These are the experiences that nearly caused me to have a Disney meltdown, and how you can learn from them to have your best trip!
Disney World may in fact be the Most Magical Place on Earth, but it’s also home to a daily, less “magical” event. I’m speaking, of course, about what I’d call the “Disney meltdown.” If you’ve ever been in Disney World around lunch time or towards the end of the day (or, really, any moment of any day), you’ve likely witnessed a Disney meltdown in the wild. A red, sun-stricken face, sweat streaking down their face (potentially even tears). This is when you know that someone has reached their limit of magic in the parks, at least for the time being. And, you’ll notice I’m not referring to just children here — that’s because adults are not immune from the Disney meltdown. And, unfortunately, that includes myself.
Experiences That (Nearly) Caused a Disney Meltdown
While I’ve (thankfully) never gone full toddler in my Disney meltdown, there have definitely been experiences had and mistakes I’ve made that have brought me to the edge. So I’m sharing with you some of those moments, and how you can avoid them for your own Disney World vacation.
Overbooking Our Trip Schedule
Now, this is a mistake Ialwayswarn others against, while consistently performing it myself. It is so important to plan out your Disney World vacation withoutoverbooking it. What that means is youdowant to plan out the meals you’d like to have and make those reservations 60 days in advance. You do want to plan out your stay, park reservations, and any additional experiences. What you want to avoid is booking too much and then not being flexible.
For my daughter’s second birthday, we planned out fun meals throughout the short trip, trying to accomplish as much as we possibly could in just a few days. On our first day, we ended up overheated, tired, and all in need of a nap. A trip to the pool calmed everyone down (both literally and figuratively) and was well worth taking a break from our tighter scheduled plans.
Not Drinking Enough Water
As someone who doesn’t drink enough water on a regular day, I am constantly having to remind myself to hydrate when walking in the often scorching heat of Walt Disney World. On more than one occasion I’ve overdone it and gotten dehydrated, leading to headaches and feeling faint by the end of a long day. It’snotpleasant, and something that can easily be avoided with a few simple steps! One is to bring a refillable water bottle with you in your bag. These can often be folded up and then refilled at designated water stations all throughout the park.
Additionally, you can ask for a cup of free water at any quick-service location while dining. That way you can make sure you are constantly keeping yourself hydrated without having to shell out money constantly for bottles of water.
Overindulging in Food at EPCOT Festivals
While drinking around the world may be looked at as the biggest potential Disney meltdown you can have in World Showcase, I’d argue that eating too much around the world can cause a few problems as well. EPCOT has some of my favorite table service options in Disney World (Via Napoli! Le Cellier! Akershus!), so I love getting the chance to book a table for dinner when we’re spending the day in the park. However, it can be far too tempting throughout your day to snack around the world when there are one of the four EPCOT Festivals happening. And once you’ve filled up on a full day’s worth of snacks, that combined with the heat will make it so a big sit-down meal is thelastthing you want.
Passion Fruit-Filled Mango Cheesecake from the 2024 Festival of the Arts. Photo by Morgan Flaherty
My advice would be to pick one or the other, and make a plan to either enjoy meals throughout the day at the EPCOT Festivals, or forego them in favor of a bigger meal at a table service restaurant. That way you won’t be wasting the time, money, or energy with trying to do too much.
Forgetting to Wear Sunscreen
As my dermatologist reminds me on every single visit, wearing sunscreen in Florida is not optional. Whether you’re realizing it or not, you are getting tons of sun while outside all day in the Disney parks, and a burn can hit you before you know it. Trust me, I’ve fallen victim to not only not reapplying sunscreen, but also having not worn sunscreen for an entire day in the parks…and I very much regretted in. Nothing will cause a Disney meltdown quicker than when it feels like you areliterallymelting down.
If you’ve forgotten sunscreen, you can usually find some at kiosks and stores around the parks or resorts. Try and take time to spend in the air conditioning and the shade, especially during the summer months when it can feel unbearably sunny and hot. Wearing a hat and sunglasses is also a must, and will help keep you far more comfortable from the sunshine. And if you do find yourself having some burns at the end of the day, make sure to apply some aloe vera to help it heal faster.
Wearing Flip Flops for a Day
Nothing has caused me as much physical discomfort in Disney World as the day I decided it would be a bright idea to wear flip-flops for an entire walk (or two) around World Showcase. It was one of my first visits to Disney World as an adult, and as a recent Floridian, I was used to wearing flip flops on the daily. With no support, I very quickly twisted my leg and ended up needing a knee brace to make it through the rest of our day. It was certainly not my strongest moment and was absolutely a Disney meltdown that could’ve been easily avoided.
Wearing the right shoes is vitally important for your trip.I recommend something with strong support like sneakers, and I actually recommend breaking in any pair you plan on wearing before your trip has begun. Even shoes that are supportive can give you blisters if you take a first spin in them around one of the Disney World parks, and those blisters will be with you for the rest of your trip.
