Disney Resorts offer plenty of places to relax.

Five Ways to Take a Break from The Disney World Parks

Imagine this crazy concept:  a Walt Disney World vacation that involves relaxation!

I know that you may not have much time during your Disney vacation. You want to see and do as much as possible. After all, there is fun to be had! I understand, and that type of touring can be a blast.

But I’m talking not about excitement, exploration, entertainment, accomplishment, or otherwise checking things off of your “to do list” of fun.

I’m not talking about the kind of “relaxation” that comes from walking 13 miles (the average distance covered by a Disney World guest in a typical day) or that comes from running from one attraction to the next so that you can, in vain, attempt to “see it all” (as so many of us are inclined to do).

I’m talking about the kind of relaxation where you take it easy, rest your tired old bones, and enjoy a lazy day.

Disney Springs is a great place for a relaxing day.
Disney Springs is a great place for a relaxing day.

Even folks with limited time (everyone?) can have a lazy day. What if you arrive late or need to depart early, and you don’t want to pay for another day of admission to the parks? What if you just don’t want to be more tired after your vacation than before it?

Fortunately, there are plenty of options for taking a break from the parks and spending a lazy day. Let’s take a look at five great ways to take a break:

1 – Check Out Disney Springs

This may be the most obvious choice: spend some time at Disney Springs. You can look through the stores to take care of some of your shopping, enjoy a leisurely meal, indulge in some ice cream (Ghirardelli anyone?), or just walk around and people-watch. If you’ve got more than just a few hours, you can take in a movie at the AMC 24 Theaters, explore Disney Quest, or even see Cirque du Soleil’s show, La Nouba.

2 – Explore The Resorts

Another popular choice, but too easily overlooked, is to explore the Disney Resort Hotels. This is a great way to enjoy a few hours or an entire day (or more). Each Disney Hotel has a unique look and feel. Some have fun attractions unto themselves, like the huge icons at Disney’s All Star Music resort, the characters at Disney’s Art Of Animation Resort, the geyser at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, or the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Riding the monorail to visit each of the hotels on the monorail resort loop is a fun way to pass the time too.

Disney Resorts offer plenty of places to relax.
Disney Resorts offer plenty of places to relax.

3 – Rent a Bike or a Boat

Many folks don’t realize that they can rent a bike or a boat at Disney World. You can rent a surrey bike at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, and, together with one to three of your closest friends, tool around Crescent Lake. Watch out for the slight inclines! The shops are located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside also rents surrey bikes. You can also rent a Sea Raycer to get some time on the water and some new perspectives on famous Disney spots like the Magic Kingdom, the monorail resorts, and Disney Springs.

4 – Visit a Spa

What says relaxation more than a Disney spa treatment? Yes, this can be an expensive indulgence, but you are worth it, right? While it is easy to break the bank with a half-day get-away, you can also get a manicure or a pedicure for well under $100.

5 – Just Chill

Imagine this – don’t do anything! What I mean is that you don’t go anywhere aside from enjoying your own hotel. Take in the pool, order room service, watch some TV, or even enjoy just sitting on your patio or balcony – especially if you paid for an upgraded view.

What is your favorite way to take a break at Disney World?