8 Ways To Stop Being So Grumpy At Walt Disney World

It happens to the best of us . . .we start off our vacation knowing we will be Happy, thinking we might act a little Dopey, end each day feeling Sleepy, and hoping we don’t get Sneezy and have to call a Doc. But, right when we least expect it Grumpy hits with a full on grouch fest. Lots of things can cause us to become Grumpy, but here are some ways to turn Grumpy back into Happy.

8. Do Something Nice for Someone Else

It always makes a Grump feel better to spread some magic to someone else. When the old paper Fastpass system was in place my favorite way to do this was to give away a set of FastPasses to a family who looked like they really needed them. I can’t do that any longer, but there are some other options. I like to bring glow bracelets and sticks to the nighttime entertainment venues and share them with the kids around us. If you are a pin trader, giving away a pin to someone is another fun option. I’m sure you can think of a million little ways to share the magic.

7. Retail Therapy

One of my favorite ways to turn my frown upside down. Take a detour into one of WDW’s magical shops and do some window shopping, or go ahead and treat yourself to something special. Personally, I’m always drawn to the jewelry counter.

6. Change Your Scenery

If the Magic Kingdom is packed and you just can’t take another person cutting you off—call it quits! Pack up the family and head to another park (if you have the park hopping option on your tickets). Or, decide you are going to visit one of the resorts close to the park. The transportation will give you some time to cool off and then you can experience something entirely different with a fresh outlook. I always enjoy doing a monorail tour of the Magic Kingdom resorts—they are all beautiful and can you think of a better mode of transportation than the monorail?

5. Have a Drink!

Take a minute to slow down and order a cool drink. You may need to hydrate yourself and water is the best thing for that. Feeling a little low on energy? There’s nothing wrong with having a Coke to give you a jolt of sugar and caffeine. And, if you are over 21, why not treat yourself to an adult beverage to cool down and relax a bit? You know my favorites are in Epcot (the Grand Marnier Slush), but you can find something in every park to satisfy your adult beverage needs—except Magic Kingdom (hop on the monorail to one of the resort lounges).

4. Ride Your Favorite Attraction

If you are in a bad mood and things just aren’t going your way, stop what you are doing and go ride your favorite attraction. One caveat—pick a favorite attraction that doesn’t normally have much of a line (or else you’ll be in a worse mood). For me that would be Philharmagic, Carousel of Progress or the PeopleMover at Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Star Tours at Hollywood Studios, and at Animal Kingdom it would be the Safari—but only if the wait time is short. This puts me back in a good mood and sometimes leaves me singing an optimistic song “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow . . .”

3. Grab a Bite to Eat   

Nothing makes me crabbier than low blood sugar and hunger. With so many yummy snack options at your disposal in a Disney theme park there is no excuse not to take a 15 minute break and grab a box of popcorn, a pretzel, a Mickey bar or even a turkey leg and refuel for the rest of your adventures. I often forget how early I got up and how much walking I do in the parks—no wonder I’m hungry by mid-morning.

2. Cool Off

Walt Disney World is in central Florida. It is hot there and just a little bit humid. A long day in the sun of the theme parks can make anyone a little grumpy from the heat alone. So be sure to take some time to cool off periodically. There are lots of great places in each park where you can slip in and take advantage of the a/c. At Magic Kingdom you could pick an attraction like Hall of Presidents or Carousel of Progress that rarely has a wait, lasts a good while, is inside and you can sit down. Shops in any park are a good option (& you can combine with #7 for even more mood enhancement). At Epcot the Imagination Pavilion is a good stop to cool off—you can sit or you can take part in one of the interactive activities there. My favorite way to cool off is to schedule a table service lunch. Sitting down in the a/c, eating (#3), drinking (#5) . . . you are practically guaranteed to come out of your grumpy mood doing all 3 at once!

1. Take a Break!

This one is very important, and should be used as a preventative measure for the Grumpy mood. I schedule breaks into each of our park days because I know that there is only so much heat, walking, crowds and stimulation we can take in a day. Go back to your resort and swim, nap, read, watch TV . . .just take it easy. Then you can go back to the park refreshed and Happy in the evenings.

What is your favorite way to get out of your grumpy mood? Don’t be Bashful—we want to know!