One of the top tips I always give families when they are going to Walt Disney World is to take a rest day! I know this may seem a little unorthodox, and may not appeal to everyone, but I think it is a vital part of a successful vacation. Now I know what you are thinking… we are in Walt Disney World, why in the world would we want to take a rest day?!? Well, friends, rest days can often be what makes or breaks a Disney vacation. Florida is HOTT and often very muggy. That Florida heat can really drain you if you aren’t remembering to take care of your body. This can lead to dehydration and overall grumpiness. Trust me… I’ve been there!
I always recommend if you are taking a trip longer than 5 days to schedule a rest day in the middle of your park days. Not only does this help prevent grumpy butts, but it also allows you to see everything Disney has to offer outside of its signature parks! There are so many things you can do outside of the parks that you could take an entire trip to just explore the resorts and Disney Springs.
One of my favorite things to do on rest days is to resort hop! Resort hopping is a great way to spend a rest day and see some of the other wonderful resorts that Walt Disney World offers. A good way to see multiple resorts during your rest day is to take a monorail loop or a Skyliner loop. This is where you get on one of these transportation methods, and explore all of the resorts that are on these routes.
If you are looking to do a monorail loop, I highly recommend checking out some of the great Character dining experiences these resorts offer. My personal favorite is breakfast at O’hana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Here you can dine on a family-style meal full of Stitch waffles and other Polynesian-inspired breakfast dishes. While you enjoy your meal, you are joined by Lilo and Stitch along with some other friends. Another great character dining option on the Monorail loop is Chef Mickey’s. Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort enjoy breakfast or dinner with the Fab 5, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. This dining experience is a buffet-style meal with American-style food perfect for everyone’s pallets!
Another good way to spend a rest day is at Disney Springs. Here you can do so many different things from dining to shopping, to bowling, or even to see a movie! Disney Springs is the perfect place to explore on a rest day. I personally love to use my resort’s pool in the morning and then head over to Disney Springs later in the day to enjoy a nice dinner. Plus, this is where The World of Disney shop is located! You can find souvenirs from across all of the parks in this store and is a great way to make sure you get all of the trinkets you could ever want.
What is your favorite way to take a rest day in Walt Disney World?
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