Walt Disney World is one of the most magical places on Earth.
We obviously love Disney World but sometimes it’s not exactly what you think it will be. From travel cancelations to nasty weather, going to Disney can sometimes be a little frustrating too. Our AllEars reporters head into the parks every single day and so we decided to ask them, what is it REALLY like going to Disney World every day?
Our reporters came up with 10 things to share about what it’s really like being in the Disney parks every single day.
1. Going to Disney every day is amazing… most of the time.
Going to Disney World every day sounds like a dream to some people! For us, it really is a dream come true and it is amazing, but not every day is magic. From not great weather to large crowds, sometimes it can even be overwhelming to know you need to be in the parks every day. Disney is magical, just like the company says, but it has its ups and downs just like anywhere in the world.
Wait times can get extremely long, you’re burning in the sun, and the park might even flood after heavy rain. (Yes, it’s happened before!) It can be a lot to deal with some of Disney’s less than magical times, but that’s why we like to remember that nowhere on Earth is sunshine and rainbows every day. Yes, it’s sometimes a lot going to Disney World every day but we would rather have a bad day at Disney than a good one anywhere else!
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2. It’s HOT no matter how many tips and tricks you know.
It’s no secret that it gets hot at Disney World, especially in the summertime. However, a lot of people underestimate just how hot it will be. (It can be downright brutal!) That being said, being in the heat every day can be a real challenge.
Add this heat to standing in the sun for hours and our reporters can attest sometimes it doesn’t matter how many tips and tricks you know. That’s why we think it’s so important to share what actually helps us fight off the heat. Of course, we don’t go anywhere without our sunscreen. Although this isn’t necessarily going to help you cool down, it will help save your skin– literally. We also don’t leave home without a fan.
After we grab our fan and sunscreen, our final necessity is a water bottle. Drinking water and staying hydrated is truly the best way for us to lower our body heat. A water bottle is easily our most important necessity so when we grab our free water from different quick services, we can take it with us anywhere in the park. And if all else fails, find shade! There’s nothing wrong with needing a quick break in Disney, we know we need it!
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3. You find places you never even knew about.
One thing our reporters love about being in Disney World every day is finding places and attractions they didn’t even know about. Disney has tons of awesome rides and shows that can easily overshadow the others, so it’s not hard to get distracted by the big ticket items when you’re on your trip. For us, going every day means we no longer feel the need to only check out the newest, most exciting things.
Wandering around Disney World without the pressure of time constraints has helped us really appreciate those forgotten spots in Disney World. For example, the Maharajah Jungle Trek is tucked behind Kali River Rapids, and could be easily skipped while you’re hurrying to your next ride.
This trek offers the opportunity to see some amazing animals and to take a break from the sun as a good majority of the trek is shaded. Things like this trek are something we might never have enjoyed before being in Disney every day.
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4. Going every day allows you to appreciate Disney World even more.
Being in Disney World brings on a new appreciation for the parks and the people who run them. Again, going every day allows you to find places you never would have even known about. Not only that, but being there every day encourages you to try experiences you would normally skip.
For example, shows like Reflections of China in Epcot might have been skipped while guests were on their way to Frozen Ever After, but now, we like to stop and enjoy all Disney has to offer. Not only do we get to enjoy attractions we normally wouldn’t have, but we also get to interact with the Cast Members who are there.
Cast Members are the heart and soul of Disney World and it’s easy for guests to forget about the ones who work at the spots that aren’t as exciting. Being at Disney every day lets us appreciate not only the experiences we get to try but also the people who make those experiences happen.
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5. You find out the negatives about merchandise the hard way.
Our readers know about our love for merchandise. It’s one of our favorite things in Disney World, but sometimes, merchandise can add a bit of stress to our day. One thing we had to find out the hard way? The merchandise you want won’t always be there when you want it to be.
After being in Disney World every day, we realized how quickly merchandise can sell out. In the past, we have told ourselves that we would come back from an item we loved “on our way out of the parks.” This was because we didn’t want to carry it around all day or we didn’t want to make a rush decision when we might find something else we liked more. When we returned at the end of the night, it was gone! (We’re thinking of you, 50th Starbucks cup.)
