The 5 Things That Will Go Wrong Before You Even Get to Magic Kingdom

Disney World might be known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” but that doesn’t mean your trip is going to be magical from beginning to end.

You might run into traffic or have a delayed flight, that pesky Florida weather might creep up on you, and worst of all — someone in your group is hangry. We’ve seen it all before, which is why we’re sharing the things that will go wrong before you even get to Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom is the OG Disney World park and because of that, it’s also the most popular park! You might be planning a perfect day, but there are still ways your visit might go awry. It’s important to be prepared for the worst — like these five things that will go wrong before you even get to Magic Kingdom.

Transportation Problems

One of the best parts about a Disney World trip is the free transportation. From buses to boats and the monorail to the Skyliner, there are plenty of ways to get around. But, that also means there are plenty of ways for something to happen. Your bus is late, the boats aren’t running, the monorail is down, and the Skyliner is closed due to the weather.

Of course, chances are that not all of these issues will happen at once (we certainly hope not anyway) but if your selected transportation method is unavailable, it can seriously impact your day. If you have a dining or Lightning Lane reservation, make sure you allow yourself enough time in case you run into transportation issues.

Disney will provide another form of transportation if a certain service is down — you’ll typically find signs and Cast Members nearby with info.

Forgetting Something for Your Park Bag

We talk a lot about what you should pack in your park bag — if you ask us, it might be one of the most important things you do all day. Double or triple-check that you have everything you need before heading into the parks. Realizing you’re missing something you need once you’re way back in Frontierland isn’t a great feeling.

Our top park bag must-haves include things like hand sanitizer, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, snacks, and more. You can check out our essentials right here.

Genie+ and Virtual Queue Troubles

Disney World technology can be a fickle thing — and if you’re trying to snag any virtual queues or Lightning Lanes, be prepared for some chaos. Rides like TRON still use the virtual queue system, which means you’ll have to try to snag a spot in a boarding group using the My Disney Experience app.

If you miss the 7AM drop, it might feel like your Magic Kingdom day is ruined. But, you’ve still got a chance to get a spot once the 1PM drop occurs, or just purchase an Individual Lightning Lane to guarantee a ride. We’ve got a step-by-step guide to using the TRON virtual queue that covers everything you need to know here.

MagicBand+ Issues

Disney introduced MagicBand+ back in the summer of 2022, and it came with a whole host of upgrades from the prior version — including the ability to be recharged! Oh no — yet another thing you have to remember to charge on your Disney World trip.

And therein lies the problem: your MagicBand+ is your room key, park ticket, Lightning Lane pass, and sometimes even your credit card. So, if you forget to charge it or if it’s not plugged in properly, you might be out of luck. Well, not really, since you can pretty much use the MagicMobile feature on the My Disney Experience app for the same things. Or, kick it old school with a physical ticket card.

Turnstile Denial

Remember that fickle tech we mentioned? It applies when you’re actually making your way into the parks as well. Disney World allows guests to scan into the parks using the MagicMobile feature on the My Disney Experience app — essentially, the turnstiles read your ticket on your phone instead of a physical ticket. But, sometimes that technology doesn’t work!

We’ve had to deal with this multiple times and have found that it can be especially tricky with Android devices — sometimes even resulting in being sent over to wait in a long Guest Services line. Our best advice is to also carry a physical copy of your ticket or annual pass with you to avoid delays. But, if this does happen, Disney has Cast Members stationed nearby to help you out.

Just remember to try and go with the flow on your Disney World trip. There are a lot of moving parts to a vacation and being flexible can mean the difference between a great trip and a not-so-great trip.

And of course — stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney World news and planning tips!

Small Mistakes That Can RUIN Your Disney World Trip

What mistakes have you made in Disney World? Tell us in the comments.