DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
We all want the perfect Disney vacation.
With their amazing attractions, delicious treats, and family smiles, Disney’s theme parks provide Guests with memories to last a lifetime.
From the thrills of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to the icons that are Jungle Cruise and Spaceship Earth, Disney Parks has something for everyone to enjoy a magical moment.
But what could you do during your visit that would actually ruin that perfect trip?
When visiting any of the Disney Parks or Resorts across the world Guests must follow certain rules and regulations that when ignored, could result in getting kicked out – or even being banned – from the Parks. Here, Disney Tips has the lowdown on what not to bring or do on your next visit to Disneyland in California or Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
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Prohibited Items
There are many obvious items that are not allowed to go with you on your magical experience in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks.
Dangerous articles like firearms, knives, weapons, as well as illegal substances and alcoholic beverages, are not permitted in Disney Parks, and security Cast Members at each theme park entrance will find these.
Interestingly, there are some more obscure items that are not allowed into Disney Parks. Items such as horns and whistles are not allowed, while families will also have to leave wagons and larger strollers at home.
Furthermore, skateboards, scooters, skates, and rollerblades (even shoes with wheels) are not permitted inside the theme parks, and you will be made to leave these behind at the entrance.
One major “no-no” when entering a Disney Park at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort is bringing in a folding chair or camping chair. These, of course, would obstruct ride lines and fireworks viewing areas. Recently, one family tried stealing chairs from a Magic Kingdom restaurant to watch Disney Enchantment, which led to Cast Members having to intervene.
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The full list of prohibited items is detailed below:
- Firearms, ammunition, knives, or weapons of any kind
- Self-defense or restraining devices
- Marijuana or any illegal substances
- Objects or toys that could look like firearms or weapons
- Fireworks or other explosive or flammable devices
- Alcoholic beverages except at the Disney Resort hotels and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (Disney notes that wine may be brought into select restaurants at Disney Springs)
- Glass containers, except in Disney Resort hotels and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
- Horns, whistles, megaphones, or noisemakers
- Selfie sticks
- Recreational devices like drones, remote-control toys, skateboards, scooters, bikes, skates, rollerblades. Bicycles are permitted in designated areas within Disney Resorts
- Wagons or strollers that are greater than 31 inches in width and 52 inches in length
- Folding chairs
- Balloons and plastic chairs in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, water parks, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
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Clothing Choices
On every Disney vacation, Guests try to wear the most fun yet comfortable clothing they can for the active days, warm weather, and the huge amount of steps.
From matching Mickey and Minnie shirts for couples to Princess dresses for children, we’ve seen some wonderful outfits during our visits to Walt Disney World.
Remember, however, that costumes for adults are not permitted unless it is a special occasion such as Halloween, where Guests over 14 years of age are allowed to wear Disney character costumes for events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Disney’s After Hours Boo Bash.
Guests are also expected to wear shoes, pants, and shirts at all times and Walt Disney World reserves the right to let someone know if they are breaking the dress code. If this happens, Cast Members will sometimes give the Guest a shirt or other piece of clothing – often for obscenities, political views, or exposure.
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Forbidden Activities
There are multiple things you can’t do at Disney. There are obvious ones, like activities that affect health and safety or break the law.
But there are also numerous activities that could get you kicked out that are less evident. For example, the whole spreading of your loved one’s ashes at Haunted Mansion trick (or anywhere in the theme parks for that matter) is strictly prohibited. You would not believe how often Guests attempt to scatter ashes at Walt Disney World Resort, but if you do this, Disney will stop the attraction, sweep and toss the ashes, and you will need to leave the Park.
Smoking is also banned from Disney Parks and has been for quite some time. Guests wishing to smoke or vape can find designated smoking areas outside of the Parks.
Another big no-go is cutting in line. With the replacement of the free FastPass service with Bob Chapek’s Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane systems, Guests have become increasingly frustrated with the long wait times now found in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If you get caught trying to cut the lines at any experience or ride, however, you will get escorted out of the Park quickly.
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The full list of activities prohibited by Walt Disney World is below:
- The sale of goods or services, or the display of goods or services
- The distribution of printed or recorded materials of any kind
- Engaging in any unsafe act or other act that may impede operations of the Walt Disney World Resort
- Unauthorized access or entry into backstage areas or areas designated for Cast Members only
- Unauthorized events, speeches, or use of any flag, banner, sign, or other material for commercial purpose or as part of a demonstration
- Photography, videotaping, or recording in any activity for unapproved commercial purposes
- Unauthorized solicitations of any kind, whether commercial, religious, educational or otherwise
- Obstructing sidewalks, entrances, driveways, patios vestibules, stairways, corridors, halls, or landings
- Hanging any clothing towels bedding or other similar items over balconies at a Disney Resort hotel or from fire suppression sprinklers
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Other actions not allowed include stealing, rude gestures and obscene language, excessive drinking, fighting, jumping out of a ride, and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, not wearing a mask.
Since the pandemic started in 2020, Disney has introduced new procedures and rules for Cast Member and Guest safety. All Guests over the age of 2 are required to wear face coverings in all indoor areas at the Parks and Resorts:
Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) in all indoor locations, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all indoor attractions and indoor queues and in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are optional for Guests in outdoor areas.
All face coverings (whether disposable or reusable) should:
- Be made with at least 2 layers of breathable material
- Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin
- Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with ties or ear loops and allow the Guest to remain hands-free
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