos Bills. The moral of the story is not to avoid these restaurants entirely–as they each have redeeming qualities–but to not do it during the lunch rush when it’s bonkers. Go early or late to save your time and sanity.
6. Pandora, Star Wars or Toy Story Lands Midday – There are a few components to this. First is crowds, which are always chaotic and take away from enjoying the lands. These lands have a lot of fun details, but when they’re packed with people, the crowds impede anyone’s ability to truly soak up these lands.
Long lines during the middle of the day certainly don’t help. This isn’t just triple-digit waits for the attractions, either. Walkways and shops become congested, and it’s more difficult to see everything as a result. Good luck meeting the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda or trying to find a table at Woody’s Lunch Box!
Second, you’re running a risk if rain is in the forecast. These lands are large and have few indoor escapes if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Adding insult to injury, they are a bit isolated from the rest of their respective parks. In short, if it starts raining in either and you’re not already inside, you will get wet. Your options for quickly ducking indoors are limited if not nonexistent.
Finally, there’s the simple reality that these lands are best at the beginning and end of the day. Pandora’s bioluminescence and organic life comes alive in the evening, and it truly feels like another planet. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has a spooky and serene sense to it, except in the marketplace where a variety of beautiful light fixtures give added texture and depth to everything. Toy Story Land’s cartoonish quality is even more exaggerated, with show lighting and popcorn lights adding even more vibrance to the land.
5. Summit Plummet – Despite my claim for years that I’m good on this, when we visited Blizzard Beach this year, I did Summit Plummet again. Almost as soon as it began, the realization washed over me like water that I had made a terrible mistake. To borrow the immortal words of Roger Murtaugh: I’m too old for this slide.
This is the only attraction on this list, and the reason for that is that we think people should judge attractions for themselves, because everyone has different preferences. (For example, there are probably a few of you who don’t like Country Bear Jamboree. That’s fine–some people don’t like masterpieces like The Godfather and Citizen Kane, either.)
For me, Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach water park is something that’s moderately enjoyable and I’m glad it exists, because it looks really cool and is a great water slide concept…but once was enough. From the insanely long line to the feeling of pure terror to the crazy wedgie, I’m good on it for one lifetime. Actually, I’ll probably do it when I’m 65, against my better judgment once more, just to feel young and reckless again. 😉
4. “Improperly Pack” – This is somewhat of a blanket statement because it’s a mistake I’ve made repeatedly in different ways. Basically, I have a propensity to simultaneously under and over-pack, and bring clothing for the weather I want rather than the weather that’s actually forecast.
For example, I have a tendency to pack shorts and polos for winter trips–a mistake I’ve made as recently as last year, even despite having written our Winter Packing Tips for Disney. For early fall trips, I’ve been known to bring jeans and button-downs, even when the weather is still sweltering. Beyond that, I leave behind practical items I end up missing to avoid overpacking, while bringing pointless stuff “just in case” that I never use.
Unfortunately, I don’t have an elephant-caliber memory…or I try to convince myself that “it’ll be different this time” (for reasons unknown), only to have history repeat itself. In other words, I say this is a mistake I’ll never make again…but I almost certainly will. Fortunately, there’s now a UNIQLO at Disney Springs, and that store has bailed me out many times!
3. Food & Wine Festival on a Weekend – We want to start out by saying that we really enjoy Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival…but we don’t love it on weekends. Ever been to a UCF frat party? Well, if you answered “no”, it’s not too late!
Weekend evenings are prime time for college students with disposable incomes to descend upon the Festival to get sloshed. For them, it sure beats drinking Old Style in a dank basement (like we did in college), but that atmosphere plus the huge crowds can make this the least pleasant time to be at Food & Wine Festival.
Weekdays during the festival are far more enjoyable. It’s also far more enjoyable to attend Food & Wine in mid-November when the temperatures and humidity are more bearable, but we invariably attend in September because that’s usually when we visit for Halloween.
BONUS: Italy Booth – If not “required” for the sake of research, we’d never do the Italy booth at any festival ever again. The kiosk is notorious for high prices, elementary school cafeteria-inspired cuisine, and just a startling lack of ambition. If you enjoy paying $10 for a sample-sized version of microwaved TV dinners, Italy is a great option. If not, stay far away.
