It is possible to have a relaxing Disney vacation. Like any destination, you do need to do some planning, and you want to make sure you are using your time wisely. On the other hand, it is possible to visit Walt Disney World and still have a relaxing Disney vacation. The first and foremost aspect of relaxing at Disney is realizing you can’t do it all, and you shouldn’t try to. This week, we are going to share some tips for a relaxing Disney vacation with you, in hopes that you can create magical memories with your family without raising your stress level.
Remove a few things from your “must do” list. There is no way you can do EVERYTHING on your list during an average 6 or 7-night Disney vacation. And, that is perfectly fine. Make a list of “must do” attractions, shows, and places to eat with your family. From there, reevaluate your list and remove a few things. Will your child be ruined for life if he doesn’t ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin? Likely not, because he will be so excited with the fact that you let him ride the Tomorrowland Speedway over and over again. Keep in mind your family will enjoy themselves, and many times they won’t even know what they are missing because they are enjoying the current magic right in front of them.
Plan non-park days. I cannot stress enough how important this is. Even if your arrival and departure days do not involve a visit to the parks, still plan one down day during your trip. You will want time to enjoy your resort~the Disney resorts are a destination in and of themselves~as well as some time to just enjoy your family. Let your kid swim in the pool, ride the monorail, or even hang out in your room to watch a movie.
Plan your Disney trip for the “off season”. It seems as if there is no guaranteed “off season” with Disney travel anymore. However, there are decidedly less crowded times of the year to enjoy the parks. Arriving on a weekend day is often a good plan, and then enjoy the parks during the week when the locals have left from the weekend.
Eat whenever you want. I know, we encourage you to book dining 180-days in advance. And while that is a great plan, and will help relieve some stress while you are there, there is something to be said for being flexible with your meals. This can be accomplished one of two ways. First, add the Quick Service Dining plan to your package. This allows you to include meals, as well as eat at locations that don’t require reservations. The second way is to download the My Disney Experience app, and do a reservation search the night before or that same day. You never know what will pop up, and you may get to enjoy a nice sit down meal at the “last minute”.
Utilize the Evening Extra Magic Hours. The Evening Extra Magic Hours are much better, in my opinion, than the morning ones. I feel like you can enjoy more attractions without the heat of the day in the evening. Plus, it gives your family a chance to sleep in and rest in the morning and then plan on staying later in the parks.
I am a huge planner, and enjoy the process of planning trips for my own family, and others. However, I also respect the fact that Disney can be enjoyed without a detailed plan and that being flexible and okay with going with the flow can give you a magical trip experience!
Are you ready to plan your next family vacation? Contact one of our amazing Dream Team Travel Agents!