Debunking 10 Common Assumptions About Disney World: Get the Facts!
Hey there, Disney dreamers! Planning a trip to the most magical place on Earth can be a real emotional roller coaster—excitement, overwhelm, and yes, sticker shock. But let's set the record straight by debunking 10 common assumptions people make about Disney World. Prepare to have your pixie dust-infused bubbles burst (or pleasantly inflated)!
Here are 10 common assumptions people make about Disney World. Check them out now!
Assumption #1: Disney World is Just Too Expensive
It's no secret—Disney World can be a real hit to the wallet. But hear me out; how expensive your trip ends up being is entirely within your control. Sure, Disney sets the prices for their Theme Park tickets, and yes, those aren't cheap. But did you know that you can choose between different types of tickets to save some bucks?
For instance, opting for a 'One Park Per Day' ticket is definitely cheaper than getting a 'Park Hopper' ticket. So there's some wiggle room right there!
For example, a One Park Per Day ticket is going to be less expensive than a Park Hopper ticket.
Quick Ways to Save Money:
Stay at a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel: These off-property options often offer free self-parking, complimentary transportation to Disney World, and even a free breakfast. Savings? Oh, you bet!
Order Groceries for Your Stay: Services like Garden Grocer or Instacart let you order groceries in advance that can be delivered straight to your hotel. Stocking up on breakfast items and snacks can be a game-changer, especially when you have kids. Plus, Disney allows you to bring your own snacks into the park. That's a win-win!
Now, I'll go into more detail about budget-friendly Disney hacks in a future blog post, but for now, know that a trip to Disney doesn't have to break the bank!
Assumption #2: Walt Disney World isn’t as fun as Disneyland
Time to settle the age-old debate: Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Friends, I have to tell you, they are both spectacular in their own unique ways. Walt Disney World has not one, but FOUR theme parks, two water parks, and a sprawling shopping and dining district. The point is, one isn't better than the other; they're just different flavors of the same magical ice cream sundae.
Assumption #3: You can’t see it all in one trip
As anyone who's ever visited Disney World knows, there's a lot to see. You could spend weeks at Disney World and still not see it all. However, it’s very doable to see most of it in one trip. The key is to choose 3-5 things in each park that you HAVE to see and do, and then everything after that will just be a bonus.
My family and I usually go to Disneyland because it’s closer for us. When we go to Disney World, we like to do the things that they don’t have at Disneyland first! There is some overlap with attractions, but even then they are totally different (with the exception of a couple of attractions!) The same goes for Disneyland - there are attractions there that they do not have at Walt Disney World!
Assumption #4: There’s a lot of walking at Disney World
Many people assume that there’s a lot of walking at Disney World.
This is true and false! It all depends on how you plan your day. (hint: One Park Per Day!)
Here are some tips to saving your feet at Walt Disney World:
Wear comfortable shoes. Bonus if these shoes are also water proof. It is known to rain (and rain hard) in Florida, so you won’t want to walk around with soggy shoes.
Try not to hop around the park. Work your way around. For example, you don’t want to start at Space Mountain, then run over to Splash Mountain, then back over to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Start in Tomorrowland or Adventureland and work your way clockwise or counter-clockwise. Then, you won’t be walking nearly as much!
Take breaks! Even if you only make it to Walt Disney World once every few years, it’s important to not overdo it. Sit down and have water breaks, snack breaks, and resting breaks. Your feet will thank you!
Stay at one park per day. (This is what I mentioned above!) Not only will you save money by not paying extra for a Park Hopper Ticket, but you will save your feet by staying in one park each day rather than hopping around from park to park.
Park Hopping takes so much time out of your day, too! Walt Disney World is so spread out, that you’ll have to walk out of the Park you’re in to your Transportation to another park, then walk from Transportation into another Park. Plan to spend 30 min to 1 hour to get from one park to another.
At Disneyland Resort, Disneyland and California Adventure are literally steps away from each other and so getting 15-20k steps in a day is not uncommon. Yes, Disney World is bigger, but staying at one park and taking your time around the park will result in not as much walking.
Assumption #5: It’s just for kids
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a trip to Walt Disney World, and anyone who says otherwise is fibbing. :)
Obviously, there are attractions geared toward younger guests—no one expects you to ride Dumbo—but if you're an adult looking for a trip filled with fun and excitement, look no further than Walt Disney World. Whether you're celebrating your honeymoon or going as part of a family reunion, there's plenty of stuff at The Most Magical Place on Earth for grown ups!
My husband and I always joke that Disney isn’t for kids. We do love to take them, but we also love to go without them!
Here are just a couple of our favorite things to do at EPCOT that are catered to Adults:
Festivals at Epcot - Yes, there are many things that kids will appreciate, but if you’re into eating and drinking (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) around the World Showcase, you’ll love this.
Festival of the Arts (typically mid January - late February)
Flower and Garden Festival (typically early March - late June)
Food and Wine Festival (typically mid July - early November)
Festival of the Holidays (typically mid November - late December)
Live Entertainment on Epcot Festival Weekends
Check out the Live Entertainment featured most weekends at Epcot during each of the Festivals. They bring in celebrities to perform, and can be so fun! We saw SmashMouth one year while we were there. Hey now, you’re an All Star! :)
Festival of the Arts - Disney on Broadway
Flower and Garden Festival - Garden Rocks Concert Series
Food and Wine Festival - Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Festival of the Holidays - Candlelight Processional
Assumption #6: Disneyland and Disney World are the same
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland park in California share a lot of similarities, but one big difference is that the Disneyland Resort includes 2 theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Walt Disney World consists of 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World are packed with unique attractions for every age group, making them well worth a visit if you’re in Orlando or Anaheim.
