Keeping It Honest: Top Walt Disney World Frustrations

Disney World might be the most magical place on earth, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely void of frustrations. In fact, there are a handful of things that happen during Disney vacations that are downright aggravating, and some of them can even put a damper on the entire day. That said, if you go in knowing what kinds of frustrations to expect, you can prepare for them. Sometimes you can avoid them altogether. Obviously, it’s always better to be prepared, so read on to learn what kinds of frustrating things might happen during your magical getaway so you can plan for them, avoid them entirely, or at least be mentally prepared to deal with them.

1. Difficulties Snagging a Boarding Pass

Disney World’s newest ride, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, also happens to be one of it’s most popular rides. Star Wars fans from all over the world are clamoring to experience this attraction, and honestly, we don’t blame them. In an effort to keep lines from getting ridiculously long, Disney World has implemented a virtual queue system for this ride. This requires guests to snag a boarding pass at a certain time on the day of their visit. The problem? These passes are limited, and they go fast. We’re talking mere minutes here. This means there’s a chance you won’t get one at all, and that can be extremely frustrating. Our suggestion is to plan for more than one day at Hollywood Studios so you have multiple chances to get a pass. Be on the My Disney Experience app and waiting when the passes are released at 7:00 AM the day of, and then again at 1:00 PM (you must be inside the park for this one!) if you don’t get a boarding group on the first try. If you don’t get a pass despite your best efforts, don’t worry, there are still plenty of other amazing attractions to experience, and Rise of the Resistance will still be there when you come back again.

2. Impossible Dining Reservations

Unless you want to eat quick-service food the whole time you’re in Disney, dining reservations are super important to snag before you leave for your vacation. Unfortunately, there are certain reservations that are nearly impossible to get. This can certainly be annoying, and in some cases even heartbreaking if you have your heart set on a particular restaurant. The best thing you can do to prevent this is to make your reservations exactly 60 days out. If what you want isn’t available, sign up for a service such as MouseDining. to receive a notification when the reservation you’re after becomes available. If you still don’t have your top pick when you arrive in Disney, keep checking right up until the day you want to eat there, and even make sure to check for walk-up availability just in case.

3. Long Lines and No FastPasses

Since the parks’ reopening last year, the FastPass Plus system has been gone. Initially, this was said to help with social distancing, but now it looks like it may never return. In any case, there is no FastPass system in place currently, and that means we all have to wait in the standby line. The good news? Lines move much more quickly and smoothly without FastPass. The bad news? They can still get long on crowded days. To avoid waiting a long time in line, consider arriving early, taking a break mid-day, and returning to stay in the parks until closing time. This allows you to take advantage of the slowest times of day, the shortest lines, and often the hottest weather of the day.

4. Delayed Transportation

One of the best things about Disney is the awesome transportation system. That said, it isn’t perfect, and there are times when their transportation can be delayed. This is irritating, especially after a long day in the parks, with small children, in extreme heat, and/or if you’re on a tight schedule. Obviously, there is no way to make the Disney transportation run more quickly. What you can do is make sure you leave early enough that you don’t feel rushed if the bus is running late. Bring entertainment for little kids, along with ways to stay shaded and keep cool if it’s especially hot out. Of course, there is also the option of driving your own car if you happen to have it with you!

5. Navigating Large Crowds

Disney World is a popular vacation destination. Because of this, there are always people traveling to see the place, and crowds are always going to be in the parks. Navigating these crowds is difficult and sometimes super frustrating when it seems nobody is paying attention to where they are going. To get around this problem, try visiting during the slower times of day as mentioned before. It’s also a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to get from one place to another, as being in a hurry can make navigating crowds all the more irritating.

6. Attraction Closures

Attractions can close for a variety of reasons. If a ride or show you were really looking forward to closes, it can be a major bummer and might even leave little ones in tears. For this reason, we highly recommend checking for scheduled closures before you leave. Obviously, this won’t guarantee the ride you want will be open—since attractions can close unexpectedly—but it will allow you to plan around the times certain rides are scheduled to be out of commission.

7. Early Closing Times

Parks can sometimes close earlier than they usually do. These early closures are usually due to an after-hours event and are scheduled as such, but if you don’t think to look at the hours for each day before you plan your trip, you might find yourself leaving much earlier than you would have liked. The obvious solution to this is to check the hours for the park you wish to visit as you plan your trip. You might also check again a few days before you leave to ensure the hours haven’t changed.