It's the sort of place that really
reminds you that you're living in Florida.
I'm sure you probably caught onto what I'm really talking about now, and now that I've been a regular at the theme parks for about a year and thereby am clearly now an expert at everything Disney and Universal (and SeaWorld and the 12 other parks I haven't even visited yet), I just thought I'd offer some insight into the sort of behaviors and habits that you should accustom yourself to in order to maximize your experience during your vacation. Or staycation (you know your hubrises, Floridians). Now, I would call them "suggestions," but for ths sake of understanding that doing these things will really help out every other person who's right there vacationing with you, I think "etiquette" is a much more appropraite term.
Without further ado...
1) Do your research before you arrive.
Yes, I know, a little spontaneity really helps to spice up an otherwise droll vacation. I understand that. But if you're coming to one of the most popular theme parks in the world on, for the sake of argument, some summer holiday weekend, your former willingness to "play it by ear" is really gonna make your day miserable. I promise. So, if you're coming to Disney, really take the time to hop onto google and the My Disney Experience website (Universal and all the other parks have similar websites and apps) and have an understanding of what it is you want to do and how much time, money, and effort your theme park day is going to require. Unless of course waiting in a 40 minute line at Guest Services because your plans aren't going accordingly is more your speed. But I'd rather be on Splash Mountain. DIGRESS!
2) Have your hotel accomodations ready BEFORE you arrive.
I can't tell you how many people I've run into who know for a fact that they're gonna be staying in Orlando for 4 or 5 days and say, "Yeah we're going to head to one of the Disney resorts and check if they have any rooms tonight." ... I'm sure that this works with some success in the off seasons. But if youre gonna come in the middle of July thinking you're a great pirate about to plunder a hotel room at the last second, I can't help but imagine that you're gonna leave the lobby surprised and disappointed.
This is a more realistic accomodation
for that scenario.
3) When you go to the parks, listen to the cast (or team) members.
This shouldn't have to be said aloud, but the companies running the theme parks you want to go to are paying their employees coin to make sure that your time is safe, efficient, and yes, fun. So just help them help you by not arguing. The theme parks aren't an NPR discussion forum between you and the employee - they're (generally) telling you what they're telling you for a reason, and its not your prerogative to debate. A couple of very common examples: when security tells you they need your bags open... Open 'em. When the train conductor at Magic Kingdom tells you that your butt needs to stay on the seat before they come to a full and complete stop, they're not somehow conspiring to ruin your family's entire 2 week vacation - but falling off the train and getting your arm broken will be a surefire way to do exactly that.
4) Be respectful of your fellow guests.
I get it. Main Street USA is not the easiest place to navigate on a sunny Saturday at 2 in the afternoon. Between the balloon vendors, photograhy cast members, and the parades that run through the area (see #3 on this one), getting from Town Square to Cinderella Castle is an adventure by itself. But consider this while you're making that journey... Or when yourale anywhere at the Magic Kingdom, or literally any theme park: stopping in the middle of the walkway is probably a tremendously bad and inconvenient idea. Especially when you or the guests around you are using wheelchaits or scooters. Pick a nearby shaded and out of the way area to pull out your guide map... Maybe right near Tomorrowland Terrace where the Plaza restaurant is, using my Main Street USA example. Separately, loud screaming where it's out of place is not doing your fellow guests any favors, either. If you're on the Tower of Terror or Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket at Universal, loud screaming is expected and encouraged. That's the point of those type of rides. Now, let's say you take yourself back to Magic Kingdom, or Disneyland for you west coast folks, and release some of that pent up adrenaline on the Haunted Mansion.
The look on this little girl's face is
probably your best case outcome for this example.
We all know that your first time at the park is all veey exciting, but logic is the best thing you can have about you when coming through the entrance. Gauge where you're at and how many people are around you. It'll make everyone's lives easier and keep your dignity, if not your ability to legally return to the parks in some scenarios, intact.
Well, that'll about do it for me. The animation world is a bit slow these days (at least for me), so I'm branching off into more theme park type writing in my fair blog. If you like it, great! If this is the first time youre seeing this blog and you like it, double great! Stick around and follow my facebook page, I'll definitely deliver on more of this type of content! If you're not into a whole lot of reading, well... I'm probably not 100% your speed, though you're more than welcome to share my blog to your friends and family!
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to gaze into the stars and wonder why people unironically feel the need to ask what time the 3:00 parade is going to be.
