Arriving in Disney World is one of the most exciting feelings we’ve ever experienced.
You’ve done all the planning, and now you’re here! There’s so much to take in, especially if you’re staying at a Disney hotel, and you likely are just bursting with excitement and can’t wait for your full first day. However, there are some mistakes you may be making on your first night in the resort that we DEEPLY advise against.
Not Going To Bed Early
We know, you may be too excited to sleep, but trust us when we say that alarm clock is going to go off EARLY the next morning, and you’re going to need all the rest you can get.
This can especially be hard for kiddos because you just want the morning to be there already! We suggest bringing as much of home with you as you can — a storybook, sound machine, or pair of familiar pajamas and/or a blanket can help assist in littles winding down for the night.
Forgetting To Charge Your Devices
Do you know what’s even worse than showing up in a Disney World park with a dead MagicBand+? A dead phone, which means you can’t even take photos. Be sure to charge ALL of your devices the night before!
We know this can be tricky with a limited number of outlets and a lot of family/friends in one room, but we suggest making sure you have plenty of charging blocks with you so you can take advantage of normal outlets and USB ports on lamps and bedside tables.
Forgetting To Set A Backup Alarm
We’ve all been there — your alarm goes off and you hit snooze once, twice, then you turn it all the way off, and bam, you’ve lost your rope drop time. That’s why setting up a backup alarm is very important!
In addition to setting up the backup alarm, if you’re someone who struggles with turning off your alarms in a half-asleep daze, then use an outlet across the room to charge your phone, that way you have to get up and walk to turn it off.
Not Making A Genie+ Lightning Lane Plan For The Next Day
If you’re planning to hit ALL the rides and attractions in your chosen park the next day and have chosen to purchase Genie+, the planning isn’t over. You’ll want to discuss a Genie+ game plan with your group before you all hit the hay.
Some big topics to discuss are:
- What’s the first lightning lane you’re getting for the day?
- Are you stacking lightning lanes for later in the day, or getting the ones next available?
- Who is going on what rides? Will you need to use rider swap in addition to Genie+?
And those are just a few to get you started. Don’t worry though, we have plenty of guides on our YouTube Channel and here on the site to walk you through using Genie+, so stay tuned to AllEars!
Is Genie+ worth it, and when is it? We answer it all here!
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What would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!
Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes are not a necessity! Yes, they will help, but can still have a great time in the parks while saving $100 a day or more on a family trip by rope dropping and using a touring plan found in many places on the internet or in guide books.
Don’t drive yourself crazy is my advice. Realize you aren’t used to what you are about to do. The walking, crowds, waiting in long lines, perhaps the weather all will factor in. Understand one thing: you won’t get to do everything. The ticket prices are too high to try and go into a park the day if arrival. So get the lay of the land. Walk around your resort or hotel. Pack your bathing suits in your carry on in case your room isn’t ready and spend time by the pool. And make an early dinner reservation and go to bed early. You can spend the time you have there relaxing and enjoying what you can or pushing yourself so hard you regret going there.
Don’t try to squeeze 2parks into one day…especially if you have a toddler. Just too much!!