14 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Disney World. Walking down Main Street USA and looking up at that castle is probably one of my favorite things to do. Another thing I greatly enjoy is people watching. I have also noticed and been guilty of a few of these rookie mistakes!

14. Prioritizing Astro Orbiter! A rookie mistake to avoid is being fooled by Astro Orbiter. Astro Orbiter looks exciting, and it can be! The problem is you wait in line on the ground, then get on an elevator, and then wait again! I recommend getting this ride done when the crowds have died down, preferably later in the afternoon. 

Rookie Mistakes!

13. Not Mobile Ordering Your Snacks, especially That Precious Dole Whip. Another rookie mistake to avoid that people often make at Magic Kingdom, is not utilizing the mobile ordering with My Disney Experience. Mobile ordering is super easy and lines at Magic Kingdom can be quite long. Any time you can cut time waiting in lines I recommend it. You’re paying a lot of money to be there and you want to get the most out of it.

12. Not Embracing Each Land as Its Own Unique Experience! Fantasyland brings out your inner child; Frontierland has some excellent coasters and the look of a time once forgotten; Adventureland immerses you into your very own adventure waiting to unfold right before you; Liberty Square gives you a showcase of the heart of America; and Tomorrowland (my favorite) gives you an outlook of a brighter future and the possible technology we use to get there!

11. Going Straight to Tomorrowland! A huge rookie mistake to avoid is following your basic instinct and going to the right when you see the castle. Always, Always, ALWAYS go clockwise in Magic Kingdom! You should always go the opposite direction of the crowd; you should plan fast passes around this! For some reason most people head to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland when they enter Magic Kingdom. My Disney Experience also has this nifty feature that will tell you the quickest way to get somewhere based on your current location.  

10. Not Coordinating Your Rides with a certain path. Going from Frontierland to Tomorrowland is a real trek! You can get anywhere in the park in about 10 minutes, but this doesn’t mean you’ll want to. Also, keep in mind, this is without children.

No No’s

9. Not Utilizing the Firework Shows! If you aren’t big on parades or fireworks, they are the perfect time to get some must do attraction in. With everyone else waiting for the show, it leaves the lines wide open! Pro Tip: Splash Mountain has a spectacular view of the castle at night!

8. Getting Your Ice Cream From a Cart! There are so many amazing options inside of MK! Plaza Ice Cream Parlor has some unique choices, and I always must stop at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies! Of course if you love your ice cream in the shape of Mickey then there is no shame in getting some ears. I personally always get a swirl cone at every park.

Waiting is a Rookie Mistake

7. Waiting in too Long of a Line for a Ride. Fast Passes are great for a reason. You don’t want to be wasting hours in a line and miss out on the magic of other attractions! Unless it’s your favorite ride or one you’ve been looking forward to I don’t like waiting more than 30 min for a ride. There are exceptions, of course. If you’re there during a busy season you might not have a choice but to wait in a few lines. And of course, with the “new normal”, fast passes are not available at this current time.

6. Wasting Fast Passes. A rookie mistake that seems obvious but that most people do is wasting their fast passes on the wrong rides. This is a Disney sin! No one needs a Fast Pass for Haunted Mansion! Yes, you should definitely experience the ride, but the wait is hardly ever long enough to justify a fast pass! You always want to use fast passes on the mountains or even something that always has a terribly long line like Jungle Cruise or Peter Pan.

5. Thinking You’re too Old to Ride Something! Disney is where we are supposed to let our inner child out! Be a kid! Being an adult is boring and who wants to grow up anyways?!

4. Only Riding Rides That Have That “Wow!” Factor. The People Mover is one of the slowest rides, but it has to be one of my favorites. Magic Kingdom has so many classic rides that have stood the test of time, but you’ll miss them if you’re only looking at the “Mountains”.

3. Not Getting That Sweet Spot Early for Parades/Fireworks! They may seem like a thing of the past, but rookies never plan reserving their viewing spots! The best spots to watch always fill up well before the show starts!

