8 Things Money Can’t Buy At Walt Disney World

There are a lot of pretty amazing things that money can buy at Walt Disney World.  Did you know, for example, that you can hire a private tour guide to drive you to the parks and escort you around, allowing you to skip all ride lines and access premium seating for shows and parades?!  (Sure, it’s almost $400 an hour, but it can be done.)  Well, it turns out there are some things that no money in the world will buy you, even at WDW.  Here are a few of them!

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1. Good Weather

Despite the myth that Walt Disney World exists under an artificial dome (giving WDW absolute control over everything inside including the weather), good weather sadly is beyond even Disney’s control!  We’ve experienced many beautiful, hot, sunny Florida days, but the truth is that more temperamental weather is also quite possible.  Best to always come prepared with rain gear and layers.

2. Remote Control Toys

You might be able to buy remote control toys at your local Disney store, but on Walt Disney World property, you definitely won’t find any remote control toys for sale.  They can be disruptive and hazardous to other guests, and it’s for this reason that you also won’t be permitted into any Disney park with a remote control toy.  Best to buy that BB-8 remote control toy in your home town, and leave it at home while on vacation.

3. Toy Guns

While it’s still possible to purchase plastic lightsabers and toy swords on Disney property, you won’t find any toy guns for sale anywhere in Walt Disney World.  Shops like the one at Pirate of the Caribbean previously sold plastic guns, but no longer!  Keep in mind that you’ll also not be allowed into any park with anything that looks remotely like a gun, even if it’s clearly a toy – this includes water guns.

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4. Gum

Another item you probably didn’t realize Walt Disney World doesn’t sell is gum.  Not surprisingly, this is in an effort to keep the parks as clean as possible.  It might ruin the magic if guests discovered old chewing gum on their lunch tables, after all!  You can still bring your own gum into the park, and thanks to Walt Disney himself, you’ll even find a trash can within about 30 steps of any given spot inside the parks!

5. Pepsi Products

No amount of money will buy you Pepsi products within Walt Disney World parks.  Disney has had a deal with Coca Cola throughout its Florida parks for years, so while you’ll find a variety of Coca Cola products on property, you won’t see a single Pepsi.  (But if you’re a die-hard Pepsi fan, we’re told Shanghai Disneyland in China does sell Pepsi products!)

6. Cross-over Specialty Items

If you’re resort-hopping at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and see a specialty item you like, best to snag it then and there, because you won’t find it back at your resort.  Specialty resort items (apparel or accessories featuring specific resort logos, for example) are only available at that resort.  Similarly, items at TAG (Travel-Accessories-Gear) in Disney Springs can only be found at this shop, so if you see something you have to have, make sure you pounce!

7. Balloons and Plastic Straws (in AK)

You can purchase a wide array of balloons in other Walt Disney World parks, but you won’t find them anywhere in the Animal Kingdom, for the safety of the animals.  You also can’t bring any balloons into this park, so make sure you deposit your child’s balloon in your hotel room before heading to AK, or it’ll be confiscated.  Plastic straws are another item that you won’t find anywhere within the Animal Kingdom, again for the protection of the animals.

8. Patience

It sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised: patience, unfortunately, is something you won’t be able to buy at any Walt Disney World park.  While there’s little more enjoyable than a Disney vacation, let’s be honest – walking around a crowded park in the hot sun (or in a downpour) all day and standing in lines, especially with children, can take its toll on all of us!  It’s a good idea to build in breaks throughout the day, and to have a realistic idea of what you and your family can and want to do each day, so that you don’t end up exhausted, burned out and annoyed by the end of your first day!