2. Rainforest Cafe – How this restaurant still has multiple locations around the United States, much less multiple locations in Walt Disney World, defies logic. The food is awful, and the ambiance reminds me of 1980s-relic ShowBiz Pizza Place, but “modernized” for the 1990s and devoid of character/charm.
The dark cloud that hangs over Rainforest Cafe almost extended to cast a shadow over T-Rex Cafe for me. Fortunately, I gave that a chance because dinosaurs, and was pleasantly surprised. If you are thinking, “but our kids love Rainforest Cafe!” consider taking them to T-Rex instead.
1. Leave Early – Nighttime is when the parks come alive with beautiful lighting and enchanting ambiance. It’s also when the weather starts to cool and lines start to die down. From a practical perspective, nights are now more advantageous than mornings, with lower wait times in the last couple of hours of the night than in the first couple hours after rope drop.
On top of that, one of my favorite “attractions” is strolling through World Showcase after Epcot’s fireworks end, just soaking up the ambiance, listening to the music, and seeing the stunning architecture. I’d rather do this for an hour than spend 8 daylight hours in the park. Same goes for wandering along the Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom or being bathed in the neon glow of Tomorrowland.
BONUS: Sleep In – We stress this so much on the blog that it’s probably becoming cliche. However, it’s good advice–especially if you’re staying on-site and are eligible for Early Entry. There’s no better way to beat the crowds at most parks. Basically, we would never not be tired at Walt Disney World again. Well, that’s not true–midday naps are a game-changer if you can manage them.
Beyond a couple of other restaurants that are blacklisted (for now) and attractions we avoid for personal reasons, but that’s about it. Hopefully you can learn from some of our mistakes…or find solace in knowing that we have made these same mistakes as you. Think of this as a support group for those who have been awoken by loud construction at off-hours or who have dropped $200 on a family “dinner” at Rainforest Cafe. Share your own “NEVER AGAIN!” items in the comments–venting can be therapeutic!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What things at Walt Disney World would you never do again? Is any restaurant, resort, or ride beyond redemption for you? Any time of year you’d never visit? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Would you do any of these things again? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
If anything Frozen is going on in a park, DO NOT go there on a Saturday. Made the mistake of planning my Hollywood Studios day on a Saturday when they had Frozen Summer Fun. Nope. Between the crowds and Olaf, we left early.
Though that could have been because we went the week after labor day, and our running joke was “Well, you know the standby wait for that is 20 minutes! Do you really think we can wait that long?!?!” said as we got in the standby line. 😉
We stayed at AoA during pop warner week this past year and no issues. You need to look at where they players and cheerleaders are staying. They also stay at Caribbean Beach too. We found they were not a big issue even in the parks too.
I guess I should’ve been more clear: the All-Star Value Resorts. I don’t believe Pop Warner typically stays at Art of Animation or Pop Century.
They are less of an issue in the parks…unless you happen to be stuck behind a large group in a particular line.
The under-supervised really only applies to the football players, they generally come with only coach chaperons. The cheerleaders must have a parent per cheerleader and they have a strict curfew. Cheer parent – Disney gives you two choices a value (All-Star) which is mostly filled with football teams and a moderate which is mostly filled with cheer teams. I’d never stay at the value with my then pre-teen daughter…
We were there during a Pop Warner week in December 2010. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and there were tons of cheerleaders there. I have experienced the issues at the All Star resorts in past years but it was the cheerleaders causing the problems not the football players. Anyway….I didn’t realize they stayed at moderate resorts so didn’t check prior to leaving. Luckily they were extremely well behaved and we had no issues. No loud cheering late at night or early in the morning or on the bus ride back to the resort. We were lucky that time. I always check now before booking in December. I don’t ever want to stay at a resort with them again, even though we didn’t have issues last time. The resort was extremely crowded with them there.
We once got “yogurt” for breakfast and after that we stopped to get groceries coming back from a day trip in Orlando. I’m a big supporter of the picking up/getting delivered of groceries while on staying on site.
And thanks for the tips about Pop warner, New Years Eve and food and wine. They would never have crossed my mind otherwise.
We planned a last-minute surprise trip for our 7-year-old last December, and we decided that since it was going to be a commando-style touring trip, we’d save money by staying at a Value resort–All Star Movies–for the first time. I didn’t check Pop Warner dates until the day after we booked, and I immediately panicked when I realized that, of course, we had inadvertently made your #1 mistake. We quickly ponied up an extra $40 a night to stay in a Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation, and I still believe it’s one of the wisest financial decisions I’ve ever made.
