What does a relaxing Disney World vacation look like?

[kniquy]

We want to adjust our expectations, slow down, and enjoy our time. I'm just looking for some suggestions and experiences from people who have done the same. Thanks.

I don't think i understood your title-LOL! - Relaxing and Disney don't often go together.

Our last trip was in November 2020. We were there for 9 nights due to actually deciding to skip a universal side trip. We were able to take it slower because we had 9 park days and broke it up to have multiple days in each park. We went into it knowing we didn't need to be park commandos. We said we would do what we could and we did have our list of must hit rides. We actually went thanksgiving week so it was a busier Covid time. It turned out to be one of the best trips ever. We didn't rope drop because we knew lines for buses would be crazy in the morning, so we slept in a little and usually headed to the parks around 10-11am. With no FP it definitely helps to make your time more relaxing because you don't have to be running somewhere by a certain time. We just watched wait times on the app and would hit rides with waits of 40 min or less. We had a few ADR's which is a nice break from the crowds.

Over all we had a great time and it felt more relaxed because every minute of every day didn't need to be scheduled. I loved it! I am usually a super planner with spreadsheets for each day.

All in all I think your trip is what YOU make of it. If you set high expectations to see and do too much then you will be stressed and feel the need to be running all day long. Just prioritize the top 5 things you want to do in each park and get that done, everything else that happens can just be more organic. Take time to see the small details and force yourself to walk a little slower while the rest of the world runs around you.

One of the best moments from our trip was just sitting on the ground at the foot of the castle - no one was there. It was the christmas holiday season so the castle had the holiday projections. We just sat, ate some popcorn and watched the projections. It was those moments where we could just relax and enjoy the park that meant the most from that trip.

 

[NashvilleMama]

I agree that the no FPs and limiting your ADRs really makes it feel more relaxed. Our 2 covid-times trips have been really, really enjoyable versus our usual trying to pack it all in and on a tight schedule. It's really just a mental adjustment: if you go in feeling like you're fine with whatever you can do and there's a very short MUST list, it's an entirely different experience. We identified 1-3 rides per park that we felt we absolutely had to do, and the rest was just bonus.

 

[tcrandal]

Honestly, we normally need vacations from our Disney vacations. They aren't really relaxing. The best thing you can do, if possible would be to plan park time for the first half of your trip, and plan time to relax around the resort you are staying at for the 2nd part of it. We did purchase annual passes, in 2019, and that took the stress of trying to maximize bang for the buck of our daily Disney visits, and we then planned smaller visits, and enjoyed them so much more. If the park was too crowded, we just left. We would sleep in and go swimming in the morning, and then head out to the parks at night. Now, I understand that isn't really a reality for most with limited time to vacation, but the two portions of a week+ long vacation is.. Disney portion / Relaxation portion. Planning our return in December, but so much to figure out. I will miss fastpass+ if it doesnt return, and the many different ways to plan and optimize my trip. I had things perfectly planned out, and never missed out on the FP or dining reservations that we wanted through persistence and understanding of the system. That all went away now, so we'll see if it will be as enjoyable!

 

[Blondie58]

When traveling as a couple we get up each morning and go for a brisk paced four mile walk. When we return I get ready for the day and DH gets coffee, something for breakfast, and then gets ready. We head to the parks to enjoy our fast passes and any other attractions we wish to partake. We usually enjoy a late QS lunch, hit a few more points of interest, and then back to room to get ready for dinner or r and r time. We do head back to the parks on some evenings to enjoy the after dark Disney ambiance and fireworks. We enjoy behind the scene tours and spa days too. He likes Splitsville and the Hanger at Disney Springs while I shop. And we have even taken in a movie while at WDW. Our Disney trips are very relaxing. We do a lot of preplanning and our days are full but not exhausting. (We are not pool people as DH HATES sunning. lol)

 

[NH-to-FL]

I agree with @bdiddy that a relaxing trip to Disney needs to be 7-10 days long. This give plenty of both park and relaxing time. Also park hoppers to make for flexible morning and evening schedules. For the two of us, a pair of seniors, a big part of our relaxed trips was that we stayed at the Boardwalk Inn. Which made for easy evening strolls over to the Epcot. Mornings in the parks, afternoons spent relaxing at the resort, then doing whatever we felt like doing at the moment for the evening.

