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Disney World, Sea World, LEGOLAND, Gatorland, and Universal are the things that make Orlando the theme park capital of the world. You can never have enough fun in these theme parks, and even the most ambitious travelers have trouble visiting all of them in one trip.

But Orlando has more to offer apart from the constant adrenaline rush. Cocoa, Sarasota, and Daytona are popular beaches, while the City Walk and Disney Springs have a vibrant nightlife.

With endless possibilities, you can make a slip-up. To make sure you have the trip of a lifetime, here are 8 mistakes to avoid when traveling to Orlando:

Not researching enough

If you’re visiting Orlando, you have to go to Disney World. But without preparation, you’ll be astonished at how big it is. Disney World has a territory of 47 square miles. It’s MASSIVE.

Going there unprepared is like showing up to the Olympics without training. Watch a few YouTube videos of the top rides. Ask your friends who have already been there about the things to prioritize. If you’re going with your kids, make a plan of the things they want to see, and include a few of your favorite rides (adults are big kids, too)!

Not picking the right place to stay in

Location is crucial when choosing accommodation. Staying near Walt Disney World when you’ve got young kids is great. But it’s not worth the money since you’ll be in the park all day!

A good idea for families with older kids is to stay near Universal Orlando. That way, you’ll see the Harry Potter attractions before everyone else. The same thing is true about all the theme parks nearby. If you don’t want to stay at the resort, pick a place that’s a short drive away. Oh, and don’t make the mistake of getting one-day tickets. Always go for the multi-day options.

Sleeping in

Okay, yes, vacations are for relaxing. But Orlando isn’t a place where you want to sleep in. You’ll get the most out of your trip if you rise with the sun. The early birds enjoy the theme parks before the crowds roll in. Use the afternoons to rest up. Then go out in the evenings to watch a show or enjoy fireworks.

Visiting in peak season

Since Orlando is a family place, you might plan to go there during the summer or the Christmas holidays. Try your best to catch the start or the end of the season to get better prices and avoid the crowds. If you happen to sneak in even a week before the season begins, you’ll save a lot of money.

Not packing properly

Comfortable footwear is crucial for your trip to Orlando. That should be number one on your packing list. Next, come with umbrellas and some waterproof clothes. Sure, it’s the Sunshine State, but the weather can change instantly. You don’t want to be burning up one minute and soaking wet the other. Bring some spare clothes, sunscreen, hats, and reusable water bottles. Every theme park has free water fountains that you can use to refill.

Not using a VPN

When you’re having fun, you want to tell the world about it. Maybe your kid learned how to do a backflip in the pool, and you want to make a cool edit and share it on Facebook. So, you click on the available networks and connect to the free, unlocked Wi-Fi. That single mistake can cost you more than the entire Orlando trip!

Hackers can infiltrate your phone on public networks. To avoid that from happening, you need to use a VPN for travel. And that stands for your entire family. VPN subscriptions allow multiple devices to be logged in through one account. Make sure everyone uses them.

Cramming everything during your trip

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you can’t experience Orlando in a week. If you try to do everything, you’ll feel drained and exhausted. The optimal time to stay is two weeks. But if that’s outside of your scope, try to get at least 10 days so that you have some room to relax.

Visiting the parks like everyone else

To end things off, here’s a secret to ensure you get the most out of your theme park visits. Logically, when you arrive at a park, it makes sense to go to the nearest attractions. But that’s what everyone does. Make sure you arrive early and go to the opposite end of the park where there are no queues. And work your way backward. Use a FastPass to beat the lines, but remember to select the rides beforehand. You can do that up to 30 days in advance.