As I used to be placing collectively this record of Disney “no-nos,” I requested my 9-year-old son what he would add to the record. His prime tip is to not eat a churro earlier than driving a curler coaster.
Whereas that’s actually a strong piece of recommendation for these of us who weren’t born with stomachs of metal, it is from the one factor you should not do at a Disney park if you wish to have an excellent time and be conscious of your fellow Disney residents.
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The following tips mustn’t solely allow you to save money at Disney, however they might additionally prevent from getting kicked out of the park and banned from visiting once more sooner or later — it does occur.
Listed below are 9 issues it’s best to by no means, ever do at Disney:
Tackle-ride pictures or movies — particularly with the flash on
Disney parks are among the most photographed locations on the earth … and likewise among the most photogenic. Along with the pastel-painted castles, there are colourful murals, themed lands, costumed characters and larger-than-life props that function picture-perfect backdrops in your trip pictures.
With lifelike animatronics and fantastical surroundings, it is arduous to withstand snapping just a few pictures on Disney rides and even taking a video to share on social media. What many guests do not understand, although, is that taking stated pictures or movies with a flash on might be actually distracting for visitors round them, in addition to take them out of the fantasy of the second.
For those who occur to drop your system midride, there’s additionally a reasonably good probability you will by no means see it (or the pictures you took) once more. Disney World has gone so far as banning telephones, cameras and different free gadgets on a few of its rides, together with Area Mountain.
If you wish to snap a fast pic for posterity (on rides the place it is allowed), go for it, however it’s all the time an excellent coverage to make sure the flash is off first.
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Get off the journey if you aren’t purported to
Chances are you’ll assume this one goes with out saying, however hopping out of the car midride has develop into one thing of a pattern as of late. In 2021, a guest jumped from a boat on Epcot’s Dwelling with the Land and grabbed a cucumber from the gardens showcased on the journey. Extra not too long ago, a visitor left their journey car on Spaceship Earth and sat down among the many journey’s animatronic characters.
Not solely is leaving your journey car a significant security hazard, however it may additionally get you kicked out of the park and banned for all times. This additionally goes for climbing issues that are not meant to be climbed (i.e., the Mayan pyramid at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion), hopping in fountains and sticking your ft or arms within the water on Pirates of the Caribbean or Splash Mountain. These are all actual issues which have occurred, by the best way.
In case your security — and your capability to go to Disney once more sooner or later – are necessary to you, stay seated and hold your arms, arms, ft and legs contained in the journey car always.
Get into an altercation with solid members or different visitors
One other dangerous (and probably harmful) conduct that has seen an uptick currently is altercations, each verbal and bodily, with Disney solid members and fellow visitors.
If you mix the blazing Florida warmth with screaming youngsters and the strain of executing a wonderfully deliberate trip, it would not take a lot to ship you over the sting. It may very well be a Mickey balloon booping you on the nostril, a stroller wheel operating over your toe or any one of many above-mentioned infractions that immediately turns you right into a Disney villain.
Earlier than you let your villainous aspect take maintain, although, take a deep breath and take into consideration the implications — in any case, you might be requested to depart and your trip may very well be lower brief. At worst, there may very well be authorized implications.
Actually, an absence of courtesy and kindness has develop into such a difficulty that Disney World and Disneyland have added courtesy notices to their web sites. Disney World’s notice states, “Be the magic you need to see on the earth. You will need to all the time keep in mind to deal with others with respect, kindness and compassion. Those that cannot dwell as much as this straightforward want could also be requested to depart Walt Disney World Resort.” Disneyland’s discover has comparable wording and directs visitors to the full list of rules and regulations.
Break the gown code to get a free shirt
Most TikTok traits contain dancing or dressing up just like the Grinch and knocking over your personal household’s Christmas tree, however there may be one pattern that has been catching on as a result of visitors hope to get some free Disney swag out of it.
Like different theme parks, Disney has gown code guidelines that state visitors should put on “applicable” apparel and that they “reserve the appropriate to disclaim admission to or take away any particular person sporting apparel that we contemplate inappropriate or apparel that might detract from the expertise of different visitors.”
Precisely what “applicable” means just isn’t spelled out, however after a visitor posted a viral TikTok video in 2021 sharing how she was given a free shirt at Disney after displaying up in a shirt that was too revealing, others tried the identical “hack,” to various levels of success.
Disney just isn’t required to offer you a complimentary shirt in the event you get “gown coded.” They might flip you away and refuse to permit you in till you alter into one thing extra, for lack of a greater phrase, applicable.
Go away valuables in your stroller
As you cross by the doorway to Disneyland, there’s a plaque emblazoned with a well-known Walt Disney quote. It reads, “Right here you allow as we speak and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.” And, whereas Disney parks are comparatively secure from crime, you’ll be able to’t let your self fall so deep into the fantasy that you just neglect about your private security.