 

[Chughes812]

Part of me is hoping our park hours aren't expanded, at least no earlier opening. (I know, I hate to say it!) That way, we can sleep in, still rope drop at a reasonable time, and get a good night's rest. If they are extended, which is likely, we will probably just rope drop each park one day and the see how we are feeling the second half of the trip. At least our EP days will start later.

Last trip I wore everyone out with my commando style planning. It was a great, efficient trip, but we were exhausted. Hoping this trip will be more laid back, especially since planning to be there longer. Otherwise DH may not agree to go again... which I'm already starting to plan.

 

[Cheburashka]

Need tips and tricks on gearing down in Disney World. It's been two years since we stepped foot in the parks. We're excited, but we're also wore down from work and life. We want to adjust our expectations, slow down, and enjoy our time. I'm just looking for some suggestions and experiences from people who have done the same. Thanks.

Sleep in each day, swim at the resort pool in the late morning before the crowds hit the pool, shower & chill out more, have a leisurely midday meal at the resort, and then as late afternoon / evening arrives, head to the parks to do just your favorite rides, not trying to do everything.

Basically, approach your WDW vacation as a vacation at a great resort that also happens to have a theme park next to it. This is much easier to do if you've been there multiple times & don't feel pressured to see and do everything.

 

[scuba]

Before you even leave your home for Disney knowing that you are a guest staying on property and will be guaranteed a spot on RoR at some point in your stay.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

A relaxing WDW vacation is a mindset that you need to tell yourself that’s what you want to do, especially if you are used to a go go go vacation. It‘s ok if you don’t get on your favorite ride or see all four parks this trip, enjoy the down time. First relaxing Disney vacation I did a few years ago with my husband I was miserable, even changed our flight home to 8 hours earlier but now I really enjoy the slow pace vacation. Make a list of things you may have wanted to do on other trips but didn’t because you had to make your FP time. We still make our ADRs for at least one meal each maybe a FP (pre COVID) but try to keep the scheduling down to a minimum. Epcot is a relaxing park to buy a snack, sit listen to the background and people watch. Some people think they have to go from rope drop to closing time to get their moneys worth paying Disney prices and that’s ok but sometimes it’s ok to sit and do nothing unwind and relax in your happy place because that’s also worth the price.

 

[NEMouse]

I am looking forward to a more relaxed approach in April. My solution was to determine what caused stress in past trips and try to avoid it.

I hated getting CS meals then trying to find seats. So we have ADRs throughout the trip, at least each dinner and a few breakfasts.

My husband loves water parks. I added that to our passes and will carry swimsuits in the backpack. If it’s hot and we want to go from AK to BB, we can. Bonus- now we don’t have to worry about getting waitlisted at our hotel pool if we want a swim break.

Over planning. As much as I love rides, my family does not enjoy criss-crossing parks to ride one thing and move again. Everyone picks 1 thing and we do it. Everything else is a bonus so no disappointments.

Tying a value into our activities. Let’s face it, nobody says let’s save money and go to Disney! I am considering our trip money gone and not determining how much it cost to go on x rides in x park. I am paying to be in my happy place, priceless!

Being overtired. I planned an Epcot day with a late ADR breakfast so we can sleep in, have a relaxing meal and still have plenty of time to explore.

I suggest find what stresses you and minimize it; find what relaxes you and do it!

 

[MICKIMINI]

We go to the resort pool to swim and relax. It's a great recharge. We always do a monorail day with coffee, snacks and lunch. Add a shopping day at DS but I've found that we need to do this near the end of the trip as I have come home to boxes sitting on the porch yikes!

 

[Blondie58]

I am looking forward to a more relaxed approach in April. My solution was to determine what caused stress in past trips and try to avoid it.

I hated getting CS meals then trying to find seats. So we have ADRs throughout the trip, at least each dinner and a few breakfasts.

My husband loves water parks. I added that to our passes and will carry swimsuits in the backpack. If it’s hot and we want to go from AK to BB, we can. Bonus- now we don’t have to worry about getting waitlisted at our hotel pool if we want a swim break.

Over planning. As much as I love rides, my family does not enjoy criss-crossing parks to ride one thing and move again. Everyone picks 1 thing and we do it. Everything else is a bonus so no disappointments.

Tying a value into our activities. Let’s face it, nobody says let’s save money and go to Disney! I am considering our trip money gone and not determining how much it cost to go on x rides in x park. I am paying to be in my happy place, priceless!

Being overtired. I planned an Epcot day with a late ADR breakfast so we can sleep in, have a relaxing meal and still have plenty of time to explore.

