Rest Day at Disney

Rest Day at Disney

A Walt Disney World vacation is an unforgettable experience that you will never forget, but it can be tiring if you’re constantly on the go. A rest day is just what you need to recharge and prepare for more park fun. I know what you’re thinking, without the parks, what will we do all day?  A day off from the parks doesn’t have to mean you’re sitting at the pool all day, there are so many great options to fill your day.  The pool is my first choice to enjoy while you’re having a rest day though!  The recreation team does an amazing job entertaining the kids with activities both in and out of the pool! 

 

For recreation fans, enjoy the day on the course with traditional golf or foot golf, a mix between soccer and golf. If you don’t want to bring your clubs, they have some available to rent so you don’t have to worry about bringing them. My son was impressed with the quality of clubs so there is no need to worry about golfing with old ones.  If you or your kids don’t enjoy golf (foot golf or traditional), you may want to use your free mini golf tickets that come with your vacation package! Walt Disney World offers 2 mini golf courses; you’ll find Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf located near the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Winter Summerland Miniature Golf is located near Blizzard Beach. If bowling is more your game, try a game of bowling at Splitsville in Disney Springs.  

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Speaking of Disney Springs, you could spend your entire rest day there. They have a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, and experiences for you to enjoy.  Catch the latest movie at the AMC Theater, grab a bite to eat while surrounded by dinos at T-Rex Cafe, ride the vintage amphicar at The Boathouse, or soar high above the Springs on Aerophile – a tethered hot air balloon.  When you’re done exploring Disney Springs, catch the ferry boat to Port Orleans French Quarter for a beignet.  

Your rest day is also a great way to enjoy all the resorts Walt Disney World has to offer.  Plan a meal like Story Book Dining at Artist Point in Wilderness Lodge, or the hidden gem Sebastian’s at Caribbean Beach that you may not get to on a park day.  Depending on which resort you stay at, you may not get to experience the Skyliner or the Monorail, so  I recommend stopping at each hotel and trying a delicious snack or drink – it’s a great way to experience some of Disney’s culinary delights, as well as explore other resorts that you may love to stay at on your next Disney vacation.

If you haven’t been able to enjoy the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, try reserving dining at California Grill or even reserving a private specialty cruise where you can enjoy the show without the crowds!

Kelly Van Eerden - Jennison, MI

Kelly Van Eerden - Jennison, MI

Lead Travel Advisor

Hi! I’m Kelly Van Eerden, a Lead Travel Advisor with Living With The Magic Vacations. I currently live in Jenison, Michigan with my husband, daughter, and son.   

We love traveling as a family because it gives us time to spend time together without all the activities that life with older children brings.  Walt Disney World will always have a special place in our hearts as one of our first family vacations, but we also love exploring new destinations!  Some of our favorite places to visit have actually been new to us in the last few years.  We took our first Disney cruise in early 2020 and my kids fell in love with cruising.  We have also visited Universal (both Hollywood and Orlando) and Disneyland recently, and we all found something to enjoy.  We love the thrills that the Universal parks offer as well as the Marvel and Cars Land at Disneyland. 

10 Reasons to (Still) Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

10 Reasons to (Still) Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

It’s no secret that life has been a bit of a roller coaster for everyone the last few years. If you’ve taken a vacation more recently, I suspect you may have noticed some changes in the way traveling has changed. When talking about vacations to Walt Disney World in particular, I’ve had several people ask what the benefits are to staying on Disney property; I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share some key reasons why we should (still) stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.


Reason #1: Location, location, location!! This one is a no-brainer. You can’t beat the proximity of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels to the parks. You can take advantage of all that the resort has to offer without worrying about how you’re going to get to and from the parks, being on a tight schedule to catch a bus, or get lost trying to follow signs (especially if you’re not a seasoned Disney guest that knows your way around) … which brings me to…



 

Reason #2: Disney Transportation. Yes, your off-site resort may offer transportation to/from the parks. But does that shuttle come every 20 minutes (or less)? Is that shuttle complimentary? Do you need to make an advance reservation for that shuttle? When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, even if you just saw your resort bus pull away, there will be another coming right behind it. No need to keep an eye on the time and worry about a bus schedule or the “reservation” you made to go back to your off-site hotel. Disney has buses, the monorail, the skyliner, and boats to help you get around property. Plus the buses will run until every last guest has exited the parks to ensure nobody gets left behind.

