Do You Exercise/Work Out while at Disney?

[ChrisCharming]

I usually take a couple of low key days at Disney and like to work out. I have found that if you ask a cast member at the resort you are staying at they typically have good suggestions on where to go.

 

[mellyf]

If we stay at one of the Epcot resorts, I love running early in the morning around the Boardwalk area and down the path to the Studios. It's very peaceful. I don't remember how long it is...I know I usually do it 2-3 times, but it's one of my favorite places to run. We stayed at Kidani a couple of years ago, but I could never find a really great place to run there.

 

[wordwitt]

I do. We are DVC members, so always have a gym at our hotel. I go there and do 45 min. at least every other day. I find that working out on vacation is more fun for some reason. Between that and all the usual walking, I lost 3 pounds on our last week-long vacation even while eating on the DDP.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Yep. I don't exercise as long or as hard as I would if I were at home, but I do try to squeeze in a run and some push-ups every morning before I head to the parks.

WDW is the exercise

For non-active people it may feel like it, but for people who regularly exercise walking around a theme park isn't much of a workout. It may sound like it because of the distance traveled, but that distance is spread over a long day, with frequent stops of sitting and standing, and most people's heart rate isn't going to get high enough to count it as any sort of beneficial exercise.

 

[nkereina]

We have a pretty strict diet and exercise regimen at home but at Disney, we let loose. We eat garbage all day every day and don't exercise. To date, we have never gained more than a pound. I'd attribute it to all the walking we do plus the sweat (we go during warm months). We may be lucky. I will say that it's usually hard to transition back afterwards.

 

[loislane]

I've been to Disney twice after losing 70 or so pounds several years ago. The first time, I went jogging 3 or 4 times the week we were there. Had the QS dining plan. Gained about 4 pounds.

The second time, I didn't any dedicated workouts for the 10 days we were there. We stayed at Fort Wilderness and prepared quite a few of our own meals, but still indulged in several dinners and treats. (Gotta have my Dole Whip!) Gained about 4 pounds.

For me, I was still somewhat new to fitness the first trip. I had only been working out regularly, by that point, for about 6 months. The 2nd trip was 2 years later - 2 years of working out at least 5 days a week. I think at that point, my body was just better conditioned and able to weather the break from a workout plan without too much negative effect.

My advice? Do what feels right for you. I had gear to go jogging this last trip, but just never felt up to it. So I didn't go. The first time, I wanted to jog, so I went. Be prepared, but don't force it.

 

[natalieguy]

This is a good thread for me to follow! This will be my first trip in my "mom body" lol. All the other trips I was 120 pounds and ate whatever I wanted and came home and still fit in my size 4/6 jeans.... Fast forward to mom life and closer to 30 lol to say I'm worried about weight gain is an understatement!

I work out daily now but it's group fitness workouts closer to crossfit than anything else. I've thought about doing burpees or jumping jacks in the hotel before shower at night. I've booked all these awesome meals for us and I'm worried about set backs! Only time will tell I guess!

And to OP try a new workout, maybe Zumba or something upbeat! I despise running! My husband is a triathlete and I used to make myself run with him so we could do it together. It's just not for me! That being said he hates my work out classes lol! Find a workout that makes you happy!!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

For those stressing over the calories burned or not burned while running at WDW, consider that the average person only burns 100 calories for a mile run. If you are a bit heavier it might hit 130-140 calories/mile. What does that mean?

If you run 5 miles every morning every day of a 7 day WDW vacation, you will burn no more than 5000 calories running all week. You could blow that on one lavish meal.

Run on vacation because you want to do so, or skip it and pick it up again afterward. Either choice is fine.

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

I've run the path next to the river between the Port Orleans resorts several times during vacation. I also found that the run around the Coronado Springs lake/pool area was a good run in the morning.

I also try to get in some combination of burpees/air squats/push ups/plank hold/etc at least half the nights that we are at WDW.

For me it's more of a routine thing and feeling "bad" if I don't get in some sort of workout during the day. I'm pretty sure that we burn enough calories doing the miles of walking during the day but I also figure that it's vacation and it doesn't really matter. That's why I make sure that I don't impose on anyone else in the family as far as making them have to do it. If I want to work out, I get up early or do it after we get back for the night.

 

[ttintagel]

Yes; I walk 10-12 miles a day.

 

[Crazyhorse]

For those stressing over the calories burned or not burned while running at WDW, consider that the average person only burns 100 calories for a mile run. If you are a bit heavier it might hit 130-140 calories/mile. What does that mean?

If you run 5 miles every morning every day of a 7 day WDW vacation, you will burn no more than 5000 calories running all week. You could blow that on one lavish meal.

Run on vacation because you want to do so, or skip it and pick it up again afterward. Either choice is fine.

Seriously? 100 calories per mile? That's it? Considering you have to burn an extra 3500 calories to lose a pound, that's depressing.

