10 Reasons Why You Should Spend a Day Outside the Parks

The main focus of any Walt Disney World vacation is visiting the parks. Between park-hopping, riding the Monorail, and take the bus to and from your resort, it is easy to forget that there are a bunch of other things for you to do while on property. Here is our list of the top ten reasons why you should spend a day outside of the parks on your next trip!

10 – Relax and Recuperate – even though it is vacation, going to Disney World is a very tiring experience. Between walking from your room to the bus stop and walking around the parks, you will be walking many miles a day. A day off in the middle of your vacation will give your legs and feet time to recover. There are plenty of places at your resort to relax – the pool, your room, the food court, or under a tree. The day off will invigorate you and allow you to tackle the remainder of your vacation with lots of energy!

9 – Explore Your Resort – too often we look at our resorts as a place to shower, sleep, and grab some quick food, but there is so much more at each of the resorts for you to discover. Depending on where you are staying, you can find lounges, sitting areas, inventive restaurants and food courts, or just hidden areas to enjoy your time. On a birthday trip last year, we had a good time one morning walking around Port Orleans Riverside enjoying the theming and hidden secrets!

8 – Discover Disney Springs – Downtown Disney’s transformation into Disney Springs is nearing completion and you owe it yourself to spend a good portion of time finding how it has changed. There are new stores, areas, and restaurants to discover, as well as spending plenty of time discovering your old favorites, too! On our last trip, we had a great afternoon enjoying some food and drink at Jock Lindsey’s and watching the Amphicars launch into the water from the Boathouse next door!

7 – Resort Hop – between fun restaurants and lounges and unique entertainment, the resorts are worth spending time in. While your budget may not allow you to stay at the Grand Floridian, you certainly can spend the afternoon enjoying a drink at Mizner’s Lounge or taking a boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon over to the Polynesian. You may stumble upon a new restaurant or resort you’ll want to try on your next trip!

6 – Resort Restaurants – there are fabulous restaurants in the parks, but there are many, many more that call various resorts home. On a day off from the park, you should consider heading to an out-of-the-way resort and trying a new restaurant there. Too often when you are spending time in the parks, it is hard to schedule in the necessary time to get to these restaurants. One of our new favorites is Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds – it is a ways off, but it is definitely worth the trip!

5 – Take In a Movie – all of the Disney resorts offer movies every night. If you are worried about making it to the parks for fireworks, you will miss the fun opportunity to get out of your room, but have fun at the same time! We always have great intentions of taking in a movie, but we usually miss it. Be sure to look at the informational packet that they give you at check-in for the times and the movies that are being offered during your trip.

4 – Check Out a Miniature Golf Course – Disney World has two miniature golf courses for you to enjoy – Fantasia Gardens located near Hollywood Studios and Epcot and Winter Summerland located near Blizzard Beach. Much like most other things on the list, it is very difficult to spend a full day in the parks and find the time and the energy to try one of these golf courses.

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3 – Fun Resort Activities – Port Orleans French Quarter offers horse-drawn carriage rides around the resort. You can watch Wishes from the beach at the Polynesian or the docks of the Grand Floridian. Disney has countless activities for your enjoyment at the resorts. If you are unsure as to what is available at your resort, check with the concierge upon your arrival and they will tell you all there is to enjoy!

2 – Find a Souvenir – finding the perfect souvenir can be difficult – some people want a t-shirt from an attraction, others want something special to remember their resort by. You’ll have plenty of time to explore your resort and find things worth collecting on a day off from the parks!

1 – Hit the Pool – all of the Disney resorts have at least one pool and these pools are wonderfully themed and offer many fun activities for guests. You can check out cool waterslides, as well as soak your feet and legs so they are ready to conquer the parks the next day!

It may seem counterintuitive to take a day off while on vacation, especially at Disney World, but there is still a lot of fun to be had. On your next trip, take a day off and try one of these things. What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!