Regret is real. The fear of missing out with the idea of prioritizing your spending and time will always make for decisions that could be regrettable.
Disney World is full of decisions that you have to make – and sometimes you choose poorly.
Here are the things that you’ll definitely think about when you’re at the Orlando International Airport, waiting for your flight home.
Eating Something New
- Dole Whip is amazing, but have you ever had a Lefou’s Brew?
- Popcorn is great, but have you ever had Zebra Domes?
- Starbucks is just starbucks…maybe try Joffrey’s Cold Brew?
Recharge Time
The most common response to a Disney World vacation is that you need a vacation to recover from the experience, and it’s completely true.
Take time in the parks and the resorts for a relaxing 15-minutes where you don’t have anywhere to be and can just enjoy your surroundings.
Exploring
This can be as simple as taking a different route from Pandora: The World of Avatar to Expedition Everest or taking changing up the mode of transportation that you use for a mid-day adventure away from the parks.
There are always more things to see at Walt Disney World.
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Selfies
I’m a fan of making sure that everyone has a memory – even if people don’t like being in photos. Being the “photographer” means that the memories are on the other side of the lens and you can’t partake in re-living the experiences later. Trust me – take the selfie!
Getting Up Early
When you snooze…you lose.
We’ve had amazing times at the Magic Kingdom in the mornings before 10am, as you are able to run between the various lands and attractions with minimal waits and full access. This is an important part of the trip, as you can leave the parks as the crowds start to get busy and come back later in the afternoon/evening and not stress about riding attractions that you already checked off your list.
Splurging
I’m already planning how much budget we’ve got for snacks on our next trip – splurge and enjoy the trip.
Remember that splurging may not involve money – sometimes the best splurge is a day-off with an activity that you may not have thought about before – like a tour or a checklist/scavenger hunt.
IF your definition of splurging involves money, then you should 100% get that new shirt or cupcake.
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Checking Social Media
I’ve seen folks suggest that you should turn off your social media channels while you’re at the parks – please don’t.
The number of experiences and updates that you could be missing is astronomical (overstatement, maybe), but I wouldn’t have seen the 626 Dole Whip at Disney’s Polynesian Resort if I didn’t check Disney Food Blog during my June trip.
Advanced Dining Reservations
We discuss the concept of ADR’s a lot, but that’s because it’s important.
You’ll want to get a few reservations for your trip. It’ll save you time and effort finding meals, as you’ll be able to check the menus beforehand in addition to being able to have a comfortable air-conditioned time away from the crowds.
Best Dining Reservations? We’ve got an article on it, but the best reservation is one that will add something to your day.
Eating at the Parks before the Airport
This one is easy. The Airport leaves a lot to be desired in the dining category, so eating before you head to the airport will make everything better – you really don’t need a Chick-fil-A or Dunkin before getting on the plane.
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Treat Yo Self
The final one is simple – the biggest regret that you’ll have is not taking care yourself on the vacation.
- Do you want a candy apple? Get it
- Do you want a new shirt? No harm
- How about spending an hour of back to back rides on Pirates of the Caribbean? Go ahead
A trip to Disney is about enjoying yourself and creating a memory that you’re proud of. Don’t worry about living vicariously through other’s idea of what a ‘dream vacation’ is – you’ll never be able to live up to the expectations.
Hope this was helpful!