When you are on vacation, the last thing you want to think about is rules!
Cinderella Castle
But Disney takes safety super seriously. There are Five Keys that Cast Members use as a guide while they are on the clock, and the most important Key is Safety. Disney even tells their Cast Members that “Safety Begins with Me.” Disney World has both spoken and even some unspoken rules to make sure everyone is safe and enjoys their vacation.
The anticipation of entering the park may take over you, and you may be so inclined to start speed walking, which may turn into running. You may be rope dropping and need to put some pep in your step to make sure you get a good spot in an attraction line. Or maybe you are running late for a dining reservation or Lightning Lane return time. While you may feel so inclined to run, DON’T.
Hollywood Studios rope drop
Disney World enforces a no-running rule, like at its water parks and pools. They don’t want you bumping into others or potentially tripping and hurting yourself. Sometimes, you may not even realize that you are running rather than speed-walking.
Rope drop at Magic Kingdom
If you want the chance not to break the no-running rule and get to run through the Disney World parks, then consider signing up to run one of the many runDisney races that take place throughout the year.
runDisney merch
In all seriousness, Cast Members are not trying to ruin your fun; they just want to make sure everyone in the park, including yourself, is safe.
If you want to beat the rope drop crowds, we suggest planning out your morning thoroughly. Think about picking up breakfast the night before. Plan out how long it takes you to get ready, when transportation starts running, and think about how long it takes to get through security. Planning ahead of time it can help you set your alarm early enough to make it to the park without feeling like you need to run to your first ride.
How Do I Skip the Lines in Disney World: Lightning Lanes or Rope Drop?
Guests waiting at the International Gateway in EPCOT for rope drop
If you are worried about running late for a dining reservation or Lightning Lane return time, you can set reminders and alarms on your phone. That way, if you know your reservation is coming up, you can plan accordingly to get there on time without worrying about the need to sprint across the park.
The Unspoken Rules of Eating in Disney World
Lightning Lane
Although Cast Members do want you to stick to your reservation and return times, if you are polite and explain your situation, they usually don’t mind helping you out as long as you are not hours late.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Cast Members
Disney World is the Most Magical Place on Earth, and Cast Members strive to keep it one of the safest. So the next time you are in the park and feel yourself starting to speed up, remember to slow down and take it all in!
For more Disney tips and to stay up to date on all the latest Disney news, keep following along with us here at the Disney Food Blog!
The Unwritten Rules of Disney World
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Welp, yeah, that’s a rule we’ve broken when something unforeseen has kept us from being as early as we wanted to be (or maybe rushing to be on time) for a dining reservation. And while we are normally 10-15 minutes early for our DRs, and we have learned that most CMs are understanding and accomodating when you’re not, we were once – ONCE – years ago given a hard time by a CM at a host stand when we were ‘5 minutes late,’ even though we had been standing in the line to check in since well before our reservation time, and the people in front of us and behind us could attest to that. (This was before the days when you could check in on the app.) But we will note that being ‘just’ on time or maybe even a few minutes late is better than running. We don’t want to get in trouble!