Chef Mickey breakfast is bad. As in I will never again do it. No amount of napkin twirling will ever redeem the overcrowded restaurant with luke warm buffet breakfast. I prefer 1900 Park Fare or Ohana. Both have better food the times I have gone and 1900 Park Fare has an Edys ice cream machine. I may be mistaken but whats better for breakfast on vacation than ice cream?
Thanks for this, Tom. Never been to Disney World and now I know what to avoid, should I ever visit. Now we need a Top 10 Never Again list for DisneyLAND! That’s my turf. 🙂
I loved Chef Mickey’s Breakfast. My family all said they preferred Ohana, but I like the serve yourself style buffet better. I also love the Contemporary and the kids love seeing the monorail go zooming past. The lighting is better for photographs in Chef Mickey’s and my daughter loved the napkin dance. It was probably one of the one character meals I’d love to go back to. Especially since they had the “main” characters – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy when we went. Also more food choices works better for picky kid eaters. I’ve never gone for dinner. But I’d trust you and avoid it.
I would never go back for Christmas week. My father booked it thinking it would be free from people, not having read all evidence otherwise. We didn’t get to do anything in the parks. Tried to get in New Year’s Day – we couldn’t even park! Hordes crowded around the car and we eventually had to leave. For many years as a child we would go on July 4th. It was busy and hot but it was doable. Not my favorite by far but preferable to Christmas week. Never again Christmas week…
I agree whole heartedly about Chef Mickeys. When we start to plan a trip, my children immediately request It!! Meanwhile, since each of 5 kiddos have been to Cindy’s, they don’t want to return to that one. They say too much time, not fun enough.
Hmm. I’m with you on #4, but perhaps not on #3. If I were to visit on NYE again, I think I’d see the Christmas Illuminations at 6 and go back and go to bed. Then hit rope drop on New Year’s when everyone else is still sleeping/hungover.
I’m a little surprised on #2 (well, not Stitch). We’ve used FP+ for SSE several times to good effect. Since they started offering FP+, waits are prequently 30+ minutes. Stitch has actually been a “not ever” for us. I should probably do it once just to see if it’s as bad as everyone says.
Maybe it’s a result of when we’re visiting (off-seasons), but in mid-afternoon, SSE is still a walk-on. The same is NOT true at Haunted Mansion or Pirates, both of which used to have minimal waits…
With a school-aged daughter, sadly the “off-season” is a thing at the past. But here is a Sunday in mid-February, which should be pretty low crowds and the SSE waits are pretty brutal: http://www.easywdw.com/reports13/ep21416.jpg
Booked a Fastpass for SSE early that expired while we were at a resort breakfast. By noon we had riden Soarin and had a talk with Crush… And were able to book our fourth fastpass at Test Track. If you have to come in late in a park with tiered attractions fastpasses then it “might” be ok to “waste” one while away.
As a kid my parents always took me out of school for a week to go to Disney World (or any other vacation) in the off season and I’d highly recommend it. Sure I had a pile of homework to do on the plane to and from but otherwise it was fantastic. We got to enjoy things as a family without crazy crowds and not having perfect attendance has ever affected my grades, college or career possibilities. So unless you’re a teacher I’d say the school year is an irrelevant consideration when making vacation plans for the family.
Hollywood Studios is just as bad for New Years Eve. Drunks all over the place and they can be violent. Got too close in my power wheelchair and was slammed on the head by a drunk and hurt my neck and back. Was in severe pain the rest of the night. No on any park but Magic Kingdom. I hate drunks!
I have the perfect concept for you:
DVC should turn the Carrolwood Pacific Room in the Wilderness Lodge Villas into “Teddy’s Roosevelt’s All-American He-Man Locals-Haters’ Club.”
Imagineers would place a carefully hidden device to dispense the manly scents of saddle leather, gun oil, and horsesh*t. You’d be handed a robe, slippers, and a pipe upon entering, and ushered to a comfortable recliner. Chesty broads in skimpy skirts could bring you plates of Fig Newtons and glasses of warm milk. Clips of the “Joe Pyne Show” would alternate with footage of the Chicago police beating the hippies outside the 1968 Democratic convention on the video monitors.