I suggest find what stresses you and minimize it; find what relaxes you and do it!

EXACTLY. We do not stress on WDW vacations. We go to r and r and destress. Have a great time on your next trip.

 

[Wild4Walt]

Relaxing for us means taking a whole different pace:

• If you can, plan for an extra few days. We have found that if we can plan at least 2 non-park days ( and we love seeing all the parks ) that it helps with decompressing.
• Sleep in - ( this is another reason for the extra days - you can get a later start and go back to parks as needed )
• Try not to over plan meals. We do 1 sit down a day that we plan and the rest of the day we do QS.
• We don't use one of those plans that has up hopping all over the park to get the best wait times. We start in 1 direction and take the day as it comes.
• Plan 1 down day for every 3 park days. ( the recharge is welcome )

If there is a new area/ride, we make that a priority so we can get that done in one day. For us, it'll be Galaxy's Edge so we'll make sure we see that area of the park 1st, ride the Falcon and maybe ROTR if we get lucky enough to get a boarding group, we'll also hit the Muppets and have a meal - everything else is icing on the cake.

 

[wdw&sonny]

If i am at WDW, i am relaxed. I can be busy and relaxed. A relaxing vacation for me is getting up early for a run, then heading to the park for RD. Spend the morning scrambling to get as much done as possible. Sit down lunch. A couple more attractions. Then back to the resort for swim, sun, read. Back to park for dinner and evening. Repeat.
If i am not busy, i am not relaxed.

 

[NotANewbie]

We usually do 3 night trips. Doing a long weekend of Fri-Sun for Easter weekend.
Arrive early Friday, and drop bags to Bell Services at Coronado. Walk about and head to Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Lunch at Sana'a. Enjoy watching the animals.
Head back to CSR. Access room, change for swimming and head to a pool. May be a quiet pool due to capacity, but that's fine.
Dinner is a walk up at Three Bridges to share an app and have desserts.
Sleep in Saturday and Uber to Poly for POG juice, Kona coffee, and Tonga Toast.
Walk to Grand Floridian to see Easter Eggs and get a special Easter snack, hop the monorail to the Contemporary for the same. Walk to buses outside Magic Kingdom and head back to CSR. Maybe swim, maybe nap.
Uber to Swan for Bluezoo dinner. Daughter is wanting to try every restaurant that has clam chowder. Finally trying this one. Uber back.
Check out Sunday. Grab the 4 Mickey waffle plate at El Mercado to split while waiting for the Animal Kingdom bus.
Enjoy our day at AK, including a late lunch at Yak & Yeti. Take bus back to CSR for 7pm Magical Express to MCO and home for work the next day.
Mother/Daughter Trip #6 will be a relaxing one.

 

[2minny]

No park hopper, one park per day, take breaks, people watch, leave during peak times at DHS and Epcot and take a stroll to the Boardwalk area to get away from the crowds. Just slow the pace down. Sit in the countries and have a snack or a drink. Find a less crowded area and relax. Hop on the train or Carousel of Progress and just do the things that aren't as popular. We LOVE the slower pace trips!

 

[bakerworld]

My optimal vacation length is 6 days so we do 3 to 4 weekends over the year. This is long enough for me to relax but not stress about home or work. We move around DVC locations and visit the parks we're near plus Disney Springs. We're enjoying a 5 day Jambo currently. We've spent a pool day, 2 days exploring Springs, today we're enjoying the Epcot Garden Festival and tomorrow we'll hang at AK pool before catching ME home. Normally we'd do more park days but with the elimination of the AP we have chopped it down to one day. We were here in November and visited AK. We'll return in May to stay at BLT and visit MK.

We'll return in July and September. Hopefully the AP will return by then.

 

[Wayland10]

I try to never plan a late night followed by an early morning. If we want to stay out late for fireworks or shows, we don’t plan anything before lunch the next day.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We are in that phase of our lives now. We've been going to Disney for many years and don't feel the need to go, go, go and do everything. The past couple of years, we've been doing a resort day. A day to stay by the pool, eat at the resort and relax. I can see us doing more than just one resort day and less at the parks.

 

[JodieJRanch]

Need tips and tricks on gearing down in Disney World. It's been two years since we stepped foot in the parks. We're excited, but we're also wore down from work and life. We want to adjust our expectations, slow down, and enjoy our time. I'm just looking for some suggestions and experiences from people who have done the same. Thanks.

There's no such thing, or at least relaxing Disney vacation I can think of is going and staying away from the parks.