One of my best Disney vacation planning tips of all time is super simple yet vital – ALWAYS plan at least a day to do nothing but relax at Disney World.
With all that there is to do at the Disney parks and resorts, it can easily overwhelm and exhaust you if you aren’t careful. With proper planning, you can still see and do everything you want without missing a beat AND take plenty of time to rest.
Disney offers a ton of ways for you to do just that on your vacation! Here are 9 of my favorite ways to relax at Disney World.
1. Have a Pool Day at Your Resort
If you are staying on property at a Disney resort hotel, you are in for a real treat. Disney has amazing themed pools at every resort. Another plus is that they are heated so you can swim year round! This is a great way to spend a day away from the parks because the kids can burn off some steam while you bask in the sun in a lounge chair with a fruity drink. How does that sound?
2. Resort Hop
One of my family’s all-time favorite ways to relax at Disney World is to resort hop. Go to a theme park, take a bus to all the resorts on property, and see how many you can visit in a day! This is a great way to explore all that the other Disney World resorts have to offer as well as helping you decide where you’d like to stay next time.
3. Go to Disney Springs
There are so many awesome activities for the whole family to enjoy at Disney Springs. Go shopping at hundreds of stores (including Under Armour, Francesca’s, Kate Spade, and other high-end brands), grab some dinner, watch Cirque Du Soleil, or take a ride in a hot air balloon!
4. Dine at a Resort
If you’re staying in a resort that has a table service dining location that you haven’t gotten to try yet, do it on your day off! You could even go to another resort and check out their restaurants. I love to do character dining at the resorts as well. Here are some of my favorite resort restaurants:
- Boma Flavors of Africa – Animal Kingdom Lodge
- The Grand Floridian Cafe
- Kona Cafe – The Polynesian Resort
- ‘Ohana – The Polynesian Resort
5. Sleep In
Trust me, after walking all day, getting up early, and staying out late, you’ll want to take a day to sleep in! If you don’t, you’ll be even more tired on your next park day. I know it can be tempting to try to see and do absolutely EVERYTHING, but your feet and your soul will thank you later for taking time out to rest!
6. Visit a Water Park
Disney World has two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. If you are taking a trip in the summer, go to a water park on your off day! There are water slides, chairlifts, and tons of play activities for kids to enjoy. You can even meet certain characters there! Water park tickets start at $69 per person per day, or you can get the park hopper plus option which lets you take advantage of the theme parks, water parks and other WDW attractions.
7. Go Golfing or Mini Golfing
Disney has a golf course and mini golf course on property that you can take advantage of! Mini golf does cost – $12 for kids and $14 for adults, but worth it if your family really likes mini golf. You can also use this as one of your experiences with the park hopper plus ticket!
There are also two golf courses – the Magnolia course and the Lake Buena Vista course. It is at a cost and you’ll need reservations to reserve a tee time at either course. You can call (407) – WDW – GOLF to secure those reservations.
8. Participate in Your Resort’s Daily Activities and Events
When you stay at a Disney World resort, you can take advantage of the many daily activities and events that your resort offers. Some of these include Disney movies under the stars, campfires on the beach, tie-dye shirt making, games for the kids, and much more! You can also pay for a bike rental or go to mermaid school! When you check in, ask the front desk employee for a schedule of events and activities.
9. Have a Spa or Fishing Day
There are several spas on property, including the Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian resort. You can get a facial, a massage, and experience their full service salon. This would be great to do with the ladies in your life while the men rent a boat or kayak and go fishing! You’ll need reservations for both of these activities. Call (407) WDW – SPA to check for spa reservation times, and call (407) WDW – BASS for fishing and boat rentals.