A life size Ronald Reagan animatronic would keep you company, nodding manfully every few minutes.
That’d show those beatnik kids running riot through Epcot how a man’s man relaxes!
June. That’s all. The month of June. (I would say July/August/September, too, but those wouldn’t qualify as “again”.)
Is is because of heat, crowds? I’m going with some friends the last week(they are all east coast teachers) so it’s the earliest they could go.I’m excited because any trip to Disney is better than no trip, but I always go during off season so I’m a little nervous about heat and crowds.
It’s the heat! The crowds also mean more time standing in line outdoors in the sun. But it’s all heat-related. I wouldn’t mind the crowds so much in the winter months.
Side note, I was born/raised (and still live) in Phoenix. I’m used to 120 degree days. But man, that humidity… there is nothing else like it.
Numbers 5 and 7 ring home with me. Totally underestimated just how crazy the food and wine festival would be on a Saturday, never ever again. And Chef Mickeys, food was enjoyable (a brunch at 2.30pm ?!) but poor waiting service really made us feel we were just a number and didn’t matter very much. Luckily Chef Mickey and pals made a huge fuss of our children though so experience rescued!!
Ditto. Did it on a Saturday in ’14 and my sister and I said we’d never do it again. I don’t go to EPCOT for a frat party atmosphere!
I have only ever been to WDW during the off season but due to my step-daughters cheerleading schedule, our only option would be to go the 4th of July and following week. I’ve never been during the summer months, let alone a summer holiday. Am I really in for a miserable time???
I went a few years ago on Fourth of July and I think it’s all in how you approach it. We went to Hollywood studios during the day which wasn’t terribly crowded. We did some resort time in the afternoon and had dinner at Sanaa (I feel any resort restaurant is a smart plan especially a lesser known one. We did a 5pm to see the animals and get a window view). We jumped into Animal Kingdom just to grab a late Kilimanjaro Safari because I’d always wanted to go early or late since animals are more active then. We originally planned to go to Magic Kingdom but the line for the bus was insane. Almost nobody was in the Epcot line so we went there. It was a little crowded but not horrible. During the day Magic Kingdom was regularly at capacity so my biggest advice is avoid Magic Kingdom that day (we were there the day before with Extra Magic Hours until 3am and you could walk on almost everything by 1). We actually had time to take advantage of two EMH in MK until 2 or 3am while we were there. Nap/go to the pool in the middle of the day when it’s hottest.
If your frame of reference is off-season, July 4th will be dramatically different in terms of crowds and weather. You can still your time, but just adjust your expectations accordingly, and plan ahead.
In 2007 my family being from Buffalo made the mistake of going camping in Canada on the 4th of July and we ate at a Chinese restaurant (Idk what we were thinking) well it was the worst trip ever that my parents quickly decided to make up for it and the following year 2008, we spent the 4th of July in Disney in the Magic Kingdom. It was the BEST 4th of July ever! I’m pretty sure it had something to do with the disaster the year before that made us appreciate it more, but it was wonderful. Yes it was VERY crowded, but my sister and I were 19 and 15 at the time so it wasn’t like my parents had to navigate a stroller or put up with napless children. If you are a patient person then I think you will be fine, it was pretty great standing there and appreciating the fireworks with other Americans who love this country just as much 🙂
We have been for the Fourth the last 2 years and LOVED it! Yes, it is hot, yes it is crowded, but if you plan well, take breaks and know what to expect, the fireworks truly are Magical. We were at MK last year on the 3rd, and fireworks were delayed (a really long time) due to a lightening storm, which was beautiful behind the castle. Then did Studios on the 4th which was really cool. Neither were ridiculously crowded. I am sure MK on the 4th was nuts, but like I said, plan ahead, you’ll be fine! Enjoy!!
We used to go that time of year. HYDRATE! You are in for punishing heat, but many of the lines are now indoors and interactive, so that might help. Also, hit the water parks during the day and the theme parks in the evening.
The reason Chef Mickey’s is so terrible (and it’s been this way since the beginning) is because of the blatant way the Chef neglects the kitchen. I don’t think he’s ever even been in the kitchen. He’s always just waltzing around taking pictures with everyone.
Hahaha
They really should just make this part of the backstory. People would still book it.
Be my friend.
Laughing. So. Hard.
This is the funniest thing I’ve read in awhile!
