Take a BREAK at Walt Disney World! What do you do on your non-park day?
Everyone travels to Walt Disney World to visit the theme parks, but did you know there is SO much more to Walt Disney World resort than the parks? A trip to the most magical place on Earth requires a lot of planning and I highly recommend building in some ‘break time’ during your trip. Check out some of my most recommended ways to spend your non-park day!
Enjoy your resort.
Spending an entire day at the resort allows everyone to recharge and reset before heading back to the parks the next few days of your vacation. Each Walt Disney World resort will have a list of activities available for week that you can enjoy – most of these are free but some will be paid activities. These activities may include…
Mickey Tie-Dye shirts
Poolside games
Bingo
Campfire Smores
Movies on the Lawn
Specialty tours – at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge
Each resort will also have a themed pool to enjoy, and depending on your resort it may also feature a water slides, kids play area, or playground. I could spend all day lounging at the Polynesian’s lava pool with my kids playing in the Kiki Tiki splash pad. Round out your day enjoying dinner at a quick service or table service restaurant either at your resort or nearby your resort – if you’re at a Disney Springs resort this is the perfect time to take the boat over for dinner.
Head to Disney Springs!
Disney Springs is a LARGE outdoor shopping and dining venue with something for EVERYONE. You can just shop at sought after stores like Vera Bradley, Lilly Pulitzer, or Basin – or visit the iconic stores from Downtown Disney including the World of Disney, Disney’s Days of Christmas, or the Lego Store. After you spend an afternoon shopping you can pick from a wide selection of top rated restaurants or themed dining – my favorites are The Polite Pig, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar.
Extras at Disney Springs
You can truly make a full day out of a visit to Disney Springs. Beyond shopping and dining, make sure you check out….
Splitsville Luxury Lanes: Bowl down memory lane while enjoying an upscale spin on this classic American pastime—with fun to spare!
Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight: Soar sky-high during an 8-minute tethered adventure in the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon.
AMC Movies at Disney Springs
Vintage Amphicar Tours: Make a splash on a captain-guided tour of Lake Buena Vista aboard a fully restored retro dream boat.
Mini-golf and ‘real’ Golf
If you booked a vacation package with the Walt Disney Travel company your package will include a round of golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland mini golf courses on Walt Disney World resort property.
There are also FOUR 18-hole world class golf courses on Walt Disney World property. These are located at Shades of Green Resort and Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
Monorail or Skyliner Resort crawl.
It is so fun to visit all of the different resort at Walt Disney World. Each resort is uniquely themed, even to their food offerings, and you are missing out if you don’t get a chance to visit other resorts during your vacation. My favorite way to do this is using Walt Disney transportation and doing a Monorail crawl or Skyliner crawl. Your day would look like this!
Monorail Crawl: Travel to the resorts on the Monorail. If you’re not staying on a monorail resort, simply take the bus from your resort to the Magic Kingdom and board the monorail there.
Contemporary Resort: Enjoy a drink at the lounge at The Wave or a meal at Chef Mickey’s to meet the fab 5
Polynesian Village Resort: Stop by Pineapple Lanai for a Dole Whip or Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto for snacks and a Nautilus!
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: Finish out your crawl at The Enchanted Rose Lounge and then step outside the resort to watch the fireworks!
Skyliner Crawl: Travel to the resort on the Skyliner! If you aren’t staying at a skyliner resort, take a rideshare to one of them and start there, OR start the skyliner crawl after visiting EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Riviera Resort: Stop here for drinks at Bar Riva
Walk (or take the Skyliner) to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort for dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro – a family style meal inspired by the Caribbean!
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club: head to Beaches and Cream for the famous kitchen sink sundae.
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn: end your evening strolling the boardwalk and see live performers or stop in at Jellyrolls, a lively dueling piano bar.
Wow. So many options and SO much to do at Walt Disney World Resort! You won’t be able to fit it ALL in so choose what fits your family best! As always, as your travel advisor I’m here to guide you and help plan the best itinerary for your family!