Plans and Mistakes

2. Being too Set in a Plan! Being lenient with your schedule is great! You never know what can pop up. Rides will have maintenance problems, and sometimes the line just isn’t worth it. You also never know if those kiddos will be in the right mood.

1. Not Having a Plan at All! It’s fine if you want a relaxing vacation, but you won’t get to do half the park if you aren’t somewhat prepared. It’s why having a travel agent is always a good call, plus they’re services are free to you! There is another added bonus that most travel agents won’t make these basic rookie mistakes.

While you are visiting the Magic Kingdom, don’t forget to grab some of these popular snacks! Looking for more things to avoid at Disney’s Magic Kingdom? We have a Facebook group you will just LOVE! DISNEY EXPRESS LANE! Join us today.

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6 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

I’ve noticed over the years and from talking to people, that newbies miss out on so much! From not getting on some of the best rides to avoiding some really adorable shows. These are all just classic rookie mistakes that you may not realize you’re making. Here are some of the rookie mistakes that I personally hate to see happen.

6. Not Understanding the Rise of the Resistance Queue

Galaxy’s Edge is home to a lot of exciting things. One of the most sought-after attractions is Rise of the Resistance. The queue for this attraction is done entirely on your mobile device, through the My Disney Experience app. Currently, if you have a park reservation for Hollywood Studios, you can attempt to enter the queue at 7 a.m. the day of your reservation from anywhere, or at 1 p.m. from within the park. I’ve gotten into the virtual queue during my most recent visits by being on the app about 2 minutes before, and constantly refreshing the “join queue” page. This ride is completely worth it! Even if Star Wars isn’t your thing, this ride just shows how far Disney Imagineering has come.

5. Being Intimidated by Tower of Terror

A rookie mistake to avoid, this one being geared more towards the younger audience, is being scared of the big rides! Although the other parks have some huge rides, Hollywood Studios has some of the best that Disney has to offer. The Tower of Terror can be quite intimidating… I mean terror is in it’s name. It is so much more than your typical drop ride! There are so many variations of the ride that each time can be different. Rockin’ Roller Coaster is another ride that I’ve seen many people wait for, and then exit right before they get on. It’s always a fantastic choice and worth the wait!

4. Sleeping In

I’m not one to tell people to be there for rope drop. I did marry someone who thinks you have to do rope drop every single day, though. A rookie mistake to avoid is not taking advantage of rope drop at Hollywood Studios. Yes, you can get on Rise of the Resistance from the comfort of your bed, but Mickey’s Runaway Railroad is absolutely adorable and can have an insane wait time. Getting one of the major rides out of the way so early can really open up the rest of your day.

3. Skipping “Kiddie” Rides

Some of my favorite rides at Hollywood Studios are the ones geared towards the children. Mickey’s Runaway Railroad and the Frozen sing-along are super fun for all ages. The Railroad might have replaced a classic, but it is so well done, that I’m not even mad. I recommend the Frozen sing-along to everyone who I help plan, whether they have children or not. It’s just too cute to not give it a shot!

2. Not Doing Toy Story Mania

If you don’t know, I’m a very competitive person, and I’m completely obsessed with all arcade style rides at Disney. My favorite casual ride has been Toy Story Mania, since I first rode it all those years ago. A rookie mistake to avoid is not prepping those arms/wrist for speed and stamina. Accuracy doesn’t matter! All that matters is crushing the competition and getting the high score for your vehicle!

1. Skipping the Shopping

Hollywood Studios has some of the most unique stores. There is a jewelry store that we spend a little too much time in each trip. They also have a toy store, Star Wars store, and a Hollywood memorabilia store! If you find something you have to have, I recommend getting it in the park. You never know if Disney Springs will have the unique item, or if it will even be available a day later.

I hope that these tips help you avoid these rookie mistakes! Have a magical day and be sure to join our Facebook Group over at DISNEY EXPRESS LANE!

Don’t forget that you can build your own droid while visiting! 

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