Navigating a reopened Disney World can be a tricky challenge! It can certainly feel like things are constantly changing in the parks these days.

How many people are allowed in? Will our favorite snacks be available? What time do the parks even close!? It can be hard to keep track! We don’t want these changes to catch you unaware, so we’re taking a look at three NEW Disney World trip mistakes that you’re totally not expecting and how to avoid them!

1. Don’t Forget to Keep An Eye on Park Hours!

First off, Disney has been changing park hours around like nobody’s business. You probably know that hours have been limited since the parks reopened; there are no late nights for riding rides and eating treats right now!

Earlier this month, Disney shortened park hours in all four parks only to announce that select park hours would be extended again in November. Not to mention, there have been several instances of a park randomly getting an extra hour without any sort of announcement.

We’re constantly keeping an eye on the Disney park hours and it can even be hard for us to keep up with all the changes. We would HATE for you to be surprised by shortened park hours when you made your plans based on old information.

Keep a close eye on the park hours for your Disney trip. Typically, Disney will change hours a few weeks out, but you never know when a change could happen in these strange times. So, refresh yourself on the hours and your plans for the park you’ll be in each day. That way you’re not stuck with a BIG change of plans in the middle of your vacation.

Click here to learn more about the November hours extension! 

2. Learn Your Transportation Options BEFORE You Need Them.

Navigating the changes that Disney has made to transportation is a mistake waiting to happen if you’re not prepared. Some transportation options are limited and some aren’t available at all. We’re going to run you through a few things to keep an eye out for so that you know what to expect when getting around Disney World right now.

For one, most methods of transportation have limited capacity in one way or another. The buses have limited zone seating, the monorail cabins and boats have a smaller capacity, and the Skyliner is running with one party per gondola. Plus, one mainstream option isn’t available — you can’t take the monorail to EPCOT. The monorail station at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be closing in early October as well.

There’s even been one instance of Disney announcing a transportation reopening (the Friendship Boats) only for them to remain unavailable the day they were supposed to reopen. Transportation can be unpredictable and travel times can be longer than you might expect. Avoid any mistakes by being prepared!

Build-in extra time for transportation around Disney World just like you always would. You might think that limited capacity means it’s easier to get around but that’s not always the case. Allow 30 minutes to an hour to get from point A to point B. When in doubt on the best way to get around, ask a Cast Member! They’ll be happy to help get you on your way.

Click here to learn more about transportation in a reopened Disney World. 

3. Be Flexible With Your Dining Expectations.

And finally, we want to talk about a BIG one (for us especially!). The menus in dining spots around Disney World have been in a state of flux since reopening and some of your favorites might not be available. Don’t get your heart set on a snack just to find out it’s unavailable.

When the parks first reopened, we were pretty upset by some of our missing favorites on the menu. Some of our favorite Dole Whip Floats, loaded fries, and sweet treats were unavailable. Since then, we’ve seen some snacks return, like the lovely Kakamora Float, but a LOT is still missing on the Disney World menus.

If you’re headed to grab a snack or meal, check those menus to make sure your favorite items are still available. PLUS, some dining locations are still closed and others are only open on select days of the week! You’ll want to be informed about what you can and can’t expect when it comes to dining on your Disney trip.

Things really are always changing. You might come to terms that your favorite treat is unavailable, just to arrive at the counter and see it on the menu! And Disney is announcing new restaurant reopenings regularly, so stay in the loop to avoid any gaps in expectations.

And there you have it! We hope this helps you to avoid any big mistakes on your Disney vacation. Remember, stay in the loop and stay flexible and things can work out just fine. If you have any specific questions for us, feel free to ask them in the comments!

Click here to see what restaurants ARE and ARE NOT open in Disney World!

What tips do YOU have for a reopened Disney World? Share them in the comments!