Pivot or The Disney Trip Where Everything Went Wrong (and They Still Had an Amazing Time)

Sometimes the most magical Disney trips aren’t the ones that go perfectly. They’re the ones where everything goes wrong…and you learn how to pivot. Our most recent trip over Labor Day weekend was full of thunderstorms, injuries, missed parties, and even a massive power outage — yet we kept our flexible brains on and still had a practically perfect trip.

Storm Clouds Roll In

Thunderstorms — the kind that close down rides and airports — were the theme of the weekend. That’s not unusual for early September, and honestly, we’ve never done EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival without ponchos.  But this trip, the storms felt super extra.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: For a full look at booths, menus, and planning tips, check out our 2025 Food & Wine Festival Guide.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Always pack ponchos, check the radar, and keep a list of indoor shows or attractions ready for that quick storm escape.

Want to learn more about managing a rainy day at Disney (and where to find those rain respites in the parks)? Head to our Pixie Dust Tips for Rainy Days.

Travel Day Delays → Dinner Pivot

Both Lyn and Kim had major flight delays, which blew up our Thursday evening Disney Springs/Jock’s Hangar Bar plans.

First pivot, we grabbed a late table at Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach Resort, just a short walk from our room. Disney resorts have lots of hidden gems and sometimes the pivot to stay "in" leads to an unexpected delightful dinner, and that was the case here. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the fun things we had and in particular thought the pineapple bread pudding was superb.

Injuries and the Scooter Snafu

A few weeks before this trip Kim badly sprained her ankle, it has been slowly but surely improving, but still ached when she overdid it. My knee injury from February was significantly better after months of physical therapy and rehab, but still not “Disney better.” We thought sharing one ECV (scooter) from ScooterBug would be enough. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you need to learn more about renting an ECV in the parks or from a third-party vendor, check out our ECV rental guide.

During our first morning at EPCOT, it became clear that we both needed wheels. After a few phone calls, we learned there was no way to get another third-party scooter that day, or even the next.

Time for a pivot: we rented a scooter in the park each morning for me, while Kim used the original one. We were able to return the scooter when we took a break at are hotel, and then continue the rental at our second park using the receipt. (We had to repay the deposit at the second park — but both deposits were returned promptly.)

⚠️ Warning: The parks - especially Magic Kingdom, do sometimes run out of ECVs in the afternoons, especially on busy days. If that happens, Cast Members will take your number and put you on a waitlist for returns. Be aware, flexible, and patient if you are park-hopping.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Learn from our mistake — if more than one person in your party might need mobility help, just book two scooters from the start. It’s easier — and cheaper — than scrambling later.

Need more tips on navigating Disney with limited mobility? Visit our Limited Mobility Hub.

Heat Cramp of Doom

EPCOT started strong: Guardians, Test Track, Soarin’, Living with the Land, and plenty of Food & Wine snacking. But then the Florida heat took Lyn down with a brutal leg cramp. The irony? Lyn, who runs regularly, is by far in the best shape of the three of us, even when Kim and I are not dealing with injuries. Unintentional dehydration can take anyone down.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Even when you think you’re drinking enough water for the Florida heat, drink more — and pack some electrolyte supplements.

Need more tricks for staying cool? Our Guide to Managing the Florida Heat has maps of cooling spots in every park, plus survival strategies for both heat and rain.

We hobbled back to our resort via Skyliner. Lyn iced and hydrated in glorious A/C, and another thunderstorm rolled through. By evening, it was clear she hadn’t improved enough to manage Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Time for a pivot.

We called the Disney Parks ticket line and explained the problem to a Cast Member who found a solution for us. We could take our unused MNSSHP tickets and turn them into a credit to be put toward the cost of another special event. We were able to put the cost of ours toward our planned Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in December. If you find yourself in a similar situation be sure to call the ticketing line and politely ask what your options are. They rarely if ever refund the cost, but are often willing to work with you to find a solution.

We were bummed, but with storms and power outages hitting across the Disney Parks, many rides were down for several hours. It was probably a good night to sit out anyway.