 

[katt789]

It depends on the vacation personally, if I'm staying at a deluxe resort, I'll probably hit up the gym/treadmill for half an hour in the morning, do some ab/leg work in the hotel room if we're not at a deluxe. We take full advantage of all the dance parties/MiSiCi in Mk specifically, it's a solid 15-20 minutes of dancing to work up a sweat! The pool is another great place to play around in to burn some calories! Working out can be super hard on your body after a day of walking in the parks, my hips are shot by the end of day 3 and there's no way I'm going to go for a run or do some squats, so keep that in mind!

As for specifically not gaining weight while down there I try to keep track of "eating clean" I don't indulge in burgers, chicken fingers and the like, I'll stick to *gasp* salads, or lean protein & veggies, or sandwiches. My treats usually only run once a day, and that'll be an ice cream, a sugary alcoholic or non alcoholic drink, a cupcake, etc, and only one a day. If I'm on the DDP I always swap out the sides/desserts on meals for grapes, apple slices or carrot sticks instead of the fries/cake, and definitely stick to water instead of pop.

You may be walking a TON at Disney it's pretty dang hard to come home and not have gained any weight, it's usually only a few pounds. Heck, this past week on vacation I did a "no one cares!" philosophy and only gained 3 pounds! Bahaha.

 

[georgina]

I poked my head in the health club at CSR last week, but with long park hours I didn't end up using it. Going back in december, I may find the time. My DD who is a college athlete does train while on vacation.

 

[lizzyb]

Does walking count?

 

[thisismyusername]

At home, we're die hard gym goers, but have left Disney too many times with good intentions and 5 extra pounds (that have taken forever to lose) as our only souvenirs. Our biggest obstacle is finding the time when there's so much we want to do, and trying to figure out what to do with our kids so we can exercise together so that it doesn't take 2 hours out of our day, but it's not like we can drag them in the resort's gym with us, and they can't keep up with us (nor would they want to) on a run.

However, this upcoming summer we will be staying for our longest trip ever at 2+ weeks, so exercise will be a must. I have been OK skipping our routine when we've gone for shorter amounts of time (3-5 days), but since we intend to go at a slower pace during our long trip, we should have the time for one of us to slip away and use the resort gym or go for a run while the other parent watches the kids at the pool… Like a PP mentioned, my biggest obstacle will definitely be finding something I like: as a group fitness junkie, I would happily work out for 3 hours with a great instructor and my fitness friends, but when I have to run on my own on a treadmill (which is probably my only option since the heat will be killer in July) or lift on my own, I'm not nearly as motivated. I wish that there were running groups at Disney to keep me scheduled, and in a group to keep me motivated!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

It may seem like an odd question but it's something I've been struggling with. I'm in my 50's and likely going through the "change"...hot flashes sometimes, a little extra around the middle, etc. Ladies, you get the picture. I've been good about sticking to an exercise schedule for months now, 4-5 days a week. I HATE every foot step, I'll be the first to acknowledge but I admit that I do feel better and seem to be sleeping better too.

This morning, as I was slowly jogging around the park, counting my laps and begrudging every step, it occurred to me that I should consider how I'm going to handle the 8 days that we're on vacation. Certainly we'll be eating more than usual, not crazy but more calorie dense and certainly booze for lunch and dinner. I'm not willing to say no to a cold beer while strolling through Germany so something has to give. How does one go about NOT gaining weight while on vacation? Do you continue some sort of schedule? We're going to be at the Grand, after 3 days of the Dark Side at the Portofino. I'm hoping there is some sort of trail/track that's measured that I can use to at least pretend to eat up some of the extra calories. Or....do you just not worry about it...hell, you're on vacation!

I'm just not one of the people that gets a rush from exercise. Forget that runners high or whatever it's called. I slowly jog my 1.6 miles and cool off with another mile at a walk...hating it all the way. I'm breathing hard but not too hard and the heart rate is up so I'm sure there are benefits. What do you do when on vacation?

I always used to have good intentions of working out while at Disney, but all the walking you do anyway, I couldn't do extra. I can tell you that DH and I eat what we want while at WDW and do not gain weight. We walk a LOT around the parks so I think that balances it out for us.

 

[dixiegirl]

I do not exercise while at WDW and every year I seem to come back even - no gain or loss. I do watch my portions down there but still indulge in pretty much whatever I want. All that walking seems to balance out the extra calories.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

An early morning run around the Boardwalk area is so peaceful and relaxing. But I do it because I run, not because I am trying to not gain weight. I gain on every trip, but mainly because I am careful 48-50 weeks out of the year at home. For those 2-4 special weeks a year I am going to eat and drink whatever I want . Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Seriously? 100 calories per mile? That's it? Considering you have to burn an extra 3500 calories to lose a pound, that's depressing.

It's a very big misconception that runners can eat whatever they want! If I run more than ten miles I'll eat what I want that day, but otherwise I only replace what I burn to maintain my weight. Most runners actually put on weight during marathon training because the hunger is crazy!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[cedricandsophie]

We don't go to parks very mch anymore so we work put every day. Like the fitness center at OKW, Boardwalk and Animal kingdom and aulani. Also we play tennis almost every day. Most of the resorts have them