Best way to *relax* at WDW

[Conservative Hippie]

Besides lounging by the pool, what is your favorite way to relax at WDW, or to ensure that your trip is leisurely?

 

[bamagoofy]

I like resort hopping. I believe that's why it is so hard for me to decide which resort to stay next.

 

[Zulema]

hello Conservative Hippie we apparently share the love for Tink,well DH and I
like to seat on the benches at Epcot WS it doesnt matter the country...although now that I think we seem to spend a lot of time at the ones in Morroco and Canada...but really anywhere at any park I just seat and enjoy people watch and the atmosphere
ohhhh i cant wait to be there mmmm

 

[C-CMom]

We put a day "in the middle " that is not a scheduled park day. It allows for a more leisurely approach, and there are still plenty of low-key things to do...stroll around the grounds of your resort, ride around to see some of the other resorts, see Downtown Disney, etc.

 

[BeckWhy]

HAHA, even though I'm a lot older now: in the past I loved taking the hour to get the hair wrap. That was time all to my self just sitting there.

 

[missminniemouse]

We enjoy booking one ADR each day and taking some time to relax over our meal. The way Disney has all their restaurants themed is so much fun. Even our DD10 and DS6 enjoy our daily meal break.

 

[dixipixi]

I agree with taking the time to sit down and eat a leisurely meal. That seems to help de-stress the entire day for us.

I also think it is much easier to relax the older your children get. You don't have to be on the run all the time trying to entertain (or keep up with) them.

I like to stay at a resort with lots of room for walking around. I know most people say they get enough walking at the parks, but I love to stroll around the resort in the early morning or late evening.

We also plan a "sleep in" day or two. These are days when we sleep late and decide what to do when we get up. Sometimes we go to DQ and/or DTD, sometimes we head to a park just for the fireworks/ evening entertainment, and sometimes we just hang around the resort.

Wow, reading back over that...we sound really lazy!!!!!

 

[mickeysaver]

Ideally, we try to make room for a day off every 3-4 days during the trip. The day off is spent as we please. Things that we have enjoyed on our day off would include, a romantic day and an evening that includes a nice dinner and a carriage ride over at FW; a day that starts with sleeping in, a trip to GF for the afternoon tea at the Gardenview Lounge, and finally a MVMCP; or a day spent doing a special collection of pins called a Pin Pursuit that follows a theme and once completed will get you a free pin, which doesn't happen very often that these are offered, but we enjoyed going on the hunt very much! We also enjoy just taking our time as we tour the parks. There is a lot to be said for sitting on a bench eating an ice cream cone and people watching. Take time to see the little details, like at AK, it's just amazing how they took a patch of swampy/sandy FL land and created Africa and Asia. Just remember, there is a lot of effort that goes into making all that magic. Maggie

 

[engle]

We always spend several hours at a spa and include a massage. We have already been to Saratoga but want to try the Grand Floridian and the one at the Swan...or is it the Dolphin?

 

[tomerin]

the best way for us to relax while at WDW is to take our time. we like to take long trip to the world so there is not any reason why we cant slow down and enjoy ourselves. since my DW and 2DS's are sleepers i let them sleep in a bit so they arent grouchy from lack of sleep. i am the morning person so i get my mug of coffee and my camera and its off to explore my resort. that is relaxation for me. WDW resorts are so incredibly peaceful at this time of day and its almost surreal to see them so empty.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

We definitely take the laid back approach at Disney. We always head back to the resort around lunch time and go to the pool then go out for dinner and back to a park.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Besides lounging by the pool, what is your favorite way to relax at WDW, or to ensure that your trip is leisurely?

First off don't go to the parks your first day, I think the first day sets the mood for your trip, if you relax the first day and get your rest your trip will be less stressful.
Then don't have any plans beyond what park you are going to and maybe ADRs (sorry tour guide) do,'t follow an outline of where to go when and don't try to see everything. Just relax and let you concience be your guide.

 

[tinkerbell60]

I enjoy sitting on the balcony at the resort with a cup of coffee (yes, even in that heat I need my java!). It is so peaceful at night and even in the morning watching the day start.

I also enjoy sitting on a bench in any of the parks and watching people or just watching the sights!

 

[eleanor]

This past Mar. we went to FW and canoed for an hour. It was really relaxing and a lovely wilderness area.

 

[Duggas]

Relaxing!!!??? What's that??? Isn't that what the 10 hour flights each way are for?

Seriously though, on our last visit we spent a couple of hours sitting on the MK Railroad platform/balcony just watching the world go by up and down Main Street, we were in no rush to do anything or go anywhere, it was lovely.

Our usual 'relax' is in a tube ring floating around Castaway Creek in Typhoon Lagoon, we don't swim it, paddle it or force a change of direction, we just 'go with the flow'. Of course the downside to this is that sometimes the flow takes you under some very cold water!!

 

[Kimi313]

When DD was younger we would have 1 day off during our 6 day visit. On that day we would sleep late, go to a character breakfast late in the morning. Then we would go over to FW for bike riding, sometimes rode bikes if we were staying at WL from there to FW, petting zoo, gift shop, or canoeing. Then later in the day we would go to DTD for shopping and a quick bite, then off to play putt-putt, and then back to hotel for some night swimming and then grab dinner to take back to the room after swimming. Now that she is older and brings a friend she didn't care for the day off last year so this year we will just have a morning off, sleep in and then go to park or parks, kinda let them choose. Yep that will be fun let her be the organizer and I can just follow.

Other than the day off, I like to people watch while eating a turkey leg, hot dog, or a mid-day dessert. Just grab a shaddy curb or bench and enjoy the food and sitting.

DH relaxes in the morning on the patio or balcony and sometimes will even take a walk around the grounds in the morning then bring us breakfast.

If we stay at a resort with a boat ride to a park sometimes we will just ride around a couple of times and enjoy the scenery before we get off at the park or back to the hotel, I find that very relaxing.

 

[DaisyD]

We make sure to relax at the pool every day at the Poly. We generally don't do the parks til we've had a few hours around the pool. Other then that we like to relax in the lobby in those big wicker chairs and people watch. We've been to WDW so many times that we don't have to "get our moneys worth".

 

[DISUNC]

RELAX! In WDW? What a concept!!!!!!!

I save my relaxing for my return...where as I pretty much CRASH for 3 days! Gotta get my $$$ worth!

But seriously folks...I am a smoker , so my 'relaxing' is when I sit & light one up! Before WDW had designated Smoking sections...I never sat down!


ps " " is one of my favorite all time smilies!

 

[sjcmi]

We find that the waterparks, especialy Typhoon Lagoon to be very relaxing. Nothing like a couple of trips on the lazy river to recharge your batteries!

 

[laura001]

If I can't lay by the pool and nice trip over to the Boardwalk area is nice, a leisurely lunch etc. ahhhhh....I can feel it now