The Importance of a Down Day at Disney World

The Importance of a Down Day at Disney World

Mood, Muscles, and More Value! These three M’s are the best reasons why you should plan a down day at Disney World, especially for longer trips.

Taking downtime– or a down day– at Walt Disney World is one of the most crucial things you can do on your trip. My main reasons are the three M’s. I call them that because when you take time off during your Disney vacation, it will make you go mmm…

Lots of people still think relaxation and Disney vacations don’t mix, but that is a misconception. You can take time off from the parks and all of the overexertion and actually wind up getting much more out of your stay. When you plan a trip to Walt Disney World the temptation is to overbook your time there so you can get it all in. This is not just a flawed concept, it’s impossible. Meanwhile, you make the trip harder on yourself and less enjoyable. Here are my three M’s. The best reasons why you should plan downtime at Disney World.

Related: How to Decide When to Take Your Kids to Disney

Mood

You will dramatically improve your mood if you simply succumb to the fact that you are on vacation and you are going to enjoy some downtime at Disney World. When you over plan and try to constantly keep on schedule it stresses you out. You become tired and irritable. Even worse, all the things you get done are for nothing.

You can’t actually enjoy the things you are doing because you keep thinking of that next item on your to-do list. It’s a terrible mindset to be in. Meanwhile, there are so many benefits to taking downtime from the parks. You can take a small break during the day, or set aside an entire day. I advocate both. The longer your trip is, the more critical a down day is.

Many of the hotels have fitness rooms, or pools complete with cabanas that are available to rent. A couple of the hotels have spas. Kids love splashing in the pools. So, why not let them have a day where you swim, play in the arcade, and explore the other resort amenities. Many of the Disney resorts have movie nights, crafts, and more!

Taking the time to break from the crowds and the wait times, and the walking gives you a chance to recharge and go back into the fray with a happier attitude. Have you ever stopped to notice other people in the Disney parks? they never seem to be smiling. They are all unhappy and trying to get happy with the next thing. The trick is to be happy already, and then the rest of the fun will come!

Muscles

Aching muscles are inevitable if you hit the parks hard and don’t give yourself a break. You might have to take forced downtime at Disney World after a couple of days of going too hard. A single day in the park is arduous, even if you are having the time of your life. Many people walk 9 to 12 miles in a single day in the parks. Unless you are an athlete, it is doubtful you walk that much at home, and your body is just not used to it.

Two days is killer, but there are four theme parks at Walt Disney World. Each one is bigger than the last. Hiking these parks takes a toll on your body, especially if you stay from open to close. That’s why a break in the middle of the day is useful. You can still enjoy the crowd-free parts of the day and catch a break during the park’s peak hours. Doing this will prolong your enjoyment and keep you from feeling too physically beat. A full day off here and there gives you a chance to recuperate before putting yourself through another marathon day.

A massage at the spa could be good for those muscles, but then taking the day to simply unwind, go for a casual stroll, or a boat ride could also give you the rest you need. Plan more things to do away from the parks that don’t require too much physical exertion. This can be some mild resort hopping via the monorail or the skyline. You may even want to stay in your room or villa, enjoy your balcony, or lounge in your hotel lobby until you get your second wind.

More Value

It may seem strange to you, but by taking some downtime at Disney World during your vacation, you actually get more value. Let me explain.

Most people plan on visiting all four parks at least once. Sometimes they even pay extra for the option to visit two parks in one day. The perception is that you get more value because you get two parks at a lower price point. This is completely backward. This is a way to spend more and overwork yourself in the process. On top of that, you don’t get more. You get less. By traveling from park to park, you get less time in each. Unless you use that travel time in between to take a load off and recharge for the evening’s events, it’s a bad deal.

Instead, you want to pick just one park per day and stick to it. Most of the parks are not as close together as you might think. It’s not a matter of simply walking next door. You are better off going from start to finish at one park to make sure you take it all in. At some point during the day, you should take a rest, either by visiting a nearby hotel or by reserving a table at a relaxing restaurant where you can take at least an hour apart from the theme park crowds and all the activity.

If your hotel is close to the park, that’s even better because you aren’t restricted to the common areas of the hotel, you can actually go back to your room! The hotels, particularly the deluxe resorts have so many amenities that you miss out on when you only go to the theme parks. Spending just a little more time at your own hotel each day gives you more value. The hotel room costs you far more than the park tickets do and it’s because of all the things you must take downtime to enjoy.

Click here (or the image below) to snag these Disney-themed games from our shop!

disney games and activities

Down Day Options

Of course, the most important thing you can do on your down day is rest and unwind. Play in the pool, watch Disney movies, let your kids use their devices (if you brought them). But if you want to plan some activities for the day, here are some great suggestions that are mostly low key:

  • Book a character or signature meal at one of the resort Table Service restaurants. Your down day would be an excellent time to have brunch at Chef Mickey’s or the huge ice cream sundaes at Beaches and Cream!
  • Visit Disney Springs. Disney Springs is a massive shopping, dining, and entertainment complex inside Disney Resort properties. You could sleep in, spend most of the day swimming, and then head over in the late afternoon to shop at the largest Disney World store, get in line for Gideon’s Bakery, and have a great dinner (I highly recommend Raglan Road!)
  • Go Resort hopping! This is a great suggestion for the holiday season because many of the resorts have massive Christmas trees and gingerbread house displays. You can get on the monorail and visit them all. It’s a relaxing way to spend a few hours!

Now that you have planned your Down Day at Disney World, ready for more Disney tips?

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