Like I said earlier, they are so hard to compare just because they’re so different.
Disneyland Resort is smaller and there’s much more packed into a small area. It’s easy to hop between the two parks because they are directly across from each other.
Walt Disney World is much more spread out (the whole place is over 40 square miles - the size of Manhattan Island x 2!). It’s not easy to go between parks - plan on 30-60 min to get from one park to the other for Park Hopping! There is also a lot at Disney World that isn’t at Disneyland.
You just have to go to Disneyland and Walt Disney World and see for yourself!
Assumption #7: It’s Too Expensive to Stay On-Property
Staying on-property at the Disneyland Resort is expensive, and there are off-property resorts available at a fraction of the price for the same proximity. Unlike the Disneyland Resort (which currently only has 3 On-property resorts), Walt Disney World has 32 On-property hotels to choose from to stay at, in a variety of budgets that will fit your different needs.
Let me say that again. There are 32 (!!) different ON-PROPERTY Resorts to choose from at Walt Disney World, vs only 3 at Disneyland Resort.
The resorts at Walt Disney World are broken up into categories:
Value - these typically are the most affordable, have smaller rooms, and fewer amenities.
Moderate - a bit more expensive than Value resorts, the rooms are going to be a bit bigger and have more amenities than the Value resorts.
Deluxe - these are the hotels that have the best amenities, like being within walking distance to one of the Parks. They typically have bigger rooms, better restaurants, and cost more than Value or Moderate.
Deluxe Villas - these are the cream of the crop in quality and space. They offer multi-bedroom suites with full kitchens for longer stays. These are the nicest of the nice, and the cost reflects that!
Disney Campgrounds - yes, you can camp in a tent or bring your RV and stay at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort!
So, is staying on property expensive? Well, it depends on what you want to spend your money on! If you only want to be right next to Magic Kingdom with a view of the fireworks, you’re going to pay a pretty penny. If you just want to be on property to take advantage of all the perks of staying at a Disney Resort Hotel and you’re willing to sacrifice the size of your room or the amount of amenities, then no, it’s not expensive.
Perks of Staying On-Property:
Extended park hours
Efficient transport systems within the resort
Proximity to theme parks
Exclusive resort activities
My Disney Experience app integration
Personal Recommendation: We usually opt for Disney's Pop Century Resort due to its budget-friendliness and Skyliner access. Dream destinations? Disney's Riviera Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort, but more on those in an upcoming blog post!
Assumption #8: Disney World is so overwhelming
If you're a Disneyland regular, the thought of navigating Walt Disney World might seem daunting. While it's true that WDW requires a bit more strategic planning, I'm here to make the process as smooth as possible.
Crucial Aspects to Master:
Park Reservations: Understand the booking system.
Navigation: Get familiar with Walt Disney World's layout.
Disney Genie+: Learn how to utilize this service for a personalized experience.
Dining Plans: Find out the best places to eat during your stay.
Why Book Through Me?
Here's where it gets exciting! When you book through me, not only do you benefit from my extensive Disney knowledge, but you also get the following:
Customized Trip Planning: Tailored to fit your budget and travel style.
Exclusive Tips & Guides: Comprehensive advice on managing crowds, using Disney Genie+, Foodie Guides, and tips for a kid-friendly experience—absolutely free.
Hassle-Free Resolutions: I'm the one who'll sit on hold and talk to Disney to resolve any issues.
Budget-Watch: I'll keep an eye out for special deals that can be applied to your vacation.
The best part? You don't pay me a cent extra. Disney covers my fee, ensuring that you get all the help you need at no additional cost.
Assumption #9: Disney World is the name of a park
This is false! While it’s easy to think of Walt Disney World as a single theme park, in reality, there are four main parks—Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom—and many smaller resort hotels. There’s also Disney Springs for dining and shopping.
It can get confusing because Disneyland is the name of the park and it’s also the name of the entire Resort. I’ll usually say Disneyland Park or Disneyland Resort.
Magic Kingdom is what people usually associate with Disney World - it has Cinderella Castle and a similar layout to Disneyland Park.
Epcot has the big golf ball which is actually called Spaceship Earth. This is the one with World Showcase and all the different festivals happening throughout the year.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Tower of Terror (yes, it’s still at Walt Disney World!), and Toy Story Land.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not a zoo. :) Yes, there are animals here, but it is so much more than that!
Assumption #10: The only food is pizza and chicken nuggets
While Walt Disney World has plenty of restaurants that offer pizza and chicken nuggets, this is definitely not the only kind of food you will find here!
Walt Disney World has a wide variety of places to eat in every kind of budget and cuisine.
One of the best hacks I have for Walt Disney World is using the My Disney Experience app to help you find food! Let’s say you’re in the mood for a Pretzel. Open the app, and type in the search menu “pretzel”. Then, all the places that serve pretzels will come up. You can tap on an option and find it on a map, or even get directions from where you are in order to find it! It’s amazing. (this doesn’t just go for food - you can find restrooms, attractions, your way back to transportation, etc)
The other amazing thing about Disney (in general) is that they are very accommodating if you have any food allergies or special requests. This is something I can help you navigate as well!
There you have it, folks—a deep dive into some of the most common assumptions about Walt Disney World and why they might not hold water. Whether you're a seasoned Disneyland veteran looking to make the leap to Walt Disney World or a first-time visitor overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options, know this: the magic is real, accessible, and tailor-made for everyone.
Remember, the beauty of a Disney vacation lies in its ability to offer something for every age group, every budget, and every travel style. So why limit yourself based on assumptions? Break those misconceptions and craft the kind of Disney experience that dreams are made of!