Instead, we scored a table at Yachtsman Steakhouse, a signature dining restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Since the Skyliner was down, and knowing that taking a bus a hard “no” given our combined aches and pains, we Minnie Vanned over to the Yacht Club. Dinner was fantastic and turned into one of our best pivots yet. Be on the lookout for our review of this wonder meal - coming soon.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you are looking for a sit down dining experience at the last minute do not just assume everything is booked. Always take a minute to check the MDE app. Unless there is a free dining promo going on, there is usually a wide variety of availablity, sometimes even for more popular locations.

Want to explore more fine dining? Check out our Disney Signature Dining Guide (2025).

Rope Drop Redemption

Since MNSSHP didn’t happen, we rope dropped Magic Kingdom the next morning. We hit our must-do favorites before the heat got too intense, grabbed a Sleepy Hollow waffle sandwich, headed back to our room, and called it a win. Lyn was feeling much better by lunchtime. Cue — yes — another thunderstorm.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Always have a flexible “must-do” list. Focus on your top attractions first thing, then pivot the rest of the day as needed.

Not sure what your family’s “must-dos” should be? Our Must-Do Guide can help you prioritize.

Animal Kingdom Adjustments

That afternoon we made it to Animal Kingdom. We managed two of our big must-dos, Dinosaur and Expedition Everest, but the rain caused us to skip Kilimanjaro Safari. We rounded off our brief visit with dinner at Yak & Yeti, a perennial favorite.

👉 Want to know more about this classic Animal Kingdom attraction? Read our full farewell and history of DINOSAUR, closing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2026.

With Animal Kingdom's early closing that evening, the plan had been to hop to Magic Kingdom for the Starlight Parade. The rain and our collective aches said otherwise. Pivot. We instead headed to Disney Springs, aiming for a redo of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, hoping to check out the Halloween overlay and enjoy some spooky small bites and drinks.

But Labor Day crowds, and the popularity of the overlay generated a massive line at the Hangar Bar, causing us to toss that plan out the window as well.

Pivot again. Since there was a break in the rain, we grabbed Starbucks, shopped a little, and listened to the live music around Disney Springs, and enjoyed people-watching.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Have a day off or an evening free? Disney Springs is a great place to spend your time, full of fun dining, shopping, and live entertainment — read more in our full guide.

Hollywood Studios and a Happy Ending

Hollywood Studios the next morning was once again dreary and rainy, so no Skyliner. We bussed in, did our must-dos, and had a fun lunch at 50’s Prime Time Café before our afternoon A/C siesta.

By that evening, the storms had finally broken — the heat dropped, a breeze picked up, and it was actually pleasant outside. We Skylinered to EPCOT, strolled the World Showcase, sampled Food & Wine booths, and ended the night listening to MercyMe at Eat to the Beat.

For the first time that trip, everything just clicked. It was a lovely ending to a very imperfect, but still fun, trip.

Lessons from a Chaotic Trip

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Be patient and gracious. Disney can’t stop storms or heal sprained ankles, but Cast Members will go further to help if you’re flexible and kind.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Make the most of resort downtime. If weather or injuries sideline you, play board games, swim, or explore your resort. Don’t see it as wasted time.

Want ideas for what kind of extras Disney resorts offer? Head to our Resort Hotel Extras Guide.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Use First Aid Centers. From blisters to heat cramps, they can help with meds, bandages, ice packs, and even emergency wheelchairs.

Locations:

• Magic Kingdom: Between Casey’s Corner & Crystal Palace

• EPCOT: Odyssey Building (near Mexico)

• Hollywood Studios: Left of the entrance, near Guest Services

• Animal Kingdom: Discovery Island near Creature Comforts

• Water Parks: Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach

Final Takeaway

No Disney trip ever goes exactly as planned. Ours certainly didn’t. But by pivoting — over and over again — we still created amazing memories.

The truth is, Disney magic isn’t about perfection. It’s about finding joy in the detours.

Need more help when things go sideways? Read our Pixie Dust Tips for Re-Planning on the Fly.

Pixie Dust Hugs,

Bren, Lyn, and Kim