Reason #3: Some resorts are actually WALKING distance to parks!! Some people may not want to walk to/from the resort since there’s already a fair amount of walking on a Disney vacation, but some people absolutely love to have this option. Where can you walk to/from?

  • You can walk to the Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Contemporary Resort
    (including Bay Lake Tower), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (though I will caution that the walk would be a bit longer to/from the Polynesian, so I don’t recommend it).
  • You can walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan and Swan Reserve Hotels.
  • You can walk to Disney Springs from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. If you love shopping and dining (especially in the evening), this is a great resort to consider!

 

Reason #4. Complimentary Parking. Are you driving to Orlando, or perhaps considering renting a car upon arrival? If so, you’ll be happy to know that self parking at the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is now COMPLIMENTARY!! And guests staying on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel will also have complimentary parking at the parks if you want to drive to the parks rather than utilizing the Disney transportation!! If you stay off-site, you will be charged the current parking rate to park at the theme parks (parking at the theme parks currently starts at $25 per day), plus your hotel may also charge a parking fee – so be aware of this if staying off-site is on your radar – those parking fees at both the hotel and as well as at the parks can really add up quickly! 

 

Reason #5: Early Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. When you stay on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll get to take advantage of Early Park Entry – this means you’ll be able to enter ANY of the four theme parks 30-minutes early EVERY DAY. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get into the parks and walk right on to some of the rides that tend to have longer wait times before the park gets too crowded. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish when you arrive early. BONUS: If you’re staying at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you’ll have the added perk of Extended Evening Hours. On select nights at select parks, guests staying at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort will have 2 extra hours to stay in the park without the crowds. This is also a huge timesaver – can you imagine being able to practically walk right on some of your favorite rides that usually have long waits all day long?! I literally walked right on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After and Test Track on my last visit during Extended Evening Hours – it was AWESOME!! Plus we still made it to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind with the Virtual Queue (yes, that’s offered for Extended Evening Hours too!!!) 

Reason #6: Mid-Day Breaks. Do you like to take mid-day breaks from the parks to rest or swim before heading back into the parks at night? Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel makes this SO much easier, especially when utilizing Disney’s transportation. Hop on a bus (or monorail, skyliner, or boat) back to your resort. Take a nap. Go for a swim. Get refreshed, and then head back to the parks for the evening festivities (and hopefully fireworks!)

 

Reason #7: Charging Privileges. Do you love to keep your vacation on one bill? When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you will have charging privileges to your room via your MagicBand (or via MagicMobile or Key to the World if you choose to forgo the MagicBands). No need to worry about carrying cash or credit cards with you. Just charge everything to your room and you’ll get your final bill upon checkout via email! 


Reason #8: Book All Your Dining Reservations at Once. Currently, dining reservations can be made 60-days prior to your check-in date (and for up to 10 days into your vacation) when staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. If you’re staying off-site, you won’t have access to book all of your dining at once – in other words, you’ll need to book each day’s dining reservations separately when that respective day is 60 days away. This means you run the risk of not landing that coveted dining reservation at the hard-to-get restaurants as Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests will get the first chance to snag those reservations for the entirety of their trip. While it may not be impossible to get those reservations as your trip gets closer, it will certainly not be easy either.

Reason #9: Bundle Your Room and Tickets With a Package. This sounds straightforward, but let me explain. Disney offers some of its best deals when you package tickets and your resort stay together. Plus, when you book your vacation as a package (especially with a Travel Advisor), you only need to pay a $200 (refundable!) deposit for your vacation package. The balance of your package will be due 30 days prior to your arrival. You can also make payments in any amount at any time through your Travel Advisor if you prefer to pay for your vacation in increments ahead of time. This makes it much more manageable for many to not feel overwhelmed paying for their vacation all at once and budget ahead of time. Buying tickets separately when you’re staying off-site means paying for them in full at the time of purchase and they are also non-refundable. And since Disney is currently requiring you to make park reservations for entry into the parks each day, you’ll want to have those tickets linked to your account as far ahead of time as possible to be sure you are getting into the park you’d like each day.


