Disney World is a BIG place full of all different kinds of people who are likely hot, tired, sweaty, and slightly irritable while also being extremely excited to be in the Most Magical Place on Earth.

If you’ve never been to Disney World, you’ve likely heard a lot about it from the people around you who have been. The good, the bad, the ugly — regardless, you’ve probably heard a lot of MIXED things. So what’s really true? Well, if you’ve heard these wild things about the parks…they’re actually really accurate.

It’s FULL of Screaming Kids

This one seems like an exaggeration, but it’s not! Disney World is a family park, meaning that there are going to be kids of all ages with their families around the parks? And you know what kids do (because they’re…kids)? Cry and yell.

The thing is though, you need to be PREPARED for this! Yes, it’s not fun to be next to an upset child, but that child and their family also aren’t having the best time right then either, so you’re all in the same boat!

Avoiding upset kids is pretty hard since, as we said, it’s a family park, but you can try to stick to the more thrilling attractions that kids aren’t interested in/don’t meet the height requirements for. Or, if you’re in an open area and there’s a child near you having a moment, pause for a second to let the family get ahead of you, veer off to the side, or get yourself to another area where the sound is dulled. This isn’t always an option, but it’s likely easier for YOU to move rather than the family with the upset child.

Everyone Fights (At Least Once)

If you’ve never been to Disney World, you’re probably thinking, “how could you fight on a vacation you’ve all been so excited for?” Uh, remember when we mentioned being HOT and HUNGRY and TIRED at the beginning of this post? Yeah, that’s all a recipe for disaster, and it happens to the best of us at least once.

The truth is, even the best of friends or family members who get along super well could have at least one fight or disagreement in the parks. Is it ideal? No, of course not, and you’ll want to do all you can to avoid it (we’ll get into that in a second), but it’s another thing to be prepared for before your trip begins.

So what can you go to avoid this fate? The best thing is to watch yourselves closely, take breaks when needed, and COMMUNICATE with your group! This is easier said than done, trust us, but it’s so important. On the opposite side, you need to be prepared for plans to change if someone in your party is communicating that they need something to you. If you were planning to head to a ride but your family member says “I’m getting hungry, can we grab a snack?” It’s snack time! It’s all in the small things, friends, because small things quickly turn into BIG things!

It’s One Of The Most Expensive Vacations You’ll Ever Take

All you have to do is just START planning a Disney World vacation on the Disney World website, and you’ll see how fast the cost adds up. It’s true that Disney World vacations are often some of, if not THE MOST, expensive vacations that families take.

So why do they do it? Well, it’s a bucket list item for many families, and experiencing the Disney magic with your kids at least once while they’re young/young-ish is important to a lot of families. However, other families choose to take trips when their kids are older so everyone will definitely remember it. Regardless of when you decide to go, it’s still wildly expensive.

There are some great ways to save money on your vacation though! Checking for discounts and deals on the Disney World website is a big one, as well as looking at ticket prices to choose one of the cheapest times to visit. Staying at a Value hotel will keep your on-property hotel costs as low as can be, or you can even choose to stay off-property or at a Good Neighbor Hotel. If all that sounds a little too intense, you can book with a travel agent and have them do all the hard work for you FOR FREE! Try out our friends at Small World Vacations!

It’s Hotter and More Humid Than Should Ever Be Legal

You are in Florida, which means you’re likely expecting some heat if you’re traveling during the spring, summer, or early fall, BUT if you’ve never been to the state before…you’re likely REALLY not prepared for the heat and humidity.

The humidity is really often the worst part, because it makes everything feel WET and STICKY as well as hotter than the surface of the sun. And contrary to the popular (incorrect) belief, there is no weather dome over Disney World, so the parks can’t just air condition themselves or shield you from rain.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to get the heat and humidity to just…stop, but we do recommend staying out of the sun as much as possible during the middle of the day, ensure you stay hydrated the WHOLE day (hydration really starts the day before, if we’re being honest), and maybe even taking a break during the heat of the day to take a nap, swim in the pool, or watch a movie! That break can be MAGICAL, okay? Just trust us!

Looking for more tips to help plan your Disney World trip? We’re always keeping you updated on the latest news so you know what to expect when you’re in the parks, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB!

This Disney World bag rule will CHANGE your first day in the parks

What else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!