Disney World Vacation Etiquette

Don't EVER do it. It is obnoxious and rude. Lots of people wait a very long time in Disney ride queues to see an attraction. Everyone has paid the same admission fee to get into the parks. If you want to get to an attraction faster, prepare for it. Get a fastpass. Try riding during the parades or first thing at park opening. Don't expect random strangers to let you shove past them after they've been patiently waiting. Doing this could also get you removed from the attraction and/or the park. Is it worth it? No.

Kiddie Strollers are a blessing. They are great for toting tired tots around. But, they can be a huge curse if not used properly. I don't know how many times my heels have been nipped by inattentive stroller drivers. Accidents happen. They do. And that is understandable if one gets bumped in a crowd. However, when the same person rams into you for the third time it can't be extremely annoying (and painful). Don't use your stoller to push through the masses. First of all, it won't work, and second of all you might end up seriously hurting someone.

2a) Don't let small children push strollers.
They don't have the coordination to move through a thick crowd or the strength to keep it upright. It's also difficult for people to scoot around them if they aren't sure which way driver (little kid) is turning next.

Know what you want before you reach the cashier in a fast food line. I've seen countless people get into a counter service restaurant line and then start deciding on what to order once they reach the cashier. It holds up the line and wastes everyone's time. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about asking questions regarding the menu or other dietary details. I'm talking about just beginning to read the menu once the cashier asks what you would like. Your fellow diners will thank you for keeping the line moving.

No, I'm not talking about yelling out "whee" or "whoa" on the thrill rides. I'm referring to having full conversations on attractions that already have narration. No one wants to hear about Aunt Betty's colonoscopy whilst riding Pirates Of The Caribbean. Many people (believe it or not) are first-timers to the park and actually WANT to LISTEN to the dialog/soundtrack of the attraction.

No one wants their view of any Disney parade ruined at the last minute by pushy people. If you want a good spot to see a parade or fireworks show you need to PLAN FOR IT. And by planning for it, I mean taking the time to hold a space. You cannot expect people to let you in at the last minute and give up their prime view for you. I've seen arguments and cast members get involved with people who try to butt in like that and it isn't pretty. You could wind up getting thrown out of the park for such behavior.

Another thing. If you have kids that can't see over other people, make SURE they are there in enough time to get a front row spot to view the parade. Using the old, "Johnny, can't see would you mind him going in front of you" isn't going to fly with a lot of folks. Don't be touring the park until the last minute and expect your children will help you get a better spot because they are short. Plan accordingly with your time and you and the rest of your family will have a great spot to enjoy the magic.

This shouldn't have to be said, but if you are on a ride, turn off your cell phone's ring tone! If you absolutely MUST have a conversation keep it quiet and brief and/or excuse yourself from the area. Nobody wants to hear a one sided conversation while they are trying to listen to the audio of an attraction.
(This also applies to people who use Walkie Talkies.)

Disney Parks have tried to accommodate everyone when it comes to smoking. If you have the need to light up, Walt Disney World has several areas in each Theme Park for smoking. You can find these areas listed on each Theme Park's guide map. If you are unsure ask a cast member (Disney Employee). Sticking to these areas will keep your fellow non smokers happy.

7a) If you are a non-smoker that happens to be in a smoking designated area, don't roll your eyes and complain because people are actually smoking. Disney told them to go there!!!

He doesn't. I swear. Pinching, squeezing and tugging at the characters is not nice. In fact, it is extremely annoying. Do you really want to make Minnie cry? No. Didn't think so. You might hurt Donald or Goofy and that would not be good. Gentle hugs and handshakes are ok.

8a) Now that we've got the rules of contact out of the way, let's talk about time. If you plan on taking photos or video, have your equipment ready. Chances are there are a lot of people waiting their turn and fumbling around for your zoom lens or spare battery isn't going to be appreciated by other guests. The characters have very, very limited time for greetings. Anyhow, wouldn't you rather spend your time chatting up Daisy or hugging Pooh than fiddling around your camera bag?

Also, don't assume you will be allowed to take a bazillion photos. Say hi, grab a few frames and let the next person have their moment.