Although it’s disappointing, we have definitely learned our lesson! If you fall in love with something, we recommend that you grab it while you can. World of Disney and other large Disney stores aren’t guaranteed to have everything, and popular merch can sell out quickly. If you’re not looking to carry it all day and you know you don’t need it during your trip, you can even have Disney ship it to your home for a small fee.
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6. You’ll find out what food is and isn’t worth your money — very quickly.
Disney food can be hit or miss a lot of the time. While we absolutely adore our Mickey-shaped snacks, those snacks and meals can start to add up quickly. After being in the parks for a few hours, it’s not easy to ignore those hunger cues. Over time we’ve realized that we don’t want to spend our money on whatever snack or meal is closest.
Sometimes research is what will help you get the best bang for your buck (and the best option for your taste buds.) No one knows your pallet and tastes better than you, so doing a little bit of research into restaurants and snacks in Disney World has helped us not make any more mistakes when ordering in the parks.
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7. You will learn to be more flexible.
Like we’ve mentioned before, Disney World weather, rides, and crowds can sometimes be unpredictable. Between random downpours and unexpected ride closures, Disney World can sometimes throw a wrench into your plans. We have definitely learned that the hard way, but there is a silver lining!
When rides go down, the weather goes bad, and changes happen, we have to be flexible. Being in Disney World every day has taught us to be flexible with our plans and goals each day. Instead of getting upset about these changes, we’ve learned to embrace them. Raining on your park day? Go watch a show you’ve never seen! Your favorite ride is down? Go try a ride you normally skip! There are endless opportunities for how you can make the negative experiences better, and we have certainly learned that the hard way.
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8. You get to watch people make memories that will last a lifetime
Being in the parks every day might make some people take Disney World for granted a bit. When it’s hot and lines are long, it’s easy to want to be anywhere but Disney. However, it’s when we watch people make special memories that we remember why we love it so much. Being in Disney World every day means that we get to watch something special every single day.
Every day in Disney World, families and friends are making memories. It’s always someone’s first time at Disney or someone’s last time. For us, being in the parks daily means we get to witness and enjoy these moments. From watching grandparents laugh with their grandchildren to watching couples get engaged, there is always something special going on in Disney World if you’re watching. We never knew how special it would be for us to get to experience this every day.
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9. You learn to value sites like AllEars.
Going to Disney World every day means things can sometimes run together in your head. It can be hard to catch something new, and you can fall into habits where you forget to branch out. Websites like AllEars are invaluable when you go to the parks whether it’s for vacation or if you go all the time like us.
AllEars has helped our reporters prioritize what they want or need to do in the parks each day. For our readers, it helps them prioritize what they want to do so they don’t waste time on experiences that they don’t value. Disney can be overwhelming even if you’re there every day, so having a trusted website with reviews, tips, and tricks really helps us narrow down what we value when we’re in the park.
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10. You get to experience a new level of gratitude.
Going to Disney World every single day is a huge privilege. It’s not one we take lightly or ever want to forget. Yes, sometimes the heat and crowds are miserable, but we are still in Disney World! Every day we get to try foods, interact with Cast Members, and be in a place that makes people so happy.
We know that we get to go somewhere every day that some people dream about their entire lives. The gratitude we feel can be overwhelming that not only do we get to be at Disney World but we get to (hopefully) help our readers plan their dream vacations or help them feel connected to the magic while they’re away from the parks. It’s an amazing experience, and we couldn’t be more proud and excited to do what we do.
Remember, you can follow AllEars to stay up to date on all Disney news from travel, to merchandise, to food, to weather!
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What would you do if you went to Disney World every day? Tell us in the comments!
Instead of buying spontaneously, skip the park merchandise. Most of it ends up in drawers or closets. Use the money you save to go to NASA, the Orlando Zoo or save it for a future trip.
I would stop and enjoy all the little special hidden gems of Disney. The ones you usually just glance at, or quickly point out, as your group is whizzing to a ride or the next reservation. If I was there everyday I would soak in every magical minute detail that makes Disney so unbelievably wonderful.
When you pay for 1 park/day and three major rides are down all day, our money is flushed away. I’m done till this is remedied!!!
I love Adventureland in the rain. It seems more adventurous.