We saw Goofy take his head off before entering the kitchen during one meal only to hear the mangement observing from the other side begin yelling and swearing to keep the costume on. Soo….we’re gonna pass on Chef Mickeys and mostly all buffets for a while! Love you though Disney!
Love the breakfast at Crystal Palace and at Cape May Café!
Cracking up!!!
Totally agree on all of these! The quick service breakfast has gotten so bad since we became DVC members in 2009.
Love the list! I definitely agree with the quick service breakfast. Two days of food poisoning is not a good time. Next trip, we’re back to pop tarts in the room.
I would add don’t wear jeans on Kali River Rapids, especially when your clothes are already packed for the flight home. I didn’t know what the ride was an the back of my jeans were STILL wet by the time we got home to Montana 12 hours later.
Ohanas is A never again for us. Every time we have gone (4 different trips) the food was burnt, tough or over salted and the service was the worst we have ever had at any WDW restaurant. Other than that, we have no never agains!
We have dined at ‘Ohana EVERY time we’ve visited, and other than taking my beloved pineapple and caramel away for dessert, we have never been disappointed!! We begin every trip there, and we would never consider not going. I’m sorry you had a poor experience, but I implore you to give them another shot…pleeease
Omg I love ohanas for breakfast. It is a must go to place every time!
Best tip is to skip July 4 and New Years Eve and go THE NIGHT BEFORE!! Yes you will see the exact same special fireworks show with a much smaller crowd!
Is this true? If so, I’m sold!!
It’s true at the Magic Kingdom, but not Epcot.
I did it the 5th of July one year, and was pleasantly surprised by the crowd size.
The country bears outside of their attraction, on the street and in parades, terrify me…so I’ve never even been inside whatever it is they do in there! Mine Train is on a “not for a while” for us because the ride wasnt worth the wait, IMO (even with Fp+) …An exception you might want to make for counter service breakfast is beignets at Port Orleans!! Breakfast of champions!
Totally agree with you about Mine Train! We waited 60 minutes and for the ride that was 60 minutes too long. Not saying it’s a horrible ride but for the wait I’ve been on better!
I actually had a 4th of July trip that I booked and then cancelled after I thought about how hot it’s going to be, and how insane the crowds will be. If they are anything like March break, no thanks. Heading back in November during low season and food and wine.
We actually thought about it -once! Had it all planned out to stay at Poly in a beachfront room and NEVER venture into MK that day. Then we went for a week at the end of May. We couldn’t get home fast enough (we live up “nawth”). One of the first thing we did was cancel the July 4 trip. Whew, one of our smarter moves!
#9 is #1 on my list. I’ve only done it once, but that was enough. I remember feeling like I was going to die, while my eyes were pelted with water and my baiting suit tried to split me in half. Not quite the type of ‘thrill’ ride I look for.
Have also only ever done Chef Mickey’s for breakfast, and the kiddo had such a blast that it has become a ‘must do’ for us every visit.
Oh, and my days of #3 are unfortunately long gone… I need my beauty rest these days.
Gotta love that wedgie from hell…NOT!!! I was actually considering doing it again, since I haven’t done it in years. I think I’ll pass and keep my bathing suit bottoms where they were intended to be and not up around my neck!
Agreed re: Chef Mickey’s at breakfast. Our oldest was 7 at the time, and it was one of the absolute highlights of our trip.
And Tom – their breakfast food was absolutely acceptable! It may have changed since summer 2013, but I recall an omelettes-to-order station, and waffles being made continuously. And every 30 minutes or so, a “twirl-your-napkin” dance party thing. It was expensive, but totally set the stage for a big day.
All that said – getting dinner at Chef Mickey’s, especially w/o kids, would seem like a giant bummer. Especially with California Grill RIGHT THERE.
I had breakfast at Chef Mickeys and it was the worst meal I’ve had at WDW. Plus the server was non-existent and the characters stayed for seconds. I’m with Tom here.
We love Chef Mickey’s. It’s not about the food, really, it’s about meeting the characters without waiting in lines. Besides I like the mac n’ cheese.
I totally agree with this whole list. And funnily enough we just decided on #3 ourselves a few days ago. We said “Ya know enough of ensuring we get enough sleep. We’re at Disney and night time is the magic time. This year we are closing ’em out!” I told my DD who is 6 just this morning and she said “Alright gotcha, sounds good to me.”