For many of my clients, Disney World sparks dreams of meeting beloved characters, experiencing thrilling rides, and creating unforgettable family memories. However, some potential visitors have heard all the myths about Disney World. And some are just not true.
Join me as I debunk 4 top myths that I hear a lot.
Let's Get to Debunking, Shall We?
Myth 1: Disney is only for the very wealthy.
Contrary to the common misconception that Disney World is too expensive, various factors can make it more accessible and budget-friendly than one might think.
First, Disney offers a wide range of ticket options, including single-day tickets and multi-day packages that can significantly reduce the cost per day. Additionally, planning your visit during less crowded and more affordable seasons can lead to substantial savings. Disney offers budget-friendly accommodations both on-site and off-site as well.
Moreover, lodging options with kitchens or taking advantage of the various dining plans available can help control food expenses. In essence, with careful planning, Disney World can be a reasonably priced vacation option for families and individuals, providing a magical experience without breaking the bank.
There are various average cost claims on the internet. Do a Google search, and you'll see a different amount for almost every top-ranked listing in your search. Know why? The price of Disney varies from year to year, season to season, month to month, day to day, park to park, and resort to resort.
This is why it’s so important to have a Disney Destinations expert to assist you with your planning. Disney World has three resort categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. This is so everyone has an option. And in some cases, I've seen the deluxe resorts ring in cheaper than a value resort! This is from a magical mix of the right time of year, with the right combination of events on and off property and availability.
So before you rule out Disney World as an option, consider chatting with a Travel Agent Specializing in Disney Destinations. We work with clients in every budget. What you spend depends on your travel dates, where you stay, and the extras you decide to throw in. We are well-versed in creating the trip of your dreams.
Myth 2: You can do Disney in a day.
Well……
In some states, a theme park is a day trip. Like Kings Island, Cedar Point, Six Flags, or Busch Gardens. So many think “theme park” one day is all we need.
(In Kentucky, our day trip theme park is Kings Island. It's super fun and easily done in one day. With this as my only reference point, it would be natural to assume that all theme parks are day trips.)
But Disney World is HUGE. There are four parks. Four! And that is not counting the two water parks and Disney Springs.
The last time I checked, there were 284 attractions and entertainment listings, 405 dining options, and 31 resorts on the WDW website.
The theme parks alone take one day a piece unless you're doing Magic Kingdom, which takes two days to cover all the nooks and crannies.
DON'T make the mistake of not giving yourself enough time to explore everything you want to explore! DO chat with your travel agent to determine what you want to focus on and how much time to do it. Dreams Travel Consulting is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. That means our advisors are highly specialized in the Disney Destinations product. They travel to the parks, cruise line, and beyond often and know all the tips and tricks!
Myth 3: All I am going to eat at Disney World is hot dogs, pizza, and hamburgers.
Contrary to the thought of fast food and theme parks, it’s so different at Disney World. As I said before, there are so many restaurants. There are two types of dining services: table service & quick service.
Disney Parks quick-service dining goes beyond mere fast food; it offers an excellent range of food types. You have healthy options like salads and sandwiches and uniquely crafted dishes inspired by various countries. So don’t worry about eating just fast food here.
And table service is even better than your standard chain restaurant. So much flavor is offered.
Within the table service restaurants, there are subcategories:
Character Dining - a must for any family!
Casual Dining
Dinner Shows
Dining Events
Fine/Signature Dining
Buffet
Family Style
Prix Fixe
There are a multitude of cuisines offered at all price points. Yet, the most in-demand dining experiences will need advance dining reservations. The system will open up 60 days in advance and can be made through your My Disney Experience or your travel agent can help you.
And Disney is bringing back the dining plans in 2024. Therefore you can add that to your package, essentially pre-paying for the majority of your food. It makes it close to all-inclusive and so easy.
Myth 4: Little kids are too young to go to Disney. They won't remember it.
I get it. You want your child to remember the trip you spend a lot of money on. Especially if you think this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip (although you'll likely be back much sooner than you think). A trip to Disney World is an unforgettable experience for young kids that leaves a lasting imprint on their hearts and minds. And let’s not forget that it’s your trip too. For parents, there's the joy of seeing their little one's eyes light up with wonder, making the trip an incredibly rewarding experience, no matter how young the children may be.
And those memories stay with you forever. And you pass them on to your children as they grow.
Here are a few pro tips:
If they're under age 2, they're free.
They don’t have school schedules to stick to. So you can travel in the lower costs and cooler months.
This is the perfect time to explore without needing to get all the experiences precisely right. They won't remember being disappointed if they're disappointed at all.
Seeing your toddler squeal when she sees Mickey makes you want to live at Disney.
Seeing your preschooler light up in awe during the Happily Ever After show will bring tears to your eyes.
The kids may not remember it, but you'll be able to hold on to the precious memories of their childhood innocence forever.
So, how do you plan life's logistics with little ones on such a detail-driven trip? You could do the research. The information is out there.
To Conclude the Debunking
So, here it is, plain to see: 4 myths about traveling to Walt Disney World. There are a lot of opinions out there about how to do Disney or even who should do Disney. But as you can see, those misconceptions are subjective and don't hold up for others. Each family is unique. Each situation, need/desire, budget, etc., is unique.
Now it's your turn. What other myths have you heard about Walt Disney World?
Let me know, and I'll prove fact from fiction.
Here I am with my two daughters in Disney World.
As a family travel specialist, I know what it takes to create
the best family vacation for you and your family.
If you would like to talk about a future Disney World vacation I would love to help.
You can read more about me HERE.
Call or text me at 859-474-0662 or you can email me at brittney@dreamstravelconsulting.com
Dreams Travel Consulting is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
Our travel planners specialize in Disney Destinations and are ready to make your dream vacation come true.
