I am a devoted Disney Parks enthusiast with a deep understanding of Walt Disney World Resort. As a parent, I have been taking my children to Disney World for over ten years, making me the go-to person for friends and family who are planning their own trips to the magic kingdom. They often seek my advice on various aspects such as the value of Genie+, the best way to secure dining reservations, and more. While I happily share these tips, there is one piece of unsolicited advice that I always offer: make time in the afternoon to retreat to your hotel for a relaxing dip in the pool and a revitalizing nap. This strategy has proven to be a game changer for almost everyone who has tried it.
A visit to Walt Disney World can be absolutely enchanting, but it can also be incredibly exhausting. During our first visit to Disney World in Florida, my children were young, and we were still living in Maryland. As a meticulous planner, I spent countless hours preparing perfect outfits for my kids, researching and reading blogs about all the must-do experiences, and utilizing a travel planner to secure FastPasses and dining reservations. I pushed my kids to explore every nook and cranny of the park, only to find myself frustrated by the crowds, long queues, and two exhausted children. Even though the trip cost us a significant amount of money, I returned home feeling overwhelmed and swore never to go back. However, the following year, I convinced my husband to give it another try, but with a different approach. Taking into consideration that our kids were early risers, we decided to visit a theme park from opening time until lunch, then retreat to our hotel to swim, nap, freshen up, and finally head back to another park for dinner. This new plan turned out to be a total game changer.
While we may not have experienced as much on our second trip compared to the first, we enjoyed the benefits of well-rested children, time to recover from the Florida heat, and a significant reduction in stress levels. I ultimately made peace with the realization that it is impossible to accomplish everything in a single Disney trip. Instead, I embraced the things we did have time for and let go of the rest. Now, I visit Disney World several times a month and still haven’t managed to see and do everything the park has to offer. However, I’ve come to accept that fact, and it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’ve developed a fresh perspective, knowing that there will always be something new and exciting to explore each time I visit. Since my family lives close enough to Disney World, we often book a hotel and make sure to allocate time for the pool and a refreshing nap in a cool, dark room. Even if it means sacrificing a few other experiences, we head out in the evening, feeling energized and ready to make the most out of our time in the parks.
Although I eagerly share this valuable advice with families, most of them don’t seem to take it to heart. As I browse through their social media posts documenting their Disney vacation, I notice that they are still in the parks in the scorching afternoon sun, desperately trying to keep their kids entertained and appearing completely exhausted. When they return, they describe their vacations as tiring, stressful, crowded, hot, and expensive. Naturally, I ask if they took a break at the hotel in the middle of the day, and the answer is almost always a regretful “no.”
Yes, I admit that the Disney World experience can be draining, but that’s because we are having an immense amount of fun during our time inside the parks. And yes, it can be expensive, but we always return home feeling well-rested and never regretting the activities we chose to forgo in favor of a relaxing afternoon break from the heat and crowds. I prefer to enjoy the activities we do manage to accomplish rather than succumbing to the pressure of fitting in every last moment just because we paid to be there. I’ve learned that taking that time to recharge is crucial for a truly enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Fortunately, when my friends decide to give Disney World another chance and adopt the afternoon pool-and-nap strategy, they come back to me with a newfound appreciation for the value of that break. They express their regrets for not making time to rest during their initial trips, and it’s hard not to say, “I told you so.” To me, there is nothing more quintessentially “Disney vacation” than starting the day at a theme park, enjoying a leisurely lunch at one of the sit-down restaurants to escape the heat, and then retreating to our hotel for some pool time. The feeling of heading into a second park feeling refreshed and ready is truly magical, embodying the enchantment of Disney.
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