Reason #10: Be Fully Immersed in the Disney Magic. Here’s a truth bomb… I’ve stayed off-site before, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it wasn’t the same and I wouldn’t do it again. There’s nothing like staying in the middle of the Disney Magic – especially if you’re traveling with your family. If you’re planning to visit the parks more days than not, staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel gives you that full Disney Experience that you won’t get anywhere else. The theming at every resort is amazing, and there’s truly something for everyone when you’re picking among all of the incredible resort options at the Walt Disney World Resort.

 

Aly Hirst - Gilbertsville, PA

Aly Hirst - Gilbertsville, PA

Lead Travel Advisor

Hi, I’m Aly Hirst, Travel Advisor with Living with the Magic Vacations! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Disney-obsessed gal. Even though I didn’t take many Disney vacations growing up, I can remember requesting the old vacation planning videos that Disney use to send in the mail; I would watch them over and over again to learn every nook and cranny of the Walt Disney World Resort as well as the Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Lines. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity in college to participate in the Disney College Program for a semester – who didn’t want to spend a semester of college living and working at the Walt Disney World Resort? (Bonus for me – I moved down to Orlando in January that year so it was the best winter escape for me from snowy New England!) 

New Hotel Offers for Walt Disney World Resort

New Hotel Offers for Walt Disney World Resort

Stay in the magic this summer—and make delightful Disney memories to last a lifetime.

Save on rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels:

  • Save up to 25% on stays most nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023
  • Save up to 30% on stays most nights August 21 to September 14, 2023

When Guests stay at a Disney Resort hotel, they’ll enjoy 30 minutes early entry to every theme park—every day! And when Guests stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, they can also enjoy extended evening hours in select parks on select nights. Note: To enter a theme park, Guests must have valid park admission and a theme park reservation.

This offer is valid for the Disney Resort hotels listed below. View the chart to explore savings.

SavingsMost nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023SavingsMost nights August 21 to September 14, 2023Resorts
Save 25%Save 30% 
Save 25% for stays most nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023Save 30% for stays most nights August 21 to September 14, 2023Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Save 20%Save 25% 
Save 20% for stays most nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023Save 25% for stays most nights August 21 to September 14, 2023The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Save 15%Save 20% 
Save 15% for stays most nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023Save 20% for stays most nights August 21 to September 14, 2023Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Standard Rooms
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Save 10%Save 10% 
Save 10% for stays most nights July 11 to August 20, and September 15 to September 28, 2023Save 10% for stays most nights August 21 to September 14, 2023Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Length of stay requirements may apply. See Important Details.

Important Details

  • The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
  • Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room.
  • Length of stay requirements may apply.
  • Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts.
  • Advance reservations required.
  • Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
  • Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, and Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
  • Valid admission and a theme park reservation are required to enjoy theme parks and special events, and are not included in this offer.
Experiencing the First Aid Centers at Walt Disney World

Experiencing the First Aid Centers at Walt Disney World

Sometimes when you’re on vacation, things don’t always go as planned. Whether you need a bandaid, Tylenol, anti-nausea meds, an ice pack, or even possibly medical attention, Disney has got you covered with their First Aid Centers.

Image from Theme Park Tourist

 There’s a First Aid Center located inside each of the 4 theme parks, as well as at each of the water parks. They’re staffed by Registered Nurses who can help with most basic first aid needs, as well as take you vitals and bring in an EMT if needed. 

I experienced the First Aid Center at EPCOT first hand on my trip this past October. Something felt “strange” as I was walking around the park, but I’d had a slushy from France and it was hot out as we were walking around the park, so I thought nothing of it until I was in line at Test Track in the air conditioning. I wasn’t cooling off like I thought I should, and my heart felt funny. Thankfully, I had on my Apple Watch and opened up the ECG app which alerted me that I may be experiencing my first episode of atrial fibrillation (something I was very familiar with as it runs in my family). I knew enough not to go on the ride and sat down to drink some water and see if my heart would settle on its own. Unfortunately, it did not; I had my husband take me over to First Aid where an RN escorted me to a room to take my vitals and asked if I’d like to see an EMT for them to hook me up for an EKG. 