8b) When the character's greeter (person that helps the characters get around) says it is time for *insert favorite character here* to go, please don't start screaming,wailing and threatening the Greeter. Chip and Dale may be overheated or have to use the little chipmunk's room. You can easily find out when they will reappear at Guest Services. So don't throw a fit. When it is busy not everyone will necessarily be accommodated for photo opportunities. I mean, if you had a furry coat in 95 degree weather, do you think you could stand on Main Street all day?

There is nothing sadder at Disney than seeing a child crying out of fear. Sadly, this occurs more than it should. FORCING a child onto any ride that instills total panic and fear is unwarranted.

I once rode the Tower Of Terror with a girl of about 8 years old who screamed, cried and freaked from her first step in the queue to the end of the ride. It was awful. Her parents paid no attention to her distress. She clearly was terrified of the ride. Heck, I'm still a little scared getting on the Tower Of Terror. I think the name speaks for itself. Anyhow, this made riding the attraction extremely upsetting for everyone in that particular ride vehicle. I seriously thought the girl might pass out. Either that or she was going to try to escape. Needless to say many other guests were not happy with the decision this girl's parents made on behalf of her.

So in my long winded way, I'm trying to delicately say, "DON'T PUT TERRIFIED or EXTREMELY PANICKED CHILDREN ON RIDES." Unless of course, you want to make everyone miserable.

Now, there is, of course, the circumstance where you might not know how your child will react until they are actually on the attraction. That is different. But if you do know your child has a low fear threshold, then don't put them in those situations.
Most cast members will not allow terrified kids onto ride vehicles, however they do slip through on occasion. Use you head.

Disney attractions should induce cheers not tears.

If you are sick, please consider other guests and stay away from the Theme Parks.

Countless times I've seen ill children and adults being dragged around the parks by their families because they are "on vacation." Please do everyone a favor and keep your germs to yourselves. Everyone has paid/saved/budgeted for a vacation and no one wants it ruined by someone inconsiderate enough to go through the parks with raging flu/chicken pox/strep/bronchitis, etc...

Also, things like Lice or contagious skin disorders should be taken care of before sharing public headrests on planes, rides, or other shared spaces. Please let housekeeping know so they can clean your hotel room appropriately before the next guest checks in.

Travel insurance should always be purchased prior to a vacation. This will help in the event someone in your party cannot travel due to illness, etc...and you have to cancel. It really does add to your peace of mind knowing you can cancel without losing a lot of money. Travel insurance is especially essential if you are buying a vacation package. Check with your travel agent or airline for details.

Here are few tips to help stay germ free:

Wash your hands! Thoroughly suds up and wash for a minimum of 60 seconds.

Don't touch your face, eyes, or mouth with dirty hands (ie unwashed hands) That's the fastest way to get sick. This is important to remember after getting off rides that use lap bars or hand rests.

Stay hydrated. Make sure you drink enough on vacation. It will keep your nose and mouth from drying out too much which makes you susceptible to germs.

Get enough rest. As much as you want to go 24/7 at Disney, it will ultimately backfire on you. Becoming overtired is a great way to mess with your immune system. Get a good night's sleep and take breaks throughout the day when you are tired.

Clean surfaces. It never hurts wiping down your hotel room phone or tv remote control with an anti bacterial wipe. Chances are there are more germs hidden on these objects than your public toilet seat.

Hope everyone has a healthy and happy vacation!

Ok, you're hot, you're tired. You stroll by a Disney merchandise kiosk and see one of those nifty battery operated water spray fans. You excitedly purchase one, set it up and cool down the entire family. The fan gets passed around from mom to dad to junior. Mom and Dad stop to read a map and junior gets bored and decided to spray it EVERYWHERE. Now, this is where the etiquette comes in. Whatever you do, DON'T DO THIS.Please watch where you are spraying. Oftentimes people are carrying EXPENSIVE video/camera equipment and don't want it ruined by an impromptu spray of water. Also some people just don't like getting wet unexpectedly. I know they're great for keeping cool, but please watch where you are spraying. Oh and it's not just park guests doing this. I've seen cast members trying to sell these things by randomly spraying people with them, I, along with several other Disney theme park fans, HATE THIS. I've had camera soaked by these so called, "fun" sales moves. So please, enjoy your water bottle spray fan, but don't force other people to enjoy it with you. ;)

These two phrases can go a long way with ANYONE...Anywhere. SImple manners can make any difficult situation a lot nicer in the long run. Please use them often.