Sadly, that is one I’m responsible of myself. There have been loads of instances after I’ve parked the stroller to get on an attraction and left my pockets, telephone or different such gadgets I might choose to not lose within the basket of the stroller. I knew there was a chance of my issues — or my total stroller — being gone after I returned, however it felt like such a slim probability that I let my guard down.
It solely took studying just a few tales and social media posts of different visitors who had valuables and Disney souvenirs stolen from their strollers for me to be extra cautious.
On Disneyland’s own website, a planDisney panelist answered a query about stroller security by advising the visitor to attempt a tracker like an Apple Air Tag or to take away a wheel out of your stroller and hold it with you. That is not one thing I’ve felt compelled to do but, however I positively be certain I solely go away issues in my stroller that I do not thoughts dropping … like a field of half-eaten popcorn.
Deal with solid members rudely
As somebody who spent a few years of my life working in customer support, I am keenly conscious that guest-facing employees members are sometimes on the receiving finish of anger and frustration at conditions they didn’t trigger and is probably not ready to do something about.
Sadly, I’ve seen this occur quite a bit at Disney. It may be actually irritating when issues do not go as anticipated throughout your Disney trip, particularly if you’ve spent some huge cash to get there and much more time planning your journey.
Solid members spend their days attempting to make your journey as magical and memorable as potential and when issues do go flawed, kindness goes quite a bit additional than anger — for all concerned.
Spend cash on issues you may get exterior the parks for cheaper
As a lot as I like Disney, I might by no means drive there to refill on requirements like sunscreen, ponchos and bottled water. Whereas these gadgets are actually out there at Disney if you end up in want of them, you may get them less expensive exterior of the parks.
On most Disney journeys, I schedule a grocery supply by Shipt or Instacart for drinks and snacks to be delivered to my Disney hotel room. You’ll be able to tack on sunscreen, over-the-counter medicines and different gadgets you could have forgotten to your order and save room in your suitcase or you should purchase this stuff earlier than you allow house.
You’ll find ponchos at Goal and different mass retailers for lower than $2. The Mickey Mouse ponchos you may get at Disney could also be extra trendy, however additionally they run upward of $10 every. The identical goes for issues like flip-flops, swimwear, bubble wands (or different toys to assist distract bored youngsters) and bottled water. You should buy most of this stuff exterior the parks for cheaper. Pack a reusable water bottle which you can replenish at water fountains across the park.
That leaves cash for the souvenirs and snacks you really need and may’t get anyplace else.
Put your child in your shoulders throughout fireworks or parades
Have you ever ever discovered the right fireworks spot, solely to have somebody swoop in on the final second and prop their little one up on their shoulders, ruining any probability you had of having fun with the present? It may be an actual drag, particularly if in case you have youngsters of your personal who had been patiently ready to see the fireworks.
I believe that is typically accomplished with good intentions, and the particular person would not understand that it’s not courteous to these round them. They need to assist their child get a greater view, however in doing so, they spoil the view for the visitors behind them. When you’re in a Disney-sized crowd, although, you all the time have to pay attention to who’s round you.
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If I need to assist my youngsters get a greater view, I am going to typically carry them so they’re at my eye degree or select a less-crowded spot farther from the fort. For those who actually need to make sure you get a first-rate spot, you’ll be able to guide a eating or dessert occasion that features reserved fireworks viewing.
Put on a personality costume if you’re older than 14
Regardless of how a lot time you spend placing collectively the right Cruella de Vil costume, full with a wig and fake fur coat, Disney won’t permit you into the parks if you’re wearing costume. This is applicable to costumes with or with out masks for all visitors ages 14 or older.
That is each for security and to make sure no person is posing as a Disney character contained in the parks. The one exception to this rule is throughout particular occasions reminiscent of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Get together, runDisney occasions and whereas on board the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
There may be nonetheless a approach to embody your favourite Disney characters if you go to a Disney park and that’s referred to as “DisneyBounding.” One 12 months once we visited throughout Halloween, my husband and I “bounded” as Robin Hood and Maid Marian. We wore the identical colours because the characters and threw on some fox ears, however the distinction between what we wore and a personality costume is that no person would have mistaken us for the “actual” Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
There are lots of methods to get artistic along with your Disney ensembles whereas staying throughout the park’s tips, so have enjoyable with it.
Backside line
There may be quite a lot of planning and preparation that goes right into a Disney trip, however one of many best issues you are able to do in your journey is to observe the foundations and be type and courteous to these round you.
It would solely make your trip extra magical and you could even be making another person’s Disney journey extra magical, too.