The room I was in resembled that of a doctor’s office. I had never been into one of these centers before so I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was. 2 wonderful EMT’s from Reedy Creek came in to hook me up and tried to help me get my heart rate to convert into sinus rhythm on its own – sadly that did not happen so I opted to take my first ever ambulance ride to Dr. Phillips Hospital for some testing and observation. I joked that I didn’t have a Lightning Lane pass for this – I needed to do whatever I could to not cry at this point since I felt horrible that this was happening on our vacation. 

If you ever need anything while in the parks, don’t hesitate to pop over to First Aid – they were great! They are located as follows:

  • Magic Kingdom: Just off Main Street USA between Casey’s Corner and the Crystal Palace 
  • EPCOT: Along the Odyssey pathway between Test Track and Mexico (closer to Mexico)
  • Hollywood Studios: Near the park entrance behind Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind
  • Animal Kingdom: Behind Creature Comforts (aka Starbucks)

In addition, there’s also a First Aid Center at the water parks: 

  • Blizzard Beach – between the Beach Haus and Lottawatta Lodge
  • Typhoon Lagoon – near Leaning Palms

If you should ever require medical services while at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can call the front desk from your in-room phone for assistance 24-hours a day for in-room medical services. There are urgent care centers located a short drive from Walt Disney World if needed. And of course, if you ever think you’re having a true medical emergency, call 9-1-1. 

Aly Hirst - Gilbertsville, PA

Aly Hirst - Gilbertsville, PA

Lead Travel Advisor

Hi, I’m Aly Hirst, Travel Advisor with Living with the Magic Vacations! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Disney-obsessed gal. Even though I didn’t take many Disney vacations growing up, I can remember requesting the old vacation planning videos that Disney use to send in the mail; I would watch them over and over again to learn every nook and cranny of the Walt Disney World Resort as well as the Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Lines. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity in college to participate in the Disney College Program for a semester – who didn’t want to spend a semester of college living and working at the Walt Disney World Resort? (Bonus for me – I moved down to Orlando in January that year so it was the best winter escape for me from snowy New England!) 

RunDisney Tips

RunDisney Tips

RunDisney Tips

RunDisney races have recently become a very popular event at Disney World and there’s no question as to why! Dress up in fun costumes, run through the parks, take pictures with characters, all while living a healthy lifestyle while training! Here are some tips when considering a runDisney race!

 

Registration

RunDisney events open for registration about 8 months before the race weekend. You can register yourself or multiple people for any of the races. Each race is held on a different day of the weekend, so you can run as much or as little as you’d like! Make sure to sign up the day registration opens because spots go fast!

Book a Room Early

Once you know you’re registered for the race, make sure you book your room right away! There is nothing worse than registering for a race and expecting a room to be available even 3 months out, only to realize they’re all booked! It’s better to book that room right away to have the peace of mind that you have somewhere to stay and you only have to worry about training for your race.

Make Sure to Follow Race Day Schedule

Every race starts at, you ready? …5am! That means you have to give yourself plenty of time to get ready for your race and to the proper location on time. The great thing about Disney, is their organization and top tier service to help you with anything you need, and this includes race day schedules! Your resort (if you are staying on-property: highly recommended for race weekends!) will have a full schedule of events for the entire weekend, in the main lobby. 

Have Fun!

As is custom with anything Disney, there is no shortage of fun on runDisney weekends! These weekends are the perfect opportunity to go all out as your favorite character, meet your favorite characters and run down Main Street straight up to Cinderella’s Castle! You can make it into a big family affair or run solo and make friends as you go. The combination of the running community and Disney community into one makes everything truly a magical experience!

What other tips do you have for a runDisney race? Is there anything else you would like to know about runDisney events?

Vianey George - Homestead, FL!

Vianey George - Homestead, FL!

Travel Advisor

This is My Story

Hello! My name is Vianey and I am a Travel Planner with Living With The Magic Vacations! Disney magic has always had a special place in my heart. From simply watching the movies as a little girl, to Disneyland trips any time we visited family in Southern California. The magic has carried over into my adult life when I first visited Disney World in 2015. Since then, I have gone back year after year for different purposes- honeymoon, weekend getaways, runDisney events, family trips, a bachelorette and now I get to share the magic with trips to Disney World with my 2 year old daughter. Each trip has been unique and unlocked many special “core memories” that I will cherish forever. I’ve experienced Disney through many lenses and I’m so excited to help you plan your own trip, whatever the purpose may be!